Do you know where all the lines are on the map of your ancestor’s neighborhood? Property lines, county lines, state lines, they all play a role in your family history research. These lines change over time as new territories are created, county lines are debated and finalized, and as your ancestor buys and sells property. Getting your ancestor’s maps all “lined” up may help solve your problem. And keep in mind that contemporary maps are always an excellent idea. Your ancestor probably did not live in the twenty-first century. Don’t rely completely on maps created a century after he died.
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2 Responses
Where do you find contemporary maps? I’ve searched for maps of township lines in early Arkansas with very little success.
C. Anderson
I would start with local libraries and historical/genealogical societies. Contact the state archives or historical library and see what they have as well. The Library of Congress may have some old maps in their collection as well. The county recorder of deeds office may have some plat or survey maps and the Bureau of Land Management is scanning some of their older maps as well.