Jefferson County, Washington Genealogy
Guide to Jefferson County Washington ancestry, family history, and genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records, since 1852, when the county was formed.
| Jefferson County, Washington | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of Washington (disambiguation) | |
 Location of Washington in the U.S. | |
| Facts | |
| Founded | December 22, 1852 |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Port Townsend |
| Courthouse | |
| Address | Jefferson County Courthouse 1820 Jefferson Street; PO Box 1220 Port Townsend, WA 98368-0920 Phone: 360.385.9125 Jefferson County Website |
Contents
- 1 County Overview
- 2 Topics for Jefferson County, Washington Genealogy
- 2.1 Bible Records
- 2.2 Biography
- 2.3 Business and Commerce
- 2.4 Cemeteries
- 2.5 Census
- 2.6 Church Records
- 2.7 Court Records
- 2.8 Directories
- 2.9 Emigration and Immigration
- 2.10 Ethnic, Political or Religious Groups
- 2.11 Funeral Homes
- 2.12 Maps and Gazetteers
- 2.13 Genealogy
- 2.14 Guardianship
- 2.15 History
- 2.16 Land and Property
- 2.17 Maps
- 2.18 Migration
- 2.19 Military
- 2.20 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 2.21 Newspapers
- 2.22 Obituaries
- 2.23 Periodicals
- 2.24 Probate Records
- 2.25 Public Records
- 2.26 Taxation
- 2.27 Vital Records
- 2.28 Voting Registers
- 2.29 Websites
- 3 Archives, Libraries, etc.
- 4 Populated Places
- 5 References
County Overview[edit | edit source]
 |
Before 1852—and perhaps until the newly-formed county was fully operational—search records of the parent county(s). |
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named for Thomas Jefferson. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.[1]
Parent County(s)[edit | edit source]
Jefferson County, Washington was created 22 December 1852 from Thurston.[2]
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
- Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library[3]
Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Jefferson County Courthouse
1820 Jefferson Street; PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368-0920
Phone: 360.385.9125
County Clerk has divorce records from 1886, probate records from 1891 and court records from 1890.
County Auditor has birth and death records 1891-1907 and marriage records from 1853. [4]
See also Archives, libraries, etc. in Jefferson County, Washington Genealogy.
Dates of Major County Records[edit | edit source]
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1891 | 1853 | 1891 | 1890 | 1855 | 1891 | 1850 |
General compliance by 1917. | ||||||
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.
Topics for Jefferson County, Washington Genealogy[edit | edit source]
The topics or headings on this page describe records that are used for genealogy and family history. They include links to web sites with indexes, images, or information about the county.
|
Don't overlook Jefferson County, Washington Genealogy items in the FamilySearch Library Catalog. For other libraries (local and national) or to gain access to items of interest, see Archives and Libraries. |
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biography[edit | edit source]
Biographical information is often found in state and local histories or genealogies. See also Washington Biography.
Business and Commerce[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
| Tombstone Transcriptions Online | Tombstone Transcriptions in Print | List of Cemeteries in the county |
| FindAGrave | Family History Library | FindAGrave |
| Tombstone Project | WorldCat | Interment.net |
| Billion Graves (name) | Washington Periodicals | WA State Digital Archives |
| WAGenWeb Archives | Linkpendium | |
| Billion Graves | Genealogy Trails | |
| FamilySearch Places | ||
| See Washington Cemeteries for more information. | ||
Cemetery records often reveal birth, death, relationship, military, and religious information. Tombstones, sextons (caretakers) records, and burial records each have slightly different information. See Washington Cemeteries.
|
Check every person buried in the plot, as they may be close relatives. |
Census[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1860 | 531 | — |
| 1870 | 1,268 | 138.8% |
| 1880 | 1,712 | 35.0% |
| 1890 | 8,368 | 388.8% |
| 1900 | 5,712 | −31.7% |
| 1910 | 8,337 | 46.0% |
| 1920 | 6,557 | −21.4% |
| 1930 | 8,346 | 27.3% |
| 1940 | 8,918 | 6.9% |
| 1950 | 11,618 | 30.3% |
| 1960 | 9,639 | −17.0% |
| 1970 | 10,661 | 10.6% |
| 1980 | 15,965 | 49.8% |
| 1990 | 20,146 | 26.2% |
| 2000 | 25,953 | 28.8% |
| 2010 | 29,872 | 15.1% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
| Names, ages, birthplaces | 1850–1940 |
| Birthplaces of parents | 1880–1940 |
| Relationships | 1880–1940 |
| Family and Neighbors | All years |
| Immigration year | 1900–1930 |
| Citizenship | 1910–1940 |
Censuses 1) Give names, ages, and more about the family; 2) Pinpoint the area to find other records; and 3) Provide clues for further research.
|
Click for more census tips |
- Washington online census links to FamilySearch, Ancestry.com, Heritage Quest and others.
