Hancock County, Georgia Genealogy
Guide to Hancock County, Georgia ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Hancock County was named for John Hancock. The county is located in the east-central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Hancock County Courthouse
12630 Broad Street
Sparta, GA 31087
Phone: 706-444-6644
Hancock County Website
Probate Court has birth and death records from 1927, marriage records from 1805 and probate records.
Clerk Superior Court has divorce and court records from 1919 and land records from 1794.[3]
Hancock County, Georgia 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 |
| 1927 | 1805 | 1927 | 1919 | 1794 | 1794 | 1820 |
Record Loss
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2014 The Hancock County Courthouse, built in 1883, burned on August 11, 2014. Property deeds, birth and marriage certificates and many other vital records dating back to 1795 were destroyed. Many earlier records may be available on microfilm. For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
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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:[6]
| Cities | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
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History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
- Hancock County Bible Records at Georgia USGenWeb Archives Project
- Hancock County, Ga. Bible Records at Georgia Genealogy
- James Walker Bible of Hancock Co. at Google Books
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- Georgia, State Employees at MyHeritage — index ($)
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1800 | 14,456 | — |
| 1810 | 13,330 | −7.8% |
| 1820 | 12,734 | −4.5% |
| 1830 | 11,820 | −7.2% |
| 1840 | 9,659 | −18.3% |
| 1850 | 11,578 | 19.9% |
| 1860 | 12,044 | 4.0% |
| 1870 | 11,317 | −6.0% |
| 1880 | 16,989 | 50.1% |
| 1890 | 17,149 | 0.9% |
| 1900 | 18,277 | 6.6% |
| 1910 | 19,189 | 5.0% |
| 1920 | 18,357 | −4.3% |
| 1930 | 13,070 | −28.8% |
| 1940 | 12,764 | −2.3% |
| 1950 | 11,052 | −13.4% |
| 1960 | 9,979 | −9.7% |
| 1970 | 9,019 | −9.6% |
| 1980 | 9,466 | 5.0% |
| 1990 | 8,908 | −5.9% |
| 2000 | 10,076 | 13.1% |
| 2010 | 9,429 | −6.4% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Church Records
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
- 1794-1900 Minutes, 1794-1900(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1794-1903 Minutes, 1794-1903(*); Inferior Court and Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1800-1876 Writs, 1800-1876(*); Inferior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1800-1905 Minutes, 1800-1905(*); Inferior and County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1807-1901 Writs, 1807-1901(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1833-1918 Writs Debt, Assumpsit., Jury Lists, 1833-1918(*); Superior and Inferior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1845-1858 Lunacy Book, 1845-1858(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- Georgia Newspaper Clippings : Hancock County Extracts; v. 02. 2000. By Tad Evans. Savannah, Georgia : Tad Evans. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
The Uncle Remus Regional Library System website has posted a variety of digitized microfilm court records for Hancock County. Note: ledger indexes may sometimes be found at the end of each microfilm reel.
- Annual returns
- Bonds
- Deeds and mortgages
- Dismission
- Guardianship
- Inventory and appraisment
- Marriages
- Minutes
- Pony homesteads
- Record of wills
- Wills and estates
- Writs
- Years support
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
Funeral Homes
- Ingram Brothers Funeral Home in Sparta
- Warren Brothers Mortuary in Sparta (Facebook)
Genealogies
- [Jackson] Brandenberger, Evelyn Duke. "The Jacksons of Lower Virginia". FS Library Book 975.5 B2vg vol. 30 (1986) thru vol. 33 (1989). Searchable online at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($). Enter volume and page number. (See detailed vol and page num listing below).
- Vol. 30, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1986):163-169; Vol. 30, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1986):288-295; Vol. 31, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1987):11-18; Vol. 31, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1987):101-111; Vol. 31, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1987):195-204; Vol. 31, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1987):269-278; Vol. 32, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1988):49-57; Vol. 32, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1988):119-130; Vol. 32, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1988):185-192; Vol. 32, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1988):259-263; Vol. 33, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1989):34-44; Vol. 33, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1989):135-143; Vol. 33, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1989):204-207; Vol. 33, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1989):295-304.
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
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.
Digitized microfilm of Hancock County deed and mortgage books covering the years 1794 through 1900, and Index books for the years 1794 through 1961 can be found at Deeds and mortgages (Uncle Remus Regional Library System). Note: in some cases, indexes of the individual ledgers can be found at the end of the microfilm roll.
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
- 1784-1785 Land Grants (images). Georgia Pioneers ($)
- 1784-1787 Images of Land Court Minutes. Georgia Pioneers ($)
- 1793-1798 Deeds images. Georgia Pioneers ($)
- 1805-1833 District Plats of Survey at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images organized by county and district
- Colonial Plats and Warrants at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images with alpha index
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Hancock County, Georgia Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Georgia Local Histories.
