I am posting information gleaned from land records in the areas where our family’s ancestors resided. You can read more about this project in the overview. You may also check my deed record listing, which I will update with each post.

This deed transfers another piece in Greenwood township to the Burdick family. Here is my map of the south Greenwood township and north Colfax township, which is based on the old Atlas¹ of Wexford County, with the new piece marked in green. You can enlarge the thumbnail by clicking it.

1. E.L. Hayes & Co., Atlas of Wexford County, Michigan / compiled by Eli L. Hayes from government surveys, county and township records, and personal investigations and observations (Chicago, Ill.: E.L. Hayes & Co., 1889), page 29; digital images, The University of Michigan. Michigan County Histories and Atlases. http://name.umdl.umich.edu/3928170.0001.001 : accessed 2 November 2009.

I am posting information gleaned from land records in the areas where our family’s ancestors resided. You can read more about this project in the overview. You may also check my deed record listing, which I will update with each post.

On the deed I described in this post, John Fenton purchased this piece of land from George Burdick. I believe that John and Susie may have moved to another location in Colfax, or in to Manton.

In the old 1889 Atlas¹, the land is show as owned by George Burdick.

1. E.L. Hayes & Co., Atlas of Wexford County, Michigan / compiled by Eli L. Hayes from government surveys, county and township records, and personal investigations and observations (Chicago, Ill.: E.L. Hayes & Co., 1889), page 29; digital images, The University of Michigan. Michigan County Histories and Atlases. http://name.umdl.umich.edu/3928170.0001.001 : accessed 2 November 2009.

I am posting information gleaned from land records in the areas where our family’s ancestors resided. You can read more about this project in the overview. You may also check my deed record listing, which I will update with each post.

I have been scratching my head over this deed, and the previous two. Although John Fenton was listed on the 1880 census as a horse trader, more than one person appears to be doing a little horse trading. I needed a visual to understand, so here goes:

For reasons I do not understand, George W. Burdick wanted lots 8,9 and 10 in his wife’s name, and could not, or would not transfer them directly to her. I guess Lot 3 is where Susie and John were living in Manton in 1880, when George and Mary J. were out in Colfax township.

I am posting information gleaned from land records in the areas where our family’s ancestors resided. You can read more about this project in the overview. You may also check my deed record listing, which I will update with each post.

In the same month as George transferred lots 8, 9, and 10 to his daughter’s husband, he transfers another of his lots to his daughter. On this date, John Fenton owns lots 8, 9 and 10 and Susie Burdick Fenton owns lot 3.

I am posting information gleaned from land records in the areas where our family’s ancestors resided. You can read more about this project in the overview. You may also check my deed record listing, which I will update with each post.

George is transferring three of the lots he purchased on December, 1876, Liber 4, page 491 to his son-in-law, John Fenton. There were two John Fentons win Colfax Township, John P. and his father. Although this deed did not say, “John P. Fenton”, it could have not been his father who died about 1872. These lots are clearly shown on the map from the old Atlas.¹

According to the 1880 census of Manton², John Fenton was a “dealer in horses”, born Indiana, age 29. George W. Burdick resided in Colfax Township³, perhaps on the land described in the deed recorded in liber 2, page 403 of Wexford County deeds.

1. E.L. Hayes, Atlas of Wexford County, Michigan / compiled by Eli L. Hayes from government surveys, county and township records, and personal investigations and observations (Chicago, Illinois: E.L. Hayes & Co. 1889), page 21, digital images, University of Michigan Library, Michigan County Histories and Atlases (http://name.umdl.umich.edu/3928170.0001.001 : accessed 2 November 2009)
2. “1880 United States Federal Census,” database, (Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 November 2009), entry for John Fenton, [b.] ca 1851, Roll T9_609; Family History Film: 1254609; Page: 469.2000; Enumeration District: 248; Image: 0671.
3. “1880 United States Federal Census,” database, (Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 November 2009), entry for Geo W. Burdick, [b.] ca 1827, Roll T9_609; Family History Film: 1254609; Page: 479.1000; Enumeration District: 248; Image: 0690.

I am posting information gleaned from land records in the areas where our family’s ancestors resided. You can read more about this project in the overview. You may also check my deed record listing, which I will update with each post.

I remember this piece of land, George Burdick purchased E1/2 of the NE 1/4 of T23N R10W from Erasmus D. Abbott. The price was $200.

Now, George is selling 1/2 of the land to his son-in-law, John P. Fenton:

The price is higher, perhaps a reflection of improvements made to the land. Looking closely at the old 1889 atlas¹ shows the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter is a fractional 40. That means that allowances were made for the curvature of the earth along the north line of the township, and this area is not a full 40 acres. It is just over 10 acres short, and I was confused at the time I made the extraction. However, the old map shows it perfectly: 29.97 acres.

You can see that adjustments were made all along the Township line, all the property seems to be fractional, a portion of a 40. the plots just below are are listed as a full 40 acres. You can also see that in 1889, or whenever the data from the 1889 atlas was collected, George W. Burdick owned both pieces, and there appears to be a house on each part.

1. E.L. Hayes & Co., Atlas of Wexford County, Michigan / compiled by Eli L. Hayes from government surveys, county and township records, and personal investigations and observations (Chicago, Ill.: E.L. Hayes & Co., 1889), page 29; digital images, The University of Michigan. Michigan County Histories and Atlases. http://name.umdl.umich.edu/3928170.0001.001 : accessed 2 November 2009.