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Charles County, Maryland Genealogy

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

County Facts
County seat: La Plata
Organized: April 13, 1658
Parent County(s): Colonial lands
Neighboring Counties
Calvert • Prince George's • St. Mary's • Fairfax (VA) • King George (VA) • Prince William (VA) • Stafford (VA) • Westmoreland (VA)
See County Maps
Courthouse
MarylandCharlesCourthouse.jpg
Location Map
Map of Maryland highlighting Charles County.png
Charles Calvert

County Information

Description

Calvert County was created 13 Apr 1658[1] and was named for Charles Calvert (1637–1715), third Baron Baltimore. Its county seat is La Plata. It is located in the southwestern area of the state.[2]

County Courthouse

Charles County Courthouse
200 Charles Street
La Plata, MD 20646
Phone: 301-932-3201
Phone: 301-870-2659
Charles County Website

Charles County, Maryland 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
1865***[4] 1865 1898 1796 1658 1665 1775
*Statewide registration for births and deaths started in 1898. General compliance by the 1910s.

***Some early birth, marriage and death records exist from 1654-1706, MSA CM1234

Record Loss

Most early papers of the county court have been lost.

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]

Towns
Unincorporated communities
Census-designated places


History Timeline

Resources

Bible Records

Biographies

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

Cemeteries

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



United States, Cemetery Abstracts, 1949-1969
Vol. 21

  • New Saint Peters Cemetery - page 85
  • Old Saint Peters Cemetery - page 97

Vol. 24

  • Trinity Parish Episcopal Church Cemetery - page 100

Census Records

For tips on accessing Charles County, Maryland Genealogy census records online, see: Maryland Census.

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1790 20,613 —
1800 19,172 −7.0%
1810 20,245 5.6%
1820 16,500 −18.5%
1830 17,769 7.7%
1840 16,023 −9.8%
1850 16,162 0.9%
1860 16,517 2.2%
1870 15,738 −4.7%
1880 18,548 17.9%
1890 15,191 −18.1%
1900 17,662 16.3%
1910 16,386 −7.2%
1920 17,705 8.0%
1930 16,166 −8.7%
1940 17,612 8.9%
1950 23,415 32.9%
1960 32,572 39.1%
1970 47,678 46.4%
1980 72,751 52.6%
1990 101,154 39.0%
2000 120,546 19.2%
2010 146,551 21.6%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

Constable's Census of Charles County, 1775-1778 (1800 Persons): Including Durham Parish; Benedict Hundred; Port Tobacco; West Hundred; Upper Hundred; East Hundred, Newport; Port Tobacco, Upper Hundred; Port Tobacco, Town Hundred; Port Tobacco, East Hundred; Pomonkey; Newport, West Hundred; William and Mary, Lower Hundred; Bryan Town Hundred, is available online, see pages 297-312 and index in:

  • Maryland Records: Colonial, Revolutionary, County and Church from Original Sources. Vol. 1. By Gaius Marcus Brumbaugh. 1915. Baltimore, Md.: Williams & Wilkins Company. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.

Federal Census reports available 1790-1940 including slave and veterans schedules.

Church Records

  • 1668-1995 Maryland, Church Records, 1668-1995 at FamilySearch — index- How to Use this Collection
  • Maryland State Archives Guide to Maryland Religious Records is not intended to be a complete listing of all Religious institutions in Maryland. It was originally based upon the churches recorded by the Federal Works Progress Administration during a records survey conducted from 1935 to 1941. It has been expanded by later acquisitions from religious organizations to the Maryland State Archives. Search for church records at the Archives by denomination, by county or by title.

Church of England
See the following parishes:


List of Churches and Church Parishes

Court Records

Directories

Emigration and Immigration

The New Early Settlers of Maryland at Maryland State Archives. Search for immigrants who had arrived in the colony by the 1680s. The database "comprises 34,326 entries from Gust Skordas' Early Settlers of Maryland and Carson Gibb's Supplement to the Early Settlers of Maryland."

