Step-by-Step Kentucky Research, 1880-Present
 |
Some online records have restrictions, due to contractual agreements, allowing them to be used only at FamilySearch Centers or FamilySearch Affiliate Library. This pop-up warning has links to lists of addresses of the many affiliate libraries that are available throughout the world. Subscription websites such as Ancestry.com, FindMyPast, and MyHeritage and many others offer complimentary service at these affiliate libraries and at most local libraries. |
|
Step 1. Find out everything possible from living relatives and their family records.
Every good genealogy project starts with finding all the clues that can be gathered from living relatives — both from their memories and from documents or memorabilia in their homes.
What are the best questions to ask?
In order to extend research, ask for names, dates, and places. Everything about who a relative was and when and where they lived is a clue to a new record search. For ideas, see :
- 50 Questions to Ask Relatives About Family History at ThoughtCo.com
- Creating Oral Histories at FamilySearch Wiki
What documents should be collected or copied?
Because these records cover names, dates, places, and relationships, they are a valuable source of clues. Look for them in your home, your parents' home, and ask living grandparents to check for them.
|
|
|
Step 2. Find ancestors in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.
- A census is a count and description of the population for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day.
- For each person living in a household (depending on the year), their name, age, birthplace, relationship to head of household, place of birth for father and mother, citizenship status, year of immigration, mother of how many children and number of children living, native language, and whether they were a veteran of the military can be listed.
- Searching for a family in census records every ten years can identify all the children in a family.
- Searching in earlier census records to find someone as a child can identify parents.=== Using clues to lead to census record searches. ===
|
This marriage record, found in old home papers, gives clues for possible searches in the census. Reed Phillips and Nannie Troxell were married in 1916 in Lincoln County, Kentucky.
|
 |
These census records help identify all the members of this family. It appears that Reed's full name was Thomas Reed Phillips--at least the census taker thought so in 1910.
Finding an earlier generation.
The next step would be to search earlier census records to find Reed Phillips his marriage, listed in his parents' home.
Here he is in the 1910 and 1900 censuses, living with his parents, John (or Pat, probably a nickname) and Minnie Phillips, in Boyle County, Kentucky. These two census records identify twelve children for them.
Look for ancestors in as many censuses as possible. Use the clues from each census for hints where to find families in both earlier and later census records.
|
|
Step 3: Find birth, marriage, and death certificates for ancestors and their children.
States, counties, or (even towns in some states) recorded births, marriages, and deaths.
- In addition to the child's name, birth date, and place of birth, a birth certificate may give the birthplaces of the parents, their ages, and occupations.
- A marriage certificate might list the parents of the bride and groom.
- A death certificate may give the person's birth date and place, parents' names and birthplaces, and spouse's name.
Using census clues to lead to a birth certificate.
Census information gives approximate birth years and probable birth places, and that information leads to finding important birth records. In addition to basic birth date and place, a birth certificate can give age, birthplace, occupation, etc. about the parents.
Example of a birth index entry.
Using census clues to lead to a marriage certificate.
Finding marriage records can:
- establish the full identity of the wife, with her maiden name and possible birth details.
- find the names of the parents of the bride and groom.
Example of a marriage index entry. |
Example of an original marriage record.
|
Using the census clues to lead to a death certificate.
Moving forward in time, older generations stop showing up in the census. That is a clue that they probably died in the last 10 years. The death certificate is important because of all the possible secondary data beyond just the date and place of death:
- birth date and place of the deceased
- maiden name of the wife
- names of the deceased's parents
Some of the examples shown above are index entries. That means for each of them an actual, original, full certificate exists. It is highly advisable to order the original certificate. It will contain many details not given in the index. In some cases, the image of the original is found online. Instructions are given below on obtaining the original certificate in other cases.
Gather as many birth, marriage, and death records as possible.
How to Find the Records
There are basically three ways to find these indexes or full original certificates:
- Online databases
- Writing to a county courthouse (prior to the beginning of state civil registration)
- Purchasing them through the mail at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.gov
Online databases, usually indexes, with some images
Records at the County Courthouse.
These records were originally created by county clerks, and then copies were sent to the state. County clerks can be willing to help find all the birth records for one family or perform other searches that the state would not do. To contact county clerks by e-mail or telephone, go to the Wiki article for each county. Links to the county Wiki articles are found at the end of this page or by clicking here: Kentucky Counties.
Order Certificates from Kentucky Vital Records Department.
Almost always the full original certificate will contain information not contained in the index. Although it costs money, consider sending for the full original certificates, particularly for direct line ancestors (grandparents, great-grandparents, etc).
