Ashley County, Arkansas Genealogy
(Redirected from Ashley County, Arkansas)
Guide to Ashley County, Arkansas ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Ashley County was created on 01 Jan 1849[1] and named for United States Senator Chester Ashley.[2] Its county seat is Hamburg.[3] It is located in the southeastern area of the state.[4]
County Courthouse
Ashley County Courthouse
215 E Jefferson Street
Hamburg, AR 71646
Phone: 870-853-2020
Ashley County Website
County Clerk has marriage, probate, and land records from 1848.
Clerk Circuit Court has divorce records.[5]
Ashley County, Arkansas Record Dates
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 |
| 1914 | 1848 | 1914 | 1849 | 1849 | 1849 | 1850 |
Record Loss
- 1921 - A courthouse fire in 1921 destroyed most of the county's records.
For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
- Burned Counties. By Michael John Neill at 24-7 Family History Circle.
- When the Records are Gone. By Arlene Eakle at Arlene Eakle's Tennessee Blog.
- Burned Counties Research in the FamilySearch Research Wiki.
- List of counties in the United States with Record Loss
Boundary Changes
- County seat: Hamburg [7]
- Arkansas Individual County Chronologies - Newberry Library list of all boundary changes by county
- Arkansas Historical Borders - Map at Newberry Library Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; Also at: mapofus.org - animated maps illustrating Arkansas county boundary changes
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:[8]
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History Timeline
Events below were gleaned from the Ashley County section of Deirdre Kelley & Bill Norman, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture
- By AD 1700, the area had no permanent villages.
- 1818 - The Quapaw ceded what would be Ashley County to the United States government.
- 1826 - When U.S. surveyor Nicholas Rightor entered the Arkansas Territory , he found settlers who had come to a land that they found to be abundantly fertile and in which game and fish were plentiful.
- 1848 - November 30 - Ashley County was organized.
- 1855 - By this time, many farms were producing cotton, corn, wheat, potatoes, and livestock. Timber was rafted down the Saline River.
- Ashley County experienced solid growth in the years leading up to the Civil War. From a population of 2,058 in 1850, the county had grown to 8,590 in 1860. The Civil War interrupted this growth, so that by 1870, the population had dropped to 8,042.
- Congress’s 1867 passage of “An Act for the More Efficient Government of the Rebel States” divided the South into five districts and implemented martial law in 1868.
- 1868 - When the Fourteenth Amendment was passed , Arkansas refused to ratify it.
- 1890's - The beginning of what was to become one of Arkansas’s most important economic developments: the wood products industry.
Resources
Bible Records
- Arkansas Bible Records at Arkansas Genealogy
- Ashley County Bible Records at Arkansas USGenWeb Project Archives
- Ashley County Miscellaneous Records at LDS Genealogy-Arkansas
- Family Bible Records of Ashley County, Arkansas at Arkansas Connections
- Family Bible Records of Ashley County, Arkansas at Ashley County Library
- Family Bible Records of Ashley County, Arkansas(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
Biographies
- Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas. Chicago, IL: Goodspeed Publishing Co. 1890. Online at: Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry ($). Ashley County, Vol II, pp. 874-926.
- Biographies at My Genealogy Hound
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1850 | 2,058 | — |
| 1860 | 8,590 | 317.4% |
| 1870 | 8,042 | −6.4% |
| 1880 | 10,156 | 26.3% |
| 1890 | 13,295 | 30.9% |
| 1900 | 19,734 | 48.4% |
| 1910 | 25,268 | 28.0% |
| 1920 | 23,410 | −7.4% |
| 1930 | 25,151 | 7.4% |
| 1940 | 26,785 | 6.5% |
| 1950 | 25,660 | −4.2% |
| 1960 | 24,220 | −5.6% |
| 1970 | 24,976 | 3.1% |
| 1980 | 26,538 | 6.3% |
| 1990 | 24,319 | −8.4% |
| 2000 | 24,209 | −0.5% |
| 2010 | 21,853 | −9.7% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Federal Census Records
Though the United States purchased Arkansas from the French in 1803, Anglo-American settlement of the area did not began in earnest until after the formal organization of the territory in 1819. Therefore, Arkansas does not appear in Federal Censuses before 1830. For links to federal census indexes, see Arkansas Census.
Territorial and State Census Records
State censuses were taken at the state-level and territorial censuses were taken by the federal government. See Arkansas Census for more information about censuses taken in Arkansas.
- 1819-1879 Arkansas, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1819-1870 at Ancestry.com - index & images ($)
Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
- Court records began in 1849 [9]
- 1849-1870 County Court Records, 1849-1855; Docket, 1869-1870(*); County Court Records at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1849-1883 Circuit Court Records, 1849-1865, 1869-1883(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1849-1951 Court Records, 1849-1951(*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African Americans
- 1864-1872 — Arkansas Freedman's Bureau Office Records at FamilySearch — browse able images only; Register of contracts, letters.
Funeral Homes
- Cromwell Funeral Home in Hamburg
- Jones Funeral Home in Crossette
- Jones-Hartshorn Funeral Home in Hamburg
- Medders Funeral Home in Crossett
- Mitchell Memorial Funeral Service in Crossett
Genealogies
Guardianship
- 1817–1979 Arkansas Probate Records 1817-1979 at FamilySearch — images
Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Ashley County. They may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more about local histories, see Arkansas Local Histories.
- Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas. 2 volumes. Chicago, IL, USA: Goodspeed Publishing, 1890. Online at: Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat). Ashley County history begins on Page 874 in Vol. 2.
- History of Ashley County, Arkansas. By Y.W. Etheridge. Van Buren, Ark. : Press-Argus, 1959. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry ($).
Maps and Gazetteers
Click a neighboring county
for more resources
for more resources
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
- Arkansas State Archives State Maps Collection at Arkansas Digital Archives
Migration
Military Records
Civil War
Regiments. Men in Ashley County served in various regiments and companies. Those listed below were specifically formed in this county:
- - 2nd Battalion, Arkansas Calvalry (Confederate) , Company E
- - 3rd Consolidated Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate)
- - 8th Battalion, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company F
- - 8th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate)
Men from this county served in the 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate).
Online Records
- 1861-1865 Arkansas Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index- How to Use this Collection
- 1890-1963 Arkansas Confederate Soldier Home,1890-1963 at FamilySearch — index & images- How to Use this Collection
- 1891-1939 Arkansas Ex-Confederate Pension Records, 1891-1939 at FamilySearch — index & images- How to Use this Collection
- 1901-1929 Arkansas Confederate Pensions, 1901-1929 at FamilySearch — index & images- How to Use this Collection
- Captain Calvin L. Collier. They'll Do To Tie To by , USAF (Little Rock, Arkansas: Civil War Round Table Associates, 1959) p. 10
Naturalization and Citizenship
Newspapers
- 1800s-Current Arkansas, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
Obituaries
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1783–1998 Arkansas Wills and Probate Records 1783-1998 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1817-1979 Arkansas Probate Records 1817-1979(*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
- 1848-1889 Probate and Guardianship Records, 1848-1889(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1849-1890 Abstracts of Administrator's Accounts and Guardianship Bonds, Books A and AA, 1849-1890, Ashley County, Arkansas(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Vital Records
Birth
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In 1877, a few county and city clerks[10] started keeping birth and death records.
In 1914, the state law required all county clerks to record births and forward them to the state.
- Arkansas Births and Christenings, 1812-1965 at FamilySearch. (Free, index only)
- Small file, but worth searching. Most entries were user-submitted.
See also: • Arkansas Online Genealogy Records, • How to Find Arkansas Birth Records and • Arkansas Vital Records—Birth.
Marriage
- 1779-1966 Arkansas, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
- 1800-Onward Arkansas Marriages at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1837-1957 Arkansas, County Marriages, 1837-1957 at FamilySearch — Free; Index- How to Use this Collection
- 1848-1920 Ashley County Marriage Books AA-T Index 1848-1920 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.[11]
- 1860-1976 Arkansas Church Marriages, 1860-1976 at FamilySearch — index & images- How to Use this Collection
- 1913-1951 Arkansas County Marriage Books AA-T, 1-18 Index 1913-1951 in Arkansas, County Marriages, 1837-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1917-1969 Arkansas, Marriage Certificates, 1917-1969 at Ancestry.com - index & images ($)
Death
- 1812-Onward Arkansas Deaths at MyHeritage — index ($)
- 1914-1969 Arkansas, Death Certificates, 1914-1969 at Ancestry.com - index & images ($)
- 1935-1961 Arkansas, Death Index, 1935-1961 at MyHeritage - index & images ($)
Divorce
- 1923-1969 Arkansas, Divorces, 1923-1969 at Ancestry.com - index ($)
Voting Records
- 1700-Onward Arkansas Voter Registrations at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1868-1910 Arkansas, County Voter Registration Records, 1868-1910 at FamilySearch — index & images- How to Use this Collection
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Ashley County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Arkansas Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch 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 FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Ashley County. For state-wide library facilities, see Arkansas Archives and Libraries.
Major catalogs for books, microfilm, or collections pertaining to Ashley County
- FamilySearch Catalog - Select Places within... for cities and towns
- WorldCat - Click an item for libraries near you. For more information, see WorldCat Online Catalog.
- Allen County Public Library - Located in Indiana, they are heavily involved in digitizing much of their collection.
- Arkansas Digital Archives - A division of Arkansas State Archives, involved in organizing, digitizing, and maintaining the records of state and local history.
- Local libraries and Arkansas Archives and Libraries may suggest other catalogs
Museums
Ashley County Museum
302 North Cherry Street
Hamburg AR, 71646
Email: ashleycomuseum@gmail.com
Facebook
Societies
Listed below are societies in Ashley County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Arkansas Societies.
Websites
- ARGenWeb
- USGenWeb Archives
- 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
References
- ↑ Arkansas: Individual County Chronologies, https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/AR_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Ashley County, Arkansas," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ashley_County,_Arkansas&oldid=1169853280 (accessed August 18, 2023).
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Ashley County, Arkansas Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ark/ashley/.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists : United States of America, 10th ed., (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002), p. 66.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Ashley County, Arkansas. Page 67 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 65.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Ashley County, Arkansas," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_County%2C_Arkansas#Communities, accessed 28 August 2018.
- ↑ Alice Eichholz, Red Book: American State, County and Town Sources, 3rd ed. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry Pub., 2004), 65-67. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27rb 2004.
- ↑ such as Sebastian County (Fort Smith) and Pulaski County (Little Rock) (No entry in FamilySearch Catalog found for Pulaski County nor for Little Rock, Aug 2014)
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/5/5c/Igiarkansasad.pdf.