On 24 Jul 2004 at 13:44, Kith-n-Kin wrote: > Let's see, your family deeded land to the Websters and then the > Websters deeded it right back? > > Check a couple of things. > > Were the names *exactly* the same? Was there one less or one more > person? Was one name spelled differently? I could send you the deeds. :-) The people are identical as is the property. The description varies a little in that initial deed lists all 6 purchases (assumed) of pieces of land which makes up the present property. Looking at these deeds they represent a purchase of 10 feet from a brother, another 10 feet on the other side, then 50 feet and then another 10 feet. The deed from the Websters (whoever they were) back to the Bessie Levin then says being the same land as listed in the above Webster deed. It sounds like a consolidation to get a proper property description to me. The various chunks were purchased in the 20s when times were not good. There is another deed at the same time of another chunk of property from the then neighbor who was the successor to the brother's place. All of this was now consolidated into one property description. Recently I purchased another slice from the property next door so that I could better get to the chuck above which used to be the carriage house of my neighbor's place. I had to go through thousands of dollars worth of legal hassle to get this properly recorded and had to apply for a min or subdivision for my neighbor who basically gave me the piece for an old car I had. So the value was insignificant but the legal hassle the opposite. The lawyers had to also go through hoops to get a new property description which now included this new land as a part of the whole. In the old days I think they just went to the county clerk and told them what they did with a deed and notary's signature. > This procedure was/is used to clear a title or change the names on the > title. I think this must have been it. The Websters were probably just good friends used in the transaction. Fred 26 Warren St. Beverly, NJ 08010 FredRump@earthlink.net 609-386-6846 "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect." - Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)