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.
| Date: | 5 April 1895 |
| Liber: | 38 |
| Page: | 204 |
| Location: | Benzie County, Michigan |
| Grantor: | Weslie Coal (Cole) and Nellie Coal his wife of Leland Township, Benzie County, Michigan |
| Grantee: | George W. Burdick of Colfax, Wexford, Michigan |
| Witnesses: | Mary FL Batt; Richard Bunndage |
| Type of deed: | Quit Claim |
| Rec’d and recording: | 22 May 1896 1:30 |
| Clerk/registrar: | Samuel Wall, Registrar |
| Location of land: | Colfax, Wexford, Michigan |
| Consideration: | $200.00 |
| Notes: | |
| Description: | The W 1/2 of the NE 1/4 Sec 6, T23N R10W |
Here is the land described, as shown in the 1889 Atlas. This transaction was recorded more than a year after it was signed, a long time, but not as long as some other deeds I have seen.
The land is listed as owned by “W H Burdick” in the old 1889 Atlas1. I have not seen another record for an individual name “WH” in Wexford County. Just to check back, I quickly searched the 1870, 1800 and 1900 census indexes of Wexford County for Burdicks, with these results:
1870: George W., Mary J., Susan, and Fank (sic) C., and Mable C. in Colfax Wexford, MI. The closest families with a matching last name were: James C. and James in Manistee Ward 1, Manistee County, MI. and James and Manervia (sic) in Bear Lake, Manistee, MI.
1880: Geo, Mary, Link (sic) and Mabel G in Colfax, Wexford, Michigan. Closest family with a matching last name: Silas R, Mirtie, Larry and (Bingo!) William H. in Hersey, Osceola, Michigan. I jumped back and check Osceola for Burdicks and William H. 1870 and found none.
1900: With more Burdicks moving in, I search specifically for W H, W.H., W and H as first names with the last name Burdick in Wexford, Grand Traverse, Manistee, and Osceola counties. I found no one who might be the land owner listed as W.H. Burdick.
That information combined with my next transcription convinces me that George W. Burdick was simply listed as “H.W.” in error in the Atlas. Here is that deed:
| Date: | 3 Oct 1895 |
| Liber: | 41 |
| Page: | 54 |
| Location: | Branch County, Michigan |
| Grantor: | Eva Hurley & Henry C Bowker Jr of Branch County, Michigan and Permilia A. Holbrook of Fife Lake, Grand Traverse County, MI |
| Grantee: | George W. Burdick of Colfax, Wexford, Michigan |
| Witnesses: | F.A. Keys; Willis M. Driggs |
| Type of deed: | Warranty |
| Rec’d and recording: | 22 May 1896 |
| Clerk/registrar: | Samuel J. Wall, Registrar |
| Location of land: | Colfax, Wexford, Michigan |
| Consideration: | $50.00 |
| Notes: | |
| Description: | The W 1/2 of the NE 1/4 Sec 6, T23N R10 |
I noticed almost immediately that although the deeds were executed in two locations, far distant from each other, they were both recorded in Wexford County on the same day. George W. Burdick obtained title to this 80 acres by purchasing the interest of five individuals.
- 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.
