Review of Interpreting Land Records, by Donald A. WilsonInterpreting Land RecordsJohn Wiley & Sons Inc.0-471-71543-3$90.00

Abstract

This book is a new title by a highly respected coauthor and seminar presenter well known to the boundary surveying community. The book includes: 1. Information on records research; 2. Information on surveying methods used in the United States over the past several hundred years; 3. Guidance for confirming a land record with physical evidence on-site; 4. Advice on using historic maps, photographs, and written documents in establishing a boundary for which official records are lost or corrupted; and 5. Definitions for historical words and phrases. Chapter 1 three pages is aptly titled “Introduction to Land Records.” Chapter 2 46 pages is titled “Geometry of the Description” and attempts to serve as an inclusive source on the subject. While significant portions of this chapter are covered in other publications, the author does include hard to find information related to the subject. Chapter 3 51 pages is titled “Records Research: Title Search or Deed Search” and, from a surveyor’s view point, furnishes exhaustive coverage of both subjects. Whether Mr. Wilson can convince the reader that the two areas of research are of equal importance has yet to be determined. Chapter 4 37 pages is titled “Rules of Construction” and covers this complex subject as well, and possibly better, than other respected authors. Many of the “rules” are rudimentary, with helpful explanations and copious footnotes. To Mr. Wilson’s credit, he has also added numerous “more advanced” concepts. Unfortunately, there are a few rules/concepts that maybe should have been excluded. As an example, the Habendum Clause at p. 111 includes a sentence containing 200-plus words followed by an even longer sentence. Also, occasionally, words are used in an unusual context. As an example, “lot” and “lots” are sometimes used to indicate sequentially created parcels rather than simultaneously created parcels. Chapter 5 22 pages is titled “Relative Importance of Conflicting Elements.” The first footnote in the chapter is misleading as one could infer that Courts have been at odds on the issue; this is simply not true because the Courts within a jurisdiction have been very consistent. Also, it is unclear what is attempting to be conveyed by the table shown on page 158. Chapter Six 16 pages is entitled “Exceptions and Reservations.” Chapter 7 nine pages is titled “Words and Phrases.” Possibly, some common errors should have been stated with the hopes that readers would take their authorship of documents more seriously. For instance, how many times have you seen the expression “ten foot on either side” ten foot in width when “ten foot on each side” 20 foot in width was clearly intended? Chapter 8 73