History of Sandy Point and Neptune Beach
There’s always a question of how far to go back, and what details will be most important to any reader of these pages. Due to the nature of the site, we’ll keep the information general, with the invitation that if you’d like more detail, please contact us, as there is a large amount of data available for us all to sort through. “In a General Sense” this is the timeline of acts and ownership that have lead us to what we see, in current time:
- Indian residence, permanent and migratory, perhaps for thousands of years . . . . . . to 1855, and the first “US governmental intervention”:
- 1855 Elliot Bay Treaty in which the Indians, of what would become Washington State (in 1889), gave up their general rights to land and agreed to occupy government created reservations. More specific to this area, here are the general details and subsequent “progress through time”:
- Distribution of Land as it effects Neptune Beach and Sandy Point, WA.
As researched by Larry Humes, August of 2013.
Spelling errors and punctuation are intentionally copied from the original documents.
- 1855 Lummi Indian Reservation created by the Treaty of Point Elliott.
- 1878 Lummi Reserve. EXECUTIVE MANSON, November 22, 1878 (73?) …following
tract of land in the Washington Territory be withdrawn from sale and set apart for the use and occupation . . . tribes. Apparent legal description of the Reservation.
References Stats, at Large, Vol. 12, p.928 U.S. Grant.
- 1884 Patent into Bowen (later confirmed as Boone) (became Neptune Beach area)
- 1885 The Slater Act: provides for allotment of lands in severalty to the Indians residing upon the Umatilla Reservation, in the State of Oregon. Set the standard for the General Allotment Act.
- 1887 General Allotment Act: (Dawes Act) of February 8, 1887. The Dawes Act allotted lands in severalty (separately and individually rather than in common ownership) to Indians. Allotments were160 acres to each family head, 80 acres to a single person over 18 years of age. Each individual allotment would remain in trust (exempt from state tax or other state laws) for 25 years, although the Burke Act of 1906 could shorten that period. The Secretary of Interior was given the authority to issue “patents” prior to the end of the trust period (with or without knowledge of the receiving Indian). Sixty percent of those who received early patents sold their lands immediately. Subsequently, large areas of tribal land not allotted were then opened for homesteading by non-Indians. Compensation was made to the tribes for the sale of these “surplus” lands.
- 1906 Burke Act The Burke Act amends the General Allotment Act of 1887, adding that the Secretary of the Interior can authorize the issue of a patent-in-fee simple to an allottee (Indian) . . . . and authority over determining the legal heirs of deceased Indians . . .and could issue patents-in-fee simple to the heirs for the land, or may sell the land and issue a patent to the purchasers and pay the net proceeds to the heirs. Otherwise, a forced fee patent (trust-to-fee conversion) could occur, and the Indian might lose the property (tax foreclosure sale) due to non-payment of taxes that they did not know were now due.
- 1921 August 26: The original Neptune Beach Plat was submitted by George and Florence Boone, owners of fee-simple land. The original plat lays primarily between the extension of Slater Rd. and Georgian Way, East to Beach Way, and it’s legal description is “a portion of Lot 1 of Section 5, Township 38 North, Range 1 East of the Will. Meridian. (Maps defining Section 5 show only Sandy Point and Neptune Beach.)
- 1921 September 9th, Affidavit File # 244173 Page 479: Henry Finkbonner to Public:
“I, Henry Finkbonner being first duly sworn, on oath say s that he is personally
acquainted with George Boone and Florence Boon who have for many years
resided on their farm consisting of lots number one and two of Section (5) five,
and the south west quarter of the north west quarter and lot four of section four,
in township thirty eight North of Range one, East of the Willamette Meridian, in
Whatcom County, State of Washington, of which the Plat of Neptune Beach
herein filed is a part.
And that he knows that they are the same and identical persons who
received a patent from the United States Government for the land described
above, in the names of George Bowen and Florence Bowen. That said patent is
of record on pages 57 and 58 in volume 6 if deeds of the records of said county.
And affiant further states that the name of said parties is George Boone and
Florence Boone and not George Bowen and Florence Bowen.”
- The noted date of the referenced Patent is 1921 Deed from James T Sullivan to Florence Boone 4 38 1 e Lot 4
- 1925 May 18th : AF# 292769 Plat of Neptune Beach Supplemental, Lot 1 Section 5. (note that Section 5 is mission on WC Map of 1925, and the North boundary of the reservation extends along Slater Road to the water, and is included as Section 4). The “Supplemental Plat” extends from the original plat Southward to the East/West run of Beach Way, establishes Reserve B to the East of Beach Way (where Harmony Rose Ln now lays). Applicant is Lesley Ray Stotts, bachelor, owner of fee-simple land (no mention of Bowen or Boone).
- 1958 Sandy Point Garden Tracts
- 1970 Neptune Heights
- Today – – – – –
Notes about land ownership:
- Initial “Ownership” assumed by US Government
- “Patent” created (original Deed to Indian)
- Indian Deed/Inherited Land (not mortgage-able or sell-able w/o approval by Sec. of the Interior).
- (After Sec of Interior approval) Sale by standard Deed (with potential mortgage).
We have a great quantity of deeds, historical detail, and records from research done by 1st American Title Co., as well as additional data researched at the Western Washington University Archives. Please contact us if you are interested in this additional information.
Metsker Map 1925 revised 1929
ALL YOU’LL WANT TO KNOW ABOUT LIVING ON THE POINT!
Sandy Point & Neptune Beach