Monterey County, California Genealogy

United States California Monterey County

Guide to Monterey County California ancestry, family history, and genealogy research page. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Courthouse
County Recorder has birth and death records and marriage records from 1893. Clerk Superior Court has probate and land rececords County Court has divorce and court records.

Parent County
18 February 1850: Monterey County was created as an original county. County seat: Salinas

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating California county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation California County Boundary Maps" (1850-1925) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Records Loss
For a list of record loss in California counties see: California Counties with Burned Courthouses

Populated Places
Aromas Big Sur Boronda Bradley Carmel Carmel Highlands Carmel Valley Village Castroville Chualar Del Rey Oaks Fort Hunter Liggett Fort Ord Gilroy Gonzales Greenfield Jolon Lockwood Lucia King City Gorda Marina Monterey Pacific Grove Pajaro Parkfield Pebble Beach Prunedale Salinas San Ardo San Benancio San Lucas Sand City Seaside Soledad Spreckels

Neighboring Counties

 * Fresno
 * Kern
 * Kings
 * San Benito
 * San Luis Obispo
 * Santa Clara
 * Santa Cruz

Cemeteries
CASTROVILLE Castroville Public Cemetery District 8442 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, CA 95039 List of Burials - Contributed by Jodi Brewster (belukha6@yahoo.com) 5 Aug 2003 Updated 10 Jun 2003 http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/monterey/cemeteries/castroville-dates.txt

EL CARMETO (note: this is mispelled on BillionGraves site, this is El Carmelo Cemetery) Pacific Grove BillionGraves

FORT ORD Whitcher Family Cemetery Monterey County Herald, CA June 6, 1999  Final resting place far from today’s uproars by Mary Barker

GONZALES Gonzales Cemetery District Highway 1 &amp; S. Alto St., Gonzales, CA 93926

KING CITY King City District Cemetery 1010 Broadway Street, King City, CA 93930

The entire cemetery database and map is kept current on Names in Stone website.

Place to document burials http://cagenweb.com/montereybbs/viewforum.php?f=34

MONTEREY

Cementerio El Encinal and Monterey City Cemetery Fremont at Camino Aguajito, Del Rey Oaks, CA 93940 http://www.monterey.org/cemetery/ list of burials http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~westroot/cemetery/encinal.html

Mission Memorial Park 1915 Ord Grove Avenue, Sand City, CA 93955

Presidio of Monterey Cemetery, Presidio of Monterey The Presidio of Monterey is located in the City of Monterey. It is an “Active Post” and it is closed to the public. The cemetery is located within the Presidio and is classified as “Inactive”, that is, all of the gravesites have been used or reserved prior to 1 May 1975 per Army Regulation 210-190. ACCESS TO THE PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY IS LIMITED TO ACTIVE MILITARY, RETIRED MILITARY, EMPLOYEES, AND SPONSORED GUESTS. Information page http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~westroot/cemetery/rpc.html References : 1. Presidio of Monterey, Monterey, Monterey County, CA by David Johnson, 4 Aug, 2005 (Part of California Tombstone Project) http://www.rootsweb.com/~cemetery/california/californ.html 2. Monterey County Herald, CA May 30, 2010 Event re-dedicates Presidio of Monterey Cemetery

Royal Presidio Chapel de San Carlos de Borromeo, Monterey, California Information page http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~westroot/cemetery/rpc.html

San Carlos Catholic Cemetery 792 Fremont Street, Del Rey Oaks, CA 93940 Place to document burials http://cagenweb.com/montereybbs/viewforum.php?f=32

PACIFIC GROVE El Carmelo Cemetery and the Little Chapel by-the-Sea Asilomar Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 List of Burials - Contributed by: Kristina Magill &lt;kam1242@attbi.com&gt; 24 Sep 2002 http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/monterey/cemeteries/elcarmelo-ac.txt Old list of burials, Updated 24 Sep. 2004 http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~westroot/cemetery/elcaf.html Full obits of burials – compiled by Mary S. Taylor, ongoing http://cagenweb.com/montereybbs/viewforum.php?f=9 List of burials compiled from diverse sources – compiled by Mary S. Taylor http://cagenweb.com/montereybbs/viewforum.php?f=33

