United States, California, Indexes to Private Land Claims Dockets, 1849-1895

What is in This Collection?

This collection contains an index to dockets or case files concerning private land claims in California. The claims were based on historical Spanish and Mexican land grants that took place before California became part of the United States and were intended to show the actions taken regarding the claims after they were confirmed as valid by the United States. Included in each packet of documents are such items as notices and evidence of claims, certificates and plats of survey, affidavits, deeds, abstracts of title, testimonies regarding claims, copies of decisions in contests in Federal Courts, appeals, and letters. The collection is organized by docket number. Each record in the index typically includes the name of the land owner, their docket number, and a record date for the docket. The index is part of NARA microfilm publication T910 California Private Land Claims Dockets (1-359), roll 118 DGS 103038258.

Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

Collection Content

Sample Images

• 

  1849-95 Index

• 

  1880 Land Claims Dockets