G2G: Seeking a deed in Warwick Twp., Lancaster PA for John Jacob Burkholder

Question

John Jacob Burkholder (known as Jacob) was taxed for land in the mid to late 1700s and moved to Virginia about 1800 with his family, including his wife, Barbara Brenneman. In searching the PA archives index to deeds, I can find no record of his buying or selling land there, either in the mid 1700s or around 1800. Interestingly, another Burkholder begins to appear in the Warwick records after Jacob leaves.

Can anyone tell me how accurate the Index is? Or another avenue of research that might produce a deed? Thanks.

Answer 1

I would call the state archives. Tell them you have a tax record but don’t see the deed in the index and ask for advice on a next step.

Comments

Thanks, I did find a clue on the grant map. Two of the original Mennonite settlers got a grant from one of the Penns in Warwick and transferred it to John (Hans) Burkholder, thought by some to be the father of John Jacob. Another rabbit hole to explore.

http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-522WarranteeTwpMaps/r017Map2846LancasterWarwickWeb.pdf

Answer 2

No idea on accuracy of the records; however, is it possible that he or his wife inherited the land in PA (no sale) and rented it out later to a tenant?

Comments

Thank you. Possible but not likely, as he decamped to Virginia and stayed. I think the next step is a deed by deed search... or perhaps an inlaw search. Tedious, but at least these days I don't have to travel to PA to do it. Thanks again for your answer.

Answer 3

John, there is an index to some 1700s vintage Lancaster County deeds here:

https://www.searchiqs.com/palan/Login.aspx

There are several entries for a John Burkholder (or Burgholder), but I couldn't tell if any of them are what you're interested in.  The index provides a volume and page number for the actual deed, but I can't vouch for the accuracy, and I'm not sure if you can find that online.  If any of it looks promising, you might try contacting the Recorder of Deeds and see if she can point you in the right direction.

Comments

Thank you. I have been to this site. It's great and it allows you to search the deed book on the same form! Somebody was thinking straight when they came up with that! Work ahead!

Answer 4

Thank you all for your help. The answer was the map of Warwick Twp. warantees which showed a grant to John Burkholder from the two original Mennonite pioneers who were granted 5000 acres from the Penns to distribute to settlers. Kendig and Heer (Herr) distributed 250 acres to John  (Hans) Burkholder Jr, a 1717 settler. Possibly the father of or an uncle to my John Jacob. Cheers!