Possible reasons for no (authorized) patents in Kentucky
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The warrant was accepted then never used because the veteran felt his service was a patriotic duty. Unfortunately, no filings were required when the veteran did not use his military warrant(s) for patriotic reasons. Pension files, however, may state the veteran or heirs request another bounty land warrant or scrip because the first warrant was "never used". The United States Government approved pension acts after Kentucky stopped honoring military warrants. Bounty land warrants issued under pension acts could not be used in the Kentucky Military Districts located South of Green River and in the Jackson Purchase. The veteran/heir receiving a (pension) bounty land warrant could sell the warrant and stay in Kentucky or relocate to a public-domain state, such as Missouri or Illinois, where the (pension) bounty land warrant could be used.
The warrant was lost. Lost military warrants were frequently replaced by "exchange warrants" issued by the Virginia Land Office upon request and proof of service. The exchange warrant would bear a different identification number. If the exchange warrant authorized a patent or patents in Kentucky, the exchange warrant would state it was issued to replace a lost warrant. (See WTRM #8 for an exchange warrant) We suggest researchers examine the wording on the actual military warrant(s) filed with patent documents to determine if the warrant is the initial warrant issued to the veteran or an exchange warrant.
The warrant was reassigned and then identified in a survey for an assignee as a "sundry warrant". Warrants did not state a specific land location; this enabled assignments to occur. (Warrants were sold or traded to other persons; a non-veteran could use a military warrant to obtain a patent.) When assignees used several warrants to obtain a patent, it was not unusual for a survey to omit the exact warrant numbers and simply identify the authorizations as "sundry warrants".
The warrant was used in the Ohio Military District, also reserved for Virginia Revolutionary War veterans. Contact the Ohio Historical Society, Velma Street, Columbus, OH 43211 for further research.
Key Points to remember:
Only Virginia veterans could use their military warrants in the Kentucky Military District established by the Virginia Land Law of 1779. Each colony paid veterans with land in their respective western territory, if available. Veterans from other states could settle in Kentucky and obtain land under other methods, such as treasury warrants or land purchases from individuals (deeds). Check Kentucky Historical Society publications and Jillson’s Kentucky Land Grant volumes to determine if the veteran obtained a patent. Check local records to determine if he purchased or inherited land. Tax lists will establish how much land he owned, when it was acquired, and who originally patented the tract(s).
The highest Virginia Revolutionary War Warrant used in Kentucky is #4647. Higher warrant numbers were used in the Ohio Military District for Virginia Revolutionary War veterans.
Warrants were similar to checks for services rendered. Warrants were assignable, meaning they could be "endorsed" on the back and used by the endorsee(s) or assigns. The veteran’s interest in the land ended with his assignment.
Warrants only told how much land was authorized for the patent survey; warrants did not convey title. The remainder of the patent process had to be followed: the entry reserving the land for patenting, the actual field survey, and the issuance of the governor’s grant.
Military warrants were issued to officers and non-commissioned soldiers. Those performing service as a "patriot", i.e. supplying food, clothing, etc., did not receive military warrants. See the "Revolutionary War Military District" article for information gleaned from our Revolutionary War Warrants Database regarding type of military service performed, etc.