Sonoma County District Court records, 1850-1946 (bulk: 1850-1879 )
Finding aid author: Mark Cooper.
This work is licensed by Sonoma County Library under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA) 4.0 International License
Published Feb 28, 2011
Sonoma County District Court records, 1850-1946 (bulk: 1850-1879 )
Sonoma County Library
Collection Title: Sonoma County District Court records,
Date (inclusive): 1850-1946
Date (bulk): 1850-1878 (bulk)
Identification: SCG.00051
Creator:
California. District Court (7th Judicial District)
California. District Court (22nd Judicial District)
Physical Description:
46 volumes, 1 box
Language of Materials:
English
Repository:
Sonoma County Library Archives
c/o Sonoma County History and Genealogy Library, Sonoma County Library
725 Third Street
Santa Rosa, CA,
Email:
history@sonomalibrary.org
Phone:
(707) 308-3212
Abstract: This collection contains records reflect various aspects of the operations of the District CourtDistrict Court. These include:
registers of actions in civil and criminal cases heard in the District Court, and fees paid; liens for state and county taxes;
lists of defendents and plaintiffs; minutes of each court session, court actions, and rules of the court.
There are three series of Sonoma County District Court records: an Old Series, a New Series, and a Complaints in Equity Series
(also known as Tax Suits).
The Old Series records comprise 1305 District Court suits numbered 1 through 1294. Ten Old Series suits are numbered with
non-integer numbers (49½, 184½, 245½, 300½, 301½, 528½, 592½, 897½, 1128½, and 1142½), and one suit number (918) is used twice.
The initial complaints of these suits were generally filed during the years 1850 to 1863.
In “An Act concerning Records of District Courts” approved by the California Legislature 13 April 1863, every County Clerk
was required to keep two separate index volumes for all District Court suits, one labeled General Index-Plaintiffs and the
other General Index-Defendants. Each page of each of the indices was to be divided into seven columns: Number of Suit, Plaintiffs,
Defendants, Date of Judgment, Number of Judgment, Page of Entry of Judgment in Judgment Book, and Page of Minute Book of District
Court. The Sonoma County Clerk began a second series (the “New Series”) of Sonoma County District Court suits when he began
to enter these suits into the new index volumes. The numbering of these suits began again from the number one. The Clerk was
to receive as compensation for entering these suits into the index books fifty cents for each suit, taxed and collected as
other court costs.
The New Series records comprise 2943 District Court suits numbered 1 through 2925. 53 New Series suits are numbered with non-integer
numbers, one suit uses a letter (623A), and three suit numbers are used twice (468, 1031, and 2407). Thirty-nine suit numbers
are not used at all. The initial complaints of these suits were generally filed during the years 1863 to 1879.
The original court papers of both the Old and New Series of records are housed at the California State Archives in Sacramento.
Microfilm copies of these original court papers are available at the Archived Records Division of the Sonoma County Superior
Court in Santa Rosa. The Old and New Series District Court suits concern a wide variety of topics, ranging from simple breach
of contract and insolvency cases to defamation of character, slander, embezzlement, divorce, and even murder cases.
The Complaints in Equity Series records comprise 768 District Court suits numbered 1 through 731 and concern non-payment of
taxes (both State and County) on land in Sonoma County. One Complaints in Equity Series suit is numbered with a non-integer
number (502½), thirty-eight suit numbers are used twice (546-548, 635-649, and 660-679), and two suit numbers are not used
at all (272 and 307). The initial complaints of these suits were generally filed during the years 1864 to 1872. The original
court papers of this series are housed at the Sonoma County Archives in Santa Rosa. Microfilm copies of these original court
papers are available at the Archived Records Division of the Sonoma County Superior Court in Santa Rosa.
(Index to District Court records of Sonoma County, 1850-1879. Berwyn Hights, Md. Heritage Books, 2016; pages v-vi)
Note:
Some volumes include entries for cases heard in Superior Court following the district court abolition: Docket book (includes
entries for 1880) and Index (includes entries for 1880-1946).
Additional Guides
The Sonoma County Genearlogical Society has published an expanded guide to this collection:
Index to District Court records of Sonoma County, 1850-1879. Berwyn Hights, Md. : Heritage Books, 2016. Compiled by Sonoma County Genealogical Society.
