Clarke County, Alabama Genealogy
Guide to Clarke County, Alabama ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named in honor of General John Clarke of Georgia. The County is located in the southwest area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Clarke County Courthouse
114 Court Street
Grove Hill, AL 36451
Phone: 251-275-3363
Fax: 251-275-3271
District Court Phone: 251-275-3363
Clarke County Website
Probate Judge has marriage and probate records from 1814 and land records from 1820 Clerk Circuit Court has divorce and court records Health Clinic has birth and death records [3]
Clarke County, Alabama Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1908 | 1814 | 1908 | 1813 | 1820 | 1814 | 1816 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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Populated Places[edit | edit source]
The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in Clarke County:[6]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator.
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
- Clarke County, Alabama Bible Records at Access Genealogy
- Clarke County Bible Records at USGenWeb Archives Project
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1820 | 5,839 | — |
| 1830 | 7,595 | 30.1% |
| 1840 | 8,640 | 13.8% |
| 1850 | 9,786 | 13.3% |
| 1860 | 15,049 | 53.8% |
| 1870 | 14,663 | −2.6% |
| 1880 | 17,806 | 21.4% |
| 1890 | 22,624 | 27.1% |
| 1900 | 27,790 | 22.8% |
| 1910 | 30,987 | 11.5% |
| 1920 | 26,409 | −14.8% |
| 1930 | 26,016 | −1.5% |
| 1940 | 27,636 | 6.2% |
| 1950 | 26,548 | −3.9% |
| 1960 | 25,738 | −3.1% |
| 1970 | 26,724 | 3.8% |
| 1980 | 27,702 | 3.7% |
| 1990 | 27,240 | −1.7% |
| 2000 | 27,867 | 2.3% |
| 2010 | 25,833 | −7.3% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
State Census
- 1855 Alabama State Census, 1855 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1866 Alabama State Census, 1866 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1907, 1921, 1927 Alabama, Census of Confederate Veterans, 1907, 1921, 1927 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Alabama denominations, view the Alabama Church Records wiki page.
- 1831-1994 Alabama, Church Records, 1831-1994 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
- 1810-1915 Clarke County, Alabama, Estate Case Files, 1810-1915(*); Judge of Probate at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1811-1902 Clarke County, Alabama, Circuit Court Case Files, 1811-1902(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1829-1850 Orphan's Court Minutes, 1829-1850(*); Orphans' Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- Index to Notes from the Records of Clarke County, Alabama(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
- 1865-1872 Alabama, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
- Andrews Funeral Home in Jackson
- Jackson Memorial Funeral Home in Jackson
- Lathan Funeral Home in Grove Hill and Jackson
- Thomasville Memorial Funeral Directors and Cremation Services in Thomasville
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Alabama Land and Property for additional information about early Alabama land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse, where records are currently housed.
To place a grant or deed on a map within context of Clarke County see:
- Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Clarke County, Alabama: with Homesteads, Roads, Waterways, Towns, Cemeteries, Railroads, and More. Norman, Okla.: Arphax Pub. Co., 2008. This is a definitive work and can be used as an index to land grants. Digital version at HistoryGeo.com ($). Website includes surname index. FHL Book 976.1245 E7b.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Clarke County. The histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Alabama Local Histories.
- Ball, Rev. T. H. A Glance into the Great South-East, on, Clarke County, Alabama, and its Surroundings, from 1540 to 1877. Grove Hill, AL, USA: n.p., 1882. Digital version at Ancestry $
- Graham, John Simpson. History of Clarke County. Birmingham, Ala.: Press of Birmingham Print. Co., 1923. Digital version at Ancestry $
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)
- Family Maps of Clarke County (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
- Alabama Maps and Blueprints Collection at Alabama Department of Archives and History – maps can be browsed by location or subject
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Multiple Wars
- ca.1918-ca.1962 Alabama, Military Discharge Records, ca.1918 - ca.1962 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Civil War
- 1861-1865 Alabama Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection; index, images at partner site
- 1861-1865 Alabama Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, images at partner site
- 1861-1865 Civil War Service Database at Alabama Department of Archives and History - index
- 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry $
- 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry $
- 1871-1880 Alabama, Southern Claims Commission Approved Claims, 1871-1880 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1880-1930 Alabama, Confederate Pension Applications, ca. 1880-1930's at FamilySearch — index and images- How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1907, 1921, 1927 Alabama, Census of Confederate Veterans, 1907, 1921, 1927 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- Alabama Civil War and Reconstruction Newspapers at Alabama Department of Archives and History
Regiments. Men in Clarke County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (part of a large regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Clarke County:
- - 5th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A
- - 11th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E
- - 22nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company B "Frank Lyon Rifles"
- - 23rd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company K "Kings Guard"
- - 24th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E "Dickinson Guards"
- - 24th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company G
- - 32nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D, E, G and H
- - 38th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A and I
- - 38th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D [also called Co. "G"]
World War I
- 1917-1919 Alabama, World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1917-1918 Alabama World War I Service Records at Alabama Department of Archives and History - alpha index by name and images
- 1917-1918 Alabama World War I Gold Star Files at Alabama Department of Archives and History - alpha index by name and images
World War II
- 1940-1945 Alabama, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1940-1966 Alabama Active Military Service Reports at Alabama Department of Archives and History - alpha index by name and images
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- Alabama Civil War and Reconstruction Newspapers at Alabama Department of Archives and History
- Alabama Online Historical Newspapers - identifies historical archived and digitized newspapers available online on both and pay-to-access websites.
