User:RogersBA/Sandbox TX 234

Guide to Van Zandt County, Texas ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The County was named for Isaac Van Zandt (1813-1847), a member of the Congress of the Republic of Texas. The County is located in the northeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Van Zandt County Courthouse 121 East Dallas Street Room 202 Canton, TX 75103 Van Zandt County Courthouse 121 East Dallas Street Room 202 Canton, TX 75103 Phone: 903.567.6503 Phone: 903-567-7555 Fax: 903-567-6722 County Clerk has birth and death records 1903, marriage, land, probate and court records from 1848 and military discharge records from 1918; District Clerk has divorce records from 1848

 County Clerk 121 E. Dallas Rm 202 Canton 75103 Phone: 903-567-6503 Fax: 903-567-6722

 District Clerk 121 E. Dallas Street Room 302 Canton 75103 Phone: 903-567-6576 Fax: 903-567-1283 Sabine Lake (also known as Jordan's Saline) served as the Van Zandt County's first county seat from 1848-1850. The first courthouse was a crude log building. In 1850 the county seat was moved to Canton, where it has remained. Courthouses were built in Canton in 1850 and 1857. In 1896 a three-story courthouse with a bell tower was built. The current courthouse opened in 1939. Van Zandt County Government website

Populated Places
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog



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:

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

History Timeline
1850 Wood county was created out of Van Zandt County.

Census Records
Publications;
 * 1860 Publication -Census Records - Van Zandt County-1860 at Van Zandt County Genealogical Society
 * 1870 Publication -Census Records - Van Zandt County-1870 at Van Zandt County Genealogical Society
 * 1880 Publication -Census Records - Van Zandt County-1880 at Van Zandt County Genealogical Society
 * 1900 Publication -Census Records - Van Zandt County-1900 at Van Zandt County Genealogical Society
 *  "1890' in Van Zandt County"-Various County Records'' at Van Zandt County Genealogical Society [census substitute]
 * See also Using the Census to find other records about ancestors

Church Records

 * Catholic Parishes in Texas
 * Texas Christian Church Directory at ChurchAngel

 List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
 * Publication -Divorce Records of Van Zandt County, 1848-1920 at Van Zandt County Genealogical Society
 * Van Zandt Co. Court Minutes, Vol. A &amp; B 1848-1871 by Elvis Allen at Van Zandt County Genealogical Society
 * "Desperate Characters of Van Zandt County" by Cheryl Vaughan at Van Zandt County Genealogical Society
 * Reconstruction Records of Van Zandt County, 1867-1874: Voters Registration List 1867-1869, Occupation Taxes 1867-1874 &amp; Poll Taxes for 1872

Local Histories
1822, 1839, 1845-- Cherokees occupied the area under a grant from Mexico in 1822 and were removed in 1839. The first post office, grist mill and saw mill were set up in 1845. During the Civil War the county was popularly known as the "Free State of Van Zandt."


 * Some History of Van Zandt County, 1919; reprinted, 1977, by Wentworth Manning. Digital book online from the Portal to Texas History.
 * A History of Van Zandt County, 1976 by Margaret Elizabeth Hall.
 * History of Van Zandt County, 1950, by William Samuel Mills.
 * History of Van Zandt County, 1984, by the Van Zandt County History Book Committee.
 * Van Zandt County History from the Handbook of Texas Online.
 * Van Zandt County Histories and Biographies, Vol. I at Van Zandt County Genealogical Society
 * Van Zandt County Histories and Biographies, Vol. II at Van Zandt County Genealogical Society

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Texas Counties Map. Click on the county to go to the TXGenWeb site
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

 * 1838-1900 Texas Muster Roll Index Cards 1838-1900 at Ancestry — index and images ($)

 Mexican-American War
 * 1845-1848 US American Volunteer Soldiers Mexican War 1845-1848 at Ancestry — index ($)

 Civil War
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images at partner site
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images at partner site
 * Publication- Civil War Veterans of Van Zandt County at Van Zandt County Genealogical Society

 World War I
 * 1917-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images

Newspapers

 * Canton Herald newspaper
 * Van Banner newspaper
 * Wills Point Chronicle
 * Van Zandt County News
 * Grand Saline Sun
 * Edgewood Enterprise.
 * Texas Digital Newspaper Program at The Portal to Texas History
 * Publication -Early Obituaries &amp; Death Notices of Van Zandt County, Vol. I, 1884-1900 ''at Van Zandt County Genealogical Society
 *  Publication - Early Obituaries &amp; Death Notices of Van Zandt County, Vol. II, 1901-1907 at Van Zandt County Genealogical Society
 * Publication - Early Obituaries &amp; Death Notices of Van Zandt County, Vol. III, 1908-1913 at Van Zandt County Genealogical Society

Probate Records

 * 1800-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
 * 1800-2000 Texas Wills and Probate Records 1800-2000 at Ancestry ($) — index and images

School Records

 * Publication -School Days in Van Zandt County, Vol. I at Van Zandt County Genealogical Society
 * Publication -School Days in Van Zandt County, Vol. II at Van Zandt County Genealogical Society
 * Publication -School Days in Van Zandt County, Vol. III at Van Zandt County Genealogical Society

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records

 * 1846-1910 Texas, County Tax Rolls 1846-1910 at Findmypast ($) — index and images

Birth

 * 1840-1981 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1903-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1903-1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1926-1995 Texas Births, 1926 - 1995 at MyHeritage — index ($)

Marriage

 * 1802-2010 Texas, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1814-1909 and 1966-2011 Texas Marriage Collection 1814-1909 and 1966-2011 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1839-1982 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1837-1973 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1837-1977 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1837-1977 Texas Select County Marriage Index 1837-1977 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1848-1909 Publication -Van Zandt County Marriage Book, Vol. I, 1848-1909at Van Zandt County Genealogical Society
 * 1909-1931 Publication -Van Zandt County Marriage Book, Vol. II, 1909-1931 at Van Zandt County Genealogical Society
 * 1932-1950 Publication -Van Zandt County Marriage Book, Vol. III, 1932-1950 at Van Zandt County Genealogical Society
 * 1966-2010 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1966-2016 Texas Marriages and Divorces at MyHeritage — index ($)

Death

 * 1890-1976 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1903-1973 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1903-1982 Texas Death Certificates 1903-1982 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * 1964-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1977-1986 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images

Divorce

 * 1966-2016 Texas Marriages and Divorces at MyHeritage — index ($)
 * 1968-2010 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1968-2011 Texas Divorces 1968-2011 at Ancestry — index ($)

FamilySearch Centers

 * Gilmer Texas FamilySearch Center
 * Heath Texas FamilySearch Center
 * Longview Texas FamilySearch Center
 * Tyler Texas FamilySearch Center
 * Wills Point Texas FamilySearch Center
 * Franklin County Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
 * Hopkins County Genealogical Society Research Library - an affiliate library
 * Kaufman County Library - an affiliate library
 * Quitman Texas Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Tyler Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Van Zandt County Genealogical Library County Courthouse Annex, Suite 104 (East End of Building) P O Box 1388 Canton, Texas 75103 Website

Societies
Van Zandt County Genealogical Society P O Box 1388 Canton 75103 Website

Websites

 * Van Zandt TX GenWeb part of TXGenWeb
 * Van Zandt USGWArchives part of USGWArchives Texas Counties
 * Frontier Times Magazine
 * Historic Texas
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.