District Courts established by the 1849 California State Constitution
The first Constitution of California was written by the forty-eight delegates of the 1849 California State Constitutional
Convention meeting at Colton Hall in Monterey during the months of September and October 1849. It was signed by the delegates
on 13 October 1849 and ratified by the people of California in an election held a month later on 13 November 1849. Under this
constitution the judicial department of California was to consist of a Supreme Court, District Courts, County Courts, Justices
of the Peace, and such municipal and other inferior courts the legislature may establish as may be deemed necessary.
The District Courts were given original jurisdiction in law and equity in all civil cases where the amount in dispute exceeded
two hundred dollars, exclusive of interest. In all criminal cases not otherwise provided for, and in all issues of fact joined
in the probate courts, their jurisdiction was unlimited.15 The California Legislature in “An Act Concerning Divorces” passed
25 March 1851 gave the District Courts exclusive jurisdiction to grant divorces from bed and board and from the bonds of matrimony.
By the California State Constitution of 1849 California was to be divided by the first Legislature into a convenient number
of districts subject to alteration from time to time as the public good required. The District Court judges were to be appointed
by a joint vote of the Legislature at its first meeting and were to hold office for two years from the first day of January
after their election. Their successors were to be elected by the qualified voters of their respective districts at the general
election and hold their office for the term of six years.
The first session of the California Legislature held at San Jose between 15 Dec 1849 and 22 April 1850 divided California
into nine judicial districts by “An Act to organize the District Courts of the State of California” passed on 16 March 1850.18
Sonoma County was placed in the 7th judicial district as were the counties of Marin, Napa, Solano, and Mendocino, and it remained
in the 7th judicial district until 29 March 1876 when the 22nd judicial district was created, composed of the counties of
Sonoma, Mendocino, and Marin.
District Courts abolished by the 1879 California State Constitution
The delegates of the second California State Constitutional Convention of 1878-1879 produced a second California State Constitution
that was adopted in Convention at Sacramento on 3 March 1879 and ratified by a vote of the People of the State of California
on 7 May 1879. Article XXII, section 3 of this Constitution abolished all courts then existing, including the District Courts,
except for the Justices’ and Police Courts, and Article VI, section 1 established a new judicial department composed of a
Supreme Court, Superior Courts, Justices of the Peace, and such inferior Courts as the Legislature may establish in any incorporated
city or town, or city and county. All records, books, papers, and proceedings from the abolished Courts were to be transferred
to the new Courts on 1 January 1880.
(Index to District Court records of Sonoma County, 1850-1879. Berwyn Hights, Md. Heritage Books, 2016; pages ix-x)
Official records
Organized into three series and sixteen subseries:
- Old Series, 1850-1866
- 1.01. Civil register, 1850-1859
- 1.02. Fee book and register, 1850-1863
- 1.03. Docket book, 1851-1866
- 1.04. Judgment book, 1855-1866
- 1.05. Minute book, 1857-1868
- 1.06. Calendar, 1857-1862
- 1.07. Index, 1859-1861
- 1.08. Records, 1857-1859
- New series, 1857-1946
- 2.01. Fee book and register, 1863-1878
- 2.02. Docket book, 1857-1880
- 2.03. Judgment book, 1866-1879
- 2.04. Minute book, 1869-1879
- 2.05. Calendar, 1877-1879
- 2.06. Index, 1859-1946
- 2.07. Register of tax suits, 1864-1871
- 2,08. Decree book A, 1864-1869
- Complaints in equity, 1864-1871
This Collection is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Sonoma County (Calif.). District Court (7th Judicial District)
Sonoma County (Calif.). District Court (22nd Judicial District)
Civil procedure--California--Sonoma County
Court records--California--Sonoma County
Courts--California--Sonoma County
Criminal courts--California--Sonoma County
Judgments--California--Sonoma County
Tax liens--California--Sonoma County
Taxation--California--Sonoma County
Civil court records
Criminal court records
Dockets
Registers (lists)
Minutes (administrative records)
Judicial records
Archival materials
Important Information for Users of the Collection
Materials stored offsite, but collection is open to research. In many cases, further details on individual volumes can be
found by calling staff at the Sonoma County History and Genealogy Library. To view these materials, please call staff at
707 308-3212 to request they be brought from the Archives to the Library
Conditions of Use
Collection does not circulate and may be photocopied or photographed by arrangement only.
