Clay County, Arkansas Genealogy

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

Description
The county was named after John M. Clayton, then a member of the Arkansas Senate and a brother of then-U.S. Senator Powell Clayton, though some sources suggest it may have been named for Powell Clayton instead. It is located in the northeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Clay County Courthouse PO Box 306 Piggott, AR 72454 Phone: 870.598.2813 Clay County website Clerk Circuit Court has land, divorce and court records from 1893. County Clerk has marriage and probate records from 1893.

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:

History Timeline
Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were taken from the Clay County page on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.


 * 1800s - early, European settlement in the Clay County area began with Pierre LeMieux, a Frenchman who settled east of the Black River.
 * 1800s - Veterans of the War of 1812 who were given land grants in Arkansas began to settle in the area.
 * 1849-1850 - Congress passed the Swamp Land Acts of 1849 and 1850. Public swampland was transferred to Arkansas, and then the land was sold cheaply.
 * 1873 - March 24, During Reconstruction, Clayton County was created by the Arkansas legislature taking portions of Greene and Randolph counties.
 * 1875 - Arkansas General Assembly of 1875 changed the name of Clayton County to Clay County.
 * 1883 - Railroads did more than provide a new avenue for export and import of raw and finished products. They also brought more settlers into the area.
 * 1900s - At the start of the twentieth century, the timber industry reached its zenith.

Church Records

 * 1875-1899 - at FamilySearch — index
 * Hopewell Baptist Church, near Reyno

Court Records
(Western District) Clay County Clerk's Office Western District 800 W 2nd St Corning AR 72422 870-857-3480

(Eastern District) Office of the County Clerk PO Box 306 Piggott AR 72454-0306 870-598-2813

Various Court Records of Clay County

Guardianship

 * Probate Records 1881-1955 Clay County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration bonds and letters 1881-1955; Guardian bonds and letters 1893-1938; Inventories and appraisements 1881-1919; Minutes 1881-1918; Probate records 1893-1906; Sale bills 1881-1920; Wills 1884-1944.

Local Histories

 * Goodspeed's Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeastern Arkansas(1891)
 * Arkansas State Penitentiary Records, Clay County Residents
 * Clay County Home
 * Elected Officials who have served Clay County
 * Pauper Deaths in Clay County
 * Piggott Mayors
 * Road System in Northeastern Arkansas

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)
 * Township Maps

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1890-1963 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1891-1939 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1901-1929 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Civil War Battle

The following Civil War Battle was fought in Clay County.


 * May 1-2, 1863 = Chalk Bluff
 * Map showing Civil War battles in Arkansas.

Newspapers

 * Clay County Newspapers
 * Various Excerpts from the Clay County Courier
 * Various Obituaries of Clay County Residents

Probate Records
'''Online Probate Records
 * 1783 – 1998 Arkansas Wills and Probate Records 1783-1998 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1817 – 1979 at FamilySearch — images
 * Probate Records 1881-1955 Clay County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration bonds and letters 1881-1955; Guardian bonds and letters 1893-1938; Inventories and appraisements 1881-1919; Minutes 1881-1918; Probate records 1893-1906; Sale bills 1881-1920; Wills 1884-1944.

Birth

 * 1947 - 1958 - Clay County Birth Index 1947-1958. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Marriage

 * 1779-1966 - Arkansas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1860 - 1976 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1881 - 1923 - Clay County Marriage Books A-I, 1-11 Index 1881-1923 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1893 - 1950 - Clay County Marriage Books 1-57, A-U Index 1893-1950 in at FamilySearch - free.

Death

 * 1947 - 1958 - Clay County Death Index 1947-1958. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Libraries

 * Corning Library 613 Pine St Corning AR 72422 870-857-3453
 * Piggott Library 316 W Main Piggott AR 72454 870-598-3666
 * Rector Library 121 W 4th St Rector AR 72461 870-595-2410

Societies

 * Clay County Genealogical &amp; Historical Society

Websites

 * ARGenWeb. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or complete transcriptions
 * USGenWeb Archives. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions
 * RootsWeb. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions
 * Linkpendium. Free. Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($)
 * CyndisList. Free. Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($)
 * - 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