The Bradford County Historical Society has the majority of the original land warrants when settlement began in the county. A warrant gave authority to survey a tract of land, which initiated title for land from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. After a survey was performed, a Return was filed by the Surveyor General with the Secretary of the Land Office. A patent was the final official deed, conveying all rights and title to the owner. Transfers sometimes occurred after the warrant was issued and the patent owner was not always the warrant applicant. A patent was usually issued within about one year from when the warrant was dated.

There are a few warrants prior to the American Revolution, but the bulk of the warrants were issued in 1792, 1793, and 1794 when the area that became Bradford County had been organized as Luzerne County. Thomas Mifflin, Governor of the commonwealth, signed the warrants. As settlement progressed, land still remaining vacant in the early 1800’s had people seeking ownership and warrants were issued for those remaining lands. A warrant typically gives the name of the landowner, the acreage requested, a description of the land, price of the land, date of the warrant, and sometimes the lot number. Wealthy Philadelphians, who never actually settled within the County, but commissioned land agents to sell the property at a later date, acquired large tracts of land in some areas of Bradford County. Many settled in the County hoping to acquire land by right of possession after having made improvements without initially securing title, sometimes securing ownership from the landowner some years later.

The earliest warrant is for Peter Hunt dated 3 April 1769 for 300 acres on the Susquehanna River adjoining Adolph Wallrad “on this side of Wialoosing” (spelling of Wyalusing as it appears). The next dated warrant is for Samuel Clark, dated 25 June 1773, for 300 acres, south side of Towandae (spelling of Towanda as it appears) Creek at the junction of a run with the creek to include a tree marked AB that stands in the fork about 4 miles from the river.

Click here to see an example of a warrant.

The names of those with land warrants that follow are only those issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that exist in the archived collection of the Bradford County Historical Society. Connecticut also claimed what now comprises Bradford County and the early Connecticut settlers acquired land through the Susquehannah Company, which had been formed in Connecticut and in dispute with Pennsylvania.

For information on acquiring a copy of a warrant, contact the Bradford County Historical Society.

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