In a message dated 05/16/1999 4:53:24 PM Central Daylight Time, ballensr@home.com writes: > I understand that it may not be > possible today to locate the actual land surveyed. At the NGS Conference held in Nashville, TN, in 1996, one of the sessions was on how to locate land with descriptions such as "Begining at a marked black oak . . . " The purpose of the lecture was to teach people how to read and interpret the measurements and actually draw an outline of the property. Definitions of terms such as pole, perch, rod, link, etc., were explained. There are several mapping programs that will do this. Two that I know of are Black Oak Mapper, Black Oak Systems, 7472 Mt. Sherman Rd., Longmont, CO 80503-8678; and Deed Plotter + for Windows, Greenbrier Graphics, Inc., 438 Lockbridge Rd, Meadow Bridge, WV 25976. After you obtain the drawing you compare it to topographic maps of the area using the various waterways which were normally mentioned in such deeds to help you locate the actual piece of property. I'm sorry I'm not able to give a better description or explain it in detail. I've seen it done by professional genealogists so I know it can be done. Jacque