Other Charles County immigration resources include:

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

Funeral Homes

Genealogies

  • A'Gambra - Russell, George Ely. "Portuguese and Spanish Colonists in Seventeenth-Century Maryland," The American Genealogist, Vol. 76, No. 1 (January 2001):50-60; Vol. 77, No. 1 (Apr. 2001):138-147. FS Catalog 973 D25aga v. 76. Online at: American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
  • Addison - Kennedy, Mary Selden. Seldens of Virginia and Allied Families. New York: Frank Allaben Genealogical Co., c1911. FS Library Book 929.273 Se48k. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vol. 2 - Internet Archive; Vols. 1 & 2 - Ancestry ($).
  • Baptista - Russell, George Ely. "Portuguese and Spanish Colonists in Seventeenth-Century Maryland," The American Genealogist, Vol. 76, No. 1 (January 2001):50-60; Vol. 77, No. 1 (Apr. 2001):138-147. FS Catalog 973 D25aga v. 76
  • Boarman - Thomas, C.F. and Emily Emerson Lentz. The Boarmans. Washington, D.C.: C.F. Thomas, 1934. FS Library Film 1011838 Item 5.
  • Boughton - Dorman, John Frederick. Adventurers of Purse and Person Virginia 1607-1624/5. 3 vols. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2005. See Volume 2. FS Library Book 975.5 H2j v. 2.
  • Brown - Horner, Frederick. The History of the Blair, Banister and Braxton Families Before and After the Revolution: With a Brief Sketch of Their Descendants. Philadelphia: J.P. Lippincott, 1898. FS Library Film 1550788 Item 7. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive.
  • Brown - Kennedy, Mary Selden. Seldens of Virginia and Allied Families. New York: Frank Allaben Genealogical Co., c1911. FS Library Book 929.273 Se48k. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vol. 2 - Internet Archive; Vols. 1 & 2 - Ancestry ($).
  • Brown - Copeland, Pamela C. and Richard K. MacMaster. The Five George Masons: Patriots and Planters of Virginia and Maryland. Lorton, Va.: The Board of Regents of Gunston Hall, 1989. FS Library Book 929.273 M381cm.
  • Burford - Lomax, E.L. Genealogy of the Virginia Family of Lomax. Chicago: Rand McNally and Co., 1913. Digital version at Internet Archive - free.
  • Chilton - Dorman, John Frederick. "The Chilton Families of Virginia and Maryland," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 11, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1967):71-78; Vol. 11, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1967):121-125; Vol. 11, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1967):167-174; Vol. 12, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1968):15-18; Vol. 12, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1968):83-86; Vol. 12, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1968):109-113; Vol. 12, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1968):169-175; Vol. 13, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1969):32-36; Vol. 13, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1969):65-71; Vol. 13, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1969):177-180; Vol. 14, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1970):15-22; Vol. 14, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1970):75-82; Vol. 14, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1970):123-128; Vol. 14, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1970):165-168; Vol. 15, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1971):32-41; Vol. 15, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1971):122-124; Vol. 15, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1971):259-264; Vol. 16, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1972):301-306. FS Library Book 975.5 B2vg v. 11 - v. 16. Online at: American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
  • Compton - King, Larry. Blue Ridge Mountain Kinfolks: A Record of Ancestors, Descendants and Relatives of the Author and Wife, Including Fisher - Gilbert - Hall - Hartley - Hill - King - Kirby - Lawson Families. Manchester, Tenn.: King, 1976. FS Library Book 929.273 K58ki.
  • Covert - King, George Harrison Sanford. "Maryland Coverts Become Virginia Colverts, Colberts and Calverts," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1970):3-10; Vol. 14, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1970):65-70. FS Library Book 975.5 B2vg v. 14 (1970). Online at: American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
  • Doughty - Dorman, John Frederick. Adventurers of Purse and Person Virginia 1607-1624/5. 3 vols. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2005. See Volume 2. FS Library Book 975.5 H2j v. 2.
  • Douglass - Thompson, Neil D. "The Douglass Family of Charles County, Maryland," The American Genealogist, Vol. 49, No. 4 (Oct. 1973):193-202; Vol. 50, No. 1 (Jan. 1974):45-51. FS Catalog 973 D25aga v. 49. Online at: American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
  • Douglass - Thompson, Neil D. "The Douglass Family of Charles County, Maryland: Some Further Observations," The American Genealogist, Vol. 53, No. 2 (Apr. 1977):76-78. FS Catalog 973 D25aga v. 53.[7]
