12.4 Deeds and Property Documents

Deeds are extremely useful in genealogical research1 because they may help track relationships, but studying property documents might also give researchers a sense that the family’s story is unfolding before their eyes. These types of records are most useful when combined with other resources to help the investigator see a bigger picture.

Addresses found in other documents can be used to find deeds and other property records. Combining information found on deeds with modern maps can help researchers identify where the property was located. If the property is in the researcher’s local area, layering a modern map over a historical one or using data from records may give enough information to identify and travel to the property in question. If it is a property tied to a family’s history it can be very meaningful for the family to visit the place, talk to the people in the area, and have an experience walking the ground where their ancestors once lived. Many property documents are available on the big four websites. If documents include property coordinates, they can be used to look up land patents and real estate transactions. These types of documents can be very interesting and create a paper trail that helps track the individual or family.

Property records, sadly, may contain more than physical property. In situations like slavery, people may be listed by name in property records. These individuals may only be tic-marks on census records or slave schedules, but a researcher can identify them by name if they are listed in business ledgers or property documents.2 Property can also mean furnishings and possessions.