References: 1 Carmel Pine Cone, CA Dec. 16, 2010  P.G. Cemetery costs skyrocket 2. Cedar Street Times, Pacific Grove, CA Aug. 28, 2010  Darlene Billstrom is back in charge 3. Cedar Street Times, Pacific Grove, CA Aug. 28, 2010  El Carmelo Cemetery: Keeping it neat for the ages 4.  Pacific Grove Hometown Bulletin, CA Jan. 18, 2006 p12 Board and Batten, Pacific Grove Heritage Society El Carmelo Cemetery (From the Dec 89/Jan 1990 Newsletter of the Pacific Grove Heritage Society.) 5.  Carmel Pine Cone, CA March 9, 2005 Last Hometown adds 800 eternal bunk beds By KIRSTIE WILDE 6.  Monterey Peninsula Herald, CA Jan. 5, 1963 New Partner in P.G. Mortuary 7.  Monterey Peninsula Herald, CA May 29, 1947 p2 El Carmelo Cemetery Entrance Changed 8.  Pacific Grove Tribune, CA June 1, 1945  El Carmelo Cemetery Transferred Mutual Agreement Made By Cemetery Board And City

PRUNEDALE Queen of Heaven Cemetery &amp; Mausoleum 18200 Damian Way, Prunedale, CA 93907

SALINAS Garden of Memories Memorial Park (I.O.O.F.) 768 Abbot St., Salinas, CA 93901 List of Burials - Submitted by Val Hoover 26 Jul 2005 http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/monterey/cemeteries/garden-of-memories.txt Place to document burials http://cagenweb.com/montereybbs/viewforum.php?f=31

Yamat Cemetery

1165 Abbott Street, Salinas, CA 93905

Healey Mortuary and Crematory 405 N. Sanborn Road, Salinas, CA 93905

Old Calvary Catholic Cemetery Salinas, Monterey County, CA Index of Burials - Submitted by Val Hoover 26 Jul 2005 http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/monterey/cemeteries/old-cavalry-catholic.txt

SAN LUCAS San Lucas Cemetery Monterey County, CA List of Burials - Submitted by Betsy Wood 15 Jan 2007 http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/monterey/cemeteries/san-lucas.txt

SOLEDAD Soledad Cemetery District 1711 Metz Road, Soledad, CA 93960

MONTEREY COUNTY Sands Cemetery, Monterey County, CA All Markers in the Sands Cemetery were wooden and burned one summer when a fire swept through the area. There are some more recent stones in the Sands Cemetery but for the “old wooden markers” we only have word of mouth as to who is buried there &amp; their approximate dates. List of Burials - Submitted by Betsy Wood 13 Jan 2007 http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/monterey/cemeteries/sands.txt

Pleyto (Pleito) Cemetery, Carmel Valley, Monterey County, CA Pleyto or Pleito Cemetery was moved when the San Antonio Dam was built in 1967 and today it is called Cemetery Cove. (Part of CA Tombstone Project) List of burials Submitted by Betsy Wood 13 Jan 2007 http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ca/monterey/cemeteries/pleyto.txt http://cagenweb.com/monterey/cempleyto.html

Monterey County Potters Field Cemetery

Located on the corner of Natividad Rd. and East Laurel Dr. This is a CLOSED (Fenced/Gated - No Trespassing Signs) county cemetery, where any access would be considered trespassing. I have checked with the county to see about obtaining access to record the burials, and I was promptly denied. Their stand is that the grave markers contain nothing more than a burial number. Anyone interested in obtaining information on these burials are directed to the Monterey County Recorder's Office to obtain a death certificate. Most of the early Monterey County death certificates were microfilmed and are available from the Church of Latter-Day Saints Family History Library. This cemetery really is used only for the poor/indigent that cannot afford a burial. It also includes a huge number of John Doe and Jane Doe burials. Ideally, this cemetery should not have the option of making a "Photo Request" Information from FindaGrave

