When conducting genealogical research, a
lot of people go straight for the vital records. They want to know when their
ancestors were born, who they married and where they are buried. Significantly
fewer go straight for the land records, as if the land records are a last
resort. What can the land records tell us?
How do I interpret that legal
jargon? How can I layout that property on a map to find out where they lived
and if their home might be there still?
Land records can provide a huge amount of
detail on our ancestor’s lives. Neighbors may have witnessed the transaction
and family or associates may have notarized the documents. These relationships
provide great insight into your family’s daily lives. Did they do more than
farm? What was their financial status? What rights were they granted or what
rights did they give up? The direct and indirect evidence provided by land
records can answer many questions you may have about your ancestors. If they
moved to or from another state, land records often identify the county they
were residing in when they bought or sold the land. If you don’t know where
your ancestors lived beyond the township or city listed on the census, it is
time to find out! If nothing else, searching the records can point you to
further records to search, and possible connections to chase!
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