Hamilton County, Illinois Genealogy
Guide to Hamilton County, Illinois ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Hamilton County was named for Alexander Hamilton, Revolutionary War hero and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury. The county was organized in 1821 and its seat is McLeansboro.[1] Hamilton County is located in the southeastern area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Hamilton County Courthouse
100 S Jackson St
McLeansboro, IL 62859
Phone: 618-643-3224
Hamilton County Courthouse
County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Hamilton County are kept, see the Hamilton County Courthouse page.
Hamilton County, Illinois 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 |
| 1878 | 1821 | 1878 | 1821 | 1835 | 1821 | 1810 |
Record Loss
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes
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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:[5]
| Cities | ||
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| Towns | ||
| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Townships | ||
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1840 | 3,945 | — |
| 1850 | 6,362 | 61.3% |
| 1860 | 9,915 | 55.8% |
| 1870 | 13,014 | 31.3% |
| 1880 | 16,712 | 28.4% |
| 1890 | 17,800 | 6.5% |
| 1900 | 20,197 | 13.5% |
| 1910 | 18,227 | −9.8% |
| 1920 | 15,920 | −12.7% |
| 1930 | 12,995 | −18.4% |
| 1940 | 13,454 | 3.5% |
| 1950 | 12,256 | −8.9% |
| 1960 | 10,010 | −18.3% |
| 1970 | 8,665 | −13.4% |
| 1980 | 9,172 | 5.9% |
| 1990 | 8,499 | −7.3% |
| 2000 | 8,621 | 1.4% |
| 2010 | 8,457 | −1.9% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing census records online, see Illinois Census.
Church Records
- 1829-1848 Ten Mile Creek Church FS Library film 988626 Item 3
A chapter on early Hamilton County, Illinois church history appears in an 1887 local history, available for free online, beginning on page 322.
Catholic
FamilySearch has made parish records from three Belleville Diocese Catholic churches in Hamilton County available online (requires free registration). The records include first communions, confirmations, marriages, and deaths:
- 1729-1956 Illinois, Diocese of Belleville, Catholic Parish Records, 1729-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
A volunteer is available to do cemetery look-ups at these Catholic church cemeteries, see Hamilton.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
Original court records are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Court Records for more information about using court records.
Court Indexes and Records
- 1821-1839 Circuit Court record, vol. A–B FS Library film 988235
- 1824-1860 Circuit Court Naturalization Records at IRAD-SIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
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 American
- African American Research (US) has more information about the kinds of records
- Illinois African-American Resource Guide by the Illinois State Archives describes what records are at the State Archives with an online method for ordering records.
- African-American Resources for Illinois
Funeral Homes
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Genealogies
Guardianship
- 1865-1923 Probate Guardianship Records at IRAD-SIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Land and Property Records
Original land records are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk . See Illinois Land and Property for more information about using land records.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1796-1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry ($)
- 1818-1954 Davis, Patricia S. Index to Harriet Vaught's Early land grants of White County, Illinois, 1814-1854 and probate index, 1818-1976. Marion, Illinois: Patricia S. Davis, c1995. WorldCat 33039320 FS Library film 1598393 Item 12; book 977.396 R2
- 1818-1954 Vaught, Harriet B. Early land grants of White County, Illinois, 1814-1854, probate index, 1818-1976. Carmi, Ill.: Vaught, 1980? WorldCat 9472590 FS Catalog book 977.396 R2v
- Beginning 1820 Land Patent Search See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database.
- Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
- Rockford Map Publishers (Rockford, Illinois). Land atlas and plat book, Hamilton County, Illinois, 1986. Rockford, Illinois: Rockford Map Publishers, c1986. WorldCat 14271381 FS Catalog book 977.395 E7h
- Boyd, Gregory A. Family maps of Hamilton County, Illinois. Norman, Oklahoma: Arphax Pub. Co., c2007. WorldCat 180941793 FS Catalog book 977.395 E7b This book plats the land of many nineteenth-century Hamilton County residents.
- Illinois Federal Township Plats at Illinois Digital Archives - images; by County
- Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales at the Illinois State Archives - index; by purchasers name and by legal description; Also at Ancestry ($).
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
Civil War
Regiments. Civil War service men from Hamilton County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Hamilton County.
- - 6th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies D, H, and K.
- - 40th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A and G.
- - 56th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies C, F and G.
- - 60th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies D and G.
- - 71st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
- - 87th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A and E.
- - 110th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
- - 131st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B, I and K.
- - 155th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.
- - 17th Regiment, Missouri Infantry (Union), Company I
Naturalization and Citizenship
Original naturalization records are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Court Records for more information about using court records.
The following copies of original records may be accessed through the FamilySearch Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Hamilton County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.
Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1824-1860 Naturalization Records at IRAD-SIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1824-1860 Naturalization records index (3 p.) FS Library film 1426471 Item 4
- 1860-1883 Naturalization records, intentions and final papers FS Library film 988236 Items 1-2
- 1800-1998 Illinois, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1856-1991 Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
Newspapers
- 1800s-Current Illinois, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and EventsIndex, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
Obituaries
- 1831-Onward Illinois Obituaries at MyHeritage — index ($)
Other Records
Public Records
- 1871-2004 Public Records at IRAD-SIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Periodicals
Probate Records
Original estates and wills are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Probate Records for more information about using probate records.
