I'm sure others will chime in. Before plunging into this, you really need to educate yourself about how land conveyance worked in colonial Virginia. The references that Mr. Tarter mentioned are a good start.

> From what you have said, it would be (technically) impossible for one to  
> obtain a "grant" from the king, since grants were not used until after  
> independence.

Actually it's the other way around. Grants from the king were used before independence.

> 
> What, then would be the purpose of an "Entry Record Book"? How would it  
> differ (or does it) from a "Patent Book? Typical Entry Record Book item: 
> "Isaac Dodson 400 Acs. on the No. Mayo beg. at the Lower End of the  Cane Brake 
> Th.e up on Both Sides."

The short answer. The patent book records that a grant of land was made. Not all grants were surveyed or settled. The entry record book records that the land was surveyed. Meaning that the it was probably settled and lived on.

Donald W. Moore, CG
Virginia Beach, Virginia
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