Land Patents Granted on the Basis of Service in the
War of 1812

Source: Bureau of Land Management (BLM) government web site.

After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, those western lands were opened for settlement at very low prices. Thousands of families flocked into the area which included present day Arkansas. Early Missouri and Arkansas maps show the vast amount of land to be settled.

The Akansas Territory was created in 1813 from the Territory of Missouri from territorial New Madrid County. Following the War of 1812, families came for land based on service in the War of 1812. Several Military Warrant Acts granted public land to soldiers instead of pay, as an enticement for men to enter the service:

-- May 6, 1812; Scrip-Warrant Act of 1812; Military personnel upon separation from service

-- April 24, 1820; Sale-Cash Entry; Allowed direct cash sales of land from General Land Office to the public for first time

-- May 20, 1862; Homestead Entry; Allowed homesteading of up to 160 acres

A "Land Patentee" is the original owner of land received from the government, regardless of the official act allowing settlement.