Wilkes County, Georgia Genealogy

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



Description
The County was named for British politician and supporter of American independence, John Wilkes. The County is located in the east central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Wilkes County Courthouse 23 E. Court Street, Rm 205 Washington, GA 30673-1570 Phone: 706-678-2423 Wilkes County Website Probate Court has birth, marriage, death and probate records from 1792. Clerk Superior Court has divorce and court records from 1778, land records from 1777 and military discharge records.

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: \

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Baptist

 * Philip's Mill - records (1785-1948) available on microfilm at the University of NC Davis Library (Serial 1-1262 1785-1948).
 * Sardis
 * Minutes and membership rolls (1803-1852) available on microfilm at the University of NC Davis Library (Serial 1-1264 1803-1852).
 * Members of Sardis Baptist Church Members in 1805 at Georgia Pioneers ($)

Methodist Washington Station Methodist Church


 * 1865-1885 Washington Station Methodist Church Baptism Index 1865-1885. Batch  at FamilySearch
 * 1865-1895 Washington Station Methodist Church Marriage Index 1865-1895. Batch  at FamilySearch

Funeral Homes

 * Davenport-McLendon Mortuary, Inc. in Washington Facebook
 * Hopkins Funeral Home in Washington
 * McLendon Memorial Funeral Home in Washington Facebook

Genealogies

 * Wilkes County Family Group Sheets Individual Family Group Sheets submitted by individual researchers and volunteers.
 * Origins of Early Settlers to Wilkes County at Georgia Pioneers ($).
 * [Huskey] Reagan, Donald B. Smoky Mountain Clans. 3 vols. Knoxville, Tenn.: D.B. Reagan, 1978-1983. . [The Huskey family is discussed in Vol. 1.]
 * [Pope] Johnston, F. Claiborne. "The Tangled Trail of Two John Popes: Colonel John Pope of Amherst County and John Pope of Prince William County and Wilkes County, Georgia," Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 50, No. 1 (Feb. 2012):45-64.

The following were published in The Virginia Genealogist, and digital images may be searched at American Ancestors, using their Search Form. Select Virginia Genealogist, The from the Database listing, then enter the desired volume and page. Note: a login account is free but required to view search results. These are also available at the FHL (see links below).


 * [Cheatham] Dennstedt, Alberta Marjorie. "The Cheatham Family of Colonial Virginia." The Virginia Genealogist: Vol. 27, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1983):163-173; Vol. 27, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1983):273-279; Vol. 28, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1984):38-43; Vol. 28, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1984):102-112; Vol. 28, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1984):209-216; Vol. 28, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1984):293-297; Vol. 29, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1985):32-40; Vol. 29, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1985):123-127; Vol. 29, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1985):179-185; Vol. 29, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1985):262-265; Vol. 30, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1986):17-23; Vol. 30, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1986):99-104. .
 * [Darricott] Bell, John C. "Bickleys of the Pamunkey River Watershed of Virginia in the 18th Century." The Virginia Genealogist: Vol. 27, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1983):32-49; Vol. 27, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1983):90-104; Vol. 27, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1983):179-189; Vol. 27, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1983):259-264; Vol. 28, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1984):19-32; Vol. 28, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1984):88-98; Vol. 28, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1984):169-186; Vol. 28, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1984):261-274. .
 * [Jackson] Brandenberger, Evelyn Duke. "The Jacksons of Lower Virginia." The Virginia Genealogist: Vol. 30, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1986):163-169; Vol. 30, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1986):288-295; Vol. 31, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1987):11-18; Vol. 31, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1987):101-111; Vol. 31, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1987):195-204; Vol. 31, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1987):269-278; Vol. 32, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1988):49-57; Vol. 32, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1988):119-130; Vol. 32, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1988):185-192; Vol. 32, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1988):259-263; Vol. 33, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1989):34-44; Vol. 33, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1989):135-143; Vol. 33, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1989):204-207; Vol. 33, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1989):295-304. .

Guardianship

 * Wilkes County Guardianship Records Partial list of Individual Guardianship Records.

