As the marsh farming efforts of Yorkshire and other settlers in the area began to mature at the end of the 18th century, and as the prospects of a generational transition began, the need for accurate surveys of land parcels became more pressing. Land was used in forming dower rights and was identified in the settlement of estates. It is likely that these factors form part of the context for the types of survey document shown here. Though the surveyor has produced only a rough sketch of the parcel, it does provide a clear outline of the property using identifiable points of reference and the compass bearings of the major lot lines. Moreover Watson, who is described as a Deputy Surveyor, delineates the line of the dyke adjacent to the river and calculates the amount of land that lies inside the dyke, thereby establishing the real utility and market value of the parcel.

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