I was wondering if anyone can answer this question. In the early to mid 1800s and before when the country was mostly rural and farmers, were there a lot of people who rented property from someone or possibly "rent to own" type land arrangements as we have them today. When you know your family lived in an area and you can't find a deed for them or their parents, is it likely they could have "rented" property, especially if they were young and just starting out? Also in places where there was land tax collected, was the tax collected from the owner or from the occupant of the land? Is there any way of knowing renter's names of property, if they were just renting the land? Susan