Phillips County, Arkansas Genealogy
(Redirected from Phillips County, Arkansas)
Guide to Phillips County, Arkansas ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
Phillips County was created 01 June 1820[2] and was named for the first white settler and representative to the first Territorial Legislature of the Arkansas Territory, Sylvanus Phillips.[3] Its county seat is Helena.[4] It is located in the east-central area of the state.[5]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Phillips County Courthouse
600 Cherry Street
Helena, AR 72342
Phone: 870-338-5505
Phillips County Website
County Clerk has marriage records from 1831 and probate records from 1850.
Clerk Circuit Court has divorce, court, and land records from 1820.[6]
Phillips County, Arkansas[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 |
| 1914 | 1831 | 1914 | 1820 | 1820 | 1850 | 1830 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
|
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
|
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:[9]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Townships | ||
|
|
|
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were taken from the Phillips County page on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture[10] and several other sources.[11] [12] [13] [14]
- 1797 - Sylvannus Phillips, was living in what is now Phillips County , having come from North Carolina.
- 1820 May 1 - The Arkansas territorial legislature established Phillips County out of Arkansas County, with St. Francis as the county seat. It is believed that sometime in the next decade the city's name changed to Helena.
- 1820 November 19 - First deed recorded in Phillips County.
- 1829 & 1873 - Phillips County was reduced in size twice: first when Monroe County was established, and later when Lee County was established.
- 1830 - The town of Helena officially named as the county seat.
- 1852 - A fire nearly destroyed the town of Helena.
- 1855 - A yellow fever epidemic hit the town of Helena.
- 1862 - The town became occupied by the Union army under General Samuel Curtis.
- 1863 July 4 - The Battle of Helena took place, with the confederate troops unsuccessfully attempting to take the town.
- Today (2010) - Phillips county is one of the few Arkansas counties where African Americans outnumber whites. They do so close to 2 to 1.
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1830 | 1,152 | — |
| 1840 | 3,547 | 207.9% |
| 1850 | 6,935 | 95.5% |
| 1860 | 14,877 | 114.5% |
| 1870 | 15,372 | 3.3% |
| 1880 | 21,262 | 38.3% |
| 1890 | 25,341 | 19.2% |
| 1900 | 26,561 | 4.8% |
| 1910 | 33,535 | 26.3% |
| 1920 | 44,530 | 32.8% |
| 1930 | 40,683 | −8.6% |
| 1940 | 45,970 | 13.0% |
| 1950 | 46,254 | 0.6% |
| 1960 | 43,997 | −4.9% |
| 1970 | 40,046 | −9.0% |
| 1980 | 34,772 | −13.2% |
| 1990 | 28,838 | −17.1% |
| 2000 | 26,445 | −8.3% |
| 2010 | 21,757 | −17.7% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
- Phillips County, Arkansas Largest Slaveholders from 1860 Slave Census Schedules and Surname Matches for African Americans on 1870 Census (Tom Blake)
- 1820--Census is missing.
Church Records[edit | edit source]
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- FamilySearch Places
- 1875-1899 Nebraska, Church Records, 1875-1899 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
Court Records[edit | edit source]
- 1821-1879 Circuit Court Records, 1821-1879(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1837-1878 Court Records, 1837-1878(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1858-1859 Justice of the Peace Docket, 1858-1859(*); Justice of the Peace Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1865-1936 Chancery Court Records (Phillips County, Arkansas),1865-1936(*); Chancery and Circuit Court 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]
African Americans[edit | edit source]
- 1864-1871 — Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, Helena at FamilySearch.org — browsable images only; Register of claimants, Copies of reports,
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
- Bob Neal and Sons Funeral Home in Marvell
- Brown's Home For Funerals Inc in Helena
- Holloway and Gage Funeral Home in West Helena
- Kincaid Funeral Services in West Helena
- Jackson-Highley Funeral Home Incin West Helena
- Roller-Citizens Funeral Home in West Helena
- Stephens Funeral Home in West Helena
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
- Probate Records 1821-1945 Phillips County portion of the collection: Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979: Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images) - How to Use this Collection
- Includes Probate records 1821-1891; Wills 1898-1945; Guardian bonds and records 1873-1911
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
Phillips County deed records from 1886 to 1906 were microfilmed by the Arkansas History Commission in cooperation with the Arkansas History Commission. This was a part of a project which was completed in 2007. The filming project is discussed in an Internet news item in the Arkansas History Commission website.
