Phillips County, Arkansas Genealogy

United States &gt; Arkansas&gt; Phillips County

History
Phillips County, Arkansas was formed from Arkansas County on 1 May 1820 by the territorial legislature. Located in Eastern Arkansas, the county's eastern boundary is the Mississippi River.

The earliest Phillips County records appear to date to 1820 and were kept at Helena. The earliest deed in the county was recorded 13 Oct 1820, but also though the land involved was near Helena, it was described as being in Arkansas County. The earliest deed for land recorded as being in Phillips County is dated 19 Nov 1820.

Historically, the county is perhaps best known as the site of the well-known Battle of Helena, an important Civil War battle. This battle took place at Helena in Phillips County on 4 Jul 1863.

Parent County

 * 1820--Phillips County was created 1 May 1820 from Arkansas and Hempstead Counties. County seat: Helena

Boundary Changes
One factor that must be taken into account in conducting research pertaining to Phillips County is that the Mississippi River has, on occasion, changed course.

In addition, parts of Phillips County later became other counties: Crittenden in 1825, St. Francis in 1827, Monroe in 1829, and Lee in 1873.

Record Loss
A 1906 annual report by the American Historical Association (published in Washington in 1908) noted that "Some few of the records have been slightly damaged by being moth-eaten, but have been recopied. The records were removed during the war, but were afterwards returned in good condition. During the time they were gone a record was kept in a volume as 'Irregular D.' No misfortune has ever befallen our records, and they are kept in a fireproof vault."

The same report also noted that "the records seem to be complete" from the first deed, dated 13 Oct 1820, the first probate record, dated 17 Jan 1821, and the first Court of Common Pleas order, dated 15 Jan 1821.

Neighboring Counties

 * Arkansas
 * Bolivar County, Mississippi
 * Coahoma County, Mississippi
 * Desha
 * Lee
 * Monroe
 * Tunica County, Mississippi

Cemeteries

 * Arkansas Cemeteries: Phillips County Arkansas Cemeteries

General

 * Phillips County, Arkansas Largest Slaveholders from 1860 Slave Census Schedules and Surname Matches for African Americans on 1870 Census (Tom Blake)

1820
1820--Census is missing.

Land
Phillips County deed records from 1886 to 1906 were microfilmed by the Arkansas History Commission in cooperation with the Arkansas History Commission. This was a part of a project which was completed in 2007. The filming project is discussed in an Internet news item in the Arkansas History Commission website.

Revolutionary War

 * Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions. Washington, D.C., 1852. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1969, and 1991. Reprints include "an Added Index to States." 973 M24ur; digital version at Ancestry ($). [Includes veterans from this county; Arkansas section begins on page 439.]

Newspapers

 * Regional Newspapers - Phillips County, Arkansas (list)

Marriages

 * Phillips County marriage records from 1921 to 1951 were microfilmed by the Arkansas History Commission in cooperation with the Arkansas History Commission. This was a part of a project which was completed in 2007. The filming project is discussed in an Internet news item in the Arkansas History Commission website.

Societies and Libraries

 * West Helena Public Library, 721 Plaza St., West Helena, AR 72390
 * Tri-County Genealogical Society, PO Box 580, Marvell, AR 72366, covers Lee, Monroe, and Phillips Counties, Arkansas. The society publishes Tri-County Genealogy.

Web Sites

 * The Battle of Helena (The American Civil War site)
 * Council Bend Plantation (Sankofagen Wiki)
 * Helena-West Helena (Born and Raised in the South blog)
 * Helena-West Helena (Wikipedia)
 * Helena-West Helena, Arkansas in The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History &amp; Culture
 * Phillips County, Arkansas Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Phillips County, Arkansas Genealogy Forum
 * Phillips County, Arkansas Genealogy Trails
 * Phillips County, Arkansas History, Records, Facts, Genealogy and Ancestry (Family History 101)
 * Phillips County GenWeb (ARGenWeb)
 * Phillips County in The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History &amp; Culture
 * Sidney H. Horner House (Wikipedia)
 * Sidney H. Horner House (Wikipedia)