Jefferson County Genealogy Records

Jefferson County holds genealogy records dating back to the 1850s, covering births, deaths, marriages, probate files, court cases, and territorial censuses for communities across the Olympic Peninsula. Whether you are tracing family lines in Port Townsend or the rural areas of the county, the Washington State Digital Archives, the Jefferson County Genealogical Society, and the Washington State Archives Northwest Regional Branch all hold collections that can help you find your ancestors. This guide points you to the key sources and explains how to reach each one.

Jefferson County Vital Records and Court Archives

Jefferson County was created from Thurston County on December 22, 1852. The county was named for Thomas Jefferson and sits in the northwest area of Washington State. Records from the early territorial period through the twentieth century are spread across the County Auditor, the County Clerk, and the Washington State Archives Northwest Regional Branch in Bellingham.

The County Auditor holds birth and death records from 1891 through 1907, when the state took over vital registration. Marriage records at the Auditor go back further, to 1853. The County Clerk holds divorce records starting from 1886, probate records from 1891, and court records from 1890. Civil and criminal court records from 1928 to present are available directly from the Jefferson County Clerk's office. The originals for 1928 to 1994, plus Superior Court Civil files from 1890 to 1913 and Territorial Court records from 1860 to 1889, are now housed at the Washington State Archives Northwest Regional Branch.

The Northwest Regional Branch can be reached at (360) 650-3125 or by email at nwbrancharchives@sos.wa.gov. For post-1907 vital records such as birth and death certificates, contact the Washington State Department of Health.

Note: The Jefferson County Genealogical Society has indexed Superior Court Civil files from 1890 to 1913, which makes those early court records more accessible to researchers who cannot visit in person.

Jefferson County Records in the Digital Archives

The Washington State Digital Archives holds several Jefferson County genealogy collections that are free to search online. These include birth records, marriage records, and a territorial census. Each collection has indexed and scanned images of the original documents.

The Jefferson County Auditor birth records cover 1891 to 1907. Birth records from July 21, 1891 through November 22, 1905 are in the Auditor's register. The Washington State Library also holds a microfilm copy of this register in its NW Microfilm collection. When searching, note that the mother's last name will reflect her maiden name. The Jefferson County Genealogical Society has also abstracted birth certificate information from 1892 to 1926 and from delayed birth certificates covering 1868 to 1891.

The Jefferson County marriage records, 1872-2023 span over 150 years of marriages in the county. Search by either party's name or use the year range filter to narrow results. Marriages from the territorial period and early statehood are included, making this one of the most complete local records sets available for Jefferson County genealogy.

Lead-in: The Washington State Digital Archives Jefferson County birth records collection holds indexed entries from the county auditor's register, covering the period before statewide vital registration began in 1907.

These birth records are searchable by mother's name, father's name, or child's name, with Soundex support to help with spelling variations.

Lead-in: The Jefferson County marriage records database in the Digital Archives covers marriages from 1872 through 2023, a span of more than 150 years.

The marriage collection allows researchers to search by groom or bride name, or use Soundex to find alternate spellings of surnames.

Jefferson County Census and Territorial Records

Jefferson County has census coverage going back to the territorial period. The county is represented in territorial censuses for 1860, 1871, 1875, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1883, 1885, 1887, and 1889, as well as the Washington State census of 1891. These records predate the federal census for Washington and can fill gaps left by missing or incomplete federal returns.

The 1871 Jefferson County Census in the Digital Archives contains 1,236 records. It records the names of all household members along with age, sex, race, occupation, marital status, place of birth, and literacy. It also notes whether parents were of foreign birth. For researchers with ancestors who were in Jefferson County during the 1870s, this census is a key source. According to the territorial law that required it, the census was taken by the county assessor and returned to the county auditor by the first Monday of May.

