Hancock County, Mississippi Genealogy

Guide to Hancock County Mississippi genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

United States Mississippi  Hancock County

County Courthouse
Hancock County Courthouse 150 Main St; BAY St. Louis MS 39520 Phone: 228.467.5404 Clerk Circuit Court has marriage and court records. Clerk Chancery Court has divorce, probate and land records.

Parent County
1812--Hancock County was created 18 December 1812 from the Mobile District. County seat: Bay St. Louis

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Mississippi county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Mississippi County Boundary Maps" (1785-1918) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
1863--Some records were lost. For a list of record loss in Mississippi counties see: Mississippi Counties with Burned Courthouses

Neighboring Counties

 * Harrison
 * Pearl River
 * St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana
 * Stone

Census

 * 1823 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1825 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1830 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1840 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1845 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1853 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1866 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1870 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.

Church Records
LDS Ward and Branch Records


 * Bay St. Louis

Courtesy of the Hancock County Historical Society:

Catholic Church Records Index: Includes Our Lady of the Gulf Church in Bay Saint Louis and the Church of the Annunciation in Kiln, Mississippi

Land and Property
Courtesy of Hancock County Historical Society:

Early Hancock County Land Records: Transcription of Book B

Local Histories
Courtesy of the Hancock County Historical Society:

Alphabet File of newspaper articles, publications, etc. indexed by surnames and subjects by Charles H. Gray

Maps

 * Maps of Mississippi (1785-1918)

Civil War

 * 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.


 * - 3rd Regiment, Mississippi Infantry
 * Company F - Shieldsboro Rifles
 * Company G - Gainesville Volunteers
 * - 17th Battalion, Mississippi Cavalry
 * Company B - Poitevent’s Company

Newspapers

 * Hancock County Obituary Index at Hancock County Historical Society website

Taxation

 * 1814 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free. (browse under Hancock, Jackson, Mobile)


 * 1814-1817 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1850-1897 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.

Birth

 * 1879-1880 - Hancock County Birth Index 1879-1880. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Marriage

 * 1849-1956 - Hancock County Marriage Index (1849-1956) at Hancock County Historical Society website
 * 1853-1918 - Hancock County Marriage Books A-L Index 1853-1918 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.

Divorce

 * 1916-1950 - Hancock County Divorce Index (1916-1950) at Hancock County Historical Society website

Death

 * 1879-1880 - Hancock County Death Index 1879-1880. Batch at FamilySearch - free.


 * Hancock County Obituary Index at Hancock County Historical Society website

Genealogy Societies and Libraries
See also a List of Mississippi Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical & Genealogical Societies

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

Websites

 * Hancock County, MS History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Mississippi Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Mississippi Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Hancock County Historical Society