Record Group
TERRITORIAL DISTRICT COURT
ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY
Territorial District Court, in existence from 1853 until statehood in 1889, was the main court for civil and criminal cases. It was also the appellate court for probate courts and justices of the peace. The District Court sessions in Seattle served Kitsap and Snohomish Counties during part of the court's existence.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
281 Bankruptcy Case Files, 1870 - 1877
The series includes case files for eleven bankruptcy cases from the 1870's, which were found mixed in with old court records. The cases were administered under the Bankruptcy Act of 1867, which was repealed in 1878. Records include documents such as petitions for adjudication of bankruptcy, warrants, affidavits of publication, schedules, orders to show cause by creditors, petitions for discharge, fee records, and register's minutes. Several case files appear to be incomplete. The notes in the descriptive information for each case indicate which files appear to be missing information.
Volume: 1 cu ft
1284 Bonds and Stipulations in Admiralty, 1883-1889
Records pertaining to admiralty cases filed in Territorial District Court. Includes bonds, stipulations, and other related records.
Volume: 0.25 cu ft
1268 Cancelled Checks, 1884-1889
Comprised of cancelled checks pertaining to Territorial District Court civil and criminal cases.
Volume: 0.25 cu ft
1252 Clerk Correspondence, 1879-1889
Correspondence received by two Clerks (Ludlow and Ledgerwood) of the Territorial District Court in Seattle. Correspondence varies by incumbent and was generally from citizens, friends or acquaintances of the Clerk, requesting services of the Clerk in his official or personal capacity. Correspondents include people seeking jobs, fees, and documents, as well as relatives and fraternal club members.
Volume: 1 cu ft
1251 Correspondence with the U.S. Land Office, 1879-1887
Correspondence both to and from the U.S. Land Office in Olympia. Usually, the correspondence pertains to incomplete homestead applications. Most of these applicants were instructed to provide signatures, proofs of naturalization, fees or other homestead application requirements. Some letters from homesteaders to the Land Office are included. The correspondence includes information such as the names of land owners, the date their land was settled, or a legal description of the land. Other valuable information is sometimes included, such as mention of the land owner's family (spouse and number of children), land improvements and/or building descriptions and occupations.
Volume: 0.5 cu ft
1281 Federal Expense Claims, 1886
Federal case expense claims from the Territorial District Court held in Port Townsend in 1886.
Volume: 0.25 cu ft
1269 Judgment Reports, 1879-1887
Records in varying formats that include cause numbers, names of prisoners or felons, and charges, with dates and amounts of fees or fines.
Volume: 0.25 cu ft
1283 Miscellaneous Legal Instruments, 1887
Miscellaneous Territorial District Court records dated 1887. Includes subpoenas, cost bills, witness lists and grand jury records.
Volume: 0.25 cu ft
1276 Official Bonds and Oaths, 1879-1889
Instruments documenting bonds provided by public officials as surety for conduct while in office, along with written oaths by officials swearing to fulfill the responsibilities of their office.
Volume: 0.5 cu ft
1271 Territorial Acts, 1888
Copies of two territorial legislative acts, one concerning the composition of grand and petit juries and the other relating to appeals from the Territorial District Court.
Volume: 0.25 cu ft
1286 U.S. Attorney Records, 1887
Statements of financial accounts dated 1887 pertaining to U.S. Attorney service in Territorial District Court and Supreme Court holding terms in Seattle, Port Townsend, Pomeroy, Tacoma, and North Yakima. Also includes some accounts pertaining to service of a U.S. Commissioner, who "proved in the presence of the U.S. Attorney" that he had provided the service for which payment was requested. Records are handwritten; most are identified as duplicates.
Volume: 0.25 cu ft
1287 U.S. Commissioner Records, 1883-1886
Records of the U.S. Commissioner for the 3rd Judicial District of Washington Territory during the years 1883-1886. Includes recognizance instruments for criminal cases 4901, 4905, 4907, 4910, 4914, and 4968, as well as accounts of money owed for service as the Commissioner of the Circuit Court. Alleged crimes included murder, unlawful Chinese labor in the U.S., anti-Chinese conspiracy, smuggling, unlawful cutting of timber, and unlawfully selling liquor to Indians. Eben Smith served as U.S. Commissioner for the 3rd District during this period.
Volume: 0.25 cu ft
1288 U.S. Marshal Accounts, 1885-1889
Records relating to services performed by U.S. Marshals for the Territorial District Court.
Volume: 3 cu ft
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