Land Ownership (Plat) Maps

Beyond knowing the place where your ancestor lived, a good working knowledge of each location can be important when it comes to knowing what records are available and where you can find them. Of the several types of maps, land ownership (plat) maps are a favorite among genealogists.

What sets land ownership (plat) maps apart from most other maps is that they list property owners’ names. Neighbors were often relatives or became relatives through marriage. It’s a terrific way to locate families living in the same location.





I found a land ownership map for Bristol/ Bridgewater, New Hampshire. I was able to locate my Great Grandfather’s family farm. This Great Grandfather moved out west and then went back to New Hampshire to visit his family. He left a detailed journal of his travels and who he visited. Through the land ownership map, found at davidrumsey.com, I was able to track exactly where he went and locate the relatives that lived in that area.

Another land ownership map I found at davidrumsey.com showed an area that had just been settled by the pilgrims. Through the names listed on the map, I was able to locate six direct line ancestors living in that area. This information helped in locating records of births, marriages, and deaths of these direct line ancestors and their children.




Probate records of my 3rd great-grandfather listed his address in Newburyport, Massachusetts. When I Googled “plat maps Newburyport Massachusetts,” I found several maps located in google images. One particular plat map was from 1851. A few years after the death of this grandfather but worth searching. On this map, I found his wife was still living at the address listed in the probate records. I then turned to Google Earth and looked at the address. I was able to determine that the house listed at that address is the same house that my 3rd great-grandfather lived in. The house is still standing and converted into a restaurant.




Land ownership or plat maps are a great resource for genealogical research. Ancestry, FamilySearch, davidrumsey.com, Library of Congress, are a few of the many internet sites that have land ownership (plat) maps. Using Google to find the plat maps for your location is a fantastic way to search through the many sites and find what is available.