In today’s example, I show what a record might look like for your ancestor, what’s contained in it, and where to go from there.
I have a newspaper article about my great great grandfather Watson Smith in which he described his life. In it, he said he moved to Wexford County in 1871 and helped raise the first log cabin in the county for Jess Clark with Charley Miller. I found the earliest listing of Watson purchasing land in the index for Wexford and from there pulled up the following record:
From Chas W Miller To Watson M Smith
Received for Record the 28 day of Aug A. D. 1874 at 9 o’clock PM.
H B Slurservant Register.
This Indenture, Made this twenty first day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy four BETWEEN Charles W Miller and Hannah Miller his wife parties of the first part, and Wason M Smith party of the second part, Witnesseth, That the said parties of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of two hundred ($200) Dollars to them in hand paid by the said party of the second part, and to his heirs and assigns FOREVER, all that piece or parcel of land described as follows to wit the east half of the north east quarter of of section eighteen (18) in township twenty one (21) north of range ten (10) west and containing eighty (80) acres more or less according to the governments survey.
TOGETHER with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in anywise appertaining. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said ___ premises as described with the appurtenances, unto the said party of the second part, and to his heirs and assigns forever. And the said parties of the first part, for their heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns do covenant, grant, bargain and agree to and with the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns that at the time of the ensealing and delivery of these presents, are well seized of the above granted premises, in Fee Simple. That they are free from all encumbrances whatever; and that they will, and their heirs, executors, ____ administrators and assigns shall Warrant and Defend the same against all lawful claims whatsoever.
In Witness Whereof, The said parties of the first part have hereunto set their hand and seal the day and year first above written.
Signed, Sealed and Delivered in Presence of
E. T. Sawyer Charles W Miller
J. Byrne Jenkins Hannah Miller
STATE OF MICHIGAN,
COUNTY OF Wexford
On this 31st day of May one thousand eight hundred and seventy five before me a noting public in and for said County, personally appeared Charles W Miller and Hannah M Miller known to me to be the ____ persons who executed the foregoing Instrument, _____ and acknowledged the same to be their free act and deed and the said Hannah M Miller wife of the said Charles W Miller on a private examination by me separate and apart from her said husband acknowledged that she executed the same freely and without any fear or compulsion from any one
Eugene T Sawyer
Notary Public
Wexford Co Mich
This record gives me not only corroborating information to Watson’s presence in Wexford in the 1870s (prior to my first census record of him in 1880), but also his association with Charles Miller. Further, I have the location of this plot of land from the description! I like to use this website to put in the range, township, and section to get an idea of where these land records point to. See the map below for Watson’s first land purchase!
Next, I would continue looking for more property records from Watson to plot out a good timeline of his movements in Wexford County, including earliest and latest years in the county to help with any movement to other areas. I can also follow up on any people listed in the records, which can be really helpful for making connections for tracking families as we’ll see in the next post!
Weaving the Tapestry 