Lawrence County, Illinois Genealogy

Guide to Lawrence County, Illinois ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records. Illinois Online Genealogy Records

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

Historical Facts


Lawrence County is named for Captain James Lawrence who was mortally wounded while commanding the USS Chesapeake in the War of 1812. He is best known for his dying command "Don't give up the ship!"

Parent County

 * 1821--Lawrence County was created 16 January 1821 from Crawford and Edwards Counties.

County seat: Lawrenceville

Description
The county was named for Captain James Lawrence, who was killed in action during the War of 1812 while commanding the frigate USS Chesapeake. Mortally wounded, he gave his men the famous last order, "Don't give up the ship." The county seat is Lawrenceville and the county was organized on 1821. The County is located in the East central part 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
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

 * Crawford
 * Knox County, Indiana
 * Richland
 * Wabash

Biography

 * Toussaint Dubois played an important role in the early history of Lawrence County.
 * USGenWeb, Lawrence County, Illinois (ILGenWeb), Pioneer Biographies
 * The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Lawrence County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Lawrence County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.

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, Lawrence County on page 187.]

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places


 * USGenWeb, Lawrence County, Illinois (ILGenWeb), Churches of Lawrence County

Abstracts


 * 1865–1965 Allison Prairie Church of the Brethren. Allison Prairie, 1865-1965 : 100th anniversary, Sunday, July 25, 1965. [S.l. : s.n.], 1965.

Copies of Original records


 * 1854–1899 Union Presbyterian Church records

Catholic
FamilySearch has made parish records from three Belleville Diocese Catholic churches in Lawrence County available online. The records include first communions, confirmations, marriages, and deaths:


 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.
 * , browsable online (no index); courtesy: FamilySearch.

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 Lawrence County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page.


 * 1835-1948 Justice of the Peace Dockets 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
The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Lawrence County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Lawrence County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.

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 Lawrence County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page.

Copies of Original Records


 * 1821-1950 Deed Index IRAD-EIU
 * 1821-1960 Deed Record IRAD-EIU
 * 1821-1936 Deed records
 * 1925-1926 Chattel Mortgage Dockets IRAD-EIU

Abstracts


 * Family Maps. Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Lawrence County, Illinois (Norman, Oklahoma: Arphax Pub. Co., c2009.)
 * Land Atlas and plat book Rockford Map Publishers (Rockford, Illinois) Land atlas and plat book, Lawrence County, Illinois, 1983 (Rockford, Illinois:Rockford Map Publishers, c1982.) ;
 * Early trails and settlements Satterhwaite, Geralding and Richard L. Palmer Early trails and settlements of Lawrence Co., Illinois ([S.I.]: G. Satterthwaite and R.L. Palmer, 1996) ;

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.com ($)
 * 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
 * Lawrence County Federal Township Plats

Maps

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)


 * Lawrence County Federal Township Plats


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

Military

 * The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Lawrence County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Lawrence County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.
 * Database of 1929 Illinois Roll of Honor, created by Fred Delap and donated to the Illinois State Archives. Illinois burial locations of over 72,000 military personnel who served in U.S. wars.

Civil War
Civil War service men from Lawrence 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 Lawrence County.


 * - 8th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 months, 1861), Company I.
 * - 36th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C.
 * - 61st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies H and K.
 * - 62nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A.
 * - 66th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company I.
 * - 70th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 91st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F.
 * - 130th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company I.
 * - 154th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.


 * Satterthwaite, Geraldine, and Terry Warren. Civil War Men, Lawrence Co. Bridgeport, Ill. (?: G. Satterthwaite, 2000). A list of civil war young men from Lawrence county taken from the original County Civil War records that have been lost. Library with this book.

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 ($)

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


 * 1821-1929 Will records
 * 1859-1929 Probate records

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

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

Family History Centers
There are over 4500 Family History Centers worldwide which serve as branch facilities of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Volunteers provide research assistance to help patrons identify their ancestors. Microfilm and microfiche may be available at local family history centers. Locate your nearest Family History Center at the FamilySearch website. Call ahead to verify operating hours. All are welcome. The following centers are accessible to residents of Lawrence County, Illinois:

Linton Indiana Family History Center 1000 W Lone Tree Rd Linton, Greene, Indiana Phone: 812-847-9044 Hours: Wed. 6 - 9 pm, Sat 9 - 2 Terre Haute Indiana Family History Center 1845 N 6 1/2 St Terre Haute, Vigo, Indiana Phone: 812-234-0269 Hours: Tue 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Closed: Mondays after 6:00 p.m., all major holidays, inclement weather, whenever Vigo schools are on delays or early dismissals. Attention: The Center is also available by appointment. Vincennes Indiana Family History Center 1940 N Old Hwy 41 Vincennes, Knox, Indiana Phone: 812-882-4022 Hours: T, Thu 9am-12:30pm, 5pm-8:30pm Closed: Closed 1 1/2 weeks for Christmas Please note: Addresses posted are not mailing addresses. Due to limited staff, Family History Centers are unable to respond to mail inquiries.