- Statewide printed indexes of federal censuses
- Census indexes at Washington State Digital Archives: (Free)
 |
Censuses indexed by societies or groups in the area may be more accurate, due to familiarity with local surnames. |
Church Records[edit | edit source]
The information church records provide depends upon the church practices and the record keepers. Records may include names, ages, and dates of events such as baptism, marriage, or burial. See Washington Church Records.
- Church records (microfilmed originals or published transcripts) for Jefferson County, Washington Genealogy are listed in the FamilySearch catalog. (Press space bar to select town.)
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Your ancestors may be found in court records as defendants, plaintiffs, witnesses, or jurors. Court records can clarify family relationships, places of residence, occupations, and family history. See Washington Court Records for courts used through the years.
For specialized court records, see Divorce · Guardianship · Land · Naturalization · Probate
- Jefferson Frontier Justice. Part of "Frontier Justice’’: Guide to the Court Records of Washington Territory, 1853-1889 at Washington State Digital Archives. (Free Index, no images)
- The court procedure of Frontier Justice touch nearly all pioneers of Washington Territory. The index has many abstracts that provide names and what is happening in disputes, settlements in civil and criminal cases as well as probate, equity and admiralty cases.
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political or Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
American Indian[edit | edit source]
- 1911 - 1919 - Washington, Applications for Enrollment and Adoption of Washington Indians, 1911-1919 at FamilySearch — images
Japanese[edit | edit source]
World War II Files, 1942-1946
Public Welfare/Social Security Department, (Japanese Internment) Assistance Cases, Evacuee Referrals for Resettlement and Assistance, 1945-1946 from the Washington State Archives – Digital Archives
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
Genealogy[edit | edit source]
Many local libraries and societies have collections of family genealogies. County histories or biographies often include brief genealogies of the featured persons.
Genealogy Resources
- Genealogy and Family History Resources online at Washington Jefferson County Genealogical Society
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Guardianship of orphans or adults unable to manage their own affairs were handled by the probate and the District courts. See Washington Court Records.
History[edit | edit source]
Local histories for Jefferson County, Washington Genealogy may include biographies, history of churches, schools, local government with names of officials, military information, and more. See Washington Local Histories.
- History of the Puget Sound Country, Volume 1, Volume 2 by William Farrand Prosser [New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company, 1903] online at Washington History
- Jefferson County, Washington Facts at StateofUS.com (mis-labeled as Jefferson County, Alabama)
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library[6]
Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Daryl C. McClary. Jefferson County -- Thumbnail History, History Link.org Essay 7472.
- For thousands of years the only occupants of the Olympic Peninsula were Coast Indians.
- 1851 - April 24,The first permanent American settlement on the peninsula was Port Townsend.
- 1852 - December 22, Jefferson County was created by the Oregon Territorial Legislature from a portion of Lewis County.
- 1853 - March 2, U.S. President Millard Fillmore establishes Washington Territory.
- 1800s - mid, White settlers came to the north Olympic Peninsula, but the rugged interior remained unexplored.
- 1889-1890 - The great land boom was predicated on the arrival of the Union Pacific Railroad, linking Port Townsend with the rest of the nation. Due to financial difficulties, the Union Pacific Railroad abandoned the project, causing the boom to collapse in 1891.
Land and Property[edit | edit source]
| Yes or Maybe ⇒ | Y | M |
| Seller (Grantor) | Green check.png | |
| Seller's Spouse | Green check.png | |
| Buyer (Grantee) | Green check.png | |
| Heirs | Green check.png | |
| Witnesses | Green check.png | |
| Land Description and Dates | Green check.png | |
Land records (especially deeds) may give the name of a spouse, heirs, and witnesses, who may be relatives or in-laws.
County deeds, mortgages, and leases show transfers from person to person. See also Court Records for actions involving real estate. See Washington Land for government-to-person records.
- Land Records 1982 to present at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)
- Plats and Surveys Records1961 to present at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)
- Recorded Agreements and Contracts 1982-2012 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)
Maps[edit | edit source]
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
This map highlights the county within the state of Washington.
The map soon will have inter-active links.
Migration[edit | edit source]
Most residents came to Washington from other states or crossed the border from Canada. (See Seattle Passenger Lists for those who came from other countries.) Although few other migration records exist, try:
- • Censuses (use birthdates and places of children as clues)
- • Land (1st deed may reveal previous residence)
- • Death-related records of children may give town or county of birth
- • Records of relatives and neighbors
Military[edit | edit source]
- 1921-1925 - Washington, World War I Veteran's Compensation Fund Application Records, 1921-1925 at FamilySearch — index
- Some military records for this county have been digitized at the Washington State Digital Archives.
