The Kentucky Land Grants
With literally thousands of rugged people pushing their domestic caravans over the Wilderness Trail into Kentucky in search of lands for homesteads or for speculation, the struggle for possession became intense. The richest and best situated land, topographically, was surveyed and entered upon again and again. While squatters, strong of mind and purpose, frequently held some land without title; others like Daniel Boone failed to meet certain legal requirements and though undoubtedly rightfully entitled to the land lost it because of technicalities.
Up to 1775 land in Kentucky had been surveyed principally for veterans of the French and Indian War in accordance with the laws of Virginia. At this time Henderson began his broad system of surveys in central Kentucky. He was beset at every turn by homesteading pioneers who, without surveys or purchase title, stubbornly held to the land they had settled upon and improved. To meet this distant and difficult situation, the Colony of Virginia issued a resolution in favor of these pioneers. This was enacted into a law shortly thereafter which declared that all who were possessed of land in Kentucky prior to June, 1776, should be allowed 400 acres of homestead.
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