Delaware Land Records

Delaware is a state-land state. Most lands were acquired from original proprietors, the state, or from other individuals. From 1680 the original deed and mortgage volumes, microfilms of them, or both are at the Delaware State Archives, with corresponding indexes. The state archive also has a card index of original land patents, warrants, and surveys, arranged by county, as well as a list of some of the Maryland grants now located in Delaware. Warrants and surveys made during the proprietorship of the Penn family, 1682–1776, are at the state archives; those for 1759–61 are included in Warrants and Surveys of the Province of Pennsylvania including the Three Lower Counties 1759, compiled by Allen Weinberg and Thomas E. Slattery (1965; reprint; Knightstown, Ind: Bookmark, 1975).

Other published land records include Original Land Titles in Delaware Commonly Known as The Duke of York Records...1646–1679 (1899; reprint; Westminster, Md.: Family Line Publications, 1989) and A. R. Dunlap, "Dutch and Swedish Land Records Relating to Delaware: Some New Documents and A Checklist," Delaware History 6 (1954): 25–52. The state archive has acquired microfilm of official grants of land in present-day Delaware from New York and Pennsylvania sources as well, and these are listed in Edward E. Heite, Delaware's Fugitive Records (Dover: Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, 1980).

Concerning lands between individuals, the county recorder of deeds was responsible for land records. In most instance, deeds and mortgages were kept separately. Only the most recent deeds remain in the office of the recorder, however. Most have now been transferred to the state archive, creating just one repository for research of most land records.

Delaware BLM Office:

Eastern States Office
Bureau of Land Management
7450 Boston Blvd.
Springfield, VA 22153
Tel: (703) 440-1600
FAX: (703) 440-1599

Delaware State Historical Society:

The Historical Society of Delaware
505 Market Street Mall
Wilmington, DE 19801
302-655-7161
FAX 302-655-7844
E-mail: hsd@dca.net
http://www.hsd.org

Delaware County Courthouses:

Kent County
Kent County Clerk
414 Federal Street
Dover, DE 19901-3615
Telephone: (302) 736-2040

New Castle County
New Castle County Vital Records
310 Kiamensi Rd.
Wilmington, DE 19804
Telephone: (302) 995-8588

Sussex County
Sussex County Register of Wills
P.O. Box 743
Georgetown, DE 19947
Telephone: (302) 856-5601

County Public Records
Use Net Detective to find public records on anyone and anything.

State Links:

Download Delaware Real Estate Forms

Delaware GenWeb Project