If you are trying to locate relatives in an oil producing area - don't just
look for deeds and probates. Look for oil and gas leases! They always state
the marital relationship, and often other familial relationships. Spouses
are required to the sign the lease or a separate lease. "John Smith, a
married man dealing in his sole and
separate property" means he is married but inherited his minerals or acquired
them before marriage. All heirs must be located and sign before we are
willing to drill a $500,000 well. To cure title before drilling we locate
and record Affidavits of Heirship, Affidavits of Possession (which give a
history of the land), wills, probates, out of state death certificates, etc.
Depending on the state, these documents might be filed in the Deed books, or
in the Miscellaneous books, or Mining Record books. This is just food for
thought in areas where oil, gas, coal or other mining occurs. This includes
not just the all the Western states, including CA, but also NY, PA, WV, KY,
TN, IL, IN, OH, MI, FL, VA and MO. Trivia - The first gold mine in the US
was in GA prior to 1865. If Kern County CA was a state it would be the 4th
largest oil producing STATE in the US! Oil production was obtained on
Newport Beach in the late 1800s. CO is the 6th largest oil producing state
and also has mining (mostly eastern CO and the area around Grand Junction).
By the way, current mineral owners are usually not the surface owners, but
rather descendants of earlier homesteaders.
Vikki Gray