What good are Land Records?

Many researchers that I know overlook a valuable resource.land
records. most people think that they are only for proving that a
Family owned land.But there is much more available in the land
record than you may have thought about.
 

In fact,land records or so important that there are some
programs available to help you plotting your land records. This
can help you to see what happens to land when a large portion
is sold in smaller parcels. it might even help you to notice a
portion of land that has not yet been sold.

One such program, is  Deed Mapper by Direct Line Software.  This
 program allows you to do analysis of old deeds, leases, surveys,
roads, claims, grants and  patents. The program lets you plot the
very land description and then be able work with it.  one of the
features is be able to drag the plotted land description
onto a map of the area being researched. what an excellent way to
 get a feel for where your ancestor was in retrospect to others.
And imagine being able to plot the land of all those in the family
that we're in a given area.  you would begin to see their proximity
to each other and in retrospect to the rest of the town.

In addition to this, land records often supply you with other
Information.  I have found locations of individuals who moved
away. I have used the release of  dower as a way to distinguish
between two men of the same name. the release of dower was what
the wife signed giving up 1/3 right to the  property.
This can be extremely helpful with common surnames.

Working with land  records usually requires that you first search a
 grantor and grantee index.  Be sure to look  through both.  One is
an index of those selling the land and the other is of those
buying the land. Your individuals will be in both indexes.
Usually these indexes will include the name of the person buying
the land and the name of the person selling land. (and vice versa
in the grantee index)  This is followed by a description of the
land there may be two or more columns for dates (date of
the instrument, date it was recorded, etc.).  and you will find the
 column for the volume and page.

Taking this information you will then go through the individual
volumes. Once you have found the deed in question is a good idea to
make a photocopy of it.  and it would be a shame only have a partial
Abstract rather than the entire document. never assume that a
name isn't  important. you'll be surprised how these names will
eventually tie together better to have  the a copy of the entire
record
 
 
 
 
 

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