Colorado Territorial Penitentiary, Board of Managers Reports, 1871-1877: An Annotated Index of Marshals, Wardens, Guards, Board Members, Prisoners, and Local Businesses
The Colorado Territorial Penitentiary, Board of Managers Reports, 1871-1877: An Annotated Index of Marshals, Wardens, Guards, Board Members, Prisoners, and Local Businesses contains the names of the penitentiary’s first one hundred prisoners (including escapees), a physical description of the person, why they were in the penitentiary, which county sentenced them and where they were born.
In addition, the Board of Managers Reports included the services provided to the prison by local businesses, the names of each member of the Board, along with the names of US Marshals, wardens, guards, nurses and other personnel.
An inventory dated 1 Dec 1874 shows a prison (40’x70’), a guard’s sleeping apartment, a guard’s dining room and prison kitchen, the warden’s residence (brick, 6 rooms and hall, one outhouse and store house), a shoemaker’s shop (adobe with cellar), a carpenter’s show (wood 15’x20’), a blacksmith’s shop (wood 14’x17’), a stone cutter’s shop (wood, 15’x32’), two outhouses for general use, a bake oven (10’x12’), 360’ of stone embankment in front of the prison, 330’ of picket fence with 2 single gates and 1 double gate, 700’ of board fence around the garden, all on 40 acres of land.
Colorado Territorial Penitentiary, Board of Managers Reports, 1871-1877
Another New Index Available
June 2, 2017
Boulder County, Colorado District Court, Grand Jury Records, 1867-1922: An Annotated Index
The Boulder County, Colorado District Court, Grand Jury Records, 1867-1922 is an annotated index of the records of District Court requesting men for service as grand jurors. Grand Jurors were summoned to examine cases in order to issue indictments but they were also used to examine public financial records and the safety of public buildings. Several special cases are found in this record set, including those investigating “considerable lawlessness especially in the illicit traffic of liquor and gambling,” and the Grand Jury statements of May Bradford Oles who was the adopted daughter of Andrew J Macky (a prominent Boulder citizen) and her attempt to claim a part of his large estate.
Available at http://www.irongate.com
#BoulderPioneersProject
New Index Available
March 12, 2017
Boulder County, Colorado Surveys and Mineral Claims at the General Land Office, 1859-1876: An Annotated Index
The Boulder County, Colorado Surveys and Mineral Claims at the General Land Office, 1859-1876: An Annotated Index contains the names of the mine owners (claimant), surveyors and survey crew members, along with the mines and their range and township information. One additional piece of information was added when found—cabins, houses, barns, buildings, bridges, boarding houses, mills, toll roads, wagon roads, creeks and rivers. Using those listings is one way to see what was built where during these early mining days.
It’s available at http://www.irongate.com.
The Minutes of the Board of Trustees of the University of Colorado, 1870-1876 chronicles the establishment of the University, donation of land, struggles with the legislature over funding, and efforts to raise funds in the community and beyond. The Minutes identify many of those involved in the building of the first building on the University campus, now affectionately known as Old Main.
Available at: http://www.irongate.com/pages/CU_Trustees_Minutes.html
Boulder County, Colorado District Court Widow’s Relinquishment, Volumes 1 & 2, 1889–1937
December 30, 2015
The Boulder County, Colorado District Court Widow’s Relinquishment, Volume 1, 1889–1926, and Volume 2, 1926–1937 record what household items and other property that were given to the widow as a part of her assignment of property from the estate before any debts were paid.
The records show the names of the deceased, the widow or orphan and the administrators or executors of the estate along with the judges and clerks who recorded each transaction.
Available at: http://www.irongate.com/pages/Widows_Vols1-2.html
Boulder County, Colorado, County Court Probate Record, Vol 1, 1875-1884
December 30, 2015
The Boulder County, Colorado, County Court Probate Record, Vol 1, 1875-1884 records the activities of a decedent’s estate including, the settlement, any guardianship of minors, the names of heirs, who held the will, the witnesses to the will, the bond sureties for the executor, any debtors or creditors to the estate, what claims were pain, what debts were uncollectible and who the deceased’s attending physician was. The record may also include the actual death date of the estate owner, and the birth dates of minors showing whether they were over or under age 14 for the purposes of assigning a guardian.
Available at: http://www.irongate.com/pages/Probate_Vol1.html
Boulder County, Colorado County Court Will Record, Volume A, 1875-1889
December 30, 2015
This record book is made up of pre-printed forms that a clerk could use to record wills. Each record names the deceased, the petitioner who is bringing the will to the probate court, and the names of the witnesses and executors to the will.
The decedent’s date of death is recorded in a section entitled Proof of Death. The will was recorded (copied from the original by the clerk), and signed by the executor, the clerk and the probate judge.
Available at: http://www.irongate.com/pages/Will_Record_VolA.html
The Boulder County, Colorado, District Court Guardians Bonds, Vol. A, 1876-1902 is a District Court record of the men and women who posted bonds in their roles as guardians for children who were due an inheritance. Often a surviving parent would petition to act as the guardian of their own children, but sometimes guardians were assigned by the court if the child was under the age of 14. Minors over the age of 14 were allowed to choose their own guardians during this period. The journal names the deceased, often details the relationships between the deceased and his or her heirs, frequently gives the ages of the children at the time of the bond hearing and occasionally gives the child’s exact birthdate. The journal also names the guardians, the sureties, the judges who heard the cases, and the clerks who recorded the bonds.
Available at: http://www.irongate.com/pages/guardian_1876.html
The Boulder County, Colorado Probate Court Fee Book, 1874-1890 records the fees paid to and by the estates of the probate cases listed in the book. The records show the names of the deceased and the administrators or executors of the estate along with the judges and clerks who recorded each transaction. Oftentimes, guardians were assigned to children under the age of 14 even if a parent was still living to ensure that any inheritance was protected and preserved for the child. Minors over the age of 14 had the right to request their own guardian. The journal also shows the names of debtors who owed an estate money, and the creditors who were paid by the estate.
Available at: http://www.irongate.com/pages/probate_fee_1874.html
Boulder County, Colorado District Court Execution Docket, 1875-1885
September 9, 2013
New book. Boulder County, Colorado District Court Execution Docket, 1875-1885: An Annotated Index is a register of the court asking the sheriff to execute the judgment of the court. It’s an interesting look at the winners and losers of both civil and criminal cases, and the actions taken to satisfy the court’s judgment against the losers.
Available on Amazon.
Boulder Pioneers Project 