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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1854 | 1 |
| 1876 | 3 |
| 1877 | 1 |
| 1878 | 1 |
| 1880 | 1 |
| 1884 | 2 |
| 1885 | 2 |
| 1888 | 3 |
| 1889 | 6 |
| 1891 | 1 |
| 1892 | 1 |
| 1893 | 5 |
| 1894 | 4 |
| 1895 | 2 |
| 1903 | 1 |
| 1904 | 1 |
| 1916 | 1 |
| 1917 | 1 |
37 stories matching testament
- The Unfinished Business of Alfred B. Jones
A legal notice from 1876 reveals the mundane yet pressing reality of settling an estate in the early days of Seattle.
- The Unfinished Business of Alfred H. Jones
A standard probate notice reveals the vanishing point of a pioneer's life in 1876 Seattle, where debts and assets were tied to the rapidly developing corners of Third and Union.
- The Salvation Army Runaway
A Spokane teenager is apprehended in Seattle while seeking a life of service with the Salvation Army.
- A Final, Sudden Act
A Tacoma resident died suddenly while in the act of signing his last will and testament, which was noted for its extreme brevity.
- The Man Who Paid to Live: A Tacoma Resident’s Plea for Relief
In an era of unchecked capitalism and political corruption, one man in Tacoma offers a stark, personal testament to the crushing weight of poverty—proving that even in the 'Land of Opportunity,' survival is not guaranteed.
- Establishing the People’s Court
Legislative action mandates the election of local probate judges to manage wills, estates, and guardianship for the Territory.
- The Community-Funded Battery
Kennewick rallies to outfit its local volunteer artillery unit with a 'mess fund' as they prepare for the trenches of Europe.
- The Unintended Boarding House Scandal
A Seattle property owner finds themselves in court after leasing a building to tenants who turned the premises into a 'disorderly house,' sparking a legal debate over landlord responsibility.
- The Unquestionable Will of Bailey Gatzert
Seattle’s prominent civic leader leaves a massive estate with ironclad instructions that bar his beneficiaries from ever challenging his wishes in court.
- A Growing Faith on South J Street
The Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church reaches a milestone with the dedication of its new building, a testament to the growth of immigrant congregations in Tacoma.
- The Solitary End of a Prospector
A prospector returning from the gold fields is found frozen to death in the Cascade mountains, a grim reminder of the perils facing those seeking their fortunes in the wild.
- The Real Estate Gambles of Pioneer Seattle
A historic real estate listing reveals the precarious nature of land titles in early Seattle and the high-stakes land development following the death of P.C. Comstock.
- The Yesler Will Conspiracy
Prominent Seattle figures face charges of destroying the last testament of the city's pioneer founder as the defense fights for a dismissal.
- A Hidden Testament Reveals New Heir to Shoemaker's Estate
After Paul Mulkey’s death, a long-lost will surfaced, overturning the previous court-appointed guardianship and naming an unexpected executrix.
- The Battle for a Saloon and the Dead Woman’s Secret Will
A saloon owner’s last will and testament sparks a fierce probate fight between her bartender and her estranged children.
- The Pioneer Spirit of Seattle’s Lumber Boom
While major financiers discussed global markets, a group of young, ambitious lumbermen were busy building a new mill to feed Seattle's rapid expansion.
- A Sculptor's Gift to the Presbyterian Church
A newly installed white marble baptismal font at the First Presbyterian Church celebrates local craftsmanship and memorializes a Philadelphia parishioner.
- The Palace of God on Fourth and Spring
A grand architectural marvel marks the rise of the First Presbyterian Church from a tiny frontier congregation to a pillar of Seattle’s establishment.
- Seattle's Burnt District Rebuilds in Brick After 1889 Fire
Following the Great Seattle Fire, the city's burnt district transforms as brick blocks replace wooden ruins and the city plans for a modern infrastructure.
- The Death of John Barleycorn: Kennewick Goes Dry
As Washington state's prohibition laws took effect in 1916, the local paper penned a mock-obituary for the liquor trade.
- Seattle Firm Builds Temporary Store After Great Fire
After the catastrophic 1889 fire destroyed their downtown store, the merchants of Toklas, Singerman & Co. share a testament of resilience and their plans for a new, larger establishment.
- The First Winter at Alki Point
A vivid account of the 1851 arrival of the Denny party, their struggle for shelter, and the founding of the settlement that would become Seattle.
- The Logger Who Wrestled a Bear
A local timber worker narrowly escapes death after stumbling into a den and fighting a brown bear for fifteen minutes with an axe.
- The Industrial Ambitions of Pioneer Square
How local craftsmen and entrepreneurs began transforming the muddy, frontier-era blocks of Seattle into a professional urban district.
- The Tragic End of William Hill
The body of a Scottish laborer is discovered floating near the Seattle city front, leaving behind a simple will and a recommendation from a Victoria hotel.