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 Phillips County. They may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more about local histories, see Arkansas Local Histories.
- Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas. Chicago, St. Louis : The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1890. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust, Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat).
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
Click a neighboring county
for more resources
for more resources
- Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
- Arkansas State Archives State Maps Collection at Arkansas Digital Archives
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Revolutionary War[edit | edit source]
- Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions. Washington, D.C., 1852. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1969, and 1991. Reprints include "an Added Index to States." FS Catalog Collection 973 M24ur; digital version at Ancestry
Civil War[edit | edit source]
Regiments. Men in Phillips County served in various regiments and companies. Those listed below were specifically formed in this county:
- - 13th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate),
- - 2nd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Union)
- - 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Union)
Online Records
- 1861-1865 Arkansas Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1890-1963 Arkansas Confederate Soldier Home,1890-1963 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
- 1891-1939 Arkansas Ex-Confederate Pension Records, 1891-1939 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
- 1901-1929 Arkansas Confederate Pensions, 1901-1929 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
Civil War Battle
The following Civil War battle was fought in Phillips County:[15]
- July 4, 1863 - Helena.
- Battles of the American Civil War maps - filter by state or by battle name.
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- 1800s-Current Arkansas, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- Constitutional Journal
- Political Intelligencer, established in 1833 at Helena, moved later that year to Little Rock
- Regional Newspapers - Phillips County, Arkansas (list)
Finding More Arkansas Newspapers Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Phillips newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat
- FamilySearch. Do a Phillips County, Arkansas Genealogy Place-name search for these and other records in the FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see, FamilySearch Catalog Place-name Search).
- Fayetteville Democrat at Ancestry.com ($)
- Fayetteville Daily Democrat at Ancestry.com ($)
- Daily Fayetteville Democrat at Ancestry.com ($)
- Northwest Arkansas Times at Ancestry.com ($)
- Courier Times at Ancestry.com ($)
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1783-1998 Arkansas Wills and Probate Records 1783-1998 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1817-1979 Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979(*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
- 1821-1945 Probate records, 1821-1945(*); Probate 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[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]
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Birth[edit | edit source]
| Y | M | |
| Name of Child | 
|
|
| Birth Date and Place |
|
|
| Parent's Names |
|
|
| Mother's Maiden Name |
| |
| Parent's Ages |
|
|
| Father's Occupation |
|
|
| Current Residence |
|
|
| Name of Doctor or Midwife |
|
|
In 1877, a few county and city clerks[16] started keeping birth and death records.
In 1914, the state law required all county clerks to record births and forward them to the state.
- Arkansas Births and Christenings, 1812-1965 at FamilySearch. (Free, index only)
- Small file, but worth searching. Most entries were user-submitted.
See also: • Arkansas Online Genealogy Records, • How to Find Arkansas Birth Records and • Arkansas Vital Records—Birth.
