Facts

Cannon Law refers to Laws of the Church.

When looking at deed indexes, be sure to look at both the Grantor Index, an index to those selling te land and the Grantee Index, an index to those buyng the land.

I Land Deeds, check to see if buyer and/or seller is from the same area where the land is being sold.

The most important type of land record is a deed.  The deed is a document conveying title of property from one party to another. Deeds establish proof of legal ownership of land.

Wisconsin was carved from Michigan Territory.  If you are searching early Wisconsin areas, don't forget to search in Michigan.  Wisconsin became a U. S. state in 1848.

Between 1763 and 1783, Michigan was part of Quebec Territory.  Between q787 and 1800, Michigan was considered part of the Northwest Territory.  Between 1800 and 1805, Michigan was part of Ohio and Indian Territories.

There are 13 eastern public land states east of the Mississippi River:  Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio and Wisconsin.

A cadastral map is a graphic illustration of land boundaries.

The Bureau of Land Management is a Federal government office with responsibility for buying, selling and managing public lands.

The method of survey using a combination of directional and distance measurements with reference to natural and artificial objects, that define a tract of land is called “Metes and Bounds”.  Further, Metes is a measurement of boundary lines in terms of their distance and direction, while Bounds are boundaries used to deine the extent of a tract of land in the metes and bounds survey.  May include natural and/or artificial objects and adjoining tracts of land.  

The “Metes and Bounds” method of land description was used in the eastern parts of early America.  A different system was used in states from the Midwest and farther to the west.  It was called the “Rectangular Survey” method.  It involves townships and ranges.