Hempstead County, Arkansas Genealogy

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

County Courthouse
Hempstead County Courthouse PO Box 1420 Hope, AR 71801-1420 Phone: 870.777.2241 County Clerk has marriage and probate records from 1823 and land records from 1900

History

 * 1818--Hempstead County was created 15 December 1818 from Arkansas County. County seat: Hope Its existence predates the state of Akansas which was admitted to the union in 1836. Hempstead County was part of the Missouri Territory from 1818 to 1819 and part of the Arkansas Territory from 1819 to 1836.

Parent County
Arkansas County, Arkansas

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Arkansas county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Arkansas County Boundary Maps" (1813-1925) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
1820 Deed records prior to October 9, 1820  have been lost. 1824 Circuit court records prior to March 15, 1824 are lost.

Places/Localities
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog

Neighboring Counties
Howard • Lafayette • Little River • Miller • Nevada • Pike • Sevier

History Timeline
Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were taken from the Hempstead County page on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.


 * 1818 December 15 - Hempstead County was organized.
 * 1819 - Settlers came up the Red River on keel or flatboats, as well as overland, down the Southwest Trail.
 * 1824 - Washington was established as the first county seat.
 * 1863-1868 - The official population increased in these years as the former slaves were listed in the census for the first time as citizens. It is possible that the non-violent atmosphere in the county attracted other former slaves.
 * 1880-1900 - In 1880, the rich earth near Columbus was producing 1,120 pounds of cotton per acre. Total production of cotton for the county was 13,985 bales, worth an estimated $1.425 million. By 1890, cotton production had increased to 15,985 bales. Cotton continued to be king until after World War I. No cotton is grown in the county today.

African Americans

 * 1865-1868 — Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, Washington at FamilySearch.org — browsable images only; Accounts current, Marriage certificates, court papers, and teachers' school reports, contracts, letters
 * 1865-1868 — Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, Washington (Southwest District of Arkansas) at FamilySearch.org — browsable images only; letters, special orders

Cemeteries

 * Cemeteries are found on the Hempstead ARGenweb site, the Hempstead Archives website and the Findagrave website.

Court

 * Index to Chancery Court Records Hempstead Co. ARGenweb

Guardianship

 * Probate Records 1819-1927 Hempstead County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration bonds 1845-1914; Administration dockets 1839-1855; Dockets 1832-1840; Executor records 1861-1927; Guardian bonds and letters 1861-1911; Letters of administration 1826-1830; Miscellaneous probate records 1837-1845; Probate records 1841-1894; Wills 1826-1925; Wills, miscellaneous records 1819-1845.

Land and Property

 * Federal Land Records Hampstead County Hempstead County Archives

Local Histories

 * Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas. Chicago, IL, USA: Goodspeed Publishing, 1890. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)

Maps

 * Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)

Revolutionary War

 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census]. 1841. Digital version at Google Books. 1967 reprint: 973 X2pc 1840. [See Arkansas, Hempstead County on page 191.]

Civil War

 * - 2nd Regiment, Arkansas Mounted Rifles (Confederate), Company H
 * - 5th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), The Davis Blues
 * - 6th Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Confederate), Companies C and D
 * - 17th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Griffith's) (Confederate), Company H
 * - 20th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Companies A, B, C and E

Online Records


 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1891-1939 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1901-1929 - at FamilySearch — images only

Probate Records
Online Probate Records
 * 1783 – 1998 Arkansas Wills and Probate Records 1783-1998 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1817 – 1979 at FamilySearch — images
 * Probate Records 1819-1927 Hempstead County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration bonds 1845-1914; Administration dockets 1839-1855; Dockets 1832-1840; Executor records 1861-1927; Guardian bonds and letters 1861-1911; Letters of administration 1826-1830; Miscellaneous probate records 1837-1845; Probate records 1841-1894; Wills 1826-1925; Wills, miscellaneous records 1819-1845.

Vital Records
See also How to order Arkansas Vital Records

Marriage

 * 1817 - 1875 - Hempstead County Marriages, 1817 - 1875 Hempstead County Archives
 * 1817 - 1921 - Hempstead County Marriage Books A-N, S-V Index 1817-1921 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1819 - 1951 - Hempstead County Marriage Books A-Z, 1-11 Index 1819-1951 in at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1860 - 1976 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Freedmens' Marriages Hempstead County Hempstead Co.ARGenweb

Genealogy Societies and Libraries

 * List of Arkansas Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical & Genealogical Societies

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers