New/Olde Maps
In a nutshell…it was impossible before the 1890s to “practically” plot a survey on a large map because the maps sucked so bad. It wasn’t until the late 1800s that the USGS started making accurate maps… its that simple.
Folks are bedazzled by my maps..they ponder how I do it, and ask “Where can I get one of those that shows my Great Great Great Grampa?” or something to that effect. You can’t. But you can make one of your own.
Here is where to download the “Historical/Olde” maps…
https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/topoview/viewer/#4/39.98/-100.02
click the blue filename below the graphic toget a better view…
The Patents (surveys)…
…a whole nuther can of worms, unfortunately… I use the Library of Virginia online to find Virginia patents (dating back to about 1623). I use NCLandgrants to find North Carolina patents.
The “Art and Mystery” of drawing the old patents…(which were extremely accurate back then) and are STILL extremely accurate today) is the difficult part. First, the map has to be “scaled” to one inch equals one mile…and then the Patent has to be scaled to one inch equals one mile.
Then you place the patent on the map and marvel at the history of it all. Its like Steve Martin once remarked…”How to turn a million dollars into a FORTUNE!… First, get a million dollars. then…”