Grantor-grantee index

County recorders kept two indexes: one by the grantor, the person transferring the land, and one by the grantee, the person receiving it. Some counties call them the direct and indirect indexes. Each entry gives the other party and the book and page where the deed is copied.

Indexes usually come in volumes covering a span of years and are arranged by the first letter, or first two letters, of the surname. Check both: your ancestor buying shows in the grantee index, selling in the grantor index.