Moultrie County, Illinois Genealogy

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



Description
The county was named for South Carolina General, and later Governor, William Moultrie. General Moultrie defended Sullivan's Island, South Carolina from British attack in 1776. The county seat is Sullivan and the county was organized on February 16, 1843. The County is located in the Central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Moultrie County Courthouse 10 S Main St Sullivan, IL 61951 Phone: 217-728-2057 Moultrie County Courthouse

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

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:

Census Records

 * 1850-1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 found at Ancestry ($)

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places
 * 1883-1909 Wilburn Creek Church of Christ
 * 1881-1906 Bethany Church of Christ minutes and membership records
 * 1872-1948 Union Prairie Church of Christ membership records
 * 1891 Sacred Heart Church records
 * 1860-1909 Wellborn Creek Church
 * 1927-1994 Smyser Christian Church
 * 1867-1990 Oak Grove Baptist Church records

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
 African Americans
 * African American Research (US) has more information about the kinds of records
 * Illinois African-American Resource Guide by the Illinois State Archives describes what records are at the State Archives with an online method for ordering records.
 * African-American Resources for Illinois

Land and Property Records
Original land records are held in the office of the County Clerk. See Illinois Land and Property for more information about using land records. The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through online sources, the FamilySearch Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Moultrie County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page. Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1849-1935 Deed and mortgage records, 1849-1935; index 1849-1935
 * 1948-1951 Chattel Mortgage Releases IRAD-EIU
 * 1948-1952 Chattel Mortgages IRAD-EIU
 * 1978 Moultrie County (Illinois), atlas and plat book, 1978 (Rockford, Illinois:Rockford Map Publishers, c1969) ;
 * 1796-1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry ($)
 * Moultrie County Federal Township Plats
 * 1800s – Present Use the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land Patent Index to obtain original federal land transfer records, including homestead, military warrants, and cash entry patents. These records help a researcher establish location and lead to National Archives’ records which may include genealogical information. Earlier land transfer records are at the National Archives.
 * Moultrie County Plat Books 1875, 1913, 1942, 1949, 1953, 1960
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database. Also available at Ancestry ($)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
 * Moultrie County Federal Township Plats
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
The following copies of original records may be accessed through the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Franklin County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page.

 Civil War Regiments. Civil War service men from Moultrie 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 Moultrie County.
 * 1862-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1862-1919 Military Discharge Record IRAD-EIU
 * - 21st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E
 * - 41st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B
 * - 126th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A and C
 * - 143rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company I

Naturalization and Citizenship
Original naturalization records are held in the office of the County Clerk. See Illinois Naturalization Records for more information about using naturalization records.

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1800-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1856-1991 Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991 at Ancestry - index and images ($)
 * 1871-1929 Naturalization records

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * USGenWeb, Moultrie County, Illlinios (ILGenWeb), Historical Newspapers
 * USGenWeb, Moultrie County, Illiniois (ILGenWeb), Obituaries

Probate Records
Original estates and wills are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Probate Records for more information about using probate records. Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1772 - 1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry ($) — index and images
 * 1819-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
 * 1862-1964 Will records and estate file index
 * [No probate record holdings noted in IRAD-EIU Moultrie County Listing.] Search for Moultrie County records. Information about how to use IRAD

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records
The following copies of original records may be accessed through the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Franklin County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page. Online Tax Indexes and Records
 * 1956-1967 Tax Schedules, Townships IRAD-EIU

Vital Records
Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth and death certificates recorded until the year 1916 are kept by the Moultrie County Clerk while those recorded after 1916 are kept by the Illinois Department of Public Health with a copy to the County Clerk. Original marriage records are usually kept by the County Clerk from the establishment of the county to the present. Original divorce records are generally in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through online databases, the FamilySearch Library and the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Moultrie County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page.

Birth

 * 1877-1900 Births, marriages, deaths, 1843-1927; indexes, 1843-1981 Index to births ca. 1877-1956; birth registers 1877-1915; birth certificates 1859-1900.
 * 1859-1900 Birth Certificates IRAD-EIU
 * 1859-1920 Birth Record IRAD-EIU
 * 1859-1980 Birth Record Index IRAD-EIU
 * Village of Arthur (Douglas and Moultrie Counties) Local Registrar's Birth Certificates Index, 1868-1925 Courtesy Illinois State Archives.
 * USGenWeb, Moultrie County, Illinois (ILGenWeb), Moultrie County Births

Marriage

 * 1877-1900 Births, marriages, deaths, 1843-1927; indexes, 1843-1981 Index to marriages ca. 1843-1981; marriage record book A 1845-1919; marriage register 1877-1900; marriage licenses 1901-19031859-1900.
 * 1843-1919 Marriage Record IRAD-EIU
 * 1843-1981 Marriage Record Index IRAD-EIU
 * 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($) — index $
 * 1790-1860 Illinois Marriage index found at Ancestry ($)
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1810-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1843-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 (1843-1900 for Moultrie County)
 * USGenWeb, Moultrie County, Illinois (ILGenWeb), Moultrie County Marriages

Death

 * 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1877-1927 Death RecordIRAD-EIU
 * 1877-1973 Death Record Index IRAD-EIU
 * 1878-1973 Births, marriages, deaths, 1843-1927; indexes, 1843-1981 Index to deaths, 1878-1973; death registers 1877-1902; death certificates 1902-1927
 * 1904-1970 Hunter, Cheri; Decatur Genealogical Society (Decatur, Illionis) and Illinois Masonic Home (Sullivan, Illinois) Illinois Masonic Home death card file, 1904-1970, Moultrie County, Illinois (Decatur, Illinois:Decatur Genealogicla Society [IL], 2004) ;
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950 at Illinois State Archives - index
 * 1916-1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * 1951-1971 Illinois Death Certificates, 1951–1971 at Illinois State Archives - index
 * Moultrie County, Illinois Obituary and Death Notices Collection Free from GenealogyBuff.com. From various funeral homes in the Sullivan, Allenville, Bethany, Dalton City, Dora, East Nelson, Gays, Jonathan Creek, Lovington, Lowe, Marrowbone, Whitley, and surrounding area.
 * USGenWeb, Moultrie County, Illinios (ILGenWeb), Death Certificates

Archives
 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 Moultrie 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.

FamilySearch Centers

 * Champaign Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Danville Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Decatur Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Mattoon Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Springfield Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Champaign County Historical Archives - an affiliate library
 * Marshall Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Danville Public Library (Illinois) - an affiliate library

Libraries
Arthur Public Library District 225 South Walnut Street Arthur, IL 61911 Phone: (217) 543-2037 Website

Lovington Public Library District] 110 West State Street Lovington, IL 61937 Phone: (217) 873-4468

Marrowbone Public Library District 216 West Main Street Bethany, IL 61914 Phone: (217) 665-3014 Website

Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library 2 West Water Street Sullivan, IL 61951 Phone: (217) 728-7221 Website

Societies
Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society PO Box 588 117 E. Harrison St. Sullivan, IL 61951-0588 Phone 217-728-4085 E-mail:[mailto:mocohgs@gmail.com mocohgs@gmail.com] Facebook Website

Websites

 * Moultrie ILGenWeb
 * Moultrie County IL Genealogy
 * Local Governmental Records Database IRAD
 * Moultrie County, IL Linkpendium
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.