Previous Jurisdictions to Land in Arizona: Difference between revisions

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Sometimes, records were recorded in a county where your ancestor did not live. Maybe there was confusion as to where the borders were. Or maybe it was a shorter distance to the neighboring county seat. There could be several reasons, so don't overlook records in nearby counties. But treat this as the exception to the rule and check the most obvious county first.
Sometimes, records were recorded in a county where your ancestor did not live. Maybe there was confusion as to where the borders were. Or maybe it was a shorter distance to the neighboring county seat. There could be several reasons, so don't overlook records in nearby counties. But treat this as the exception to the rule and check the most obvious county first.
===From 1846 To 1863 ===
18 Aug 1846 -  During the war with [[Mexico]], the US took control of Santa Fe and proclaimed sovereignty over the land that later became the [[New Mexico]] Territory.<ref>Williams 108-110</ref> Look for records in the Mexico [[Mexico Archives and Libraries|Archives]] and the [http://www.nmcpr.state.nm.us/archives/archives_hm.htm New Mexico State Records Center and Archives].
4 July 1848 -  The US obtained clear title to the previous [[Mexico]] land. Through the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, Mexico ceded all of present day [[California]], [[Nevada]], and [[Utah]], and parts of present day [[Arizona]], [[Colorado]], [[New Mexico]], and [[Wyoming]]. Part of the international boundary was in dispute.<ref>U.S. Stat., vol. 9, pp. 922-943; Parry, 102: 29-59; Van Zandt, 11, 28-29; Walker and Bufkin, 19, 20A</ref> The land south of the Gila River in present day Arizona was not ceded, it remained in control of Mexico. Look for records in the [http://www.archives.gov/ National Archives and Records Administration], the Mexico [[Mexico Archives and Libraries|Archives]] and the [http://www.nmcpr.state.nm.us/archives/archives_hm.htm New Mexico State Records Center and Archives].
13 Dec 1850 - The US created the [[New Mexico]] Territory from unorganized federal land.<ref>U.S. Stat., vol. 9, ch. 49[1850]/pp. 446-452; Baldwin, 117-137; Van Zandt, 28-29, 162-165</ref> This territory named after the country of Mexico. Some counties were created, but they were small and covered land only in present day New Mexico. The land in the present day Arizona was at that time unorganized county land. Also the land south of the Gila River still belonged to [[Mexico]]. Look for records in the Mexico [[Mexico Archives and Libraries|Archives]] and the [http://www.nmcpr.state.nm.us/archives/archives_hm.htm New Mexico State Records Center and Archives].
9 Jan 1852 - New Mexico redefined the boundaries of previous counties and created new ones to cover all the land within its territory. The boundaries of [[Bernalillo County, New Mexico|Bernalillo]], [[Rio Arriba County, New Mexico|Rio Arriba]], [[Santa Ana County, New Mexico|Santa Ana (extinct)]],  [[Taos County, New Mexico|Taos]], and [[Valencia County, New Mexico|Valencia]] counties were stretched across present day [[Arizona]] and [[Nevada]] to the California border.<ref>N.M. Terr. Laws 1851, 1st assy., 2d sess. /p. 292</ref> Look for records in [http://www.bernco.gov/ Bernalillo], [http://www.rio-arriba.org/ Rio Arriba], [http://www.taoscounty.org/ Taos], and [http://www.co.valencia.nm.us/ Valencia] counties.<br>
