AGENCY: Washington County (Utah). County Recorder
SERIES: 23286
TITLE: Deeds (Saint George)
DATES: 1874-1954
ARRANGEMENT: Chronological by date recorded.
DESCRIPTION: In March 1867, Congress passed "Act for the Relief of the Inhabitants of Cities and Towns upon the Public Lands" (Statutes at Large, Treaties, and Proclamations, of the United States of America, vol. XIV, chap. CLXXVII), which established county probate judges or mayors as intermediaries who would distribute land and adjudicate ownership for individuals living in surveyed communities on the public domain. As the Washington County probate court proceeded to follow this direction, the county recorder established a new set of deeds books for the city of Saint George. The first records in these books are conveyances from the federal government to the mayor of Saint George followed by conveyances from the mayor to individual claimants (Deed Book F). Thereafter, the deed books contain a wide variety of documents relating to real property in Saint George or the immediate vicinity. The documents in these books include warranty or quit claim deeds conveying property from one individual to another. They contain patents, desert land and homestead certificates validating individual homesteads or purchases in the public domain, and state land certificates issued to those who purchased state land. They contain tax deeds and sheriff's deeds chronicling the sale of property for unpaid taxes or debts. Whenever the 5th District Court settled an estate or otherwise adjudicated a land related issue, the court decree was also recorded in the deed books.
RETENTION
DISPOSITION
RETENTION AND DISPOSITION AUTHORIZATION
These records are in Archives' permanent custody.
FORMAT MANAGEMENT
Microfilm master: For records beginning in 1874 through 1954. Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.
Microfilm duplicate: For records beginning in 1874 through 1954. Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.
APPRAISAL
Historical Legal
These records document settlement and land owership in Saint George.
PRIMARY DESIGNATION
Public