Yamhill was the 2nd of the four original districts created by the provisional government in 1843. Its boundaries originally were drawn to include all the area west of the Willamette River, south of the Yamhill River, continuing south to the California border, and west to the Pacific Ocean. The county originally consisted of 12,000 square miles. Twelve counties were created from Yamhill County, leaving 709 square miles within its current borders.
The county was named for the original inhabitants of the area, the Yamhill Indians, a tribe of the Kalapooian family. They lived around the Yamhill River and the remnants of the tribe were moved to the Grand Ronde Reservation in 1855.
Whites first entered the area in 1814. Most were employees of fur companies in Oregon. Many American immigrants of 1843-1844 settled in the Yamhill Valley. The area quickly became the agricultural center of the Willamette Valley, producing high quality farm products. LaFayette became the county seat in 1847 and was the principal trading center of the western Willamette Valley. The first circuit court held in Oregon convened in LaFayette. In 1849 the first US District Court in the Pacific Northwest sat in session in LaFayette.
McMinnville was founded in 1853 and eventually became the county seat. The legislative assembly chartered McMinnville (later Linfield) College in 1858.
Series Descriptions for Yamhill County
1852-1859
.1 cubic feet
Microfilm Reel 19 and Calendar Microfilm
Series documents tax assessments levied against county residents. Entries show resident's name; poll tax due, number, type, and value of livestock, value of clocks and watches; value of furniture; value of gold and silver; value of real estate; and total valuation. Series also includes equalized tax assessments for the 1852 tax year. Series is arranged chronologically by tax year.
1857-1859
.1 cubic feet
Series documents surety bonds and agreements filed with the county clerk. Record shows bond maker(s)' name, bond holder(s)' name, conditions of bond, consideration involved, date executed, clerk's certification, and date recorded. Series is arranged chronologically by date recorded.
1846-1856
.1 cubic feet
Calendar Microfilm
Series used to document county population and to report statistics to the territorial government. Census rolls show resident's name; number of legal voters, adult males and females, males aged 10 to 21, females aged 10 to 18, and males and females under age 10; totals; census date; and census taker's certification. Series is not arranged.
1857-1859
.1 cubic feet
Series documents orders issued by the county court to meet county expenses. Register entries show order date, payee name, order number, amount, description of payment, and payee's signature. Expenses include salaries, bridge and road building fees, court fees, and operating expenses. Series is arranged chronologically by order date.
1858-1859
.1 cubic feet
Microfilm Reel 19
Series documents county fund transactions. Ledger entries show transaction date, transaction description, credit or debit amount, and monthly balance. Series is arranged chronologically by transaction date.
1853-1859
.1 cubic feet
Microfilm Reel 19
Series documents the first step in US naturalization proceedings. Declarations show declarant's name, former nationality, renunciation of allegiance to foreign rulers or nations, declarant's signature, date of declaration, and court clerk's certification. Series also includes supporting affidavits. Series is arranged alphabetically by declarant's name.
1853-1859
.1 cubic feet
Series provides access to declarations of intention, index shows declaration date and declarant's name. Series is arranged chronologically by declaration date.
1857-1859
.1 cubic feet
Microfilm Reel 19
Series documents the results of local elections. Record entries show election date, type of election, office contested, winning candidate's name, date certified, date recorded, and recorder's signature. Series is arranged chronologically by date recorded.
1857-1859
.1 cubic feet
Microfilm Reel 19
Series documents officers elected at county elections. Register entries show officer's name, office title, date elected, date surety bond filed, and sureties' names. The volume was probably compiled circa 1890. Series is arranged chronologically by election date.
1857-1859
.1 cubic feet
Series documents judgments entered in US District Court. Docket entries show debtor's and creditor's names, date of docket entry, date entered in judgment record, appeal information, satisfaction date, and amount. Series includes an internal alphabetical index to case names. Series is arranged chronologically by date of docket entry.
