Re: Chenango Co. Resources & Chains and links?

Judy Moulton (jamoult@ibm.net)
Fri, 6 Dec 1996 01:26:41 GMT

At 05:52 PM 12/5/96 +0000, you wrote:
>Hi fellow researchers,
>
>Over the Thanksgiving weekend I was visiting the old hometown of
>Norwich, NY, and took the opportunity to check on some of the
>genealogical resources available in Chenango County.
>
>I visited the County Clerk's Office on Friday and found they had
>several avenues of genealogical resources to explore. The property
>deeds held in the CCO are indexed and are well laid out and easy to
>use. I was able to track down most of the deeds in the family name
>(some 10 or 11 deeds and transactions) in less than an hour.
>
>The CCO also has the 1850 and 1860 federal census and the 1875,
>1905 and 1915 NYS census in the original books & bindings. I found
>one of the nicest aspects of the 1875 census was that it contained
>the birthplace or county of each person listed.
>
>I also visited the Local History Room in the Guernsey Memorial
>Library and found out that many of the cemeteries in Chenango Co.
>have been indexed. They will do searches at very reasonable rates.
>
>Now my question. While tracking down some of the family's deeds, I
>came across several references to measurements taken in chains and
>links, especially in deeds druing the period 1880-1900. I vaguely
>seem to recall these being related to rods & acres, etc. as units of
>land measurement. Could someone please refresh my memory,
>especially with the modern (foot/yard) equivalents, if possible.
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>Bob
>
>Here is the info on land measurements.
25 links equal 16.5 ft which is also 1 rod

100 links equal 66 ft or 4 rods or 1 chain

80 chains equal 5,280 ft or 1 mile

1 link is a little under 8 inches.

Many original land surveys used these measurements. My father always
referred to his field sizes as being 80 rods by 20 rods, etc. Hope this
helps. Judy Moulton.
>

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