Wayne County, Illinois Genealogy

Guide to Wayne County, Illinois ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records. Illinois Online Genealogy Records {{Infobox U.S. County }}
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 * state = Illinois
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 * founded year=1819
 * founded date=March 26
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 * building image cap = Photo courtesy Illinois Regional Archives Depository, Illinois State Archives
 * building address = Wayne County Courthouse 301 E. Main Street Fairfield, IL 62837 {618) 842-5182 Wayne County Website
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Wayne County Organization
County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Wayne County are kept, see the Wayne County Courthouse page.

Historical Facts


The county is named after Revolutionary War General "Mad" Anthony Wayne (1745-1796).

Parent County

 * 1819--Wayne County was created 26 March 1819 from Edwards County. County seat: Fairfield

Description
The county was named for Gen. "Mad Anthony" Wayne, an officer in the Revolutionary War and Northwest Indian War. The county seat is Fairfield and the county was organized on 1819. The County is located in the Southeast central area of the state.

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Illinois county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Illinois County Boundary Maps" (1790-1869) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
1886   A fire at the courthouse on 17 November destroyed all 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:

Neighboring Counties

 * Clay
 * Edwards
 * Hamilton
 * Jefferson
 * Marion
 * Richland
 * White

1840 Pensioners

 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. Washington, D.C., 1841. ; ; digital version at Google Books. [See Illinois, Wayne County on page 188.]

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places


 * USGenWeb, Wayne County, Illinois (ILGenWeb), early church records and history
 * Wayne County, Illinois Church Records (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1845-1874 Hopewell Baptist Church, records and registers
 * 1853–1958 Pleasant Grove Baptist Church
 * 1868–1934 Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Dry Fork Branch

Catholic
are included in the collection at FamilySearch.org. The records include first communions, confirmations, marriages, and deaths. There is no name index to this collection, but the register books can be viewed in chronological order.

Court Records
Original court records are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Court Records for more information about using court records.

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


 * 1915–1928 Circuit Court Record, Criminal IRAD–EIU

African American
The following have information concerning African American research.


 * African American Research (US) has more information about the kinds of records


 * Illinois State Archives pamphlet on African American Research describes what records are at the State Archives with an online method for ordering records.
 * African-American Resources for Illinois

History

 * Every Name Index to History of Wayne and Clay Counties, Illinois Every Name Index compiled by Cathy L. O'Connor, 2010, original text by Globe Publishing Company, Historical Publishers, 1884, reproduction by Unigraphic, Inc., 1970.  EveryNameIndex.com

Land and Property
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 Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Wayne County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page.


 * 1836–1854 School Land Sale Petitions IRAD–EIU
 * 1837–1854 School Land Sale Record IRAD–EIU
 * 1851–1898 Deed Index IRAD–EIU
 * 1851–1912 Land records - Indexes and deeds
 * 1915–1961 Chattel Mortgage Record IRAD–EIU
 * 1910–1917 Stallion Registration Record IRAD–EIU
 * 1987 Land atlas and plat book

Online Resources


 * Beginning 1820 Land Patent Search See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database.
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
 * 1796–1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry ($)
 * Illinois Public Land Purchase Records This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence. Available at www.ancestry.com ($)
 * Wayne County Federal Township Plats

Additional Resources

Additional resources for Wayne County land and property may be found online in the. Online microfilm are indicated by the camera icon in the catalog entry. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Maps

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)


 * Wayne County Federal Township Plats
 * USGenWeb, Wayne County, Illinois (ILGenWeb), 1875 Township Map
 * USGenWeb, Wayne County, Illiniois (ILGenWeb), Illinois County Boundaries, 1790 - Present
 * Wayne County, Illinois Cemetery Map (Genealogy Trails)


 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Civil War
Civil War service men from Wayne 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 Wayne County.


 * - 5th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies D and M.
 * - 18th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies F and G.
 * - 40th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies D and E.
 * - 56th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company H.
 * - 60th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies G and H.
 * - 61st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 87th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D.
 * - 110th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
 * - 111th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies C, E, and K.
 * - 136th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company C.

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Records


 * 1800-1998 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1856-1991 Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991 at Ancestry.com - index and images, ($)

Newspapers and Obituaries

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * USGenWeb, Wayne County, Illinios (ILGenWeb), obituaries and death notices

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1772 - 1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1819 - 1988 at FamilySearch.org — images

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.

The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through, the Family History Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Wayne County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page.


