The Land Company That Claimed Puget Sound — and the Settlers Who Fought Back
A federal surveyor's report from Olympia questioned the sprawling British land claims around Steilacoom and Fort Steilacoom, siding with American settlers who had built farms inside the company's alleged grant.
Surveyor General's Office, Olympia, W.T., Jan. 5, 1861.
Sir: I have to submit the following report. There are two claims in Washington Territory known as the Puget Sound Agricultural Company's. One is located on the west by the waters of Puget Sound, on the north by the lands west of the Nisqually River, and on the south by the Cowlitz. On this claim the company has a large farm, in charge of servants, and perhaps a few hundred cattle. The other claim, called the Cowlitz Farms, is near the Cowlitz River and contains about 3,000 acres of highly arable land. The Nisqually claim consists of very fine prairie, with arable lands upon the bottoms, or low prairies of the same; its general character is not fertile, but it seems admirably adapted to the raising of cattle, and much of the land is also suitable for grain.
The large and flourishing town of Steilacoom, containing about 300 inhabitants, and the U.S. Fort, which is the headquarters of the Puget Sound Military District, are situated about two miles distant from the town of Steilacoom, and about 200 American settlers having farms in various parts of the Nisqually claim are on this claim of the company.
Many of the old settlers of the Puget Sound Company, and almost all of the U.S. Agricultural Company, have long since become American citizens by virtue of the naturalization laws, and are relying upon the donation and pre-emption laws within the alleged limits of the Puget Sound Agricultural Company's claim. These American settlers have no doubt as to their rights as against the company. An amicable settlement of the matter is certainly desirable, although practically the company has withdrawn from a large portion of its claim.
The company does not appear to have any charter, nor do they exhibit any grant from the British government, or from the aboriginal owners. I consider that an Indian title can only be extinguished by the United States government. There is no power to derive title from the Crown, and I apprehend it is not competent, under the treaty of 1818, for British subjects to hold land in this Territory.
I arrive at the conclusion that the Puget Sound Agricultural Company has no valid title, but only an occupancy; and I recommend that the proper authorities determine the limits and boundaries of the land belonging to the company, if they are entitled to confirmation.
“The company does not appear to have any grant from the British government, or from the aboriginal owners. I consider that an Indian title can only be extinguished by the United States government.”
The dispute over the Puget Sound Agricultural Company's claims was about who owned the ground under emerging towns like Steilacoom—British chartered companies, American settlers, or Indigenous nations whose title the report said only the U.S. could extinguish. Modern Washington still lives with the survey lines, treaties, and land-title fights that followed.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.