Baldwin County, Alabama Genealogy

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


 * This article is about a southwest Alabama county. For other uses, see Baldwin.

County Courthouse
Baldwin County Courthouse 1 Court Square PO Box 239 Bay Mintre, AL 36507 Phone: (334) 937-9561

The Probate Court has marriage records from 1810, probate records from 1809 and land records from 1808. The Clerk of the Circuit Court has divorce and court records.

Description
The County was named in honor of Senator Abraham Baldwin, though he never lived in what is now Alabama. The County has Bay Minette as its seat and the County was created December 21, 1809. The County is located in the center area of the state.

History
Baldwin County initially fell within the bounds of Mississippi Territory.

Parent County
1809--Baldwin County was created 21 December 1809 from Washington County and part of Florida. County seat: Bay Minette

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Alabama county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Alabama County Boundary Maps" (1799-1980) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

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

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Neighboring Counties

 * Clarke
 * Escambia
 * Escambia County, Florida
 * Mobile
 * Monroe
 * Washington

African American

 * 1896-1935 - in "Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950," at FamilySearch.org - free.

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


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


 * Alabama Minorities has information specific to Alabama African Americans.

Biographies

 * Baldwin County Biographies at The USGenWeb Archives Project - free.

Cemeteries
The following web site has additional information on Baldwin county cemeteries.


 * Interment.net Alabama cemetery records by county.

Census
Federal Census


 * 1810 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1816 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1855 - Population Index to the 1855 Baldwin County Census at Ancestry ($). Includes heads of household.

State Census


 * 1866 - at FamilySearch — index

Land and Property
To place a grant or deed on a map within context of see:


 * Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Baldwin County, Alabama: with Homesteads, Roads, Waterways, Towns, Cemeteries, Railroads, and More. Norman, Okla.: Arphax Pub. Co., 2006. This is a definitive work and can be used as an index to land grants. Digital version at HistoryGeo.com ($). Website includes free surname index..

Local Histories

 * Comings, Lydia Jane Newcomb et al. A Brief History of Baldwin County. Fairhope, Ala.: Baldwin County Historical Society, 1928. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); - free;.

Maps

 * Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)
 * Family Maps of (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.

Civil War
Civil War service men from Baldwin 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 Baldwin County.


 * - 21st Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company F "Baldwin Rifles"
 * - 23rd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company I
 * - 32nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company C

Online Records 
 * 1907, 1921, 1927 - at FamilySearch — images

Civil War Records

 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
 * 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)

Civil War Battles Fought in Baldwin County

 * 1864 - August 2-23 = Mobile Bay, also known as Passing of Forts Morgan and Gaines, (partly fought in Mobile County)
 * 1865 - March 27-April 8, 1865 = Spanish Fort
 * 1865 - April 2-9 = Fort Blakely

Battle information from Civil War Battle Summaries by State, by the Heritage Preservation Services.

Map showing Civil War battles in Alabama, by the Heritage Preservation Services.

World War I

 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch — index

Newspapers
Alabama Online Historical Newspapers - identifies historical archived and digitized newspapers available online on both free and pay-to-access websites.

Probate Records

 * 1830-1976 - Probate Records, 1830-1976 at  - free.

Online Probate Links
 * 1753 – 1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1809 – 1985 at FamilySearch — images

Taxation

 * 1810-1816 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1816 - Inhabitants of Alabama in 1816. Broken Arrow Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1955. Digital version at - free. Includes Baldwin County.


 * 1865-1866 - U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 at Ancestry ($). Baldwin County is in District 1.

Vital Records
See also How to order Alabama Vital Records

Birth

 * 1881-1930 -


 * 1881 - 1930 at FamilySearch.org — index

Marriage

 * 1733-2013 - Alabama, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1801-1930 - in "Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950," at FamilySearch.org - free.


 * To 1825 Index to Marriages at Ancestry– ($); Index. contains over 12,000 names. Each entry includes groom, bride, marriage date, county, and state. Every name is indexed so you can search for one name, or two names that are linked.


 * 1810–1825; 1845–1889; 1936–1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800-1969 at Ancestry– ($); Index. This collection is comprised of indexes created by several agencies - the Alabama Center for Health Statistics, Jordan Dodd of Liahona Research, and Hunting For Bears


 * 1816-1957 - FamilySearch Historical Records Collection. Incomplete.


 * 1845–1889 "Alabama Marriages, 1809-1920"at Ancestry– ($); Index. This database is a collection of marriage records from the state. Researchers will find the names of both bride and groom along with the marriage date. The county where the ceremony was performed is also provided. Containing about 150,000 records and the names of nearly 300,000 men and women.


 * 1809 - 1950 at FamilySearch.org — index/images


 * 1816 - 1957 at FamilySearch.org — index


 * 1800 - 1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800-1969 at Ancestry.com — index $


 * 1809 - 1920 Alabama Marriages, 1809-1920 (Selected Counties) at Ancestry.com — index $

Death

 * 1881-1952 - FamilySearch Historical Records Collection


 * 1881–1974 Index to Deaths and Burials at Ancestry– ($); Index. Volunteers extracted the details in this index from microfilmed copies of church, civil, family, and other records of Alabama deaths and burials. details vary depending on the original record. Note that the number of available records can vary widely by county, and this database does not necessarily represent a comprehensive set of death records for the state during this time.


 * 1908–1959 Index to Deaths recorded by the state of Alabama at Ancestry– ($); Index. The index includes name of the deceased, county of death, date of death, and the state certificate number (volume and page).


 * 1881 - 1952 at FamilySearch.org


 * 1908 - 1974 at FamilySearch.org — index


 * 1881 - 1974 Alabama, Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974 at Ancestry.com — index $


 * 1908 - 1959 Alabama Deaths,


 * 1908-59 at Ancestry.com — index $

Voting Registers
Alabama Voting Registers for 1867 are available online at the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Baldwin County has three books:


 * Book 1
 * Book 2
 * Book 3

Societies and Libraries
Baldwin County Genealogical Society PO Box 108 Foley, Alabama 36536-0108 U.S.A.

The society meets at 10:00 am on the second Saturday of each month At the Foley Public Library Meeting room Foley, Alabama

All meetings are open to the public. Visitors are WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO COME ATTEND. Bring a friend Baldwin County Genealogical Society The Foley Public Library 319 E. Laurel (Hwy. 98) Foley, Alabama 36535-2680 Foley Library Fax: 251.943.8637 251.943.7665


 * Baldwin Co. AL


 * Websites at RootsWeb - Baldwin AL


 * Al Gen Web


 * Baldwin Libraries


 * List of Alabama Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies


 * Baldwin County, Alabama Genealogy


 * Baldwin County, Alabama


 * Baldwin County Alabama Genealogy & Family History Resources


 * Baldwin County, Alabama


 * Baldwin County, Alabama: Family History & Genealogy, Census, Birth, Marriage, Death Vital Records & More


 * Department of Archives and History

Family History Center

 * Introduction to Family History Centers
 * Daphne Alabama Family History Center


 * 28721 County Road 13 Daphne, Baldwin, Alabama, United States Phone: 251-625-1386 Hours: T 10am-2pm; W 6:30-8:30; Th 12-4pm

Family History Centre Locator

Websites

 * Baldwin County, AL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * USGenWeb Archives Project ~ contains record transcriptions from Bibles, obituaries, court records and more.
 * Baldwin County ALGenWeb ~ record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.


 * Baldwin County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Baldwin County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)