Wayne County, Illinois Genealogy

United States Illinois  Wayne County

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

Historical Facts
The county is named after Revolutionary War General "Mad" Anthony Wayne (1745-1796).

Parent County

 * 1819--Wayne County was created 26 March 1819 from Edwards County. County seat: Fairfield

Boundary Changes
See an interactive map of Wayne County boundary changes.

Record Loss
November 17, 1886 -- Courthouse burned and many records were damaged.

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


 * Burned Counties Research
 * http://blogs.ancestry.com/circle/?p=2424

Neighboring Counties

 * Clay
 * Edwards
 * Hamilton
 * Jefferson
 * Marion
 * Richland
 * White

Cemeteries
Illinois Cemeteries for more information. Illinois cemetery records often identify birth, death, relationship, and military information, as well as religious affiliation.


 * 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 Wayne County and links to the information for the individuals buried there.


 * Wayne 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.


 * The Family History Library Catalog lists . Some of the books or others may be on Google Books or available at public libraries.


 * ePodunk list of Wayne 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.

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, Wayne County on page 188.]

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


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

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. 1851-present The original land and property records for Wayne County are held by the County Recorder. See the info box above for contact information. The following copies are available:


 * 1851-1898 Deed Index IRAD-EIU Search for Wayne County records. Information about how to use IRAD
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database. Also available at Ancestry ($)
 * Wayne County Federal Township Plats
 * 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.

Maps

 * Wayne County Federal Township Plats

Military Records

 * Civil War Civil War service men from Wayne 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 Wayne County.


 * - 40th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies D and E.
 * - 56th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.
 * - 60th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies G and H.
 * - 61st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 87th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.

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 Wayne County are kept, see the Wayne County Courthouse page.

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

Vital Records
Illinois Vital Records for more information.

Births
1867–present The original Wayne County birth records 1867- present are housed in the office of the County Clerk. The following copies are available:


 * 1867-1908 Birth Record - IRAD-EIU Search for Wayne County records. How to use IRAD
 * 1860-1910 Birth Record Index, Delayed – IRAD-EIU Search for Wayne County records.
 * 1860-1906 Birth Record, Delayed - IRAD-EIU Search for Wayne County records.

Marriages
1879–present The original Wayne County marriage records 1879-present are housed in the office of the County Clerk. The following copies are available:


 * 1855–1886 Marriage Certification Record, Pre-Fire - IRAD-EIU Search for Wayne County records. How to use IRAD
 * 1879-1952 Marriage Record - IRAD-EIU Search for Wayne County records.
 * 1879-1976 Marriage Record Index - IRAD-EIU Search for Wayne County records.

The following abstracts are available:


 * 1879–1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 (1879-1900 for Wayne County)

Deaths
1886–present The original Wayne County death records 1886-present are housed in the office of the County Clerk. The following copies are available:


 * 1886–1955 Death Record - IRAD-EIU Search for Wayne County records. How to use IRAD

The following abstracts are available:
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 (No data for Wayne County as of Aug 2011. Check back again as records are being added.)
 * 1916–1950 Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916-1950 (1916-1950 for Wayne County)

Web Sites

 * Wayne County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History(Linkpendium)
 * Wayne County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History(Linkpendium)