United States, California, Indexes to Private Land Claims Dockets - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains dockets or case files concerning private land claims in California. The claims were based on historical Spanish and Mexican land grants that took place before California became part of the United States and were intended to show the actions taken regarding the claims after they were confirmed as valid by the United States. Included in each packet of documents are such items as notices and evidence of claims, certificates and plats of survey, affidavits, deeds, abstracts of title, testimonies regarding claims, copies of decisions in contests in Federal Courts, appeals, and letters. The collection is organized by docket number. Each record in the index typically includes the name of the land owner, their docket number, and a record date for the docket.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: • 2

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * Approximate date of the event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Be sure to check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if if provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Try searching by surname only

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in California, United States.
 * California Guided Research
 * California Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1905 | 1905-Present
 * California Land and Property
 * United States Land and Property
 * California
 * California Archives and Libraries

Related Family History Library Holdings

 * Private land claims dockets, 1849-1895. NARA T910
 * Index and calendar to private land grant cases, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, 1853-1904
 * Index by county to private land grant cases, U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern districts of California
 * Index to private land grant cases, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
 * United States Land Office. Los Angeles. Land records 1851-1936
 * California. Circuit Court. Private land grant cases in the Circuit Court of the Northern District of California, 1852-1910.

Related FamilySearch Historical Record Collections

 * United States Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.