I'm trying to locate where some ancestors lived back in the mid 1800s. I found a Genesee County map which shows each township divided into its 36 sections. I also found two land patents for ancestors, but could not find out how to determine which township the land is in. The first land patent states: Township and range: 5-N and 8-E The second states: Township and range: 9-N and 7-E The only explanation I could find doesn't quite explain it for me. It reads: "A Township is identified by its relationship to a base line and a principal meridian. For example, "Township 5 South, Range 12 West, 5th Principal Meridian" identifies a particular township that is 5 tiers south from the base line of the 5th Principal Meridian." So...before I get carried away trying to find the base line and principal meridian, could anyone tell me what township these two land patents refer to? Most of my ancestors lived around Coldwater Road, on a west-to-east line around Mt. Morris, Genesee, and Richfield townships. Hopefully these numbers refer to one of those. Thanks for any help, Laura in Virginia