DeedMapper Users: Thanks to those who have been willing to respond to my beginner questions. I am entering data into DeedMapper from microfilmed copies of plats made in GA during the late 1700's. The lines on the plats are marked with a heading and then a number presumably indicating distance, but there is no unit of length after this number. The scale is given for each plat though--usually 20 chains per inch. So I am assuming that the unit of length used in these plats is the "chain." The last two digits of these numbers seem to be separated from the rest by a small space, and in the plats I have looked at so far they are always either 00 or 50. I assume that this two digit number indicates "links." However, when I enter these distances as chains and links, while the plat generated by DeedMapper generally has the shape of the plat on the microfilm, the ending point fails to close with the beginning. Another problem is that the measurement of area generated by DeedMapper is greater than that indicated on the plat. Can someone could tell me whether or not I am correct in assuming that the units of length used in these plats are probably "chains" and "links"? Thanks for any assistance. Leo Leonard

If the unit is poles rather than chains I'd expect the measured area to be too large by a factor of 16. How far off is the area? If the area is only a bit too large (say within 20 percent) then it is a normal kind of error. Closure errors of hundreds of feet are the norm on parcels of 100 acres. With experience you'll be able to tell when a parcel truly has an error as opposed to something less sinister. Transposed digits, confusion of digits, and other clerical errors can lead to faulty plats. Steve Broyles ----- Original Message ----- From: "Leo Leonard" <platicando@worldnet.att.net> To: <DEED-MAPPER-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 3:57 PM Subject: [DMU] Units of Length GA Late 1700's > DeedMapper Users: > > Thanks to those who have been willing to respond to my beginner questions. > > I am entering data into DeedMapper from microfilmed copies of plats made in > GA during the late 1700's. The lines on the plats are marked with a heading > and then a number presumably indicating distance, but there is no unit of > length after this number. The scale is given for each plat though--usually > 20 chains per inch. So I am assuming that the unit of length used in these > plats is the "chain." The last two digits of these numbers seem to be > separated from the rest by a small space, and in the plats I have looked at > so far they are always either 00 or 50. I assume that this two digit number > indicates "links." However, when I enter these distances as chains and > links, while the plat generated by DeedMapper generally has the shape of the > plat on the microfilm, the ending point fails to close with the beginning. > Another problem is that the measurement of area generated by DeedMapper is > greater than that indicated on the plat. > > Can someone could tell me whether or not I am correct in assuming that the > units of length used in these plats are probably "chains" and "links"? > > Thanks for any assistance. > Leo Leonard > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

Steve Broyles: Thanks for the reply and the additional information. Using the criteria in your message quoted below, it appears that the discrepancies between the acreage show on the plats I am researching and the acreage generated by DeedMapper--as well as the closure errors I am getting--are within acceptable limits. It is reassuring to know that you will help with questions like mine. Leo Leonard ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Broyles" <steve.broyles@attbi.com> To: <DEED-MAPPER-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 7:49 PM Subject: Re: [DMU] Units of Length GA Late 1700's > If the unit is poles rather than chains I'd expect the measured area to be > too large by a factor of 16. How far off is the area? If the area is only > a bit too large (say within 20 percent) then it is a normal kind of error. > > Closure errors of hundreds of feet are the norm on parcels of 100 acres. > With experience you'll be able to tell when a parcel truly has an error as > opposed to something less sinister. Transposed digits, confusion of digits, > and other clerical errors can lead to faulty plats. > > Steve Broyles > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Leo Leonard" <platicando@worldnet.att.net> > To: <DEED-MAPPER-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 3:57 PM > Subject: [DMU] Units of Length GA Late 1700's > > > > DeedMapper Users: > > > > Thanks to those who have been willing to respond to my beginner questions. > > > > I am entering data into DeedMapper from microfilmed copies of plats made > in > > GA during the late 1700's. The lines on the plats are marked with a > heading > > and then a number presumably indicating distance, but there is no unit of > > length after this number. The scale is given for each plat > though--usually > > 20 chains per inch. So I am assuming that the unit of length used in > these > > plats is the "chain." The last two digits of these numbers seem to be > > separated from the rest by a small space, and in the plats I have looked > at > > so far they are always either 00 or 50. I assume that this two digit > number > > indicates "links." However, when I enter these distances as chains and > > links, while the plat generated by DeedMapper generally has the shape of > the > > plat on the microfilm, the ending point fails to close with the beginning. > > Another problem is that the measurement of area generated by DeedMapper is > > greater than that indicated on the plat. > > > > Can someone could tell me whether or not I am correct in assuming that the > > units of length used in these plats are probably "chains" and "links"? > > > > Thanks for any assistance. > > Leo Leonard > > > > > > ============================== > > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, > go to: > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >