Legal Definitions - entryman

An entryman is an archaic legal term referring to an individual who formally entered onto undeveloped public land with the explicit intention of establishing a permanent residence and developing the property. This act typically involved "staking a claim" or filing an initial declaration to assert their right to eventually acquire ownership under specific land settlement laws, such as those prevalent during the expansion of the United States.

• Example 1: Homesteading in the American West

  During the late 19th century, a pioneer named Sarah travels to Nebraska and files a claim for 160 acres of undeveloped prairie land under the Homestead Act. Her intention is to build a farm, live on the land for five years, and eventually gain full legal title to it. Sarah, in this scenario, would be considered an entryman because she formally entered public land, staked a claim through legal filing, and clearly intended to settle and develop the property.

• Example 2: The Oklahoma Land Run

  In 1889, when the U.S. government opened up unassigned lands in the Oklahoma Territory, John participates in the famous Land Run. He races to a specific plot of land, plants a flag, and begins to build a temporary shelter, signifying his claim. His goal is to establish a permanent home and farm for his family in the new territory. John's actions make him an entryman, as he entered public land, asserted a claim by marking his chosen plot, and intended to settle there permanently.

• Example 3: Early Frontier Settlement

  In the early 1800s, before formal land offices were widespread, a frontiersman named Thomas moves into a newly surveyed but largely wild territory. He clears a patch of land, builds a log cabin, and registers his intent to claim the parcel with the nearest nascent territorial authority. His aim is to establish a permanent farm and home for his family. Thomas acts as an entryman by entering public domain, asserting a claim through both physical occupation and registration, and demonstrating a clear intent to settle.