Land records are an important part of building any family tree. Outside of telling you what land your ancestors may have owned, and where it was located, deeds and other land records are also a potential source of information on family members, family relationships, and other locations in which your ancestor lived. Each time you read a deed record for your ancestor, ask yourself the following questions.
1. Are adjacent landowners mentioned by name?
Neighbors of your ancestors can often be found mentioned in deed records. Some of these adjacent landowners may just be the typical neighbor next door. But it's also possible that some could be parents, cousins, children or family friends. Whether or not these adjacent landowners are related, it's always worth checking their deeds for further clues. Their land deeds may name your ancestor, or may provide a relationship or other additional detail that isn't found in your ancestor's own deeds.2. Is your ancestor selling property?
If so, how did he acquire it? Trace your way back through the grantee deed indexes to learn when and from who your ancestor first acquired or purchased the land that he's selling.3. Where is your ancestor's property located?
Get a good topographic map covering the area where your ancestor lived and locate your ancestor's property on the map. In the United States you'll need a map that shows watercourses for the State Land States and Range/Township lines in the Public Land States - USGS topographic maps are generally excellent for this purpose.Once you've pinpointed the location of your ancestor's property, explore the neighborhood. Identify the nearest town, as well as the local churches, schools and cemeteries. Some may be marked on the map, while others may take some research to identify and locate on the map. With this information you can better understand the daily life of your ancestor, and possibly locate additional records.
