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Previous Jurisdictions to Land in Arizona (view source)
Revision as of 14:10, 13 November 2012
, 13 November 2012→Previous Jurisdictions and Record Repositories: revised wording
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*In the present day, Tucson is indeed located in the State of Arizona. But Arizona didn't exist in 1856. Arizona Territory wasn't created until 1863. Before that, the land belonged to New Mexico Territory, which was created in 1850. So your ancestor lived in New Mexico Territory. This jurisdiction still exists today as the State of New Mexico. | *In the present day, Tucson is indeed located in the State of Arizona. But Arizona didn't exist in 1856. Arizona Territory wasn't created until 1863. Before that, the land belonged to New Mexico Territory, which was created in 1850. So your ancestor lived in New Mexico Territory. This jurisdiction still exists today as the State of New Mexico. | ||
*In 1853, the US bought the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico, which contained land south of the Gila River. This is the land where Tucson is located. In 1854, this land was given to New Mexico Territory and in 1855 this land was added to Dona Ana county. Then in 1860, New Mexico created Arizona county from the land in Dona Ana county. Arizona County existed totally within the present day State of Arizona. So your ancestor lived in Arizona County in the New Mexico Territory. | *In 1853, the US bought the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico, which contained land south of the Gila River. This is the land where Tucson is located. In 1854, this land was given to New Mexico Territory and in 1855 this land was added to Dona Ana county. Then in 1860, New Mexico created Arizona county from the land in Dona Ana county. Arizona County existed totally within the present day State of Arizona. So your ancestor lived in Arizona County in the New Mexico Territory. | ||
*But Arizona county was discontinued in 1862, then recreated in 1863 and finally discontinued again when Arizona Territory was created in 1863. The records from this extinct county | *But Arizona county was discontinued in 1862, then recreated in 1863 and finally discontinued again when Arizona Territory was created in 1863. The records from this extinct Arizona county reverted to Dona Ana County, which still exists in the State of New Mexico. | ||
Putting this | Putting this all together, your ancestor actually lived in Tucson, Arizona County, New Mexico Territory in 1861. Therefore look for records in Tucson, Dona Ana County, and the State of New Mexico archives. | ||
Sometimes, records were recorded in a county or jurisdiction where your ancestor did not live. Maybe there was confusion as to where the borders lay. Or maybe it was a shorter distance to the neighboring county seat. There could be several reasons, so don't overlook records in nearby jurisdictions. But treat this as the exception to the rule and check the most obvious place first. | Sometimes, records were recorded in a county or jurisdiction where your ancestor did not live. Maybe there was confusion as to where the borders lay. Or maybe it was a shorter distance to the neighboring county seat. There could be several reasons, so don't overlook records in nearby jurisdictions. But treat this as the exception to the rule and check the most obvious place first. | ||
Spain laid claim to much of the land in present day southwestern US. | Spain laid claim to much of the land in present day southwestern US. But because of the great distances and the hostilities of the Indian tribes, Spanish rule extended only to the southern portion of present day Arizona, and sometimes not even that much. Tucson was the only permanent town established, because of the military garrison there. | ||
Spain establish the practice of giving land grants to encourage settlement on the fringes of their rule. Mexico continued this practice. All Spanish and Mexican land grants were located in the Gadsden Purchase. | Spain establish the practice of giving land grants to encourage settlement on the fringes of their rule. Mexico continued this practice. All Spanish and Mexican land grants for present day Arizona were located in the Gadsden Purchase. Stand in downtown Tucson and and look toward the southeast corner of present day Arizona, then turn 90 degrees to the west along the border. All of these Spanish and Mexican Land Grants are located in that triangle. | ||
Look for records in the following | Look for records in the following places | ||
*[http://www.azarchivesonline.org/xtf/view?docId=ead/uoa/UAMS312.xml;query=;brand=default Records relating to Cases Decided by the United States Court of Private Land Claims, Arizona District] | *[http://www.azarchivesonline.org/xtf/view?docId=ead/uoa/UAMS312.xml;query=;brand=default Records relating to Cases Decided by the United States Court of Private Land Claims, Arizona District] | ||
*[http://www.nmcpr.state.nm.us/archives/land_grants.htm Land Claims]. | *[http://www.nmcpr.state.nm.us/archives/land_grants.htm Land Claims]. | ||