Today’s record comes from my BRILES folder and includes both my original research notes and an image of a deed. I first located this record years ago while scrolling microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. At the time, those handwritten notes and photocopies were my only way to capture the information. Thanks to FamilySearch’s Full Text Search feature, I can now revisit this same deed from home—and even generate a full transcription with just a few keystrokes.
Below, you’ll find my original notes alongside the transcription created using FamilySearch’s powerful search capabilities.
Randolph County North Carolina
Deeds 1831-1835, 1829-1831, 1835-1837
Image 719 of 843
Volume 20 startes on inage 563“Randolph, North Carolina, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L967-5KY6?view=explore : Sep 27, 2025), image 719 of 843; . Image Group Number: 007560689
page 296
This Indenture Made this twenty Eighth day of January
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
thirty six John Briles of the County of Randolph & State of
North Carolina of the one part & Dan Briles of the County
and State aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth that for and
in consideration of the sum of five hundred & fifty Dollars
to him in hand paid by the said Dan Briles the receipt
whereof he doth hereby acknowledge hath this day bargained
Sold and Delivered unto him the said Dan BRILES a Certain
tract or parcel of land on both sides of Uhare the said Dan Briles
now lives Beginning so as to make this the cross [fen]ces between
him & Jacob Briles the dividing line on the direction
the Cross fence now runs between them so as for the said
Dan briles to have and to hold all that part of the Northpage 297
end of the plantation as he now has formerly had containing
two hundred and ninety six acres be the same more or less
together with all woods waters ways mines minerals &
appertanances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining
to have and to hold free and Clear from all Incumbrances
or in any wise the said John Bries for himself his heirs
and assigns will Warrant & Defend unto the said Dan Briles
& his heirs forever all the above named premises unto him
the said Dan Briles his heirs & assigns forever – In Witness
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my
seal the day and year first above writtenJohn Briles (Seal)
Sealed Signed and Delivered in presence of us
Joseph Hoover senr
Joseph Hoover Jnr
State of North Carolina Court of please & quarter Sessions
Randolph County May Term 1836 .
The Execution of this deed was duly acknowledged in
open Court & ordered to be registered
Hugh McCam CCC
Looking back, I’m grateful for the time spent in Salt Lake City turning microfilm readers and scribbling notes. Those efforts provided the foundation for my research, while today’s digital tools make it possible to revisit and expand on that work with ease. Having both sets of records—the handwritten notes from years ago and the searchable transcriptions available now—not only preserves the history but also highlights how far genealogy research has come.