Lincoln County, Kentucky Genealogy

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

Description
Lincoln County was named for Benjamin Lincoln. The county is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Lincoln County Courthouse 102 E Main Street Stanford, KY 40484 Phone: 606-365-4570 Lincoln County Website

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:

Biographies

 * Kentucky Biographies Project

Cemeteries
The following web sites have additional information on Lincoln county cemeteries.


 * Interment.net, Kentucky cemetery records by county.
 * Cemetery Junction, Links to cemetery transcriptions
 * Naming the Forgotten, The Eastern State Hospital Project
 * Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness, Local volunteers may take photographs of headstones found in county cemeteries.

Census Records

 * 1790 - Lost, but a substitute is available, see Taxation.
 * 1810 - Third census of the United States (1810 census), Lincoln County, Kentucky at Ancestry ($)
 * Kentucky Census Transcriptions 1850-1930, USGenWeb
 * Census Images, USGenWeb
 * KY Census Online, Links to online census records

Church Records

 * Kentucky Christian Church Directory, ChurchAngel
 * Catholic Parishes in the Diocese of Lexington
 * Catholic Parishes in the Archdiocese of Louisville

Baptist
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Drakes Creek. Church minutes (1801-1991) are available at the Kentucky Historical Society: Description.
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * Abstracts of Early Kentucky Supreme Court Cases, KYGenWeb
 * Kentucky Court of Justice Research &amp; Reference
 * Lincoln County, Kentucky Marriage (1793-1800) & Will (1801-1807) Records at Ancestry ($)
 * Early order books (1781-1791) were published in The Kentucky Genealogist. See, for example, Volume 12 (1970).

African Americans

 * African American Research (US) has more information about the kinds of records available
 * The KY African American Griots Project
 * Kentucky Minorities has information specific to Kentucky African Americans.
 * Sandi Gorin's Tips, Hangings in Kentucky 1792-1900

