Oh, honey. I gotta tell ya, I'm with Sheldon on this. Title transfers
*can* just happen as the result of a quit claim, but only if your name is on the deed to start with or the deed is given over to you specifically. You would know if this had happened. You would get the tax bill. Ask the county for a copy of your deed.Don't get the tax bill? Wow, you really did get a deal, didn't you!
At the end of all of this, it matters little what you *have*. What will matter is what you can *prove*. The amount of rent you paid means squat if you can't prove it was applied toward the purchase of the land, and there is no ownership if you don't have the deed in your name. And though the millionaire founding father may be the nicest man in town, it's always wise to do a survey and title search. Don't take anybody's word for things, no matter what the local lore is.