What is a Treasury Warrant?
Kentucky lands have been appropriated under a four-step patenting process since 1779. Warrants authorize the filing of Entries with the county surveyor; Entries reserve land for patenting; the Field Survey depicts and describes the tract being patented; and the Governor’s Grant finalizes the land patenting transaction. A variety of warrants were used to patent land in early Kentucky; some warrants were awarded as payment for military services, for building roads, and some warrants were awarded for meeting residency requirements. Treasury Warrants, the type of warrant most frequently used, were purchased; the amount of acreage specified in the warrant was determined by the amount of money paid. The Warrants appearing on this database were issued in printed form by the Virginia Land Office after verification by the Virginia Auditor and Treasurer that the necessary fees had been paid.