The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through, the FamilySearch Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Hamilton County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1772-1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1819-1988 Illinois Probate Records, 1819-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
- 1821-1900 Index: Vaught, Harriet B. Hamilton County cemeteries probate index [1821-1900]. Carmi, Ill.: White County Historical Society, 1989? WorldCat 22365340 FS Catalog book 977.395 V39h
- 1821-1915 Neff, Hazel Lea. Abstracts of wills, Hamilton County, Illinois, 1821-1915. Wayne City, Illinois;: Family Ties, 1986 WorldCat 13760938 FS Catalog book 977.395 P2n
- 1823-1838; 1847–1855 Probate files FS Library film 98220 (first of 8 films)
- 1823-1933 The probate journals and will records for Hamilton County probate records are also available in Illinois, Probate Records, 1819-1970. Click on the browse through images link, select Hamilton County, and select the record type you are interested in.
- 1823-1933 Will records, v. A–B FS Library film 988234 and IRAD (SIU)
- 1823-1969 Probate Records and Index at IRAD-SIU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1823-1970 Index of probate files FS Library film 988220
- 1838-1922 Index to probate journal FS Library film 1426470 Item 1
- 1838-1847; 1855-1922 Probate journals FS Library film 988221(first of 10 films)
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — 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
Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth and death certificates recorded until the year 1916 are kept by the Hamilton County Clerk while those recorded after 1916 are kept by the Illinois Department of Public Health. a copy to the County Clerk. Original marriage records are usually kept by the County Clerk from the establishment of the county to the present. Original divorce records are generally in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk.
The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through online databases and the FamilySearch Library.
Birth
Marriage
- 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($) — index $
- 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHeritage($)
- 1790-1860 Illinois Marriage index Ancestry ($)
- 1805-1985 Illinois, Church Marriages, 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1810-1940 Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1821-1854 Felty, Harold G. Marriage records and related notes, Hamilton County, Illinois 1821-1854.Owensboro, Kentucky: Cook McDowell Publications, 1981. WorldCat 7564747 FS Catalog book 977.395 V2f
- 1821-1870 Harrelson, Ralph S. Marriages, information taken from original marriage documents old marriage record books relative to marriages celebrated in Hamilton County, Illinois, 1821-1870 also a record of marriages celebrated in White County, Illinois, 1816 through 1821. Carterville, Illinois: Genealogy Society of Southern Illinois, c1986.WorldCat 16882912 FS Catalog book 977.39 V28h
- 1833-1889 Illinois, Civil Marriages, 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index
- 1858-1992 Legacy of kin, Hamilton County, Illinois: relationships, vital statistics, marriages, abstracted from obituaries and notices in Hamilton County newspapers, 1858-1992 FS Catalog book 977.395 V48f volume 1 and 2
- 1899-1929 (with additional notices for 1930-1931) Grandma Deem's marriage notices: Hamilton County, Illinois Other Libraries (WorldCat) and FS Catalog book 977.395 B38g
Death
- 1749-1999 Illinois Deaths and Burials, 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1850-1880 Illinois Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1850-1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 found at Ancestry ($)
- 1852-1930 Hatton, Charles E and Ralph S. Harrelson.A history of Mary's Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, 1852-1967 and school, 1882-1950 in Hamilton County, Illinois including a section giving Mary's Chapel cemetery headstone inscriptions and burial records. Danville, Illinois: Hatton House, 1973. WorldCat 10834674 FS Library film 988626 item 5; book 977.3 A1 no. 132
- 1871-1920 Harrelson, Dessie Hunt. Record of deaths. Vol 1 and 2, Carterville, Illinois: Genealogy Society of Southern Illinois, c1983, c1985. WorldCat 52362479 FS Catalog book 977.395 V48
- Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHeritage($)
- 1916–1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage - index ($)
- 1916-1972 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1972 - index
Divorce
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Hamilton County. For state-wide facilities, see Illinois Archives and Libraries.
IRAD is a system of Illinois Regional Archives Depositories managed by the Illinois State Archives, housing the archival records of local Illinois counties, townships, municipalities and school districts. The seven Regional Depositories are housed on state university campuses scattered throughout Illinois. Southern Illinois University houses the records for Hamilton County.
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
- Eldorado Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Foxcroft Illinois FamilySearch Center
- C.E. Brehm Memorial Public Library District - an affiliate library
- Herrin City Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Hamilton County. For state-wide library facilities, see Illinois Archives and Libraries.
Dahlgren Public Library
Third And Dale Streets
Dahlgren, IL 62828
Phone: 618-736-2652
McCoy Memorial Library
118 South Washington Street
McLeansboro, IL 62859
Phone: 618-643-2125
Website
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Hamilton County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Illinois Societies.
Hamilton County Historical Society, Museum and Genealogy Library
118 South Washington Street
McLeansboro, IL 62859
Phone: 618-643-2125
Website
Websites
- Hamilton County IL Genealogy
- The Yesterdays of Hamilton County, Illinois.
- Hamilton ILGenWeb
- USGenWeb project
- Hamilton County, IL Linkpendium
- 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
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Hamilton County, Illinois Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ill/hamilton/ accessed 04/13/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Hamilton County, Illinois" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_County,_Illinois, accessed 04/013/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Hamilton County, Illinois. Page 192-199 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), 194-197.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FSC Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Hamilton County, Illinois," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_County,_Illinois, Last accessed 6 January 2020.