Cumberland County, Illinois Genealogy

United States Illinois Cumberland County

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

Historical Facts
Cumberland County is named for the, which was named for the town of Cumberland, Maryland.

Parent County

 * 2 March 1843: - Cumberland County was created from Coles County.

Boundary Changes
See an interactive map of Cumberland County boundary changes.

Record Loss
5 November 1885: - Courthouse burned and many records were damaged.

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


 * Burned Counties Research

Places/Localities
To see a list of places in Cumberland County, click on [Show] in the bar, above. The preceding list of places includes incorporated cities and towns, unincorporated towns and communities, and place names that may have been used in family histories. Some have well-organized records and even have web sites. Some are simply social communities with no official records, but which may be referenced in small-town newspapers. The list is provided to help researchers identify localities within the county. As records or histories of these localities are identified, a page will be added for each of these place names.

Cemeteries
Find A Grave, list of cemeteries. Additional information can be found at local level (city, township, etc.)


 * Cumberland Co. IL USGenWeb Tombstone Project usually gives the names of the deceased in alphabetical order by last name with birth and death dates plus any remarks.


 * Illinois Cemeteries by county.

Federal
For tips on accessing census records online, see Illinois Census.

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

Land and Property
Illinois Land and Property for more information.


 * 1796-1907U.S General Land Office Records at Ancestry–($)
 * Illinois Public Land Purchase Recordsat Ancestry–($)
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database. Also available at Ancestry ($)
 * Cumberland County Federal Township Plats
 * Federal Township Plats of Illinois
 * 1800s – Present - Use the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land Patent Index to obtain original federal land transfer records, including homestead, military warrants, and cash entry patents. These records help a researcher establish location and lead to National Archives’ records which may include genealogical information. Earlier land transfer records are at the National Archives.

Maps

 * Cumberland County Federal Township Plats

Civil War
Civil War service men from Cumberland 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 Cumberland County.


 * - 59th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F.
 * - 97th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies B and D.


 * Illinois Trails History and Genealogy. 1862-1863 military census of males aged 18 to 45 in various towns of Cumberland County, who were eligible for Civil War military duty (accessed 2 Jun 2011).

Probate Records
Illinois Probate Records for more information.

Archives

 * Inventory of the county archives of Illinois, no. 18, Historical Records Survey

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

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 Cumberland 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.

Societies
Cumberland County Historical and Genealogical Society 216 Cumberland St. Box 582 Greenup, Illinois 62428 Phone: (217) 923-9306 E-mail: historic@rr1.net

Vital Records
Illinois Vital Records for more information.

Marriages

 * To-1850 Illinois Marriages to 1850 at Ancestry–($);Index, INCOMPLETE
 * 1878-1888 State Board of Health returns of marriges
 * 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index
 * 1851-1900 Illinois Marriages, 1851-1900 at Ancestry–($);Index, INCOMPLETE
 * 1790-1860 Illinois Marriages, 1790-1860 at Ancestry–($);Index, INCOMPLETE

Deaths

 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 (No data for Cumberland County as of Aug 2011. Check back again as records are being added.)
 * 1916–1947 
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates

Webites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Cumberland County, Illinois Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)

Databases Pertinent to Cumberland County


 * Local Governmental Records Database
 * Name Index to Illinois Local Governments