Forrest County, Mississippi Genealogy
Guide to Forrest County, Mississippi ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
This county was named for Nathan B. Forrest. Forrest County is located in the southern area of the state. [2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Forrest County Courthouse
641 Main Street
PO Box 951
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Phone: 601-545-6014
Forrest County Website
Clerk Circuit Court has marriage records from 1893 and court records from 1906.
Clerk Chancery Court has divorce, land, probate and military records.[3]
Forrest County, Mississippi Record Dates[edit | edit source]
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 |
| 1 Nov 1912 | 1893 | 1 Nov 1912 | 1906 | 1906 | 1906 | 1810 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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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 | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
- Connor and Simonton Family Bible Records at North Carolina Digital Collections
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1910 | 20,722 | — |
| 1920 | 21,238 | 2.5% |
| 1930 | 30,115 | 41.8% |
| 1940 | 34,901 | 15.9% |
| 1950 | 45,055 | 29.1% |
| 1960 | 52,722 | 17.0% |
| 1970 | 57,849 | 9.7% |
| 1980 | 66,018 | 14.1% |
| 1990 | 68,314 | 3.5% |
| 2000 | 72,604 | 6.3% |
| 2010 | 74,934 | 3.2% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing Forrest County census records online, see: Mississippi Census.
Federal Census
- 1660-1820 U.S. Census Reconstructed Records, 1660-1820 at Ancestry $
- 1850 United States Census (Mortality Schedule), 1850 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and some images
- 1850 United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1860 United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
State Census
- 1792-1866 Mississippi, State and Territorial Census Collection, 1792-1866 at Ancestry $
- 1805-1890 Mississippi, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1805-1890 at Ancestry $
Church 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 Mississippi denominations, view the Mississippi Church Records wiki page.
- 1910-1919 Mississippi, Church Records, 1910-1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Hattiesburg
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
African Americans
- 1863-1866 Mississippi, Freedmen's Department (Pre-Bureau Records), 1863-1866 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
- 1865-1872 Mississippi, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
- The Freedmen's Bureau Marriage Records at Mississippi Department of Archives and History - index and transcription
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
- Century Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Hattiesburg.
- Forrest Funeral Home in Hattiesburg.
- Hall-Fairley Funeral Services in Hattiesburg.
- Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home in Hattiesburg.
- Jones and Son Funeral Home in Hattiesburg.
- McSwain and Myers Funeral Services in Hattiesburg.
- Moore Funeral Service in Hattiesburg and Petal.
- Pinehaven Funeral Home and Crematory in Hattiesburg.
- Serenity Funeral Services in Hattiesburg.
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[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 Mississippi Land and Property for additional information about early Mississippi land ownership. 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
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Forrest County. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories see the wiki page section Mississippi Local Histories.
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
- Maps of Mississippi (1785-1918)
- Family Maps of Forrest County, Mississippi Genealogy (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com .($). Free surname search.
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Multiple Wars
- 1898-1951 Military grave registrations - Forest Count Collections at FamilySearch - images only
Mexican-American War
- 1846-1848 United States Mexican War Index and Service Records, 1846-1848 How to Use this Collection; at FamilySearch — index & images
Civil War
- 1861-1865 Mississippi, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images at partner site
- 1861-1865 Mississippi, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images at partner site
- 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry free index
- 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry free index
- 1889-1942 Mississippi, Confederate Records, 1889-1942 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
- 1900-1974 Mississippi, Confederate Veterans and Widows Pension Applications, 1900-1974 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
- 1936-1939 Civil war records a Memorial list of those that served in the Civil War - Forest Count Collections at FamilySearch - images only
World War I
- 1917-1919 Mississippi, World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1917-1918 Mississippi, World War I Army Veterans, Master alphabetical index, 1917-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- 1800s-Current Mississippi, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
State Archives
- 1820-1951 Mississippi, State Archives, Various Records, 1820-1951 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images - incomplete - Topics covered: Ex Slave Narratives, list of military veterans, Military grave registrations, Naturalizations and some Land records.
VOTER List
- 1871-1967 Mississippi, Voter Registration, 1871-1967 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Probate records are held by the Forrest County, Mississippi Genealogy Clerk of Court and are housed at the Forrest County, Mississippi Genealogy Courthouse. Microfilmed records can be found online at Mississippi Probate Records, 1781-1930. See the wiki page Mississippi Probate Records for information about how to use probate records.
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.
Record types: Wills, estates, guardianships, naturalizations, and adoptions.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1780-1982 Mississippi Wills and Probate Records 1780-1982 at Ancestry ($)
- 1781-1930 Mississippi Probate Records 1781-1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
- 1880-1924 Will Records, 1880-1890, 1898-1924(*); Chancery Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records[edit | edit source]
- 1850-1892; 1908-1957 Enumeration of Educable Children, 1850-1892; 1908-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — 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[edit | edit source]
Mississippi tax records replace missing censuses and provide lists of residents during years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years. For more information, see Mississippi Taxation.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. Mississippi law did not require keeping birth or death records until 1912. Births and deaths are kept by the Mississippi Bureau of Vital Statistics. Marriage records are kept by the county. See also How to order Mississippi Vital Records or order electronically online.
See Mississippi Vital Records for more information on getting Mississippi records.
Birth[edit | edit source]
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1776-1935 Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935 at Ancestry $
- 1800-1825 Mississippi Marriages to 1825 at Ancestry $
- 1800-1911 Mississippi, Marriages, 1800-1911 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1826-1850 Mississippi Marriages, 1826-50 at Ancestry $
- 1826-1900 Mississippi Marriages, 1826-1900 at Ancestry $
- 1858-1979 Mississippi, County Marriages, 1858-1979 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images for various counties
- 1892-1917 Forrest County Marriage Books 1-6A Index 1892-1917 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
- 1900-1920s Forrest County, Mississippi Marriages. Courtesy: Melba's Southern Families
- 1921-1925 Forrest County, Mississippi Marriage Index. Arranged by: Brides | Grooms. MSGenWeb
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1822-1921 Mississippi Deaths and Burials, 1822-1921 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, some images
- 1912-1943 Mississippi, Death Certificate Index, 1912-1943 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1912-1943 Reclaim the Records: Mississippi Death Index at Internet Archive - images of index
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Forrest County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Mississippi Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers[edit | edit source]
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
- Columbia Mississippi FamilySearch Center
- Hattiesburg Mississippi FamilySearch Center
- Liberty Mississippi FamilySearch Center
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Forrest County. For state-wide library facilities, see Mississippi Archives and Libraries.
McCain Library and Archives
University of Southern Mississippi
PO Box 5148
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5148
601-266-4345
Website
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Forrest County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Mississippi Societies.
Hattiesburg Area Historical Society
723 Main St
PO Box 1573
Hattiesburg, MS 39403-1573
601-582-5460
Email: hahsmuseum@mail.com
Website
Facebook
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Forrest County Mississippi Genealogy & History Network
- Mississippi Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- USGenWeb Forrest County, Mississippi project. Has maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
- Forrest County Genealogy (Mississippi Genealogy)
- 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[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Mississippi.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Forrest, Mississippi," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forrest_County,_Mississippi."
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Mississippi.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Forrest County, Mississippi . Page 378-384 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), 379-381.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Mississippi.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Forrest County, Mississippi," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forrest_County,_Mississippi, Last accessed 15 September 2019.