Jefferson County, Alabama Genealogy
Guide to Jefferson 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 Thomas Jefferson. The county is located in the central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Jefferson County has two official County seats - Birmingham and Bessemer.
Jefferson County Courthouses
Birmingham Division
716 Richard Arrington Blvd. N., Rm 400
Birmingham, AL 35263
Phone:205-325-5355
Bessemer Division
1801 3rd Avenue
Bessemer, AL 35020
Phone: 205-481-4110
Jefferson County Website
Probate Judge has marriage records from 1818
Probate Records from 1870 and land records for 1820 [3]
Jefferson 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 |
1881 | 1818 | 1881 | 1826 | 1820 | 1819 | 1816 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
1870 -- Courthouse burned and many records were damaged.[5]
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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 Jefferson County:[7]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator.
Cities | ||
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Towns | ||
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Unincorporated communities | ||
Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
- Jefferson County, Alabama Bible Records at Access Genealogy
- Jefferson County, Alabama Bible Records at Alabama Genealogy
- Jefferson County Bible Records at USGenWeb Archives Project
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- The Book of Birmingham and Alabama Birmingham, Ala.: The Birmingham Ledger Publishers, 1914. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library. Includes bios and photographs.
- DuBose, John Witherspoon. Jefferson County and Birmingham Alabama, Historical and Biographical Birmingham, Ala.: Teeple and Smith, 1887. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library
- Jefferson County Biographies at The USGenWeb Archives Project
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
Historical populations | ||
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Census | Pop. | %± |
1830 | 6,855 | — |
1840 | 7,131 | 4.0% |
1850 | 8,989 | 26.1% |
1860 | 11,746 | 30.7% |
1870 | 12,345 | 5.1% |
1880 | 23,272 | 88.5% |
1890 | 88,501 | 280.3% |
1900 | 140,420 | 58.7% |
1910 | 226,476 | 61.3% |
1920 | 310,054 | 36.9% |
1930 | 431,493 | 39.2% |
1940 | 459,930 | 6.6% |
1950 | 558,928 | 21.5% |
1960 | 634,864 | 13.6% |
1970 | 644,991 | 1.6% |
1980 | 671,371 | 4.1% |
1990 | 651,525 | −3.0% |
2000 | 662,047 | 1.6% |
2010 | 658,466 | −0.5% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
State Census
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
Baptists
- Hageness, MariLee Beatty. Mount Hebron Church Minutes 1819-1857. Leeds, Jefferson County, Alabama Anniston, Ala.: MLH Research, 1998.
- Huey, Thomas E. Ruhama: The Story of a Church, 1819-1945 Birmingham, Ala.: Birmingham Print. Co., c1946. Digital version at Ancestry $
Episcopalians
- McDavid, Mittie Owen. Church of the Advent: Its History and Traditions Birmingham, Ala.: Press of Birmingham Pub. Co., 1943. Digital version at Ancestry $
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Birmingham
- McCalla
Court Records[edit | edit source]
- 1870-1916 Alabama, Jefferson County Circuit Court Papers, 1870-1916 at at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1870-1916 Alabama, Jefferson County, Circuit Court Papers, 1870-1916(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
These records from the Jefferson County Circuit Court are loose papers pertaining to disputed estates and property. They also include some divorce records
Directories[edit | edit source]
- 1888-1890 Birmingham, Alabama Directories, 1888-90 at Ancestry $
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
- 1896-1935 Jefferson County, Alabama Colored Marriage Books 118-131, 167-169, 172-203 in "Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950," at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and some images
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
- Arrington Funeral Home in Birmingham
- Aubrey Bushelon Funeral Directing and Cremation Services in Birmingham
- Bell Funeral Home Forestdale in Birmingham
- Bessemer Brown Service Funeral Home in Bessemer
- Brooks Family Funeral Home in Hueytown
- Chambers Funeral Home in Bessemer
- Crestview Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home in Adamsville
- Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens in Hoover
- Dante Jelks Funeral Home in Birmingham
- Davenport and Harris Funeral Homes in Birmingham
- Eastside Funeral Home in Birmingham
- Faith Memorial Chapel Funeral Services in Bessemer and Birmingham
- Gardendale Heritage Funeral Home in Gardendale
- Grey-Bushelon Funeral Services in Birmingham
- Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home and Gardens in Birmingham
- Johns-Ridouts Mortuary Elmwood Chapel and Elmwood Cemetery and Mausoleum in Birmingham
- Kilgroe Funeral Home in Leeds
- Kirksey's Mortuary in Birmingham
- Messmer Goodwin Funeral Home in Warrior
- Mullins Funeral Service in Birmingham
- NJMW Funeral Hone in Birmingham
- Patterson-Forest Grove Funeral Home in Pleasant Grove
- Poole's Funeral Chapel in Birmingham
- Ridout's Valley Chapel in Homewood
- Serenity Chapel in Birmingham
- Smith and Gaston Funeral Services in Birmingham
- Walker Chapel Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens in Fultondale
- Westside Funeral Home in Fairfield
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 Jefferson County see:
- Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Jefferson County, Alabama: with Homesteads, Roads, Waterways, Towns, Cemeteries, Railroads, and More. Norman, Okla.: Arphax Pub. Co., 2007. This is a definitive work and can be used as an index to land grants. Arphax Publishing ($). Website includes surname index. FHL Book 976.178 E7bg.
