The same parcel of land was granted by State A to Party A through a valid patent in 1842 and then granted by State B to Party B through a vofid patent in 1857. How would the courts determine which granting was valid and therefore which party actually owns the land? The patent by Party B was filed in the public record first, and therefore that is the valid deed. The patent issued by State A to Party A was issued first, and therefore Party A owns the land. In cases of ceded or conquered territory, the rights of private property in lands are respected. In many cases these rights were in writing, but even when not, the court upheld this theory. When the state in which the land is located is disputed, the answer as to which state the land is located must be decided before determining who actually owns the land