During the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re spending a lot of time in one place – our homes. Homes have become not just a dwelling, but also a workplace, school, gym, social space, etc. Wouldn’t you like to know more about the place in which you’re spending so much time?

We were recently contacted by Carol Briggs at kellytown.org. She has been working with a group of youth historical researchers over the past few months, and they’ve been using the online tools under the Historical Resources tab. Amelia, one of those research enthusiasts, found this wonderfully in-depth resource on researching the history in your home.

If you are a Little Compton resident, land evidence records are in a few different locations, but you can likely track the land you’re living on to the first English deeds in the 1670s.

• Records of the first English land lotteries are in the Town Clerk’s office. There is a 19th century transcription of the original 17th century records that is much easier to read. Ask for the Proprietor’s Book.
• Land records from the late 1600s to 1746 are at the Bristol County Land Evidence office in Taunton, MA.
• Land Records from 1747 to the present are in the Little Compton Town Clerk’s office.

At the time of writing, the Town Clerk’s office is closed to the public. However, once things re-open, you can trace back the ownership of the land to the first English proprietors. In the meantime, you can learn more about how local houses changed with the people who occupied them with our book Stories Houses Tell: A Collection of Little Compton House Histories. If you have an older home in town, the afterword by genealogist Marian Pierre-Louis should get you started!