Mr. Knowitall, there does not appear to _be_ an grant of easement. I was initially refused title insurance because they couldn't find an easement at all. I found the dividing survey which showed the easement labeled "ingress, egress and utilities". The "heir apparent" came by once, and agreed to the gate, but left no contact number. he has ours. He did not understand that the access to the property has. changed since he was a child, but that's another matter.
The reason for the gate is to discourage casual use. The property is riverside (without direct access) and with several decrepit buildings has apparently been use for late night parking and parties and has had several substance abuse victims in residence. The structures will be removed, but I think the attractive parking will still be an issue. The only other place to park to access the river at that point belongs to a widely known motorcycle association.
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Thanks, budwad.
That helps
I didn't know I could access probate records before it was settled. That will help a great deal. The properties are more abandoned than undeveloped, there were once several single-wides on the various pieces. The remains of those are still present, and some, now our problem...