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 Lawrence 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
Lawrence County Public Library 814 12th St. Lawrenceville, IL 62439 Phone: (618) 943-3016 Hours: M-W-F 12 noon-5 pm; T-TH 12 noon-6 pm; Sat 10 am-3 pm

The Library contains a varied genealogical collection including (but not limited to): marriage indexes, obituaries, biographies, local county histories, newspapers on microfilm, and census records on microfilm (1830-1920) and in book form (1850-1880 w/indexes). USGenWeb, Lawrence County, Illinois, Libraries

Irene Black Genealogical Library 125 E. Olive Bridgeport, IL 62417 Phone: (618) 945-7113 Hours: M-F 2 pm -5 pm

Societies

 * Lawrence County Historical Society (LCHS) PO Box 425 Museum-619 12th St Lawrenceville, IL 62439 Phone 618-943-3900 E-mail:[mailto:lawrencelore@gmail.com lawrencelore@gmail.com] Facebook Website
 * 'Lawrence Lore is the Lawrence County, Illinois Historical Society blog. The editor posts articles about Lawrence County history. Research is from primary sources. Individual's names are included. Articles are biographies, obits, military records, business owners, as general news items. Finding aids are provided as topic names and a search engine for specific names. Photographs are included in web albums, i.e. identified school pictures.

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


 * 1872-1900 Tax Deed Affidavits 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the EIU IRAD Wiki page.

Births
Copies of Original Records


 * 1878-1923 Vital records Index to birth records 1878-1911 and Birth records Book 1-8 1877-1923.
 * 1889-1970 Birth Certificates - IRAD-EIU
 * 1877-1923 Birth Record - IRAD-EIU
 * 1877-1911 Birth Record Index – IRAD-EIU
 * 1890-1921 Birth Record Index, Delayed - IRAD-EIU
 * 1896-1852 Birth Record, Corrected - IRAD-EIU
 * 1882-1972 Birth Record, Delayed - IRAD-EIU

Marriages
Copies of Original Records


 * 1878-1937 Vital records Index to marriage records 1878-1937 (Alphabetical by the groom's surname) and marriage records Book 1-4 1878-1933
 * 1909–1971 Marriage License Applications IRAD-EIU
 * 1937-1970 Marriage Licenses IRAD-EIU
 * 1821–1937 Marriage Record IRAD-EIU
 * 1821-1970 Marriage Record Index IRAD-EIU

Abstracts


 * 1821-1849 Miller, Ada Marriage licenses, Lawrence County, Illinois, 1821-1849 ;
 * 1821-1849 Miller, Ada Additions, corrections and notes to marriage licenses, Lawrence County, Illinois, 1821-1849 (Salt Lake City, Utah:Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1970.)
 * 1840-1899 Taylor, Lola B. Early marriages of Richland County, Illinois, 1840- (Olney, Illinois:Taylor Print Shop, c1970.) ;
 * 1878 Lawrence County, Illinois 1878 Marriage Records Courtesy Lawrence County ILGenWeb.net
 * 1879 Lawrence County, Illinois 1879 Marriage Records Courtesy Lawrence County ILGenWeb.net
 * 1880 Lawrence County, Illinois 1880 Marriage Records Courtesy Lawrence County ILGenWeb.net
 * 1881 Lawrence County, Illinois 1881 Marriage Records Courtesy Lawrence County ILGenWeb.net

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($)
 * 1790–1860 Illinois Marriage index found at Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1810–1934 at FamilySearch — index and images

Deaths
Copies of Original Records


 * 1878-1925 Vital records Index to death records 1878-1907 and Birth records Book 1-4 1878-1925.
 * 1889-1907 Death Certificates IRAD-EIU
 * 1888-1960 Death Certificates, Stillbirths -&amp;nbspIRAD-EIU
 * 1878-1972 Death Record IRAD-EIU
 * 1878-1927 Death Record Index IRAD-EIU
 * 1902-1909 Death Reports IRAD-EIU

Abstracts


 * 1860,1870,1880 Compiled by the Richland County Genealogical and Historical Society (Olney, Illinois) Mortality Schedules, 1860, 1870, 1880 ([S.I.:s.n.], 1978.) ;

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.com ($)
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHertitage($)
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950 at Illinois State Archives - index
 * 1916-1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage - index, ($)

Websites

 * Lawrence County, IL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Lawrence County IL Genealogy
 * Illinois Genealogy Network Group on Facebook

Databases pertinent to Lawrence County


 * Local Governmental Records Database IRAD
 * Name Index to Illinois Local Governments IRAD
 * USGenWeb, Lawrence County, Illinois (ILGenWeb)
 * Lawrence County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Lawrence County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)