Land & History

Overview of the Land

• acreage (if known)
• general location
• how long the land has been in the family (estimate is fine)
• how it’s used today

Early Ownership and Use

• earliest date you’re aware of
• original owner (if known)
• whether it was farmed, wooded, mixed use, etc.
• note anything uncertain as “believed” or “estimated”

Families Associated with the Property

• family names
• approximate time periods
• owners vs. tenants (if known)
• note uncertainty plainly if needed

Farming and Land Use Over Time

• crops or livestock (past or present)
• wooded vs. cleared land
• major changes (orchard added, fields retired, etc.)
• note timeframes if you know them

What Is Known and What Is Still Being Researched

• what you’re confident about
• what is partial or uncertain
• what you intend to research later (records, photos, oral history)