Hello List, Prior to Oregon becoming a Territory in 1848, a provisional government was established, in July 1843. The Americans, in the Willamette Valley area approved the constitution that had been drawn up by the appointed legislative committee. This provisional government was to exist until such time as the U. S. Congress voted to create the Oregon Territory. In 1843 the Oregon Country covered an area that was from the 42nd parallel north into Canada, was bordered on the east by the Rocky Mountain Summit and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. The constitution for the provisional government included a section regarding registering land claims. Four districts were set up for those who wished to register a claim. The claimant had to provide a description of his claim, showing the boundaries, and have his claim recorded in the office of the territorial recorder. There were also time deadlines for completing certain requirements. Any land claim registered under the provisional government had to be re-registered if and when Oregon became a Territory. A few days ago, I went to the GFO library and asked how and where a pioneer might register a land claim in Oregon in 1845. Eileen told me about the provisional government records and showed me a book that was an index to land records of 1845-1849. This was the first time I've ever heard of the provisional government and its land records. The book was compiled by Lottie LeGett Gurley (Mrs. Wayne E.), called "Genealogical Material in Oregon Provisional Land Claims, Abstracted Volumes 1-VIII, 1845-1849," and was published by GFO. This book included a map showing the 4 districts set up by the provisional government, and the verbiage of four of the Acts in the Constitution dealing with land. Some of the information you will find in the book includes: Name of claimant, name of the district, number of acres, location of the claim, what they intended on doing with the claim, date of the claim, volume and page number where you will find the file. The information may also provide names of the neighbors. Some listings will show: the claim was abandoned, void by transfer, or void because of the recording of another claim. It may also give the names of the persons to whom the claim was transfered to next. Many just say for "Personal occupancy," or "Intends holding without occupancy." If you believe any of your ancestors may have arrived in the Oregon Country, 1843-1849, and might have registered a land claim before 1850, take a look at this book. You can also go to the website for the State of Oregon Archives and get a similar, but shorter version of the information found in the book. Look at the Archive's website for the section on the Oregon Historical Records Index. http://genealogy.state.or.us/ Type in the surname and choose the record type as "Land Claim" and leave the year blank. Once you have your ancestor's name, volume and page number of the file, you can contact the Archives for copies of the papers in the file. Many of you probably already know about the land records in Oregon's provisional government. This land record source was something new to me. I thought it may also be new to someone else and might be another place to find answers to questions about your family. Jan Fenter

>Snip....... land records. The book was compiled by Lottie LeGett >Gurley (Mrs. Wayne E.), called "Genealogical Material in Oregon >Provisional Land Claims, Abstracted Volumes 1-VIII, 1845-1849," and >was published by GFO. This book included a map showing the 4 >districts set up by the provisional government, and the verbiage of >four of the Acts in the Constitution dealing with land. Hi Jan and all list members especially you newer folks, Yes, Lottie's books are a wealth of information on the early land Records. You will find that the Index covers all of the books. That Vol 1-5 are Donation land claims and Vol 6 are the provisional ones. Also all of the Volumes 1-6 have an index in the back. Once you find your Donation land claim don't forget to go into the BLM records on line they have been slowly putting up copies of the certificates for the different land claims across the USA. I am not sure how much of Oregon they have up. All the states that I have used are very spotty as to what has been posted. It is my understanding that all will eventually be put up. Also at one time the Forum and a set of the film for these land claims from BLM. I haven't used them so someone else will have to point out just what they cover. (No I have no Oregon ancestors.) On the BLM web site there is also a place where you for a fee can order copies of the papers for your families donation land claims. These were published by the Forum over a period of years, the first Volume doesn't say when it was published. Volume 2 says 1959. Volume 6 are the provisional land claims and were published in 1982. My set says they were reprinted in 1980 and the index that I have is the 2nd edition published in 1987. I think that there are probably other reprints of these fantastic books. These have long been considered the bible for early land records in Oregon and the Oregon Territory before home computers they were all we had to use. We owe a lot to Lottie for her tireless effort over such a long period of time to produce these magnificent books. She is greatly missed by those who knew her. Hopefully this will be of help to all of you, -- Janice M. Healy Co-compiler of "Oregon Burial Site Guide" Aloha, Oregon U.S.A. Mailto:jmhealy1@comcast.net "Oregon Burial Site Guide" http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/obsg.html Plan ahead for the following conferences: FGS Birmingham, AL 29 Aug - 1 Sept 2012 NGS Las Vegas, NV 8-11 May 2013 FGS Fort Wayne, IN 29 Aug - 1 Sept 2013 Public service site Please help these folks need to find their families http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ancestors.html