Forsyth County, Georgia Genealogy
Guide to Forsyth County, Georgia 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]
The county was named for John Forsyth. The county is located in the north central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Forsyth County Courthouse
100 W Courthouse Square
Cumming, GA 30040-0128
Phone: 770-781-2120
Forsyth County Website
Clerk of Courts has land records from 1830s, as well as divorce and court records.
Probate Court has birth, marriage, death and probate records.[3]
Forsyth County, Georgia 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 |
| 1919 | 1833 | 1919 | 1832 | 1830 | 1832 | 1820 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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1973 The courthouse at Cumming burned the evening of 5 November 1973. Loose papers from the Superior Court, Ordinary Court, tax commissioner, and Justice of the Peace were lost. Most county records were in a vault and remained safe.[5] For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
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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:[7]
| Cities | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
- Forsyth County Bible Records at Georgia USGenWeb Archives Project
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
- Georgia, State Employees at MyHeritage — index ($)
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1840 | 6,619 | — |
| 1850 | 8,850 | 33.7% |
| 1860 | 7,749 | −12.4% |
| 1870 | 7,983 | 3.0% |
| 1880 | 10,559 | 32.3% |
| 1890 | 11,155 | 5.6% |
| 1900 | 11,550 | 3.5% |
| 1910 | 11,940 | 3.4% |
| 1920 | 11,755 | −1.5% |
| 1930 | 10,624 | −9.6% |
| 1940 | 11,322 | 6.6% |
| 1950 | 11,005 | −2.8% |
| 1960 | 12,170 | 10.6% |
| 1970 | 16,928 | 39.1% |
| 1980 | 27,958 | 65.2% |
| 1990 | 44,083 | 57.7% |
| 2000 | 98,407 | 123.2% |
| 2010 | 175,511 | 78.4% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
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 Georgia denominations, see the Georgia Church Records wiki page.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
- 1832-1903 Superior Court Minutes, 1832-1903(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1840-1875 Inferior Court Minutes, 1840-1875(*); Inferior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1843-1901 Forsyth County, Georgia, Court Records, 1843-1901(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1852-1901 Court of Ordinary Minutes, 1852-1901(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
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]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
- Crematory of Forsyth in Cumming
- Ingram Funeral Home and Crematory in Cumming
- McDonald and Son Funeral Home and Crematory in Cumming
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 Georgia Land and Property for additional information about early Georgia land grants from the government. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions (generally buying and selling deeds) were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1735-1866 Georgian Colonial and Headright Plat Index, 1735-1866 at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - alpha index
- 1783-1909 Headright and Bounty Plats, 1783-1909 at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images with alpha index
- 1805-1833 District Plats of Survey at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images organized by county and district
- Colonial Plats and Warrants at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images with alpha index
- 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 Forsyth County, Georgia Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Georgia Local Histories.
- Shadburn, Donald L. Pioneer History of Forsyth County, Georgia. The Cottonpatch Press, Cumming, GA. C. 2006
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
- 1740s-? Historic Map File at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images
- 1866 - 1935 County Map File at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images
- Maps of Georgia (1758-1932)
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
- Georgia USGenWeb Archives Project
Civil War
Online Records
- 1861-1865 Georgia Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
- 1861-1865 Georgia Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
- 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
- 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
- 1861-1865 Confederate Enlistment Oaths and Discharges at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault- images and alphabetical index
- 1861-1865 Confederate Muster Rolls at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault- images; filter by commanding officer, service branch and regiment
- 1861-1865 Confederate Pension Application Supplements - images and alphabetical index; filter by county
- 1864 Militia Enrollment Lists, 1864 - images; filter by county
- 1867-1868 Georgia, Reconstruction Registration Oath Books, 1867-1868 at FamilySearch — index
- 1879-1920 Georgia, Confederate Pension Rolls, 1879-1920 at FamilySearch — index
- 1879-1960 Confederate Pension Applications - images and alphabetical index; filter by county
Regiments. Service men in Forsyth County 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 Forsyth County:
- - 14th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate) , Company E
- - 21st Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate) , Company E
- - 22nd Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate) , Company E
- - 43rd Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate) , Companies E and I
- Bagley, Garland C. 1985. History of Forsyth County, Georgia. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press. (page 383-494: note; has muster rolls of company and regiment not shown above) 975.8265 H2b V. 1-2
- Shadburn, Don L., and Ted O. Brooke. 1997. Crimson and sabres: a Confederate record of Forsyth County, Georgia. Cumming, Ga. (P.O. Box 3121, Cumming 30028-6515): D.L. Shadburn. (Entire Book) 975.8265 M2s digital version
Spanish-American War
- 1898 Spanish-American War Service Summary Cards - images and alphabetical index; filter by residence, muster location and unit
World War I
- 1914-1918 World War I Casualties Scrapbooks - images and alphabetical index
- 1920-1929 Georgia, World War I, Statement of Service Cards, 1920-1929 at FamilySearch — index & images
World War II
- 1940-1942 Georgia World War II Draft Registration Cards 1940-1942 at findmypast - index ($))
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- 1800s-Current Georgia, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- Georgia Historic Newspapers at Digital Library of Georgia
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Voting Records
- 1867-1868 Georgia, Reconstruction Registration Oath Books, 1867-1868 at FamilySearch — index
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Colonial courts kept some early probate records. From 1777 to 1798 and since 1852, the court of ordinary or register of probates has kept probate and guardianship records. The inferior court handled probate and guardianship matters from 1798 to 1852.
