Journey Home Genealogy

Irish Genealogical Research | Dwight Radford

Call Today! 801.699.2450

Or send us an Email

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Ireland
  • United States
    • American Genealogy (general)
    • Native American
    • African American
  • Canada
  • International Genealogy
    • England and Wales
    • Scotland
    • Other Research
  • Research Services
  • Research Proposal

Oregon and Washington Donation Lands

22 Aug By Dwight Leave a Comment

If you have ancestors settled in the Pacific Northwest of the United States prior to 1855, then you may document them through the Donation Land papers. The Donation Lands of Oregon and Washington Territories provide one of the most descriptive application processes of any action in the U.S. during this era. There were over 7,500 applications.

The land applications for the Irish are only second to those filed by American born citizens. As the records often provide exact birth places, this makes the Donation Lands a primary source. Even if your ancestor didn’t settle in the Pacific Northwest, use them to document relatives who did.

Oregon Territory was established in 1848, originally from what is now present day Oregon, Washington, Idaho and a small portion of Wyoming. Washington Territory was separated out in 1853.  Most applications involve present day Oregon and Washington. Donation Land applications begin in 1850 and provided free land to white and mixed-blood settlers who arrived in the territories before 1 December 1855. This was in exchange for four years of residence and cultivation. Applicants were given up to 640 acres. Sometimes the claims for land went on for decades.

The original files are at the National Archives: www.archives.gov  with microfilm copies at the Family History Library: www.familysearch.org Both the Washington State Library: www.sos.wa.gov/library/landrecords.aspx and the Oregon State Archives: http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/records/aids/land.html has information on the Donation Lands.

The database “Genealogical Material in Oregon Donation Land Claims” is on Ancestry: www.ancestry.com The Genealogical Forum of Oregon: www.gfo.org/donation/index.htm has an online index. You can also use the Bureau of Land Management database to search Donation Lands: www.glorecords.blm.gov

There will be no shortage of online articles to guide you through the process. However, you will need to obtain the application to see how the person answered the questions posed.

Filed Under: Irish Ancestry Tagged With: American Frontier, Databases, Indexes, Land Records

About Dwight

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Dwight A. Radford

Dwight A. Radford is a professional family history researcher. Along with his staff they specialize in Ireland, England, Canada, African American, Native American, and United States. Connecting families together through historical documents and then creating a cherished family heirloom published book for generations to enjoy. Full bio…

Follow Our Blog

Blog

  • How do You Determine the Associates of Your Ancestor?
  • When to Jump Over the Water in Your Research
  • Grand Lodge of Ireland Membership Records Online

Online Course

  • My Courses
  • Courses
  • My Account

Contact

  • About
  • Contact
  • Research Services

Journey Home Geneology © 2023 · Designed by GO Marketing