You can research land records in the Probate office of the Jefferson County, Alabama Courthouse. To learn more about accessing land records held in the Jefferson County Courthouse, see: Our genealogy journey to the Jefferson County, Alabama courthouse.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Jefferson 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.
- DuBose, John Witherspoon. Jefferson County and Birmingham Alabama, Historical and Biographical Birmingham, Ala.: Teeple and Smith, 1887. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library
- Early Days in Birmingham: A Printing of the Original Papers of the Pioneers Club, Whose Members were Eye-witnesses to the Events of the Founding of the City Birmingham, Ala.: Birmingham Pub. Co., 1937. Digital version at Ancestry $
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)
- Family Maps of Jefferson County (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
- Jefferson County Historical Maps ~ can be viewed online as well as purchased.
- Jefferson County MapStats ~ Alabama Dept. Archives and History.
- 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]
Multipal 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 and image
- 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. 1880-1930s 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
- Alabama Civil War and Reconstruction Newspapers at Alabama Department of Archives and History
Regiments. Men in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County:
- - 10th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company B "Jefferson Volunteers"
- - 18th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company C (Cahaba Valley Rangers)
- - 18th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company G (Yancey Guards [or Yancey Rangers])
- - 19th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company C (Jefferson Warriors)
- - 20th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company C and G
- - 28th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D, G and H
- - 30th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company K
- - 43rd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company G
- - 58th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company C and D
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 — index and images - 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.
- Obituary Index Birmingham Area Newspapers(Birmingham News, May 1929 - January 1980;Birminham World, September 1940 - December 1996; Methodist Christian Advocate / Alabama Christian Advocate, January 1929 - December 1979; Shelby County Reporter, January 1932 - December 1979)
- Alabama Citizen - full-text digital issues in Google News Archive; covers 1913-1918
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- Alabama, Birmingham Obituaries at MyHeritage - index & images
USGenWeb Archives Project - transcribed obituaries for Jefferson County.
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Voting Records
- 1834-1981 Alabama Voter Registration and Poll Tax Cards, 1834-1981 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection, index and images
Alabama Voting Registers for 1867 are available online at the Alabama Department of Archives and History. Jefferson County has one book.
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1753-1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry ($)
- 1809-1985 Alabama Probate Records, 1809-1985(*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images
- 1818-1840 Images of Loose Wills (and Index) at Southeastern Genealogy ($)
- 1818-1912 Will Records, 1818-1912(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1818-1928 Minutes, 1818-1928(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1830-1976 Alabama Estate Files, 1830-1976(*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1852-1936 Index to Probate Estate Files 1868-1936; Probate Estate Files, 1852-1936 (Jefferson County, Alabama)(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1856-1880 Wills (with Index) 1856-1880 at Southeastern Genealogy ($)
- 1866-1928 Final Settlement Records, 1866-1928; Partial Settlement Records, 1870- 1886(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1868-1937 Index to Probate Files, 1868-1937(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1870-1916 Alabama, Jefferson County Circuit Court Papers, 1870-1916(*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1870-1916 Alabama, Jefferson County, Circuit Court Papers, 1870-1916(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1870-1928 Guardians Record, 1870-1928(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1870-1948 Administrators Record, 1870-1948(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1870-1954 Alabama, Jefferson County, Probate Records, 1870-1954(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1871-1881 Executors Record, 1871-1881(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1871-1928 Inventory Records, 1871-1928(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1872-1891 Dower Record, 1872-1891(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1885-1915 Apprentice Records, 1885-1915(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1898-1933 General Index to Estates, 1898-1933(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
School Records[edit | edit source]
- Birmingham Southern College: 1914-2008 (via the Internet Archive)
- Howard College Student Catalogs (currently Samford University): 1847-1908 (via the Internet Archive)
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.
