Tips for finding old home sites***
The first land grants in Georgia did not reveal much information for the
genealogist. If you have found an old land grant and wish to go
hunting for the homesite, the best thing to do is to observe adjoining
neighbors (although "vacant" was used for the first grants in a new
county). So, begin with the first deed book in the parent county and
read every deed! Yes, that is the way to find any clues as to whom the
land passed to next. Pay particular attention to the number of acres.
For example, 287-1/2 acres was a typical land grant to a revolutionary
war veteran. 202-1/4 and 202-1/2 is an indicator for the acreage granted
in lotteries (1805, 1807, 1820, 1821, 1827, 1832). Washington County
was the parent county for Hancock, etc. You can trace the land as it
transferred ownership simply by paying particular attention to the
legal description, limiting as it may be. Look for s. These are found
with the deed books. If they exist for the county in which you are
searching, you will see "drawn dimensions". Compare this with your
(drawn) land grant. Once you have located the land lot number and
district, you can obtain a county map and zero in on the homeplace.
Search all the cemeteries in that district. Somewhere in there you will
find recognizable names. People were normally buried in churchyards
near their home, or on the plantation itself. You will notice from the
map's "legend" the difference between a churchyard burial and a private
cemetery. This information came from topical maps, so is quite
accurate.
~Trish~
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