Randolph County, Alabama Genealogy

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

County Courthouse
Probate Judge has birth and death records from 1886 marriage records from 1896, land and probate records from 1897 and military pensions 1904-1909

Description
The County was named in honor of James Randolph, a Virginia congressman. The County has Wedowee as its seat and the County was created December 18, 1832. The County is located in the east central area of the state.

Parent County
1832--Randolph County was created 18 December 1832 from the Creek Cession of 1832. County seat: Wedowee

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
Randolph County had a destructive courthouse fire in 1897. See Research in Alabama: A Genealogical Guide  page 29 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

 * Carroll County, Georgia
 * Chambers
 * Clay
 * Cleburne
 * Heard County, Georgia
 * Tallapoosa
 * Troup County, Georgia

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


 * Interment.net Alabama cemetery records by county.

Census

 * Gandrud, Pauline Jones. 1840 Federal Census of Randolph County, Alabama. 1947. Digital version at - free.

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 Randolph County, Alabama: with Homesteads, Roads, Waterways, Towns, Cemeteries, Railroads, and More. Norman, Okla.: Arphax Pub. Co., 2011. 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..

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 Randolph 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 RandolphCounty.


 * - 1st Regiment, Alabama Cavalry, Company I
 * - 7th Regiment, Alabama Cavalry, Company A and G
 * - 13th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E and I
 * - 14th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company K "Louina Guards"
 * - 17th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E (Dowdelll Rangers)
 * - 22nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company F and G
 * - 25th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company F
 * - 30th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company G
 * - 31st Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company H
 * - 44th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company I
 * - 46th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company G and K
 * - 59th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company F

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

The 1866 Alabama State Census for Randolph County includes columns for soldiers killed or died of disease.

World War I

 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch — index

World War II

 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers
RANDOLPH COUNTY NEWSPAPER RECORDS

Randolph County, Alabama Newspapers

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

 * 1865-1866 - U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 at Ancestry ($). Randoolph County is in District 2.

Vital Records
See also How to order Alabama Vital Records

Birth Records

 * 1886-1919 - Randolph County Birth Index 1886-1919 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.


 * 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.


 * 1888, 1896-1900, 1925, 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.


 * 1896-1900 "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.


 * 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

 * 1881-1952 - at FamilySearch Historical Records Collection. - free. More than 5,000 Randolph County deaths and burials.


 * 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.


 * 1886-1941 - Randolph County Death Index 1886-1941 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.


 * 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.


 * 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 $

The 1866 Alabama State Census for Randolph County includes columns for soldiers killed or died of disease.

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

Societies and Libraries
AlaBenton Genealogical Society c/o The Alabama Room P. O. Box 308 Anniston, AL  36202 Publication: AlaBenton Genealogical Quarterly Website Website


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

Libraries
Annie L Awbrey Public Library 263 College Street Roanoke Alabama 36274 Telephone: 334-863-2632 Website


 * Collections include books on genealogy and local history.

Public Library of Anniston - Calhoun County 108 E. 10th St. Anniston, Alabama 36201 Telephone: 256-237-8501


 * Collections include local history and genealogical records of Randolph County.

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Family History Centre Locator

Randolph County Alabama Genealogy Websites

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