Jefferson County, Texas Genealogy

Guide to Jefferson County Texas ancestry, family history, and genealogy research page. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The county was named for European-American settlers for U.S. president Thomas Jefferson. The County is located in the east-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth and death records 1903-1966, marriage, land, probate, court and military disharge records from 1836; District Clerk has divorce records

County Clerk

P.O. Box 1151 Beaumont 77704 Phone: 409-835-8475

District Clerk

P.O. Box 3707 Beaumont 77704 Phone: 409-835-8580

History
The Cypress Bayou Settlement in the Mexican municipality of Liberty was the nucleus from which the present area of Jefferson County grew.

Parent County
1836--Jefferson County was created 17 March 1836 from Old Mexican Municipality.
 * County seat: Beaumont

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Places / Localities
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog

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:

Neighboring Counties
Cameron Parish, Louisiana •  Chambers  •  Hardin  •  Liberty  •  Orange

Maps

 * Texas Counties Map. Click on the county to go to the Texas Genweb site

Military

 * 1838 - 1900 - Texas Muster Roll Index Cards at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Mexican-American War

 * 1845 - 1848 - US American Volunteer Soldiers Mexican War at Ancestry.com — index $

Civil War

 * 1861 - 1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861 - 1865 - at FamilySearch — index

Civil War Battle
The following Civil War battles were fought in Jefferson County:


 * 1862 - September 24-25, 1862 = Sabine Pass I
 * 1863 - September 8, 1863 = Sabine Pass II
 * Map showing Civil War battles in Texas.

Obituaries

 * Obituaries - Rootsweb

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1800 – 1990 at FamilySearch — images
 * 1800 – 2000 Texas Wills and Probate Records at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Birth
Online Birth Indexes and Records


 * 1840-1981 Texas, Births and Christenings, 1840-1981 - FamilySearch
 * 1903-1909 Jefferson County Births - 1903-1909 - Jefferson County TXGenWeb site
 * 1903-1935 Texas, Birth Certificates, 1903-1935 (images and index) - FamilySearch
 * 1903-1997 Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997 (index) - FamilySearch

Marriage
Online Marriage Indexes and Records


 * 1802-2010 Texas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1814-1909 and 1966-2011 Texas Marriage Collection 1814-1909 and 1966-2011 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1837-1965 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1837-1973 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1837-1977 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1837-1977 Texas Select County Marriage Index 1837-1977 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1838-2002 Jefferson County Marriages - 1838-2002 - TXGenWeb
 * 1966-2010 Texas, Marriages, 1966-2010 FamilySearch record collection

Death
Online Death Indexes and Records


 * 1890-1976 Texas Death Records 1890–1976 [with images] Name index and images of statewide death certificates, 1890-1976. The name index has been created by FamilySearch and is tied to images of the Texas death certificates. Few certificates are available prior to 1903.
 * 1903-1915 Jefferson County Deaths - 1903-1915 - Jefferson County TXGenWeb site
 * 1903-1973 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1903-1982 Texas Death Certificates 1903-1982 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1964-1998 Texas Death Index 1964 to 1998 [no images] Name index to Texas Statewide Death Certificates or four million people who have died since 1964.
 * 1977-1986 at FamilySearch.org — index

Divorce

 * 1968-2005 Jefferson County Divorces - 1968-2005 - TXGenWeb
 * 1968-2010 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1968-2011 Texas Divorces 1968-2011 at Ancestry.com — index $

Societies and Libraries
The Tyrrell Historical Library Archives 801 Pearl Street Beaumont, TX 77701 409-981-5911 Beaumont Historical Library

Family History Centers

 * Beaumont Texas Family History Center
 * Port Arthur Texas Family History Center

Websites

 * TXGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the county
 * The catalog is genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) This catalog is different than the indexed Historical Records.