Land and property records are always interesting to study. People who have purchased a piece of property are often interested in knowing about the previous owners and the property doesn't have to be one of those “George-Washington-slept- here” tracts either. Lawyers and paralegals are always researching property records in conjunction with contemporary sales, estate probate, lawsuits, divorce settlements, and for any number of other reasons.

Unfortunately, though, land and property records are among the least used by genealogists. Part of the problem is that they appear to be intimidating, from the standpoint of both the legalese used in them and the “cryptic code” of property descriptions and measurements--chains, links, rods, and so forth.

What I have found, however, is that land and property records can speak volumes about the buyers, sellers, owners, and their relationships with others. Particularly important are those records that conveyed ownership of all or part of a parcel of land from a parent to a spouse, son, daughter, or some other relative. These “deeds of gift” are the subject of this week.

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