- Where to Write for Kentucky Birth, Marriage, Death and Divorce Records at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.gov
For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Kentucky, see How to Find Kentucky Birth Records, How to Find Kentucky Marriage Records, and How to Find Kentucky Death Records.
Step 4: Try to find additional details about ancestors in obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records online.
There are additional record collections available, based upon a person's death: obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records. These are a great source for more details about a person. Here are some examples; notice the level of details.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obituaries
- 1787-1854 Kentucky, U.S., Obituaries, 1787-1854 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1980-2014 United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages 1980-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Kentucky Genealogy Data at GenealogyBuff — index
- Kentucky Obituaries at ObitsArchive.com — index & images ($)
- Kentucky Obituary Sources at KYGenWeb — index
Cemeteries
Cemetery records may only give the names and dates stated on the tombstone, but as in the case of FindAGrave, sometimes pictures of the deceased and their tombstone, children's or parents' names and links to their graves, and marriage information have been added. Always verify information added by others. Frequently family members are buried in the same cemetery, often in neighboring plots.
Try these Kentucky links:
- 1933-1990 U.S., Tennessee Valley Cemetery Relocation Files, 1933-1990 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1949-1969 United States, Cemetery Abstracts, 1949-1969 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- BillionGraves — index & images
- BillionGraves Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Findmypast ($)
- FindaGrave — index & images
- Find a Grave Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry ($)
- Kentucky Cemeteries at I Dream of Genealogy — index
- Kentucky Cemeteries at USGenWeb Tombstones — index
- Kentucky Cemeteries Database at Kentucky Historical Society — index & images
- Kentucky Cemetery Records at AccessGenealogy — index
- Kentucky Cemetery Records at LDS Genealogy — index
- Kentucky Death Records and Kentucky Cemetery Records at Interment.net — index
- Online Kentucky Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com — index
U.S. Social Security Death Index and Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- The U.S. Social Security program began in 1935 but most deaths recorded in the index happened after 1962.
- The Social Security Death index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits.
- You can search these records online at
- 1935-2014 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry — index ($); Picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off by providing information filed in the application or claims process
- 1962-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- If you find an ancestor in the SSDI index, you can order a copy of their original Social Security application (SS-5). If you can prove the individual has died (by sending an obituary or copy of their cemetery headstone), the application will also give the deceased's parents' names, if listed.
For more information, see Kentucky Obituaries and Kentucky Cemeteries.
Step 5: Search military records: World War I and II draft cards.
There are many different types of military records: draft records, enlistment records, service records, pension records, etc. Information in military records can vary from a simple lists of name, age, and residence, to more detailed records including name, residence, age, occupation, marital status, birthplace, physical description, number of dependents, pensions received, disabled veterans, needy veterans, widows or orphans of veterans, and other information.
Example of a World War I draft card.
Example of a World War II draft card.
Search the World War I and World War II Draft Collections for male relatives.
- 1917-1918 United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1942 United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
For more information and additional collections, see Kentucky Military Records.
Step 6: Look for church records.
Church records function as vital records.
- An infant christening or baptism record documents a birth.
- Many, if not most, people are married in a church, and then a record is created by the minister.
- Likewise, ministers presided over funerals, then creating a burial record, which documents a death.
Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration.
Search for church records that can provide additional birth, marriage, and death information.
- 1785-1979 Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1818-1995 Kentucky, Church Records, 1818-1995 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1839-1960 Kentucky Births and Christenings, 1839-1960 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1843-1970 Kentucky Deaths and Burials, 1843-1970 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- For help with church records kept in Kentucky, see Kentucky Church Records.
- To search records by denomination, if you know your ancestors religion, go to Searching for Church Records by Denomination.
Step 7: Search for online wills and probate packets.
- County probate records include probate proceedings, petitions, affidavits, orders for sales, reports of sales, administrators' and executors' bonds, guardianship papers, wills, and letters of administration.
- In a will book, usually just a transcription of the will is recorded. But all of these other records are kept in a probate packet.
- Administrations are probate proceedings that handled an estate if no known will existed.
|
Example of probate index entry. |
Example of a will.
|
Search these indexes and images for probate records.
- 1700-1909 Kentucky, Wills, Deeds, and Marriages, 1700-1909 (Published 1929) at Findmypast — index ($)
- 1727-1990 Kentucky Probate Records, 1727-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1774-1989 Kentucky, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1774-1989 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Abstract of Early Kentucky Wills and Inventories, Copied from Original and Recorded Wills and Inventories(*) Junie Estelle Stewart King at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)
- Kentucky Will Index : Vol. 2, by Elizabeth Prather Ellsberry. Chillicothe, Missouri : E.P. Ellsberry, n.d. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; Also at: FamilySearch Catalog(*)
- Online Kentucky Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com — index
Probate Information in County Wiki Articles
Each Kentucky county Research Wiki page lists additional probate sources, including where to write for records: Kentucky Counties
For more information, see Kentucky Probate Records and United States Probate Records.
