# What do I call this (Researching records w/a US County Clerk)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 30, 2026, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687 "2026-08-30T13:29:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687/1 "2026-08-30T13:29:41Z")
Howdy, pardners! I recently came to read a book about a real-world gunslinger & suspected cattle rustler, in a part of the country where I own some property, making it an interesting tie to my local area. In one part of the book, our protagonist divorces his then-wife (amicably) but she got the ranch. The book describes this: > In the Deed Record Book No. 90 in the Old Socorro County records is a warrant deed, executed on April 16, 1917, and made from Henry Coleman to Clara Coleman. This deed described part of the ranch on the Largo . . . I’m interested in finding the location of this ranch, and I suspect the records will tell me which Township, section & parcel it’s on. But if I write to the Socorro (now maybe the Catron County) clerk, looking for a copy on page 90, what am I looking for? A _records_ search? A _deed or title search_? Tripler I’ve been taking horse riding lessons to explore some backcountry for this . . . ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687/2 "2026-08-30T14:40:33Z")
By now that information may be stored in historical archives. The clerk probably won’t research it for you but many counties have electronic databases you can search for free though you may have to sign up and pay to download copies. Otherwise check with a state historical commission for guidance on your search. ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687/3 "2026-08-30T14:50:41Z")
Your local librarian might have some good ideas. Often they have access to collections of historical records. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687/4 "2026-08-30T15:26:08Z")
Both counties are small enough I’d just call their county recorder on the phone and tell whoever answers exactly what you’ve told us. Decent bet their office is two old ladies with not much to do all day. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687/5 "2026-08-30T16:35:05Z")
It doesn’t seem like you’ve given quite enough information to give you an answer. It’d be helpful to know _how_ the property is described in the warrant deed. From what you’ve posted, however, the Recorder’s Office should be able to locate the “Deed Record Book No. 90” and a copy of the warrant deed. With the legal description from the deed, the Recorder’s Office will probably not help you find the property, because it might constitute giving legal advice, but they might redirect you to a title company or land surveyor who could probably help you further. What has me confused, however, is you apparently have a legal description from the warrant deed. That tells you where the property is. So I’m not sure exactly what else you seek…? ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687/6 "2026-08-30T17:36:34Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Decent bet their office is two old ladies with not much to do all day. Really? Two old ladies with nothing better to do than answer phones? Decent bet their office is staffed with professionals whose gender is irrelevant and who have much to do in the carrying out of county duties. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687/7 "2026-08-30T17:50:40Z")
I think what you’re after is a Platt map. These can be housed in various places, depending on how your county orders its local government. Try Clerk-Recorder’s or Assessor’s offices. If those are wrong, either will be able to direct you to where your particular county has them available. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687/8 "2026-08-30T17:52:14Z")
Link to the Socorro County Clerk, including email addresses: > **[Socorro County InfoNet - Clerk’s Office](https://www.socorrocounty.net/elected-officials/clerks-office)** > > Related Links: Also: > Online microfilmed records are available in this database: **[Deeds, mining locations, mortgage records, and miscellaneous land records, 1881-1929; indexes, 1851-1937 (Socorro County, New Mexico)](https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/1150634?availability=Family%20History%20Library)** from > **[NMGenWeb, Socorro County, Land Records](https://socorro.nmgenweb.us/land.html)** > > Socorro County NMGenWeb Need to sign up for an account. Site seems to be LDS affiliated. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687/9 "2026-08-30T18:06:21Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > It doesn’t seem like you’ve given quite enough information to give you an answer. It’d be helpful to know _how_ the property is described in the warrant deed. From what you’ve posted, however, the Recorder’s Office should be able to locate the “Deed Record Book No. 90” and a copy of the warrant deed. With the legal description from the deed, the Recorder’s Office will probably not help you find the property, because it might constitute giving legal advice, but they might redirect you to a title company or land surveyor who could probably help you further. > > What has me confused, however, is you apparently have a legal description from the warrant deed. That tells you where the property is. So I’m not sure exactly what else you seek… This is my first dip into non-technical, historical research, so I’m looking for appropriate terminology. Let me clarify . . . From the direct quote from the book (that I ‘air gapped’) up above, I _ **do not** _ know how the property is described. I don’t have a legal description of the property. I don’t have a deed. I have the book’s _reference_ to where the deed is cataloged, but I _don’t_ have the deed itself. The part I ellipses-ed out continues " . . . _which was owned by Clara from that time until the day of her death._" I _want_ to try to get ahold of a deed from 100+ years ago to see if that deed _has_ that legal description so I can narrow down the ranch’s location. I don’t know if what I am looking to do constitutes a “deed search” or a “title search,” but I want to clearly communicate to the Clerk’s office what I’m asking for to narrow down confusion. Later on in the book, I can kinda-sorta point to three different locations in the County, but having a copy of the deed would help me narrow it down between her ex-husband’s later-on ranch, and a few other things. In the meantime this AM, I did some quick searching through my Library’s online resources, and there’s a lot of paywalls out there. Hrmph. . . Tripler I may have to saddle up for a ride down south to Socorro . . . ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687/10 "2026-08-30T18:34:43Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > I _want_ to try to get ahold of a deed from 100+ years ago to see if that deed _has_ that legal description so I can narrow down the ranch’s location. I don’t know if what I am looking to do constitutes a “deed search” or a “title search,” but I want to clearly communicate to the Clerk’s office what I’m asking for to narrow down confusion. Ok, that clears up my confusion, thanks. You definitely want the warrant deed with the legal description. The County Recorder (by whatever name that office goes by) should be your starting point. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687/11 "2026-08-30T18:59:00Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Both counties are small enough I’d just call their county recorder on the phone and tell whoever answers exactly what you’ve told us. Heck, I drive through one to get to the other . . . I might just take a drive to _visit in person_! > [@Aspenglow](#): > > I think what you’re after is a Platt map. These can be housed in various places, depending on how your county orders its local government. Try Clerk-Recorder’s or Assessor’s offices. If those are wrong, either will be able to direct you to where your particular county has them available. I think this is an important resource to keep in my hip pocket . . . I know platts change over time, but maybe “page 90” points me towards one from that point in time! While typing this post up, I wondered if there was a website that’d let me look up Sections & Townships, and I came across two sites that’ll probably help me later on: the [USGS National Map viewer](https://apps.nationalmap.gov/viewer/), and an [independent site](https://www.randymajors.org/) with a few different features (Sections & Townships finder, historical counties by date, etc.). > [@ricepad](#): > > Ok, that clears up my confusion, thanks. You definitely want the warrant deed with the legal description. The County Recorder (by whatever name that office goes by) should be your starting point. Good luck! Cool! Much obliged and I’ll keep y’all posted! Tripler “C’mon Trigger . . . _Giddy-up_!” ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687/12 "2026-08-30T19:08:11Z")
While we’re going on about terminology, I’ll point out that the maps and descriptions are part of a **[Plat - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plat)**. With one “t”. “Platt” is a common enough surname, but the maps, etc., aren’t named after some person named Platt who might have invented them way back when. Yet again, spellcheck is not our collective friend. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687/13 "2026-08-30T21:54:08Z")
You could start by looking for **any** record of Clara Coleman in April 1917 and see what documents the search brings up. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687/14 "2026-08-31T15:10:08Z")
Barring a disaster that destroyed the courthouse records, you literally want exactly what it says; you should be able to go to the county clerk and ask for a copy of Book of Deeds PG. 90 from 1917. Or, if said county allows free access to the vaults (mine does) you may be able to go pull the physical copy yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687/15 "2026-08-31T19:13:23Z")
You don’t have enough information to take you straight to the deed. “Deed Book 90” is a whole book of deeds, and you don’t have the page number. Deeds are indexed by grantor and grantee. If you have the name of either the grantor or the grantee on the deed you’re looking for, that may help you find the correct page number and obtain a copy of the deed. Once you have the deed in hand, the clerk would probably help you figure out the exact location on a county plat map. ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687/16 "2026-08-31T19:25:24Z")
In addition to the recorder of deeds, the name of which may vary in different jurisdictions, you might also consult with the tax assessor’s office, again the name of which may vary in different jurisdictions. In some jurisdictions, the recorder’s office is completely separate from the assessor’s office. Even if the assessor’s office doesn’t have the exact information you are looking for it may have clues that are useful when you go back to the recorder’s office. As to what to call this, back when I used to do this everybody called it “running a title.” ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687/17 "2026-08-31T21:08:05Z")
Here’s the deed: [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/YANWozT.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/YANWozT) [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/a2rxuCf.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a2rxuCf) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687/18 "2026-08-31T21:14:26Z")
The Dope comes through again! ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687/19 "2026-09-01T12:19:04Z")
Holy mackerel, you guys are _ **awesome** _! @Marvin_the_Martian, I’d been waiting on that ancestry website to send me a link, and didn’t have time to navigate all of the paywall sites. May I ask, did you just do a Google search for those pages? Tripler Wow, I am happily stunned at how easy you make it look! ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687/20 "2026-09-01T14:03:41Z")
Google led me to the NMGenWeb page (can’t remember the search terms). I did a little research on the FamilySearch site to verify that it is on the up and up, is indeed free (and doesn’t come with a dose of religious recruitment - those Mormons and their fixation on genealogy), and is a site I might have future interest in. It all checked out so I signed up for an account and got access to the archived microfilm data. Found deed book 90 and was able to search (they had an OCR transcript of the book) for Coleman. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-call-this-researching-records-w-a-us-county-clerk/1032687.md?page=2)