R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Mississippi
Research Outline
   

Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
History
Land And Property
Maps
Military Records
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Periodicals
Probate Records
Vital Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

LAND AND PROPERTYLook this term up in the glossary.

Pre-territorial settlers acquired their land from France, Great Britain, and Spain. When Mississippi became a United States territory, there were many disputes over the earlier land claims. The records created in resolving these land disputes are found in the American State PapersLook this term up in the glossary., Class 8 and 9, which are on microfilm at the Family History Library. Lists of the names in these papers are in:

McMullin, Phillip, ed. Grassroots of America . . . Salt Lake City: Gendex Corp., 1972. (FHL book 973 R2ag index; fiche 6051323.)

First Settlers of the Mississippi Territory. Nacogdoches, Tex.: Ericson Books, n.d. (FHL book 976 R2f; film 1421793 item 22; fiche 6051448.)

Names of early settlers are also in the Natchez Court Records described in the “Court Records” section of this outline.

Mississippi then became a public-domainLook this term up in the glossary. state in which land was distributed through U.S. general land offices (the earliest of which opened in 1807), and several state land offices (which opened in 1892).

Federal land case filesLook this term up in the glossary. are kept in the National Archives. PatentsLook this term up in the glossary. and copies of tract booksLook this term up in the glossary. and township platsLook this term up in the glossary. are at:

Bureau of Land ManagementLook this term up in the glossary.
Eastern States Office
7450 Boston Boulevard
Springfield, VA 22153
Telephone: 703-440-1600
Fax: 703-440-1599
These federal files are indexed on FHL compact disc no. 9 pt. 255. Territorial and state land records are at the Mississippi Land Commissioner's office in Jackson.

The Family History Library has copies of Mississippi territorial land and court records for the years 1798 to 1817 (FHL films 904447-51). These are arranged alphabetically by surname.

After original title to the land was granted, deedsLook this term up in the glossary., mortgagesLook this term up in the glossary., and subsequent transactions have been recorded in county offices. In Mississippi, county land records have been kept by the chancery court since the creation of each county. The Family History Library has many county land records. For example, from Adams County the library has deeds (1780-1886), deed indexes (1798-1899), and original Spanish records (1781-96). Additional county land records can be obtained from the various county courthouses.

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