Nope, many were signed by Secretaries or by a land office administrator/official.  Still though, no small number yet exist that were actually signed by  a President and bear the Great Seal of the United States.  There are a considerable number of those floating about on the market almost weekly.  Go to Google and type in "Land Grant President original".  I have owned several over the years, though none right now.  As you state, what you find in courthouse are almost always clerks' copies, and the original "patents" were given to the new owner of the land.  
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: dp 
  To: 'Paul Drake' ; [log in to unmask] 
  Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2004 1:55 PM
  Subject: RE: [VA-ROOTS] Genealogical Codicil to Last Will & Testament


  Were all these deeds and grants actually signed by the President? Or
  someone acting for them?

  I mean you copy a deed from the deed book in a county... That signature
  is not Thomas Jefferson or Patrick Henry... So do the original documents
  actually carry the seal and signature?


  Dianne in Ohio

  -----Original Message-----
  From: Research and writing about Virginia genealogy and family history.
  [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Paul Drake
  Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2004 1:43 PM
  To: [log in to unmask]
  Subject: Re: [VA-ROOTS] Genealogical Codicil to Last Will & Testament

  Excellent QUESTION, Bill and my point is illustrated for all.  Notice
  your items and my notes after the asterisks: 

    There are some things in the collection which I would ask you about 
    regarding their worth. I have a War of 1812 bounty slip giving a 
    relative the right to some land for his service during that war. 
    *** Probably a warrant and maybe worth anywhere from $50 to 100.00 on
  Ebay and likely more in other markets.   
    I 
    also have several account pages from a department store in Alabama 
    showing charges and payment for goods purchased by my great great 
    grandmother back in 1850.
    *** Probably of very little, if any, value to other than to you.
     
     In addition I have copies of several deeds 
    signed by Andrew Jackson,
    ***Might fetch as much as several hundred dollars, depending on what
  and where the documents involve.

     and other presidents from around the turn 
    of the century 1700 to 1800.
    *** Almost any document with the signature of a President, especially
  of the 19th century, have substantial value.  My James Madison land
  grant would fetch 300-450.00. 

    .....
    Respectfully,

    Bill Woodard
    billwood @ mail.utexas.edu

  To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions
  at
  http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html

To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html