Caldwell County, Texas Genealogy

Guide to Caldwell County Texas ancestry, family history, and genealogy research page. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The county was named for the Mathew Caldwell, a ranger captain who fought in the Battle of Plum Creek against the Comanches and against Santa Anna's armies during the Texas Revolution. Caldwell was also a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. The County is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth and death records from 1903, marriage and land records from 1848 and court records; District Clerk has divorce records

County Clerk

P.O. Box 906 Lockhart 78644 Phone: 512-398-1810

District Clerk

P.O. Box 749 Lockhart 78644 Phone: 512-398-1806

This is the third courthouse built on this site. The cornerstone was laid on August 15, 1893 and the building was completed on March 19, 1894. Built by the architectural firm of Martin, Byrnes and Johnston, the structure features mansard roofs and a high central tower with a four way Seth Thomas clock. The three-story edifice is built of Muldoon limestone with red Pecos sandstone trim. Although originally equiped with electricity, the courthouse had no indoor plumbing. Broom closets were later converted into restrooms. It is said that when the first water bill was received, the county judge was so shocked at the charges that he padlocked the restrooms. After a ten year effort involving hundreds of people in the county, a complete historic restoration was completed in the spring of 2000.

History
1831-1835--The first settlers received land grants from the Mexican government between 1831 and 1835.

Parent County
1848--Caldwell County was created 6 March 1848 from Gonzales and Bastrop Counties.
 * County seat: Lockhart

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Places / Localities
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog



Populated Places
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:

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

Neighboring Counties
Bastrop •  Fayette  •  Gonzales  •  Guadalupe  •  Hays  •  Travis

African American

 * 1865 - 1870 Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1870(images) - FamilySearch

Cemeteries
Cemetery records often reveal birth, marriage, death, relationship, military, and religious information.

Census

 * 1850 Federal Census - USGenWeb Archives Project

Church

 * Kyle United Methodist Church (512) 268-2331
 * First Lockhart Baptist Church (512) 398-5297
 * St. Anthony's Catholic Church (512) 268-5311
 * First Christian Church (512) 398-3129
 * St. Paul's United Church of Christ (512) 398-3745
 * First Baptist Church (512) 268-3511
 * Grace Evangelical Church (512) 398-6490

Court

 * Huntsville Penetentiary Convict Ledger 1849-1899 -  USGenWeb Archives Project

Land

 * Original Land Owners of Texas -  USGenWeb Archives Project

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1906 - 1989  — index and images

Local Histories

 * Plum Creek Almanac Index - USGenWeb Archives Project

Maps

 * Texas Land Survey Maps for (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * Texas Counties Map. Click on the county to go to the TXGenWeb site

Mexican-American War

 * 1845 - 1848 US American Volunteer Soldiers Mexican War 1845-1848 at Ancestry.com — index $

Civil War
Online Records
 * 1861 - 1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861 - 1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1838 - 1900 Texas Muster Roll Index Cards 1838-1900 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * Confederate Pensions - Texas State Library and Archives

World War I

 * 1917 - 1920 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

 * Lockhart Post-Register

Probate
Online Probate Records
 * 1800 – 1990 at FamilySearch — images
 * Index to Probate Book A - USGenWeb Archives Project
 * 1800 – 2000 Texas Wills and Probate Records 1800-2000 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Birth
Online Birth Indexes and Records


 * 1840 - 1981  at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1903 - 1935 Texas, Birth Certificates, 1903-1935 (images and index) - FamilySearch
 * 1903 - 1997 Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997 (index) - FamilySearch
 * Caldwell County Birth Records from the Caldwell County TXGenWeb site

Marriage
Online Marriage Indexes and Records


 * 1802 - 2010 - Texas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1814 - 1909 and 1966 - 2011 Texas Marriage Collection 1814-1909 and 1966-2011 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1837 - 1965 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1837 - 1973 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1837 - 1977 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1837 - 1977 - Texas Select County Marriage Index 1837-1977 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1848 - 2001 - Caldwell County Marriages 1848-2001 from the Caldwell County TXGenWeb site
 * 1966 - 2010 - Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973 - FamilySearch
 * 1966 - 2010 - Texas, Marriages, 1966-2010 - FamilySearch

Death
Online Death Indexes and Records


 * 1890 - 1976 Texas Death Records 1890 – 1976 [with images]
 * 1903 - 1973 Texas Deaths and Burials 1903 - 1973 (index) - FamilySearch
 * 1903 - 1973 Texas Deaths and Burials 1903 - 1973 (index) - FamilySearch
 * 1903 - 1982 Texas Death Certificates 1903-1982 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1903 - 2000 Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000'' (index) - FamilySearch
 * 1964 - 1998 Texas Death Index 1964 to 1998 [no images]
 * 1977 - 1986  at FamilySearch.org — index

Divorce

 * 1968-2010  at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1968 - 2011 Texas Divorces 1968-2011 at Ancestry.com — index $

Societies and Libraries
Caldwell County Genealogical and Historical Society 215 S. Pecan Luling 78648 website

Websites

 * Caldwell County TXGenWeb site
 * TXGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
 * The catalog is genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) This catalog is different than the indexed Historical Records.
 * USGenWeb Archives Project - transcriptions