Montgomery County, Kentucky Genealogy

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History
Montgomery County, is located east of Lexington in the outer Bluegrass region. It has an area of 199 square miles. The county was named for Gen. Richard Montgomery, who was killed at the Revolutionary War battle of Quebec. Montgomery County once stretched to the Virginia border but with the formation of Floyd, Bath, Powell, and Menifee counties, it assumed its present size in 1869. The northern two-thirds of the county has the rolling landscape typical of the Outer Bluegrass; the southern portion is much more hilly, with the thin soils and more abundant forests of the foothills region. The current county seat, Mount Sterling, was established in 1793 as "Little Mountain Town" but the surveyor changed the name to Sterling. At one time there was a large Indian mound in the area -- the "little mountain".

Parent County
1796--Montgomery County, the twenty-second county in order of formation was created 14 December 1796 from Clark County. County seat:  Mount Sterling

Boundary Changes
The original County included some or all of the present Counties of Montgomery, Bath, Powell, Estill, Lee, Breathitt, Perry, Leslie, Harlan, Letcher, Pike, Floyd, Knott, Magoffin, Wolfe, Morgan, and Menifee. In 1800 part of the County was lost to Madison and part was lost to the creation of Floyd. In 1811 part of the County was lost to the creation of Bath. In 1816 land was lost to Estill. In 1818 land was lost to Floyd. In 1852 part of the County was lost to the creation of Powell. In 1869 part of the County was lost to the creation of Menifee County.

Record Loss
Fires in 1851 and the burning down of the Courthouse in Mount Sterling by Confederate forces in 1863 destroyed many records, including marriage records and circuit court records. County clerk records were in a different location and were saved. Some marriage records have been reconstructed based on other records.

African American
The following have information concerning African American research. Both should be used:


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


 * Kentucky Minorities has information specific to Kentucky African Americans.

Cemeteries
Kentucky cemetery records often identify birth, death, relationship, and military information, as well as religious affiliation. Local volunteers through Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness may take photographs of headstones found in county cemeteries.


 * Kentucky Historical Society Cemetery Search can be searched by name, place and/or date. This database has hundreds of thousands of names transcribed from gravestones across Kentucky.  ontgomery


 * Find A Grave can be searched by the name of a person or family to find where a person is buried. Usually gives birth and death dates often with a picture of the tombstone.  May give obituaries, names of family members and links to their information in Find A Grave.


 * Find A Grave also gives a list of cemeteries in Montgomery County and links to the information for the individuals buried there,


 * Kentucky Cemeteries lists the national cemeteries in Kentucky with links to their web sites. The first link under Online Kentucky Cemeteries goes to the Kentucky section of Interment.net


 * Montgomery Co. KY USGenWeb Tombstone Project usually gives the names of the deceased in alphabetical order by last name with birth and death dates plus any remarks.


 * Some of the books or others may be on Google Books or available at public libraries.


 * ePodunk list of Montgomery County cemeteries gives the names of the cemeteries in the county with a link to more information such as address, phone number, and web site.

Churches
Complete List of Churches of Montgomery County, Kentucky

Local Histories

 * A history of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, 1792 – 1918.

By Carl B. Boyd Jr. and Hazel Mason Boyd. Published 1984. Available at Mount Sterling, Kentucky, Main branch library Call no: K976.955 Boyd. Can be checked out.


 * The First Presbyterian Church of Mount Sterling, Kentucky 1795 – 1955.

Published by church, 1955. “160th anniversary of local organization.” Available at Mount Sterling, Kentucky, Main branch library Call No: 270 FIRS c.1. Non checkout item.


 * History of St. Patrick Church, Mt. Sterling Kentucky.

Edited by Anne C. Hickey. Published 1982. Available at Mount Sterling, Kentucky, Main branch library Call No:G282 HICK. Non checkout item.

Newspapers

 * Mt. Sterling Advocate -- publish since 1890. Mt. Sterling Advocate Obituary Index. Compiled by Paula Kelley. Published 2004. Available at Mount Sterling, Kentucky, Main branch library Call No: KG929.3747 KELL. Non checkout item.

The Mt. Sterling advocate on microfilm. Available at Mount Sterling, Kentucky, Main branch library Call No: KFILM MOUN. Non checkout item.

Probate
The organization Strictly By Name provides free online indexes to early Montgomery County probate records. They offer a record retrieval service to photocopy and transcribe microfilm copies of the original documents for a small fee. Available indexes:


 * 1) Will Book A: 1797-1812

Societies and Libraries

 * Montgomery County Historical Society 30 East Main St PO Box 861 Mt. Sterling, KY 40353 Phone: 606-498-1413


 * Mt. Sterling - Montgomery County Library 241 West Locust St. Mt. Sterling, KY 40353 Phone: 859-498-2404 Fax: 859-498-7477

Websites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Family History Library Catalog
 * Montgomery County, Kentucky Genealogy and Family History(Linkpendium)