  • Eaton - Dorman, John Frederick. Adventurers of Purse and Person Virginia 1607-1624/5. 3 vols. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2005. See Volume 2. FS Library Book 975.5 H2j v. 2.
  • Fernando - Russell, George Ely. "Portuguese and Spanish Colonists in Seventeenth-Century Maryland," The American Genealogist, Vol. 76, No. 1 (January 2001):50-60; FS Catalog 973 D25aga v. 76 Vol. 77, No. 1 (Apr. 2001):138-147. FS Catalog 973 D25aga v. 77
  • Forbes - Gordon, John Steele. "Who Was the Wife of James Forbes, Member of the Continental Congress from Maryland?," The American Genealogist, Vol. 76, No. 1 (Jan. 2001):29-35. FS Catalog 973 D25aga v. 76
  • Fowke - Copeland, Pamela C. and Richard K. MacMaster. The Five George Masons: Patriots and Planters of Virginia and Maryland. Lorton, Va.: The Board of Regents of Gunston Hall, 1989. FS Library Book 929.273 M381cm.
  • Gambra - See A'Gambra.
  • Glaze - Harris, Gale Ion. "John Glaze, Planter, of Charles County, Maryland: With Notes on Other Early Glaze Families in America," The Genealogist, Vol. 17, No. 1 (Spring 2003):37-60.
  • Hawley - Hawley, Laura. Hawley, Halley, Holley and Families of Similar Surnames Found in Early Records of England, Maryland and Virginia. Bowie, Md.: Willow Bend Books, 2003.
  • Higdon - Coone, Lucille Barco and Robert S. Higdon. Colonial Higdons and Some of Their Descendants. Rev. ed. Manassas, Va.: L.B. Coone, 1978. FS Library Film 1307612 Item 1.
  • Hoskins - Russell, George Ely. "Colonel Philip Hoskins (c1650-1718) of Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 51, No. 1 (Mar. 1963):26-31, 248. FS Catalog Collection 973 B2ng v. 51
  • Hoskins - "Colonel Philip Hoskins of Charles County, Maryland Addenda," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 51, No. 4 (Dec. 1963):248. FS Library Book 973 B2ng v. 51.
  • Lamar - Lamar, William Harmong, "Thomas Lamar of the Province of Maryland, and a Part of His Descendants," Publications of the Southern History Association, Vol. 1, No. 3 (Jul. 1897):203-210. Digitized by Internet Archive.
  • Lewis - Cook, Michael L. "Major William Lewis," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 28, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1984):243-250. FS Library Book 975.5 B2vg v. 28 (1984). Online at: American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
  • Lomax - Thompson, Neil D. "English Origins of the Lomax Family of Charles County, Maryland," The American Genealogist, Vol. 45, No. 3 (Jul. 1969):153-156. FS Catalog 973 D25aga v. 45. Online at: American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
  • Lumbrozo - Russell, George Ely. "Elizabeth (Wiles) (Lumbrozo) (Browne) Robinson of Charles Co., Maryland, 1662," The American Genealogist, Vol. 55 (1979):174-177. FS Catalog 973 D25aga v. 55. Online at: American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
  • Lumbrozo - Russell, George Ely. "John Lumbroso Jr. (1666-1744) of Pasquotank County, North Carolina," The American Genealogist, Vol. 59, No. 1 (Jan. 1983):32. FS Catalog 973 D25aga v. 59[8]
  • Lumbrozo - Russell, George Ely. "Portuguese and Spanish Colonists in Seventeenth-Century Maryland," The American Genealogist, Vol. 76, No. 1 (January 2001):50-60; Vol. 77, No. 1 (Apr. 2001):138-147. FS Catalog 973 D25aga v. 76. [9]
  • Mills - Hackett, John Davis and Kathryn Dickerson Shannon. "Mills Families of Virginia," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 35, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1991):215-228; Vol. 35, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1991):284-296; Vol. 36, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1992):34-48; Vol. 36, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1992):109-119. FS Library Book 975.5 B2vg v. 35 (1991)-v. 36 (1992). Online at: American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
  • Render - Smith, Pearl O. Renders and Their Relatives; Joshua Render of Charles County, Maryland, and Orange County, Virginia, and His Descendants, 1720-1985. Arlington, Va.: P.O. Smith, 1985. FS Library Book 929.273 R293s.
  • Stonestreet - Newman, Harry Wright. Stonestreet Family of Maryland, 1538-1958. Typescript, 1953. FS Library Fiche 6019079.
  • Stonestreet -' Skidmore, Warren. Thomas Stonestreet of Birchden, Withyham, East Sussex, and of "Birchden" in Charles County, Maryland, with His Posterity Down to the Sixth Generation. Akron, Ohio: W. Skidmore, 1983. FS Library Book 929.273 St72sw.
  • Story - Thompson, Neil D. "Walter Story of Charles County, Maryland, Father and Son," The American Genealogist, Vol. 51, No. 3 (Jul. 1975):147-150. FS Catalog 973 D25aga v. 51. Online at: American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
  • Swann - Joy, Charles Austin. "Descendants of Jonathan Swann of Charles County, Maryland, and Caroline County, Virginia," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 70 (1982):271-281.
  • Wheeler - Ball, Walter V. The Wheeler Family of Charles County, Maryland. Chevy Chase, Md.: W.V. Ball, 1966. FS Library Book 929.273 W561b.

