Module 1 – October 19, 2017: Pennsylvania Land Records  (Frank Southcott)

• State Lands versus Federal Lands
• Background – Pennsylvania Boundary Disputes
• Formation of the Counties (Gen Map of PA)
• Old Rights
• New Rights
• Philadelphia Land Office
• Process –
  • Applications
  • Warrants/Warrant Registers (Online)
  • Surveys/Survey Books (Online)
  • Returns
  • Patents
• Donation Lands
• Depreciation Lands
• PHMC Online -

Module 2 - October 26, 2017:  County Deeds in Pennsylvania  (Frank Southcott)

• Colonial Handwriting
• Understanding Dates – Regal/Formatting/1752 Implications
• Deed Language – Legal Terms
• Deed Basic Format. "Boilerplate"
• Type/Parties/Date/Background/Description/Consideration/Witness/Recording Date
• Deed Transcription. Define and Requirements
• Deed Abstracts. Define and Requirements
• Recording Requirements
• County Court Presentation vs Deed Book Recording
• Record Date versus Transaction Date
• Filing Systems (Grantors/Grantees)
• Abstraction Practicum
• Land Title Search
• County Online -

Module 3 - November 2, 2017: Metes and Bounds  (Frank Southcott)

• Compass Rose/Directions/Degrees
• True north versus Magnetic North
• Declination versus Deviation
• Latitude and Longitude – World/Format
• Methods of Survey - Mason Dixon Line
• Surveying Tool - Accuracy
• Measurements
  • Perch, Rods, Poles

Module 4 - November 9, 2017: Metes and Bounds Practicum  (Sydney Cruice Dixon)

• Property Description – Breakdown/Recording Logs/Scale
• Finding and mapping your ancestors property
• Using surrounding deeds
• Interfacing GoogleEarth/USGS Topos

Module 5 - November 16, 2017:a.  Metes and Bounds Practicum (Con’t)  (Sydney Cruice Dixon)

    b.  Genealogical Case Studies  (Frank Southcott)

• John Stringer in Thornbury and Fallowfield Township in 1703 and 1717
• Richard Thomas to William Bane in the Welsh Tract