How to Trace Your Family Tree in US Land Deeds

How to Trace Your Family Tree in US Land Deeds Most Americans owned at least some land prior to the twentieth century, making individual land records a treasure trove for genealogists. Deeds, legal records for transferring land or property from one individual to another, are the most prevalent and widely used of the U.S. land records, and can provide a fairly reliable method of tracking ancestors when no other record can be found. Deeds are relatively easy to locate and often provide a wealth of information on the family members, social status, occupation, and neighbors of the named individuals. Early land deeds are especially detailed and predate most other record sources, increasing the importance of land records the further back a researcher goes.   Why Land Deeds?Land records are an especially powerful genealogical resource, especially when used in conjunction with other records, for breaching brick walls or in building a case where no one record provides a record of relationship. Deeds are an important genealogical resource because: U.S. land deeds often involve more people than other genealogical sources - providing a potential source for information on family members, neighbors, and even friends. Land deeds help to locate a person in a particular area at a particular time. Deed books at the county courthouse are only copies of the original land deeds, so land records are especially useful in areas where a courthouse fire has destroyed most of the records prior to a certain date. Because property was valuable, most people would bring their original deeds back to the courthouse following a fire or other catastrophe so that they could be re-recorded.Deeds can be used to distinguish two men with identical names by locating one or both on a particular piece of property.Deeds that transfer property by will or estate may name all children and their spouses.Deeds, in conjunction with tax lists, can often help to reconstruct an entire neighborhood - making it easier to find potential migration patterns Deed versus GrantWhen researching land deeds it is important to understand the difference between a grant or patent, and a deed. A grant is the first transfer of a piece of property from some government entity into the hands of an individual, so if your ancestor acquired land by grant or patent then he was the original private land owner. A deed, however, is the transfer of property from one individual to another, and covers pretty much all land transactions following the original grant of land. Types of DeedsDeed books, records of property transfers for a particular county, are usually under the jurisdiction of the Registrar of Deeds and can be found at the local county courthouse. In the New England states of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont, land deeds are kept by the town clerks. In Alaska, deeds are registered at the district level and, in Louisiana, deed records are kept by the parish. Deed books contain records of a variety of land sales and transfers: Deed of SaleDeed of GiftStrawman SaleLease ReleaseMortgage SaleEstate Settlement Next How to Locate Land Deeds Land transfers between individuals, also known as deeds, are typically recorded in deed books. The original deed was retained by the land owner, but a full copy of the deed was recorded by the clerk in the deed book for the locality. Deed books are kept at the county level for most U.S. states, though in some areas they may be kept at the city or town level. If youre researching in Alaska, then the county-equivalent is known as a district, and in Louisiana, as a parish. The first step in searching for land deeds and deed indexes is to learn about the locality where your ancestors lived. Begin by asking yourself the following questions: Do land records exist for your area and time period of interest?What county had jurisdiction at the time period (the present-day county where the land is located may not have always had jurisdiction due to changing county boundaries)? Are deed records still in county custody or have they been moved to some other location?What is the county seat and what is the name of the deed office (Register of Deeds is the most common name used for the office)? Once you have determined where to search for land deeds, the next step is to search the deed indexes. This can be a bit more difficult than it sounds because different localities may have their deeds indexed in different formats and many deed indexes have not been computerized. Searching the IndexMost U.S. counties have a grantor index, otherwise known as a sellor index, of their land deeds. Most also have a grantee, or buyer, index. In cases where their is no grantee index, you must read wade through all of the entries in the seller index to locate the buyers. Depending upon the locality, a number of different seller and buyer indexes may be in use. The easiest ones to use are alphabetized lists which cover, in order of recording, all deeds recorded within a particular county. A variation on this type of deed index is a list indexed by first initial of the surnames within a selected period of time (about fifty years or more). All A surnames are grouped unalphabetized in the page order in which they are found, followed by all B surnames, and so on. Sometimes surnames which are very common in the area will be grouped by themselves. Other indexes commonly found used to index deeds includ Paul Company Indexes, the Burr Record Index, the Campbell Index, the Rus sell Index, and the Cott Index. From Deed Index to DeedMost deed indexes provide a substantial amount of information including the date of the deed transaction, the names of the grantor and grantee, plus the book and page number where the deed entry can be found in the deed books. Once you have located the deeds in the index, it is a relatively simple task to find the deeds themselves. You can either visit or write to the Register of Deeds yourself or browse the microfilm copies of the deed books at a library, archives, or through your local Family History Center. Next