9 Jan 1852 - New Mexico redefined the boundaries of previous counties and created new ones to cover all the land within its territory. The boundary of [[Socorro County, New Mexico|Socorro County]] was stretched across present day [[Arizona]] to the California border.<ref>N.M. Terr. Laws 1851, 1st assy., 1st sess./p. 119; N.M. Terr. Laws 1851, 1st assy., 2d sess. /pp. 266, 292</ref> Look for records in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socorro_County,_New_Mexico Socorro County].<br>
9 Jan 1852 - New Mexico redefined the boundaries of previous counties and created new ones to cover all the land within its territory. The boundary of [[Dona Ana County, New Mexico|Dona Ana County]] was stretched to include land in present day Arizona.<ref>N.M. Terr. Laws 1851, 1st assy., 1st sess./p. 119; N.M. Terr. Laws 1851, 1st assy., 2d sess. /pp. 266, 292</ref> Look for records in [http://www.co.dona-ana.nm.us/ Dona Ana County].
30 Dec 1853 - The US bought the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico. It contained lands south of the Gila River in present day [[Arizona]] and [[New Mexico]]. It also settled the International boundary dispute between the [[United States]] and [[Mexico]].<ref>U.S. Stat., vol. 10, pp. 1031-1037; Van Zandt, 11, 29, 162</ref> Look for records in the [http://www.archives.gov/ National Archives and Records Administration], the Mexico [[Mexico Archives and Libraries|Archives]], and the [http://www.nmcpr.state.nm.us/archives/archives_hm.htm New Mexico State Records Center and Archives].
4 Aug 1854 - The land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase was officially added to [[New Mexico]] Territory, it became non-county land.<ref>U.S. Stat., vol. 10, ch. 245[1854]/p. 575; Van Zandt, 162; Walker and Bufkin, 21-22</ref> Look for records in the [http://www.nmcpr.state.nm.us/archives/archives_hm.htm New Mexico State Records Center and Archives].
3 Feb 1855 - [[Dona Ana County, New Mexico|Dona Ana County]] gained all the land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase.<ref>N.M. Terr. Laws 1854, 4th assy. /p. 57</ref> The boundary was stretched across present day Arizona to the Baja California border. Look for records in [http://www.co.dona-ana.nm.us/ Dona Ana County].
1 Feb 1860 -  New Mexico created [[Arizona County, New Mexico (Extinct)|Arizona County]] from land in [[Dona Ana County, New Mexico|Dona Ana County]].<ref>N.M. Terr. Laws 1859-1860, 9th assy. /p. 74</ref> Arizona County was located entirely within present day Arizona. Look for records in [http://www.co.dona-ana.nm.us/ Dona Ana County].
12 Jan 1861 - New Mexico created San Juan (original, extinct) from land in [[Taos County, New Mexico|Taos County]].<ref>N.M. Terr. Laws 1860-1861, 10th assy. /p. 16</ref> Look for records in [http://www.taoscounty.org/ Taos County].
18 Jan 1862 - New Mexico discontinued San Juan (original, extinct) returning the land to [[Taos County, New Mexico|Taos County]].<ref>N.M. Terr. Laws 1861-1862, 11th assy. /p. 16</ref> Look for records in [http://www.taoscounty.org/ Taos County]. <br>
18 Jan 1862 - New Mexico discontinued [[Arizona County, New Mexico (Extinct)|Arizona County]] returning the land to [[Dona Ana County, New Mexico|Dona Ana County]].<ref>N.M. Terr. Laws 1861-1862, 11th assy. /p. 18</ref> Look for records in [http://www.co.dona-ana.nm.us/ Dona Ana County].
28 Jan 1863 - New Mexico re-created [[Arizona County, New Mexico (Extinct)|Arizona County]] from [[Dona Ana County, New Mexico|Dona Ana County]].<ref>N.M. Terr. Laws 1862-1863, 12th assy. /p.30</ref> Look for records in [http://www.co.dona-ana.nm.us/ Dona Ana County].

