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Georgia Research Outline |
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Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
History
Land And Property
Maps
Military Records
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Periodicals
Probate Records
Taxation
Vital Records
Voting Registers
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions
TAXATION Taxes were levied on free white males over 21 and slaves aged 21 to 60. These persons are referred to as “polls.” Tax listings, or digests, of a county generally list the taxable landowners and other polls and the amount of tax. The records in each county are divided by militia district.
Tax digests for the years 1787 to 1899 for many counties are on microfilm at the Family History Library. Many originals are at the Georgia Department of Archives and History. A list of the tax digests, 1787 to 1899, is on FHL film 007023.
Tax digests for 10 counties are found in Ruth Blair, Tax Digests of Georgia of Various Counties 1790-1818, (1926; reprint, Vidalia, Ga.: Genealogical Reprints, 1971; FHL book 975.8 R4g 1971; original edition on film 006997 and fiche 6046883).
Additional tax lists are in An Index to Georgia Tax Digests, 5 vols. (Spartanburg, S.C.: The Reprint Co., 1986; FHL book 975.8 R42i). This includes the records for 1789 to 1817 and is fully indexed.
Statewide registration of births and deaths began in 1919 and was generally complied with by 1928 for births and by 1922 for deaths. Birth records are available only to the individual or his legal representative. Birth and death records can be obtained by writing to:
Another helpful source is Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in Georgia (Atlanta: Historical Records Survey, 1941; FHL book 975.8 V23h; film 1036517 item 4).
Marriage records are kept by the individual counties. Records often date back to the time of county organization. By 1805 licenses were often granted by a court of ordinary in the county where the bride resided, or marriage banns Many county marriage records dated prior to 1900 are at the Georgia Department of Archives and History. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of marriage records for some counties up to the early 1900s. From the court of ordinary of Chatham County, for example, the library has:
Over 100,000 early Georgia marriages have also been published in:
Maddox, Joseph T., and Mary Carter. 37,000 Early Georgia Marriages. N.p., 1975. (FHL book 975.8 V2m; film 928351 item 3; fiche 6046751.) Covers 29 counties; names are from Georgia Pioneers magazine.
Maddox, Joseph T., and Mary Carter. 40,000 Early Georgia Marriages. N.p., 1976. (FHL book 975.8 V2me; film 982486 item 2; fiche 6051217.) Covers 21 counties.
Maddox, Joseph T. Early Georgia Marriage Roundup. Irwinton, Ga.: J. Maddox, 1980. (FHL book 975.8 V2mj 1980; 1976 ed. on film 1036679 item 3; fiche 6049619.) Covers 18 counties.
Maddox, Joseph T. Early Georgia Marriages. Irwinton, Ga.: J. Maddox, 1981. (FHL book 975.8 V2eg vol. 4; film 1033953 item 2.)
The county superior courts have had jurisdiction over divorce proceedings and records. Divorces in Georgia were allowed as early as 1793 but had to be approved by the state legislature until 1832. Information about these approvals can be found in the Name File Index at the Georgia Department of Archives and History.
In 1867 a voter registration list was made. It included naturalization information about foreign-born men. This and other registers are preserved at the Georgia Department of Archives and History. Registers of some counties from the 1870s to the 1920s are on microfilm at the Family History Library.
These handbooks give more detailed information about research and records of Georgia:
Adams, Marilyn. Georgia Local and Family History Sources in Print. Clarkston, Ga.: Heritage Research, 1982. (FHL book 975.8 D23a.)
Davis, Robert Scott, Jr. Research in Georgia. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1981. (FHL book 975.8 D27d.)
Dorsey, James E., comp., Georgia Genealogy and Local History: A Bibliography. Spartanburg, S.C.: The Reprint Co., 1983. (FHL book 975.8 D23d.)
Eichholz, Alice, ed. Ancestry's Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources. Rev. ed. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1992. (FHL book 973 D27rb 1992; computer number 594021.) Contains bibliographies and background information on history and ethnic groups. Also contains maps and tables showing when each county was created.
Schweitzer, George K. Georgia Genealogical Research. Knoxville: G. Schweitzer, 1987. (FHL book 975.8 D27s.)
The Family History Library welcomes additions and corrections that will improve future editions of this outline. Please send your suggestions to:
Paper publication: Second edition June 1997. English approval: 6/97.
©1998, 2001 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
No part of this document may be reprinted, posted on-line, or reproduced in any form for any purpose without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. FamilySearch is a trademark of Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
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VITAL RECORDS
Birth and Death Records
Georgia Department of Human Resources
The current fees for obtaining copies of the state's records are listed in Where to Write for Vital Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Divorces (Hyattsville, Md.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, March 1993, FHL book 973 V24wv). Copies of this booklet are at the Family History Library and many Family History Centers. You can also write to the vital Records Unit for current information.
Vital Records Unit
47 Trinity Avenue, S.W., Room 217-H
Atlanta, GA 30334-1201
Fulton County Health Department
99 Butler Street S.E.
Atlanta, GA 30303
Chatham County Health Department
P.O. Box 14257
Savannah, GA 31406
Bibb County Health Department
A few counties started recording vital events in the post-Civil War era. The Family History Library has microfilmed some county birth, death, and delayed birth registrations.
770 Hemlock Street
Macon, GA 31201
Marriage Records
were published at a nearby church. You can write to the clerk of the court of ordinary for copies.
Divorce Records
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VOTING REGISTERS
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FOR FURTHER READING
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COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Publications Coordination
We appreciate the archivists, librarians, and others who have reviewed this outline and shared helpful information.
Family History Library
35 N. West Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150-3400
USA
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Version of Data: 6/8/2001]