Monterey County Historical Society holds Soldiers Buiral Records, Ex-Union Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, 1897-1929

Census


1852 California State census, schedule I inhabitants of Monterey County, California : Escobar 1852 Monterey County database, by Lorraine "Rain Cloud" Escobar

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Church History and Records
LDS Ward and Branch Records


 * Monterey
 * Pacific Grove
 * Salinas

Court Records
Superior Court of California – County of Monterey  Case Lookup – Index  https://www.justicepartners.monterey.courts.ca.gov/Public/JPPublicIndex.aspx Probate Notes  http://www.monterey.courts.ca.gov/Probate/ProbateNote.aspx  ''Probate/Guardianship. Conservatorship Case Fillings '' http://www.monterey.courts.ca.gov/Probate/

'''http://www.monterey.courts.ca.gov/Documents/Administration/Access-to-Administrative-and-Court-Records.pdf Requesting Court Case File and Adjudicative Records (divorce, criminal, complaints, judgments, traffic tickets, case information) Mostly available at the clerk’s office at the court location where record was originally filed. Requests to inspect and copy case file and other adjudicative records prepared for or filed or used in a court proceeding may be made at the courthouse where they are filed. There is a copying fee of $0.50 per page, which must be paid in advance. Please direct requests for access to administrative records maintained by the Monterey County Superior Court to: PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE Superior Court of California County of Monterey 240 Church Street Salinas, CA 93901 Phone: (831) 775-5400 x3020 Fax: (831) 775-5499 [mailto:Mediainfo@monterey.courts.ca.gov Mediainfo@monterey.courts.ca.gov]'''

Court records held by Monterey County Historical Society:

History


[http://www.worldcat.org/title/union-catalog-of-historic-documents-monterey-county-california/oclc/38881810&referer=brief_results Monterey County Historical Advisory Commission. 1997. Union catalog of historic documents, Monterey County, California. [Salinas? Calif.]: Monterey County Historical Advisory Committee. ]

[https://archive.org/details/historyofstateo00guin Guinn, J. M. 1903. History of the state of California and biographical record of Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co.  ]Family History Library United States &amp; Canada Film 468738 Item 1

[https://archive.org/details/memorialbiograph00barr Barrows, Henry D. 1893. A memorial and biographical history of the coast counties of Central California. Illustrated. Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period ... and biographical mention of many of its pioneers, and prominent citizens of today. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. ]

[http://www.worldcat.org/title/history-of-the-presidio-of-monterey-1770-to-1970/oclc/57401764&referer=brief_results Horne, Kibbey M. 2000. A history of the Presidio of Monterey, 1770 to 1970. Monterey, Calif: Defense Language Institute, West Coast Branch. ]

[http://www.worldcat.org/title/hand-book-to-monterey-and-vicinity-containing-a-brief-resume-of-the-history-of-monterey-since-its-discovery-a-general-review-of-the-resources-and-products-of-monterey-and-the-country-descriptive-sketches-of-the-town-and-the-points-of-interest-in-the-neighborhood-a-complete-guide-book-for-tourists-campers-and-visitors/oclc/6744069&referer=brief_results The Hand book to Monterey and vicinity containing a brief resumé of the history of Monterey since its discovery; a general review of the resources and products of Monterey and the country; descriptive sketches of the town, and the points of interest in the neighborhood. A complete guide book, for tourists, campers and visitors. 1875. Monterey [Calif.]: Walton &amp; Curtis. ]

A tribute to yesterday : the history of Carmel, Carmel Valley, Big Sur, Point Lobos, Carmelite Monastery and Los Burros

