World Archives Project: Delaware, Land Records, 1677-1947

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About this project This collection contains land records, mostly deed books of indentures, from Delaware between the years 1677 and 1947.

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Project-specific sample images and form field help:

Choose a sample image from below to see the corresponding form field examples.
Deed Book
Title Page

Deed Book

• The following records should be classified as 'Deed Book
• 

  Many of the records you will see are in this two page/image format.

• 

  In this image you can see the names and year highlighted.

• 

  In this image you can see the names and year highlighted.

The majority of the images you will encounter will be Deed Books. The image may appear as two pages in a bound book or as two loose sheets. The records in the bound book will most often be handwritten and the records on loose sheets will most often be typed. Images will be classified as a Deed Book unless they are a Title page of Image with No Data. Key all of the names of individuals you encounter on the record. If the name appears multiple times on the record key it only once, in its most complete version. (Use the various versions of the name to come up with the most complete version.)

Year

Key the year of the deed. The year may appear in numerals or written longhand. Enter the year in numerical format, for example 1882. If more than one year appears on an image create a new section to key the information from the additional deed(s) on the image.

Prefix

Key any titles before the given name, such as "Dr", "Rev", "Mr" or "Mrs", using the dictionary provided for assistance. If a prefix does not appear in a dictionary then key the prefix as seen.  If a name appears on an image multiple times, key the name only once. Key the the most complete version of the name. For example, key "John Adam Smith" as opposed to "John A Smith."

Given Name

Key the first and middle names for each unique person found on an image. If a name appears on an image multiple times, key the name only once. Key the the most complete version of the name. For example, key "John Adam Smith" as opposed to "John A Smith." Key the given name using the dictionary provided. If the given name does not appear in the dictionary, key as seen.

Surname

Key the surname for each unique person found on an image. Key the the most complete version of the name. For example, key "John Adam Smith" as opposed to "John A Smith." If a name appears more than once on the image key it only once. If the surname does not appear in the dictionary key it as seen. If a name appears without a surname, "Jennie M, his wife" and you cannot find a more complete version of the name on the record, use the parent's or husband's surname. When there isn't a surname on the record mark the field as blank.

Suffix

Key all titles, such as "Jr" or "III", following the surname of the primary person to whom the record applies using the dictionary provided for assistance. If a suffix does not appear in a dictionary then key the suffix as seen.

Title Page

http://c.mfcreative.com/i/akt/projecthelp/31303/31303_257008-00000.jpg

The title page is the image that appears before a set of records. It generally includes the county to which the records pertain, a reel number, and what records have been microfilmed.

County

The county will be found on the title page. Using the dictionary provided, key the county.  If a county is not found in the dictionary then key the county as seen.
See Example
New Castle, County

Reel Number 331

Recorder of Deeds