Which legal description type describes a location with references to stakes and stones near a brook?

The type of legal description that describes a location using references to stakes and stones near a brook is known as metes and bounds. This method originally derived from the English land surveying system, where property boundaries are described with physical markers and natural landmarks. The term "metes" refers to the distance between points, while "bounds" refers to the boundaries of the area.

In a metes and bounds description, a surveyor provides detailed directions and distances from a known starting point (often a monument or a landmark), which might include fixed points like trees, fences, and other physical features, as well as natural features like the brook mentioned. This method is particularly useful for irregularly shaped parcels of land that do not conform to a standard rectangular plot.

This is distinct from other types of legal descriptions, such as rectangular surveys which utilize a grid system, lot and block which refers to subdivided properties in a mapped area, and descriptive legal descriptions which may encompass a broader category of detailed property descriptions. Each of these alternatives lacks the specificity of physical markers and local geographic features that characterize metes and bounds descriptions.