Databases

This is an index to 54 volumes of subdivision maps located in the San Mateo County Record Repository. Names were added to the maps by the County Assessors Office in the first few decades of the 2oth century. The volumes cover most areas of the county. The maps have been photographed and are available on the website of the SMC Public Works Department Surveying Department. Links are available on database cover page.

These certificates are located in Drawers 19-24 in the San Mateo County Record Repository. Types of Documents include: Sheriff's Certificate of Sale (names include sheriff and purchaser of land (p) and if found name of original land owner (o) a plaintiff is also often listed as in the case of a lawsuit the land is sold to satisfy it. In a tax delinquency the plantiff is the people); Sheriff's Certificate of Sale on Foreclosure Specific to mortgage holders; Sheriff's Certificate of Redemption; Copy of Writ of Attachment ( a court order to "attach" or seize an asset. It is issued by a court to a law enforcement officer or sheriff. The writ of attachment is issued in order to satisfy a judgment issued by the court.); Copy Writ of Execution (a court order granted to put in force a judgment of possession obtained by a plaintiff from a court.[1] When issuing a writ of execution, a court typically will order a sheriff or other similar official to take possession of property owned by a judgment debtor. Such property will often then be sold in a sheriff's sale and the proceeds remunerated to the plaintiff in partial or full satisfaction of the judgment.); Release of Attachment; Sale on Execution (a sale of property by the sheriff under authority of a court's writ of execution in order satisfy an unpaid obligation; Constable's Sale (sold at township rather than county level) ; Sale by City Treasurer (usually for non payment of improvement bonds, most were redeemed); and Conveyance of Real Estate for Delinquent Taxes

When there is no one to administer an estate it falls into the hands of the Public Administrator. These reports cover 1880 and then 1897 through 1960 with about a dozen missing years. They include names, dates, amount of the estate and costs. Various years include other information.

Index to the Layng & Tinney Mortuary File Collection housed in the San Mateo County Genealogical Society Library. Contact SMCGS Research to obtain a copy of the contents of a file.

Covering the years 1910-1915, this ledger of Orphans, Half-Orphans and others receiving public support payments is located in the San Mateo History Museum Archives ( # 15-182-5 // #5 H2 16).

Culled from reports, registers and lists, this database of those supported by the county of San Mateo includes records from Jan 1904 through Jan 1915. An additional list for 1915 has been added as well as notations from April 1905 indicating how long those receiving payments that month had been on the rolls. For sources used please see County Poor Farm Sources. Indexed by Cath Trindle

Monthly reports supporting these amounts (annual amounts were included on each found report) are located in the County Record Repository. See source list.

An index to more than 2000 case files, in 63 boxes and two docket books. Criminal cases heard in Federal Court include tax cases, civil rights cases, admiralty cases and other violations of federal laws.

NARA Record Group 21 - Cases on appeal from the Northern and Southern Districts of California. Cases involve ships with too many passengers, abandoned contracts, damaged goods, cargo not paid for, workers not paid, mistreatment of passengers, and Panama & NIcaragua crossings.

Notifications filed with the County that a lawsuit had been filed involving property within the county. This is an index to records filed in drawers 53-56A in the county record center. Records date from the 1850s through the early 1900s.

It was not uncommon for homeless residents to lodge in the jail. You can find not only the aged and disabled who had no means of support, but also those travelling into the county to find work. Often time of residence is listed as one day. The records give a wealth of information. Besides the surname, given name and alias you will find the day of incarceration, occupation, age, height, weight, time in county, state and U, where picked up, by whom, the justice, the code under which the person was picked up, hour of arrest, hour of release, number of meals served, sentence, date of commitment, date of discharge, fines paid and a column for further remarks. This index which includes volumes 7-12 and 14-16 includes more than 60,000 entries. Copies of the registers (which were located in the SMC Jail) are in the SMCGS Library. Visit the library or see the research page to obtain a copy. The location of Volumes 1-6 and Volume 13 is unknown. We believe that 1-6 may be in the Historical Association offsite collections. It is possible that volume 13 which would have entries during WWII years was not bound and did not survive.

This index includes Volumes A-C, Volumes 1-53, Delayed Births 1-5, and the Birth Affidavit Register which lists births filed with Official Records.

Every name index to the San Francisco Volumes of Richard Schellen's Collection of Historical Materials

An index to Saloons mentioned in the San Francisco Volumes of Richard Schellen's Collection of Historical Materials

Every name index to the California Volumes of Richard Schellen's Collection of Historical Materials

Miscellaneous Newspaper Articles for San Mateo County Residents

Those non-citizens who served in the US Forces during WWI were able to become naturalized before they were discharged. This is an index to the 13 volumes of Petitions of those who were discharged from Camp Fremont (Menlo Park) in 1918 and 1919. No Declaration of Intention was required.

Index to the Naturalization Records of San Mateo County. Includes Declaration of Intention to Become a Citizen, Petitions and Certificates. These records are available unindexed on FamilySearch.

Index to the Register of Separate Property of Married and Sole Traders (1856-1913). Indexed by Barry Goyette. The register is labeled Volume 1, but no other volumes appear to exist, this register is not full. There are 100 documents. You will find a digital version of this volume on FamilySearch

Before taking office, elected officials were required to file bonds. Election Certificates were documents signed by the county clerk, verifying the election. These bonds and certificates are located in the county record center in one of the small drawer cabinets (SM - RC5B1 - 15 - 21) You will find original signatures on many of the documents.

From lists found in the Miscellaneous Drawers in the County Recorders Record Facility. Use as a pointed to death, retirement or leaving the area.