When genealogists attempt to trace their ancestor to a specific town, obtaining a plat map or property ownership map should be one of the first goals. Plat maps show the exact parcels of land that our ancestors owned at a given point in time. Plat maps are documents drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. The landowner’s name is shown, along with the legal description of real property by lot, street, and block number in a particular town These maps show the land subdivided into lots with the location and boundaries of individual parcels marked as well as streets, alleys, easements, and rights of use over the land of another owner.
Plat maps come in a variety of types. Some county plat maps are titled by township and range (e.g., Township 11 North Range 10 West), while others give actual town and township names, instead of numerical designations. Most plat maps have no date on them; the date can only be ascertained from the book containing the actual information. Plat maps are generally divided into 36 square mile sections. The boundary for each piece of property is shown along with the number of acres.
Knowing the neighbors of an ancestor can yield significant pieces of genealogical information. Many people lived their entire lives within 5-10 miles of where they were born. Individuals living in urban areas would usually marry someone residing within 3 to 5 blocks of their home.
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Residences are normally indicated by small black squares. Schools are shown by either a square, a building, or are simply labeled “school”. Churches are labeled and may be designated by either a square or a building with a cross. Some are identified by a specific denomination. Cemeteries are also labeled, but in some early maps, the term “burying ground” was used. The business districts are frequently outlined and are usually indicated by many small plots of land with squares and rectangles. They will seldom have names. Post offices will also be designated on most maps. Rivers, lakes, and creeks are indicated, with main bodies of water, such as lakes and rivers, being named. Tributaries, though shown, are usually not named. Roads are designated by double lines and lines with hash marks indicate railroads. Some railroads are designated by complete names, while others only list initials. Some maps also show landmarks such as ferries, docks, lighthouses, quarries, and military installations.
Using plat maps for research can also shed light on many other potential clues for additional research. Some major examples include:
Neighbors: Our early ancestors often moved in clusters. By noting their neighbors, you may find a migratory pattern, especially if they disappeared by the following census. Because neighbors often intermarried, expect to locate parents, siblings or cousins.
Locating Female Ancestors:Most sons and daughters stayed near the parents. Fathers often gave (or sold) land to a son-in-law, and so that missing daughter might be right next door. A son-in-law may parcel out land for the wife’s family.
Locating Ancestors Between Censuses: Some researchers have used plat maps to locate ancestors who were missed during a census enumeration. Researchers working during the years between 1881 and 1899 may find plat maps especially useful, since the 1890 census was almost completely destroyed. The result was a lack of federal census information during the years between the 1880 census and the 1900 census enumerations.
Identify Additional Record Types for Research: Most plat books include both small and large land owners. This can be beneficial for locating ancestors on multiple socio-economic levels. With the data provided by plat maps, specific township, section, and range number possibilities for particular areas of land, the researcher can seek additional information through multiple records types including census, church, deed, tax, and probate records.
Maps and Atlases: Atlases and county plat books provide area maps and show land ownership by township. Block plats of projected towns in each county also can be found. A subscribers' index is usually at the end of the volume with general information on the owner and location of land holdings in the county listed by township and range. A few early photographs may also be included.
For more information including a more detailed study guide on this topic feel free to contact me at your convenience.
Bryan L. Mulcahy Reference Librarian Fort Myers Regional Library 6/30/2020