 * [No probate record holdings noted in IRAD-EIU Wayne County Listing.] Search for Wayne County records. Information about how to use IRAD

The following abstracts or indexes are available:


 * USGenWeb, Wayne County, Illiniois (ILGenWeb), will index books C and D

Copies of original records


 * 1852–1865 Miscellaneous newspapers (includes probate)
 * 1861–1950 Will index
 * 1880–1932 Wills
 * 1886–1925 Probate records

Additional Resources

Additional resources for Wayne County probates may be found in the, , and on topic pages of the FamilySearch Catalog. Online microfilm are indicated by the camera icon in the catalog entry. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

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

Family History Centers

 * Centralia Illinois Family History Center
 * Eldorado Illinois Family History Center
 * Evansville Indiana Family History Center
 * Foxcroft Illinois Family History Center
 * O'Fallon Illinois Family History Center
 * Vincennes Indiana Family History Center


 * C.E. Brehm Memorial Public Library District - an affiliate library
 * Knox County Public Library - Indiana - an affiliate library

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 Wayne 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.

Libraries
Fairfield Public Library 300 South East Second Street Fairfield IL 62837 (618) 842-4516

Wayne City Public Library 103 East Mill Street Wayne City, IL 62895 (618) 895-2661

School Records

 * 1826–1968 School teachers' daily registers IRAD–EIU
 * 1836–1854 School Land Sale Petitions IRAD–EIU
 * 1837–1854 School Land Sale Record IRAD–EIU

Societies

 * Wayne County Historical Society Museum 300 Southeast 2nd Street Fairfield, IL 62837 Phone 618-842-3544 Email:[mailto:wayneillinoishistory@gmail.com wayneillinoishistory@gmail.com] Facebook Website

Taxation

 * 1899 Tax Assessment Abstracts IRAD–EIU


 * 1884–1901 Tax Lists, Delinquent IRAD–EIU

Vital Records
See Illinois Vital Records for more information about Vital records in Illinois. See also How to order Illinois Vital Records or order electronically online.

Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth and death certificates recorded until the year 1916 are kept by the Wayne 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 Family History Library and the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Eastern Illinois University (EIU) - search for Wayne County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.

Births
Abstracts


 * USGenWeb, Wayne County, Illinois (ILGenWeb), County birth Indexes, beginning 1886

Copies of Original Records


 * 1860–1910 Birth Record Index, Delayed IRAD–EIU
 * 1860–1906 Birth Record, Delayed IRAD–EIU
 * 1861–1905 Birth Records
 * 1867–1905 Birth records
 * 1867–1908 Birth Record IRAD–EIU
 * 1870–1906 Delayed birth record books

Marriages
Online Resources


 * 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHertitage($)
 * 1790–1860 Illinois Marriage index found at Ancestry ($)
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1810-1934 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index
 * USGenWeb, Wayne County, Illinois (ILGenWeb), marriage indexes

Copies of Original Records


 * 1855–1886 Marriage Certification Record, Pre-Fire IRAD–EIU
 * 1879–1976 Marriage Record Index IRAD–EIU
 * 1879–1952 Marriage Record IRAD–EIU
 * 1886–1930 Index to marriages
 * 1886–1930 Marriage records

Deaths
Online Resources
 * 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — index, some images
 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1850-1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 found at Ancestry ($)
 * 1888-1960 Wayne County Coroner's Inquest Record Index Illinois State Archives.
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHertitage($)
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950 at Illinois State Archives - index
 * 1916-1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage - index, ($)
 * USGenWeb, Wayne County, Illinois (ILGenWeb), death indexes

Copies of Original Records


 * 1880-1955 Death records
 * 1886-1955 Death records IRAD–EIU
 * 1888-1960 Coroner's Inquest Record IRAD–EIU

Additional Resources
Additional resources for Wayne County births, marriages and deaths may be found in the, and the topic pages of the FamilySearch Catalog. Online microfilm are indicated by the camera icon in the catalog entry. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the Worldcat Online Catalog.

Websites

 * Wayne County Illinois Genealogy - ILGenWeb
 * Wayne County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History Linkpendium
 * Wayne County, IL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy - Genealogy Inc.
 * Wayne County IL Genealogy - LDS Genealogy
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Group on Facebook

Databases pertinent to Wayne County


 * Local Governmental Records Database IRAD
 * Name Index to Illinois Local Governments IRAD
 * EveryNameIndex.com   Free online genealogy indexes for those big old county histories.
 * EveryNameIndex.com   Free online genealogy indexes for those big old county histories.