Revision as of 17:42, 7 November 2012

Previous Jurisdictions and Record Repositories[edit | edit source]

Locating records of your ancestors

  • Find where your ancestor lived
  • Identify when your ancestor live there
  • Locate the jurisdiction covering the land where your ancestor lived
  • Determine the record repositories for that jurisdiction

For example, suppose you believe your ancestor lived in Tucson, Arizona in 1861.

  • 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. 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 that existed in the present day State of Arizona. 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 are to be found in Dona Ana County, which exists today.

Putting this altogether, 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 where your ancestor did not live. Maybe there was confusion as to where the borders were. Or maybe it was a shorter distance to the neighboring county seat. There could be several reasons, so don't overlook records in nearby counties. But treat this as the exception to the rule and check the most obvious county first.

From 1846 To 1863[edit | edit source]

18 Aug 1846 - During the war with Mexico, the US took control of Santa Fe and proclaimed sovereignty over the land that later became the New Mexico Territory.[1] Look for records in the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.

4 July 1848 - The US obtained clear title to the previous Mexico land. Through the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, Mexico ceded all of present day California, Nevada, and Utah, and parts of present day Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Part of the international boundary was in dispute.[2] The land south of the Gila River in present day Arizona was not ceded, it remained in control of Mexico. Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.

13 Dec 1850 - The US created the New Mexico Territory from unorganized federal land.[3] This territory named after the country of Mexico. Some counties were created, but they were small and covered land only in present day New Mexico. The land in the present day Arizona was at that time unorganized county land. Also the land south of the Gila River still belonged to Mexico. Look for records in the Mexico Archives and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.

9 Jan 1852 - New Mexico redefined the boundaries of previous counties and created new ones to cover all the land within its territory. The boundaries of Bernalillo, Rio Arriba, Santa Ana (extinct), Taos, and Valencia counties were stretched across present day Arizona and Nevada to the California border.[4] Look for records in Bernalillo, Rio Arriba, Taos, and Valencia counties.
9 Jan 1852 - New Mexico redefined the boundaries of previous counties and created new ones to cover all the land within its territory. The boundary of Socorro County was stretched across present day Arizona to the California border.[5] Look for records in Socorro County.
9 Jan 1852 - New Mexico redefined the boundaries of previous counties and created new ones to cover all the land within its territory. The boundary of Dona Ana County was stretched to include land in present day Arizona.[6] Look for records in Dona Ana County.

30 Dec 1853 - The US bought the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico. It contained lands south of the Gila River in present day Arizona and New Mexico. It also settled the International boundary dispute between the United States and Mexico.[7] Look for records in the National Archives and Records Administration, the Mexico Archives, and the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.

4 Aug 1854 - The land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase was officially added to New Mexico Territory, it became non-county land.[8] Look for records in the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.

3 Feb 1855 - Dona Ana County gained all the land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase.[9] The boundary was stretched across present day Arizona to the Baja California border. Look for records in Dona Ana County.

1 Feb 1860 - New Mexico created Arizona County from land in Dona Ana County.[10] Arizona County was located entirely within present day Arizona. Look for records in Dona Ana County.

12 Jan 1861 - New Mexico created San Juan (original, extinct) from land in Taos County.[11] Look for records in Taos County.

18 Jan 1862 - New Mexico discontinued San Juan (original, extinct) returning the land to Taos County.[12] Look for records in Taos County.
18 Jan 1862 - New Mexico discontinued Arizona County returning the land to Dona Ana County.[13] Look for records in Dona Ana County.

28 Jan 1863 - New Mexico re-created Arizona County from Dona Ana County.[14] Look for records in Dona Ana County.

  1. ↑ Williams 108-110
  2. ↑ U.S. Stat., vol. 9, pp. 922-943; Parry, 102: 29-59; Van Zandt, 11, 28-29; Walker and Bufkin, 19, 20A
  3. ↑ U.S. Stat., vol. 9, ch. 49[1850]/pp. 446-452; Baldwin, 117-137; Van Zandt, 28-29, 162-165
  4. ↑ N.M. Terr. Laws 1851, 1st assy., 2d sess. /p. 292
  5. ↑ N.M. Terr. Laws 1851, 1st assy., 1st sess./p. 119; N.M. Terr. Laws 1851, 1st assy., 2d sess. /pp. 266, 292
  6. ↑ N.M. Terr. Laws 1851, 1st assy., 1st sess./p. 119; N.M. Terr. Laws 1851, 1st assy., 2d sess. /pp. 266, 292
  7. ↑ U.S. Stat., vol. 10, pp. 1031-1037; Van Zandt, 11, 29, 162
  8. ↑ U.S. Stat., vol. 10, ch. 245[1854]/p. 575; Van Zandt, 162; Walker and Bufkin, 21-22
  9. ↑ N.M. Terr. Laws 1854, 4th assy. /p. 57
  10. ↑ N.M. Terr. Laws 1859-1860, 9th assy. /p. 74
  11. ↑ N.M. Terr. Laws 1860-1861, 10th assy. /p. 16
  12. ↑ N.M. Terr. Laws 1861-1862, 11th assy. /p. 16
  13. ↑ N.M. Terr. Laws 1861-1862, 11th assy. /p. 18
  14. ↑ N.M. Terr. Laws 1862-1863, 12th assy. /p.30
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