Let's Document Every Washington Pioneer!

-






As we know, early pioneers come west in covered wagons, or even on foot! But did you know that because the intercontinental railroad was a reality soon after the end of the Civil War, [1] many also came to the Washington Territory on trains or ships. Fortunately there are records for these pioneers, and although many were single, families also came here and are named in both the 1880 US Census and the many Territorial Census. If you want to submit some pioneers, be sure to start by bookmarking the Hints and Help page on the Pioneer Pursuit contest section of the Washington State Genealogical Society website.



vecteezy.com/free-vector/sailing-ship">Sailing Ship Vectors by Vecteezy


You may have some pioneers in your tree already even if they are not ancestors; so you may have most of the research you need to submit one or more pioneers. We would like to document every person who was here on or before November 11, 1889, whether they were born here or arrived just in time to be documented as residents.

In the Hints page, it is suggested that you consult the WSGS Pioneer Index. This database has been created by those who documented their descent from one or more pioneers, in order to get Pioneer Certificates. If you qualify for that certificate, that program is still on-going, but the Pioneer Pursuit is different because we want everyone, even those who did not have descendants. And while you need to pay for a certificate, there are cash prizes for this contest! See the rules for details. The South King County GS would love to be listed on your submission, but if you are a member of another local genealogy society, be sure to add their name to your submission.


vecteezy.com/free-vector/steam-train">Steam Train Vectors by Vecteezy

The Frequently Asked Questions section says, It is estimated there were nearly 350,000 people living here in 1889. We encourage researchers to research special populations such as indigenous people, people of color, women and children. So there is no shortage of pioneers who need documentation.

Many people are joining the free Washington State Genealogy group, at https://groups.io/g/WashingtonState-Genealogy to ask questions, offer help, and coordinate with other Pioneer Pursuit researchers.

Washington Territorial Censuses were done on odd numbered years, every 2-3 years, beginning in 1857. Not all censuses are available for all years or all counties. Washington Territorial census records are available at Ancestry.com, “Washington, U.S., State and Territorial Censuses, 1857-1892” and at the Washington State Archives. For instance, the earliest King County Census is here: https://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Collections/TitleInfo/190 for searching and browsing.

Census is not the only acceptable proof of residence. The WGS also accepts baptismal and birth records, city directories, Court, death and divorce records, insurance, land and other property, marriage, military records, newspaper stories, obituaries, probate, school, Social Security, tax and voting records, wills, and other records from both the state, county and city archives. 




While some old census records might leave you in despair because there are no first names, only initials, check for other records such as city directories! For instance the Seattle City Directory often had sections for villages far from the city because they wanted the advertisements from the small businesses in those places. And the city directories often listed at least the men's names, and often a detailed occupation.

Please write and tell us how your research is progressing!


1. The Golden Spike Ceremony, which took place May 10, 1869, was held at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory. https://www.nps.gov/gosp/learn/historyculture/four-special-spikes.htm


Valorie Cowan Zimmerman


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Looking for a Needle in a Haystack? GAME CHANGER at FamilySearch

-
Image
Generated with Bing ImageCreator (AI), March 13, 2024 Where is YOUR Needle, Your Missing Record? Genealogical Proof Standard When we use the GPS (Genealogical Proof Standard) as our guide, we all know that "exhaustive research" can be both tedious and exhausting. Is life long enough to search page by page through all the counties where all the members of a family might have lived, paid taxes, bought, leased or sold property, made a will or died intestate? It is possible that the new Full Text Search at FamilySearch will  eventually  allow us to do just that. It has been estimated that 75% or more of the records at FamilySearch were browsable but not searchable; the only indexes those found in the records themselves. Those records are certainly attainable by using those indexes and browsing to the record of interest, but the process is tedious, often frustrating, and slow. And once found, the record must be read and transcribed to be useful. This new Full Text Search tackles a...
Read more

What's the Question?

-
Image
We genealogists are often told by experienced researchers how important it is to begin with a research question. I resisted doing this for a long time, but now that I use a series of questions to guide my research, the search is more focused and actually finds more of the history of the family I'm investigating. I use a Google Doc as the  research proceeds, where I keep the question(s), the plan, timelines, checklist of resources to search, etc. all in one place. I've seen others use spreadsheets in the same way, perhaps splitting up things in tabs (Excel or Google Sheets). I prefer a document because I add source citations as I find them and I can begin writing up the case right there in the doc as the hypotheses are proven. Specific Questions in Previous Successes As beginners we often have no clue how much and what details we already know about a person, event or relationship, so it's hard to specify what we want to know. But when looking back at successful research, it ...
Read more

Help Save This Abused and Neglected Cemetery

-
Image
Screen capture from Google Maps History In an exchange of emails this past week in both the main SKCGS group, and in the Washington-State-Genealogy group, many facts were revealed about the history of the I.O.O.F. Comet Lodge Cemetery, also known as the Old Burying Ground, the Georgetown Cemetery, the Graham Street Burying Ground and maybe more.  FindAGrave sums it up this way: "Since it was established in 1881, the Comet Lodge cemetery site has been whittled away to less than half its original 5 acres. Records are sketchy but it's safe to say that some 500 pioneers were buried here, atop unknown numbers of native Duwamish people. New burials ended in the 1930s. Since then, homes and streets were built on top of many of the plots as the neighborhood around the cemetery grew.  "Upkeep and ownership of the cemetery bounced between the city, civic groups, relatives of Comet Lodge residents, and nearby neighbors. For years, much of the property was allowed to deteriorate int...
Read more