Genealogical surveying topic of meeting

WAYNESBURG – A “Genealogical Surveyor” is what Thad Swetsyn, a local surveyor with the oil and gas industry, calls himself.
In his surveying work, he has come across old cemeteries, pioneer foundations, fence rows, 200-year-old hedge rows and stone corners.
And, he told members of the Cornerstone Genealogical Society at its February meeting, he takes great pride in preserving old, often long forgotten cemeteries.
Basic surveying using simple geometry can be traced back to Stonehenge, he said. The Egyptians used survey methods to establish farm boundaries and for taxation purposes, and, in 1687, John Love published the “Geodaesia or “The Art of Surveying and Measuring Land Made Easy,” which was the guide for land surveyors in America.
In the late 18th century, exact boundary lines became more important with the need for public improvements such as roads and railroads.
Some famous surveyors were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Albert Gallatin. Arguably, the most famous survey line would be the Mason and Dixon Line, surveyed by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, which ends in the southwest corner of Greene County. Andrew Ellicott, another surveyor, established the western boundary of Pennsylvania.
Maps, survey notes and deeds are all products of surveying that can aid genealogical or historical research. Survey methods can be used to verify historical data, such as old cemeteries and original property boundaries.
Mapping is a product of surveying. An example of this is township warrantee maps. These maps are the original patent maps for properties in Greene County and can be found in Cornerstone Genealogical Society’s library. Township warrantee maps provide dates of patent, survey and warrantee dates, pioneer name, acres and names of property.
Swetsyn explained a topographic map is a detailed and accurate graphic representation of cultural and natural features on the ground. Topographic maps can be overlaid over older maps to find the present day location.
The Melish Whiteside County Map of 1820 was the first official set of county maps produced for Pennsylvania. The McConnell map is another that shows names of property owners, schools, churches and roads. The 1905 Farm Line map of Greene County is a farm and coal map. There are other farm line maps. The Caldwell Atlas of 1865 shows property owners, acreage, schools, churches, roads and rivers.
Modern surveying methods include GPS and robotic instruments and ground penetrating radar is used to locate and survey unmarked burial grounds.
Mapping is mostly done on the computer.
Swetsyn compiled data on all the oil and gas wells in Greene County. The first well was drilled in 1863.
He put this data in a book titled “Oil & Gas Well Locations, Greene County, Pennsylvania, 1863-2013.” He teamed with a group of students from California University of Pennsylvania to create a web-based interface system at gaswell.com, where gas well permit numbers will be linked with historical records. This should be ready in May. The public will be able to add other information.
Authors Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 21 in the log courthouse.
Cornerstone Genealogical Society’s next meeting will be at 7 p.m. March 9 and will feature retired Judge Terry Grimes, who will discuss Greene County towns and townships and how they got their names.