Jefferson County Tax Payment Records ~ County of Jefferson (searchable database)
- 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 $
- 1808, 1815, 1818-1879, 1885, 1898, 1923, 1930, 1936-1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800–1969 at Ancestry $
- 1809-1920 Alabama Marriages
- 1809-1920 (Selected Counties)] at Ancestry $
- 1809-1950 Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and some images
- 1816-1957 Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images
- 1818-1936 Alabama County Marriages, 1818-1936 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1818-1928 Jefferson County Marriage Books 1-28 Index 1818-1928 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch[8]
- 1818-1845 Grant, Orena V. Orena V. Grant Genealogical Collection (Marriages and Cemetery Records): From Southeastern, North and South Central States Salt Lake City, Utah: The Society?, 1964. Digital version at Ancestry $
- 1819-1875 Jefferson County, Alabama Marriages 1819 to 1875 at FamilySearch Digital Library
- 1819-1875 Alabama Marriages, 1809-1920" at Ancestry $
- To 1825 Index to Marriages at Ancestry $
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1881-1952 Alabama, Deaths and Burials, 1881-1952 at FamilySearch Historical Records Collection - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1881-1974 Index to Deaths and Burials at Ancestry $
- 1908-1959 Index to Deaths recorded by the state of Alabama at Ancestry $
- 1908-1974 Alabama, Deaths, 1908-1974 at FamilySearch Historical Records Collection - 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
Birmingham Public Library, Archives & Manuscripts
2100 Park Place
Birmingham AL 35203-2744
205-226-3630
Website
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
- Bessemer Alabama Family History Center
- Birmingham 2nd Alabama Family History Center
- Birmingham Alabama Family History Center
- Gardendale Alabama Family History Center
- Leeds Alabama Family History Center
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Jefferson County. For state-wide library facilities, see Alabama Archives and Libraries.
Birmingham Public Library
2100 Park Place
Birmingham, AL 35203
205-226-3610
Website
Facebook
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Alabama Genealogical Society
Samford University
800 Lakeshore Drive
PO Box 293921
Birmingham, AL 35229
Email: president@algensoc.org
Website
Facebook
Birmingham African American Genealogy Group Inc
PO Box 12011
Birmingham, AL 35202
E-mail: info@baagginc.org
Website
Facebook
Birmingham Genealogical Society
PO Box 2432
Birmingham, AL 35201
Email: birminghamgenealogy@yahoo.com
Website
Facebook
- Publication: Pioneer Trails
Birmingham Historical Society
1 Sloss Quarters
PO Box 321474
Birmingham, AL 35232
205-251-1880
Email: bhistorical@gmail.com
Website
Facebook
- Publication: Birmingham Historical Society Journal
Hoover Historical Society
2020 Valleydale Road #108
PO Box 360233
Hoover, AL 35236
205-739-7316
Email: info@hooverhistoricalsociety.org
Website
Facebook
Hueytown Historical Society
PO Box 3313
Hueytown, AL 35053
Website
Facebook
Jefferson County Historical Association
PO Box 130285
Birmingham, AL 35213-0285
205-967-1740
E-mail: info@jeffcohistory.com
Website
Facebook
Jefferson County Historical Commission
4700 7th Ct South
Birmingham, AL 35222
205-592-6610
Email: info@jeffersonhistorical.org
Website
Southeast Alabama Genealogical and Historical Society
PO Box 246
Dothan, AL 36302-0246
334-794-8378
Email: rdvalky@aol.com
- Publication: Wiregrass Roots SEAGHS Magazine
West Jefferson County Historical Society
PO Box 184
Bessemer, AL 35021
205-426-1633
Email: wjeffcohistsoc@gmail.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.
- Jefferson County, ALGenWeb ~ record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.
- Jefferson County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- Jefferson County AL Genealogy (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, “Jefferson County, Alabama Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ala/jefferson/index.html 6/07/2017.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Jefferson County, Alabama Records - RAOGK (accessed 20 November 2020).
- ↑ 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, "Jefferson County, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_County,_Alabama, accessed 18 October 2018.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/0/06/Igialabamadj.pdf.