Changes

Each township is divided into 36 sections, each section being 1 square mile.  Each section contains 640 acres.  The Act of 18 May 1796 standardized the number of the sections.  Illustrated below is how the sections were numbers within each township.

Each township is divided into 36 sections, each section being 1 square mile.  Each section contains 640 acres.  The Act of 18 May 1796 standardized the number of the sections.  Illustrated below is how the sections were numbers within each township.

6 5 4 3 2 1

7 8 9 10 11 12

18 17 16 15 14 13

||6||5||4||3||2||1

19 20 21 22 23 24

30 29 28 27 26 25

||7||8||9||10||11||12

31 32 33 34 35 36

||18||17||16||15||14||13

||19||20||21||22||23||24

||30||29||28||27||26||25

||31||32||33||34||35||36

The numbering system skipped the U.S. Military Tract.  This was one of several general subdivisions of the land in Ohio.  Other subdivisions included the Connecticut Western Reserve Survey, the Ohio River Survey, the Virginia Military Survey, Between the Main Rivers Survey, The Main River Survey, South and East of the First Principal Meridian Survey, North and East of the First Principal Meridian Survey, and the Michigan Survey.  

The numbering system skipped the U.S. Military Tract.  This was one of several general subdivisions of the land in Ohio.  Other subdivisions included the Connecticut Western Reserve Survey, the Ohio River Survey, the Virginia Military Survey, Between the Main Rivers Survey, The Main River Survey, South and East of the First Principal Meridian Survey, North and East of the First Principal Meridian Survey, and the Michigan Survey.  

The homesteader could obtain a patent certificate after continuously residing on and cultivating the land for 5 years.  The homesteader would need to submit another affidavit attesting to the original requirements.  In addition, he had to state that he had not sold off or given away any part of the land.  Affidavits from two witnesses had to be submitted.  An additional fee was charged.  If the homesteader was not a U.S. citizen at the time of his original application, he had to become a U.S. citizen before receiving the Homestead Patent.  No debt could have been accrued against the property.  The patent certificate needed to be applied for within two years of completely the five year residency and cultivation requirement.

The homesteader could obtain a patent certificate after continuously residing on and cultivating the land for 5 years.  The homesteader would need to submit another affidavit attesting to the original requirements.  In addition, he had to state that he had not sold off or given away any part of the land.  Affidavits from two witnesses had to be submitted.  An additional fee was charged.  If the homesteader was not a U.S. citizen at the time of his original application, he had to become a U.S. citizen before receiving the Homestead Patent.  No debt could have been accrued against the property.  The patent certificate needed to be applied for within two years of completely the five year residency and cultivation requirement.