Utah, Territorial Case Files of the U.S. District Courts - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
These records cover the years 1870 to 1896

This index corresponds to the 2,593 case files created by the U.S. district courts from 1870 to 1896. The records are arranged by the name of the defendant.

During the years from 1870 to 1896, the judicial system of Utah consisted of four districts located in Salt Lake City, Ogden, Provo, and Beaver. The records from these four districts have been combined and indexed. The majority of cases in this time period concerned the practice of polygamy, but there were also cases involving mail theft, illegal voting, violations of liquor and tobacco tariff laws, possession of counterfeit coins, and embezzlement.

This index was created to provide easier access to the Utah Territorial case files.

The information in this index is quite reliable. However, keep in mind that it still may contain alternate spellings or misinterpretations of names or other information.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Record collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher and archive for the original records.

Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.

Record Content
Key genealogical facts included in the index are:


 * Defendant’s full name
 * Case number
 * Footnote and National Archives Record Administration reference information
 * State
 * Year

How to Use the Record
Use the index to find case files of persons who may have been involved in a court case in Utah during the years 1870-1896. Search for any alternate names your ancestor might have used, such as a nickname or alias. If you are having difficulty finding the person you are looking for in these records, consider looking for cases involving friends or relatives who might have mentioned them. To search this collection, it would be helpful to know the following information:

To begin your search, it is helpful to know the name and some other identifying information such as the birth place or birth date.

Search the Collection
Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind:
 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line video at FamilySearch Search Tips.

Related Websites
An archival description of the Territorial Case files can be found at the National Archives website.

Related Wiki Articles

 * Utah Territorial Records
 * Utah Court Records
 * Utah

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
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A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
"Utah, Territorial Case Files of the U.S. District Courts, 1870-1896." index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 6 May 2011). John Young, citing Territorial Case Files, case number 2,521, NARA publication M1401. NARA roll 34; National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.