Constructing scaled plots from metes and bounds

What do we know? We’ve reviewed how surveyors created legal property descriptions using a system of recording the edges of the property by lines and features on the ground (metes and bounds) and surveys done in advance of land sale that created “rectangular parcels and their sub-divided into alquots of square miles. The lines of metes and bounds were created by running a survey along a straight line with a known angle of inclination for a measured distance. Whenever the boundary turned, or a particularly convenient marker was identified in the line of marking it was noted. Plotted surveys rendered the surveyed lines into a paper map by converting the distances to a proportion of length in feet to a line length in inches.

The matter of measurements Surveying Measurements 1 yard = 3 ft 1 rod, perch, or pole = 25 links = 16.5 ft 4 rods = 1 chain 1 chain = 4 rods = 66 ft = 100 links 10 chains = 1 furlong 1 link = 1/100 of surveyor's chain = 7.92 inches 25 links = 1 rod = 16.5 ft 100 links = 1 chain = 66 ft 1 furlong = 10 chains = 1/8 mile = 220 yards = 660 ft 8 furlongs = 1 mile 1 mile = 80 chains = 320 rods = 1,760 yards = 5,280 ft league = 3 statute miles Units of Area 1 acre = 10 square chains 1 acre = 43,560 square feet 1 square mile = 640 acres

Matters of Direction 17 th century compass 18 th century compass

Trustees to John Coakley Beginning at a point one hundred and eighteen and a half feet from the intersection of Princess Ann and Hanover Streets, on the west side of Princess Ann Street, thence at right angles with that Street westwardly seventy eight feet, thence at right angles southwardly eight & a half feet, thence at right angles westwardly thirty nine and a half feet, thence at right angles southwardly thirty seven & a half feet, thence with a paling South thirty eight & a half degrees West fifteen feet, to the end of said paling, thence at right angles northwardly fourteen feet, thence at right angles westwardly sixty one feet, thence at right angles, northwardly seven feet, thence at right angles westwardly forty six feet, thence at right angles southwardly ninety nine and a half feet, thence at right angles eastwardly one hundred and seven feet to Jesse Curtis’ line, thence northwardly along said Curtis’ and McWilliams’s lines sixty six feet five inches, thence at right angles eastwardly eight feet thence N.9˚ E ten feet, thence due east seven feet, thence at right angles southwardly seven feet, thence at right angles eastwardly one hundred & ten feet to Princess Ann Street, thence up Princess Ann Street sixty six and a half feet, to the beginning point.

Lot N o 1. begins at A, a post at the SE corner of Jos Ficlen’s lot, thence along the edge of the turnpike, about due south 46 1/3 feet to B, a stake, thence S 65° W 116 feet to F a post in the back line, thence N 24¾° W 42½ feet to G the SW corner of the sd Ficklen’s lot, thence with the south line of his lot N 65° E 124 feet to the beginning, containing 18½ square poles. Lot N o 2. begins at B, the SE corner of Lot N o 1, thence with the edge of the Turnpike 67 2/3 feet, to the NW corner of a brick house, belonging to Robert Pollock, thence with that house, N 89½° W 34 2/3 feet to D, thence S 73° W 45 1/3 feet to E, thence N 73° W 41½ feet to the post which is the SW corner of Lot N o 1, thence with a line of that lot N 65° E 114 feet to the beginning & contains 17½ square poles. Gabriel Long April 6 th 1843