Pacific County Donation Land Claims

Washington’s earliest white and mixed-blood settlers were entitled to free federal land under the Donation Act of 1850. An index and abstracts are on NARS microfilm M203, Abstracts of Washington Donation Land Claims, 1855–1902, in one roll, which serves as an index to the case files reproduced on NARS microfilm M815, Oregon and Washington Donation Land Files, 1851–1903, in 108 rolls. Donation case files are valuable because they typically contain a statement of the date and place of birth of the entryman.  In addition, the Seattle Genealogical Society has published the Washington Territory Donation Land Claims: An Abstract of Information in the Land Claim Papers of Persons Who Settled in Washington Territory Before 1856 (1980).

WOODARD, SAMUEL S.

Pacific/Chehalis County; in sections 27 and 22; T 14N R 8W; 159.30 acres; S.C. 12 Jan. 1853.

B. 1820 Chenango Co., NY; M. SARAH A. KNOX 8 Apr. 1855 Chehalis Co., WA Ter.; Arr. Ter. Sep. 1852.

Ch: EDWIN, aged 20 years on 18 Dec. 1879.

Aff: heman crocker, james henry whItcomb, john s. morgan, mark winant, james s. wilson, sebastian giesy.

Notes: Claim adjoined those of JAMES HENRY WHITCOMB and JAMES S. WILSON, the latter claim known as "Wilson's Improvement." Patent delayed due to conflict in railroad section.  12 July 1882 the Northern Pacific Railroad signed a Quit Claim deed to the U.S.A for the part of section 27 covered by this claim.  Ca. 1864 claimant was appointed administrator of the estate of CHARLES H. STEWART, who had left 3 small children and considerable property.  In Dec. 1869 claimant wrote from Portland, OR.  Claimant died Nov. 1877 in CA.  Mrs. Woodard was in Portland, OR, Dec. 1878 and in 1883.

 
WILSON, GEORGE W.

Pacific County; in sections 4 and 9; T 13N R 10W; 312 acres; S.C. 20 May 1853.

B. 1830 OH; M. ANN ELIZA 18 0r 22 Dec. 1850 Cass Co., IL; Arr. Ter. 25 Oct. 1852

Ch: ORLANDO R. born 22 Sep. 1851, MARY VAN born 1 July 1854.

Aff:  DANIEL WILSON, JOHN W. CHAMP of Chehalis Co., CHARLES BRADY of Chehalis Co., VALENTINE S RIDDELL of Chehalis Co.

 
WILSON, WILLIAM C.

Pacific County; in sections 17, 18 and 20; T 10N R 10W; 326 acres; S.C. 11 or 16 March 1853.

B. 1833 Licking Co., OH; M. LOBIAH RICHMOND 11 Feb. 1852 or 11 March 1852 Morgan Co., IL or Scott Co., IL; Arr. Ter. 25 Oct. 1852 or 15 Nov. 1852.

Ch: DORAH

Aff: DANIEL WILSON, GEORGE DAWSON, WILLIAM THOMPSON, GEORGE W. WILSON.

Notes: Claim adjoined land of JOSEPH BROWN.  On 13 Aug. 1860 William Wilson's address was Milwaukie, Clackamas Co., OR.

 
WHITCOMB, JAMES H. and HANNAH A., his wife

Pacific County; in sections 26, 27, 28 and 34; T 14N R 8W; 592.70 acres; S.C. 12  Jan. 1853.

B. 1824 Windsor Co., VT; M. HANNAH A. ADAMS 16 Oct. 1845 Geauga Co., OH; Arr. Ter. 17 Oct. 1847.

Ch: JAMES PELLATIAH, WESTERN PENNOYER, WILLIAM HENRY, GEORGE AMOS.

Aff: SAMUEL S. WOODARD, JOB BULLARD, MARK WINANT, HENRY K. STEVENS.

Notes: Claim adjoined land of S.S. WOODARD and W. H. CUSHING.  Whitcomb also mentioned as of Chehalis County.