Rural boundary lines in Rhode Island are marked and monumented in many ways. The picture above is of a reference mark to a nearby monument in a stone wall we found when recently surveying in Hopkinton, RI.
The “X” mark blazed into the large tree was a great help in finding the nearby called-for record monument located besides this marked tree – a drill hole another surveyor set in the center of a stone wall many years before (and who may have also marked the tree).
Of course, there are many other types of markers, monuments and other evidence unique to rural properties like stone walls, base stones left from ancient Virginia rail fences, upright stone bounds, stakes and stones, and barbed wire. And, it’s important to know what is and is not marking the boundary line!
One good example for confusion exists where there was an ancient Virginia rail fence built along the boundary (very common in the 1600s through the 1800s). The only evidence left of that fence now are the base stones which the fence was built on top of. And in contemplation of building a stone wall the farmer in times past stacked fieldstones nearby, and along, the Virginia rail fence.
Someone might now look at that long pile of stones, confusing them for a stone wall, and think it is the boundary line when in fact the boundary line is actually many feet away where the Virginia rail fence base stones are located (and often difficult to identify). In this exact example we’ve seen boundary locations misidentified by 10-20 feet!
Another example is where there are stone walls built before the land was separated from a larger farm, or after, but the boundary lines do not follow the stone walls. Assuming that the stone walls are your boundary in this case would be a mistake.
If Foster Survey Company can help you to survey your property and locate your property boundaries please don’t hesitate to contact us.