Property rights reside with the Sonoma County Library. The Sonoma County Library has made this collection available and believes
that the collection is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its
copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Collection may not be in the Public Domain under the laws
of other countries. Preferred credit line is: Courtesy, the Sonoma County Library. Please see additional reproduction and
reuse information at
https://sonomalibrary.org/locations/sonoma-county-history-and-genealogy-library/order-photo
Sonoma County District Court records, 1850-1946 (bulk: 1850-1879). SCG.00051, Sonoma County Archives, Sonoma County Library,
Rohnert Park, California.
SCL Special Collections Control Number: SCG.00051.01-01
Series 1, subseries 1. Civil register
1850-1859
SCL Special Collections Control Number: SCG.00051.01-02
Series 1, subseries 2. Fee book and register
1850-1863
Note:
Series content list:
1850-1859 : ARCHIVES CABINET 11 : Volume A : Accession 1435
1855-1857 : ARCHIVES ROW 31 (CABINET 37) : Register Docket for the District Court, #3 : Accession 2710
1857-1859 : ARCHIVES ROW 31 (CABINET 37) : Volume [???] : Accession [???]
1858-1859 : ARCHIVES CABINET 11 : Volume AA : Accession 1434
1859-1861 : ARCHIVES CABINET 11 : Volume B : Accession 1436
1861-1863 : ARCHIVES CABINET 11 : Volume C : Accession 1437
Physical Description:
Extent: 6 volumes
Register of actions in civil and criminal cases heard in District Court, and fees paid
SCL Special Collections Control Number: SCG.00051.01-03
Series 1, subseries 3. Docket book
1851-1880
Note:
Series content list:
1851-1857 : ARCHIVES ROW 31 (CABINET 37) : Judgement Docket of the District Court, Volume A : Accession 2651
1851-1866 : ARCHIVES ROW 31 (CABINET 37) : Index to Judgment Book : Accession 2654
Physical Description:
Extent: 2 volumes
Judgment docket: 5. B. indexes Judgment Book, 5. C and D
SCL Special Collections Control Number: SCG.00051.01-04
Series 1, subseries 4. Judgment book
1855-1879
Note:
Series content list:
1855-1858 : ARCHIVES CABINET 13 : Volume B : Accession 1545
1857-1860 : ARCHIVES CABINET 13 : Volume C : Accession 1538
1860-1866 : ARCHIVES CABINET 13 : Volume D : Accession 1534
Physical Description:
Extent: 6 volumes
Judgement Book D contains entries for New Series
SCL Special Collections Control Number: SCG.00051.01-05
Series 1, subseries 5. Minute book
1857-1879
Note:
Series content list:
1857-1862 : ARCHIVES CABINET 13 : Minute Book, Volume B : Accession 1549
1862-1868 : ARCHIVES CABINET 13 : Minute Book, Volume C : Accession 1550
Physical Description:
Extent: 2 volumes
Minutes of each court session, court actions, and rules of the court. Minute Book C contains entries for New Series
SCL Special Collections Control Number: SCG.00051.01-06
Series 1, subseries 6. Calendar
1857-1862
Note:
Series content list:
1857-1862 : ARCHIVES ROW 31 (CABINET 37) : Calendar Destrict (sic) Court : Accession 2653
Physical Description:
Extent: 1 volumes
SCL Special Collections Control Number: SCG.00051.02-01
Series 2, subseries 1. Fee book and register
1850-1878
Note:
Series content list:
1863-1865 : ARCHIVES CABINET 11 : Volume D : Accession 1438
1865-1868 : ARCHIVES CABINET 11 : Volume E : Accession 1439
1868-1871 : ARCHIVES CABINET 11 : Volume F : Accession 1440
1871-1873 : ARCHIVES CABINET 11 : Volume G : Accession 1441
1873-1877 : ARCHIVES CABINET 11 : Volume H : Accession 1442
1876-1878 : ARCHIVES CABINET 11 : Volume I : Accession 1443
