Winston County, Alabama Genealogy

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

County Courthouse
Winston County Courthouse 195 Main Street Courthouse Square Double Springs, AL 35553 Phone: (205) 489-5533

Pro Judge has marriage, probate, land records from 1891; Clerk Circuit Court has divorce and Court Records

Description
The County was named in honor of John A. Winston, a Governor of Alabama. The County has Double Springs as its seat and the County was created February 12, 1850. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

History
Winston County was formed as Hancock County from Walker County on 12 February 1850, renamed Winston County on 22 January 1858.

"The Free State of Winston is a popular name given to Civil War-era Winston County, as a reflection of the county's generally pro-Union stance and resistance to Confederate rule during the war." The name comes from a series of resolutions made by unionists on 4 July 1861 at Looney's tavern. The resolutions stated that Alabama did not have the right to secede, but if it did, then Winston County had the right to secede from Alabama.

Parent County
1850--Winston County was created 12 February 1850 from Walker County. County seat: Double Springs

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
Winston County had a destructive courthouse fire in 1891. See Research in Alabama: A Genealogical Guide  page 29 for suggested alternative sources to overcome this loss.

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

 * Cullman
 * Franklin
 * Lawrence
 * Marion
 * Morgan
 * Walker

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


 * Interment.net Alabama cemetery records by county.


 * Some Winston County cemeteries are included in Alabama Cemetery Records at FamilySearch Books Online - free.


 * Ivison, Hazle R. Collins. Index to Alabama Cemeteries: Blount County, Coosa County, St. Clair County, Talladega County, Winston County. n.d. Digital version at - free.

Census
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 Winston County, Alabama: with Homesteads, Roads, Waterways, Towns, Cemeteries, Railroads, and More. Norman, Okla.: Arphax Pub. Co., 2008. 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..

Maps

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

Civil War
Online 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)
 * 1907, 1921, 1927 - at FamilySearch — images

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

Research Guides

 * Inventory of the County Archives of Alabama: Winston County. Birmingham, Ala.: The Survey, 1941. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Taxation

 * 1865-1866 - U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 at Ancestry ($). Winston County is in District 3.

Vital Records
See also How to order Alabama Vital Records

Birth Records

 * 1888-1918 - Winston County Birth Index 1888-1918 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.


 * Winston County Births at ALGenWeb - free.


 * 1881 – 1930 at FamilySearch.org — index

Marriage Records

 * 1733-2013 - Alabama, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $


 * 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.


 * 1891-1895 - Winston County Marriage Books 1 and 2 Index 1891-1895. Batch at FamilySearch - free.


 * 1891-1901, 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.


 * 1891-1900 "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.


 * Winston County marriages at ALGenWeb - free.


 * 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 [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4192 Alabama Marriages,


 * 1809-1920 (Selected Counties)] at Ancestry.com — index $

Death

 * 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.


 * 1888, 1901-1918 - Winston County Death Index 1888 and 1901-1918 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.


 * 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).


 * 1908-1974 - at FamilySearch Historical Records Collection. - free.


 * Wilcox County Deaths at ALGenWeb - free.


 * 1881 – 1952 at FamilySearch.org — index


 * 1908 – 1974 at FamilySearch.org — index


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


 * 1908 – 1959 [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=5188 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. Winston County has two books:


 * Book 1
 * Book 2

Societies
Winston County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 112 Double Springs, Alabama 35553

The society helps to staff the Winston County Archives (P.O. Box 27, Double Springs, Alabama 35553), which includes the Society's holdings.

Publication: Winston County Trail Tracker Publication: Winston County Trail Tracker


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

Libraries
The Carl Elliott Regional Library has the following libraries in Winston County:


 * Arley Public Library P.O. Box 146 Arley, Alabama 35541 Telephone: 205-387-0129


 * Double Springs Public Library P.O. Box 555 Double Springs, Alabama 35553 Telephone: 205-489-2412


 * Haleyville Public Library 913 20th Street Haleyville, Alabama 35565 Telephone: 205-486-7450

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Family History Center Locator

Websites

 * Winston 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.
 * Winston County ALGenWeb ~ record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.
 * Winston County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Winston County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)