Donation land claim

The Donation Land Act of September 27, 1850 gave land to settlers in Oregon Territory who lived on and cultivated it for four years. It was open to white citizens and those who meant to become citizens. Those who arrived later, up to December 1853, could claim half as much.

For a married couple, the wife held half the claim in her own name, one of the first U.S. laws to let married women own land. About 7,400 patents were issued before the law expired in 1855.