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Declarations of Intent before 1906 often include the nation of origin, his* foreign and "Americanized" names, residence, and date of arrival. See Washington Naturalization and Citizenship for more information. *Women were not naturalized until 1922 in the United States.
- Naturalization Records, 1852-1974 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)
- Includes Declarations of Intention, Petitions for Naturalization, and Final Records filed at the Jefferson County Superior Court.
- Certificates of naturalization 1893-1903 Part of Washington, County Records, 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
- See what genealogical information may be in these records.
- Includes Certificates of naturalization 1903-1906; Declarations of intention 1855-1971; Memorandum of naturalization 1906-1911; Naturalization final record 1893-1906; Naturalization papers 1865-1906;Petition and record 1906-1945; Reports of naturalization petitions granted 1929-1973.
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Small town newspapers provide historical content and contain obituaries, birth or death notices, legal notices, and community news, such as visits to or from out-of-town relatives. See Washington Newspapers for tips, resources, and details.
- Jefferson County, Washington Genealogy Newspapers (Sortable by towns, years, and titles)
Finding More Washington Newspapers
Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Jefferson County, Washington Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Do a search for these and other records in the FamilySearch Catalog. To select a county in Washington, add a comma, slide way down to the county list, then click Search. (Almost every state seems to have a Washington County)
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Obituaries may mention birth, marriage, spouse, parents, living family members, education, occupation, and more. See Washington Obituaries for state level collections and United States Obituaries for tips and insights.
See also: Newspapers • Libraries • Societies • Funeral Homes • Obituaries of neighboring counties or of the person's previous residence • Family records.
Also check:
- Newspapers of Jefferson County, Washington Genealogy
- Local Funeral Homes, Libraries, or family records.
- Obituaries of neighboring counties
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Probate records identify heirs of the decedents, give the (approximate) death dates, and provide specifics about property holdings. The records were kept by the county judge.
These include wills, inheritance records, dockets, and other documents regarding property and estates of individuals who have died. See also Court Records for civil actions involving estates. Also see Washington Probate Records.
- Probate Case Files, 1853-1889 Part of:"County Probate Records, 1853-1929" FamilySearch Historical Collections (free)
- See what genealogical information may be in these records.
Public Records[edit | edit source]
Public records are documents created by civil authorities that either don't fit comfortably in another topic, or that could fit in several topics.
- Jefferson Postmaster Index. Part of Washington, Postmaster Indexes, Prior to 1965, FamilySearch Historical Collections for Washington. (Free, browse images)
Taxation[edit | edit source]
Washington tax records complement land records and can supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see the wiki page Washington Taxation.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
The county auditors in Washington kept records of birth, marriage, and death. The county clerk has the divorce records - the earliest dates to the present.
Visit the Washington State Department of Health website to order a Washington Birth, Death, Marriage or Divorce Certificate. See Washington Vital Records for details and history of the records. .
Birth[edit | edit source]
| Y | M | |
| Name of Child | Green check.png | |
| Birth Date and Place | Green check.png | |
| Parent's Names | Green check.png | |
| Mother's Maiden Name | Green check.png | |
| Parent's Ages | Green check.png | |
| Parents' State or Country of Birth | Green check.png | |
| Name of Doctor or Midwife | Green check.png | |
In 1891, coroners, physicians, and midwives were to "return" births and deaths to the county auditor. Many went unrecorded. In 1907, the State Center for Health Statistics assumed this responsibility.[7]
See Washington Online Genealogy Records for indexes.
Also see Washington Birth Records.
- Birth certificates 1869-1907 Part of Washington, County Records, 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
- See what genealogical information may be in these records.
- Washington, County Birth Registers, 1873-1965 — index and images
- Birth registers 1891-1907
For earlier or unrecorded births, search:
- Delayed Birth Certificates often include statements of witnesses to the birth.
- Death Records to learn birth date, place, parents
- Census to learn age, family members, location, etc.
- School Censuses give date of birth and name of parent or guardian
- Cemeteries for birth date or age, maybe birth place
- Obituaries for any of the above and more
- See also Neighboring and Parent counties and How to Find Washington Birth Records.
Marriage[edit | edit source]
| Y | M | |
| Date of Marriage or License | Green check.png | |
| Names of Bride and Groom | Green check.png | |
| Ages | Green check.png | |
| Birth Places | Green check.png | |
| Residences | Green check.png | |
| Names of Parents | Green check.png | |
| Husband's Occupation | Green check.png | |
| Witnesses | Green check.png | |
| Minister or Officiator | Green check.png | |
Marriage records include certificates, marriage returns, license applications or affidavits. Counties kept the records until 1968, when the state took over.
|
Search all documents that exist for a marriage, since information on them will vary. |
See Washington Online Genealogy Records for indexes.
