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In Bureau of Land Management records

Carol Egley
Carol Egley ✭
February 8 edited February 10 in Indexing

What does the abbreviation F.C. mean? It is usually in the "To Whom Patented" column, followed by a date. Do we record that date since it is the most recent in that entry?

In other entries the date relinquished is more recent than the sold date, so is that the date we should index?

My batch is US—Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1800–1955 [Part C][M3FT-QK1]

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Answers

  • Melissa S Himes
    Melissa S Himes ✭✭✭✭✭
    February 8

    Thanks for sharing the batch! I would follow the instructions and the examples and only index the dates in the noted columns:

    • If multiple dates were recorded for a single transaction, index the most recent date. Dates may be found in "Date of Entry," "Date of Sale," or "Date of Patent" columns. Do not index dates "cancelled" or "rejected" dates.

    It looks like many of the dates in that last column are either cancelled, rejected, or relinquished. Relinquished is most likely the same as cancelled or rejected.

    Here is a link to abbreviation used on land records from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. F C might mean Final Certificate.

    https://www.blm.gov/or/gis/geoscience/files/MTPabbreviations.pdf

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  • LarryClark43
    LarryClark43 ✭✭✭✭
    February 9 edited February 9

    Hi Melissa S Himes

    This is going to be very confusing!!! The instructions for part B are different than the instructions for part C.

    Part B instruction for dates:

    If multiple dates were given for the same transaction, index the most recent date.

    There is no mention of "cancelled" or "rejected" dates. Those date are always the most resent and so that is what I have been indexing.

    When I saw your message I thought yikes I have been doing it wrong. I went back and checked the instructions, that instruction is not found in part B. So now the question is??? which date do we use for part B. Do the instructions for part C supersede the instructions for part B?

    I see no mention of date relinquished in any of the instructions.

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  • MaryAnneReynoldsSmith
    MaryAnneReynoldsSmith ✭
    February 9

    Yikes is correct! Hopefully whoever reviews some I've done won't think I did not read the instructions. The dates question is one to be answered.

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  • MaryAnneReynoldsSmith
    MaryAnneReynoldsSmith ✭
    February 9

    I re-read the instructions on dates for tract records. Part B - -do record most recent date. Part C - don't index cancelled or rejected dates. Whoever reviews the Part C that I indexed will see I didn't follow those instructions. I will be more careful in looking which Part I am indexing. So much for my yikes comment.

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  • Melissa S Himes
    Melissa S Himes ✭✭✭✭✭
    February 9

    You have to follow the directions for each part. For Part B, if the instructions and examples show to use the most recent date then that is what you do. This batch is Part C, and the instructions have changed so you will be using those different instructions for this part.

    This is why it is always important to read the instructions and field helps for every project even though it might just be a different part. Sometimes they even change instructions overnight in the same project/part. I scan the instructions each day before starting my tasks just to be sure they are the same, even if I've been indexing/reviewing the same part for weeks! I also index a few after reviewing a bunch. The brain uses different parts to index and review, so it helps to see new things by routinely performing both tasks.

    I would venture to say that the date relinquished would not be recorded since it means that something has been done that does not involve this same transaction. A relinquishment would be another transfer of the same property, but in a different transaction.

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  • LarryClark43
    LarryClark43 ✭✭✭✭
    February 9

    Melissa S Himes, Thank you, I always appreciate your help and insights🙂

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  • DonnaMarieWagner
    DonnaMarieWagner ✭
    February 24

    Following this thread discussion

    What do you do with the names under patented information? Do you index these?

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  • LarryClark43
    LarryClark43 ✭✭✭✭
    February 25 edited February 25

    DonnaMarieWagner, In the batches I have been working on there was an instruction in the examples that directed us to index the names in the Patented column.

    I am working on part B, I have not checked all of the examples in part c and d.🙂

    By the way if any one is still wondering F.C. stands for Final Certificate.

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  • maryellenstevensbarnes1
    maryellenstevensbarnes1 ✭✭✭✭
    February 25

    Also, its a good idea to give the batch code shown in brackets [XXXX-111] to the right of the project name. This way those answering questions can see exactly what you see.

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  • Melissa S Himes
    Melissa S Himes ✭✭✭✭✭
    February 25

    You should index all the names on these, including those under patents. Patents show ownership of the land. I believe it is land that has been granted, inherited, or taken over by individuals, as opposed to purchasing land. I'm sure there are volumes written about the laws of patents that can be found on the internet.

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  • Mary Louise Lillian
    Mary Louise Lillian ✭✭
    March 2

    Reviewing: US—Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1800–1955 [Part B]

    [M3CX-PDH]


    Should Entry 4, 5, 6 and 7 have One Feather as the person at top of Entry then the other individuals found at far right of page as Other Person at bottom of Entry?

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  • LarryClark43
    LarryClark43 ✭✭✭✭
    March 2

    Hi, Mary Louise Lillian

    The project instructions state:

    • Create an entry for every separate transaction, even if the name is the same. If a transaction was between more than 2 people, create additional entries to index all recorded names. This seems to leave it up to the individual indexer as to how those entries are created. I personally see nothing wrong with the way the indexer created the entries. There is no indication of Grantor or Grantee in the fields so I can't see how it would make a difference.

    I do see a couple of other issues that you might want to look at. The instructions also say: If multiple dates were given for the same transaction, index the most recent date. In entry #2 you have changed the dates but there is a more recent date. the Patent date is Feb 18,1932. These records are not easy to read and this instruction can be very difficult to follow.

    Under general instructions for surname we read:  Type the maiden name before the current or former surnames. A maiden name was often indicated by the words “née” or “born as.” A maiden name may also have been written in parentheses. So if the surname includes a maiden name we should follow the general instructions. I believe the first few entries include some maiden names.


    All of this is just my personal opinion, excepting the quoted instructions, so unless you get an answer from Family search you have to consider all of the instructions and then do what you think is best.

    Hope this is of some help🙂

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