Hamilton County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 15865
Cincinnati, Ohio 45215-0865
Telephone:  (513) 956-7078

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A chapter of the
Ohio Genealogical Society

Land Records & Maps

Land records

Land ownership records in Hamilton County can be found in the Recorder's Office. This office was established in April 1794 when all of Ohio was divided into only two counties. Present Hamilton County lines were established about 1805. This office records, preserves and makes available for inspection documents relating to real estate and other personal records. Real estate involves not only the sale, lease or transfer of property, but also encumbrances (such as mortgages and liens) that would either block or affect the title of a piece of property. All deeds, mortgages, leases, mechanic liens and releases have survived various courthouse fires since 1794. Some have been recopied due to wear and tear. The Recorder's Office has an overview guide to property research.

Books on Hamilton County property listed below are available at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County (PLCH). Recorder's Office records and indexes of most interest to genealogists and historians are also available in the Cincinnati History Library and Archives (CHLA) on over 1,300 microfilms.

Hamilton County land research can be difficult. With Bill Graver's kind permission, from his exhaustive guidebook, here is an overview guide to the surveys listed below. 

  • Miami (Symmes) Purchase - between the Great and Little Miami rivers, 1788 grant to John Symmes. 

  • Virginia Military District - 1784, land grants to "pay" Revolutionary War soldiers.

  • Congress Lands - 1795, land between the Indiana state line and Great Miami River.

Deeds

From 1794 to 1823, deeds and all other types of documents were recorded in deed books "A" through "W2." Because people didn't go right to the courthouse and sometimes there were so many deeds to handle, deeds were recorded in different books on the same day. So any date ranges given for books are approximate years.
 
The first numerical book, 20, was to be the first mortgage book. When deed book "W2" was full, deeds were recorded in new book 21. This process was continued, new books alternating between deeds and mortgages, until 1858 when there was a book 239 created for both deeds and mortgages. From then on the numbering was continuous for both as shown in this list. Bill Graver has created a list of deeds and mortgages in his guidebook.
 
Deed books 21 (1823) through 400 (1872) are online at Recorders Office. Books 477 (1877) through 854 (1901) have been digitized and are online at FamilySearch. Click on Browse, then Land and Property Records.
 
Published deeds and indexes
 
Alma Aicholtz Smith, Ohio Lands: Hamilton County Deed Book A, 1787-1797, Territory Northwest of the River Ohio (1992). Main Library (929.377177 qS642) and circulating copy available. Describes Symmes Purchase, Virginia Military District, Congress Lands (west of Great Miami River), reference maps, bibliography, settlement and formation of Hamilton County, Recorder's Office indexes description, detailed abstracts of deeds.
 
William H. Graver and Eileen Mullen, Hamilton County, Ohio, Index of Early Deed Books: 1804-1806 and 1814-1817 (2004). PLCH: 929.377177 qG775d;  CHLA: GENERAL f929.37714 G775d, R. R.
 
Deed surname indexes: Indexes #1 through 8 (1787-1869)  are on microfilm at the Recorder's Office or CHLA.
Deed Indexes 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (part 1), 8, 7 (part 2) covering years 1835-1869 are now available on our website here:
Some deed indexes by name of grantee or grantor, #9 through 21a (1869-1904), have been digitized and are online at FamilySearch. Click on Browse, then Land and Property Records. 
Indexes after 1904 to 1988 are on microfilm at the Recorder's Office or CHLA.
Deeds created after 1988 are online at the Recorder's Office.
 
Deed geographical indexes: Geographical, location or "by-area" indexes to deeds go back to the beginning of the county. The current set, Series 8 (1938-1988), is in physical books at the Recorder's Office. Series 1 through 7 is on microfilm and online at the Recorder's Office. Series 1 through Series 7 (1794-1938) have been digitized and are online at FamilySearch. Click on Browse, then Land and Property Records.
 

Mortgages

From 1794 to 1823, mortgages were recorded in deed books "A" through "W2." The first numerical book, 21, was the first separate mortgage book. When deed book "W2" was full, deeds were recorded in new book 21. New mortgage book numbers alternated with deed book numbers until 1858, when there was a book 239 created for both deeds and mortgages. From then on the numbering was continuous for both as shown in this list. Bill Graver has created a list of deeds and mortgages in his guidebook.
 
