Clay County, Texas Genealogy

Guide to Clay County Texas ancestry, family history, and genealogy research page. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records. Texas Online Genealogy Records

Description
The county was named for Henry Clay, famous American statesman, Kentucky Senator, and the United States Secretary of State. The County is located in the north-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Clay County Courthouse 100 N Bridge Street PO Box 548 Henrietta, TX 76365-2858 Phone: 940.538.4631 County Clerk has birth and death records from 1903, marriage records from 1874, probate and land records from 1873 and court records from 1876

County Clerk

P.O.Box 548 Henrietta 76365 Phone: 940-538-4631 Fax: 940-538-4008

District Clerk

P.O. Box 568 Henrietta 76365 Phone: 940-538-4561

History


The county is named after U.S. Speaker of the House Henry Clay (1777-1852).

Clay County Histories from the Clay County TXGenweb site.

Parent County
1857--Clay County was created 24 December 1857 from Cooke County. County seat: Henrietta

Record Loss
1873--Records of the first organization were transferred to Montague County, where many were destroyed in a courthouse fire on 25 February 1873.

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:

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

Neighboring Counties
Archer •  Cotton County, Oklahoma  •  Jack  •  Jefferson County, Oklahoma  •  Montague  •   •  Wichita

African American

 * 1865 - 1870 (images) - How to Use this Collection

Cemeteries
Cemetery records often reveal birth, marriage, death, relationship, military, and religious information.

Census

 * 1860 Federal Census - USGenWeb Archives Project
 * Clay County Census Records from the Clay County TXGenWeb site.

Churches
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Families

 * Clay County Family Page Links from the Clay County TXGenWeb site.

Land

 * Clay County Land Records from the Clay County TXGenWeb site.'
 * Original Land Owners of Texas - USGenWeb Archives Project

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1906-1989 — index and images

Local Histories

 * Clay County Museum Memories from the Clay County TXGenWeb site.

Maps

 * Clay County Maps from the Clay County TXGenWeb site.
 * Texas Counties Map. Click on the county to go to the TXGenWeb site.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military

 * 1838 - 1900 Texas Muster Roll Index Cards 1838-1900 at Ancestry — index and images $
 * Clay County Military Records from the Clay County TXGenWeb site.

Mexican-American War

 * 1845 - 1848 US American Volunteer Soldiers Mexican War 1845-1848 at Ancestry — index $

Civil War
Online Records
 * 1861 - 1865 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861 - 1865 at FamilySearch — index
 * Confederate Indigent Families - USGenWeb Archives Project
 * Confederate Pension Applications Index - USGenWeb Archives Project

World War I

 * 1917 - 1920 at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

 * Clay County Newspapers from the Clay County TXGenWeb site.
 * Texas Digital Newspaper Program at The Portal to Texas History

Obituaries

 * Clay County Obituaries from the Clay County TXGenWeb site.

Photographs

 * Clay County Photos from the Clay County TXGenWeb site.

Probate
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1800 – 1990 at FamilySearch — images
 * 1800 – 2000 Texas Wills and Probate Records 1800-2000 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

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.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Taxation

 * 1846-1910 Texas, County Tax Rolls 1846-1910 at Findmypast ($) — index and images

Birth
Online Birth Indexes and Records


 * 1903 - 1935 (images and index) - How to Use this Collection
 * 1903 - 1997 (index only) - How to Use this Collection
 * 1926-1995 Texas Births, 1926 - 1995 at MyHeritage ($) — index

Marriage
Online Marriage Indexes and Records


 * 1802 - 2010 Texas, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1814 - 1909 and 1966 - 2011 Texas Marriage Collection 1814-1909 and 1966-2011 at Ancestry — index $
 * 1837 - 1965 — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 1837 - 1973 — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1837 - 1977 — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1837 - 1977 Texas Select County Marriage Index 1837-1977 at Ancestry — index $
 * 1897 - 1900 Clay County Marriages - USGenWeb Archives Project
 * 1966 - 2010 - FamilySearch record collection - How to Use this Collection
 * Clay County Marriages from the Clay County TXGenWeb site.
 * 1966-2016 Texas Marriages and Divorces at MyHeritage ($) — index

Death

 * 1890-1976 with images - How to Use this Collection Name index and images of statewide death certificates, 1890-1976. The name index has been created by FamilySearch and is tied to images of the Texas death certificates. Few certificates are available prior to 1903.
 * 1903 - 1973 — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1903 - 1982 Texas Death Certificates 1903-1982 at Ancestry — index and images$
 * 1903 - 2000 (index) - How to Use this Collection
 * 1964 - 1998 (no images) - How to Use this Collection
 * 1977 - 1986 — index - How to Use this Collection

Divorce

 * Clay County Divorces - USGenWeb Archives Project
 * 1968 - 2010 — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1968 - 2011 Texas Divorces 1968-2011 at Ancestry — index $
 * 1966-2016 Texas Marriages and Divorces at MyHeritage ($) — index

Societies and Libraries
Clay County Historical Society PO Box 483 100 N Bridge St. Henrietta 76365 Website

Clay County Genealogy Trails website

FamilySearch Centers

 * Ardmore Oklahoma FamilySearch Center
 * Gainesville Texas FamilySearch Center
 * Vernon Oklahoma FamilySearch Center
 * Wichita Falls Texas FamilySearch Center


 * Denton Public Library - North Branch - an affiliate library
 * Emily Fowler Central Library - an affiliate library

Websites

 * TXGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the county.
 * The catalog is genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) This catalog is different than the indexed Historical Records.