Previous Jurisdictions to Land in Arizona

United States Arizona  Previous Jurisdictions to land in Arizona

Previous Jurisdictions and Record Repositories
Locating records of your ancestors


 * Find where your ancestor lived and when he live there
 * Identify the jurisdiction covering the land when and where your ancestor lived
 * Determine the record repositories for that jurisdiction in the present day

For example, suppose you were told your ancestor lived in Tucson, Arizona Territory in 1861. Putting this all together, your ancestor actually lived in Tucson, Arizona County, New Mexico Territory in 1861. Therefore look for records at the archives in Tucson, Dona Ana County, and the State of New Mexico.
 * In the present day, Tucson is indeed located in Arizona. But Arizona didn't exist in 1861. Arizona Territory wasn't created until 1863. Before that, the land belonged to New Mexico Territory, which was created in 1850. So your ancestor lived in New Mexico Territory. This jurisdiction still exists today as the State of New Mexico.
 * In 1853, the US bought the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico, which contained land south of the Gila River. This is the land where Tucson is located. In 1854, this land was given to New Mexico Territory and in 1855 this land was added to Dona Ana county. Then in 1860, New Mexico created Arizona county from the land in Dona Ana county. Arizona County existed totally within the present day State of Arizona. So your ancestor lived in Arizona County in the New Mexico Territory.
 * But Arizona county was discontinued in 1862, then recreated in 1863 and finally discontinued again when Arizona Territory was created in 1863. The records from this extinct county reverted to Dona Ana County, which still exists in the State of New Mexico.

Sometimes, records were recorded in a county or jurisdiction where your ancestor did not live. Maybe there was confusion as to where the borders lay. Or maybe it was a shorter distance to the neighboring county seat. There could be several reasons, so don't overlook records in nearby jurisdictions. But treat this as the exception to the rule and check the most obvious place first.

From the 1600s to 1846 - Spanish and Mexican land that would later become Arizona
From the 1600's, Spain laid claim to much of the land in present day southwestern US. But because of the great distances and the hostilities of the Indian tribes, Spanish rule effectively extended only to the southern portion of present day Arizona, and sometimes not even that much. Tucson was the only permanent town established, because of the military garrison there.

Spain established the practice of giving land grants to encourage settlement on the fringes of their rule. Mexico continued this practice. All Spanish and Mexican land grants for present day Arizona were located in the Gadsden Purchase. Stand in downtown Tucson and and look toward the southeast corner of present day Arizona, then turn 90 degrees to the west. All of these Spanish and Mexican Land Grants are located in that triangle.

Look for records in the following places
 * Records relating to Cases Decided by the United States Court of Private Land Claims, Arizona District
 * The Thirteen-year Court
 * U of A Libraries Digital Collections
 * Land Claims.
 * Private land claims
 * Spain and Mexico Archives

1820 - The San Ignacio de la Canoa Grant. Two brothers petitioned the governor of Sonora/Sinaloa for four leagues (sitios) to raise cattle and horses. Title was issued by Mexico in 1849 and Court of Private Land Claims confirmed the grant for 17,204 acres in 1899. This land grand was located on both sides of Interstate 19 south of Green Valley (that town is in the northwest corner of the grant).

1820 - The San Bernardino Grant south of Bisbee was also applied for by Ignacio de Perez, a Spanish lieutenant, who paid $90 for four leagues. The grant was surveyed in 1821 and recorded in Arizpe, Sonora but no title was ever issued. Most of the grant is located south of the border. The Court of Private Land Claims confirmed 2,383 acres that are on the American side.

1821 - Southwest of Patagonia is the San José de Sonoita Grant, the smallest grant made in Arizona. It was applied for in 1821 by Leon Herreras, a resident of Tubac, who had it surveyed and who received a Mexican title in 1825 for 7,598 acres. Court of Private Land Claims rejected that title on the grounds that the treasurer of Sonora had no authority to sell land in that area, but U. S. Supreme Court overturned the rejection. However it only confirmed 5,123 acres.

1821 - The San Rafael de la Zanja Grant, just to the north of the Mexican border, east of the Patagonia Mountains. The four-league grant was sold at public auction for $1,297 and title was issued by Mexico in 1825. Court of Private Land Claims confirmed 17,352 acres of the grant in 1902.

24 Aug 1821 - The Treaty of Cordoba was signed by Spain, which recognized Mexico's independence. The land in present day Arizona became part of Mexico, north of the Gila River was in the State of Alta California and south of the Gila River was in the State of New Navarra. Look for records in the Spain and Mexico Archives.

1827 - The San Ignacio del Babocomari Grant looks on a map like a twenty miles long boomerang north and west of present day Fort Huachuca. In 1827, Ignacio Elías y Gonzales and his sister Lulalia paid $380 for this nearly fifty-three square miles grant. The title to the grant was issued by the treasurer general of Sonora, Mexico on 25 December 1832. The Court of Private Land Claims confirmed 33,792 acres for this grant.