Mortgage Books 20 (1823) through 715 (1896) have been digitized and are online at FamilySearch. Click on Browse, then Land and Property Records.
All books from # 20 (1823) thru # 715 (May 1898) are now available online from the Search page menu bar "Document Images" at the Recorder's Office.  The book numbers from 20 to 240 are not consecutive. Those available as of February 1, 2024 are: 
1820's: 20, 27, 31.
1830's: 36, 37, 40, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57, 60, 63, 66, 69, 74.
1840's: 77, 80, 83, 86, 89, 95, 98,103, 106, 110, 113, 118, 121, 124, 126, 131, 132, 135, 140, 141, 144, 147, 149.
1850-1869:152, 156, 157, 160, 161, 164, 167, 170, 172, 174, 177, 180, 183, 184, 188, 193, 194, 196, 198, 203, 204, 207, 210, 213, 215, 217, 221, 222, 225, 226, 229, 230, 234, 238-715.
 
Mortgage indexes: Use Deed Index books for 1794 to 1823. From 1823 to 1898, the mortgage books have no direct index. Between 1898 and 1929, there is an index at the rear of each mortgage book. From 1929 to 1988, there are 16 microfilm indexes labeled "Mortgagor Index A-BUC, BUD- .... etc."  These indexes are only at the Recorder's Office or CHLA. No indexes by name of mortgagor or mortgagee have been digitized or are online.

Leases

From 1794 to 1848, leases were recorded in deed books "A" through "W2" and # 21 through 142. The first separate lease book, # 1, was started in 1848. From then on to 1988, the numbering was continuous as shown in this listLease books 1 (1848) through 122 (1902) and Lease Indexes 1, 2 and 3 (1858-1901) have been digitized and are online at FamilySearch. Click on Browse, then Land and Property Records. Books 1-122 are also available online at the Recorder's Office.
 
Lease indexes: There are no original indexes for lease books #1 to 4 (1843-1858) or # 17.  Original lease index 1 covers books 6 through 49 (1851-1874). Lease index 2 (1874-1898) and index 3 (1898-1901) cover books 50 through 122. Note, entries for books 27, 39, 46, 47 in the original indexes appear to be mistakes.  Entries for book 39 are really for book 40, for 43 are really book 49, for 48 are really for book 43. These are corrected in our finding aid below. From 1901 to 1931, see index in each book. From 1931 to 1971, see Lease Index 1931-1949, 1949-1955 and 1955-1971. These indexes are on microfilm at the Recorder's Office or CHLA and are online at FamilySearch. Click on Browse, then Land and Property Records.
 
Original Lease Index 1 for books # 4 to 16, 18 to 49 (1851-1874) is available here:
               A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   IJ   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   XYZ
 
Original Lease indexes 2 and 3 combined, # 50 through 122 (1874-1901) is available here:
  A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   IJ   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S bks50-83   S bks84-122   T  U  V  W   XY  Z
 
Finding Aids. H.C.G.S. volunteers have extracted lessee (renters) surnames from deed books covering 1794-1823. Also transcribed surnames from original lease index 1 (above) for books 1,2,3 & 5 through 16, 18 through 40, 42 through 45 and 49 (1848-74). about 18,000 leases. To create the surname finding aids (below) as quick as possible, only the lessee (renters) were transcribed at this time.
 
The finding aids are PDF files that are sorted A to Z by surname of the lessee (renters). Some lessor (owners) surnames are shown because of need to review. The spelling, book and page are accurate for any lease that has a complete date in the last column. For all other leases, an estimate of the time frame -- Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter plus year -- is shown in the last column. These files are every word searchable. Search for lessor and other names after the PDF file is opened. To get a search box, hold down Ctrl key and letter "F".
 
Terms and abbreviations: "asst." for assignment, meaning the current lease holder is assigning the lease to someone else, "exec" for estate executor, "Grdn" for guardian of a minor child or children, "transfer" of lease, "per Sherf." due to a court decision, the Sheriff was given power to transfer the lease to another party.
 