Step 8: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.
The census records may show that an ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records would be the next step.
Look for immigrant ancestors in shipping lists and citizenship sources.
Kentucky Immigration Records
- 1500-Onward All U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s at Ancestry — index & images; includes those with destination of Kentucky ($); Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1850-1895 Marriage, Birth and Death Records of Families with Proved lineages of American Revolution Ancestors : Who Emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky and from there to Texas, 1850- 1895(*) Lucy Rearden Bender at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1895-1956 United States, Border Crossings from Canada, 1895-1956 at MyHeritage — index & images; includes those with destination of Kentucky ($)
- 1895-1960 U.S., Border Crossings from Canada to U.S., 1895-1960 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1904-1944 U.S., Index to Alien Arrivals at Canadian Atlantic and Pacific Seaports, 1904-1944 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Cultural Groups
- 1812 British Aliens in the United States During the War of 1812 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1920-1939 Germany, Bremen Emigration Lists, 1920-1939 at MyHeritage — index ($); includes those with destination of Kentucky
- Germans Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage — index ($) ; includes those with destination of Kentucky
- Italians Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage — index ($); includes those with destination of Kentucky
- Russians Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage — index ($); includes those with destination of Kentucky
Passport Records Online
- 1795-1925 United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)
Kentucky Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records
- 1906-1991 Kentucky, U.S., Naturalization Records, 1906-1991 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
For more information, see Kentucky Emigration and Immigration and Kentucky Naturalization and Citizenship.
Step 9: Search for printed local histories or biography collections online.
Local Histories
- Published histories of towns, counties, and states sometimes contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
- Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories: Kentucky; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
- Google Books. Use keywords "Kentucky" and the county name. Hits will list online readable books, lists of libraries that carry the book, and purchasing opportunities.
- Family History Books
- County and Town Histories
- Internet Archive. Use keywords "Kentucky" and the county name.
- Ancestry.com ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use Kentucky and the name of the county.
FamilySearch Collected Local Histories
- Local histories are extensively collected by the FamilySearch Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies.
- If you have access to the FamilySearch Library or a FamilySearch center, you can find local histories by:
- Go to the FamilySearch Catalog.
- In the "Place" field, type the name of your county and click "Search".
- A list of subheadings for the county will appear. Local histories containing genealogies and biographies will be found under Biography, Genealogy, History, or History - Indexes.
Biography Collections
These collections of biographies can be searched online. Most have a table of contents and an index. Or use the "Find" function on a computer.
- 1800-1899 Kentucky Biographical Encyclopedia, 19th Century at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1896 Kentucky Biographical Dictionary, 1896 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- A History of Kentucky and Kentuckians, by E. Polk Johnson. Chicago and New York: Lewis Publishing Company, 1912. Online at: Vol. 1 - HathiTrust; Vol. 2 - HathiTrust; Vol. 3 - HathiTrust
- A Sesqui-Centennial History of Kentucky, by Hambleton Tapp. Hopkinsville, Kentucky: Historical Record Association, n.d. Online at: HathiTrust
- Collins Historical Sketches of Kentucky, History of Kentucky, by Lewis Collins and Richard H. Collins. Covington, KY: Collins and Co., 1874. Online at: Vol. 1 - HathiTrust; Vol. 2 - HathiTrust
- County and Town Histories, Kentucky at LearnWebSkills — index & images
- History of Kentucky, by William Elsey Connelley and E. M. Coulter. Chicago and New York: American Historical Society, 1922. Online at: Vol. 1 - HathiTrust; Vol. 2 - HathiTrust; Vol. 3 - HathiTrust; Vol. 4 - HathiTrust; Vol. 5 - HathiTrust
- Notable Men of Kentucky at the Beginning of the 20th Century (1901-1902), by Ben LaBree. Louisville, KY: Geo. G Fetter Printing Co., 1902. Online at: HathiTrust
Step 10: Contact a local historical or genealogical society.
This online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county: Click on the map to select a county, then scroll down to the historical or genealogical society listings. Here is an example of an internet website for a local genealogical society.
Step 11: Use other FamilySearch tools.Historical ImagesRecords collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
Kentucky Online Genealogy RecordsSearch any other online records listed in Kentucky Online Genealogy Records. The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the Kentucky Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
Step 12: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in Kentucky.This article focused more on Kentucky state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in Kentucky. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records. |