[https://archive.org/details/historyofmontere00elli History of Monterey County, California with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, farms, residences, public buildings, factories, hotels, business houses, schools, churches and mines from original drawings by artists of the highest ability : with biographical sketches of prominent citizens. 1967. San Francisco: Elliott &amp; Moore. ]

Land and Property
Taylor, Alexander Smith. 1900. Index to the Mexican Archives of the County of Monterey from volume sixth to volume sixteenth inclusive

Land records held by the Monterey County Historical Society:

Maps

 * Maps of California (1850-1925)



Civil War

 * - 1st Battalion, California Native Cavalry (Union), Company A
 * - 1st Battalion, California Native Cavalry (Union), Company B

Newspapers
(note: some of these dates may be off due to incomplete holdings lists and variations in titles of the newspapers)

BIG SUR Big Sur Gazette (1978-1981)

CARMEL and CARMEL VALLEY Carmel Californian (1936-1937) Carmel Cottager (1934) Carmel Cymbal (1926-1941) Carmel Cymbal and Masten’s Gazette (1941-1942) Carmel, Pebble Beach, Carmel Valley Spectator (1949) Carmel Pine Cone (1915-present) Carmel Pine Cone and Carmel Valley Outlook (1981-1993) Carmel Pine Cone Cymbal (1942-1962) Carmel Spectator (1949-1955) Carmel Sun (1992-1994) Carmel Valley News (1951-1955) Carmel Valley Sun (1983-1990) Carmel Valley Outlook (1979-1981) Carmel Valley Weekly Sun (1990-1993) Carmel Village Daily (1933) Masten’s Gazette (1941) Paisano (1948) Peninsula Spectator (1959) Spectator (1949-1950)

CASTROVILLE and MOSS LANDING Castroville News (1936-1942) Castroville Times (1950-1952) Castroville Times Journal (1950) Castroville Times and Moss Landing Harbor News (1952-1975) North County News (1975-1982)

FORT ORD Fort Ord Panorama (1980-1982)

GONZALES Gonzales Tribune (1956-1991)

GREENFIELD Greenfield News (1952-1991)

KING CITY King City Rustler (1901-1997) Rustler and King City Herald (1961-1964) Semi Weekly Rustler (1936-1937)

MARINA Marina Tribune (1981-1982) Marina Weekly Tribune (1979)

MONTEREY Army News (1904) At Ease (1990) Monterey American (1913-1916) Monterey Argus (1887-1888) Monterey Bay Labor News 1955-1985 Monterey Bay News (1947-1950) Monterey Bay and Pacific Grove/Pebble Beach Tribune (1985) Monterey Bay Tribune (1985-1987) Monterey County Herald (1992-present) Monterey County Journal (1864) Monterey County Post (1929-1933) Monterey Daily Cypress 1889-1922) Monterey Democrat (1868-1889) Monterey Enterprise (?) Monterey Evening Herald (1909-1910) Monterey Gazette (1863-1868) Monterey Herald (1986-1992) Monterey Labor News (1937) Monterey New Era (1890-1909) Monterey News Daily and Monterey Trader (1940) Monterey Peninsula Herald (1929-1992) Monterey Sentinel (1855-1856) Monterey Trader (1933-1951) Monterey Union (1862) Montereyan (1951-1955) Peninsula Advocate (1910-1911) Peninsula Daily Herald (1927-1929) Peninsula Daily Herald and Monterey Daily Cypress and Monterey American (1923-1927) Peninsula Merchants’ Semi-Monthly Bulletin (1915-1916)

PACIFIC GROVE Pacific Grove Beacon (1994-1995) Pacific Grove Daily Review (1892-1926) Pacific Grove Monarch (1987-1992) Pacific Grove News (1916) Pacific Grove/Pebble Beach Tribune (1976-1984) Pacific Grove Progress (1916) Pacific Grove Review (1888-1912) Pacific Grove Tide (1936-1943) Pacific Grove Tribune (1943-1951, 1984-1985) Pacific Grove Weekly Tribune (1978-1979) Peninsula Pelican (1925) Peninsular Review and Pacific Grove Daily Review (1926-1932)

