What a great example of why owner's policy is imperative and why a full search should be completed.  I agree with you, Jancie.  Perhaps Mr. Boston Globe "real estate expert" should do more research himself. 

Any way, I had a search when I was in NY wherein the chain it had granted an easement for the perpetual easement for the maintenance of the graves of the Borden Family (yes, the Elsie the cow Bordens).  There was no specificty as to where the graves were located any where in the chain.  I ended up calling the County Historian.  He was kind enough to go out to the property with me and show me where the graves were.  Accompaning us was the surveyor, who assured me and noted on the survey, that the property I was insuring did not include the graves nor the easement.  However, it was discovered by the surveyor that the property line was not only on the township line, but the county line and that the septic tank was in a different county than the house.  Bad, very bad.  Sellers moved the tank after many months of back and forth over it. 

With all the disclosures that sellers are required to give these days as to what has occurred in the house and property, one would think the seller should have been required to disclose, if they even knew.