The act that established the Land Office in 1779, provided for a Register to be at the head, to carry out the procedure for obtaining waste and unappropriated lands. During the first years of operation, the Land Office was mainly concerned with issuing warrants for military bounty and satisfying claims originating under the colonial government. Since much of the available land was located in Kentucky, the Register was authorized to appoint a Deputy in November, 1781. The Deputy was to reside in
Kentucky and conduct the business of the Land Office from that location. He was directed to send the papers submitted to his office to Richmond semiannually.
In December 1791, the Deputy Register was instructed to retain all papers which had been submitted for grants in Kentucky. A year later, after Kentucky achieved statehood, the Register was ordered to return plats on Kentucky lands for which titles had not been issued. In November 1793, the General Assembly ordered the Register to deliver to a Kentucky representative all original papers relative to titles to lands in that new state.
From the description of Agency history. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 145408858
