Monroe County, Alabama Genealogy

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

County Courthouse
Courthouse Fire destroyed all records prior to 1833 Probate Judge has marriage probate and land record from 1832 1816 Census of Monroe County published by Monroe Journal Monroeville, Alabama

Description
The County was named in honor of James Monroe, fifth President of the United States. The County has Monroeville as its seat and the County was created June 29, 1815. The County is located in the southwest area of the state.

Parent County
1815--Monroe County was created 29 June 1815 from Washington County and the Creek Cession of 1814. County seat: Monroeville

When created, Monroe County comprised all the Creek Indian lands ceded by the treaty of Fort Jackson in 1814. It was reduced in size by the creation of the Alabama counties of Montgomery County, Conecuh County, and Wilcox County. This particular county was named in honor of James Monroe (1758-1831), 5th U.S. President.

The Monroe County seat was established at Fort Clairborne; it was moved to Monroeville in 1832.

-See more at: http://www.genealogyinc.com/alabama/monroe-county/#sthash.NkIvpDsi.dpuf

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Alabama county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Alabama County Boundary Maps" (1799-1980) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
Monroe County had a destructive courthouse fire in 1833. See Research in Alabama: A Genealogical Guide  page 28 for suggested alternative sources to overcome this loss.

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

 * Baldwin
 * Butler
 * Clarke
 * Conecuh
 * Escambia
 * Wilcox

African-American

 * See obituary abstracts from the African-American newspaper, The Eagle, in the Newspaper section below. Section below also contains community news, marriage and birth announcements.
 * Slaves and owners recorded in the Philadelphia Baptist Church Minutes, Tunnel Springs, Monroe Co, AL - 1840-1899.

Cemeteries
The following web site has additional information on Monroe county cemeteries.


 * Interment.net Alabama cemetery records by county.

Census
State Census


 * 1866 - at FamilySearch — index

Land and Property
To place a grant or deed on a map within context of see:


 * Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Monroe County, Alabama: with Homesteads, Roads, Waterways, Towns, Cemeteries, Railroads, and More. Norman, Okla.: Arphax Pub. Co., 2009. This is a definitive work and can be used as an index to land grants. Digital version at HistoryGeo.com ($). Website includes free surname index..

Local Histories
Early Settlers Along the Old Federal Road in Monroe Conecuh Counties This book includes Monroe county genealogy and history, and Conecuh county genealogy.

Maps

 * Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)
 * Family Maps of (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.

Civil War
Civil War service men from Monroe County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Monroe County.


 * - 1st Regiment, Alabama Cavalry, Company E "J. Powell's Dragoons"
 * - 1st Regiment, Alabama Cavalry, Company H "Sandy Williams' Guards"
 * - 2nd Regiment, Alabama Cavalry, Company H
 * - 2nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company C
 * - 3rd Regiment, Alabama Cavalry, Company B [formerly, Co. "M", Wirt Adams' Cavalry]
 * - 4th Regiment, Alabama Cavalry (Russell's), Company A [formerly 3rd TN Cavalry]
 * - 5th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D "Monroe Guards
 * - 17th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company H
 * - 23rd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E
 * - 36th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company F and G
 * - 42nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A and H
 * - 42nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company H

Online Records
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 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)
 * 1871-1880 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1880-1930 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1907, 1921, 1927 - at FamilySearch — images

World War I

 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch — index

World War II

 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

 * Alabama Online Historical Newspapers - identifies historical archived and digitized newspapers available online on both free and pay-to-access websites.
 * Obituaries &amp; Death Notices published in The Eagle, 1891-1914 - an African-American newspaper of the county. Provided via Afrigeneas.com
 * Community News published in The Eagle, 1891-1914 - an African American newspaper. Also marriage announcements and birth announcements.

Probate Records
Online Probate Records
 * 1753 – 1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1809 – 1985 at FamilySearch — images

Taxation

 * 1816 - Inhabitants of Alabama in 1816. Broken Arrow Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1955. Digital version at - free. Includes Monroe County.


 * 1865-1866 - U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 at Ancestry ($). Monroe County is in District 1.

Vital Records
See also How to order Alabama Vital Records

Birth Records

 * There is a growing list of Monroe County Births that have been submitted by descendants found at ALGenWeb - free.
 * 1881-1930 - at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1881-1930 - at FamilySearch — index

Marriage Records

 * 1733-2013 - Alabama, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * To 1825 Index to Marriages at Ancestry – ($); Index. contains over 12,000 names. Each entry includes groom, bride, marriage date, county, and state. Every name is indexed so you can search for one name, or two names that are linked.
 * 1825, 1833-1838, 1936–1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800–1969 at Ancestry – ($); Index. This collection is comprised of indexes created by several agencies - the Alabama Center for Health Statistics, Jordan Dodd of Liahona Research, and Hunting For Bears.
 * 1833-1838 "Alabama Marriages, 1809–1920" at Ancestry – ($); Index. This database is a collection of marriage records from the state. Researchers will find the names of both bride and groom along with the marriage date. The county where the ceremony was performed is also provided. Containing about 150,000 records and the names of nearly 300,000 men and women.
 * 1833-1895 - Monroe County Marriage Books A and B Index 1833-1895. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1881-1895 - Monroe County Marriage Books C and D Index 1881-1895. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * Marriages at ALGenWeb - free.
 * 1809 – 1950 at FamilySearch.org — index/images
 * 1816 – 1957 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1800 – 1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800-1969 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1809 – 1920 [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4192 Alabama Marriages,
 * 1809-1920 (Selected Counties)] at Ancestry.com — index $

Death Records

 * 1881–1974 Index to Deaths and Burials at Ancestry – ($); Index. Volunteers extracted the details in this index from microfilmed copies of church, civil, family, and other records of Alabama deaths and burials. details vary depending on the original record. Note that the number of available records can vary widely by county, and this database does not necessarily represent a comprehensive set of death records for the state during this time.
 * 1908–1959 Index to Deaths Recorded by the State of Alabama at Ancestry – ($); Index. The index includes name of the deceased, county of death, date of death, and the state certificate number (volume and page).
 * 1908-1974 - at FamilySearch Historical Records Collection - free. :*Deaths at ALGenWeb - free
 * 1881 – 1952 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1908 – 1974 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1881 – 1974 Alabama, Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1908 – 1959 [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=5188 Alabama Deaths,
 * 1908-59] at Ancestry.com — index $

Societies and Libraries
Monroe County Heritage Museum 31 N. Alabama Ave. Monroeville, AL 36460 251-575-7433 Link

Monroe County Heritage Museums P. O. Box 1637 Monroeville, AL 36461 344-575-7433 Publication: Quarterly Newsletter


 * List of Alabama Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies

Libraries
Monroe County Public Library 121 Pineville Road Monroeville, Alabama 36460 Telephone: 251-743-3818

Family History Center

 * Introduction to Family History Centers


 * Monroe Alabama

Family History Center Locator
 * 430 Goodway Road Goodway, Monroe, Alabama, United States Phone: 251-862-2937

Monroe County Alabama Genealogy Websites

 * Monroe County, AL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy


 * Monroe County, ALGenWeb - free genealogical resources; part of the national USGenWeb Project




 * Monroe Co. AL


 * USGenWeb project may have maps, name indexes, history, or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.


 * USGenWeb Archives Project ~ contains record transcriptions from Bibles, obituaries, court records and more.


 * Monroe County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)