In a message dated 04/23/2001 3:46:52 PM Mountain Daylight Time, martee@citlink.net writes: > In the > colonies and early states, not only were the > positions of surveyor and chain carrier VERY > important ones by reason of the sacrosanct > nature of real estate in the view of our > ancestors, but also those positions were > often hired and paid for by the county or the > commonwealth/colony. In fact, oaths were > administered and reputations for honesty were > prerequisite for those offices. One of the joys of genealogy is discovering personal pieces of American History. I have several deeds from Frederick Co. VA--surveyed by a sixteen-year old George Washington for Lord Fairfax. In fact, it's hard to find 1750s land around Winchester that George didn't survey! I guess he had the requisite honesty. :) Karen Dale