1827 - The San Juan de las Boquillas y Nogales Grant is located along the San Pedro River west of Tombstone. Title was issued to Ignacio Elías y Gonzales in 1833. The Court of Private Land Claims confirmed 17,354 acres for this grant.

1827 - The San Rafael del Valle Grant is adjoined to the San Juan grant on the south. Title was issued in 1832. The San Rafael Grant was at first rejected by Court of Private Land Claims, but the rejection was overturned in the U.S. Supreme Court, who confirmed 17,475 acres for this grant.

24 October 1831 - The Buena Vista Grant straddles the international boundary just east of Nogales and two thirds of it is in Mexico. This Mexican land grant was made to Dona Josefa Morales. It consisted of 18,640 acres and was also known as the Maria Santissima del Carmen Land Grant. Following the Gadsden Purchase, the Court of Private Land Claims confirmed 5,733 acres of the grant to men named Maish and Driscoll.

From 1846 to 1863 - New Mexico Territory land that would later become Arizona
18 Aug 1846 - During the war with Mexico, the US took control of Santa Fe and proclaimed sovereignty over the land that later became the New Mexico Territory. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives. 4 July 1848 - In the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, Mexico ceded all of present day California, Nevada, and Utah, and parts of present day Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Part of the international boundary was in dispute. The land south of the Gila River in present day Arizona was not ceded, it remained in control of Mexico. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives. 13 Dec 1850 - The US created the New Mexico Territory from unorganized federal land. This territory named after the Mexican State of New Mexico. Some counties were created, but they were small and covered land only in present day New Mexico. The land in the present day Arizona was at that time non-county land. Also the land south of the Gila River still belonged to Mexico. Look for records in the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives. 9 Jan 1852 - New Mexico redefined the boundaries of previous counties and created new ones to cover all the land within its territory. The boundary of Dona Ana County was expanded to include some land in present day Arizona, while the boundary of Socorro County was stretched across present day Arizona to the California border. The boundaries of Bernalillo, Rio Arriba, Santa Ana (extinct), Taos, and Valencia counties were stretched across present day Arizona and Nevada to the California border. Look for records in Dona Ana County, Socorro County, Bernalillo, Rio Arriba, Taos, and Valencia counties. 30 Dec 1853 - The US bought the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico. It contained land south of the Gila River in present day Arizona and New Mexico. It also settled the International boundary dispute between the United States and Mexico. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives, and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives. 4 Aug 1854 - The land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase was officially added to New Mexico Territory, it became non-county land. Look for records in the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.

3 Feb 1855 - Dona Ana County gained all the land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase. Its boundary was stretched across present day Arizona to the Baja California border. Look for records in Dona Ana County.

1 Feb 1860 - New Mexico created Arizona County from land in Dona Ana County. Arizona County was located entirely within present day Arizona. Look for records in Dona Ana County.

1860 Map Rebel 5 Apr 1860 - An unofficial convention held in Tucson established a provisional government,  declared the creation of the Territory of Arizona from the southern half of New Mexico Territory below 34 degrees north latitude and authorized 4 proposed counties: Castle Dome, Ewell, Mesilla, and Dona Ana. . The US Congress rejected the idea, so the proposed new territory was never officially created. However for a time it did operate as the de facto government for the intended Arizona Territory. Some records may have been created, but where found is unknown.

12 Jan 1861 - New Mexico created San Juan County (original, extinct) from land in Taos County. Look for records in Taos County.

1861 Map Rebel 1 Aug 1861 - Confederate General John Rober Baylor, fresh from his victory at the Battle of Mesilla, made a proclamation declaring Arizona to be a Confederate Territory and appointed an acting government. A judicial district was formed for land around Mesilla and another one for land around Tucson. 16 Aug 1861 - A convention met again in Mesilla and declared that the territory formed the previous year was part of the Confederacy. 28 Aug 1861 - Another convention held in Tucson ratified the Mesilla secession ordinance. Some government organization was made, including a delegate to the Confederate Congress. Some records may have been created, but where found is unknown. 18 Jan 1862 - New Mexico discontinued San Juan County (original, extinct) returning the land to Taos County. Look for records in Taos County. 18 Jan 1862 - New Mexico discontinued Arizona County returning the land to Dona Ana County. Look for records in Dona Ana County.

1862 Map Rebel 13 January 1862 - The Confederate Congress passed a bill declaring Arizona to be a Territory of the Confederate States of America. President Jefferson Davis signed the bill, which then became law. 14 February 1862 - The Confederate law creating Arizona as a Territory becomes effective. Note: Fifty years later to the day, Arizona becomes a state in the United States of America. 8 July 1862 - The last Confederate troops leave Confederate Arizona Territory as Union troops come in from California and Colorado. The Confederate Arizona government (if it still existed) became non-existent. Some records may have been created, but where found is unknown. 28 Jan 1863 - New Mexico re-created Arizona County from Dona Ana County. This county discontinued when Arizona Territory was created. Look for records in Dona Ana County.