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

Collection Time Period
These records cover the years 1870 to 1896

Record Description
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.

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.

Record History
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.

Why the Record Was Created
This index was created to provide easier access to the Utah Territorial case files.

Record Reliability
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.

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
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

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

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

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the data and images published on FamilySearch.org Historical Records. It may include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

“Utah, Territorial Case Files of the U.S. District Courts, 1870-1896.” index, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org). From National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. “Territorial Case Files Transferred to the U.S. District Court,” NARA M1401. FHL digital images, 39,406 records, Family History Library Salt Lake City, Utah.

Information about creating source citations for FamilySearch Historical Collections is listed in the wiki article Help:How to Create Source Citations For FamilySearch Historical Records Collections.