Chatham County, Georgia Genealogy

Guide to Savannah and Chatham County, Georgia ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Courthouse
Chatham County Courthouse 124 Bull Street Savannah, GA 31401-3230 Phone: 912.652.7127 Probate Court has birth, marriage, death and probate records; Clerk Superior Court has divorce and court records from 1783, land records from 1785 and naturalization records from 1801. Clerk of Superior Court 133 Montgomery Street, Room 304 P.O. Box 10227 (31412) Savannah, GA 31401 Telephone: (912) 652-7200 Fax: (912) 652-7380 Probate Court of Chatham County 133 Montgomery Street, Room 509 P.O. Box 8344 Savannah, GA 31401 Telephone: 912-652-7264

History
There were no counties prior to 5 February 1777. The settlement areas were mostly near the coastline and were organized as church-governmental parishes.See Chatham County History at GAGenWeb Project.

Parent County

 * 1777-Chatham County was created 5 February 1777 from St. Phillip and Christ Church Parishes. County seat: Savannah

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Georgia county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Georgia County Boundary Maps" (1758-1932) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

See Georgia Counties:Their Changing Boundaries

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

Populated Places

 * Incorporated Cities: Bloomingdale . Garden City . Pooler . Port Wenworth . Savannah . Thunderbolt . Tybee Island . Vernonburg


 * Communities: Georgetown . Hunter Army Airfield . Isle of Hope . Montgomery . Pin Point . Skidaway Island . White Bluff . Whitemarsh Island . Wilmington Island

Neighboring Counties
Beaufort County • Bryan County • Effingham County • Jasper County

African Americans

 * Savannah, Georgia, Slave Manifests, 1811-1860 ($) - via Ancestry.com. This is a database of manifests for slaves arriving in Savannah, Georgia from 1811-1860.The manifests include: Name of ship, Master, Port of departure, Port of destination, List of slaves on board. The slave information includes: First name, Sex, Age, Stature, Name of shipper/owner, Shipper/owner’s place of residence.
 * Perdue, Robert Eugene. The Negro in Savannah, 1865-1900. New York, Exposition Press, [1973]. 156 p. (An Exposition university Book) F294.S2 P47
 * Savannah, Georgia, Registers of Free Persons of Color, 1817-1864 available at Ancestry.com ($)

Cemeteries
The following web site may have additional information on Chatham County cemeteries.


 * Interment.net Georgia cemetery records

Church Records
St. John's Church, Savannah


 * 1846-1885 - St. John's Church, Savannah, Baptism Index 1846-1885. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1846-1903 - St. John's Church, Savannah, Marriage Index 1846-1903. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Baptist

 * Thomas, Edgar Garfield. The First African Baptist Church of North America. Savannah, Ga.: unknown, 1925. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
LDS Ward and Branch Records


 * Savannah

Episcopal
St. Paul's, Savannah


 * 1883-1911 - St. Paul's Church, Savannah, Baptism Index 1883-1911. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1892-1911 - St. Paul's Church, Savannah, Marriage Index 1892-1911. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Presbyterian
Independent Presbyterian Church, Savannah


 * 1805-1850 - Chatham County Marriages (white 1805-1850)Independent Presbyterian Church of Savannah
 * 1828-1866 - Savannah Independent Presbyterian Church Baptism Index 1828-1866. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1829-1866 - Savannah Independent Presbyterian Church Marriage Index 1829-1866. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Land and Property
Deeds and Probate Records


 * The Georgia historical quarterly
 * Georgia. Superior Court (Chatham County) are available on microfilm through a local family history center.
 * Chatham County Deed Books (1785-1806), index and images online at the Georgia Deed Books.

Grants


 * Court of Ordinary (Effingham County)
 * Bryant, Pat
 * Hemperley, Marion R.

Headright Surveys:

Public land given to the head of a household or to an individual who paid another person's passage to America. Headright grants were given to early colonists of America and to early citizens of Texas. See.

Homestead Records (See also Probate Records)

Superior Court (Chatham County)

Land Lottery


 * Learn more about Land Lotteries here: Land Lottery (Georgia Archives)
 * Surveyor General

Oyster Leases


 * (Chatham County)
 * County Commissioners

Mortgages

Superior Court (Chatham County)

Pony Homestead Records

Court of Ordinary (Chatham County)

