On Jul 11, 2007, at 9:43 AM, Tarter, Brent (LVA) wrote:


> "tomahawk rights",


> She has also encountered the
> phrase "tomahawked his land"

This comes from memory without citation, but IIRC, tomahawking land  
means marking trees on the perimeter. The 3 Chopt Road from Richmond  
to Charlottesville is an example of a linear tomahawking. Blazing a  
trail is another name. The marks would be a sort of brand that would  
delineate the edges of the property from other claimants.

The tomahawk rights would be the pre-recording stage wherein the  
perimeter was so marked prior to a formal survey by the county  
surveyor or even without such. They would be meant to have legitimacy  
in legal standing if challenged.

I would like to find a formal description with attributions for my  
files anyway if someone finds one.

Lyle Browning