Many probate records to the 1930s and 1940s are at the Georgia Department of Archives and History and the FamilySearch Library on microfilm.
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, marriage, adoption, and birth and death records (not all years).
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1733-1753 Colonial Wills at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images with alpha index
- 1742-1990 Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990(*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1742-1992 Georgia Wills and Probate Records 1742-1992 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1754-1776 Colonial Will Books at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images with alpha index
- 1833-1939 Wills and Related Probate Matters, 1833-1848, 1856-1939(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1848-1905 Appraisements, Inventories, and Estate Records, 1848-1905(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1856-1935 Family Names in Forsyth County Online Genealogy Records: Wills, Estates, Marriages at Georgia Pioneers ($)
- 1869-1901 Annual Returns and Vouchers, 1869-1901(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1869-1903 Estate Letters and Bonds, 1869-1903(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1883-1920 Twelve Months Support of Widows and Minor Children, 1883-1920(*); Court of Ordinary 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]
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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Taxes were levied on free white males over 21 and all slaves up to age 60. These persons are referred to as "polls." Tax listings, or digests, of a county generally list the taxable landowners and other polls and the amount of tax. The records for each county are divided by militia district.
- 1787-1900 Georgia, Tax Digests, 1787-1900 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection, index & images
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Georgia State Department of Health , the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred or order electronically online.
For some online statewide indexes, see the FamilySearch Historical Record Collections for Georgia.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1870-1960 Georgia, County Delayed Birth and Death Records, 1870-1960 at FamilySearch — index, and some images
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1560-1993 Georgia, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
- 1699-1944 Georgia Marriages 1699-1944 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1754-1960 Georgia Church Marriages, 1754-1960 at FamilySearch — index & images
- 1785-1950 Georgia County Marriages 1785-1950 at FamilySearch — index & images
- 1808-1967 Georgia Marriages 1808-1967 at FamilySearch — index
- 1828-1978 Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
- 1833-1877 Forsyth County Marriage Index 1833-1877. Batch M712851 at FamilySearch[8]
- 1874-1895 Forsyth County Marriage Index 1874-1895. Batch M712852 at FamilySearch
- 1895 Forsyth County Marriage Index 1895. Batch M712853 at FamilySearch
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1870-1960 Georgia, County Delayed Birth and Death Records, 1870-1960 at FamilySearch — index, and some images
- 1914-1927 Georgia Deaths 1914-1927 at FamilySearch — index & images
- 1919-1998 Georgia Deaths 1919-1998 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1919-1930 Georgia Death Certificates at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - index & images
- 1928-1930 Georgia Non-Indexed Death Certificates at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images
- 1928-1942 Georgia Deaths, 1928-1942 at FamilySearch — index & images
- 1933-1998 Georgia Death Index 1933-1998 at FamilySearch — index
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Forsyth County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Georgia 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
- Gainesville Georgia FamilySearch Center
- Lawrenceville Georgia FamilySearch Center
- Marietta Georgia East FamilySearch Center
- Roswell Georgia FamilySearch Center
- Sugar Hill Georgia FamilySearch Center
- Tucker Georgia FamilySearch Center
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Forsyth County. For state-wide library facilities, see Georgia Archives and Libraries.
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Forsyth County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Georgia Societies.
Historical Society of Cumming/Forsyth County
101 School St
Room 112
PO Box 1334
Cumming, GA 30040
678-455-7260
Email: info@historicforsyth.com
Website
Facebook
Northeast Georgia Historical and Genealogical Society
PO Box 907085
Gainesville, GA 30501
Email: NEGAHistorical@Yahoo.com
Website
Facebook
Northwest Georgia Historical and Genealogical Society
PO Box 5063
Rome, Georgia 30162-5063
Email: patmillican@yahoo.com
Website
Southern Appalachian Genealogy
Email: genealogicalme@gmail.com
Facebook
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Georgia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- USGenWeb Forsyth County, Georgia project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
- GAGenWeb Archives
- Forsyth County, Georgia Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- Georgia Pioneers Georgia Pioneers ($)
- 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), Georgia.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Forsyth County, Georgia" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forsyth_County,_Georgia accessed 31 Oct 2018
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Georgia.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Forsyth County, Georgia. Page 151-163 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), 155-160.
- ↑ Paul K. Graham, Georgia Courthouse Disasters (Decatur, Georgia: Genealogy Co., 2013), 32. At various libraries (WorldCat).
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Georgia.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Forsyth County, Georgia," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forsyth_County%2C_Georgia, accessed 14 Febuary 2019.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/5/57/Igigeorgiael.pdf.