Chambers County, Texas Genealogy


Guide to Chambers County, Texas ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Facts
County seat: Anahuac
Organized: 02 Aug 1858
Parent County(s): Jefferson, Liberty
Neighboring Counties
GalvestonHarrisJeffersonLiberty
See County Maps
Courthouse
Texas, Chambers County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Tx-chambers.png

County Information

Description

The county was named for Thomas Jefferson Chambers, a major general in the Texas Revolution. The county is located in the southeast area of the state.[1]

County Courthouse

Chambers County Courthouse
404 Washington Ave
Anahuac, TX 77514
Phone: 409-267-2418
Chambers County Website

County Clerk has birth records from 1903, death records from 1908, marriage, probate court and land records from 1875 and divorce records from 1910.[2]

Chambers County, Texas 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.

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[3]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1903 1875 1908 1875 1875 1875 1829
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1903. General compliance by the 1930s.

Record Loss

  • 1875: Chambers County Courthouse in Wallisville and most, if not all, county records were destroyed by fire on December 2, 1875.
  • 1935: Chambers County Courthouse in Anahuac destroyed by fire on April 28, 1935. All records were saved. [4]

For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:

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:[6]

Cities
Unincorporated communities
Census-designated places

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

 ±Water surface only; land in adjacent county

History Timeline

Resources

Bible Records

Biographies

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Chambers County, Texas online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
See Texas Cemeteries for more information.

Census Records

Historical populations
Census Pop.
18601,508
18701,503−0.3%
18802,18745.5%
18902,2412.5%
19003,04635.9%
19104,23439.0%
19204,162−1.7%
19305,71037.2%
19407,51131.5%
19507,8714.8%
196010,37931.9%
197012,18717.4%
198018,53852.1%
199020,0888.4%
200026,03129.6%
201035,09634.8%

Church Records

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Court Records

Online Court Indexes and Records

Directories

Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

African Americans

Funeral Homes

Genealogies

Guardianship

Land and Property Records

Online Land Indexes and Records

Local Histories

Local histories are available for Chambers County and may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information.

  • 1821--The first permanent settlement began in 1821 when the Spanish established a fortress at Anahuac and allowed American colonists to enter.
  • Chambers County Families - index of names at TXGenWeb
  • Chambers County: A Pictorial History, 1988 by Margaret S. Henson and Kevin Ladd.
  • Chambers County History from the Handbook of Texas Online

Maps and Gazetteers

Harris CountyLiberty CountyJefferson CountyGalveston CountyTX CHAMBERS.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Migration

Military Records

Mexican-American War

Civil War

World War I

Naturalization and Citizenship

Newspapers

Obituaries

Other Records

Periodicals

Probate Records

Probate records of Texas counties were kept by the probate clerk, usually in "probate minutes."

School Records

Social Security Records

Tax Records

Vital Records

Vital Records of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths were recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. Copies can be obtained from the County Clerk's office, or order certified copies online or by mail at the Texas Vital Records State Department of Health. See Texas Vital Records for more information.

Birth

Marriage

Death

Divorce

Research Facilities

Archives

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

  • Chambers County Library System - Local History
    202 Cummings St
    Anahuac TX, 77514
    Phone: 409-267-2554
    Website

Museums

Societies

Websites

  • 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

  1. Wikipedia contributors, "Chambers County, Texas," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chambers_County,_Texas. accessed 07/30/2019
  2. Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Chambers County, Texas. Page 660 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  3. Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Chambers County, Texas . Page 658-677 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), 655-665.
  4. GenDisasters.com - Anahuac, TX Chambers County Courthouse Fire, Apr 1935 http://www.gendisasters.com/texas/18201/anahuac-tx-chambers-county-courthouse-fire-apr-1935
  5. Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FSC Book 973 D27e 2002.
  6. Wikipedia contributors, "Chambers County, Texas," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chambers_County,_Texas, accessed 31 March 2019.