SALINAS Monterey County Labor News (1942-1954) Monterey County Post (1929-1933) North Monterey County Fortnighter (1983-1989) Owl (1894) Salinas Californian (1942-present) Salinas Daily Index (1894-1928) Salinas Daily Journal (1889-1897) Salinas Daily Post and Monterey County Post (1933-1942) Salinas Democrat (1889-1896) Salinas Index (1895-1904) Salinas Index Journal (1928-1942) Salinas Index Weekly (1873-1925) Salinas Labor News (1937-1942) Salinas Morning Post (1936-1942) Salinas Standard (1869-1872) Salinas Valley Rustler (1906-1923) Salinas Valley Settler (1889) Salinas Village Crier (1942) Salinas Weekly Index (1883-1895) Salinas Weekly Journal (1867-1915

SEASIDE Free Weekly Sentinel (1987) Right-On Post (1970) Seaside News Sentinel (1950-1970) Seaside Post (1969-1970) Seaside Post News Sentinel (1970-1988) Seaside Post Sentinel (1970) Seaside Sentinel (1988-1996) Seaside Weekly Sentinel (1987-1988)

SPRECKELS Spreckles Courier (1909-1914)

WATSONVILLE Watsonville Rustler (1888-1897)

References:  1. “Californian.” In the California Weekly, vol. 1, August 27, 1909, p629. 2. “Californian.” In the Grizzly Bear, vol. 2, Feb. 1908 p23 3. Denny, Melcena Burns. “California’s First newspaper Printed without a Letter ‘W’ on Flimsy Cigarette Paper.” In Montana, the Magazine of Western History, vol. 15, no. 4, October 1965 p29-41. 4. Dethlefs, Helen. “First California Newspaper Founded 100 Years Ago, August 15, 1846.” In California Publisher, August 1946, p11. 5. “First newspaper in California.” In The Pony Express, September 1946 p2. 6. Harding, Geroge L. “The Origin of California’s First printing Press.” In Book Club of California, Quarterly news-letter 2:5-8, June 1934. 7. “The Salinas Californian; Newspaper’s Growth Tied to a Dream.” In California Publisher, Vol. 1, Nos 2 &amp; 3, Nov-Dec 1971, p34-35. 8. “Newspaper Holdings of the California State Library” compiled by Marianne Leach

On-line • Carmel Pine Cone, Carmel http://www.pineconearchive.com/ • Monterey County Herald, Monterey http://www.montereyherald.com/news • Monterey County Weekly, Monterey http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/ • Monterey County News Topix http://www.topix.com/county/monterey-ca • Cedar Street Times, Pacific Grove http://www.cedarstreettimes.com/ • Pacific Grove Hometown Bulletin http://www.pgbulletin.com/archives.php • King City Rustler http://www.kingcityrustler.com/v2_main_page.php • Salinas Californian http://www.thecalifornian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage • South County News – Gonzales, Greenfield, King City, Soledad http://southcounty.kionrightnow.com/

County Courthouse
Monterey Courthouse, 1200 Aguajito Rd, Monterey, CA 93940; (831) 647-5800 History - Monterey County Courthouse Completed 1878 http://www.monterey.courts.ca.gov/General_Information/History.aspx The military and social capital of Alta California during Spanish and Mexican rule, the town of Monterey naturally became the county seat when the 27 original counties were formed in, 1850. But when it was learned that the railroad was to go through the valley and not along the coast, the government center was moved to Salinas. After the house used as a courthouse burned, this much larger brick Victorian building was commissioned. The courthouse remained in use while the current one was being constructed around it, and then was demolished. Today a courtyard, lily pond, and commemorative sculpture occupy the site.

Marina Courthouse, 3180 Del Monte Blvd, Marina, CA 93933; (831) 883-5300

King City Courthouse, 250 Franciscan Way, King City, CA 93930; (831) 386-5200

Salinas Courthouse, 240 Church St, Salinas, CA 93901; (831) 775-5400

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers
 * Monterey California Family History Center

Monterey County Genealogy Society

Monterey County Historical Society The MCHS is a major archive for Monterey County records.