Guardianship

Land and Property Records

Through a Joint eGovernment Service of the Maryland Judiciary and the Maryland State Archives, free images and indexes of the complete series of Charles County Deed Books (1658-present) have been uploaded to their website: A Digital Image Retrieval System for Land Records in Maryland. (Requires free registration.)

Online Land Indexes and Records


Local Histories

Maps and Gazetteers

Prince George's CountyCalvert CountySt. Mary's CountyKing George CountyStafford CountyPrince William CountyFairfax CountyMD CHARLES.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources
Charles County Boundary Map

Migration

Military Records

Revolutionary War

  • A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshals of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841. 1967 reprint: FS Catalog Collection 973 X2pc 1840.Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Maryland, Charles County on page 127.

War of 1812

  • List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883; Giving the Name of Each Pensioner, the Cause for Why Pensioned, the Post-Office Address, the Rate of Pension Per Month, and the Date of Original Allowance... Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1883. FS Catalog Collection 973 M2Lp v. 5. Online at: Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Vol. 5, Maryland, Charles County, p. 145. Identifies War of 1812 veterans living in this county in 1883.

Civil War

Regiments. Service men in Charles served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Charles:

World War II

Naturalization and Citizenship

Newspapers

Obituaries

Other Records

Periodicals

Probate Records

Online Probate Indexes and Records


School Records

Social Security Records

Tax Records

Vital Records

Birth

Guide to Birth Records at Maryland State Archives

  • 1654-1706 Births, Marriages, and Deaths recorded by the County Court at the Maryland State Archives, CM1234
  • 1865-1877 Births recorded by the Circuit Court at the Maryland State Archives, T2144
  • 1898-Onward Births recorded by the Department of Health at the Maryland State Archives

Marriage

Death

  • 1654-1706 Births, Marriages, and Deaths by the County Court at the Maryland State Archives CM1234

Divorce

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Charles County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Maryland 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 Charles County. For state-wide library facilities, see Maryland Archives and Libraries.

Charles County Public Library
Website
Multiple locations

Museums

Societies

Listed below are societies in Charles County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Maryland Societies.

Historical Society of Charles County, Inc.
P.O. Box 2806
La Plata, MD 20646
Website

Websites

Research Guides

References

  1. ↑ Individual County Chronologies, https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/MD_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm
  2. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Charles County, Maryland," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charles_County,_Maryland&oldid=1222605179 (accessed May 8, 2024)..
  3. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Charles County, Maryland. Page 317-318 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), 308-309.
  4. ↑ Maryland State Archives, Guide to Government Records, Birth Records
  5. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Maryland.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  6. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Charles County, Maryland," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_County,_Maryland, accessed 16 August 2018.
  7. ↑ American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
  8. ↑ American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
  9. ↑ American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).


v • d• e
Links to Maryland-related articles
Topics
Counties
Extinct Co.
Major
Repositories
Allegheny County Library System Washington Street Library · Baltimore City Archives · Bristol Public Library VA · Division of Vital Records · Dorchester County Central Public Library · Enoch Pratt Free Library · Frederick County Artz Public Library · Frostburg State University Ort Library · Handley Regional Library VA · Historical Society of Pennsylvania · Historical Society of Washington, D.C. · Jewish Genealogical Society of Maryland · Johns Hopkins University George Peabody Library · Library of Congress DC · Maryland Genealogical Society · Maryland Historical Society · Maryland Historical Trust Library · Maryland State Archives · Maryland State Law Library · Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society · National Archives and Records Administration (Archives I) DC · National Archives at College Park, Maryland (Archives II) · National Archives at Philadelphia PA · National Genealogical Society VA · Pennsylvania State Archives · Prince George's County Genealogical Society · Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore · Salisbury University Nabb Research Center · Talbot County Free Library · United Methodist Historical Society of the Baltimore-Washington Conference · University of Maryland McKeldin Library · Washington County Free Library · Washington National Records Center
Migration
Routes
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