Sale of land title from Amelia Cowaniah and Charles Cowaniah to Thomas Stephens and James Terwilliger
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of a document stating that on November 7, 1867, Amelia Cowaniah and Charles Cowaniah have sold four-fifths of all title to 640 acres of land in Multnomah County, Oregon, to Thomas Stephens and James Terwilliger. The document notes that this land is known as the land claim of Finice Caruthers and Elizabeth Thomas, both deceased. The document is signed by both Amelia Cowaniah and Charles Cowaniah. An additional portion of the document states that both Amelia Cowaniah and Charles Cowaniah appeared before the justice of the peace on November 8, 1867, and a receipt attached to the document notes that the sale was recorded in Multnomah County on that same date.
Dates
- 1867 November 7-8
Creator
- Cowaniah, Amelia, 1844-1934 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Historical Note
Amelia Cowaniah (later Amelia Clemens, 1844-1934) was the daughter of William Johnson (1784-1848), a British emigrant who built a cabin on land that would become part of Portland, Oregon, in the 1840s. After William Johnson's death, Elizabeth Caruthers Thomas (1792-1860) and her son Finice Caruthers (1818-1860) filed a claim on Johnson's land. In 1867, Amelia Cowaniah and her husband, Charles Cowaniah (1815-1883), sold 80 percent of their interest in the Johnson claim to Thomas Stephens (1819-1905) and James Terwilliger (1809-1892). The four then unsuccessfully filed suit, asserting that because Amelia Cowaniah was William Johnson's heir, they rightfully held title to the land, which had come to be known as Caruthers' Addition.
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder in shared box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Document regarding the sale from Amelia Cowaniah and Charles Cowaniah to Thomas Stephens and James Terwilliger of four-fifths of title for 640 acres in Multnomah County, Oregon. Amelia Cowaniah (later Amelia Clemens) was the daughter of William Johnson, whose land at what would become Portland, Oregon, was claimed by Elizabeth Caruthers Thomas and her son Finice Caruthers after Johnson's death. Amelia Cowaniah unsuccessfully sued to be regarded as the rightful title holder to the land claim.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Carol B. Moran, December 2020 (RL2021-001).
Creator
- Cowaniah, Amelia, 1844-1934 (Person)
- Cowaniah, Charles Jones, 1815-1883 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to sale of land title from Amelia Cowaniah and Charles Cowaniah to Thomas Stephens and James Terwilliger
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Jeffrey A. Hayes
- Date
- 2021
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Repository
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240
libreference@ohs.org