Hancock County, Illinois Genealogy

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

County Organization
County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Hancock County are kept, see the Hancock County Courthouse page.

Historical Facts


Hancock County is named for John Hancock who was the first signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Description
The county was named for John Hancock. The county seat is Carthage and the county was organized on 1825. The County is located in the West-Central part of the state.

Parent County

 * 1825--Hancock County was created 13 January 1825 from Pike County and unorganized territory.
 * County seat: Carthage

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Illinois county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Illinois County Boundary Maps" (1790-1869) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

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

Biography

 * The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Hancock County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Hancock County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.

Cemeteries
The following web sites have additional information on cemeteries in Hancock County.


 * Cemeteries of Hancock County, Illinois Provides listing of by township.


 * Illinois Ancestors Tombstone Project.


 * Hancock County Cemetery. This has links to several related websites.


 * Hancock County Cemeteries The website provides name of cemetery, address and telephone number when available, Google Map with cemetery marker, and other helpful Internet links by Epodunk.com.


 * The Illinois State Genealogical Society's "Cemetery Location Project"

Census

 * 1880 Census record IRAD–WIU

1840 Pensioners

 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. Washington, D.C., 1841. ; ; digital version at Google Books. [See Illinois, Hancock County on page 187.]

Church Records
Church records may give birth, death and marriage information as well as indicate family relationships. See Illinois state wiki article Church Records for more ideas about how to use church records in your research. Many libraries( WorldCat) and the hold abstracts of church records for Hancock County. Learn more about how to search WorldCat and the FamilySearch Catalog.


 * Gregg, Thomas. History of Hancock County, Illinois. C.C. Chapman, Chicago: 1880. Township histories begin on page 510. Local church histories found in the respective townships. Free online digital copy. Internet Archive.

Baptist

 * 1852–1885 Pearl Creek Missionary Baptist Church records

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
See the Church Records heading on the Nauvoo, Illinois Wiki page
 * 1839-1846' Latter-day Saints in Hancock County, Illinois (excluding Nauvoo) and in Lee County, Iowa (1839-1846)

Lutheran

 * Records of Christ Lutheran Church, Nauvoo, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Methodist Episcopal

 * 1854-1898 – Online index and digital images
 * 1876-1906  – Online index and digital images, item 9
 * 1837–1936 Wittrup, Glenn E. A history of Methodism in &amp; near La Harpe, Illinois, ca. 1837-1936.

Court Records
Original court records are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Court Records for more information about using court records.

The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through the Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Hancock County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.


 * 1827–1864 Circuit Clerk's Miscellaneous Files IRAD–WIU
 * 1829–1838 Commissioners record (has some marriage licenses)
 * 1829–1897 Circuit court records
 * 1829–1858 Circuit Court Case FilesIRAD–WIU
 * 1829–1922 Circuit Court Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1830–1860 Civil and criminal files
 * 1830–1865 Index to court papers, vol. A
 * 1830–1964 Circuit Court Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1831–1840 Court proceedings
 * 1831–1857 Court records
 * 1833–1972 Guardianship records index
 * 1838–1840, 1843–1847 Court records
 * 1838–1924 Circuit Court Record, ChanceryIRAD–WIU
 * 1839–1923 Probate
 * 1841–1956 Certificates of levy and redemption
 * 1846–1922 County Court Case Files IRAD–WIU
 * 1849–1855 County Court Dockets IRAD–WIU
 * 1849–1858 Court orders
 * 1849–1938 Guardianship records
 * 1849–1964 Probate index
 * 1849–1964 Plaintiff and defendant index
 * 1850–1963 Probate court records
 * 1853–1924 Certificates of purchase
 * 1854–1858 Justice of the Peace Dockets IRAD–WIU
 * 1856–1965 Chancery court records indexes
 * 1857–1963 Circuit court records indexes
 * 1859–1878 Circuit Court Default Judgment RecordIRAD–WIU
 * 1859–1925 Administrators and executors records
 * 1861–1881 Circuit Court Master's Certificate of PurchaseIRAD–WIU
 * 1862–1923 Justice's Transcript RecordIRAD–WIU
 * 1862–1925 Record of justice transcripts
 * 1865–1928 Executor's records
 * 1879–1925 Widow's relinquishment and selection
 * 1879–1908 Conservator's record and law
 * 1883–1904 Adoption Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1886–1920 Letters of administration with will annexed
 * 1892–1916 Inventory, appraisament [sic] and sales bills,
 * 1894–1914 Circuit court records
 * 1911–1922 Will records
 * 1963–1972 Judgement index

African American
The following have information concerning African American research.


