Washington County, Alabama Genealogy

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

County Courthouse
Washington County Courthouse 1 Court Street Chatom, AL 36518 Phone: (334) 847-2239

Probate Judge has marriage records from 1826 Land records from 1799 Military Discharge records from 1919 Birth &amp; Death Records from 1920 and probate Records from 1825

Description
The County was named in honor of George Washington, first President of the United States of America. The County is located in the southwest area of the state.

Parent County
1800--Washington County was created 4 June 1800 from Baldwin County and the Mississippi Territory. County seat: Chatom

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
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

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
 * Choctaw
 * Clarke
 * Greene County, Mississippi
 * Mobile
 * Wayne County, Mississippi

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


 * Interment.net Alabama cemetery records by county.

Census
State Census


 * 1866 - at FamilySearch — index

Maps

 * Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)

Civil War
Civil War service men from Washington 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 Washington County.


 * - 11th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E
 * - 24th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E "Dickinson Guards"
 * - 24th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company G
 * - 32nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A, F and G
 * - 38th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company C

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

Newspapers
Alabama Online Historical Newspapers - identifies historical archived and digitized newspapers available online on both free and pay-to-access websites.

Probate Records

 * 1827-1889 Washington County Wills Index at USGenWeb.org

Online Probate Records
 * 1753 – 1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1809 – 1985 at FamilySearch — images
 * 1800 – 1939 Images of Estates. Southeastern Genealogy ($)

Taxation

 * 1816 - Inhabitants of Alabama in 1816. Broken Arrow Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1955. Digital version at - free. Includes Washington County.
 * 1865-1866 - U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 at Ancestry ($). Washington County is in District 1.

Vital Records
See also How to order Alabama Vital Records

Birth Records

 * 1881 – 1930 at FamilySearch.org — 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.


 * 1802-1804, 1825-1873, 1889-1896, 1931, 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.


 * 1826-1873; 1889-1896 "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.


 * 1826-1889 - Washington County Marriage Books A thru D Index 1826-1889. Batch at FamilySearch - free.


 * 1889-1895 - Washington County Marriage Books 4 thru 6 Index 1889-1895. Batch at FamilySearch - 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.


 * 1920-1940 - Washington County Death Index 1920-1940. Batches and  at FamilySearch - 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 $

Voting Registers
Alabama Voting Registers for 1867 are available online at the Alabama Department of Archives and History. Washington County has one book.

Societies
Washington County Alabama Historical and Genealogical Society P.O. Box 421 Chatom, Alabama 36518

The society provides local history materials and research.

Publication: Washington County Ancestry contact: Barbara Waddell (basearch@millry.net)


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

Libraries
Washington County Public Library 14102 St. Stephens Ave. Chatom, Alabama 36518 Telephone: 251-847-2097

Chatom Public Library 334-847-2097

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Family History Center Locator

Websites

 * Washington County, AL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * 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.
 * Washington County ALGenWeb~ record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.
 * Washington County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Washington County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)