Land and Property Records

 * 1735-1866 Georgian Colonial and Headright Plat Index, 1735-1866 at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - alpha index
 * 1783-1909 Headright and Bounty Plats, 1783-1909 at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images with alpha index
 * 1805-1833 District Plats of Survey at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images organized by county and district
 * Colonial Plats and Warrants at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images with alpha index
 * Land Records of Wilkes County Transcribed Land Records submitted &amp; donated to Wilkes County, GAGenWeb Site.
 * Wilkes County 1803 Land Lottery Complete list of the 1803 Land Lottery for Wilkes County, GA
 * Wilkes County 1806 Land Lottery Complete list of the 1806 Land Lottery for Wilkes County, GA
 * Wilkes County 1819 Land Lottery Complete list of the 1819 Land Lottery for Wilkes County, GA
 * Wilkes County 1821 Land Lottery Complete list of the 1821 Land Lottery for Wilkes County, GA
 * Wilkes County 1827 Land Lottery Complete list of the 1827 Land Lottery for Wilkes County, GA
 * Wilkes County 1832 Land Lottery Complete list of the 1832 Land Lottery for Wilkes County, GA
 * Wilkes County Maps &amp; Land Plats List of Land Plats with owner names and maps for Wilkes County, GA
 * Wilkes County Revolutionary Land Grants Authentic List of All Land Lottery Grants made to Veterans of the Revolutionary War By the State of Georgia

Local Histories

 * An Overview of Local History by Robert Willingham
 * The Story of Washington-Wilkes. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1941. Digital version at Ancestry ($)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
 * 1740s-? Historic Map File at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images
 * 1866 - 1935 County Map File at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images
 * Maps of Georgia (1758-1932)
 * Wilkes County Maps &amp; Land Plats List of Land Plats with owner names and maps for Wilkes County, GA
 * Also at Family Search as.

At Georgia Pioneers ($) you can find:


 * Map of Wilkes County, 1955
 * Map of Original Wilkes County
 * Map of Wilkes County Settlers

Military Records

 * Georgia USGenWeb Archives Project

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)
 * 1861-1865 Confederate Enlistment Oaths and Discharges at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault- images and alphabetical index
 * 1861-1865 Confederate Muster Rolls at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault- images; filter by commanding officer, service branch and regiment
 * 1861-1865 Confederate Pension Application Supplements - images and alphabetical index; filter by county
 * 1864 Militia Enrollment Lists, 1864 - images; filter by county
 * 1867-1868  at FamilySearch — index
 * 1879-1920  at FamilySearch — index
 * 1879-1960 Confederate Pension Applications - images and alphabetical index; filter by county


 * - 9th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Company A
 * - 15th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Company A
 * - 37th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Company H; Company E, 9th Battalion
 * - 61st Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Company G
 * - Ritter's Company, Georgia Light Artillery (Confederate)

Spanish-American War
 * 1898 Spanish-American War Service Summary Cards - images and alphabetical index; filter by residence, muster location and unit

World War I
 * 1914-1918 World War I Casualties Scrapbooks - images and alphabetical index
 * 1920-1929 at FamilySearch — index and images

World War II
 * 1940-1942 Georgia World War II Draft Registration Cards 1940-1942 at findmypast - index ($))

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * Georgia Historic Newspapers at Digital Library of Georgia

Other Records
Voting Records 
 * 1867-1868  at FamilySearch — index

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1733-1753 Colonial Wills at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images with alpha index
 * 1742-1990 (*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1742-1992 Georgia Wills and Probate Records 1742-1992 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * 1754-1776 Colonial Will Books at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images with alpha index
 * 1777-1877 (*); Georgia. Court of Ordinary (Wilkes County) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1780-1925 (*); Georgia. Court of Ordinary (Wilkes County) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1786-1806 Digital Images of Wilkes County, Georgia Wills, Book C (1786-1806) at Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1790-1852 (*); Georgia. Court of Ordinary (Wilkes County) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1791-1921 (*); Georgia. Court of Ordinary (Wilkes County) at FamilySearch Catalog — Index and images
 * 1794-1819 Index to Wills: 1794-1819 at Strictly By Name. Free online indexes to early Wilkes County probate records. They offer a record retrieval service to photocopy and transcribe microfilm copies of the original documents for a small fee.
 * 1794-1924 (*); Georgia. Inferior Court (Wilkes County) at FamilySearch Catalog — Index and images
 * 1798-1811; 1799-1803 GeorgiaPioneers Inferior Court Minutes ($)
 * 1799-1903 (*); Georgia. Court of Ordinary (Wilkes County) at FamilySearch Catalog — Index and images
 * 1806-1925 (*); Georgia. Court of Ordinary (Wilkes County) at FamilySearch Catalog — Index and images
 * 1811-1903 (*); Georgia. Court of Ordinary (Wilkes County) at FamilySearch Catalog — Partial index and images
 * 1836-1839 Images of Wills, Estates, Inventories, Appraisements, Sales 1836-1839 at Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * 1839-1873 (*); Georgia. Court of Ordinary (Wilkes County) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1852-1873 (*); Georgia. Court of Ordinary (Wilkes County) at FamilySearch Catalog — Index and images
 * 1857-1912 (*); Georgia. Court of Ordinary (Wilkes County) at FamilySearch Catalog — Index and images
 * 1857-1951 (*); Georgia. Court of Ordinary (Wilkes County) at FamilySearch Catalog — Index and images
 * 1888-1913 (*); Georgia. Court of Ordinary (Wilkes County) at FamilySearch Catalog — Index and images
 * 1889-1946 (*); Georgia. Court of Ordinary (Wilkes County) at FamilySearch Catalog — Index and images
 * 1893-1957 (*); Georgia. Court of Ordinary (Wilkes County) at FamilySearch Catalog — Index and images
 * (*); Smith, Sarah Quinn at FamilySearch Catalog — Index and images
 * (*); Smith, Sarah Quinn at FamilySearch Catalog — Index and images
 * General Index of Wilkes County, Georgia Estates at Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * Index to Wilkes County Wills and Estates (by surnames) Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * County Deeds. Partial list of Deed Books and Individual Deeds.
 * Wilkes County Estate Records. Partial list of Individual Estate Records.
 * Wilkes County Guardianship Records Partial list of Individual Guardianship Records.