 * African American Research (US) has more information about the kinds of records


 * Illinois State Archives pamphlet on African American Research describes what records are at the State Archives with an online method for ordering records.
 * African-American Resources for Illinois

Local Histories

 * Biographical review of Hancock County, Illinois: Containing Biographical and Genealogical Sketches of Many of the Prominent Citizens of Today and also of the Past (1907) Digital version at Internet Archive.org and Google Books.
 * History of Hancock County, Illinois: Together with an Outline History of the State, and a Digest of State Laws. by Thomas Gregg. Chicago: C.C. Chapman &amp; Co., 1880. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Internet Archive.
 * Portrait and Biographical Record of Hancock, McDonough and Henderson Counties, Illinois: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County (1894) Digital version at Internet Archives

Land and Property
Original land records are held in the office of the County Clerk. See Illinois Land and Property for more information about using land records.

Online Records


 * 1820- Land Patent Search See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database.
 * 1796–1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1817-1917 – Digital images of index and records
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
 * Illinois Public Land Purchase Records This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence. Available at www.ancestry.com ($)
 * Hancock County Federal Township Plats

At IRAD Archives The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Hancock County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.


 * 1817–1901 Deed index IRAD–WIU
 * 1817–1934 Deed Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1817–1838 Entry Books IRAD–WIU
 * 1817–1856 Land book
 * 1817–1917 Deed records
 * 1829–1973 Marks and brands record IRAD–WIU
 * 1834–1921 Levy and redemption records, old certificates and vol. 1-3
 * 1834–1938 Plat Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1836–1837 Land entry book
 * 1836–1856 School Land Sale Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1836–1884 Surveyor's Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1837–1856 Loan book
 * 1840–1904 Bonds and mortgages
 * 1841–1956 Master's and Sheriff's Levy and Redemption Certificates IRAD–WIU
 * 1853–1897 Certificates of purchase
 * 1853–1924 Master's and Sheriff's Certificates of Purchase IRAD–WIU
 * 1874–1893 Plat Record, Roads IRAD–WIU
 * 1882–1924 Mortgage Record IRAD–WIU

Additional Resources

Additional resources for Hancock County land and property may be found online in the and. Online microfilm are indicated by the camera icon in the catalog entry. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Maps

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
 * Township Map of 1870 Hancock County, Illinois with numerous small settlements. (My Genealogy Hound)

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


 * Mississippi River
 * Mormon Trail 1846 from Nauvoo, Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah

Multiple Wars

 * 1865–1965 Military Discharge Record IRAD–WIU


 * 1943–1965 Military Discharge Record IndexIRAD–WIU

Civil War
Civil War service men from Hancock 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 Hancock County.


 * - 2nd Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies G and L.
 * - 12th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company G.
 * - 16th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies D and I.
 * - 25th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D
 * - 32nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 50th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies E, F and G.
 * - 57th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A and H.
 * - 78th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies D and H.
 * - 88th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F.
 * - 118th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, B, C, E, G, H, and I.
 * - 119th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 137th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company A.
 * - 146th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 7th Regiment, Missouri Cavalry (Union), Company E
 * - 7th Regiment, Missouri Cavalry (Union), Company F
 * - 7th Regiment, Missouri Cavalry (Union), Company G

Naturalization
Original naturalization records are held in the office of the County Clerk. See Illinois Naturalization Records for more information about using naturalization records.

The following copies of original records may be accessed through the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Hancock County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.


 * 1851–1928 Naturalization Declarations of IntentIRAD–WIU
 * 1852–1868 Naturalization Record, FinalIRAD–WIU
 * 1865–1880 Naturalization Record of Soldiers and MinorsIRAD–WIU
 * 1876–1906 Naturalization Record, final IRAD–WIU
 * 1878–1906 Naturalization Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1928–1930 Naturalization Petition RecordIRAD–WIU

Online Records
 * 1800-1998 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Populated Places

 * Nauvoo

Neighboring Counties

 * Adams
 * Clark County, Missouri
 * Henderson
 * Lee County, Iowa
 * Lewis County, Missouri
 * McDonough
 * Schuyler

Probate Records
Original estates and wills are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Probate Records for more information about using probate records.

