Hancock County, Indiana Genealogy
Guide to Hancock County, Indiana 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, president of the Continental Congress, who signed his name prominently to the Declaration of Independence. The county is located in the central area of the state.[1]
County Courthouse
Hancock County Courthouse]
9 E Main Street
Greenfield, IN 46140
Phone: 317-462-1109
County Website
Hancock County Health Department
111 American Legion Pl, Rm 150
Greenfield, IN, 46140
Health Officer: Sandra Aspy, MD
Phone Number: 317-477-1125
Fax: 317-477-1154
Email: cbaker@hancockcoingov.org
Health Department
County Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate and court records from 1828.
County Recorder has land records.
County Health Department has birth and death records from 1882. [2]
Health Department has birth records and death records.
Copies may be obtained from the county health department or the Indiana State Division of Vital Records.
Hancock County, Indiana 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 |
| 1882 | 1828 | 1882 | 1828 | 1827 | 1828 | 1807 |
Record Loss
|
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:[7]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Townships | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
- Augustus L. West, Brown Township, Hancock County, Indiana at ACPL Genealogy Center
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
| |
Census Records
For tips on accessing Hancock County census records online, see: Indiana Census.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1830 | 1,436 | — |
| 1840 | 7,535 | 424.7% |
| 1850 | 9,698 | 28.7% |
| 1860 | 12,802 | 32.0% |
| 1870 | 15,123 | 18.1% |
| 1880 | 17,123 | 13.2% |
| 1890 | 17,829 | 4.1% |
| 1900 | 19,189 | 7.6% |
| 1910 | 19,030 | −0.8% |
| 1920 | 17,210 | −9.6% |
| 1930 | 16,605 | −3.5% |
| 1940 | 17,302 | 4.2% |
| 1950 | 20,332 | 17.5% |
| 1960 | 26,665 | 31.1% |
| 1970 | 35,096 | 31.6% |
| 1980 | 43,939 | 25.2% |
| 1990 | 45,527 | 3.6% |
| 2000 | 55,391 | 21.7% |
| 2010 | 70,002 | 26.4% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
- Index to Mortality Schedule (1860) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
Church Records
Most church records are held by individual churches. For contact information, check a phone directory, such as SearchBug or Dex Knows. Some denominations are gathering their records into a central repository.
For more information about these major repositories, see Indiana Church Records.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
- 1818-1954 Indiana Court Cases at MyHeritage — index ($)
- Record of Indentures(*); Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
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
- 28th US Colored Troops, Addition Recruits for Colored Troops
Funeral Homes
- A Simple Cremation Society of Central Indiana in Greenfield.
- Condo-St Pierre Family Funeral Home in Wilkinson.
- Erlewein Mortuary and Crematory in Greenfield.
- Liming Family Funeral Home in Shirley.
- Seals Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Fortville.
- Stillinger Family Funeral Home in Greenfield.
Genealogies
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 Indiana Land and Property for additional information about early Indiana land grants and patents.
After land was transferred from the government to private ownership, subsequent transactions were recorded at the Hancock County courthouse, 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
Local histories are available for Hancock County. County histories may include biographies; church, school and government histories; and military information. For more information about local histories, see Indiana Local Histories.
- History of Hancock County, Indiana : From its Earliest Settlement. 1882. By John H. Binford. Greenfield, Ind. : King & Binford. Online at: Hathitrust, Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat).
- History of Hancock County, Indiana, its People, Industries, and Institutions. 1916. By George J. Richman. Indianapolis, Indiana : Federal Publishing. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat). Note: Two histories of Hancock County by George J. Richman were published in 1916 by two different publishers, one was 860 pages and the other was 1,252 pages. The additional pages were biographical sketches. The smaller book was reprinted in 1978. The additional pages from the second book were reprinted separately in 1979. The 1978 reprint includes an index to all of the pages. This index was prepared by the WPA in 1941. Both books should be consulted, as neither one is complete.
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- Historic Indiana Maps at IUPUI University Library
- Old Antique Atlases & Maps of Indiana
- Historic Indiana Atlases for Hancock County at University Library (IUPUI)
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
- Military Record Series Index at Indiana Digital Archives
- Veterans in Hancock County, Indiana (1886) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
Mexican War, 1846-1848
- Men of Hancock County in The Mexican -Genealogy Trails
Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War service men from Hancock County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Hancock County
- 5th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry (90th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers), Company G
- 8th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies B, G, and Reorganized Company G
- 9th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Reorganized Company C
- 9th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company B
- 12th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company B, and Reorganized Company G
- 13th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company I
- 20th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Reorganized Company E
- 51st Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company D
- 53rd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company A
- 57th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company A
- 69th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies B, C, and D
- 75th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company I
- 99th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company B
- 105th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company E
- 132nd Regiment, Indiana Infantry (100 days, 1864), Companies F, and I
- 134th Regiment, Indiana Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company K
- 147th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company F
- 148th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies C, and I
- 28th US Colored Troops, Addition Recruits for Colored Troops
Civil War Book:
- Men of Hancock County in The Civil War - Genealogy Trails
- "Military Annals" Chapter 7 in Richman, George J.History of Hancock County, Indiana; Its People, Industries and Institutions. (Greenfield, Ind: Wm. Mitchell Printing Co, 1916.) (page 255-328 Regiment, Company, Name) Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; FS Library CollectionInternet Archive
World War I
- 1802-1892 Indiana, Compiled Marriages, 1802-1892 at Ancestry ($)
- 1919 Indiana, World War I, Enrollment Cards, 1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
- A Record of Indiana Men and Women who Died in the Service of the United States and the Allied Nations in the World War. 1914-1918 -Genealogy Trails
- Residents of Hancock County, Indiana Who Served in World War I at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
World War II
- Hancock County, Indiana World War II Casualties, Army and Army Air Corps Access Genealogy
Naturalization and Citizenship
- Naturalization Record Series (for this county) at Indiana Digital Archives. Search by names.
Newspapers
Indiana newspapers may contain genealogical value including obituaries, births, marriages, deaths, anniversaries, family gatherings, family travel, achievements, business notices, engagement information, and probate court proceedings.
For more Indiana newspaper information see the wiki page Indiana Newspapers.
- 1800s-Current Indiana, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- Hoosier State Chronicles
Obituaries
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
In most counties in Indiana, probate records have been kept by the county clerk of the circuit court. They include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate ticklers, and dockets. The records are available at the Hancock County courthouse. For more information, see Indiana Probate Records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1798–1999 Indiana Wills and Probate Records 1798-1999 at Ancestry ($)
- 1853-1951 Probate Records, Complete Probate Records, Fee Books, Guardianship and Estate Records, 1853-1951(*); Court of Common Pleas and Superior Court 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
- Graduates of Mount Comfort High School (1902-1929) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
- Graduates of Wilkinson High School (1898-1926) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
- Directory of Teachers for Hancock County (1936) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — 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
Indiana tax records complement land records and can be used in place of censuses or to supplement the years between censuses. Because only persons who owned taxable property were listed, many residents were not included in tax lists. There may also be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information see the wiki page Indiana Taxation.
Vital Records
Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Indiana law in 1882 required registration of births and deaths in counties. The Indiana Department of Health has birth records filed after October 1907 and death records filed after January 1900 for deaths. Copies may be obtained from the county health department or the Indiana State Division of Vital Records.
Birth
Marriage
- 1780-1992 Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1800s-2007 Indiana, United States Marriages at Findmypast $
- 1802-1892 Indiana Marriages, 1802-1892 at Ancestry ($)
- 1811-1959 Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959 at MyHeritage - index & images ($)
- 1811-2007 Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1828-1836 Hancock County, Indiana Marriages Genealogy Trails
Death
- Pre-1882 WEB: Indiana, Deaths, Pre-1882 at Ancestry - index, (Free collection)
- 1750-1993 Indiana Deaths and Burials, 1750-1993 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1882-1920 Indiana, Death Index, 1882-1920 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1899-2011 Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011 at Ancestry - ($)
Divorce
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Hancock County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Indiana 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
- Anderson Indiana FamilySearch Center
- Brownsburg Indiana FamilySearch Center
- Fishers Indiana FamilySearch Center
- Indianapolis Indiana FamilySearch Center
- Wallace Avenue Indiana FamilySearch Center
- White River Indiana FamilySearch Center
- Hamilton East Public Library - Fishers - an affiliate library.
- Hancock County Public Library - an affiliate library.
- Indiana State Library Foundation Inc - an affiliate library.
- Shelby County Public Library - an affiliate library.
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Hancock County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Indiana Archives and Libraries.
Sugar Creek Branch of Hancock County Publi Library
5731 West US 52
New Palestine, IN 46163
Phone: 317-861-6618
Facebook
Website
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Hancock County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Indiana Societies.
Hancock County Historical Society
28 Apple St
PO Box 375
Greenfield, IN 46140
Phone: 317-462-7780
Email: hancockhistory@live.com
Website
Hancock County, Indiana, Genealogical Society
700 N Broadway
PO Box 122
Greenfield, IN 46140-0122
Email: hancockgensoc@insightbb.com
Website
Websites
- Indiana Digital Archives Search by name in all records or specific collections
- Indiana Historical Society Digital Collections Search by county or keyword
- Indiana Memory Click the map or select a statewide collection
- List of indexes and databases at Indiana State Library
- Indiana Genealogical Society Databases Free and Members-only. Select a county
- USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
- Hancock County, Indiana Genealogy and Family History (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
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Hancock County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hancock_County,_Indiana 3/28/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Indiana.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Indiana.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Hancock County, Indiana Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ind/hancock/ accessed 3/28/2017
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Hancock County, Indiana" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hancock_County,_Indiana (accessed 10 May 2012).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Hancock County, Indiana," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hancock_County,_Indiana, accessed 11 December 2019.