Lease finding aid article from Dec. 2017 The Tracer
Ancestor's Lease and maps example article March 2019 The Tracer
 
Leases in deed books                   Leases 1794-1836
Lease books 1848 to 1865           leasesAtoZbks1to25
Lease books 1865 to 1874           leasesAtoZbks26to49
Lease books 1874 to 1880           leasesAtoZbks50to63

Mechanic liens

From 1794 to 1823, liens were recorded in deed books "A" through "W2." From 1823 to 1843, mechanic liens were recorded in mortgage books #20-90. The first separate lien book, #1, was started in 1843. Lien books 1 through 21 (1843-1903) are online at Recorders Office. Lien books 1 through 21 (1843-1903) are also online at FamilySearch. Click on Browse, then Land and Property Records. Lien books 1 through 21 (1843-1903) are also online at Recorders Office. From then on the numbering was continuous to 1988 as shown in this list
 
Lien indexes: Use Deed Index books for 1794 to 1823. There are no indexes for the mortgage books  #20-90. There are only lien indexes for 1843-1847 and 1903-1978. These indexes are only on microfilm at the Recorder's Office or CHLA.
 

Releases

From 1794 to 1823, mortgages and mechanic liens were recorded in Deed books. Later a note of release was written in the margin beside a debt when it was paid off. From 1823 to 1843, mortgage and liens were recorded in Mortgage books #20 to 90. As before, a note of release was written in the margin when a debt was paid. After 1843, mechanic liens were written in Mechanic Lien books 1 through 17 and mortgages in Mortgage Books #93-630. As before, a note of release would be written in the margins of both books as required.1 A list of release documents is available. 

Release indexes:1 For the period 1794 to 1823, the names of the debtor and the one he owed that were indexed in Deed Index books for the mortgage or lien also serve as an index to the release. From 1823 to 1843, since the release was written in the Mortgage books, which have no index, there are no release indexes. For 1843 to 1892, there are no direct indexes to either the mortgage or lien books, and therefore none for the releases. Separate Release Books began in 1892. Book #1, 1892-1905, has a separate index. It is on microfilm at the Recorder's Office or CHLA. After that time, names of the debtors only were indexed in release books #2-295. 

Mortgage Release books 1, 2 and 3 (1892-1949) have been digitized and are online at FamilySearch. Click on Browse, then Land and Property Records.
 

Maps

The land in Hamilton County has been surveyed three different ways in three separate areas (see above). To trace property in the county, it is necessary to understand the nomenclature of how the sections are arranged and identified. This 1853 map illustrates the Range-Town-Section arrangement in Hamilton County.

A more detailed description of the history, development and changes to county maps, and locations of historic Hamilton County maps, 1835-1884 is now on the Local Records, Maps - County webpage

Detailed lists of Hamilton co. maps and where they can be seen is covered in: Cincinnati Maps, 1792-2017, descriptions and sources, The Tracer, June 2018, page 33 and Hamilton County Maps, 1835-2017, descriptions & sources, The Tracer, March 2018, page 1

 
County and City maps
 
1835 Hamilton County map shows Township names, Section numbers, Range and Town identification. Indexed in Hamilton County, Ohio, Index of People, Roads, Churches, etc. on 1835, 1847, 1848, 1869, and 1884 Maps & Atlases, by Wm. Graver and Mullen (Little Miami Books, Milford OH). Especially important are pages 4-7 where Bill has compared the maps and shows examples of how to utilize them.
 
1841 downtown Cincinnati area from Charles Cist's Cincinnati in 1841
 
1853 Hamilton county map with ranges, towns, sections, names here.
 
circa 1860, Hamilton County map (by George Kattenhorn?), showing Township names, Section numbers, Range and Town identification. Original on wall at Hamilton Co. Recorder's Office. Copy in PLCH 3rd floor map cabinet:
1860 west half                     1860 east half
 
1869 - Hamilton County, Ohio. Outline township & section map / [separated from: C. O. Titus' Atlas of Hamilton Co., Ohio], at PLCH 3rd floor map cabinet
 
1914 - C. S. Mendenhall's Standard map of Hamilton County, Ohio : compiled from government, county & city surveys, at PLCH (912.77177 M537)
 
1914-  Cincinnati maps, by Stewart Map Company, at PLCH 3rd floor map cabinet
 
The Archives and Rare Books Library at the University of Cincinnati has old Cincinnati maps.
 