Deciphering the Deeds Although the legal language and old handwriting styles found in old deeds may seem a bit intimidating, deeds are actually organized into predictable parts. The exact format of the deed will vary from locale to locale, but the overall structure remains the same. The following elements are found in most deeds: This IndentureThis is the most common opening for a deed and will frequently be found written in larger letters than the rest of the deed. Some earlier deeds dont use this language, but instead will start with words such as To all to whom these presents shall come greeting... ...made and entered into this fifteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy five.This is the date of the actual deed transaction, not necessarily the date it was proved in court, or recorded by the clerk. The date of the deed will often be found written out, and may appear here at the beginning of the deed, or later near the end. ...between Cherry and Judah Cherry his wife...of the one part, and Jesse Haile of the county and state aforesaidThis is the section of the deed that names the parties involved (the grantor and grantee). Sometimes this section includes details which added to make it clear which William Crisp or Tom Jones was meant. Additionally, this section may also indicate relationships between the involved parties. Specifically, watch for details on place of residence, occupation, seniority, name of spouse, position relating to the deed (executor, guardian, etc.), and statements of relationship. ...for and in consideration of the sum of ninety dollars to them in hand paid, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledgedThe term consideration is usually used for the section of the deed which acknowledges payment. The sum of money which changed hands is not always specified. If it is not, be careful not to assume that it indicates a deed of gift between family members or friends. Some people just liked to keep their financial matters private. This section of the deed is usually found immediately after the names of the parties to the deed, though sometimes it may be found mentioned between the parties. ...a certain tract or parcel of land situate lying and being in the State and County aforesaid containing by estimation one hundred acres more or less butted and bounded as follows Beginning in a Cashy Swamp at the mouth of a Branch then up said branch...The statement of property should include the acreage and the political jurisdiction (the county, and possibly the township). In public-land states it is given by the rectangular survey coordinates and in subdivisions it is given by lot and block number. In state-land states, the description (such as in the example above) includes a description of the property lines, including waterways, trees, and adjoining land owners. This is known as a metes and bounds survey and usually starts with the word Beginning written in extra large letters. ...to have and to hold the above said bargained premises to him the said Jesse Haile his heirs and assigns foreverThis is typical beginning for the final section of the deed. It is usually full of legal terms and generally covers items such as possible encumberances or restrictions on the land (back taxes, outstanding mortgages, joint owners, etc.). This section will also list any restrictions on use of the land, payment terms for mortages if it is a deed of mortgage, etc. ...whereof we have set our hands and fixed our seals this fifteenth day of February in the year of our Lord God one thousand seven hundred and seventy five. Signed Sealed and delivered in presence of us...If the deed wasnt dated at the beginning, then you will find the date here at the end. This is also the section for signatures and witnesses. It is important to understand that the signatures found in the deed books are not true signatures, they are just copies made by the clerk as he recorded from the original deed.

Yaxchilan - Classic Maya City-State in Mexico

Yaxchilan - Classic Maya City-State in Mexico Yaxchiln is a Classic period Maya site located on the riverbank of the Usamacinta river that borders the two modern countries of Guatemala and Mexico. The site lies within a horseshoe meander on the Mexican side of the river and today the site can only be reached by boat. Yaxchiln was founded in the 5th century AD and reached its maximum splendor in the 8th century AD. Famous for its more than 130 stone monuments, among which include carved lintels and stelae depicting images of royal life, the site also represents one of the most elegant examples of classic Maya architecture. Yaxchiln and Piedras Negras There are many extant and legible inscriptions in Maya hieroglyphs at Yaxchilan, which provide us a nearly unique glimpse into the political history of Maya city-states. At Yaxchilan, for most Late Classic rulers we have dates associated with their births, accessions, battles, and ceremonial activities, as well as their ancestors, descendants, and other kinsmen and companions. Those inscriptions also allude to an ongoing conflict with its neighbor Piedras Negra, located on the Guatemalan side of the Usumacinta, 40 kilometers (25 miles) upriver from Yaxchilan. Charles Gordon and colleagues from the Proyecto Paisaje Piedras Negras-Yaxchilan have combined archaeological data with information from the inscriptions at both Yaxchilan and Piedras Negras, compiling a political history of the intertwined and competing Maya city-states. Early Classic 350-600 AD: Both communities began as small cities during the Early Classic in the 5th and 6th centuries AD, when their royal dynasties were established. As early as the 5th century, a neutral zone existed between Piedras Negras and Yaxchilan that was not controlled by either polity; and warfare was limited to a few, unusual episodes of direct conflict.Late Classic 600-810 AD: During the Late Classic, the neutral zone was repopulated and transformed into a contested frontier. Warfare was most frequent in the 8th century AD  and involved the governors of secondary and tertiary centers loyal to each combatant.Between