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.

Tax Records

 * 1787-1900 at FamilySearch — How to use this collection, index and images

Birth

 * 1870-1960 at FamilySearch — index, and some images

Marriage

 * 1560-1993 Georgia, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index ($)
 * 1699-1944 Georgia Marriages 1699-1944 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1754-1960  at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1785-1950  at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1787-1962  at FamilySearch — index
 * 1790-1832 Wilkes County Marriage Index 1790-1832. Batch  at FamilySearch
 * 1808-1967  at FamilySearch — index
 * 1828-1978 Georgia Marriage Records from Select Counties 1828-1978 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * 1836-1871 Wilkes County Marriage Index 1836-1871. Batch  at FamilySearch
 * 1871-1882 Wilkes County Marriage Index 1871-1882. Batch  at FamilySearch
 * 1875-1882 Wilkes County Marriage Index 1875-1882. Batch  at FamilySearch
 * 1882-1895 Wilkes County Marriage Index 1882-1895. Batch  at FamilySearch
 * 1882-1895 Wilkes County Marriage Index 1882-1895. Batch  at FamilySearch
 * 1885-1886 Wilkes County, Georgia Marriages from Newspapers 1885-1886 at Georgia Pioneers ($)

Death

 * 1870-1960 at FamilySearch — index, and some images
 * 1914-1927  at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1919-1998 Georgia Deaths 1919-1998 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1919-1930 Georgia Death Certificates at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - index and images
 * 1928-1930 Georgia Non-Indexed Death Certificates at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images
 * 1928-1942  at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1933-1998  at FamilySearch — index

Voter Records

 * 1856-1941 at FamilySearch — How to use this collection, index and images

Societies
Washington-Wilkes Historical Foundation 308 E. Robert Toombs Ave Washington, GA 30673 Phone: 706-678-5001 or 877-221-7689 Email: [mailto:historicalww@gmail.com historicalww@gmail.com] Washington-Wilkes Historical Foundation

Washington Township Historical Society 308 E. Robert Toombs Ave Washington, GA 30673-2038 Washington Township Historical Society

Savannah River Valley Genealogical Society c/o Hart County Library, Benson St Hartwell, GA 30643 Website

Central Georgia Genealogical Society PO Box 2024 Warner Robins, GA 31099 Website

'''Savannah Area Genealogical Association PO Box 15385 Savannah, GA 31416 Email: [mailto:gasaga@comcast.net gasaga@comcast.net] Savannah Area Genealogical Association

Central Georgia Genealogical Society PO Box 2024 Warner Robins, GA 31099-2024 Central Georgia Genealogical Society Central Georgia Genealogical Society Facebook

Georgia State Archives 5800 Jonesboro Road Morrow, GA 30260 Phone: 678-364-3700 Georgia State Archives Georgia State Archives Facebook

Georgia Historical Society Street address: 501 Whitaker Street Mailing address: 104 W. Gaston Street Savannah, GA 31401 Phone: 	912-651-2125 Toll Free: 877-424-4789 Email: [mailto:ghslib@georgiahistory.com ghslib@georgiahistory.com] Georgia Historical Society

Georgia Genealogical Society PO Box 550247 Atlanta, Georgia 30355-2747 Georgia Genealogical Society

Websites

 * Georgia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * GAGenWeb Wilkes County
 * Wilkes County, Georgia Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Wilkes County Georgia Genealogy
 * Georgia Pioneers Georgia Pioneers ($)
 * - 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

Research Guides

 * Wilkes County Resources for Local Research