Land Surveys: Importance and History

 

Land surveys are crucial for establishing boundaries and ownership of property. They determine the precise location and dimensions of land parcels, and they provide a legal record of those measurements. This information is essential for a variety of purposes, including:

• Property ownership: Surveys ensure that individuals and entities have clear and unambiguous title to their land.
• Land development: Accurate surveys are necessary for planning and constructing buildings, roads, and other infrastructure.
• Resource management: Surveys help to manage natural resources such as forests, minerals, and water.

The sources provide insights into the history and practice of land surveying in the context of the development of Pocahontas County, Virginia.

Early Surveying Practices: In the early days of American settlement, land surveys were often rudimentary and informal. People would claim land by marking off boundaries with trees, rocks, or fences. This informal approach to land ownership is illustrated in source , which mentions "tomahawk surveys," where early pioneers simply established their homes and farms without formal surveys or legal documentation. Source , notes that these early settlers paid little attention to prior claims or official land grants.

Colonial Surveying Methods: As colonial settlement expanded, more formal surveying methods were adopted. Colonial governments would issue warrants for land, and surveyors would then go out and measure and mark off the boundaries of the parcels. These surveys were typically based on a system of metes and bounds, which involved describing the land in terms of its natural features and the distances between them. Source describes a 1760 surveying manual by John Love that details the process of surveying by chain and lays out new lands in America.

Surveyors in Pocahontas County: The sources mention several individuals who served as surveyors in Pocahontas County. Source mentions John Baxter, Paul McNeel, and George Edmiston, who worked together to locate vacant lands. Source identifies Sampson L. Mathews as the first surveyor of Pocahontas County and notes that George Baxter served as County Surveyor. The sources also mention John Jordan, the first High Sheriff of Pocahontas County, who may have had some surveying knowledge. Source suggests that even a maple tree served as a survey corner in Pocahontas County, with the note that "Tree was used for hitching and as survey corner for much of the property around it."

Land Grants and Patents: After the American Revolution, the federal government began issuing land grants and patents to individuals and companies. These grants were based on surveys conducted by licensed surveyors, and they provided legal title to the land. Source describes the process of obtaining a land patent after the Revolution, which involved paying a fee and having a warrant granted by the government. Source lists the names of individuals who received land grants in various locations throughout Pocahontas County between 1830 and 1853.

Challenges and Disputes: Land surveying was a challenging and often contentious process in early America. Surveyors had to contend with difficult terrain, dense forests, and sometimes hostile Native American tribes. Disputes over boundaries were common, and they often led to litigation. Source mentions a land dispute between George Poage and the Moore family over a 575-acre parcel. Source notes that after a couple of generations, the validity of big land surveys was challenged, and Philadelphia lawyers, unfamiliar with Virginia statutes and precedents, often failed to properly protect the interests of their clients.

Later Developments: As technology advanced, surveying methods became more accurate and efficient. The invention of the transit and theodolite allowed surveyors to measure angles and distances with greater precision. In the 20th century, the development of aerial photography and GPS made it possible to survey large areas of land quickly and accurately. The tax maps in source illustrate how modern surveying techniques are used to create detailed maps of property boundaries in Pocahontas County.

Land surveying played a vital role in the development of the United States. From the informal claims of early settlers to the precise measurements of modern surveyors, the practice of land surveying has helped to shape the landscape and define property ownership in America.