San Benito County, California Genealogy
Guide to San Benito County, California ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
| San Benito County, California | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of California, United States Genealogy | |
 Location of California in the U.S. | |
| Facts | |
| Founded | February 12, 1874 |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Hollister |
| Courthouse | |
 | |
| Address | San Benito County Court House 440 5 th St 2nd Floor Hollister, CA 95023 Phone: 831.636.4029 |
County Information[edit | edit source]
San Benito County, California Record Dates[edit | edit source]
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1894 | 1894 | 1894 | 1874 | 1894 | 1874 | 1850 |
County Courthouse
[edit | edit source]
County Clerk has birth marriage, death, burial,
land and naturalization records from 1894
Superior Court has divorce, probate and court records[2]
Historical Records
[edit | edit source]
Parent County[edit | edit source]
12 February 1874: San Benito County was created from parts of Monterey County. County seat: Holllister [3]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named after the San Benito Valley. Father Juan Crespi, in his expedition in 1772, named a small river in honor of San Benedicto (Saint Benedict), the patron saint of the married, and it is from the contraction of this name that the county took its name. The county seat Hollister and the county was created 1874. [4]The County is located in the west central area of the state.[5]
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
For animated maps illustrating California county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation California County Boundary Maps" (1850-1925) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.
Records Loss[edit | edit source]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.
Places/Localities[edit | edit source]
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[6]
| Cities | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
Neighboring Counties[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biography[edit | edit source]
- Indexed San Benito County Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
- San Benito County Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
- Index to Published Histories and Biographical Works of San Benito County (CAGenWeb Project)
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
- 1911-1948 California, San Benito County Registrar, Burial Permits 1911-1948 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Census[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1880 | 5,584 | — |
| 1890 | 6,412 | 14.8% |
| 1900 | 6,633 | 3.4% |
| 1910 | 8,041 | 21.2% |
| 1920 | 8,995 | 11.9% |
| 1930 | 11,311 | 25.7% |
| 1940 | 11,392 | 0.7% |
| 1950 | 14,370 | 26.1% |
| 1960 | 15,396 | 7.1% |
| 1970 | 18,226 | 18.4% |
| 1980 | 25,005 | 37.2% |
| 1990 | 36,697 | 46.8% |
| 2000 | 53,234 | 45.1% |
| 2010 | 55,269 | 3.8% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing San Benito County, California Genealogy census records online, see: California Census.
Church History and 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 California denominations, view the California Church Records wiki page.
- 1864-1985 California, Church Records, 1864-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Crime and Criminals[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Germans[edit | edit source]
Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Genealogy[edit | edit source]
History[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for San Benito County, California Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the Wiki page section California Local Histories.
Land and Property[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 California Land and Property for additional information about early California land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1850-1874 Deeds, 1850-1874(*); San Benito County (California). Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1850-1874 Mortgages Transcribed from Monterey County, 1850-1874(*); San Benito County (California). Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1850-1900 San Benito County Records Transcribed from Monterey County Court Records of Miscellaneous Causes and Actions, ca. 1850-1900(*); San Benito County Superior Court at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1855-1889 Deeds, 1855-1889; Powers of Attorney; Revocations of Powers; Orders for Sale of Real Estate; Certifications of Incorporation; Misc. Decrees; Certificates of Purchase; Homestead Declarations; Indentures of Mortgages; Patents; Sheriff's Certificates of Sale; etc., 1855-1889(*); San Benito County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1870-1912 Separate Property of Married Women, San Benito County, v. 1, 1870-1912(*); San Benito County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1870-1919 Land Patents, 1870-1919(*); San Benito County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1874-1907 Deed Records, 1874-1907(*); San Benito County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1874-1908 Decrees of the District and Superior Courts, 1874-1908(*); San Benito County Superior Court at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1874-1918 Homestead Records, 1874-1918(*); San Benito County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1874-1920 Minute Books and Orders, 1874-1920(*); San Benito County Superior Court at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1878-1898 Trust Deeds, 1878-1898(*); San Benito County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1886-1898 Insolvency Proceedings, 1886-1898(*); San Benito County Superior Court at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1887 San Benito Superior Court Calendar, 1887(*); San Benito County Superior Court at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1897-1916 Leases and Agreements, 1897-1916(*); San Benito County Recorder at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
- 1899-1908 Decrees, Foreclosures, Divorce, Vol. 2, San Benito County, 1899-1908(*); San Benito County Superior Court at FamilySearch Library Catalog — images
Maps[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of California (1850-1925)
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
- 1906-1935 California, Pioneer Migration Index, Compiled 1906-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Military History and Records[edit | edit source]
Civil War[edit | edit source]
- 1883 - San Benito County – List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
- 1886 - San Benito County Civil War Veterans, Jesse L. Reno Post No. 58, G. A. R. 1886 (USGenWeb Archives)
World War I[edit | edit source]
- 1914-1918 California, Geographical and Name Index of Californians who served in WWI, 1914-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
World War II[edit | edit source]
- Index to San Benito County, World War II Army Enlistees (USGenWeb Archives)
- San Benito County World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel (Genealogy Trails)
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
- 1831-1985 California County Naturalizations, 1831-1985 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1852-1989 California, Northern U.S. District Court Naturalization Index, 1852-1989 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- California Digital Newspaper Collection at UCR Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research
Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as San Benito County, California Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Do a San Benito County, California Genealogy Place-name search for these and other records in the FamilySearch Catalog. Do NOT use the word County. (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Places Search).
