Washington, County Land Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes land and property records with indexes for the years 1850 to 1954. The following counties are included:


 * Clark,1859-1921; index, 1850-1977
 * Grays Harbor, 1858-1922
 * King, 1852-1924
 * Kitsap, 1852-1924
 * Lewis, 1856-1987
 * Mason, 1854-1982
 * Pacific, 1850-1950
 * Pierce, 1859-1988
 * Thurston, 1852-1925
 * Wahkiakum, 1883-1954; index, 1858-1931

Some of the Lewis County deed indexes include deed records.

Pierce and Thurston county deed indexes are not found in this collection. They may be found in "Washington, County Records, 1856-2009."

After the county's creation, a county land office was formed. Land transactions among private owners were then recorded by the registrar of deeds in the county office.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: • 2

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * The location of property or date of the transaction

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Use the residence and names of the parents to locate church and census records
 * Search for the land transactions of a couple and their children. The parents may have sold or given property to a son or daughter. Such transactions confirm relationships that might not be found in other records
 * Search for records of people in the county who shared a surname. These may have been the couple’s parents, uncles, or other relatives. Your ancestor may have been an heir who sold inherited land that had belonged to parents or grandparents
 * To find later generations, search the land records a few years before and after a person’s death. Your ancestor may have sold or given land to his or her heirs before death, or the heirs may have sold the land after the individual died. For daughters, the names of their husbands are often provided. For sons, the given names of their wives may be included. Heirs may have sold their interest in the land to another heir even though the record may not indicate this. Continue this process for identifying each succeeding generation
 * One deed does not usually give sufficient information about a couple and their children. A careful study of all deeds for the person or the family will yield a richer return of information
 * For each parcel of land owned, you should obtain two documents:


 * 1) The deed that documents when ownership transferred to the individual or the family and
 * 2) The deed that documents when ownership was transferred to someone else

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * Some counties were subdivided or the boundaries may have changed. Consider searching neighboring counties as well since that courthouse may have been more convenient for the person
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Washington.
 * Beginning United States Land and Property Research
 * Washington Guided Research
 * Washington Record Finder
 * Washington Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1907 &#124; 1907-Present

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Clark County, deeds, 1859-1921; index, 1850-1977
 * Grays Harbor County, deeds, 1858-1922
 * King County, deed and mortgage indexes, 1852-1924
 * Kitsap County, deeds and mortgages, 1852-1924
 * Lewis County, deeds 1856-1987
 * Mason County, deed records, 1854-1982
 * Pacific County, deed records, 1850-1950
 * Pierce County, deed records, 1859-1988
 * Thurston County, deed records, 1852-1925
 * Wahkiakum County, deed records, 1883-1954; index, 1858-1931
 * U.S. General Land Office. (Washington) Land Records
 * U.S. General Land Office. Abstracts of Washington donation land claims, 1855-1902. NARA M203
 * U.S. Land Office. Donation land claims by orphans in Oregon and Washington, 1867-1873. NARA

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.