1851-1859
.25 cubic feet
Microfilm Reel 19
Series documents the actions of the Lafayette Precinct Justice Court. Journal entries show case name, date, cause of action, summary of court action, and justice's signature. Causes of action include debt actions, trespass, assault, and theft. Series is arranged chronologically by date of journal entry.
1857-1859
.1 cubic feet
Microfilm Reel 19
Series documents marriages performed and recorded with the county clerk. Entries show bride's and groom's names, minister or justice of the peace's name, witnesses' names, date recorded, and recorder's signature. Series is arranged chronologically by date recorded.
1849-1859
.25 cubic feet
Series documents the appointment of administrators and the posting of their bonds. Record entries show administrator's or guardian's name, case name, conditions of the bond, conditions of administration, date executed, date recorded, and clerk's signature. Series includes an alphabetical index by guardian's or administrator's name. Series is arranged alphabetically by administrator's name.
1849-1854
.1 cubic feet
Series documents court fees charged against estates. Entries show case name, date fee charged, description of charge, total, and amount paid. Series is arranged chronologically by date of first case entry.
1852-1859
.25 cubic feet
Series provides access to probate case records. Index shows case number, case name, and journal volume and page number. Series is arranged alphabetically by case name.
1854-1859
3.0 cubic feet
Series documents the probate of estates, the administration of insanity and juvenile guardianships. Records include administrator's bonds, vouchers, petitions, estate inventories, property appraisals, receipts, correspondence, estate account ledgers, letters of administration, and bills of sale. Series is arranged numerically by case number.
1852-1857
.1 cubic feet
Series documents the probate court's accounting of final estate settlements. Ledger entries show estate name, administrator's name, date of payment or receipt, description of payment or receipt, amount of payment or receipt, and final estate settlement. Series includes an alphabetical index by estate name. Series is arranged chronologically by date of first case entry.
1849-1859
.75 cubic feet
Microfilm Reel 19
Series documents actions taken by the probate court. Journal entries show court term, officers' and judges' names, location of court, and actions taken. Actions include appointing estate administrators; approving bonds, estate accountings, and appraisals; revoking appointments: and issuing notices, bonds, and letters of administration; and the admittance of wills. Series also includes an alphabetical index by estate name. Series is arranged chronologically by date entered.
1856-1859
.1 cubic feet
Microfilm Reel 19
Series documents county taxes collected and deposited with the county treasurer. Register entries show deposit date, description of tax (poll, property, and school), amount deposited, amount of license fees collected, and account balance. Series is arranged chronologically by deposit date.
1847-1856
.25 cubic feet
Calendar Microfilm
Series documents the collection of assessed taxes. Tax roll entries show taxpayer's name, poll tax owed, county tax owed, school tax owed, territorial tax owed, and total tax owed. Some years also include paid notations. Series is not arranged.
1857-1859
.1 cubic feet
Series documents actions relating to US District Court cases. Docket entries show court term, plaintiffs and defendant's names, attorneys' names, case number, and remarks concerning verdicts, judgments, and motions. Series is arranged chronologically by date of court term.
1857-1859
.25 cubic feet
Series used for direct access to US District Court case records. Index entries show date of case judgment, plaintiffs and defendant's names, judgment number, docket volume and page number, and judgment docket and page number. Series is arranged alphabetically by plaintiffs name.
1857
.1 cubic feet
Microfilm Reel 19
Series documents actions taken in cases heard in US District Court. Journal entries show term of court, judge's and court officers' names, location of court, case name, and a description of the court's actions. The only case in this series deals with naturalization proceedings. Series is not arranged.
1857-1859
.1 cubic feet
Series documents the processing of judgments entered in US District Court. Docket entries show debtor's name, creditor's name, judgment amount, judgment date, journal page number, and date and amount paid. Series includes an alphabetical index by debtor's name. Series is arranged chronologically by judgment date.
1854-1859
.1 cubic feet
Microfilm Reel 19
Series documents wills admitted to probate. Record entries show will maker's name, text of will, date of will, witnesses' names, clerks certification, and date recorded. Series includes an alphabetical index by will makers' name. Series is arranged chronologically by date recorded.