Clay County, Missouri Genealogy

United States Missouri  Clay County

Guide to Clay County Missouri genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Clay County Courthouse
Recorder Deeds has marriage and land records; Clerk Circuit Court has divorce and court records from 1822; Probate Court has probate records

History


The county is named after U.S. Speaker of the House Henry Clay (1777-1852).

Parent County
1822--Clay County was created 2 January 1822 from Ray County. County seat: Liberty

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Missouri county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Missouri County Boundary Maps" (1804-1889) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
For a list of record loss in Missouri counties see: Missouri Counties with Burned Courthouses

Places/Localities

 * The State Historical Society of Missouri has information on historical Missouri place names for all Missouri Counties.

Neighboring Counties
Clinton • Jackson • Platte • Ray • Wyandotte County, Kansas •

African American

 * 1865-1885 - Clay County Colored Marriage Index 1865-1885. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Cemeteries
Roberts Cemetery, Gallatin BillionGraves
 * Clay County, Missouri Cemetery Records, Volume I-II at Ancestry.com ($)

Catholic
St. James, Liberty


 * 1847-1873 - St. James, Liberty, Baptism Index 1847-1873. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1847-1879 - St. James, Liberty, Marriage Index 1847-1879. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
LDS Ward and Branch Records


 * Missouri City

City Directories

 * Kansas City, Missouri City Directories, 1889-91 at Ancestry.com ($)

Maps

 * Maps of Missouri (1804-1889)
 * Family Maps of (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.


 * Map of Clay County townships (Histopolis)


 * The University of Missouri Digital Library has digital copies of Missouri county plat books (ca. 1930) for all 114 Missouri counties including Clay County. The city of St. Louis is not included in this collection.


 * Map of 1886 Clay County with numerous small settlements (My Genealogy Hound)

Migration
Early migration routes to and from for European settlers included:


 * Missouri River
 * Oregon Trail 1830s from western Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon
 * California Trail 1846 from western Missouri to northern California

Civil War Battle
The following Civil War Battle was fought in Clay County


 * September 17, 1861 = Liberty aslo known as Blue Mills Landing, Blue Mills

Map showing Civil War battles in Missouri

Births

 * 1855-1869 - Clay County Birth Index 1855-1869. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1865-1885 - Clay County Birth Index 1865-1885. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1883-1884 - Clay County Birth Index 1883-1884. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Marriages

 * 1822-1878 - Clay County Marriage Books A thru D Index 1822-1878. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1877-1885 - Clay County Marriage Books E thru F Index 1877-1885. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Deaths

 * Missouri State Archives provides on-line access to Missouri Death Certificates more than 50 yrs old starting in 1910.
 * 1883-1884 - Clay County Death Index 1883-1884. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Genealogy Societies, Archives and Libraries

 * List of Missouri Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical & Genealogical Societies
 * Liberty Tribune, 1860-1869 and Liberty Weekly Tribune, 1846-1860 Searchable online at the State Historical Society of Missouri’s Digital Collections, Index to Selected Missouri Newspapers.

Smithville Historical Society
Smithville is located in both Clay and Platte counties. There are a number of resources available on their website.

Family History Centers



 * Liberty Missouri Family History Center 1130 N Clayview Dr, Liberty, MO 64068-3405 United States Location Map