Recently, Lee Ramsey replied to a sender with this language, inter alia: "They were no doubt kinsmen, as they all purchased tracts of land at the same time, being ajacent to one another and being chain bearers for each other and their ajacent neighbors." What is a chain bearer?

Surveying at the time was done with chains. :) At 06:17 PM 5/29/02, Beryl Anthony wrote: >Recently, Lee Ramsey replied to a sender with this language, inter alia: >"They were no doubt kinsmen, as they all purchased tracts of land at the >same time, being ajacent to one another and being chain bearers for each >other and their ajacent neighbors." > >What is a chain bearer? > > >============================== >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

Beryl, My good friend Lee will set me straight if I answer your question incorrectly. In the early days of king's land grants, colonial governor grants, and outright land purchases, there was an absence of surveyors. Typically found in pre-1800 deed records are "legal descriptions" of property annotated by "John Doe, CC" or "John Doe, ACC". Where "cc" = chain carrier and "acc" = assistant chain carrier. Land measurements in those days and until now in some instances, was measured by "poles" or "rods" and "chains". If I am not mistaken, a chain is 16' . To keep folks honest when laying out the land granted or purchased, the buyer would often designate a relative or close friend to serve as chain carrier or assistant chain carrier during the property survey. Sort of like a caddy keeping score in a round of golf. Hope this answers your question. Regards, Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: Beryl Anthony <beryla@mindspring.com> To: <NCMECKLE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2002 9:17 PM Subject: [NCMECKLE-L] "Chain bearers" > Recently, Lee Ramsey replied to a sender with this language, inter alia: > "They were no doubt kinsmen, as they all purchased tracts of land at the > same time, being ajacent to one another and being chain bearers for each > other and their ajacent neighbors." > > What is a chain bearer? > > > ============================== > 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 >

Hi Beryl, The chain bearers held the surveyors chain attached to poles much like measuring for a "first down" in football. Usually chain bearers were family members and close neighbors, who were available when the survey was conducted. Sometimes you find the word "processioned," in the records, and this means the land was surveyed due to a boundry dispute or following the death of the land owner, or the owner has requested the land to be surveyed. This was accomplished by a county surveyor, and became apart of the court minutes. Lee Ramsey Lee > > > ============================== > 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 > >