Genealogies

 * [Bright] Mills, Harry W. and Ben F. Dixon.Descendants of Henry Bright, Senior,(Born 1760), of Lincoln County, Kentucky. Washington, D.C.: H.W. Mills, 1941.
 * [Culbertson] Dixon, Ben F. and Alice L. Dwelle Dixon. The Family of David Culbertson of LincolnCounty, Kentucky: An Historical and Genealogical Study. 1982? 
 * [Dawson] Mills, Harry W.Dawson DesendantsDescendants of Elijah Dawson, Sr., and Sarah (Logan) Dawson, of Lincoln County, Kentucky. Typescript, 1941. Microfiche:
 * [Downing] Finley, Carmen J. "Identifying the Revolutionary Soldier: James Downing of Lincoln County, Virginia (Kentucky)," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 77 (1989):169-185.
 * [Downing] Williams, Frank L.The Downing Family from Montgomery and Bedford Counties, Virginia, to Lincoln County, Missouri, By Way of Lincoln County, Kentucky. MSS., Urbanna Free Library Archives, Illinois. Microfilmed 1978:
 * [Dudderar] Newborg, Ruth Foxx Dudderar. The Dudderars from Germany to Kentucky: Being the Ancestry of John Fox Dudderar of Lincoln County, Kentucky. Marlton, N.J.: R.F.D. Newborg, 1983.
 * [Finley] Finley, Carmen J. "John and Mary Finley of Montgomery (Wythe) County, Virginia," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 34, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1990):243-255; Vol. 35, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1991):18-33; Vol. 35, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1991):122-135; Vol. 35, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1991):173-185; Vol. 35, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1991):251-262. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($)..
 * [Finley] Finley, Carmen J. "John Finley of Montgomery/Wythe County, Virginia: Additional Children Identified," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 39, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1995):3-22; Vol. 39, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1995):94-103; Vol. 39, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1995):202-212; Vol. 39, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1995):282-294. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($)..
 * [Flournoy] Harper, Lillie DuPuy VanCulin. Colonial Men and Times: Containing the Journal of Col. Daniel Trabue, Some Account of His Ancestry, Life and Travels in Virginia and the Present State of Kentucky During the Revolutionary Period; the Huguenots, Genealogy, with Brief Sketches of the Allied Families. Philadelphia, Pa.: Innes &amp; Sons, 1916. Digital version at Internet Archive;.
 * [Hall] Hall, Ida-Rose Langford. "The progenitors and descendants of Fielding Langford: allied families; Bethurem, Kincaid, Wilson, Warren". Provo, Utah, 1970. Digital version at FamilySearch Books.
 * [Helms] Helms in Lincoln County, Kentucky. No publication information.
 * [Hickman] Fay, Mary Smith. "The Three James Hickmans: Identifying Revolutionary War Veterans," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 41, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1997):52-54. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($)..
 * [Higginbotham] Sweeny, William Montgomery. "Higginbotham Family of Virginia," The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 26, No. 3 (Jan. 1918):205-213; Vol. 26, No. 4 (Apr. 1918):265-274; Vol. 27, No. 1 (Jul. 1918):45-56; Vol. 27, No. 2 (Oct. 1918):123-129; Vol. 27, No. 4 (Apr. 1919):294-298. Digital versions at JSTOR ($).
 * [Lucas] Brenneman, Richard. The Descendants of John Lucas of Casey Co., Ky. and William Lucas of Lincoln Co., Ky. San Jose, Calif.: Brenneman, 1979.
 * [Lucas] Brenneman, Richard E. Lucas Family of Casey &amp; Lincoln Cos., Kentucky and Descendants. Boston, Mass.: R.E. Brenneman, 2001.
 * [McRoberts] Mills, Harry W. McRoberts Family: Some Notes on McRoberts in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky: McRoberts Family in Lincoln Coount, Ky.: A Family History Miniature. Washington, D.C.: Mills' Lettergram, 1943.
 * [Perrin] Harrison, Thomas Perrin. "Early Perrin Families of Virginia," Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 20, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1982):61-68; Vol. 20, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1982):113-119. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * [Popham] Burgess, Jane F. "John Popham (by 1757-1815/7) of Culpeper County, Virginia, and His Children," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 45, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 2001):299-304; Vol. 46, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 2002):57-64; Vol. 46, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 2002):119-125. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($);.
 * [Reynolds] Reynolds, Lyman Foster. Reynolds: Southern Lincoln Co., Ky from 1789. n.p.: L.F. Reynolds, 1999, 2008.
 * [Rogers] Irwin, Lyndon N. The Rogers Family of Paint Lick and Crab Orchard Ancestry and Descendants Joseph and Ellen Steward Rogers of Garrard, Rockcastle, and Lincoln Counties in Kentucky. Bois D'Arc, Mo.: L. Irwin, 1994.
 * [Sweeney] Sweeney, J. Harvey. Moses Sweeney, 1734-1813 Descendants from Amherst County, Virginia and Lincoln County, Kentucky. Crossville, Tenn.: Sweeney Trust, 2005.
 * [Taylor] Dennstedt, Albert Marjorie. "Richard and Ann Taylor's Descendants in Maryland and Virginia," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 40, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1996):29-38; Vol. 40, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1996):134-145; Vol. 40, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1996):199-211; Vol. 40, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1996):282-293. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($)..
 * [Trabue] Harper, Lillie DuPuy VanCulin. Colonial Men and Times: Containing the Journal of Col. Daniel Trabue, Some Account of His Ancestry, Life and Travels in Virginia and the Present State of Kentucky During the Revolutionary Period; the Huguenots, Genealogy, with Brief Sketches of the Allied Families. Philadelphia, Pa.: Innes &amp; Sons, 1916. Digital version at Internet Archive;.
 * [Warner] Reynolds, Lyman Foster. Peter Warner Born Maryland - Fredrick County: Revolutionary War Soldier (with George Washington in Capture of Trenton) to Lincoln County Kentucky 1780's, Children Settled in Kentucky; Lincoln, Garrard, Boyle, Mercer &amp; Washington Counties; Indiana Putnam County. Louisville, Ky.: L.F. Reynolds, 2007. Online at FamilySearch Digital Library
 * [Worrell] Worrel, Stephen William. The Descendants of William Worrell of Virginia & Kentucky from 1783 On: Being an Account of William Senior's Removal from Virginia with His Wife Barbara to the Wildes of Kentucke, and His Migration from the Dicks River in Lincoln County, North through Lebanon Village to His Final Home in Boone County, and an Account of His Descendants in the Male Line, Prefaced by Mention of Other Kentucky Pioneer Worrells. Falls Church, Va.: S.W. Worrel, 1994.

