confusing old calls

Would need to look at the whole description, the adjoiners descriptions, occupation and check the deed history. Somewhere in there is the clue that will make the document make sense, maybe not good sense, but useful for retracement. What does the tax lot look like? Is this a tract standing on it's own or has it been incorporated into a larger tract? Many questions and not enough info.
jud

> I have a deed from the early 1900's and it has some calls I have never seen. If anyone can tell me what these mean, I would appreciate it.
>
> First: Some of the calls are Thence South 10 rods, but others are: Thence South of East 10 rods, thence West of South 30 rods etc. Since they have no degrees, I'm not sure what they mean.
>
> Second: 36 acres WS, SE4 of the SE4 - Any idea what WS means? I might think west side, but this acreage is definitely on the east side of the SE4 SE4
>
> Thanks,
> Barbara

I've seen quite a few of these descriptions here in ye ole colonial state. South of East can (usually) be translated as a bearing which is south of east, or any arc between South 90° East and South 67° 30' East. Or, if one thinks they meant southeast, that can as a general but not hard and fast rule, be any bearing between South 22° 30' East and South 67° 30' East.

West of South could be a bearing between South 0° West and South 22° 30' West. Or, it could be south west.

10 Rods would typically be 10*16.5 = 165 feet. Depending on where one is located, a Rod might not necessarily equal 16.5 feet.

I have no idea what WS could mean.

Have you found any physical evidence that might match any of the calls in the record?

I'm not surveying, but mapping from deed references and that is all I have to look at. The full description for the first example is more of the same type of calls and the second example is the full description, leaving out the location for privacy reasons. I have no tax map to look at, either. I just thought that maybe 'South of East' used to be used for some set angle, like 45 degrees, for instance. I don't have the information that you are asking for.....sorry!!
Barbara

> I'm not surveying, but mapping from deed references

Here we go...

In that case I would map the surrounding properties and see what was left and if it could be construed to match the document in some fashion. Good luck and welcome to a small part of the daily life of a Land Surveyor.
jud

Thanks for the information! I am not on the ground surveying, but in an office trying to map these tracts in GIS, without any better deed reference descriptions. These tracts are in a state where almost no recent surveys have been done. Recent being in the last 75 years or so.
Barbara

Here we go...GIS getting into mapping properties again..then the boundaries they come up with with be used to determine setbacks from buildings by the code enforcement officers...then a sureyor will come in an accurately locate the boundaries on the ground to the best of his ability based on the deeds and the GIS and Code Enforcement officers will question the accuracy of the survey because it does n0t agree with their maps...and the homeowner will get on the local GIS website and determine how far it is from his dwelling to the property line by clicking on a distance measuring tool and then go out and put up a shed or a fence...and on and on .. and on...

🙂 Sorry GIS person 🙂 could not resist

> These tracts are in a state where almost no recent surveys have been done. Recent being in the last 75 years or so.
> Barbara

I know the economy is bad but that is ridiculous. Those descriptions look more like assessor abbreviations to me, not actual deed descriptions. A phone call to the assessors office might shed some light on "WS".

Welcome Barbara
Additional research of the previous deeds in the chain of title and surrounding deeds is most likely in order. What appears abbreviated in today's deed, may have been spelled out in the prior deed, and or adjoiners deed.

Newton gave you some great info on the rod's and direction calls.;-)
Keep in mind that some deeds can't be mapped out from the face of the description.:-(

Sorry that happens to you folks! I'm mapping tracts for O&G leasing, not for anyone to determine where their property line is located. If a well is drilled, real live surveyors will be brought in to determine the locations. I don't pretend to be a surveyor. I've been map drafting in AutoCAD or GIS for 16 years and I know too many surveyors to pretend to be one!!
Barbara

Thanks for telling us why you are asking and what you do. Keep the site handy, a good source of info, BS and an insult or two.
jud

Thanks Jered,
Unfortunately, the surrounding tract descriptions are of no help. The tract that is right next to the one with the 'South of East' calls is described as a rectangle. Something is not right, but I depend on others to send me the info for the map and they tell me that is the only description of it.

You were right about the info on the rods and such. It is good info!

Barbara

You're welcome! I have been delighted that I found this site and at the quick responses I've received, even those who made incorrect assumptions. 🙂
Thanks!
Barbara

Here's a link you might find useful;

Surveying Units and Terms

In the first example, did the deed mention trees, rocks, etc.. The deeds I have seen that are vague on the bearings usually call to some physical marking. Doesn't help much for deed plotting. But for your purposes I suppose you could assume anywhere in that quadrant that looks good.

In the second example, I have not seen that one (WS). Have seen others that eventually make sense. Without more, I think it has to be the entire aliquot part, which may have only amounted to 36 acres due to error and/or mistake. Again, can only do so much with a deed plot. Not your problem if people mis-use it, as long as the finished product has metadata and disclaimers.

The whole deed would help though. What is the privacy issue? Are these not public records? Will the GIS be a private database? Are the lease locations protected by homeland security or simply trying to keep other companies from knowing your plans? Just curious, don't answer if you think you shouldn't.

"WS" Seems more like the abbreviations often made up by Assessors when transcribing a deed description by their own form of shorthand into their assessment records.

My guess as to "South of East", etc. would be like giving the compass point of East-Southeast.

Perhaps this will help

go to www.weights-and-measures.com/xcomcompass.html

good luck

Perhaps this will help

Barbara~

Welcome to the site. Please ignore the negative posts. This site has lots of good people with lots of knowledge and sometimes they try to be funny and sometime just rude.

This could be a typo of some type too. I've seen deeds that had had switch number to directions too. That is why you check the adjoining deeds and also go back to the previous deed(s) (chain of title) to see what has happened. Might have to go all the way to patent. Sadly there are some really bad deeds out there, but that is what keeps us surveyors working.

If you can give more info on where this locations is, someone might be able to help you out.

For South Of East Substitute ESE

Use the 16 main points of the mariner's compass to sketch it up.

ESE = Az 112°30' or S 67°30'.

Paul in PA