Series 84219

Washington County (Utah). County Recorder Deeds, 1869-1875.

1 microfilm reel

These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.

Historical Note

See history of the records' creator.

Summary of Records

In 1852 the Utah territorial legislature established regulations for the transfer and possession of real estate. They determined that a deed must be recorded by the county recorder for every sale or transfer of property, and that no transaction would be valid unless so recorded. Deeds were to be based on officially recognized surveys

Scope and Content

In 1852 the Utah territorial legislature established regulations for the transfer and possession of real estate. They determined that a deed must be recorded by the county recorder for every sale or transfer of property, and that no transaction would be valid unless so recorded. Deeds were to be based on officially recognized surveys (Laws of Utah, 1852. "An Act Regulating Transfers of Possession of Land and Real Estate," p. 66-67). Early deeds included names of buyer and seller and a legal description of the property. They specified a consideration for which the transfer was being made, either an amount of money or good will, and were signed by the grantors (sellers) and witnesses. In addition to transfers from one individual to another, Deed Books D and G contain certificates from the General Land Office of the United States conveying land from the Federal Government to individuals who had purchased it according to requirements established by Congress in April 1820 ("An Act makingfurther provision for the sale of public lands," Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, vol. III, chap. 51. Published by authority of Congress, Boston: Brown, Little and Company, 1846).
Deed Books D and G contain other documents relating to land issues. These include: a) mining claims, b) estate settlements, c) mortgages, and d) statements about water rights. Deed Record D contains an article of agreement between the inhabitants of Leeds and Harrisburg on the issue of water rights on Quail Creek. It contains the minutes of a meeting held for the election of trustees to manage the Saint George temple grounds. Deed Record D also contains deeds conveying land from the General Land Office to William Snow, Probate Judge, in trust for the inhabitants of Saint George. In 1867 Congress established a system in which a mayor or county probate judge would become an intermediary for the distribution of land within officially surveyed communities. ("An Act for the Relief of theInhabitants of Cities and Towns upon the Public Lands." Statutes at Large, Treaties, and Proclamations, of the United States of America, vol. XIV, chap. CLXXVII. Published by authority of Congress, Boston: Brown, Little and Company). Consequently, the county probate court held special sessions to validate property ownership within the county's several cities. As they did so, the county recorder began recording deeds in separate books based on geographic location.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Additional Forms

This series is available on microfilm.

Access Restrictions

This series is classified as Public.

Use Restrictions

These records are available for reproduction and use.

Preferred Citation

Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.

Acquisition Information

These records were acquired from the creating agency through established retention schedules.

Processing Information

Washington County Deed Books D and G were microfilmed by Utah State Archives in July 1973 and processed by Rosemary Cundiff in March 2001. Originally, this series contained all deed record books for Washington County. In processing, new series were defined to reflect that the county recorder kept deeds in different books based on property location.

Other Finding Aids

Indexes: Separate alphabetical indexes were microfilmed with each book, however the index for Book G includes the letters A, B and C only. Each entry is listed under both buyer and seller.

Related Material

Land claims adjudication record books from Washington County (Utah). Probate Court, Series 22875, document the adjudication of land claims by the probate court.
Water certificates and deeds from Washington County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 23251, contain additional deeds related to water rights after 1881.
Deeds (Washington) from Washington County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 23262, contain subsequently recorded deeds for the Washington City area.
Deeds (Silver Reef) from Washington County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 23263, contain subsequently recorded deeds for the Silver Reef mining area.
Deeds (Pine Valley) from Washington County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 23264, contain subsequently recorded deeds for the Pine Valley area.
Land certificates from Washington County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 23279, contain previously recorded transfers and land (survey) certificates upon which early transfers were based.
Deeds (Saint George) from Washington County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 23286, contain subsequently recorded deeds for the Saint George area.
Abstracts (Saint George) from Washington County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 23554, contain a chronological history of each property in Saint George and indicate the book and page number where deeds and other documents were recorded.
Abstracts (towns) from Washington County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 23555, contain a chronological history of each property in communities other than Saint George and indicate the book and page number where deeds and other documents were recorded.

Container List

ReelDescription
11869 May-1874 Aug; Deed Record Book D
21874 Nov-1875 Jun; Deed Record Book G