Virginia. Colonial Land Office.

The secretary of the colony, Colonial Land Office, issued land patents based on importation, treasury and military rights. Two copies were made, one going to the patentee and the other retained by the secretary. These copies were hung on strings in the office and as time was available, they were recorded in bound volumes. A random method of selection of documents to be entered accounts for the haphazard dating in the early volumes, and the method of hanging the patent on strings accounts for loss of documents. The patents were consistent in format. Following a recitation of the titles of the sovereign under whom it was issued, were the consideration on which it was issued, the name of the patentee, size of the tract, county of location, description of the land, any reservation for the crown, and the date signed.