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
Record of Deeds, 1779-1963Deeds, v. 19-21 1831-1939
film 19637 DGS 7517640Image 287 – Book 20
page 297 (image 441)
This indenture made this twenty ninth day of January
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty
six between John Briles of the state of North Carolina & county
of Randolph on the one part and Solomon Briles on the county
and state aforesaid on the other part Witnesseth that for and
in consideration of he sum of two hundred to him in
hand paid by the said Solomon Briles the receipt whereof
the said John Briles Sr doth hereby acknowledge that this
day hath bargained and sold and delivered and by these
presents do bargain sell and deliver unto the sd Solomon
Briles a certain tract or parcel of land situate lying &
being in the county aforesaid on both sides of Little
Carraway and bounded as follows to wit, beginning at
the mouth of a hollow int he east side of little Carraway
at the lower end of said John Briles bottom and runspage 298
North East up the hollows to a white oak then East
one hundred and sixty poles to black oak in Rollins line
thence south on said line one hundred poles to a red oak
thence west fifty poles to a black oak thence south one hundred
poles to a white oak thence west sixteen poles to a poplar thence
north 40 degrees W fifty eight poles to a persimon on the west bank
of the Creek thence up the various corses of the creek to the
beginning containing two hundred acres be the same more
or less together with all the convenances thereunto belonging
or appertaining to have and to hold the said Solomon Briles
and his heirs forever and the said John Briles doth for him
self and the rest of his heirs and executors and administrators
warrant and defend the above tract of land & rpemises unto
the said Solomon Briles his executors administrators or
assigns forever or form any person or persons holding
any just right or claim to the said land whatsoever
In witness whereof the said John Briles sr hath hereunto
set his hand and affxt his seal the day and date first above
written
John Briles (seal)
Sealed signed and delivered in the presence of
Azel Rush
Dan Briles
State of North Carolina
Randolph County
Court of please & quarter sessions
May term 1836
The execution of this deed was duly acknowledged in
open court & ordered to be registered
Hugh McCain 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.
As much as I appreciate being able to do research online with digital documents, given that I’m an ocean (and a whole lot of money) away from the records I need for my family, there really is nothing like in-person research. I hope to get some done if we finally get across the pond during the next couple of years.
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