FREE DOWNLOAD! RESOURCE: The Homestead Act of 1862

Learn how The Homestead Act of 1862 lured citizens of the United States to procure federal lands West of the Mississippi River with this FREE DOWNLOAD from Abundant Genealogy!

Today is the anniversary of the enactment of The Homestead Act of 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln. The Homestead Act was responsible for helping the United States expand westward during the latter-half of the 19th century. The Homestead Act was signed into law May 20, 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln. It provided 160 acres of undeveloped federal land west of the Mississippi River to qualified applicants.

Today is Wednesday, May 20th, 2020 ... If your ancestors migrated out West in the 19th Century they may very well have been homesteaders

The image above is a record of the FIRST completed Homestead Act settlement by Daniel Freeman of Beatrice, Nebraska, currently the site of the Homestead National Monument of America (http://www.nps.gov/home/index.htm). Daniel Freeman, of Illinois, filed the first claim on January 1, 1863. and completed all the requirements in January 1868.

Homestead Records are AMAZING and here’s why: the file for an application and subsequent successful transfer of title for the land contains many papers, witness statements from friends and neighbors and more. The applicant had to PROVE that they had erected a building on the land as well as prove that they made improvements.

Recently I’ve received several emails asking me about Westward pioneers and specifically The Homestead Act of 1862. So . . . this week I’m making available for FREE the handout I use for my lecture The Homestead Act of 1862. Access tips, tricks, and resources that I personally use for my own research!

Click HERE to get this handout in a printable PDF file and make sure you share it with your fellow genealogists and family historians!

Why is this handout FREE? What’s the Catch?

There really isn’t a catch. I give away a lot of free content every year because I want fellow genealogists and family historians to have access to the best tools and information for their research. I also do this because I’m hoping you might be interested in my other content and websites where I do make money such as Genealogy Bargains. Even if you never use one of my links for a purchase, I’m happy knowing that you are able to get educational content that you can put into action for your family history research!

Did you know that Fold3 has a complete database of Homestead Records for Nebraska? “Documents within the homestead records state the value of the owner’s property; the amount, description, and value of crops grown; and the dimensions of his house, barn, or corncrib. They are arranged by township, range, section, then by owner’s last name. Files consist of the final certificate, the application with land description, an affidavit showing proof of citizenship, register and receiver receipts, a notice and final proof, and testimony of witnesses.” Click HERE for more information!

Save 25%* on an Annual Subscription at Fold3 and get access to military records, city directories and newspapers. Did you know that Fold3 has over 2 million pages (around 100 million names) in its City Directories Collection with records dating back to 1785? Before phone books came into the picture, many cities and towns published directories of their residents. Regularly $79.95, you pay just $59.95! VIEW DETAILS

*Offer ends May 31, 2020 at 11:59 PM MT. Offer available for new Fold3 subscribers only and not for renewal of current subscriptions. Billed in one payment of $59.95 for a one-year subscription. Your subscription will automatically renew at list price after the introductory 1-year offer.