was land given by land owners for building of railroad?

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i have been lead to believe by my ancestors, that the land for the seaboard railroad that ran through watkins community in vance co, north carolina,was donated to the railroad by the land owners. at the time this railroad was built, vance county was a part of granville county, n.c. can you tell me if the abandoned track go back to the ancestors of the land owners now. my family name was "wade". i would be gratefull if you can provide me with this information.

thanks, dianne

-- dianne w slaughter (dslau@ncol.net), February 19, 2001

Answers

Whether or not the land would revert to the original owners (or their heirs) would depend on several things. First would be the conditions placed on the gift at the time of donation. If it were a simple gift with no stipulations, it obviously would not revert to the owners. The second would be the conditions placed on the railroad at the time of abandonment (right of way to trails, etc., and the third would be the laws of the state governing these transactions.

The short answer is - if you really want to know, I would consult the deed files at the court house, or better still. consult the deed files AND an attorney.

Hope this helps.

Bob Hanson

-- Robert H. Hanson (RHanson669@aol.com), February 20, 2001.


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