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Where the Record Ends

Research case 03

Where was Benjamin’s family burial ground?

The will proves a reserved family burial square and a later survey names Benjamin and Hannah. The known patent and survey disagree by one range.[13][29][65][66]

Evidence and context

Visual archive

Every image states whether it is part of the evidence or only supplies period and place context.

Examine the case file

What records say

Three records describe land, a burial square, and a cemetery.

They overlap, but they do not yet form a proved title-and-location chain.

1835 · patent

A known Range 11 tract

A federal patent establishes Benjamin’s Section 20 land in Township 55 North, Range 11 West.[13]

1853 · recorded will

A farm with a reserved burial square

The will-book copy devises the farm to James S. and reserves a burial ground containing Benjamin’s wife.[65]

Later derivative survey

A Meason cemetery in Range 10

The survey names Hannah and Benjamin and places the cemetery in Section 20, Township 55 North, Range 10 West.[66]