Abstracts from the Land Records of Dorchester County, Maryland, Volume A: 1669-1690

In 1960 James A. McAllister, Jr. began the series, "Abstracts from the Land Records of Dorchester County Maryland". We have reprinted his works (each volume containing 3 or more of McAllister's books) with the cooperation of the Dorchester County Historical Society, from 1669 (in Vol. A) up to and including 1801 (in Vol. L). These abstracted records often reveal names of wives, sons, daughters, and other relationships. Included with the deeds are abstracts of land commissions that re-established the boundaries of land tracts at the request of a new owner. These hearings consisted of depositions of persons knowledgeable of the original markers. The individuals gave not only their knowledge of the history of the boundary markers of the tract of land in question but their own ages, and other bits of information. For research of families in Dorchester County, which has such a dearth of early material, the land records are a must. Fortunately the abstracts were done with care and a keen knowledge of the records. Each volume is indexed.