The Lewis and Clark Era Descendant Project has been initiated to identify and honor the descendants of residents of St. Charles County in 1804-1806 when the Corps of Discovery was in the region. The Descendent Project is an opportunity for ancestors of St. Charles County residents of the Lewis and Clark era to be certified by the St. Charles County Historical Society. Qualifying descendents will be awarded a certificate. In addition, the direct descendents will be honored by the St. Charles Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission at ceremonies during the National Signature Event in St. Charles from May 14 to 23, 2004 that commemorates the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Anyone may apply but to be certified the applicant must be directly descended from a Lewis and Clark Era resident who lived within the current boundaries of St. Charles County, Missouri. The fee is $5.00 to process each application and includes a certificate and participation in ceremonies at the National Signature Event if the descendent is certified. Applicants can find instructions and application materials in PDF format by clicking here.

Approximately 460 people, who lived or owned property within the current boundaries of St. Charles County in 1804-1806 have been identified. Researchers used documentation of a land survey of St. Charles in 1804, records from St. Charles Borromeo Parish, St. Francis Parish in Portage Des Sioux, The History of Missouri and The Spanish Regime in Missouri by Louis Houck, and other sources to prepare this list of early settlers. The list may be updated as the Descendant Project proceeds. Click here to see the list of inhabitants which can be used by those who desire to be certified as a Lewis and Clark era descendant.

Applicants need not be a resident of St. Charles County, nor have ever lived in St. Charles County. Anyone may apply. The application fee is $5.00. After proof of direct descendant has been submitted and eligibility has been determined, the certificate will then be mailed. Please remember, this process is done by volunteers. Please allow 30 days processing time. If additional family members desire certificates for a proven Lewis & Clark Era Resident, a separate application and proof of their descent should be submitted with a $5.00 check for the first certificate, and $5.00 for each additional descendant.

1. Please complete the application to the best of your ability.

2. When completing the lineage chart, please use maiden names when applicable. If you are unsure of any dates or information, place a question mark behind the data.

3. Documented evidence must accompany the application. See page 4, "Sources."

4. Please submit as much additional information about your ancestor as you wish. You may submit additional pages.

5. Please make your check payable to the St. Charles County Historical Society in the amount of $5.00 for each certificate. Your check, the application form, your lineage chart and copies of documents proving descent of each generation on the lineage chart, should be brought or mailed to SCCHS, 101 S. Main St., St. Charles Mo. 63301.

As a start in locating sources about your ancestor, you may want to consult some of these works:

Houck, History of Missouri and The Spanish Regime in Missouri

Pioneer Families: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~schmblss/home/History/PioneerFamilies/index.htm

Missouri Land Records: http://www.glorecords.blm.gov

Earl Fischer Database of St. Louisians: http://www.stlgs.org/efdb/

A History of the Pioneer Families of Missouri: http://digital.library.umsystem.edu/cgi-bin/Ebind2h3?umke3

Missouri Project: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/topic/afro-amer/upperla/

If you need assistance, please email the Lewis and Clark Era Resident Project at SCCHS@mail.win.org or mail your inquiries to: 101 S. Main St., St. Charles, Mo. 63301