Wow!!! This does look very interesting!!!! Tom Bannister, where are you
now that we need you!!!!! I think I recall that poles and chains in
early Virginia had different lengths as time went by.... 16 1/2 feet
sticks in my mind as one length of a pole. I think that the acre has
stayed constant over time (43,560 square feet), and I have used that in
one or two cases of a regularly shaped polygon to "back into" the number
of feet represented in a pole. I am guessing that the compass points
are probably 1/64 of a circle (5.62 degrees), but that is a real SWAG.
Randy Cabell
Netti Schreiner-Yantis wrote:
>
> Ahoy there!
>
> Are there any sailors-or anyone who can read compasses-who can interpret an early Virginia patent
> for me?
>
> I have the computer program called DEEP MAPPER and the developer mentions in the manual that "In
> certain sections of the country, headings were described in terms of compass points and parts
> thereof." The metes and bounds of a patent in Henrico County are obviously so based. I can read
> some of the description-at least I think so-but am having trouble putting it on DEEP MAPPER. Would
> really appreciate it if someone could convert the points of the compass description to degrees. I
> am including the whole patent.
>
> PATENT FOR WORLD'S END (Richard Perrin's) 740 acres, 1 rood, 24 poles - Va Patent Bk 6, p. 445. 4
> Mar 1672.
>
> Four hundred seventy-four acres called "World's End": from [James] River above John Burton's house
> into ye woods ENE 150 chains / SE by S the breadths at ye head [what does this mean?] of the
> aforesaid land 92 chain ½ [ is this 92 ½ chain?], the River winding four points to ye North [ how
> do I enter this in degrees?] / thence from a marked tree below John Burton's house down ye River 12
> feet below Cornelius Creek, 109 chains ,the River winding from SE to E by N [ does this mean a total
> of 109 chains with the line following the river within this description?], being five points [ what
> is this in degrees?] from ye lower side of the creek / NE by N 52 chains into ye woods / thence ENE
> 35 chains / the said land being land granted Capt. Mathew Edlow 2 Oct 1656 and sold to said Perrin.
> (also)
> Two hundred sixty-five acres, 1 rood, 24 poles, the residue hereof, lying at ye head [how does one
> tell the head from the foot/tail?] and bounded as followeth: beginning at ye West corner of ____
> old pattent and running ENE the course of the old path? [patent?] 103 poles over a small branch of
> Cornelius Run on ye East side to a small pine marked four ways / SE by E ½ E [what in degrees?] 76
> poles to a slash / then SE along ye Piney Slash 104 poles to a white oak / SW by W 40 poles / WSW
> 196 poles / NW by N 248 poles to place aforementioned. By virtue of five headrights.
>
> I will sincerely appreciate any help that is provided!
>
> Netti Schreiner-Yantis
> [log in to unmask]
>
> PS. In the event that anyone has DEED MAPPER, here is how I entered the 474 acres-and it doesn't
> work. Where did I go wrong?
>
> Pt A - Beg James River above John Burton's house
> Ln ENE;150c; into the woods
> Pt B -
> Ln SExS;92.5c;
> pt C -
> ln ;; [winding 4 points to the north]
> Pt D - marked tree below John Burton's house down ye River 12 feet below Cornelius Cr
> ln SE;109c; winding down the river
> pt E - [being 5 points from ye lower side of creek]
> ln NExN;52c; into the woods
> pt F -
> ln ENE; 35c;
> end
>
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
> at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
|
