Hancock County, Mississippi Genealogy

United States Mississippi  Hancock County

Guide to Hancock County Mississippi genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Courthouse
Hancock County Courthouse 150 Main St; BAY St. Louis MS 39520 Phone: 228.467.5404 Clerk Circuit Court has marriage and court records. Clerk Chancery Court has divorce, probate and land records.

Parent County
1812--Hancock County was created 18 December 1812 from the Mobile District. County seat: Bay St. Louis

Record Loss
1863--Some records were lost.

Neighboring Counties

 * Harrison
 * Pearl River
 * St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana
 * Stone

Biographies
Courtesy of the Hancock County Historical Society:

Alphabet File of newspaper articles, publications, etc. indexed by surnames and subjects by Charles H. Gray

Cemeteries

 * Turtleskin Cemetery, Picayune BillionGraves. Has unusual layout, extremely narrow lot but quite long.
 * Bayou Cove Cemetery, Kiln BillionGraves
 * Courtesy of the Hancock County Historical Society: Hancock County Cemeteries includes the following cemeteries (Please note that these are not 100 % complete - they are a work in progress):

Census

 * 1823 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1825 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1830 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1840 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1845 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1853 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1866 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1870 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.

Church
LDS Ward and Branch Records


 * Bay St. Louis

Courtesy of the Hancock County Historical Society:

Catholic Church Records Index: Includes Our Lady of the Gulf Church in Bay Saint Louis and the Church of the Annunciation in Kiln, Mississippi

Land
Courtesy of Hancock County Historical Society:

Early Hancock County Land Records: Transcription of Book B

Military

 * Civil War service men from Hancock County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Hancock County.


 * - 3rd Regiment, Mississippi Infantry
 * Company F - Shieldsboro Rifles
 * Company G - Gainesville Volunteers
 * - 17th Battalion, Mississippi Cavalry
 * Company B - Poitevent’s Company

Taxation

 * 1814 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free. (browse under Hancock, Jackson, Mobile)


 * 1814-1817 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1850-1897 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.

Vital Records
The Hancock County Historical Society has created the following databases:


 * Hancock County Marriage Index (1849-1956)
 * Hancock County Divorce Index (1916-1950)
 * Hancock County Obituary Index

Birth

 * 1879-1880 - Hancock County Birth Index 1879-1880. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Marriage

 * 1853-1918 - Hancock County Marriage Books A-L Index 1853-1918 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.

Death

 * 1879-1880 - Hancock County Death Index 1879-1880. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

Web Sites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Hancock County Historical Society