The compass directions you give derive from the 32-point compass rose used
in navigation and surveying in past centuries. You can find the 32-pt rose
on the following web site:
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~feegi/compass.html
You can move your mouse over the compass points to obtain the named
direction (such as S by E) and the corresponding degrees on the azimuth
circle.
When "points" are mentioned in your document, they refer to compass points
on the 32-pt rose. Each point is 11.25 degrees from the next point. Your
patent refers to the river winding four points to the north. If this is
four points to the north of SE by S, then four points to the north gives you
E by S, I think (counting 4 pts northward). You can see this on the compass
rose at the web site.
Can't help you with the chains.
Robert Hicks, Ph.D.
Loxodrome History Consultants
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Netti Schreiner-Yantis [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2000 10:35 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: COMPASS READING
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
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