Death records for the county are listed in the Washington State Library guide. The Jefferson County Auditor register of births covers July 21, 1891 through November 22, 1905. The register of deaths covers August 4, 1891 through March 7, 1906. The State Library holds these in its NW Microfilm collection. The guide also notes Jefferson County Health Department, Burial Transit and Cremation Permits for 1968-1988 and 2009-2010. Check the Washington State Library death vital records guide for the full list of available microfilm holdings.

For naturalization research, the FamilySearch collections include Washington County Naturalization Records, 1850-1982, which covers Jefferson County filings. Naturalization records can name birthplace, date of arrival, age, and witnesses, making them valuable for immigrant ancestry.

Jefferson County Genealogical Society

The Jefferson County Genealogical Society (JCGS) is one of the most active local genealogy organizations in the northwest region of Washington. The society is based in Port Townsend and maintains a research center at 13692 Airport Cutoff Road. Their mailing address is PO Box 627, Port Townsend, WA 98368, and they can be reached by phone at 360-385-9495.

JCGS volunteers have done significant indexing work that benefits all researchers. They abstracted birth certificate information from 1892 to 1926 and from delayed birth certificates for 1868 to 1891. Volunteers indexed newspaper birth notices and built an index to Superior Court Civil files from 1890 to 1913. These finding aids are not always available through official government portals, so contacting the society directly is worthwhile if you hit a wall in your search.

The society's research page covers the full range of record types available in Jefferson County, including church records, city records, census data, and court files. Several churches still serving Port Townsend have records from the late 1800s. St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Trinity United Methodist Church, St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, and First Presbyterian Church all hold records that date back to the nineteenth century. Church registers can document baptisms, marriages, and burials that may not appear in civil records.

Note: City of Port Townsend records including Police Records 1893-1963, Poll Taxes 1889-1901, Real and Personal Assessment and Tax Rolls 1870-1894, and Voter Registrations 1893-1943 are held at the Washington State Archives Northwest Regional Branch.

Jefferson County Historical Society Collections

The Jefferson County Historical Society has been collecting objects and archival materials related to Jefferson County and its residents for over 145 years. Their online search site covers the two-dimensional media in their collection, including photographs, archives, and maps. The society has over 25,000 photographic images catalogued and digitized, with about 19,000 available online.

Over 27,000 archival descriptions and catalog records have been uploaded to their online system. Staff add more objects, manuscripts, and archival items as time allows. If you don't find what you need online, contact research@jchsmuseum.com or collections@jchsmuseum.com. The society can also fulfill requests to scan archival documents for distant researchers. Fees are assessed based on quantity, difficulty, and end-use of the material.

The JCHS is located at 540 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368, phone (360) 385-1003. For photo or archival document scans, complete their online order form and the collections team will follow up with fees and delivery options. This is a good option for researchers who cannot travel to the Olympic Peninsula but need access to local historical materials.

Jefferson County Genealogy Research Tools

The FamilySearch wiki for Jefferson County is a good starting point for any research project in this county. It lists specific record sets, date ranges, and links to online databases. The wiki covers auditor records, clerk records, naturalization filings, and local society resources. It also lists the county seat and notes that there is no known history of courthouse disasters in Jefferson County, which is good news for researchers who depend on survival of original records.

The FamilySearch wiki also lists the Washington State Archives Northwest Branch at (360) 650-3125 and the Jefferson County Genealogical Society at PO Box 627, Port Townsend, WA 98368, phone 360-385-9495, as the two main local research facilities. Both can help you locate records that are not yet digitized or indexed online. FamilySearch Centers in the region provide free access to Ancestry.com and other subscription databases.

For land records, the FamilySearch wiki lists Jefferson County Auditor, Plats and Surveys 1881-2023; Recorded Land Records 1981-2023; and Recorded Agreements and Contracts 1982-2023, all held at the Washington State Archives. Land records can establish when an ancestor arrived in the county, where they settled, and how property passed between family members across generations.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Jefferson County. Ancestors who lived near the county line may have records in more than one jurisdiction.