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
- 1740s-? Historic Map File at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images
- 1866 - 1935 County Map File at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images
- Maps of Georgia (1758-1932)
Migration
Military Records
Civil War
Online Records
- 1861-1865 Georgia Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
- 1861-1865 Georgia Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
- 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
- 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
- 1861-1865 Confederate Enlistment Oaths and Discharges at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault- images and alphabetical index
- 1861-1865 Confederate Muster Rolls at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault- images; filter by commanding officer, service branch and regiment
- 1861-1865 Confederate Pension Application Supplements - images and alphabetical index; filter by county
- 1863 Georgia Militia (names, ages, where born). Georgia Pioneers ($)
- 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 Hancock 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 Hancock County:
- - 6th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Company A
- - 15th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Companies E and K
- - 49th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Company I
- - 59th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Company I
- Smith, Elizabeth Wiley, and Sara Smith Carnes. 1974. The history of Hancock County, Georgia. Washington, Ga: Wilkes Pub. Co. (page 132-142) 975.8623 H2se
- Shivers, Forrest. 1990. The land between: a history of Hancock County, Georgia to 1940. Spartanburg, S.C.: Reprint Co. (page 153-169) 975.8623 H2s
- Georgia. 1961. Confederate soldiers book, 1893; soldiers and widows pension rolls, 1890 -1943. [S.l.]: Mann Film Laboratories. film 229848, 229849
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 ($))
Naturalization and Citizenship
Newspapers
- 1800s-Current Georgia, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- Georgia Historic Newspapers at Digital Library of Georgia
Obituaries
Other Records
Voting Records
- 1867-1868 Georgia, Reconstruction Registration Oath Books, 1867-1868 at FamilySearch — index
- 1856-1909 Georgia, County Voter Registrations, 1856-1909 at FamilySearch — index & images
Periodicals
Probate Records
Colonial courts kept some early probate records. From 1777 to 1798 and since 1852, the court of ordinary or register of probates has kept probate and guardianship records. The inferior court handled probate and guardianship matters from 1798 to 1852.
Many probate records to the 1930s and 1940s are at the Georgia Department of Archives and History and the FamilySearch Library on microfilm.
Content: Probate Records may give the decedent's date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.
Record types: Wills, estates, guardianships, naturalizations, marriage, adoption, and birth and death records (not all years).
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1733-1753 Colonial Wills at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images with alpha index
- 1742-1990 Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990(*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1742-1992 Georgia Wills and Probate Records 1742-1992 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1754-1776 Colonial Will Books at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images with alpha index
- 1793-1800 Family Records and Wills(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1794-1903 Minutes, 1794-1903(*); Inferior Court and Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1794-1958 Wills and Administration of Estates, 1794-1958; General Index, 1793-1900(*); Inferior Court and Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — partial index & images
- 1804-1881 Families in Hancock County, Georgia Wills and Estates at Georgia Pioneers ($)
- 1856-1908 Bonds, 1856-1908(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
- 1860-1920 Letters of Guardianship and Administration, 1860-1920(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1863-1909 Wills, 1863-1909(*);Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
- 1863-1957 Estate Sales, 1863-1957(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1882-1914 Letters of Dismission, 1882-1914(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1885-1959 Record of Widow Support, 1885-1959(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — 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
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
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
- 1863 Hancock County Birth Index 1863. Batch C713011 at FamilySearch[7]
- 1870-1960 Georgia, County Delayed Birth and Death Records, 1870-1960 at FamilySearch — index, and some images
Marriage
- 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
- 1806-1879 Hancock County Marriage Books 1 thru 3 Index 1806-1879. Batch M713011 at FamilySearch
- 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 ($)
- 1869-1876 Hancock County Marriage Books 4 thru 6 Index 1869-1876. Batch M713012 at FamilySearch
- 1876-1880 Hancock County Marriage Books 7 and 8 Index 1876-1880. Batch M713013 at FamilySearch
- 1880-1882 Hancock County Marriage Books 9 and 10 Index 1880-1882. Batch M713014 at FamilySearch
- 1882-1886 Hancock County Marriage Book 11 Index 1882-1886. Batch M713015 at FamilySearch
- 1886-1891 Hancock County Marriage Book 12 Index 1886-1891. Batch M713016 at FamilySearch
- 1891-1900 Hancock County Marriage Book 13 Index 1891-1900. Batch M713017 at FamilySearch
- 1808-1866 Marriage records images at Georgia Pioneers ($)
Death
- 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; also at Georgia Death Certificates, 1914-1927 at Georgia Archives - mostly complete records that have been indexed and digitized.
- 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
Voting Records
- 1856-1941 Georgia, County Voter Registrations, 1856-1941 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection, index & images
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Hancock County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Georgia 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 Hancock County. For state-wide library facilities, see Georgia Archives and Libraries.
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Hancock County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Georgia Societies.
Sparta Hancock County Historical Society
9687 Jones Street
Sparta, Georgia 31087
706-444-7412
Email: RSJoslyn@aol.com
Email: maurielj@aol.com
Website
Facebook
East Georgia Genealogical Society, Inc.
PO Box 117
Winder, GA 30680-0117
Email: gaeggs@yahoo.com
Website
Facebook
Websites
- Georgia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- USGenWeb Hancock County, Georgia project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
- GAGenWeb Archives
- Hancock 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
References
- ↑ 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, "Hancock County, Georgia" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hancock_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), Hancock 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.
- ↑ 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, "Hancock County, Georgia," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hancock_County%2C_Georgia, accessed 20 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.