Land records exist from the very beginning of the first permanent settlements in America and are frequently one of the few records in existence for early settlement periods. In early America and, in fact until well into the 19th century, nearly every -male who lived to maturity can be found in land records because land was inexpensive and readily available.

Colonial Land Records - The colonies, that later became States within the Union, issued land grants and patents under their own right of sovereignty. For the most part these early land records, on the county level, are available in the courthouses of the various counties of the 13 states that were originally colonies plus Kentucky, Maine, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and West Virginia. These latter states retained ownership and control of the ungranted public lands within their boundaries and are called state-land states.

After the Revolution, when the United States became a sovereign power, the federal government became a land owner, thus creating public land (or public domain), which encompassed all lands except that within the boundaries of the state-land states.

The main situations which produce useful land records are:

1. When the government conveys land to an individual.
2. When individuals convey land to one another.

Land records of Missouri are unique in that land has been granted by three nations France, Spain and the United States.

Land records in Missouri, 1804-1811, deal mostly with individual private claims, made by early settlers to obtain a clear title from the United States government to land which they had owned or had been granted under French or Spanish governments. Recording of land titles actually began at St. Louis, September 16, 1805.

United States land sales in Missouri were delayed until 1818 as a result of the New Madrid Earthquake in 1812 because those with " injured land " were entitled by Congressional Act to new land from the public domain.

All records of land transactions of Missouri, which are available, are on microfilm at the Missouri State Archives, 1001 Industrial Drive, P.O. Box 1747, Jefferson City, MO 65101. Their records include, Recorder of Land Titles, 1805-1872; (these contain the Spanish concessions); the Livres Terriens - the land books of the French inhabitants of St. Louis; United States Land Sales, 1818-1904; and Individual Private Claims, 1818-1852, as well as many other records and documents. To obtain information from these records it is usually necessary to know the name of the purchaser, the approximate date of purchase and the county in which the land was then located. To obtain certified copies of original, first entry United States land patents and/or military bounty land warrants, write to U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Eastern States Land Office, 350 South Pickett Street, Alexandria, VA 22304-4704.   Their fee is based on time and type of research required. You must have the name of original owner, date of purchase, correct township, range and section number. This information may be obtained from the Recorder of the county where the land now lies. Payment is required in advance by the Bureau of Land Management.    There is now a free online landowner search feature from the Bureau of Land Management which is also helpful.

After land has come into possession of an individual, any further transactions involving that land comes under the jurisdiction of the local governing body. Usually this is the Recorders Office of the county wherein the land lies.