Also see Washington Marriage Records.
- 1801-1962 - Washington, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
- 1855–2008 - Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1872-2013 - Marriage Records, 1872-2013 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)
- 1969-2014 - Washington Marriage Index, 1969-2014 at FamilySearch — index
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Witnesses or affiants may be relatives or close family friends. The affidavits also include physician's certificates. |
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Divorce records give the names of the parties and may give the date and place of their marriage. See Washington Vital Records for excellent information.
Online Records
- 1969 - 2014 - Washington Divorce Index, 1969-2014 at FamilySearch — index
Death[edit | edit source]
| Y | M | |
| Name of Deceased | Green check.png | |
| Death Date and Place | Green check.png | |
| Age or Birth Date and Place | Green check.png | |
| Parent's Names | Green check.png | |
| Mother's Maiden Name | Green check.png | |
| Name of Spouse | Green check.png | |
| Residence | Green check.png | |
| Occupation | Green check.png | |
In 1891, coroners, physicians and midwives were to report (or return) all births and deaths under their supervision to County Auditors. On July 1, 1907, the State took over....[8]
See Washington Online Genealogy Records for indexes.
Also see Washington Death Records.
- Washington, Death Certificates, 1907-1960 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
- See what genealogical information may be in these records.
- Death registers 1891-1907Part of Washington, County Records, 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
- See what genealogical information may be in these records.
Voting Registers[edit | edit source]
Websites[edit | edit source]
|
Check back often with these websites. Internet offerings are growing at record rates. Local societies and libraries may know of other websites. |
| Jefferson County WAGenWeb Project | Free | Data may be submitted by individuals or complete transcriptions |
| USGenWeb Archives | Free | Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions |
| Washington State Digital Archives | Free | Includes indexes, some linked to images.
|
| FamilySearch Historical Collections | Free | Search indexes or browse images at FamilySearch.org.
|
| Websites at RootsWeb - Jefferson WA | Free | Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions |
| Linkpendium | Free | Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($) |
| CyndisList | Free | Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($) |
| StateofUS.com | Free | "Jefferson County, Washington Facts" (Mis-labeled "Jefferson County, Alabama facts" |
Books, microfilm, or manuscripts of genealogical records | |
| FamilySearch catalog | Select topics. To select towns, add a comma to the search box. |
| WorldCat | To find nearby libraries that have specific items, see WorldCat Online Catalog. |
| Allen County Public Library (Indiana) | |
Archives, Libraries, etc.[edit | edit source]
See also a List of Washington Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical & Genealogical Societies
Resources for Jefferson County, Washington Genealogy are available in libraries, archives, and other repositories at all levels: the town, the county, the state (including universities), and the nation.
- Check websites and catalogs, such as items in FamilySearch Library (Utah) or Allen County Public Library (Indiana) for Jefferson County, Washington Genealogy. When you find items you'd like to access, see Get a Copy
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
Local Centers and Libraries
- Port Townsend Washington Family History Center 10104 Rhody RD., Chimacum, WA 98325 United States Location Map
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Local public libraries—even smaller ones—often have Unique Genealogical Collections that are not online for the area they serve. Many libraries in Washington have an area dedicated to local history and genealogy.
|
A library's Unique Collections may include card indexes of local records, newspapers, scrapbooks, genealogy papers, files of a genealogical or historical society, and other unpublished manuscripts. |
- Jefferson County Library
620 Cedar Avenue
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-6544
Website - Port Townsend Public Library
1220 Lawrence Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Phone: 360-385-3181
Website
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
- Jefferson County Genealogical Society
Mailing address:
PO Box 627
Port Townsend, WA 98368-0627
Research Center (not a mailing address):
13692 Airport Cutoff Road (Highway 19)
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Phone: 360-385-9495
Website
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[9]
| Cities | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Native American communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
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‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Jefferson County, Washington," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_County,_Washington. accessed 17/07/2019
- ↑ The Evolution of Washington Counties by Newton Carl Abbott, Fred E. Carver, 1979. Published by the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society and Klickitat County Genealogical Society.
- ↑ John H. Long, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries (Chicago: Newberry Library, 2006) online.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Ferry County, Washington page 732, At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Jefferson County, Washington . Page 732-735 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 733-734.
- ↑ John H. Long, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries (Chicago: Newberry Library, 2006) online.
- ↑ Washington State Archives - Digital Archives, Birth Records, About this Collection
- ↑ About Death Records at Washington State Digital Archives.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Jefferson County, Washington," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_County,_Washington, accessed 13 March 2019.