Notes
 
1 William H. Graver, Hamilton County, Ohio, Guide to Recorder's Indexes and Documents, 1794-1988, page 116.
 
Guides

An exhaustive, detailed guide to all records at the Recorder's Office is Hamilton County, Ohio, Guide to Recorder's Indexes and Documents, 1794-1988, by William H. Graver (Little Miami Publishing, Milford Ohio, 2003). PLCH: 929.107207717 qG775h; CHLA: GENERAL 1929.37714 G775h, R.R.

A must see for locating ancestors is Hamilton County, Ohio, Index of People, Roads, Churches, etc., on 1835, 1847, 1848, 1869 & 1884 Maps and Atlases, indexed by William H. Graver and Eileen Mullen (2005). PLCH: 929.377177 qG775p; CHLA: GENERAL f929.37714 G775m , R.R.
 
For examples of deeds and 40 other types of documents, William Graver has created an index to every name and business (7649) in Deed Books D1, F3 and R2 (1801-1820). The index not only gives the full name, but title, document type, places outside of Hamilton County and a unique "chain" index, that is, the number of other persons in the same document with other surnames. The title is Index to Selected Hamilton County, Ohio, Recorder's Books, 1801-1820 (2000). PLCH: 929.377177 G775; CHLA: GENERAL 929.37714 G775
 
Another book by William H. Graver and Eileen Mullenwith every name index (12,000) in deed books F1, F2, O and P: Hamilton County, Ohio, index of early deed books : 1804-1806 and 1814-1817 (2004). PLCH: 929.377177 qG775d
 
An index to Cincinnati property street numbers changed in 1895-97 is Cincinnati, Ohio, Index to Property Owners & Streets in 1895 & 1897 Atlases: River to Liberty, Freeman to Mt. Adams, by William H. Graver and Eileen Mullen (2007). PLCH: 929.377178 G775; CHLA: GENERAL 929.37714 G775c
 
Hamilton County, Ohio, Index to Features and Place Names on 144 'Best' Sheet Maps in the Collection at Cincinnati Historical Society Library, 1789-1972, by William H. Graver (1997). PLCH: 912.77177 qC574Zg 1997
 
Street Index to map of Cincinnati, Stewart Map Company (1914) R912.77199 fS85.2  Use with the 1914 map in the map cabinet.
 
Index of property owners, real estate atlas of Cincinnati Ohio, The Sanborn Map Co.  (1922) PLCH R912.77199 efS198a vol. 1, 2  Use with the Sanborn maps in the 3rd floor map cabinet.
 
Street location guide-index for Cincinnati and Hamilton County Ohio, Central Trust Co. (1954) PLCH Ref 304.609771 fS915
 
Real estate values, Hamilton County (Ohio). Auditor. (1916, 1917, 1922)  Issues in 3 unnumbered parts: [pts.1-2] City of Cincinnati arranged by wards ; [pt.3] Hamilton County excluding Cincinnati arranged alphabetically. Published every four years by law. Real estate values for some neighborhoods in pt.3 also published and cataloged separately
 
Unit land value maps for cities and villages, Hamilton County, with building index tables, by Robert Heuck, County Auditor (1931)  R912.77199 fH22h 1931  Shows property lines with $/acre. For Cincinnati and Norwood. Index at back of book.

Recorder's Office Finding AidOffice layout and getting record copies

 
Resources
  • Jim Dempsey, “Hamilton County Recorder’s Office - Far More Than Deeds,” The Tracer, November 2011.
  • Jim Dempsey, "Hamilton County Recorder’s Office Early Indexes and Records," The Tracer, September 2012.
  • Jim Dempsey, "Hamilton County Recorder - Connecting Deeds & Leases to Plats", The Tracer, March 2017
  • Jim Dempsey, "Speculators, Surveys and Deeds - Hamilton county land history", The Tracer, March 2017
  • Jim Dempsey, "Hamilron County Maps, 1835 - 2017", The Tracer, March 2018
  • Jim Dempsey, "Cincinnati Maps, 1792 - 2017, Jim Dempsey June 2018, The Tracer, June 2018
  • Eileen Muccino & Jim Dempsey, "Cincinnati Incorporated, the Queen City in 1819, The Tracer, June 2019
  • Jim Dempsey, "Plan of the Town of Cincinnati by Colonel Israel Ludlow 1802, The Tracer, June 2019
Land, Leases and Maps, what and how-to articles in The Tracer, 2008 through 2018: article list
 
 
Page modified: 2023-01-04 RTB; 2/5/2024 JGD