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1779-1966 Arkansas, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
- 1800-Onward Arkansas Marriages at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1831-1921 Phillips County Marriage Books 1, A-Z, A1-N1 Index 1831-1921 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.[17]
- 1831-1946 Phillips County Marriage Books 1, A-Z, A1-N1 Index 1831-1946 in Arkansas, County Marriages, 1837-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1860-1976 Arkansas Church Marriages, 1860-1976 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
- 1917-1969 Arkansas, Marriage Certificates, 1917-1969 at Ancestry.com - index & images ($)
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1812-Onward Arkansas Deaths at MyHeritage — index ($)
- 1914-1969 Arkansas, Death Certificates, 1914-1969 at Ancestry.com - index & images ($)
- 1935-1961 Arkansas, Death Index, 1935-1961 at MyHeritage - index & images ($)
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1923-1969 Arkansas, Divorces, 1923-1969 at Ancestry.com - index ($)
Voting Records[edit | edit source]
- 1700-Onward Arkansas Voter Registrations at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1868-1910 Arkansas, County Voter Registration Records, 1868-1910 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Phillips County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Arkansas 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
- Senatobia Mississippi FamilySearch Center
- Pine Bluff / Jefferson County Library - an affiliate library
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Phillips County. For state-wide library facilities, see Arkansas Archives and Libraries.
Phillips County Library
702 Porter St
Helena, AR 72342
Phone: 870-338-3537, 870-338-8855
Email: ral72342@yahoo.com
Website
Facebook
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Phillips County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Arkansas Societies.
Tri-County Genealogical Society
405 S Midway
P.O. Box 580
Marvell, AR 72366
Phone: 870-829-2971
Email: cndavison4@gmail.com
Website
Covers Lee, Monroe, and Phillips Counties, Arkansas. Publication: Tri-County Genealogy.
Websites[edit | edit source]
- ARGenWeb
- USGenWeb Archives
- Linkpendium
- Cyndi's List
- 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]
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Individual County Chronologies, https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/AR_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Phillips County, Arkansas Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ark/phillips/
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Phillips County, Arkansas," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phillips_County,_Arkansas&oldid=1166833381 (accessed September 14, 2023).
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Phillips County, Arkansas. Page 69 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), 66.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Phillips County, Arkansas," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillips_County,_Arkansas, accessed 13 September 2018.
- ↑ Billy Steven Clifft, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, (http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=797&type=Category&item=Counties&parent=Counties%2c+Cities%2c+and+Towns&grandparent=+%3a+accessed+January+6%2c+2016)%2c : accessed January 15, 2016), “Phillips County.”
- ↑ Paul T Hellmann, Historical Gazetteer of the United States: Helena. New York: Routledge, 2005, http://books.google.com/books?id=EQ-R4O2L3nEC&pg=PA63&dq=%22Phillips+County%22+Helena+1820&hl=en&ei=7TgSTrW7AfPksQLliOHUDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=%22Phillips%20County%22%20Helena%201820&f=false, visited 11 July 2017, p. 63.
- ↑ James D. McCabe, A Comprehensive View of Our Country and its Resources': Helena', Philadelphia: Hubbard Brothers, 1876, http://books.google.com/books?id=cfziDsWvN8gC&pg=PA992&dq=%22Phillips+County%22+Helena+1820&hl=en&ei=PUoSTpalDoXHsQLNzvDUDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAjgU#v=onepage&q=%22Phillips%20County%22%20Helena%201820&f=false, visited 11 July 2017, , p. 992.
- ↑ Josiah Hazen Shinn, Pioneers and Makers of Arkansas, Vol. 1, Washington: Genealogical and Historical Publishing Co., 1908, pp. 117-131, https://archive.org/details/pioneersandmake01shingoog.
- ↑ Robert Whitaker, On the Laps of Gods: The Red Summer of 1919 and the Struggle for Justice that Remade a Nation, New York: Random House, 2008, http://books.google.com/books?id=SVNX38vKfeMC&pg=PA58&dq=%22Phillips+County%22+Helena+1820&hl=en&ei=wz8STrWxCLODsALL-9XUDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDoQ6AEwBDgK#v=onepage&q=%22Phillips%20County%22%20Helena%201820&f=false, visited 11 July 2017.
- ↑ National Park Service, Civil War Battles. Filter by state or battle name.
- ↑ such as Sebastian County (Fort Smith) and Pulaski County (Little Rock) (No entry in FamilySearch Catalog found for Pulaski County nor for Little Rock, Aug 2014)
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/d/d7/Arkansasnz.pdf.