DeSoto County, Mississippi Genealogy

Guide to DeSoto County, Mississippi ancestry, family history and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The County was named for Hernando de Soto. The County has Hernando as its seat and the County was created February 9, 1836. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
De Soto County Courthouse 2535 Hwy 51 S; Courthouse Square Hernando, MS 38632 Phone: 662.429.1317 Clerk Chancery Court has divorce, probate and land records.

History

 * A Brief History of DeSoto County, Mississippi

Parent County
1836--DeSoto County was created 9 February 1836 from Indian Lands. County seat: Hernando

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
1940--Some county records were lost.

Neighboring Counties

 * Crittenden County, Arkansas
 * Marshall
 * Shelby County, Tennessee
 * Tate
 * Tunica

Census

 * 1805 - 1890 Mississippi, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1805-1890 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1660 - 1820 U.S. Census Reconstructed Records, 1660-1820 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1792 - 1866 Mississippi, State and Territorial Census Collection, 1792-1866 at Ancestry.com — index $


 * 1841 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1845 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1853 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1870 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.

Local Histories
It is anticipated that this bibliography will eventually identify all known family histories published about residents of this county. Use this list to:


 * Locate publications about direct ancestors
 * Find the most updated accounts of an ancestor's family
 * Identify publications, to quote Elizabeth Shown Mills, about an ancestor's "FAN Club" [Friends, Associates, and Neighbors]

General


 * Matthews, Paul A. Early Families of the Memphis Area: Profiles of 135 Families of Fayette, Shelby and Tipton Counties in Tennessee, Crittenden County, Arkansas and DeSoto and Marshall Counties in Mississippi: With Historical Time Lines and Photogrpahs of Those Counties. Memphis, Tennessee: Descendants of Early Settlers of Shelby and Adjoining Counties, 2008..

Bibliography

Maps

 * Maps of Mississippi (1785-1918)

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch.org — index/images
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch.org — index/images
 * 1861-1865 - U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
 * 1861-1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
 * 1889-1942 - at FamilySearch — images
 * 1900-1974 - at FamilySearch — images


 * Men from DeSoto 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 DeSoto County.


 * - 10th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry (Old)
 * Company A - Horn Lake Volunteers [formerly Co. E, 9th MS Infantry]
 * - 1st Regiment, Mississippi Infantry (Johnston's)
 * Company D - DeSoto Greys
 * - 5th Regiment, Mississippi Cavalry
 * Company K - Ward’s Company
 * - 19th Battalion Mississippi Cavalry (Duff's)
 * Company H - Morris’ Company
 * - 8th Regiment, Mississippi Cavalry (formerly 19th Battalion Mississippi Cavalry (Duff's)
 * Company H - Morris’ Company
 * - 9th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry (Old)
 * Company E - Horn Lake Volunteers
 * Company G - DeSoto Guards
 * Company K - Irrepressibles
 * - 9th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry (New)
 * Company A - Capt. Wallace’s Company

Probate Records
Online Records
 * 1780 – 1982 Mississippi Wills and Probate Records 1780-1982 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1781 – 1930 at FamilySearch — images

Taxation

 * 1837-1896 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.

Marriage

 * 1800 - 1911 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1776 - 1935 Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1826 - 1900 Mississippi Marriages, 1826-1900 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1826 - 50 Mississippi Marriages, 1826-50 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * to 1825 Mississippi Marriages to 1825 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1840-1890s - DeSoto County, Mississippi Marriages. Courtesy: MSGenWeb - free.
 * 1845-1916 - DeSoto County Marriage Books A-I and 1-8 Index 1845-1916 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.

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

Societies
Genealogical Society of Desoto County Mississippi P. O. Box 607 Hernando, Mississippi 38632-0607 Phone: 662-429-1310 E-mail: GSDCMS@hotmail.com Library hours: 10:00 a.m. to approximately 2:00 p.m Mon - Wed and on Thursday or Friday by appointment only. Meetings: 2nd Saturday of the month at Genealogical Society Library located at 3260 Hwy 51, South, Hernando MS, unless otherwise stated. Meetings begin at 10 am and are concluded by 12 noon.

Websites

 * DeSoto County, MS History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Mississippi Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Mississippi Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * USGenWeb DeSoto County, Mississippi project. Has maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.