When the land now included in the United States was first settled by Europeans in the 17th and 18th centuries, it was surveyed and described by the system known as metes and bounds. A monument or landmark was selected as the site for the beginning of the land description and then by measuring angles and lengths, the boundaries of the parcel of land were described, tracing the outline back to the place of beginning. Because markers were used that were not necessarily permanent, like trees or stakes placed in the ground, it could be difficult to go back and identify the exact boundaries after passage of time. All of the original thirteen colonies and the states of Vermont, Kentucky and Tennessee were surveyed using this method. Beginning with the settling of the Northwest Territory, which included the land north and west of the Ohio River and including the present state of Ohio, the government decreed that a new system of survey would be used. This new rectangular system used fixed meridians of longitude and latitude to begin their measurements and blocks of land six miles square were laid out as townships and ranges. Ranges were measured east and west, and townships north and south. A block that was one Range (six miles east and west) wide and one Township (six miles north and south) long became a political division called a township. A township contained thirty-six numbered sections of land each of which was one square mile and contained six-hundred and forty acres. The first land so surveyed was in northeast Ohio, and was known as the First Seven Ranges. The land settled by our ancestors in Belmont County was included in this tract of land.

In the abstracts and deeds that follow here, the land description of any land surveyed using metes and bounds is omitted because the descriptions are lengthy and largely useless in identifying its precise location today. Sometimes in the metes and bounds system a tract of land was given a name such as “Dry Mountain.” This can help in identifying the land on some old maps, so in some cases the name is included. The transactions below are listed in the order in which they occurred, from oldest to most recent. At the end of the abstracts are two deeds which I copied in their entirety because of their historical significance in our family history.

March 31, 1722

Luke and Ann Moseley to George Chappel
50 acres; £10 (10 pounds, sterling)
Princess Anne County, Virginia

Land patent to Andrew Brown
On the waters of Reed Creek adjoining land of Kegley, Brooner & Murphy
Montgomery County, Virginia (Wythe County after 1790)

Land patent to Michael Brown (Jr.)
57 acres on the waters of Cove Creek, branch of Reed Creek
Wythe County, Virginia

Land patent to Michael Brown (Jr.)
135 acres "In the cove adjoining Fenley"
Wythe County, Virginia

John and Eve Wise to John Wise Jr.
49 acres & 130 perches; ₤150
Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Jacob Riggs et al to Jacob Wise
Part of Sec 33 T2 R14; 21-1/10 acres; $1 and "other considerations"
(The other consideration appears to be $683 paid to Jacob Riggs in 1871)
Clay Township, Gallia County, Ohio

Deed conveying land from Isaac Fickle to Henry Wise

Know all men by these presents that now Isaac Fickle and Frances Fickle wife of the said Isaac Fickle of the county of Gallia and State of Ohio in consideration of the sum of five hundred sixty three dollars in hand paid by John Wise of the County of Belmont and State of Ohio have bargained and sold and do hereby grant bargain, sell and convey unto Henry Wise, son of the said John Wise, his heirs and assigns forever the following premises situate in the County of Gallia in the State of Ohio and in the west end of lot number twelve hundred and forty three (1243) in section thirty five (35) town number two (2) range fourteen of the Ohio Company purchase and bounded and described as follows, being the west end of said lot 1243 and bounded east by land now owned by Isaac Jeffers north by lot No. 1243 west by said town No. 14 south by section 34 of said Town and Range containing eighty acres be the same more or less. To have and to hold said premises with the appurtenances unto the said Henry Wise his heirs & assigns forever. And the said Isaac Fickle for himself his heirsdoth hereby covenant with said Henry Wise his heirs and assigns that he is lawfully discharged of the premises aforesaid and that the premises are free and clear from all encumbrances whatsoever, and that he will forever warrant and defend the same with the appurtenances unto the said Henry Wise his heir and assigns against the peaceful claims of all persons whosoever. In Testimony whereof the said Isaac Fickle and Frances Fickle his wife have hereunto set their hands and seals this twenty seventh day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty.

Executed in presence of                                       Isaac Fickle (seal)
Uriah Evans - Israel Cunningham                         Frances x Fickle (seal)

      State of Ohio Gallia County On the twenty seventh day of March AD 1840 before me a Justice of the Peace with and for the County of Gallia personally appeared the within named Isaac Fickle and Frances Fickle his wife who signed and sealed and acknowledged the within deed to be her act and deed for the purposes therein explained. And the said Frances Fickle wife of the said Isaac Fickle being by me examined separate and apart from her said husband and the contents of said deed being fully made known to her she did declare upon such separate examination that she did voluntarily sign seal and acknowledge the same and that she is still satisfied therewith. Given under my hand and seal the day and year as above written.

      The State of Ohio Gallia County           George Northrup JP (seal)
the foregoing is a true copy           Gallipolis May 30th AD 1840
               Attest (signature indecipherable)

(It is interesting to note that the above deed is witnessed by one Israel Cunningham, who is John Wise’s son-in-law and Henry Wise’s brother-in-law. He and his wife, Catherine, were living in Clay Township, Gallia County at the time. Catherine was one of John Wise’s daughters.)

Deed from Jacob & Catherine Pickle to Frederick Leonard

This Indenture made the ninth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety nine between Jacob Pickle & Catharine his wife of the County of Wythe and State of Virginia of the one part and Frederick Leonard of the County and State as said of the other part. Witnesseth that for and in consideration of two hundred dollars lawful money of Virginia to them in hand paid by the said Frederick Leonard the receipt whereof the said Jacob Pickle and Catharine his wife do hereby acknowledge, do give grant bargain and sell unto the said Frederick Leonard, a certain parcel of land containing one hundred & forty acres conveyed to said Jacob Pickle by John Jacob Raboss (Repass) lying in Wythe County on the waters of Cove Creek in and bounded as followeth to wit Beginning at a white oak a corner to said Leonards land thence North twenty eight degrees West one hundred & eighteen poles to chestnut & black oak on the top of a ridge, North fifty five degrees East one hundred two poles to three hicory ?g subbs, on the North side of a hill then South forty nine & a half degrees East two hundred ten ??? the line of division to two black oaks a corner to the ????? with a line thereof South eighty two degrees West two hundred poles to the Beginning. Together with all its appurtenances to the said Frederick Leonard and his heirs to the sole use and benefit of the said Frederick Leonard and his heirs & the said Jacob Pickle & Catharine his wife for themselves and their heirs the said parcel of land with its appurtenances unto the said Frederick Leonard & his heirs against all persons will forever warrant and defend. In Witness thereof the said Jacob Pickle and Catharine his wife have hereunto subscribed their Names and affixed their seals the date first above written.

(These were not real signatures. Same handwriting as the document. The sale took place in 1799, but was apparently not recorded until August 9, 1802).