Patent
Summary
In conveyance, a land patent is a grant of land originally acquired by treaty. This involved land purchased by individuals from the United States government through applying for patents at designated land offices. Individuals interested in obtaining land could satisfy the legal requirements in one of three ways: making a cash payment, presenting a bounty warrant given for military service, or claiming preemption rights through proof of residency and improvements on the land the individual wanted to purchase. The instrument providing such a grant is also called a patent.