Baker County, Florida Genealogy

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

County Courthouse


Baker County Courthouse 339 E MacClenny Avenue MacClenny, FL 32063-2100 Phone: 904.259.3121

County Judge has marriage and probate records Circuit Court has divorce and court records from 1880

History
The majority of the pre-civil war settlers who came to the area now known as Baker County were hunters and farmers. However after the war industries involving turpentine and logging brought a greater number of northern settlers because of the higher opportunity for employment. The county seat was first in Sanderson. Later however, after the burning of the Sanderson courthouse in 1877 and also with pressure from Darbyville settlers, a vote was held to determine the county seat. On February 22, 1886 a votes rendering results with only 23 more votes in favor of the county seat being in Darbyville. The county seat was then moved to Darbyville, presently known as Macclenny. The area began with farming cotton and corn as the main crops followed by sugar cane, sweet potatoes and lots of leafy vegetables. After the environmental disturbance or the boll weevil which destroyed the cotton, corn took the place of Baker main crop. Selling mostly as moonshine. Some time after tobacco became the main cash crop. (History of Baker County).

Parent County
1861--Baker County was created 8 February 1861 from New River county. New River County's name was changed to Bradford in 1861. County seat: MacClenny

(Macclenny was once called Darbyville but was changed in 1890 to Macclenny.)

Baker County was named in honor of James McNair Baker. Baker was the former Judge of the Fourth Judicial District of the state of Florida, which included the Baker County area at the time (History of Baker County).

Description
The county was named for a judge and Confederate Senator James McNair Baker. It is the only place in Florida where a civil war battle occurred. The county seat is Macclenny and the county was organized on 1861. The County is located in the North east area of the state.

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Florida county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Florida County Boundary Maps" (1821-1997) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
1888 -- Courthouse burned and many records were damaged.

For further information on researching in burned counties, see the following:


 * Burned Counties Research
 * Burned Counties, by Michael John Neill

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:

Cemeteries
The following web sites may have additional information on Baker  County cemeteries.


 * Interment.net Florida cemetery records

Census
1885 includes sex, age, relationship, occupation, place of birth of each family member and parents. Also census for agriculture, manufacture and mortality.

Church
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints


 * Sanderson

Maps

 * 1821-1997 Maps of Florida

Military

 * Baker County Military Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Civil War

 * 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)
 * Florida State Archive Florida, Confederate Pension Applications Files
 * Florida State Archive A Guide to Civil War Records at the State Archives of Florida.
 * 1885-1955 - at FamilySearch — index and images

World War I

 * 1917-1920 - at FamilySearch — index and images

World War II

 * Index to World War II Army Enlistment Records, Baker County, Florida (Genealogy Trails)
 * Baker County World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Korean War

 * Korean War Casualties, Baker County (Genealogy Trails)

Probate
Online Probate Records
 * 1784 – 1990 Florida Probate Records
 * 1810 – 1974 Ancestry.com $ Florida Wills and Probate Records

Birth Records

 * 1880 - 1935 - at FamilySearch — index

Death Records

 * 1877 - 1939 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1900 - 1921 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1877 - 1998 - at FamilySearch — index

Divorce Records

 * 1927 - 2001 - Florida, Divorce Index 1927-2001 at Ancestry.com $

Marriage

 * 1802 - 1998 - Florida, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1837 - 1974 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1830 - 1993 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1830 - 1957 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1822 - 1875 and 1927 - 2001 - at FamilySearch — index

Societies and Libraries

 * Baker County Historical Society PO Box 856 42 West McIver Avenue Macclenny, FL 32063 Phone: 904-259-0587 Email: [mailto:drichardson@nefcom.net drichardson@nefcom.net] Website
 * Florida Historical Society
 * Florida State Genealogical Society

Family History Centers

 * MacClenny Florida Family History Center

Websites

 * Florida Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Florida Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * The Baker County FLGenWeb Project, a member of The FLGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * Baker County FLGenWeb Project, Inc
 * Baker County, Florida Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Baker County, Florida (Genealogy Trails)
 * Baker County FL Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * Baker County FL Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)