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- San Benito County Transcribed Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
- Index to San Benito County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
The county clerk is usually the custodian of probate records. The records include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate ticklers, and dockets.
Content: Probate Records may give the decedent's date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.
You can obtain copies of the original probate records (such as wills and estate files) by writing to the county clerk at the county courthouse.
The FamilySearch Catalog lists films of probate records. To find the records for this county, use the Place Search for California - San Benito - Probate records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1782 – 1999 California Wills and Probate Records 1782-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
- 1833 – 1991 California Probate Estate Files 1833-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
Repositories[edit | edit source]
Archives, Libraries and Museums[edit | edit source]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
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
- Fresno County Public Library - an affiliate library
- Madera County Library - an affiliate library
Societies[edit | edit source]
San Benito County Historical Society
Website
Taxation[edit | edit source]
California tax records complement land records and can 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 California Taxation.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. See the CDC Where to Write website for information on acquiring copies of these records. The State office has records since July 1905. For earlier records, contact the County Recorder. See also How to order California Vital Records
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1800 - 1994 California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1812 - 1988 California Births and Christenings, 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1905 - 1995 California Birth Index, 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- San Benito County Birth Notices (Genealogy Trails)
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1800 - 2007 California, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
- 1850 - 1945 California Marriages, 1850-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection index
- 1850 - 1952 California, County Marriages, 1850-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- 1854 - 1885 Western States Marriage Index.
- 1960 - 1985 California Marriage Index, 1960-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images. Also at: MyHeritage($)
- San Benito County Marriage Notices (Genealogy Trails)
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1966 - 1984 California Divorce Index, 1966-1984 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1776 - 2000 California Deaths and Burials, 1776-2000 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, some images
- 1800 - 1994 California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1866-1898 California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 at Ancestry.com - index ($)
- 1905 - 1939 California Death Index, 1905-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1940 - 1997 California Death Index, 1940-1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at: MyHeritage($)
Voting Registers[edit | edit source]
- 1866-1910 California, Great Registers, 1866-1910 at MyHeritage - index, ($)
Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries[edit | edit source]
San Benito County Historical Society
P.O. Box 357
Hollister 95023
Phone: 831-637-9709
San Benito County Historical Society
498 Fifth Street
Hollister, California 95023
Phone: 831-635-0335
Website
San Juan Bautista Historical Society
PO Box 1
San Juan Bautista, CA 95045
Websites[edit | edit source]
- San Bento County, CA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- California Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- San Benito County CAGenWeb
- USGenWeb Archives
- FamilySearch Catalog
- San Benito County History and Genealogy (Linkpendium)
- San Benito County, California Genealogy Trails
- San Benito CA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Sacramento County, California. Page 84-88 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 81-83.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), San Benito County, California. Page 86 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “San Benito County, California Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/cal/sbenito/ 05/08/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "San Benito County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Benito_County,_California 05/08/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "San Benito County, California," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Benito_County,_California#Communities, accessed 20 September 2019.
