Hierarchy of Evidence
Surveyors process evidence for reestablishing boundaries in a certain order. Each piece of evidence (deed, fence, neighbor) holds certain intrinsic value or more specifically, a certain place in the hierarchy of evidence. No matter how “accurate” a measurement is, it has a lower value then a creek. If a description calls for certain bearings and distances up the center of a creek, the actual location of the creek is more important than the measurements.
- Senior Rights – The formation of a parcel prior to another
- Writings – Deeds or other written forms of conveyance
- Intent of Conveyances – Written intent of transference
- Calls for surveys – Reference to surveys in written documents
- Monuments – Physical markers called for in written documents
- Natural – Streams, ridges, trees…
- Artificial – Fences, posts, iron pins, pipes…
- Record – Monuments called for that no longer exist but whose location is readily identifiable
- Measurements – Those that are called for on writings
- Direction – Bearings or angles
- Distance – Feet, meters, rods…
- Area – Acreage, square feet, hectare…