Bronwyn,
 
Just go down to the local county recorder's office, obtain the tax parcel  
number, and ask the clerk for the computer readout of the chain of property  
owners as far back as you can go. Then take the last name and look it up on the  
grantor/grantee index and write down the book and page numbers. Then get those 
 references and you can find the prior owner.
 
Ron May
Legacy 106, Inc.