Bounty Land Applications vs. Bounty Land Warrants

Bounty Land Applications vs. Bounty Land Warrants

Military service has long been honored and rewarded by nations throughout history. In the United States, from the late 18th century through the mid-19th century, one such reward for military service came in the form of bounty land. These parcels of land were granted to soldiers or their heirs as an incentive for enlistment or as a reward their service.

A couple of important things to keep in mind about bounty land:

• Bounty land was granted for military conflicts before 1855.  Civil War soldiers were not eligible to receive bounty land.
• There were three steps to the bounty land process—the application, the warrants, and then the patent.
• Bounty land applications are partially indexed on Fold3, currently up through the letter L. That index is here (but does not include most Revolutionary War bounty land)
• Bounty land warrants are indexed on the Bureau of Land Management website
• There are documents digitized on that Bureau of Land Management site, but there are more documents at the National Archives that are NOT on that site.
• Many soldiers never stepped foot on their bounty land, so don’t let the location of the land throw you off.

 

Bounty land applications were the first step in the process of obtaining land for military service. Veterans didn't automatically receive bounty land warrants. Instead, they had to take an initial step by filing a bounty land application.  Veterans would file applications at local courthouses, providing details of their service and other necessary information. These applications were then reviewed by federal or state agencies responsible for managing bounty land.  If approved, the applicant would receive either a warrant or scrip, which could later be exchanged for a warrant.  If the widow was applying on behalf of her deceased husband, there would likely be information about their mariage, her maiden name, the date of the marriage, and the date of his death.  These records, now held at the National Archives, contain valuable genealogical information and shed light on the lives of early American veterans.

 

 A page from a bounty land application, complete with the marriage date, maiden name of the wife, and death date of the husband

 

The second step in the process was the bounty land warrants.  These were documents issued to veterans or their heirs as proof of entitlement to land. These warrants could be used to claim land in specified military districts or, later, anywhere in the public domain. I like to compare the warrants to a gift card, which entitled the soldier to redeem it at a land office for the bounty land.

 

A bounty warrant, issued as the result of an approved application.  These could be redeemed at a federal land office for the acreage approved in the grant

 

 

Don’t let the location of the bounty land throw you off!  Many people are confused to see their ancestor claiming bounty land in an area that they never lived.  It’s important to note that many soldiers, particularly ones from the War of 1812, never stepped foot on their bounty land.  Most bounty land wasn’t granted until the 1850s, at least 35 years after the War of 1812 had ended.  Many of these soldiers were at least 60 years (or older) and didn’t want to start over in a new area, leaving their friends and family behind.  Keeping in mind that these warrants were similar to a modern day gift card, many sold or exchanged their warrants, allowing another person to claim the land where they chose. 

 

The bounty land system underwent significant changes with each new conflict and legislative act. For example, Congress passed acts specifically targeting veterans of the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and various Indian wars. These acts established the framework for granting bounty land and set the terms of eligibility for veterans seeking to claim it. Surviving veterans of these conflicts often qualified for additional benefits under subsequent acts, further expanding their opportunities to receive land grants.

 

The documentation associated with bounty land applications and warrants provides valuable insights into the lives of early American veterans and their families. These records often contain personal details such as age, place of residence, and sometimes even signatures of witnesses, offering a glimpse into the lives of those who served their country. Moreover, for genealogists and historians, bounty land records serve as essential resources for tracing family histories and understanding the experiences of military veterans in early America.

 

In conclusion, bounty land applications and warrants played crucial roles in rewarding military service in the United States from the late 18th century to the mid-19th century. Whether as incentives for enlistment or tokens of gratitude for service rendered, these land grants represented tangible benefits for those who served their country. While the bounty land system has long been retired, the legacy of these grants lives on in the records and stories of the veterans who received them.

If you're looking for your ancestor's bounty land paperwork, we can help.  We have access to all of these at the National Archives.  Contact us to help you get your ancestor's documents in your hands!