County and Town Records: Difference between revisions

These land records and all subsequent exchanges of land through sales, foreclosure, divorce, or inheritance were usually recorded by a county clerk, county recorder, or county register of deeds (except in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont, where town clerks have kept the records). These officials also kept records of mortgages and leases.  

=== Deed and Mortgage Books  ===

When an individual presented a patent, deed, or other evidence of ownership, the clerk usually made a handwritten copy of the complete document in the deed books. In later years, deeds were often recopied, especially if the originals were lost, worn, or destroyed. Mortgage and lease information may have been kept in separate books. The individual retained his copy of the deed and other records. The clerks also added the information to their local plat maps.  

=== Indexes  ===