Online Probate Records
 * 1772 - 1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1819 - 1988 at FamilySearch.org — images
 * 1827–1942 Probate journals and records, wills, administrators' records, executors' records, guardianship records, and widows relinquishment records for Hancock County probate records are also available in . Click on the browse through images link, select Hancock County, and select the record type you are interested in.
 * 1831-1940 – Digital images, index at the beginning of the volumes
 * 1831-1942 - Digital images of indexes and records
 * 1831-1972 - Digital images of indexes and records
 * 1839-1923 - Digital images of indexes and records
 * 1839-1942 - Digital images of index
 * 1840-1866, 1893-1934 – Digital images of indexes and records
 * 1849-1878 – Digital images, index at the beginning of the volumes
 * 1849-1938 - Digital images of indexes and records
 * 1850-1963 - Digital images of indexes and records
 * 1859-1925 – Digital images, index at the beginning of the volumes
 * 1865-1928 - Digital images, index at the beginning of the volumes
 * 1870-1874 - Digital images, index at the beginning of the volumes
 * 1879-1908 - Digital images, index at the beginning of the volumes, records are for those appointed by the court to be conservators
 * 1879-1925 - Digital images, index at the beginning of the volumes
 * 1886-1920 - Digital images, index at the beginning of the volumes
 * 1892-1916 - Digital images, index at the beginning of the volumes
 * 1911-1922 - Digital images, index at the beginning of the volumes

At IRAD Archives The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Hancock County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.

Copies and Abstracts
 * 1830–1923 Probate Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1830–1942 Probate Record Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1830–1915 Probate Inventory, Appraisement and Sale Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1831–1923 Probate Case Files IRAD–WIU
 * 1833–1923 Probate Will Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1835–1954 Probate Case Files, Guardians IRAD–WIU
 * 1839–1949 Probate Claim and Judgment DocketsIRAD–WIU
 * 1850–1963 Probate Sale Petitions Index, Real Estate IRAD–WIU
 * 1859–1924 Probate Administrator's RecordIRAD–WIU
 * 1864–1928 Probate Executor's Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1879–1908 Probate Conservator's Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1879–1937 Probate Inventory Record, Guardians IRAD–WIU
 * 1879–1925 Probate Widow's Relinquishment and Selection RecordIRAD–WIU
 * 1885–1920 Probate Administrator's Record with Will AnnexedIRAD–WIU
 * 1887–1922 Probate Administrator's and Executor's Reports IRAD–WIU
 * 1889–1938 Probate Guardian's Record IRAD–WIU

Additional Resources

Additional resources for Hancock County probates may be found in the topic page of the FamilySearch Catalog. Online microfilm are indicated by the camera icon in the catalog entry. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Repositories
Nauvoo Land and Records Office Cor. Parley and Partridge streets Nauvoo, IL 62354 Telephone: 217-453-2733 Fax: 217-453-2757 Email: [mailto:nauvoolr@ldschurch.org nauvoolr@ldschurch.org]

Primitive Baptist Library 416 Main Street Carthage, IL 62321-1337 Email: [mailto:bwebb9@juno.com bwebb9@juno.com] Facebook

County Courthouse
County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Hancock County are kept, see the Hancock County Courthouse page.

Family History Centers
Nauvoo Illinois Family History Center 385 N Wells Street, North Entrance Nauvoo, IL 62354 217-453-6347

To learn more about the genealogical resources available at Family History Centers, see Introduction to Family History Centers. For center hours and holiday closure information, see Nauvoo Illinois Family History Center.

Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)
IRAD is a system of Illinois Regional Archives Depositories managed by the Illinois State Archives, housing the archival records of local Illinois counties, townships, municipalities and school districts. The seven Regional Depositories are housed on state university campuses scattered throughout Illinois. Western Illinois University houses the records for Hancock County.

