A grant or patent was the original deed to a piece of property. The land was being privately owned for the first time. These land grants are on file in the Library of Virginia. To view the originals go here: Land Grants then click "Retrieve Doc.". Card numbers 88 through 93 are Thomas Hale land grants. I have transcribed numbers 88 and 89 below.
Thomas Hale
148 Acres
Franklin
Robert Brooke, esquire Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia To all to whom these presents shall come. Greeting. Know Ye that by virtue of 2 Land Office Treasury Warrants Number sixteen thousand seven hundred and one issued the third of June one thousand seven hundred and eighty three and Number twelve thousand one hundred and fifty three issued the twenty eighth day of June on thousand seven hundred and eighty two, there is granted by the said Commonwealth unto Thomas Hale a certain tract or parcel of Land, containing one hundred and forty eight acres by survey bearing date the sixth of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety three lying and being in the county of Franklin on both sides of Pigg River and is bounded as followeth (to wit)Beginning at his corner red oak in Callaway? and _____line thence with their line north forty six degrees east one hundred and eighty poles to a chestnut oak north eighteen and one half degrees west sixty four poles to his own corner white oak in Jones old line north fifty six degrees west thirty poles crossing Pigg River to Pointers? north twenty nine degrees west fifty poles to a red oak, north eighty four degrees west fifty poles to a red oak, in Samuel Taylors line and with it south forty one and one half degrees west two poles to a white oak, south seventy six degrees west forty poles to a mahogany on Pigg River; thence down the river and across south five degrees west one hundred and seventy poles to a spanish oak, corner in Peter Finneys line thence with it south forty two degrees east six poles to William Campbells corner post oak, thence with his line south _____ degrees east seventy four poles to two post oaks at a path, south fifty eight degrees east forty one poles to a corner pointers?, in his own line, thence with his line north fifty six degrees east one hundred and sixteen poles to a white oak, in his old? line thence with it north twenty four and one half degrees west ninety poles to a white oak fifty nine degrees east eighty four poles crossing the River to a chestnut tree south fifty two east fifty four poles through his field to a hickory on the River thence up the same as it meanders to a white hickory south thirty eight and one half degrees west forty six poles to a dogwood, south five degrees east thirty poles to the beginning with its appurtenances to have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land with its appurtenances to the said Thomas Hale and his heirs forever. In Witness whereof the said Robert Brooke, esquire Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia hath hereunto set his hand and caused the lesser seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed at Richmond on the fourteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred ninety five and of the Commonwealth the twentieth.
Robert Brooke
Thomas Hale
86 acres
Botetourt
Patrick Henry Esquire Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia To all to whome these presents shall come Greetings. Know Ye that by virtue and in consideration of part of a Land Office Treasury Warrant Number fifteen thousand one hundred and two and issued the fourteenth day of February one thousand seven hundred and eighty three there is granted by the said Commonwealth unto Thomas Hale assignee of Robert Henderson who was assignee of James Raburn a certain tract or parcel of land containing eighty six acres by servey bearing date the twenty ninth day of September one thousand seven hundred eighty three lying and being in the county of Botetourt on Toms Creek a branch of Roanoke adjoining the lands of Michael Price and John Miller and bounded as followeth To wit: Beginning at three white oaks corner to said Miller fence north sixty degrees east one hundred twenty six poles to a white oak and black oak corner to said Price and with his line south eighty three degrees east eighty seven poles to a white oak on said line and leaving said line north forty two degrees west eighty six poles to a black oak and gum by a branch thence north thirty one degrees west sixty four poles to two pines on a hill side thence south fifty five degrees west one hundred and twenty poles to a white oak and pine thence south two degrees west one hundred twenty poles to the beginning with its appurtenances To have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land with its appurtenances to the said Thomas Hale and his heirs forever. In witness whereof the said Patrick Henry Esquire Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia hath hereunto set his hand and caused the lesser seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed at Richmond on the twenty seventh day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred eighty five and of the Commonwealth the tenth.