the 7th and 8th centuries AD, Yaxchiln gained power and independence under the rulers Itzamnaaj B’alam II and his son Bird Jaguar IV. Those rulers extended their dominion over other nearby sites and started an ambitious construction program that included most of what is visible on at Yaxchilan today. At about 808, Piedras Negras lost its ruler to Ya xchilan; but that victory was brief. Terminal Classic 810-950 AD: By 810, both polities were in decline and by AD 930, the region was essentially depopulated. Site Layout Visitors arriving at Yaxchiln for the first time will be mesmerized by the tortuous, dark passageway known as â€Å"the Labyrinth† leading into the main plaza, framed by some of the most important buildings of the site. Yaxchiln is made up of three major complexes: the Central Acropolis, the South Acropolis, and the West Acropolis. The site is built over a high terrace facing the Usumacinta river on the north and extending beyond there into the hills of the Maya lowlands. Main Buildings The heart of Yaxchilan is called the Central Acropolis, which overlooks the main plaza. Here the main buildings are several temples, two ballcourts, and one of the two hieroglyphic stairways. Located in the central acropolis, Structure 33 represents the apex of Yaxchiln architecture and its Classic development. The temple was probably constructed by the ruler Bird Jaguar IV or dedicated to him by his son. The temple, a large room with three doorways decorated with stucco motifs, overlooks the main plaza and stands on an excellent observation point for the river. The real masterpiece of this building is its nearly intact roof, with a high crest or roof comb, a frieze, and niches. The second hieroglyphic stairway leads to the front of this structure. Temple 44 is the main building of the West Acropolis. It was constructed by Itzamnaaj B’alam II around 730 AD to commemorate his military victories. It is decorated with stone panels depicting his war captives. Temple 23 and its Lintels Temple 23  is located on the southern side of the main plaza of Yaxchilan, and it was built about AD 726 and dedicated by the ruler Itzamnaaj B’alam III (also known as Shield Jaguar the Great) [ruled 681-742 AD] to his principal wife Lady K’abal Xook. The single-room structure has three doorways each bearing carved lintels, known as Lintels 24, 25, and 26. A lintel is the load-bearing stone at the top of a doorway, and its massive size and location led the Maya (and other civilizations) to use it as a place to exhibit their skill at decorative carving. Temple 23s lintels were rediscovered in 1886 by the British explorer Alfred Maudslay, who had the lintels cut out of the temple and sent to the British Museum where they are now located. These three pieces are almost unanimously considered among the finest stone reliefs of the entire Maya region. Recent excavations by the Mexican archaeologist Roberto Garcia Moll identified two burials under the temple floor: one of an aged woman, accompanied by a rich offering; and the second of an old man, accompanied by an even richer one. These are believed to be Itzamnaaj Balam III and one of his other wives; Lady Xooks tomb is thought to be in the adjacent Temple 24, because it features an inscription recording the queens death in AD 749. Lintel 24 Lintel 24 is the easternmost of three door lintels above the doorways in Temple 23, and it features a scene of the Maya bloodletting ritual performed by Lady Xook, which took place, according to the accompanying hieroglyphic text, in October of 709 AD. The king Itzamnaaj Balam III is holding a torch above his queen who is kneeling in front of him, suggesting that the ritual is taking place at night or in a dark, secluded room of the temple. Lady Xook is passing a rope through her tongue, after having pierced it with a stingray spine, and her blood is dripping onto bark paper in a basket. The textiles, headdresses and royal accessories are extremely elegant, suggesting the high status of the personages. The finely carved stone relief emphasizes the elegance of the woven cape worn by the queen. The king wears a pendant around his neck portraying the sun god and a severed head, probably of a war captive, adorns his headdress. Archaeological Investigations Yaxchiln was rediscovered by explorers in the 19th century. The famous English and French explorers Alfred Maudslay and Desirà © Charnay visited the ruins of Yaxchilan at the same time and reported their findings to different institutions. Maudslay also made the fist map of the site. Other important explorers and, later on, archaeologists that worked at Yaxchiln were Tebert Maler, Ian Graham, Sylvanus Morely, and, recently, Roberto Garcia Moll. In the 1930s, Tatiana Proskouriakoff studied the epigraphy of Yaxchilan, and on that basis built a history of the site, including a sequence of the rulers, still relied on today. Sources Edited and updated by K. Kris Hirst Golden C, and Scherer A. 2013. Territory, trust, growth, and collapse in Classic period Maya kingdoms. Current Anthropology 54(4):397-435.Golden C, Scherer AK, Muà ±oz AR, and Vasquez R. 2008. Piedras Negras and Yaxchilan: Divergent Political Trajectories in Adjacent Maya Polities. Latin American Antiquity 19(3):249-274.Golden CW, Scherer AK, and Muà ±oz AR. 2005. Exploring the Piedras Negras- Yaxchilan Border Zone: Archaeological Investigations in the Sierra del Lacandon, 2004. Mexicon 27(1):11-16.Josserand JK. 2007. The Missing Heir at Yaxchiln: Literary Analysis of a Maya Historical Puzzle. Latin American Antiquity 18(3):295-312.Miller M, and Martin S. 2004. Courtly Art of the Ancient Maya. Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco and Thames and Hudson.ONeil ME. 2011. Object, memory, and materiality at Yaxchilan: The reset lintels of Structures 12 and 22. Ancient Mesoamerica 22(02):245-269.Simon, M, and Grube N. 2000, Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens: Deciphering the Dynasties of the Ancient Maya. Thames Hudson, London and New York. Tate C. 1992, Yaxchilan: The Design of a Maya Ceremonial City. University of Texas Press, Austin.