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Mason County, Washington Genealogy

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

County Facts
County seat: Shelton
Organized: March 13, 1854
Parent County(s): King, Thurston
Neighboring Counties
Grays Harbor • Jefferson • Kitsap • Pierce • Thurston
See County Maps
Courthouse
Washington, Mason County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Wa-mason.png

Gig Harbor Waterfront and Mt. Rainier, Mason County, Washington

County Information

Description

Mason County was named for Charles H. Mason, the first Secretary of Washington Territory. The county is located in the west-central area of the state.[1]

County Courthouse

Mason County Courthouse
419 N 4th St
Shelton, WA 98584
Phone 360-472-9670
County Website

County Auditor has marriage records from 1892, death records 1891-1906 and land records from 1850’s.
County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records.[2]

Mason County, Washington Record Dates

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[3]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1891 1892 1891 1889 1856 1871 1850
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1907. General compliance by 1917.

Record Loss

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

Boundary Changes

Populated Places

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
  • Lake Cushman
  • Lilliwaup
  • Matlock
  • Oakland
  • Potlatch
  • Tahuya
American Indian Communities
Census-designated places
Ghost towns
  • Amelia


History Timeline

  • The Coast Salish peoples who made their homes along the watershed of upper Hood Canal called themselves Tuanook (also Twana Twanoh, and Skokomish Twana) or "Big River People."
  • 1792 George Vancouver of the British Royal Navy mapped Hood or Hood’s Canal.
  • 1853 March, Major Hugh A. Goldsborough took up a donation land claim in the Cota Valley near present-day Shelton.
  • 1853 March 2, U.S. President Millard Fillmore establishes Washington Territory.
For the first settlers, the dense stands of fir, hemlock, spruce, and cedar represented a barrier to settlement.
These same forests later became a boom to the area.
  • 1854 April 15, Sawamish County was created.
  • 1864 The name of the county was changed to Mason County.
  • 1893 The Panic of 1893 was the most severe economic crisis in the nation’s history and many logging and milling operations shut down.
  • 1900s early, Mason County grew as immigrants flooded into the logging camps and mill towns.

Resources

Bible Records

Biographies

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

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Mason 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

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

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1860 162 —
1870 289 78.4%
1880 639 121.1%
1890 2,826 342.3%
1900 3,810 34.8%
1910 5,156 35.3%
1920 4,919 −4.6%
1930 10,060 104.5%
1940 11,603 15.3%
1950 15,022 29.5%
1960 16,251 8.2%
1970 20,918 28.7%
1980 31,184 49.1%
1990 38,341 23.0%
2000 49,405 28.9%
2010 60,699 22.9%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".
Federal: 1910
Territorial: 1857, 1871, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1883, 1885, 1887, 1889
State-funded: 1892

Church Records

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

  • Shelton

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Court Records

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 Mason Frontier Justice. Part of "Frontier Justice’’: Guide to the Court Records of Washington Territory, 1853-1889 at Washington State Archives. (Free Index, no images)
The court procedure of Frontier Justice touch nearly all pioneers of 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

Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

American Indians

Japanese

Funeral Homes

Genealogies

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

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

Online Land Indexes and Records

Local Histories

Local histories for Mason 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

Jefferson CountyKitsap CountyPierce CountyThurston CountyGrays Harbor CountyWA MASON.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Migration

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

Indian Wars

World War I

World War II

Japanese

Naturalization and Citizenship

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

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

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

Public Records

Voting Records

Periodicals

Probate Records

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

Social Security Records

Tax Records

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

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

Marriage

Death

Divorce

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

Research Facilities

Archives

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

FamilySearch Centers

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

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 Mason County. For state-wide library facilities, see Washington Archives and Libraries.

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

North Mason (Belfair) Library
Timberland Regional Library
23081 NE State Route 3
Belfair, WA 98528
Phone: 360-275-3232
Website

Shelton Library
Timberland Regional Library
710 W Alder Street
Shelton, WA 98584
Phone: 360-426-1362
Website

Museums

Societies

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

Mason County Historical Society
427 W Railroad Ave
Shelton, WA 98584
Phone: 360-426-1020
Website

Websites

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

Research Guides

References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Mason County, Washington," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mason_County,_Washington, accessed 18 July 2019.
  2. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Mason 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), Mason 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, Fred E. Carver, 1979. Published by the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society and Klickitat County Genealogical Society.
  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, "Mason County, Washington," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mason_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
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