Land and Property Records

 * The KY Land Office

The organization Strictly By Name provides free online indexes to early Lincoln County land records. They offer a record retrieval service to photocopy and transcribe microfilm copies of the original documents for a small fee. Available indexes:


 * 1) Deed Book A: 1796-1799
 * 2) Deed Book B: 1796-1803
 * Some original land grant surveys along Green River in Lincoln and Casey Counties, Kentucky (1781-1836) at Ancestry ($)

Local Histories

 * Early Lincoln County History. 1965. By Mrs. M.H. Dunn. N.p: n.p. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Kentucky (1776-1939)
 * KYGenWeb compiled list of maps
 * Click on the county to go to the KYGenWeb site
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

 * Military Resources, Revolutionary War through Civil War

Civil War
'''Online Records
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; 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)
 * 1912-1950 - at FamilySearch  - How to Use this Collection; index and images


 * - 10th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (Union), Company M
 * - 9th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (Union), Company C
 * - 1st Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (Union), Company K

World War I

 * Fallen Soldiers in WWI from KY

Korean War

 * Korean War Memorial for Soldiers from KY, KYGenWeb

Newspapers

 * USNPL, Kentucky, Kentucky newspaper index with links
 * World-Newspapers, Kentucky, Kentucky newspaper index with links
 * Kentucky Newspapers on Microfilm

Obituaries

 * Kentucky Footsteps Archives, KYGenWeb
 * Kentucky Obituary Sources, KYGenWeb


 * Browning Genealogy Database, Compiled by Charles Browning.
 * Kentucky Obituaries, USGenWeb
 * Afrigeneas, African American death notices, obituaries and funeral programs compiled by users from current newspapers and historical sources
 * Obituary Depot, Kentucky Newspaper Citations
 * Obituary Daily Times, Citations to over 15,000,000 obituaries including interactive search function
 * Nashville Christian Advocate Death Abstracts

Other Records

 * Kentucky Postcards, USGenWeb

Probate Records
'''Online Probate Records


 * 1727-1990 - at FamilySearch — images
 * 1774-1999 - Kentucky Wills and Probate Records 1774-1999 at Ancestry ($) — index and images
 * 1781-1865 - Lincoln County Kentucky list of will book testators SAMPUBCO - Browsable index of testators of wills.
 * 1798-1943 - digitized by FamilySearch  - How to Use this Collection
 * Will Books A, B, C - Strictly By Name provides free online indexes to early Lincoln County probate records. They offer a record retrieval service to photocopy and transcribe microfilm copies of the original documents for a small fee.
 * 1808-1814 Will Books D,E: 1808-1814 - Strictly By Name provides free online indexes to early Lincoln County probate records. They offer a record retrieval service to photocopy and transcribe microfilm copies of the original documents for a small fee.
 * 1815-1822 Will Books F,G: 1815-1822 - Strictly By Name provides free online indexes to early Lincoln County probate records. They offer a record retrieval service to photocopy and transcribe microfilm copies of the original documents for a small fee.
 * 1781-1791; 1791-1804; 1804-1806 - Images of Wills, Estates, Deeds. Kentucky Pioneers ($)

