Benton County, Mississippi Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for Samuel Benton. The County has Ashland as its seat and the County was created 1870. The County is located in the north center area of the state.

County Courthouse
Benton County Courthouse Main St; PO Box 218; Ashland, MS 38603-0000 Phone: 662.224.,6300 Clerk Chancery Court has divorce, probate and land records from 1871.

Parent County
1870--Benton County was created 21 July 1870 from Marshall and Tippah Counties. County seat: Ashland

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Mississippi county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Mississippi County Boundary Maps" (1643-1947) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Neighboring Counties

 * Fayette County, Tennessee
 * Hardeman County, Tennessee
 * Marshall
 * Tippah
 * Union

Census

 * 1805 - 1890 Mississippi, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1805-1890 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1660 - 1820 U.S. Census Reconstructed Records, 1660-1820 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1792 - 1866 Mississippi, State and Territorial Census Collection, 1792-1866 at Ancestry.com — index $

Land and Property

 * Deed records, 1870-1887; index to deeds, 1870-1892
 * Benton County, Mississippi Land Patents Database, Surnames A-L USGenWeb Archvies
 * Benton County, Mississippi Land Patents Database, Surnames M-Z USGenWeb Archives

Maps

 * Maps of Mississippi (1643-1947)

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch.org — index/images
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch.org — index/images
 * 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)
 * 1889-1942 - at FamilySearch — images
 * 1900-1974 - at FamilySearch — images

World War I

 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch — index
 * World War I Registrants, Birth Information, Benton County, Mississippi, USGenWeb Archives
 * Surnames A-B
 * Surnames C
 * Surnames D-F
 * Surnames G-H
 * Surnames I-L
 * Surnames M
 * Surnames N-P
 * Surnames Q-S
 * Surnames T-Z

World War II

 * World War II Enlistees, Surnames ADAIR - KYLE USGenWeb Archives
 * World War II Enlistees, Surnames LAKEY - YOUNG USGenWeb Archives

Probate Records
Online Records
 * 1780 – 1982 Mississippi Wills and Probate Records 1780-1982 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1781 – 1930 at FamilySearch — images

Taxation

 * 1870-1896 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.

Marriage

 * 1800-1911 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1776-1935 Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1826-1900 Mississippi Marriages, 1826-1900 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1826-1850 Mississippi Marriages, 1826-50 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * to 1825 Mississippi Marriages to 1825 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1870-1881 - Benton County Marriage Books 1 and 2 Index 1870-1881. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1881-1898 - Benton County Marriage Books 3 and 4 Index 1881-1898. Batches and  at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1870-1922 Marriage records, 1870-1922

Death

 * 1871-1972 Will records, 1871-1972 Viewable

Genealogy Societies and Libraries
Benton County Historical & Genealogical Society P.O. Box 683 Ashland, MS 38603-0683 Phone: 662-556-8996

Benton County Library -Ashland P O Box 216 Ashland, MS 38603-0216 Phone: 662-224-6400 Fax: 662-224-6304

Hickory Flat Public Library 47 Oak Street Hickory Flat, MS 38633 662-333-7633

Benton County Chancery Clerk 190 Ripley Ave Ashland, MS 38603-6008 Phone: 662- 224-6300 See also a List of Mississippi Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies

Websites

 * Benton County, MS History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Mississippi Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Mississippi Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Benton County, MSGenWeb Project
 * USGenWeb Archives