Local Histories

 * Gamble, Thomas. Bethesda: An Historical Sketch of Whitefield's House of Mercy in Georgia, and of the Union Society, His Associate and Successor in Philanthropy. Savannah, Ga.: Morning News Print, 1902. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * Gamble, Thomas. Savannah Duels and Duellists, 1733-1877. Savannah, Ga.: Review Pub. &amp; Print. Co., 1923. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * Granger, Mary. . Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * Harden, William. A History of Savannah and South Georgia. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1913. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * Harden, William. Recollections of a Long and Satisfactory Life. New York: Negro Universities Press, 1968, c1934. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * Jones, Charles Colcock. History of Savannah, Ga.: From Its Settlement to the Close of the Eighteenth Century. Syracuse, N.Y.: D. Mason &amp; Co., 1890. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * Lattimore, Ralston B. Fort Pulaski National Monument, Georgia. Washington, D.C.: G.P.O., 1954. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * Lee, F. D. Historical Record of the City of Savannah. Savannah Ga.: Printed and published by J.H. Estill, Morning News Steam-powered Press, 1869, c1868. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * Lichtenstein, Gaston. Early History of Tarboro, North Carolina: Also, Collated Colonial Public Claims of Edgecombe County, and Easter Sunday in Savannah, Ga. Richmond: W.E. Jones, Book and Job Printer, 1908. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * Piechocinski, Elizabeth Carpenter. . Includes marriages and other vital records for Island residents, family history information for Island residents, listings of Island-born Blacks, grave sites, victims of hurricanes, Union soldiers involved in the skirmish on Whitemarch Island, plantation owners, and freed Blacks who obtained land in the Islands.


 * Savannah. Savannah, Ga.: Review Print. Co., 1937. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * Sholes, A. E. Chronological History of Savannah: From Its Settlement by Oglethorpe Down to December 31, 1899: Together with a Complete Record of the City and County, and Savannah's Roll of Honor, A Roster of the Soldiers Who Have in Three Wars Gone Forth at Their Country's Call, from This City. Savannah, Ga.: Morning News Print., 1900. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * Wilson, Adelaide. Historic and Picturesque Savannah. Boston: Published for the subscribers by the Boston Photogravure Co., 1889. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Maps

 * Maps of Georgia (1758-1932)
 * Map of Chatham County Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * Map of the Savannah River Plantations Georgia Pioneers ($)

Directories

 * 1888 - Savannah, GA, 1888. Savannah, GA: The Morning News Print, 1888. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * 1889 - Savannah, GA, 1889. Savannah, GA: The Morning News Print, 1889. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * 1890 - Savannah, GA, 1890. Savannah, GA: The Morning News Print, 1890. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * 1891 - Savannah, GA, 1891. Savannah, GA: The Morning News Print, 1891. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * 1898 - Savannah City Directory Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1899 - Savannah City Directory Georgia Pioneers ($)

Military

 * Military - Georgia USGenWeb Archives Project

Civil War
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)


 * - 1st Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Olmstead's) (Confederate), Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and K
 * - 8th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Company B
 * -11th Battalion, Georgia Infantry (State Guards) (Confederate), Company E
 * - 25th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Companies H and I
 * - 29th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Company F
 * - 31st Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Company C
 * - 35th Battalion, Georgia (Confederate), Company C
 * - 47th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Companies A and E
 * - 54th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Company F
 * - 63rd Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Companies B, F and K
 * - Wheaton's Company, Georgia Artillery (Chatham Artillery) (Confederate)
 * - Military - Civil War - Georgia USGenWeb | Archives Project

Civil War Battle
The following Civil War battle was fought in Chatham County.


 * April 10-11, 1862 = Fort Pulaski


 * Map showing Civil War battles in Georgia.

World War I

 * 1920-1929 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Naturalization

 * Savannah, Georgia, Naturalization Records, 1790-1910 available at Ancestry ($)

Immigration
Inward and outward slave manifest lists:


 * Savannah, Georgia: Coastwise Slave Manifests, 1801-1860. ARC 1151775, U.S. Customs Service, Record Group Number 36. National Archives Southeast Region, Morrow, Georgia. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Migration
Early migration routes to and from Chatham County for European settlers included:


 * Atlantic Ocean 1733
 * Savannah River 1733
 * Charleston-Savannah Trail late 1730s (an extension of the King's Highway)
 * Augusta-Savannah Trail 1739
 * Savannah-Jacksonville Trail 1740s

Newspapers
Newspapers Extracts and Abstracts

Savannah Morning News Live Oak Public Libraries


 * The Bull Street Branch has the Savannah Morning News from 1763-present in microfilm.
 * The Georgia Room has the index to this paper for 1763-1986 except: 1846-1849; 1892-1895 (spotty); 1896-1929.
 * The Georgia Death Index (1919-1994) is available at Ancestry. ($)

