Spencer County, Indiana Genealogy

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

Historical Facts

 * Parent Counties: Formed 10 January 1818 from Warrick and Perry Counties.
 * County Seat:  Rockport

Description
The county was named for Captain Spier Spencer, killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. The county seat is Rockport and the county was organized in January 10, 1818. The County is located in the South Central part of the state.

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
Perry •  Dubois  •  Warrick  •  Daviess  •  Hancock

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Indiana County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Indiana County Boundary Maps" (1790-1873) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
September 1833 -- Courthouse burned and many records were damaged. Marriage and deed records were saved.

Biographies

 * All of the family biographies from the 1885 History of Spencer County, Indiana by Goodspeed are available free online on My Genealogy Hound.

Census Records

 * Early Settlers of Spencer County, Indiana ($, Indiana Genealogical Society)
 * Index to Defective, Dependent Delinquent Census for Spencer County (1880) ($, Indiana Genealogical Society)

Church Records
Mary Help of Christians Parish, Mariah Hill


 * 1858-1885 - Mary Help of Christians Parish, Mariah Hill, Baptism Index 1858-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1862-1895 - Mary Help of Christians Parish, Mariah Hill, Marriage Index 1858-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

St. Bernard Parish, Rockport


 * 1866-1895 - St. Bernard Parish, Rockport, Marriage Index 1866-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

Directories

 * Early Teachers and School Officials of Spencer County ($, Indiana Genealogical Society)

Local Histories

 * History of Warrick, Spencer and Perry Counties, Indiana, from the earliest time to the present; together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. (1973. Evansville, Ind: Unigraphic.) FHL US/CAN Film 934922 Item 4,, Other Libraries, Internet Archive

Maps

 * Old Antique Atlases & Maps of Indiana

Military Records

 * African American Veterans in Spencer County, Indiana (1890) (members only database, Indiana Genealogical Society)

Civil War
Civil War service men from Spencer 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 Spencer County.


 * 1st Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company F
 * 10th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Companies G, and M
 * 13th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company H
 * 25th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies D, E, and K
 * 42nd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies B, C, D, and H
 * 53rd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company C
 * 58th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company F
 * 65th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company D
 * 91st Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company E
 * 115th Regiment, Indiana Infantry (6 months, 1863-4), Company G
 * 117th Regiment, Indiana Infantry (6 months, 1863-4), Company F
 * 120th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company F
 * 136th Regiment, Indiana Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company I
 * 28th US Colored Troops, Addition Recruits for Colored Troops

Civil War Books


 * "Military History" Chapter 7 in History of Warrick, Spencer and Perry Counties, Indiana, from the earliest time to the present; together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. (1973. Evansville, Ind: Unigraphic.), (page 373-418, Regiment, Company), FHL US/CAN Film 934922 Item 4,, Other Libraries, Internet Archive

World War I

 * 1919 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate Records
Online Records
 * 1798 – 1999 Indiana Wills and Probate Records 1798-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

School Records

 * Directory of Teachers for Spencer County (1936) ($, Indiana Genealogical Society)

County Courthouse
Spencer County Courthouse 200 Main Street Rockport, IN 47635-1478 Phone: 812.649.6027

County Health Department has birth records from 1882 and death records from 1830. Cemetery trustees have burial records. County Clerk has marriage records from 1818, divorce and court records from 1883, probate records from 1848 and naturalization records 1852-1929. County Recorder has land records.

Family History Centers

 * Owensboro Kentucky Family History Center

For additional nearby Family History Centers, search online in the family history center directory.

Societies
Spencer County Historical Society 210 Walnut Street Rockport, IN 47635-1398 Telephone Number: 812-649-4866 Website

Vital Records

 * Indiana State Digital Archives

Marriage Records

 * 1800s-2007 - Indiana, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $


 * 1780-1992 - FamilySearch


 * 1802-1892 Indiana Marriages, 1802-1892 - Ancestry.com $


 * 1811-2007 at FamilySearch — index and images

Death Records

 * 1882-1920 at FamilySearch Historical Records - Index only
 * 1899-2011 Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011 at Ancestry - ($), index and images
 * Indiana State Digital Archives

Websites

 * Spencer County, Indiana Genealogy, History and Facts
 * Indiana Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Indiana Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * USGenWeb, Spencer County
 * INGenWeb, Spencer County
 * , Spencer County
 * Spencer County, Indiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)