Grays Harbor County, Washington Genealogy

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Guide to Grays Harbor County, Washington ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Facts
County seat: Montesano
Organized: 14 Apr 1854
Parent County(s): Lewis, Thurston
Neighboring Counties
Jefferson • Mason • Pacific • Thurston • Lewis
See County Maps
Courthouse
Washington, Grays Harbor County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Wa-graysharbor.png

Ocean-going trawler launched 1948 on the Hoquiam River, Grays Harbor County, WA

County Information[edit | edit source]

Description[edit | edit source]

The county was named for a large estuarine bay near its southwestern corner. On May 7, 1792, Boston fur trader Robert Gray crossed the bar into a bay which he called Bullfinch Harbor, but which later cartographers would label Chehalis Bay, and then Grays Harbor. The county is located in the west-central area of the state.[1]

County Courthouse[edit | edit source]

Grays Harbor County Courthouse
102 West Broadway
Montesano, WA 98563
Phone 360-249-3441
Grays Harbor County

County Clerk has probate, divorce and court records from 1860.
County Auditor has marriage records from 1891.
County Assessor has land records from 1855. County Health Department has birth and death records. [2]

Grays Harbor County, Washington Record Dates[edit | edit source]

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[3]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1891 1855 1891 1860 1855 1860 1850
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1907. General compliance by 1917.

Record Loss[edit | edit source]

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]

Populated Places[edit | edit source]

For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[6]

Cities
Unincorporated communities
  • Alder Grove
  • Aloha
  • Artic
  • Axford
  • Bay City
  • Carlisle
  • Chehalis Village
  • Copalis Crossing
  • Deckerville
  • Garden City
  • Gray Gables
  • Grays Harbor City
  • Heather
  • Melbourne
  • New London
  • Newton
  • Nisson
  • Ocosta
  • Quinault
  • Saginaw
  • Sine
  • South Elma
  • South Montesano
  • Vesta
  • Whites
American Indian Communities
Census-designated places

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

History Timeline[edit | edit source]

  • The original residents of what would become Chehalis, then Grays Harbor County, were members of the Quinault Tribe.
  • 1787 The largest village in the area was at the mouth of the Quinault River and was so named.
  • 1792 May 7, Boston fur trader Robert Gray crossed the bar into the bay he called Bullfinch Harbor, but which later cartographers would label Chehalis Bay, then Grays Harbor.
  • 1824 Irishman John Work of the Hudson's Bay Company explored the area.
  • Mid 1800s The county’s first permanent white settler was Irishman William O’Leary.
  • 1853 March 2, U.S. President Millard Fillmore establishes Washington Territory.
  • 1907 February 27, Grays Harbor County was founded.
  • Early 1900s Grays Harbor County boomed. Immigrants from all over the world flocked to jobs offering cash wages.
  • 1920s The wood-products industry -- logging, milling, and pulp manufacture -- started a long, slow decline.

Resources[edit | edit source]

Bible Records[edit | edit source]

Biographies[edit | edit source]

Biographical information is often found in Local Histories and in Genealogies (please see those headings). See also Washington Biography.

Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]

Commercial fishing, the lumber industry were major industries historically. Tourism is more recent.

Cemeteries[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries of Grays Harbor County, Washington online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
See Washington Cemeteries for more information.


Census Records[edit | edit source]

See Washington Census for online censuses, including territorial. For more information, see United States Census.

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1860 285 —
1870 401 40.7%
1880 921 129.7%
1890 9,249 904.2%
1900 15,124 63.5%
1910 35,590 135.3%
1920 44,745 25.7%
1930 59,982 34.1%
1940 53,166 −11.4%
1950 53,644 0.9%
1960 54,465 1.5%
1970 59,553 9.3%
1980 66,314 11.4%
1990 64,175 −3.2%
2000 67,194 4.7%
2010 72,797 8.3%
Source: "Wikipedia.org"

Church Records[edit | edit source]

The information church records provide depends upon the church practices and the record keepers. Records may include names, ages, and dates of events such as baptism, marriage, or burial. See Washington Church Records.

Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

  • Montesano

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Court Records[edit | edit source]

Your ancestors may be found in court records as defendants, plaintiffs, witnesses, or jurors. Highly variable in personal information, court records can mention relatives, occupations, or pinpoint residences and dates. See Washington Court Records for the various courts used through the years.

Online Court Indexes and Records

  • 1853-1889 Grays Harbor Frontier Justice Part of “Frontier Justice”: Guide to the Court Records of Washington Territory, 1853-1889 at Washington State Archives - index only
The court procedures of Frontier Justice touch nearly all pioneers of the Washington Territory. The index has many abstracts that provide names and what is happening in disputes, settlements in civil and criminal cases as well as probate, equity and admiralty cases.

Directories[edit | edit source]

Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]

American Indians

Japanese

Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]

Genealogies[edit | edit source]

Many local libraries and societies have collections of family genealogies. Local histories or biographies often include brief genealogies of the featured persons. See also Washington Compiled Genealogies.

Guardianship[edit | edit source]

Guardianship of orphans or adults unable to manage their own affairs were handled by Probate or District courts. See Washington Court Records and Washington Probate Records.

Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]

Online Land Indexes and Records

Local Histories[edit | edit source]

Local histories for Grays Harbor County may include biographies, history of churches, schools, local government with names of officials, military information, and more. See Washington Local Histories.

Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]

JeffersonMasonThurstonLewisPacific250[x
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

The BLM also has Cadastral and other survey information at Oregon and Washington Land Status and Cadastral Record, please note this is separate from the survey dropdown on the main glorecords.blm.gov page.

Migration[edit | edit source]

Most residents came to Washington from other states or crossed the border from Canada. (See Seattle Passenger Lists for those who came from other countries.) Although few other migration records exist, try:
• Censuses: (use birthdates and places of children as clues)
• Land Records: (1st deed may reveal previous residence)
• Death-related records of children may give town or county of birth
• Records of relatives and neighbors

Military Records[edit | edit source]

Indian Wars

World War I

World War II

Japanese

Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]

Declarations of Intent before 1906 often include the nation of origin, foreign and "Americanized" names, residence, and date of arrival. See Washington Naturalization and Citizenship for more information. Note: Until 1922 in the United States, women's citizenship was based on that of their husbands.

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

Newspapers[edit | edit source]

Small town newspapers provide historical content and contain obituaries, birth or death notices, legal notices, and community news, such as visits to or from out-of-town relatives. See Washington Newspapers for tips, resources, and details.

Obituaries[edit | edit source]

Obituaries may mention birth, marriage, spouse, parents, living family members, education, occupation, and more. See Washington Obituaries for state level collections and United States Obituaries for tips and insights.

Other Records[edit | edit source]

Public Records

Voting Records

Periodicals[edit | edit source]

Probate Records[edit | edit source]

Probate records identify heirs of the decedents, give the (approximate) death dates, and provide specifics about property holdings. The records were kept by the county judge.

These include wills, inheritance records, dockets, and other documents regarding property and estates of individuals who have died. See also Court Records for civil actions involving estates. Also see Washington Probate Records.

Online Probate Indexes and Records

School Records[edit | edit source]

Social Security Records[edit | edit source]

Tax Records[edit | edit source]

Washington tax records complement land records and can supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see the wiki page Washington Taxation.

Vital Records[edit | edit source]

In 1891, coroners, physicians, and midwives were to "return" births and deaths to the county auditor. Many went unrecorded. On July 1, 1907, the State Center for Health Statistics assumed this responsibility.[7]

Birth[edit | edit source]

Marriage[edit | edit source]

Death[edit | edit source]

Divorce[edit | edit source]

The county clerk has the divorce records. To order certificates, see Washington State Department of Health.

Research Facilities[edit | edit source]

Archives[edit | edit source]

Listed below are archives in Grays Harbor County. For state-wide facilities, see Washington Archives and Libraries.

FamilySearch Centers[edit | edit source]

FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries

  • FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
  • FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

Libraries[edit | edit source]

Local public libraries—even smaller ones—often have Unique Genealogical Collections that are not online for the area they serve. Many libraries in Washington have an area dedicated to local history and genealogy. Listed below are libraries in Grays Harbor County. For state-wide library facilities, see Washington Archives and Libraries.

Resources for Grays Harbor County are available in libraries, archives, and other repositories at all levels: the town, the county, the state (including universities), and the nation.

Timberland Regional Library
415 Tumwater Boulevard SW
Tumwater, WA 98501-5799
Phone: 360-943-5001 or 877-284-6237
Contact form
Website
Multiple locations

Museums[edit | edit source]

Aberdeen Museum of History
Website
Facebook

Chehalis Valley Historical Museum
703 W Pioneer Ave
Montesano, WA
Phone: 360-470-6181
Website
Facebook

Museum of North Beach
4658 State Route 109
PO Box 321
Moclips, WA 68562
Phone: 360-276-4441
Website

Polson Museum
1611 Riverside Avenue
PO Box 432
Hoquiam, WA 98550
Phone: 360-533-5862
Email: jbl@polsonmuseum.org
Website

Societies[edit | edit source]

Listed below are societies in Grays Harbor County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Washington Societies.

Grays Harbor Historical Societies
Website

Grays Harbor Genealogical Society
PO Box 916
Aberdeen WA 98520
420 7th Street
Hoquiam, WA 98520
Email:info@graysharborgenealogy.com
Website
Facebook

Websites[edit | edit source]

Check back often with websites. Local societies and libraries may know of other websites.

Research Guides[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Grays Harbor County, Washington," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grays_Harbor_County,_Washington. accessed 17/07/2019
  2. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Grays Harbor County, Washington page 733, At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  3. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Grays Harbor County, Washington . Page 732-735 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 733-734.
  4. ↑ The Evolution of Washington Counties by Newton Carl Abbott, pg 41.
  5. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  6. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Grays Harbor County, Washington," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grays_Harbor_County,_Washington, accessed 13 March 2019.
  7. ↑ Washington State Archives - Digital Archives, Birth Records, About this Collection & Washington State Archives - Digital Archives, Death Records About Death Records
v • d• e
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