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 - Fothergill, Augusta B. and John Mark Naugle. Virginia Tax Payers, 1782-87, Other Than Those Published by the United States Census Bureau. 1940; reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1978. Available through the FamilySearch Catalog ; FHL. [1787 personal property tax list of Lincoln County.]
 * 1787 - Schreiner-Yantis, Netti and Florene Speakman Love. The 1787 Census of Virginia: An Accounting of the Name of Every White Male Tithable Over 21 Years, the Number of White Males Between 16 &amp; 21 Years, the Number of Slaves over 16 &amp; Those Under 16 Years, Together with a Listing of Their Horses, Cattle &amp; Carriages, and Also the Names of All Persons to Whom Ordinary Licenses and Physician's Licenses Were Issued. 3 vols. Springfield, Va.: Genealogical Books in Print, 1987. . [The source of this publication is the 1787 personal property tax list. Lincoln County is included in Vol. 1.]
 * 1790 - Heinemann, Charles B. "First Census" of Kentucky 1790. Washington, D.C.: n.p., 1940. 1981 reprint: FHL US/CAN 976.9 X2ph 1981; digital version at Kentucky Kinfolks. ["2 volumes of 1790 were used." (p. 2)]
 * 1800 - 1800 Tax List of Lincoln County, Kentucky Genealogy is included in Clift's Second Census of Kentucky 1800, digitized by Ancestry ($).
 * Search Tax, Criminal, Land and Wills Records, Ancestry ($)

The Lincoln County, 1787-1805 Tax Lists are also available for purchase as digital images in PDF format on CD fromGenealogical Resources. When the PDF files are viewed in a program such as Acrobat Pro you can bookmark pages/images with year changes, ancestors names, etc. You can also drag an image/page out of Acrobat Pro and throw it into Photoshop to enhance viewing or you can just save that extracted page/image to be used as an attachment to your ancestor in whatever Record Manager (ie: Legacy, RootsMagic, etc) program you use.

Birth

 * 1839-1960 – at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection


 * 1852-1860 - Lincoln County Birth Index 1852-1860. Batch at FamilySearch
 * 1875 - Lincoln County Birth Index 1875. Batch at FamilySearch
 * 1911-1912 - Searchable KY Birth Index
 * 1911-1999 Kentucky Births, 1911-1999 at MyHeritage ($) — index

Marriage

 * 1609-2016 - Kentucky, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1781-1792 - Lincoln County, Kentucky Marriage Records, 1781-1792 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1783-1979 - Kentucky Marriage Records 1783-1979 at Family Search
 * 1785-1979 – at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1793-1800 - Lincoln County, Kentucky Marriage (1793-1800) and Will (1801-1807) Records at Ancestry ($)
 * 1797-1954 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1852-1860 - Lincoln County Marriage Index 1852-1860. Batch at FamilySearch
 * 1875 - Lincoln County Marriage Index 1875. Batch at FamilySearch
 * 1876-1878 - Lincoln County Marriage Index 1876-1878. Batch at FamilySearch
 * 1973-2000 - Searchable KY Marriage Records
 * 1973-2000 - Kentucky Marriage Records 1973-2000
 * 1960-1993 Kentucky Marriages, 1960-1993 at MyHeritage ($) — index

Death

 * 1843-1970 – at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1900-1999 Kentucky Deaths, 1900-1999 at MyHeritage ($) — index
 * 1911-1965 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1911-2000 - Searchable KY Death Index
 * - How to Use this Collection
 * The Kentucky Vital Records Project, Transcriptions and Images of KY Death Certificates

Divorce

 * 1973-1993 - Kentucky Divorce Records 1973-1993, University of Kentucky Vital Records Databases

Archives
Archives of Appalachia East Tennessee State University Website

Family History Centers

 * Bardstown Kentucky Family History Center
 * Lebanon Kentucky Family History Center
 * Lexington Kentucky Family History Center
 * Green County Public Library - an affiliate library.
 * Lexington Public Library - an affiliate library.
 * Nelson County Public Library - Main Branch - an affiliate library.

Societies
Lincoln County Historical Society 315 W. Main Stanford, KY 40484 Email: [mailto:lincolncountyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com lincolncountyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com] Facebook

Websites

 * Lincoln County KYGenWeb
 * KYGenWeb project. Has maps, name indexes, history or other information for each county. Select the county.
 * State of Kentucky Website
 * USGenWeb Kentucky Archives
 * The USGenWeb project May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Lincoln County, Kentucky Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Lincoln County KY Genealogy (Kentucky Genealogy)
 * . Free - 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