Barbara McLeod wrote: > At the NC State Archives we have checked deeds, wills/probate to > include cross-reference of possible allied families when available, FWIW, maybe 2 cents in a sellers' market ... I opened a very large, oddly labelled, book at the County Clerk's office one day and discovered myself looking at plat maps, including the one for the house I grew up in. I no longer remember the label, but when I was gleefully reporting this find to some other researchers, I was assured that ALL county clerks' offices have such books. Not having looked in ALL county clerks' offices, I won't vouch for it. I would /assume/ that hiring a title search company in Duplin County might be helpful. Whether it would be cost-effective is a little doubtful, but it might be comforting to keep it as a last-resort sort of thing. Cheryl singhals <singhals@erols.com>

On Thu, Oct 2, 2008 at 4:16 PM, > I would /assume/ that hiring a title search company in Duplin County > might be helpful. Whether it would be cost-effective is a little > doubtful, but it might be comforting to keep it as a last-resort > sort of thing. > > Cheryl Singhals <singhals@erols.com> wrote: Cheryl, I do not know how to approach this situation you have described. Do I locate a title search company, tell them what I seek and supply what records? Is cost discussed with one prior to the company's beginning of the project? Thanks for the help. Barbara Mac "Barbara McLeod" <1brown1blue@gmail.com>

> > I would /assume/ that hiring a title search company in Duplin County > > might be helpful. Whether it would be cost-effective is a little > > doubtful, but it might be comforting to keep it as a last-resort > > sort of thing. > > > > Cheryl Singhals <singhals@erols.com> wrote: > > > > Cheryl, I do not know how to approach this situation you have > described. Do I locate a title search company, tell them what I > seek and supply what records? Is cost discussed with one prior to > the company's beginning of the project? > > Barbara McLeod In my neck of the woods, they're listed in the yellow pages. Most real estate offices or mortgage companies would know one. I haven't LOOKED but I'd assume any on-line yellow pages would show them. Call one in your own area and ask THEM for their opinion on whether it's doable and what it might cost. Prices can have a huge variation even in the same town, so yes, ask price structure FIRST. It's been 20+ years since I paid for one, so who knows today's market? You might also consider a letter to the newspaper in that corner of NC -- Few details, just "does anyone happen to know where the [insert surname here] family lived in the County? I know they owned 450 acres in [date here], but I don't know where." I've had excellent luck with letters to the editor all over the country. Cheryl singhals <singhals@erols.com>