Clarke County, Alabama Genealogy

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

County Courthouse
Probate Judge has marriage and probate records from 1814 and land records from 1820 Clerk Circuit Court has divorce and court records Health Clinic has birth and death records

Description
The County was named in honor of General John Clarke of Georgia. The County has Grove Hill as its seat and the County was created 10 December 1812. The County is located in the southwest area of the state.

Parent County
1812--Clarke County was created 10 December 1812 from Washington County. County seat: Grove Hill

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Alabama county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Alabama County Boundary Maps" (1799-1980) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

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

 * Baldwin
 * Choctaw
 * Marengo
 * Monroe
 * Washington
 * Wilcox

Cemeteries
The following web site has additional information on Clarke county cemeteries.


 * Interment.net Alabama cemetery records by county.

Census
State Census


 * 1866 - at FamilySearch — index

Land and Property
To place a grant or deed on a map within context of see:


 * Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Clarke County, Alabama: with Homesteads, Roads, Waterways, Towns, Cemeteries, Railroads, and More. Norman, Okla.: Arphax Pub. Co., 2008. This is a definitive work and can be used as an index to land grants. Digital version at HistoryGeo.com ($). Website includes free surname index..

Local Histories

 * Ball, Rev. T. H. A Glance into the Great South-East, on, Clarke County, Alabama, and its Surroundings, from 1540 to 1877. Grove Hill, AL, USA: n.p., 1882. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * Graham, John Simpson. History of Clarke County. Birmingham, Ala.: Press of Birmingham Print. Co., 1923. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Maps

 * Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)
 * Family Maps of (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.

Civil War
Civil War service men from Clarke 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 Clarke County.


 * - 5th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A
 * - 11th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E
 * - 22nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company B "Frank Lyon Rifles"
 * - 23rd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company K "Kings Guard"
 * - 24th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E "Dickinson Guards"
 * - 24th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company G
 * - 32nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D, E, G and H
 * - 38th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A and I
 * - 38th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D [also called Co. "G"]

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)
 * 1871-1880 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1907, 1921, 1927 - at FamilySearch — images

World War I

 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch — index

Newspapers
Alabama Online Historical Newspapers - identifies historical archived and digitized newspapers available online on both free and pay-to-access websites.

Probate Records
Online Probate Records
 * 1753 – 1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry $
 * 1809 – 1985 at FamilySearch.
 * Images of Wills and Estates 1818-1825; 1825-1832; Guardianships, Estates, Wills, 1832-1839. Southeastern Genealogy ($)

Taxation

 * 1816 - Inhabitants of Alabama in 1816. Broken Arrow Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1955. Digital version at - free. Includes Clarke County.


 * 1865-1866 - U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 at Ancestry ($). Clarke County is in District 1.

Vital Records
See also How to order Alabama Vital Records

Birth

 * 1881-1930 - FamilySearch Historical Records Collection - free


 * 1881 – 1930 at FamilySearch

Marriage

 * 1733-2013 - Alabama, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * To 1825 Index to Marriages at Ancestry. Each entry includes groom, bride, marriage date, county, and state. Every name is indexed so you can search for one name, or two names that are linked.


 * 1812–1891, 1899, 1918, 1920, 1929, 1936–1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800–1969 at Ancestry ($). This collection is comprised of indexes created by several agencies - the Alabama Center for Health Statistics, Jordan Dodd of Liahona Research, and Hunting For Bears.


 * 1814-1900 "Alabama Marriages, 1809–1920"at Ancestry $. This database is a collection of marriage records from the state. Researchers will find the names of both bride and groom along with the marriage date. The county where the ceremony was performed is also provided. Containing about 150,000 records and the names of nearly 300,000 men and women.


 * 1814-1891 - McManus, Grace Kelly. Clarke County, Alabama, Marriage Records 1814-1891. 1955. Digital version at - free.


 * Clarke County Marriages at ALGenWeb - free.
 * 1809 – 1950 at FamilySearch
 * 1816 – 1957 at FamilySearch
 * 1800 – 1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800-1969 at Ancestry $
 * 1809 – 1920 Alabama Marriages, 1809-1920 (Selected Counties) at Ancestry $

Death

 * 1881-1952 - FamilySearch Historical Records Collection - free


 * 1881–1974 Index to Deaths and Burials at Ancestry $. Note that the number of available records can vary widely by county, and this database does not necessarily represent a comprehensive set of death records for the state during this time.
 * 1908–1959 Index to Deaths recorded by the state of Alabama at Ancestry $. The index includes name of the deceased, county of death, date of death, and the state certificate number (volume and page).


 * 1908-1974 - FamilySearch Historical Records Collection - free


 * 1881 – 1952 FamilySearch


 * 1908 – 1974 at FamilySearch


 * 1881 – 1974 Alabama, Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974 at Ancestry $


 * 1908 – 1959 Alabama Deaths, 1908-59 at Ancestry $

Voting Registers

 * There are no 1867 voting registers available for Clarke County.

Societies and Libraries
Clarke County Historical Society 116 West Cobb St. Grove Hill, AL 36451 Publication: Quarterly USGenWeb's Clarke County, Alabama Genealogy

Clarke County Museum 116 West Cobb St. Grove Hill, AL 36451 251-275-8684 Clarke County Historical Museum, Alabama

Clarke Grove Hill Public Library 251-275-8157 Grove Hill Public Library

Thomasville Public Library 334-636-5343 Website


 * List of Alabama Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies


 * USGenWeb's Clarke County, Alabama Genealogy


 * United States Resources: Alabama


 * Al Gen Web

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Family History Centre Locator

Websites

 * Clarke County, AL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * USGenWeb Archives Project ~ contains record transcriptions from Bibles, obituaries, court records and more.
 * Clarke County ALGenWeb~ record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.
 * Clarke County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Clarke County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)