A T is correct. You need to know a bit about the formation of the
counties, and even the state boundary changes that were made over the
generations. For example:
Good ol' Ellis Campbell (Camel on land records..but that is another story!)
b 1804 in VA... He is shown on the 1840 Ripley co MO census... Next we find
him on the 1850 Shannon co MO census (same land), he finally ends up in Iron
co MO...now family lore, if you read closely says his daughter moves to his
land in 1880 & when he dies, she sells or divides up the land... Ok, if
Ellis was in Ripley co, settling his land in 1839-40...and he has his land
grant in Shannon co, MO... And his daughter sells/divides the land in 1890
in Iron county....hmmmm...
In checking...looks like Iron formed in 1857 from seveal counties..but
Shannon is not one of them...so how did Ellis end up with land in Iron
county? Because several other counties formed from part of Shannon & Ripley
counties over the decades... If I put a little red x on the animap program
where the land should be located in 1839-40... And move ahead to 1860..ah,
ha! Ellis' land was near Current River...a common land boundary is the use
of rivers/streams, etc. Ellis probably never moved as some thought...sat
right there and let the counties move around him.
Check the Bounty land grant site
http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/
Search for your person's land records...this will give the location of the
land...ie...
Aliquot Parts Sec./ Block Township Range Fract. Section Meridian
State Counties Survey Nr.
N ½ NE 36/ 29-N 2-W No 5th PM MO Shannon
So, how do you read the above? The blm site has a township tutor page
http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/Visitors/PLSS.asp . The sections/ranges/
meridians, etc... Never change..they are the same today... So you may find
that that N 1/2 of the NE sect 36 have been put down to lots...but the
layout is the same.
I found on a regular map where the above land was located, then estimated
where on the animap program this would be on the most current map...then
clicked back to 1840...ah, was on border of Ripley & Shannon counties...or
what would be Shannon county.
Not many are aware that St Louis city was once considered to be part of
VA... The 13 original colonies went sea to sea.
Don't let the location or the spelling of a name stop your research... Not
everyone in 1800 had spell check. LOL...
Margie Campbell
Campbell's
http://www.lmcam1.com/
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