1878-1878 : ARCHIVES CABINET 4 : Volume J : Accession 1164
1878-1878 : ARCHIVES CABINET 4 : Volume K : Accession 1165
Physical Description:
Extent: 8 volumes
Register of actions in civil and criminal cases heard in District Court, and fees paid
SCL Special Collections Control Number: SCG.00051.02-02
Series 2, subseries 2. Docket book
1857-1880
Creator:
Sonoma County (Calif.). District Court (7th Judicial District)
Note:
Series content list:
1857-1869 : ARCHIVES CABINET 4 : Docket Book, Volume B : Accession 1123
1862-1873 : ARCHIVES CABINET 4 : Docket Book, Volume C : Accession 1122
1873-1880 : ARCHIVES CABINET 4 : Docket Book, Volume D : Accession 1120
Physical Description:
Extent: 3 volumes
Judgment docket: 5. B. indexes Judgment Book, 5. C and D; 5. C indexes judgment book, 5. D and E; 5. D indexes Judgment Book
5. E, F and G. Vol. B is indexed in Index to Road Record by last name of plaintiff. Indexed in Index to Judgment Book; General
Index Plaintiff; and General Index Defendent, by name, after June 1863. Entries for
SCL Special Collections Control Number: SCG.00051.02-03
Series 2, subseries 3. Judgment book
1866-1879
Note:
Series content list:
1866-1876 : ARCHIVES CABINET 13 : Volume E : Accession 1534
1876-1878 : ARCHIVES CABINET 13 : Volume F : Accession 1537
1878-1879 : ARCHIVES CABINET 13 : Volume G : Accession 1546
Physical Description:
Extent: 3 volumes
Initial New series cases recorded in Series 1. Old series, Judgement Book, Volume D.
SCL Special Collections Control Number: SCG.00051.02-04
Series 2, subseries 4. Minute book
1869-1879
Note:
Series content list:
1869-1874 : ARCHIVES CABINET 13 : Minute Book District Court, Volume D : Accession 1542
1879-1879 : ARCHIVES CABINET 13 : Minutes District Court, Volume F : Accession 1552
1874-1879 : ARCHIVES CABINET 13 : Minute Book, Volume E : Accession 1551
Physical Description:
Extent: 3 volumes
Minutes of each court session, court actions, and rules of the court. [1552] More than half is blank. Initial entries for
New series cases entered in Volume C and listed under Series 1. Old series. Minute book.
SCL Special Collections Control Number: SCG.00051.02-05-
Series 2, subseries 5. Calendar
1877-1879
SCL Special Collections Control Number: SCG.00051.02-06
Series 2, subseries 6. Index
1859-1946
Note:
Series content list:
1859-1861 : ARCHIVES ROW 31 (CABINET 37) : Index to Register B : Accession 2711
1868-1871 : ARCHIVES ROW 31 (CABINET 37) : Index to Register F : Accession 2712
1871-1874 : ARCHIVES ROW 31 (CABINET 37) : Index to Register G : Accession 2713
1873-1946 : ARCHIVES ROW 31 (CABINET 37) : District Court Index H : Accession 2732
Physical Description:
Extent: 4 volumes
Oct. 1859 - 19 Apr. 1946 index to plaintiffs and defendents
SCL Special Collections Control Number: SCG.00051.02-07
Series 2, subseries 7. Register of tax suits
1864-1871
Note:
Series content list:
1864-1867 : ARCHIVES CABINET 29 : Volume A : Accession 2381 [???]
1868-1871 : ARCHIVES CABINET 29 : Volume B : Accession 2382 [???]
Note:
[2381 / 2382] Incorrectly assigned? Accession record indicates Sonoma County Superior Court as origin
Physical Description:
Extent: 2 volumes
SCL Special Collections Control Number: SCG.00051.02-08
Series 2, subseries 8. Decree book A
1864-1869
Accession: 1495
SCL Special Collections Control Number: SCG.00051.03
Series 3. Complaints in equity
1864-1871
Note:
Series content list:
1864-1871 : ARCHIVES ROW 8 BIN 17 : Complaints in equity
Physical Description:
Extent: 1 box
Creator:
California. District Court (22nd Judicial District)