Shelby County, Texas Genealogy

United States Texas  Counties S  Shelby County

Guide to Shelby County Texas ancestry, family history, and genealogy research page. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Courthouse
Shelby County Courthouse 200 San Augustine Street PO Box 1987 Center, Texas 75935-3945 Phone: 936.598.6361

County Clerk has birth, marriage, probate, court and land records from 1882, death and burial records from 1903; District Clerk has divorce records

County Clerk

P.O. Box 1987 Center 75935 Phone: 936-598-6361 Fax: 936-598-3701

District Clerk

P.O. Box 1953 Center 75935 Phone: 936-598-4164

History


The county is named after Kentucky's First Governor Isaac Shelby (1750-1826).

This county was the scene of the Regulator-Moderator War, 1841-1844.

Parent County
1836--Shelby County was created 17 March 1836 from Old Mexican Municipality. County seat: Center

Record Loss
The Shelby County courthouse burned May 31, 1882 destroying all records. Tax lists were forwarded to Austin so still exist. Deed records were "reconstructed" by the county commissioners.

Places / Localities
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog



Neighboring Counties
DeSoto Parish, Louisiana •  Nacogdoches  •  Panola  •  Rusk  •  Sabine  •  Sabine Parish, Louisiana  •  San Augustine

Resources
Shelby County TXGenWeb site

Cemeteries
Cemetery records often reveal birth, marriage, death, relationship, military, and religious information.

Additional Cemetery Sources

 * Cemeteries Shelby County TXGenWeb site
 * Cemeteries from the Shelby County Historical Society Museum &amp; Library

Lutheran

 * Records of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Shelby County, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Local Histories

 * Shelby County History from the Shelby County TXGenWeb site

Maps



 * 1914 Map of Angelina, Gregg, Harrison, Cherokee, Houston, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith &amp; Trinity at www.rootsweb.com
 * Texas Counties Map. Click on the county to go to the TXGenWeb site.

Military

 * 1838 - 1900 Texas Muster Roll Index Cards 1838-1900 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1845 - 1848 US American Volunteer Soldiers Mexican War 1845-1848 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * Vietnam Virtual Wall - Texas
 * Texas Muster Rolls 1835-1836  -  TXGenWeb

Newspapers

 * Shelby County Today online news

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1800 – 2000 Texas Wills and Probate Records 1800-2000 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1800 – 1990 at FamilySearch — images

Birth
Online Birth Indexes and Records

Original Birth Records on Microfilm

Marriage
Online Marriage Indexes and Records


 * Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977 - FamilySearch records collection 
 * Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973  -  FamilySearch record collection
 * Texas, Marriages, 1966-2010  -  FamilySearch record collection
 * 1814 - 1909 and 1966 - 2011 Texas Marriage Collection 1814-1909 and 1966-2011 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1837 - 1977 Texas Select County Marriage Index 1837-1977 at Ancestry.com — index $

Original Marriage Records on Microfilm

Death
Online Death Indexes and Records


 * Texas Death Records 1890 – 1976 [with images] Name index and images of statewide death certificates, 1890-1976. The name index has been created by Family Search and is tied to images of the Texas death certificates. Few certificates are available prior to 1903.


 * Texas Death Index 1964 to 1998 [no images] Name index to Texas Statewide Death Certificates or four million people who have died since 1964.
 * 1977 - 1986 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1903 - 1973 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1903 - 1982 Texas Death Certificates 1903-1982 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Original Death Records on Microfilm

Divorce

 * Texas Divorce Records 1968 - 2005  (index)  -  Hidden Ancestors
 * 1968-2010 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1968 - 2011 Texas Divorces 1968-2011 at Ancestry.com — index $

Societies and Libraries
Shelby County Historical Society Museum and Genealogy Research Library PO Box 1542 230 Pecan Street Center, TX; 75935 Telephone: (936) 598-2613 Shelby County Historical Society Museum &amp; Library Shelby County Historical Society Museum &amp; Library  Timpson Area Genealogical and Heritage Society 520 Austin St, PO Box 726 Timpson, TX 75975 936-254-2966 timpsgen@sbcglobal.net

Web Sites

 * TXGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the county.