Perry County, Illinois Genealogy

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

Perry County Organization
Perry 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 Perry County are kept, see the Perry County Courthouse page.

Historical Facts
Perry County is named for Oliver Hazard Perry who was a Commodore of the United States Navy and is known for his victory at the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812.

Parent County

 * 1827--Perry County was created 29 January 1827 from Randolph and Jackson Counties. County seat:  Pinckneyville

Description
The county was named for Oliver Hazard Perry who defeated the British fleet at the decisive Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812. The county seat is Pinckneyville and the county was organized on January 29, 1827. The County is located in the Southwest area of the state.

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.

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

Neighboring Counties

 * Franklin
 * Jackson
 * Jefferson
 * Randolph
 * Washington

Biography

 * All of the Perry County, Illinois family biographies from The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois (1894) published by Biographical Publishing Co. are available free online at My Genealogy Hound.

Cemeteries
The following web sites have additional information on Perry county cemeteries.


 * Cemeteries in Perry by Epodunk.com gives the names of the cemeteries in the county with a link to more information such as address, phone number, and web site.

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

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, Perry County on page 188.]

Catholic
FamilySearch has made parish records from five Belleville Diocese Catholic churches in Perry County available online. The records include first communions, confirmations, marriages, and deaths:


 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.

Additional Resources
Additional resources for Perry County church records may be found in the. 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.

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


 * 1828–1835 County record, no. 1, book A
 * 1852–1924 Insanity proceedings
 * 1913–1937 Mother's petitions for relief

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

History

 * Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the Counties: Together with Biographies and Portraits of All the Presidents of the United States, and the Governors of the State of Illinois. Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co., 1894. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Internet Archive. For additional access, see WeRelate.
 * Robertson, Robert Crawford. Pioneer Families of Randolph and Perry Counties, Illinois: Notes on the Campbell, Crozier, Flack, Milligan, Steele and Thompson Families: The Crawfords of Ballynease, Londonderry, Ireland, with Descendants in the U.S.A., and Their Descendants in the Elsey, Garven, Matthews and Robertson Families. Chattanooga, Tenn.: R.C. Robertson, 1960. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * Neville, J. Wesley. Student's History of Perry County. 1990. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

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.

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

Online Resources


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

Abstracts


 * 1920 Randolph County Genealogical Society (Illinois). Plat book and complete survey of Perry County, Illinois 1920. Chester, Illinois: Randolph County Genealogical Society (Illinois), 1991. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Copies of original records


 * 1814–1903Land patent record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1827–1863 Deed Index IRAD (SIU) Search for Perry records How to use IRAD
 * 1827–1890 Grantor and grantee index
 * 1827–1950 Deeds
 * 1850s-1894 Swamp land records IRAD (SIU)
 * 1987 Land atlas and plat book

Maps

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

Civil War
Civil War service men from Perry 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 Perry County.


 * - 6th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company I.
 * - 12th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
 * - 12th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861), Company G.
 * - 18th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A.
 * - 31st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A.
 * - 71st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 81st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, C and K.
 * - 89th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.
 * - 110th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.
 * - 136th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Companies A and D.

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

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.

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 Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Perry County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

Copies of Original Records


 * 1828–1858 Probate record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1829–1843 Probate will record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1840–1953 Index to estates
 * 1843–1856 Probate administrator's bonds and letters IRAD (SIU)
 * 1858–1889 Probate record
 * 1860–1875 Administrators records
 * 1867–1884 Proceedings on petition to sell real estate
 * 1867–1909 Will record
 * 1875–1883 Estate record
 * 1897–1917 Wills and executors

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

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. Southern Illinois University houses the records for Perry County.

Libraries
Cutler Public Library 409G S. Main Cutler, IL 62238 (618) 497-2961

Du Quoin Public Library 28 South Washington Street Du Quoin, IL 62832

(618)542-5045 Offers Heritage Quest remote access

Pinckneyville Public Library 312 South Walnut Street Pinckneyville, IL 62274

(618) 357-2410 Has local newspapers on microfilm, and many historical publications

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library 112 North Sixth Street Springfield, IL 62701-1507

(217) 524-6358 or (217)558-8844 Has online indexes for obituaries in their newspaper collections, and surnames found in Illinois county histories, biographical directories and encyclopedias. Offers genealogical research for hire.

