Previous Jurisdictions to Land in Arizona: Difference between revisions

*In the present day, Tucson is indeed located in Arizona. But the US didn't create Arizona Territory until 1863. Before that, the land officially belonged to New Mexico Territory, which was created in 1850. Therefore your ancestor lived in New Mexico Territory. This jurisdiction still exists today as the State of New Mexico.  

*In February 1860, New Mexico created Arizona county from the land in Dona Ana county. Arizona County existed totally within the present day State of Arizona and contained Tucson. Therefore your ancestor lived in Arizona County in New Mexico Territory. But Arizona county was discontinued in 1862. The records from this extinct county reverted to Dona Ana County, which still exists in the State of New Mexico.

But in Tucson in 1861, the picture was far from clear as to what jurisdiction your ancestor was a part.

*In April 1860, a convention held in Tucson declared the southern portion of New Mexico Territory as a new Arizona Territory and set up a government. The county of Ewell was created where Tucson was located. Then in 1861, this territory declared itself a confederate territory and petitioned the Confederate States of America. But by 1862, the US Army had dismantled this territory before the US created its own Arizona Territory in 1863.

When looking for records, First learn the history of the area for the time period being researched. This will give you a pointer to the repositories where the records are to be found.