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Voting Registration
- 1834-1981 Alabama Voter Registration and Poll Tax Cards, 1834-1981 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection; index and some images
- There are no 1867 voting registers available for Clarke County.
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1753-1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry ($)
- 1809-1985 Alabama Probate Records, 1809-1985(*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images
- 1810-1915 Clarke County, Alabama, Estate Case Files, 1810-1915(*); Judge of Probate at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1813-1825 Names from the Index of Probate Record A (1813-25) of Clarke County, Alabama(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1818-1839 Images of Wills and Estates 1818-1825; 1825-1832; Guardianships, Estates, Wills, 1832-1839 at Southeastern Genealogy ($)
- 1818-1939 Probate Records, 1818-1911; Probate Minutes, 1850-1939(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1830-1976 Alabama Estate Files, 1830-1976(*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Alabama tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see the wiki page Alabama Taxation.
- 1816 Inhabitants of Alabama in 1816. Broken Arrow Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1955. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library. Includes Clarke County.
- 1865-1866 U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 at Ancestry $
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Alabama State Department of Health , the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred or order electronically online $.
For some online statewide indexes, see the FamilySearch Historical Record Collections for Alabama.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1881-1930 Alabama, Births and Christenings, 1881-1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1881-1930 Alabama, County Birth Registers, 1881-1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, and some images
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1733-2013 Alabama, United States Marriages at Findmypast $
- 1800-1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800-1969 at Ancestry $
- 1809-1950 Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950 at FamilySearch.- How to Use this Collection; index and some images
- 1809-1920 Alabama Marriages, 1809-1920 (Selected Counties) at Ancestry $
- 1812-1891, 1899, 1918, 1920, 1929, 1936–1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800–1969 at Ancestry $
- 1814-1900 "Alabama Marriages, 1809-1920"at Ancestry $. This database is a collection of marriage records from the state. Researchers will find the names of both bride and groom along with the marriage date. The county where the ceremony was performed is also provided. Containing about 150,000 records and the names of nearly 300,000 men and women.
- 1814-1891 McManus, Grace Kelly. Clarke County, Alabama, Marriage Records 1814-1891. 1955. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library
- 1816-1957 Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1818-1936 Alabama County Marriages, 1818-1936 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- Clarke County Marriages at ALGenWeb
- To 1825 Index to Marriages at Ancestry $
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1881-1952 Alabama, Deaths and Burials, 1881-1952 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1881-1974 Alabama, Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974 at Ancestry $
- 1908-1959 Index to Deaths recorded by the state of Alabama at Ancestry $
- 1908-1974 Alabama, Deaths, 1908-1974 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Alabama Department of Archives and History
624 Washington Ave
PO Box 300100
Montgomery, AL 36104
334-242-4435
Email: mark.palmer@archives.alabama.gov
Website
Facebook
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Clarke County. For state-wide library facilities, see Alabama Archives and Libraries.
Grove Hill Public Library
108 Dubose Avenue
Grove Hill, AL 36451
251-275-8157
Email: ghpldesk@tds.net
Website
Facebook
Thomasville Public Library
1401 Mosley Drive
Thomasville, AL 36784
334-636-5343
Email: tvilleLibrary@gmail.com
Website
Facebook
Museums[edit | edit source]
Clarke County Museum
116 West Cobb St
Grove Hill, AL 36451
251-275-8684
Email: museum@clarkemuseum.com
Website
Facebook
Societies[edit | edit source]
Clarke County Historical Society
116 West Cobb St
PO Box 388
Grove Hill, AL 36451
251-275-8684
Email: museum@clarkemuseum.com
Website
Facebook
Websites[edit | edit source]
- USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
- USGenWeb Archives Project ~ contains record transcriptions from Bibles, obituaries, court records and more.
- Clarke County ALGenWeb ~ record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.
- Clarke County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- USGenWeb's Clarke County, Alabama Genealogy
- United States Resources: Alabama
- Al Gen Web
- FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Alabama.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Clarke County, Alabama Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ala/clarke/ 05/30/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Alabama.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Alabama.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Alabama.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Clarke County, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarke_County,_Alabama, accessed 7 October 2018.
