Kern Co., CA - Index to Federal Land Records California Land Patents Database The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) inherited the functions of the General Land Office when it was established by Congress in 1946. The California Land Patents Database, derived from General Land Office and BLM information, contains deeds (primarily patents) issued by the United States in the State of California between 1856 and 1995. While BLM has been referred to as "the Nations record keeper" it is the National Archives that actually keeps the files. The BLM, maintains diagrammatic plats known as Master Title Plats, which depict lands which are owned by the United States and lands which are patented. However, these plats do not have any information about who the lands were patented to. That information as only been available after tedious research, it is available now in this database. The California Land Patents Database contains the following information for each land transaction: date, location (township, range, section, meridian), name of person the land was patented to, case type, conveyance type, county, case number and the patent document identification number. Using this information you can obtain copies of the patent file for $10 from the National Archives at the following address: Reference Branch (Lands) National Archives Washington, DC 20408 (202) 501-5428 You need to submit your request on a copy of Form 84. To get the form, send an e-mail message to inquire@nara.gov In the body of the message, be sure to ask for Form 84 "Order for Copies of Land Entry Files", tell them how many copies you want (get at least 2, in case you make a mistake) and give your name and snail address so they can send you the forms. (Or you can send a snail mail letter to above address). Sending by e-mail takes less than a week; by snail mail both ways takes about 2 weeks. California Land Patents Database Key to Case Types 181000- Public Lands Litigation 186001- Quit claim deed by US 210000- Acquisition by US 220000- Land exchange 230000- Withdrawal of Land by US 240000- Classification of Lands by US 250000 Disposition: Use and Occupancy 251000- Homestead 252000- Desert Land Act 253000- Indian Patents 254000- Color of Title Act 255000- Mining Claim Occupancy Act 260000 Grants 261000- Military Scrip Warrant Patents 262000- Lands to the State of California 262500- Swamp Land 263000- Rail Road Grants 264000- Airport conveyance act 267000- Spanish / Mexican Land Grants 270000 Sales 271000- Public Land Sale 272000- Cash 273000- Small Tract 274000- Recreation & Public Purposes 275000- Cemeteries and Parks 276000- Townsites 278000- Unintentional Trespass 371000 Multiple Use Act 386000 Mining Laws 386200- Lode Mining Claims 386300- Placer Mining Claims 386400- Millsite Claims Land Conveyance types in this database: PA - Patent GD - Grant Deed WD - Warranty Deed Land Conveyances to the State of California IL - State Lieu Selection (Lands the State selected in-lieu of sections 16 and 36, which they were entitled to but did not receive) LS - Forest Lieu Selection SG - State Grant SS - State Selection Key to Meridians: HM - Humbolt GS - Gila and Salt River (along the Colorado River) MD - Mount Diablo SB - San Bernardino MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP RANGE SECTION DOCID DATE NAME SB 0090N 0160W 010 3920 1891/04/02 BECK MAMIE J SB 0110N 0080W 032 1023061 1929/01/31 BECK OTTOMER WILLIAM MD 0260S 0340E 024 1204714 1960/02/09 BECKER ANTHONTY DAVID MD 0320S 0370E 004 784653 1920/11/30 BECKER JOHN J MD 0270S 0240E 024 4717 1906/08/16 BECKES AMBROSE E MD 0320S 0230E 012 1135704 1952/06/27 BECKHAM WAYNE MD 0290S 0270E 034 2702 1876/08/15 BECKSTEAD SARAH M MD 0250S 0180E 023 679 1865/11/15 BECQUETTE PASCHAL