Societies
Perry County Historical Society 108 W. Jackson St. Pinckneyville 62274

Brimfield Historical Society Brimfield Public Library 111South Galena Brimfield, IL 61517 Telephone Number: 309-446-3631 Telephone Number: 309-446-3670

Chillicothe Historical Society (Old Rock Island Depot, Cedar and Third Street) PO Box 181 Chillicohe, IL 61523-0181 Telephone Number: 309-274-2247 Telephone Number: 309-274-3440

Elmwood Historical Society Lorado Taft Museum 302 North Magnolia Elmwood, IL 61529 Telephone Number: 309-742-7791 Telephone Number: 309-742-2431

Historical Association of Princivelle 103 North Walnut 325 North Ostrom Avenue Princeville, IL 61559-9538 Telephone Number: 309-385-2394

Peoria County Genealogical Society PO Box 1489 Peoria, IL 61655-1489

Peoria Historical Society c/o Bradley University Special Collections Center/Cullum David Library 1501 West Bradley Peoria, IL 61625

Genealogical Society of Southern Illinois has a page with details about its' activities.

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 Perry 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, the Family History Library and the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) - search for Perry County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the SIU IRAD Wiki page.

General

 * 1869–1876 Randolph County Genealogical Society. The Valley Clarion Newspaper, Chester, Illinois, August 1869– April 1876. Chester, Illinois: Randolph County Genealogical Society, [1990?]Other libraries (WorldCat)

Births
Abstracts


 * Dickinson, H.B. and Elda Jones. Birth records, Dr. H.B. Dickinson, Coulterville, Illinois. Marissa, Illinois : Marissa Historical &amp; Genealogical Society, 2003. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Copies of Original Records


 * 1845–1914 Birth Certificates, Delayed IRAD (SIU)
 * 1845–1877 Miscellaneous births
 * 1871–1915 Delayed births
 * 1878–1916 Birth index IRAD (SIU)
 * 1878–1915 Births IRAD (SIU)

Marriages:
Online Resources


 * 1587-1959 - Illinois, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1790–1860 Illinois Marriage index found at Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1827–1850 Perry County, Illinois Marriage Records 1827–1850, available online, courtesy: USGenWeb Archives.
 * 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index

Abstracts


 * 1827–1850 Cooke, Dorothy and Elizaeth Eiker. Marriage licenses issued in Perry County, Illinois beginning 1827 to 1850.[Pinckneyville, Ill., 1959]. Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1827–1850 Spurgeon, Elizabeth Eiker and Dorothy Cooke. Perry County, Illinois, marriages 1827–1850 with genealogical notes. Thomson, Illinois: Heritage House, 1973. Other libraries (WorldCat)
 * 1868–1896 Schick, Lee, Naomi Schick, and Mary Alyce Browne Kern. Perry County, Illinois marriage records, 1868-1896, a few through 1903. Carterville, Illinois: Genealogy Society of Southern Illinois, 1992. Other libraries (WorldCat)

Copies of Original Records


 * 1827–1916 Marriage record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1827–1974 Marriage record index IRAD (SIU)
 * 1827–1867 Marriage record
 * 1827–1868 Parent's permission to marriage IRAD (SIU)
 * 1868–1974 Marriage index
 * 1878–1916 Marriage register

Deaths:
Online Resources


 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1850-1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885found at Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1916-1950 Death Index 1916–1950, available online, courtesy: USGenWeb.
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950

Copies of Original Records


 * 1870-1892 Coroner's inquest record IRAD (SIU)
 * 1878-1915 Death index IRAD (SIU)
 * 1878-1915 Registers of death IRAD (SIU)
 * 1911-1915 Coroner's death certificates IRAD (SIU)

Websites

 * Perry County, IL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Perry County IL Genealogy
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Perry County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * USGenWeb Archives