Vital Records
See also How to order California Vital Records

Voters Registers
The following is a list of original voter registration records recently transferred from Monterey County Elections Department to the Monterey County Historical Society archival facility in Salinas. To access records, see: http://www.mchsmuseum.com/

Great Register of Voters: Ledger Books: 1866-1870 1 book 1870 1 book 1881-1883,1886,1888,1890 1 book 1892 (Vol. 1, Vol. 2) 2 books 1896 (Vol. 1, Vol. 2) 2 books 1898 (Vol. 3) 2 books 1900 (Vol. 1,Vol. 2) 2 books 1902 (Vol. 1, Vol. 2) 2 books 1904 (Vol. 1, Vol.2) 2 books 1906-1907 (Vol. 1, Vol. 2) 2 books 1908-1909 (A-L, M-Z) 2 books 1910-1911 (A-L, M-Z) 2 books 1912-1913 (A-L, M-Z) 4 books 1914-1915 (A-L, M-Z) 2 books

Scattered records: Voter affidavits*: 1922-23 (Affidavits, Pleyto precinct) 1930-31 (Affidavits, Blanco precinct)

Indexes (no voter affidavits): 1938, August primary (Greenfield precincts No.1 and No. 2)

Description of collection: The ledger books1 titled Great Register of Voters are the original handwritten manuscripts kept by the County Clerk’s (Registrar of Voters) office of the County of Monterey beginning in 1866.2 The entries are made in alphabetical sections (with alpha sub-sections) and show chronological appearance of voters as they were sworn and registered to vote. The entries include place of nativity (birthplace); age of voter; place of residence (post office or precinct); date and place of naturalization, if applicable; whether citizen by virtue of Treaty of Hildago or citizen by virtue of father’s naturalization (and in later years a woman’s citizenship status by marriage); occupation; date of appearance to be sworn; and date of registration. Later registration data includes a physical description of the voter and party affiliation. The Registrar of Voters also appended notes to the entries to indicate reasons for cancellation whether due to removal to another county or state, transfer to another county due to change of boundary lines (i.e. to San Benito County in 1874), death, incarceration or “Section 1106” (failure to vote). These notations usually contained dates if known. Copies of the list of voters not thus cancelled, were made every two years and sometimes more frequently if a special election occurred (polling lists). These copies of uncancelled voters were sent to the state and other repositories on a routine basis. Microfilm of these typeset lists is available at the California State Library in Sacramento, California, and other repositories.3

These original handwritten Great Register ledger books have not been microfilmed or transcribed. There was a partial transcription done of the 1890 Great Register as part of a census substitute project4 but the transcription does not include cancellation information.

Note: The Great Register books contain information for years other than marked on the book spines. For example, the 1866-1870 Great Register contains several entries made after 1870 when cancellations were noted and the 1890 Great Register shows voter registration dates which occurred years earlier.

1 Some years are missing. 2 Beginning in the year 1866, California state law required a list of voters to be kept. 3 Monterey County (California) County Clerk. Great Register of Voters 1867, 1869, 1872, 1875-1876, 1879-1880, 1884, 1886, 1888, 1890, 1892, 1894, 1896, 1898. (Salt Lake City: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1975). 4 Bettyann Lockwood Hedegard, ed., 1890 great register of Monterey County, California. (Salinas, CA: Monterey County Genealogy Society, c1993).
 * Voter affidavits are registration forms signed by the voters and contain birth date, birth place, residence address, occupation, party affiliation and sometimes cancellation information.
 * List of records

Courtesy of Junel Davidsen

Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries

 * List of California Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical & Genealogical Societies

Web Sites

 * Monterey County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * California Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Monterey County CAGenWeb
 * Linkpendium
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * USGenWeb Archives backup site