Probate Records
Online Probate Records


 * 1742 – 1992 Georgia Wills and Probate Records 1742-1992 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1742 – 1990 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1775 - 1927 Chatham County Georgia list of will book testators SAMPUBCO - Browsable index of testators of wills. - free
 * Complete Card Index File (digitized) of all Wills and Estates in Chatham County, alphabetical by surname. Georgia Pioneers($)
 * 1781 - 1824 Wills (abstracts) Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1777 - 1787 Will Book B (digital images). See list of names Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1788 - 1791 Will Book C (digital images). See list of names Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1801 - 1807 Will Book D (digital images.See list of namesGeorgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1791 - 1801 Will Book E (digital images) . See list of names Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1801 - 1807 Will Book F (digital images. See list of names Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1827 - 1840 Will Book I (digital images) See list of names Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1839 - 1852 Will Book K (digital images). See list of names Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1850 - 1861 Will Book L (digital images). See list of names. Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1783 - 1788 Index to Estates, Inventories (digital image. See list o names Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1794 - 1805 Index to Estates, Inventories (digital image). See list of names Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1775 - 1801 Index to Chatham Will Book A (digital) . See list of names Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1777 - 1787 Index to Chatham Will Book B (digital). See list of names Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * Chatham County - Probate Court - Marriage Licenses| Georgia Archives
 * Chatham County - Probate Court - Misc. Records | Georgia Archives: Homestead files, Case files, Lunacy files, Petitions, Wills, Other Estate records
 * Chatham County - Probate Court - Proceedings and Declarations Indexes | Georgia Archives

Taxation
Chatham County Tax Digest for 1793 (digital images) Georgia Pioneers ($)

Tax Records | Georgia Archives

Vital Records
See also How to order Georgia Vital Records

Savannah, Georgia, Vital Records, 1803-1966 available at Ancestry.com

Birth Records

 * 1862 - 1865 - Chatham County Birth Index. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

The City of Savannah (Chatham County) has birth records beginning in 1890. They were recorded state-wide beginning in 1919.

Chatham County Health Department P. O. Box 14257 Savannah, GA, 31416. Telephone: 912-356-3438.

Marriage Records

 * 1560 - 1993 - Georgia, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1560 - 1993 - Georgia, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1699 - 1944 - Georgia Marriages 1699-1944 at Ancestry.com— index $
 * 1754 - 1960 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1785 - 1950 - at FamilySearch.org — index and images
 * 1787 - 1962 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1808 - 1967 - at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1828 - 1978 - Georgia Marriage Records from Select Counties 1828-1978 at Ancestry.com — index and images $


 * 1805 - 1836 - Chatham County Marriage Index 1805-1836. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1808 - 1967 - Name index to marriage records from the state of Georgia.
 * 1827 - 1837 - Chatham County Marriage Index 1827-1837. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1830 - 1842 - Chatham County Marriage Index 1830-1842. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1838 - 1852 - Chatham County Marriage Index 1838-1852. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1842 - 1861 - Chatham County Marriage Index 1842-1861. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1852 - 1861 - Chatham County Marriage Index 1852-1861. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1862 - 1866 - Chatham County Marriage Index 1862-1866. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1877 - 1878 - Chatham County Marriage Book A Index 1877-1878. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1878 - 1882 - Chatham County Marriage Books B and C Index 1878-1882. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1882 - 1884 - Chatham County Marriage Book D Index 1882-1884. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1884 - 1886 - Chatham County Marriage Book E Index 1884-1886. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1886 - 1887 - Chatham County Marriage Book F Index 1886-1887. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1887 - 1889 - Chatham County Marriage Book G Index 1887-1889. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1889 - 1891 - Chatham County Marriage Book H Index 1889-1891. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1891 - 1892 - Chatham County Marriage Book I Index 1891-1892. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1892 - 1894 - Chatham County Marriage Book J Index 1892-1894. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1894 - 1895 - Chatham County Marriage Book K Index 1894-1895. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Microfilm copies of these records are available at the Family History Library and Family History Centers.

Death Records

 * 1849-1850, 1879-80 - Mortality Schedules at Ancestry ($).
 * 1914 - 1927 - at FamilySearch.org — index and images
 * 1919 - 1998 - Georgia Deaths 1919-1998 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1928 - 1942 - at FamilySearch.org — index and images
 * 1933 - 1998 - at FamilySearch.org — index

Voter Records

 * 1867-1868 - at FamilySearch — index

Genealogy Societies and Libraries
Savannah History Association 303 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Savannah 31401-4217

Savannah Area Genealogical Association P.O. Box 15385 Savannah 31416

Georgia Historical Society in Savannah Georgia 501 Whitaker Street, Savannah Georgia 31401 Phone: 912-651-2125 or Toll Free 877-424-4789 - Library & Archives: 912-651-2128

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

Websites

 * Chatham County, GA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Georgia Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Georgia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * USGenWeb Chatham County, Georgia project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
 * Chatham County, Georgia Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Lane Library Digital Collections (Armstrong Atlantic State University)
 * Georgia Pioneers Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * Georgia Pioneers Georgia Pioneers ($)