This database is compiled from the Bureau of Land Management land records and includes 2,520 homestead and cash entry patents before 1908 for what is now Crawford County, Arkansas.
Homestead Patents: These were documents issued by the U.S. government granting ownership of a piece of public land to an individual who had lived on and improved it for a certain period of time, typically five years, under the Homestead Act. This act encouraged westward expansion and settlement by making land available to those willing to cultivate and develop it.
Cash Entry Patents: These were documents issued by the U.S. government granting ownership of a piece of public land to an individual who had purchased it outright at a set price per acre. This method allowed for quicker acquisition of land compared to homesteading, but required the buyer to have the financial means to pay for it.
Restrictions on Land Sales: Even after receiving allotments, Native Americans often faced restrictions on selling or transferring their land. These restrictions were intended to protect them from exploitation, but could also make it difficult to manage their property or access its economic value. As a result, some Native Americans may have sought to transfer their land to others, often non-Native Americans, through assignments or other legal mechanisms.
Probate and Inheritance: The phrase “rep of Eas-ta-ho-nah deceased” suggests that the original owner had died, and the assignee was acting on behalf of their heirs or estate [see “John Austin” in database]. In such cases, the assignee might have been appointed by a court or tribal authority to manage the deceased person’s property and potentially sell or transfer it.
Sample Land Survey