Public Libraries
Carthage Public Library District 538 Wabash Ave. Carthage, IL 62321 Telephone: 217-357-3232 Fax: 217-357-2392 Email: [mailto:cartlib@adams.net cartlib@adams.net]

Greater West Central Public Library District 202 Center St Augusta, IL 62311 Telephone: 217-392-2211

Hamilton Public Library 861 Broadway St Hamilton, IL 62341 Telephone: 217-847-2219 Fax: 217-847-3014 Email: [mailto:hamlib@adams.net hamlib@adams.net]

La Harpe Carnegie Public Library District 209 East Main Street La Harpe, IL 61450 Telephone: 217-659-7729 Fax: 217-659-7735 Email [mailto:lahalib@yahoo.com lahalib@yahoo.com]

Nauvoo Public Library 1270 Mulholland Nauvoo, IL 62354 Telephone: 217-453-2707 Email: [mailto:nauvoopl@mchsi.com nauvoopl@mchsi.com]

Warsaw Public Library 1025 Webster Street Warsaw, IL 62379 Telephone: 217-256-3417 Fax: 217-256-3154 Email: [mailto:info@warsawlib.org info@warsawlib.org]

School Records

 * 1879–1953 School teachers' daily registers IRAD–WIU

Societies
Hancock County Historical Society 306 Walnut Street Carthage, IL 62321-0068 Telephone Number: 217-357-0043 Email:[mailto:info@hancockcountyhistory.com info@hancockcountyhistory.com] Website

The Hancock County Historical Society is located in the Kibbe Museum.

LaHarpe Historical and Genealogical Society PO Box 289 LaHarpe, IL 61450 Telephone Number: 217-659-3635 Website

Nauvoo Historical Society PO Box 69 Nauvoo, IL 62354 Email:[mailto:historian@nauvoohistoricalsociety.org historian@nauvoohistoricalsociety.org] Website

Taxation

 * 1817–1857 Taxable Lands Lists IRAD–WIU
 * 1834–1848 Tax Sale Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1851–1861 Tax Sale Notices IRAD–WIU
 * 1858–1872 Tax Lists, Delinquent IRAD–WIU

Vital Records
See Illinois Vital Records for more information about Vital records in Illinois. See also How to order Illinois Vital Records or order electronically online.

Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth and death certificates recorded until the year 1916 are kept by the Hancock County Clerk while those recorded after 1916 are kept by the Illinois Department of Public Health with a copy to the County Clerk. Original marriage records are usually kept by the County Clerk from the establishment of the county to the present. Original divorce records are generally in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk.

The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through online databases and the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Hancock County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.

Births
Online Records
 * 1829-1947 – Online index and images
 * 1877-1947 – Digital images of indexes and records, incomplete
 * 1878-1916 – Digital images, starting at item #4, index before the volumes.

At IRAD Archives
 * 1844–1877 Birth Record, delayed IRAD–WIU
 * 1844–1922 Birth Certificates IRAD–WIU
 * 1867–1947 Birth Record Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1877–1915 Birth register IRAD–WIU

Marriages
Online Records
 * 1587-1959 - Illinois, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900
 * 1790–1860 Illinois Marriage index found at Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1810–1934 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1829-1849 – Online index and digital images
 * 1829-1915 – Online index and digital images
 * 1829-1947 – Online index and images
 * 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index

At IRAD Archives
 * 1829–1933 Marriage Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1830–1922 Marriage LicensesIRAD–WIU
 * 1862–1940 Marriage Record Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1880–1925 Marriage License Applications IRAD–WIU

Deaths
Online Records
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916
 * 1829-1947 – Online index and images
 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1850–1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 found at Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1877–1947 - Digital images of index and records
 * 1877–1915 Register of deaths
 * 1893-1912 – Digital version of index and records
 * 1910-1915
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950

At IRAD Archives
 * 1877–1947 Death Record Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1877–1917 Death Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1877–1931 Death Certificates IRAD–WIU
 * 1893–1913 Coroner's Inquest Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1878–1916 Register of stillbirths IRAD–WIU
 * 1902–1941 Burial and Removal Permits IRAD–WIU
 * 1903–1919 Death Certificates, Stillbirths IRAD–WIU

Additional Resources
Additional resources for Hancock County births, marriages and deaths may be found in the, the , and the topic pages of the FamilySearch Catalog. Online microfilm are indicated by the camera icon in the catalog entry. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Websites

 * USGenWeb project is a great site that will has vital records, cemeteries, census, histories, newspapers, military, maps. There are links to libraries, courthouses, and mailing lists.
 * Hancock County, IL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Hancock County IL Genealogy
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Early Pioneers of Nauvoo database
 * Hancock County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History(Linkpendium)
 * Hancock County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History(Linkpendium)