Webster Parish, Louisiana Genealogy

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Guide to Webster Parish, Louisiana ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Parish Facts
Parish seat: Minden
Organized: February 27, 1871
Parent Parish(es): Claiborne, Bienville, Bossier
Neighboring Parishes
BienvilleBossierClaiborneColumbia (AR)Lafayette (AR)
See Parish Maps
Courthouse
Virginia, Webster County Courthouse.png
Location Map
La-webster.png
Adoption

Parish Information[edit | edit source]

Description[edit | edit source]

Webster Parish was named for Daniel Webster and was created in February 27, 1871. The parish seat is Minden and is located in the northwest area of the state.[1]

Parish Courthouse[edit | edit source]

Webster Parish Courthouse
410 Main Street
Minden, La. 71055
Phone: 318-371-0366
Webster Parish Courthouse

Parish Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1871.[2]

Webster Parish, Louisiana Record Dates[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 parish and/or the state government agency.

Known Beginning Dates for Major Parish Records[3]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1914 1871 1914 1871 1871 1871 1700s
*Statewide registration for births and deaths started in 1914. General compliance year unknown. (website says 1918 births; 1911 deaths)

Record Loss[edit | edit source]

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this parish.

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 parish:[5]

Cities
Towns
Villages
Unincorporated communities


History Timeline[edit | edit source]

Resources[edit | edit source]

Bible Records[edit | edit source]

Biographies[edit | edit source]

Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries of Webster, Louisiana online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the Parish
See Louisiana Cemeteries for more information

Census Records[edit | edit source]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1880 10,005
1890 12,466 24.6%
1900 15,125 21.3%
1910 19,186 26.8%
1920 24,707 28.8%
1930 29,458 19.2%
1940 33,676 14.3%
1950 35,704 6.0%
1960 39,701 11.2%
1970 39,939 0.6%
1980 43,631 9.2%
1990 41,989 −3.8%
2000 41,831 −0.4%
2010 41,207 −1.5%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

Church Records[edit | edit source]

Church records vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members, such as: name; age, baptism, christening, or birth; marriage, maiden names; and death. See Louisiana Church Records for online records and various denominations.

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Court Records[edit | edit source]

Online Court Indexes and Records

Directories[edit | edit source]

Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]

African American

Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]

Genealogies[edit | edit source]

Guardianship[edit | edit source]

Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a specific location, reveal family relationships, and more. Private transactions include deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, and leases. See Louisiana Land and Property for more information and for transfer of land to private ownership (grants and land patents).

Local Histories[edit | edit source]

Parish histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories see Louisiana Local Histories.

Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]

Lafayette CountyColumbia CountyBossier ParishClaiborne ParishBienville ParishLA WEBSTER.PNG
Click a neighboring parish
for more resources

Migration[edit | edit source]

Military Records[edit | edit source]

Civil War

Regiments. Civil War service men in Webster Parish served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (part of a regiment) that originated in their parish. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in this parish:

- 6th Regiment, Louisiana Cavalry (Confederate)

World War I

World War II

Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]

Newspapers[edit | edit source]

Obituaries[edit | edit source]

Other Records[edit | edit source]

Photographs[edit | edit source]

Periodicals[edit | edit source]

Probate Records[edit | edit source]

Probate records (sometimes called "Succession Records") may give date of death, names and residences of heirs (spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, relative) and neighbors or associates. See Louisiana Probate Records for more information.

Online Probate Indexes and Records

School Records[edit | edit source]

Social Security Records[edit | edit source]

Tax Records[edit | edit source]

Louisiana tax records can be used in place of missing censuses and provide lists of residents during years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years. For more information, see Louisiana Taxation.

Vital Records[edit | edit source]

Vital Records consist of civil records of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. For online sources and obtaining records, see Louisiana Vital Records.

Birth[edit | edit source]

Marriage[edit | edit source]

Death[edit | edit source]

Divorce[edit | edit source]

Research Facilities[edit | edit source]

Archives[edit | edit source]

Listed below are archives in Webster Parish. For state-wide facilities, see Louisiana 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

Libraries[edit | edit source]

Listed below are libraries in Webster Parish. For state-wide library facilities, see Louisiana Archives and Libraries.

Museums[edit | edit source]

Societies[edit | edit source]

Listed below are societies in Webster Parish. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Louisiana Societies.

  • Germantown Commission Association
    PO Box 389
    Minden, LA 71055-0389
  • Louisiana Historical Society
    428 Hector Ave
    Metairie, La. 70005-4412
    Website
  • Louisiana Historical Association
    101 LSU Student Union
    LSU Box 25435
    Baton Rouge, LA 70803
    Facebook
    Website

Websites[edit | edit source]

Research Guides[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Wikipedia contributors, "Webster Parish, Louisiana" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webster_Parish,_Louisiana."
  2. The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed., Webster Parish, Louisiana p 293 (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
  3. Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Webster Parish, Louisiana. Page 289-293 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), 267-268.
  4. Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FSC Book 973 D27e 2002.
  5. Wikipedia contributors, "Webster Parish, Louisiana," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webster_Parish,_Louisiana, accessed 9 January 2020.