Tensas Parish, Louisiana Genealogy

Guide to Tensas Parish, Louisiana ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The Tensas Parish was named for the Taensa people and was created in March 17, 1843. The parish seat is St. Joseph and is located in the northeast area of the state.

Parish Courthouse
Tensas Parish Courthouse 201 Hancock St Saint Joseph, LA 71366 Phone: 318-766-3921 Tensas Parish Courthouse Parish Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate and court records from 1843.

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 parish:

Bible Records

 * Family Bible Records of Tensas Parish, Louisiana (USGenWeb Archives)

Biographies

 * Tensas Parish Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Tensas Parish Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)

Census Records

 * Louisiana Census Images (USGenWeb Census Images Project)
 * 1940 Census Enumeration District Maps - Louisiana - Tensas Parish
 * Index to Tensas Parish Census Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Church Records

 * Louisiana Historical Church Information
 * Directory of Churches in Louisiana — at Church Angel — by city
 * Tensas Parish LA Church Records (USGenWeb Archives)

 List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
 * Court Records of Tensas Parish LA (USGenWeb Archives)

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
 African Americans
 * Louisiana African American Griots Project
 * Afrigeneas - African Ancestral Genealogy

Local Histories

 * Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Louisiana: Embracing an Authentic And Comprehensive Account of the Chief Events In the History of the State, a Special Sketch of Every Parish And a Record of the Lives of Many of the Most Worthy And Illustrious Families And Individuals ... Chicago: The Goodspeed publishing company, 1892. (Tensas Parish is described on pages 203-204 in Volume 2. In addition, a search for "Tensas" in this book will bring up brief biographies of several residents of the parish.)
 * Louisiana Works Progress Administration (WPA). St. Joseph in Tensas Parish, Louisiana from the 1930s. 1936.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Louisiana (1805-1990)
 * Louisiana Digital Map Library at USGen Web Archives
 * Johnson's Plantation, Section and Township Map of Tensas Parish, Louisiana..., 1873
 * Johnson’s Plantation and Township Map of Tensas Parish, Louisiana, 1878
 * Map of the Parish of Tensas, Louisiana, 1860
 * Also see 1940 Census Enumeration District Maps above.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this parish - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

 * Military Records of Tensas Parish, Louisiana (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Military History Online: Louisiana

 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
 * 1883 List of Pensioners on the Roll January 1, 1883, Tensas Parish, Louisiana (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1898-1950 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1911 Enumeration of Ex-Confederate Soldiers and Widows of Deceased Soldiers: Tensas Parish, 1911

Regiments. Civil War service men in Tensas Parish served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (part of a regiment) that originated in their parish. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in this parish:
 * - 3rd Regiment, Louisiana Cavalry (Harrison's)(Confederate), Company A
 * - 4th Field Battery, Louisiana Artillery (Confederate)

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

 World War II 
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Honor List of Dead and Missing Army & Army Air Forces Personnel, Tensas Parish, Louisiana (Genealogy Trails)
 * Enlistment Records, Residence ParishTensas
 * Enlistment Records, Reserve Corps, Residence ParishTensas
 * Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel from Louisiana., 1946: Tensas Parish

 Korean, Vietnam, Gulf and Terrorism Wars
 * Dead and Wounded Army Casualties
 * Korean, Vietnam, Gulf, and Terrorism Wars, and Peacetime (1950-2006): Casualties

Newspapers
The original weekly Tensas Gazette was founded in 1852 in St. Joseph, Louisiana. Since that time it has operated under various owners and names. One of the oldest newspapers in Louisiana, it is still in publication under its original name. The Library of Congress has digitized the issues from 1894 to 1922 which can be browsed or searched at its Chronicling America website.
 * Louisiana Newspaper List, listing by name/parish (USNPL)
 * Chronicling America website for a full history of the Tensas Gazette, as well as information on the Waterproof Enterprise which was published in the early 1900s.

Obituaries

 * Obituaries and Death Notices, Tensas Parish, Louisiana (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Obituaries, Tensas Parish, Louisiana (USGenWeb Archives)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1756-1984 Louisiana Wills and Probate Records 1756-1984 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * Tensas Parish Wills and Probate Records (Genealogy Trails)
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Social Security Records

 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Birth

 * Tensas Parish Birth Records Click on Births at left. (USGenWeb Archives)

Marriage

 * 1837-1957 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Tensas Parish Marriage Project (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Tensas Parish Marriages. Click on Marriages at left. (USGenWeb Archives)

Death

 * 1850-1875, 1894-1960 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Archives
 Tensas Parish Data Website

FamilySearch Centers

 * Jackson Mississippi FamilySearch Center
 * Monroe Louisiana FamilySearch Center
 * Natchez Mississippi FamilySearch Center
 * Ruston Louisiana FamilySearch Center
 * Winnfield Louisiana FamilySearch Center
 * Brandon Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Webster Parish Library - Heflin Branch - an affiliate library

Museums
National Register of Historic Places: Lousiana, Tensas Winter Quarters State Historic Site St. Joseph, Louisiana: The only plantation left standing in Tensas Parish after Grant's troops marched through in 1863

Societies
Louisiana Historical Society 428 Hector Ave. Metairie, LA 70005-4412 Website Louisiana Historical Association 101 LSU Student Union LSU Box 25435 Baton Rouge, LA 70803 Facebook Website

Websites

 * Tensas, Louisiana Genealogy & History Network
 * Tensas GenWeb, LA GenWeb
 * Tensas Parish, Louisiana (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Tensas Parish, Louisiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Tensas Parish, Louisiana, Genealogy and History (Genealogy Trails)
 * Tensas Parish LA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * – 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.