Cumberland County, Illinois Genealogy

United States Illinois Cumberland County

County Organization
Cumberland County's civil records start the following years:

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

Historical Facts
Cumberland County is named for the, which was named for the town of Cumberland, Maryland.

Boundary Changes

 * 2 March 1843: - Cumberland County was created from Coles County.


 * Interactive map of Cumberland County boundary changes.

Record Loss
5 November 1885: Courthouse burned and many records were damaged.

For further information on researching in burned counties, see the following:


 * Burned Counties Research

Cemeteries
Illinois Cemeteries for more information. Find A Grave, list of cemeteries. Additional information can be found at local level (city, township, etc.)


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


 * Illinois Cemeteries by county.

Census
For information and tips on accessing census records online, see Illinois Census.

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

Land and Property
Illinois Land and Property for more information.


 * 1796-1907 - U.S General Land Office Records at Ancestry–($)
 * Illinois Public Land Purchase Recordsat Ancestry–($)
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database. Also available at Ancestry ($)
 * Cumberland County Federal Township Plats
 * Federal Township Plats of Illinois
 * 1800s – Present - Use the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land Patent Index to obtain original federal land transfer records, including homestead, military warrants, and cash entry patents. These records help a researcher establish location and lead to National Archives’ records which may include genealogical information. Earlier land transfer records are at the National Archives.
 * [No land and property record holdings noted in IRAD-EIU Cumberland County Listing.] Search for Cumberland County records. Information about how to use IRAD
 * Family Maps. Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Cumberland County, Illinois.  Norman, Oklahoma: Arphax Pub. Co., c2006.

Maps

 * Cumberland County Federal Township Plats

Civil War
Civil War service men from Cumberland 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 Cumberland County.


 * - 21st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 59th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F.
 * - 97th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B and D.


 * Illinois Trails History and Genealogy. 1862-1863 military census of males aged 18 to 45 in various towns of Cumberland County, who were eligible for Civil War military duty (accessed 2 Jun 2011).

Probate Records
Illinois Probate Records for more information.

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

Family History Centers
There are over 4500 Family History Centers worldwide which serve as branch facilities of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Volunteers provide research assistance to help patrons identify their ancestors. Microfilm and microfiche may be ordered from the FHL collection at a nominal cost. Locate your nearest Family History Center at the FamilySearch website. Call ahead to verify operating hours. All are welcome. The following centers are accessible to residents of Cumberland County, Illinois:

Champaign Illinois Family History Center 604 W Windsor Rd Champaign, Champaign, Illinois Phone: 217-352-8063 Hours: Thur-Sat 9:30-12:30pm; Thur 7pm-9pm; or by appt Danville Illinois Family History Center '1941 N Bowman Ave Danville, Vermilion, Illinois Phone: 217-446-5887 Hours: Sat 9:30am-2pm

Terre Haute Indiana Family History Center 1845 N 6 1/2 St Terre Haute, Vigo, Indiana Phone: 812-234-0269 Hours: Tue 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Closed: Mondays after 6:00 p.m., all major holidays, inclement weather, whenever Vigo school are on delays or early dismissals. Attention: The Center is also available by appointment. Please note: Addresses posted are not mailing addresses. Due to limited staff, Family History Centers are unable to respond to mail inquiries.

Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)
The Illinois State Archives administers a system of Illinois Regional Archives Depositories (IRAD) to manage the archival records of local governments. Local governments which have transferred records to the regional depositories include counties, townships, municipalities, and school districts. The records of Cumberland County come under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) regional depository.

Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) Booth Library Eastern Illinois University (EIU) 600 Lincoln Avenue Charleston, IL 61920 Telephone: (217) 581-6093 Hours: Monday – Friday, except state holidays 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Note: The depository is staffed by graduate student interns. Because of class scheduling conflicts, hours may vary somewhat from the published schedule. Researchers are urged to call before planning a visit.

Societies
Cumberland County Historical and Genealogical Society 216 Cumberland St. Box 582 Greenup, Illinois 62428 Phone: (217) 923-9306 E-mail: historic@rr1.net

Vital Records
Illinois Vital Records for more information.

Marriages

 * To-1850 Illinois Marriages to 1850 at Ancestry–($);Index, INCOMPLETE
 * 1878-1888 State Board of Health returns of marriges
 * 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index
 * 1851-1900 Illinois Marriages, 1851-1900 at Ancestry–($);Index, INCOMPLETE
 * 1790-1860 Illinois Marriages, 1790-1860 at Ancestry–($);Index, INCOMPLETE

Deaths

 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 (No data for Cumberland County as of Aug 2011. Check back again as records are being added.)
 * 1916–1947 
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates

Webites
Databases pertinent to Cumberland County
 * Local Governmental Records Database IRAD
 * Name Index to Illinois Local Governments IRAD
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Cumberland County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)