Use Maps and Plats
A practical method to connect a record’s legal description to a defensible geographic reference.
This guide has one purpose: connect a record’s legal description to a defensible geographic reference. It does not publish family profiles or claim relationships for real residents. The result should be a transparent research trail that another person can inspect.
Begin with a bounded question
Classify the map: atlas plate, ownership map, road map, survey, or recorded plat. Record its date, publisher, scale, legend, and repository. A bounded question prevents a search from collecting same-name records that cannot be tied to the same identity. It also makes it clear when the available evidence does not answer the question.
Working method
Compare labels with deeds and recorded plats. Use township, range, section, subdivision, and lot identifiers instead of relying on a modern pin dropped by an online map. Record what was searched, including unsuccessful searches, and distinguish information stated by a record from conclusions inferred by the researcher. If a digital index and record image disagree, transcribe both and investigate the difference.
The finished work product
Aim for a map citation plus a note explaining what geographic claim it supports. Include stable identifiers, image or page references, repository names, and access dates. Avoid copying sensitive information about living people into public notes. When access rules are unclear, consult the official custodian before requesting or sharing a document.
Quality questions
- Does the proposed “Use Maps and Plats” result actually answer the bounded question?
- Did the source exist close to the event being studied?
- Who supplied the information, and could that person know it?
- Is the item an original record, image, transcript, abstract, or index?
- Does an independent source support the identification?
- Can another researcher reproduce the search from the citation?
For the use maps and plats workflow, continue with land chain, the public-records directory, and the Whitley County places guide.