Hancock County, Illinois Genealogy

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

Description
Hancock County was named for John Hancock, who was the first signer of the Declaration of Independence. The county is located in the west-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Hancock County Courthouse 500 Main St Carthage, IL 62321 Phone: 217-357-2616 Hancock County Courthouse

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

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


 * Nauvoo

Biographies

 * Biographical review of Hancock County, Illinois: Containing Biographical and Genealogical Sketches. (1907). Online at:  Internet Archive.
 * Portrait and Biographical Record of Hancock, McDonough and Henderson Counties, Illinois. (1894). Online at:  Internet Archive.
 * See Wiki article Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois, which has a Hancock County section. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Hancock County residents.

Census Records

 * 1880 Census record IRAD–WIU

 1840 Pensioners
 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshals of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. Washington, D.C., 1841. ; . Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Illinois, Hancock County on page 187.

Church Records
Church records may give birth, death and marriage information as well as indicate family relationships. See Illinois state wiki article Church Records for more ideas about how to use church records in your research. Many libraries( WorldCat) and the hold abstracts of church records for Hancock County. Learn more about how to search WorldCat and the FamilySearch Catalog.
 * Gregg, Thomas. History of Hancock County, Illinois. C.C. Chapman, Chicago: 1880. Township histories begin on page 510. Local church histories found in the respective townships. Free online digital copy. Internet Archive.

 Baptist
 * 1852-1885 Pearl Creek Missionary Baptist Church records

 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints See the Church Records heading on the Nauvoo, Illinois Wiki page
 * 1839-1846' Latter-day Saints in Hancock County, Illinois (excluding Nauvoo) and in Lee County, Iowa (1839-1846)

 Lutheran
 * Records of Christ Lutheran Church, Nauvoo, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).
 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

 Methodist Episcopal  List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * 1854-1898 – Online index and digital images
 * 1876-1906  – Online index and digital images, item 9
 * 1837-1936 Wittrup, Glenn E. A history of Methodism in &amp; near La Harpe, Illinois, ca. 1837-1936.
 * FamilySearch Places

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 FamilySearch Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Hancock County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.

Online Court Indexes and Records
 * 1827-1864 Circuit Clerk's Miscellaneous Files IRAD–WIU
 * 1829-1838 Commissioners record (has some marriage licenses)
 * 1829-1897 Circuit court records
 * 1829-1858 Circuit Court Case FilesIRAD–WIU
 * 1829-1922 Circuit Court Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1830-1860 Civil and criminal files
 * 1830-1865 Index to court papers, vol. A
 * 1830-1964 Circuit Court Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1831-1840 Court proceedings
 * 1831-1857 Court records
 * 1833-1972 Guardianship records index
 * 1838-1840, 1843–1847 Court records
 * 1838-1924 Circuit Court Record, ChanceryIRAD–WIU
 * 1839-1923 Probate
 * 1841-1956 Certificates of levy and redemption
 * 1846-1922 County Court Case Files IRAD–WIU
 * 1849-1855 County Court Dockets IRAD–WIU
 * 1849-1858 Court orders
 * 1849-1938 Guardianship records
 * 1849-1964 Probate index
 * 1849-1964 Plaintiff and defendant index
 * 1850-1963 Probate court records
 * 1853-1924 Certificates of purchase
 * 1854-1858 Justice of the Peace Dockets IRAD–WIU
 * 1856-1965 Chancery court records indexes
 * 1857-1963 Circuit court records indexes
 * 1859-1878 Circuit Court Default Judgment RecordIRAD–WIU
 * 1859-1925 Administrators and executors records
 * 1861-1881 Circuit Court Master's Certificate of PurchaseIRAD–WIU
 * 1862-1923 Justice's Transcript RecordIRAD–WIU
 * 1862-1925 Record of justice transcripts
 * 1865-1928 Executor's records
 * 1879-1925 Widow's relinquishment and selection
 * 1879-1908 Conservator's record and law
 * 1883-1904 Adoption Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1886-1920 Letters of administration with will annexed
 * 1892-1916 Inventory, appraisament [sic] and sales bills,
 * 1894-1914 Circuit court records
 * 1911-1922 Will records
 * 1963-1972 Judgement index

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
 African American
 * African American Research (US) has more information about the kinds of records
 * Illinois African-American Resource Guide by the Illinois State Archives describes what records are at the State Archives with an online method for ordering records.
 * African-American Resources for Illinois

Land and Property Records
Original land records are held in the office of the County Clerk. See Illinois Land and Property for more information about using land records.

Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1820- Land Patent Search See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database.
 * 1796-1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry ($)
 * 1817-1856 Land book
 * 1817-1901 Deed index IRAD–WIU
 * 1817-1917 – Digital images of index and records
 * 1817-1917 Deed records
 * 1829-1973 Marks and brands record IRAD–WIU
 * 1834-1921 Levy and redemption records, old certificates and vol. 1-3
 * 1834-1938 Plat Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1836-1837 Land entry book
 * 1836-1856 School Land Sale Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1836-1884 Surveyor's Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1837-1856 Loan book
 * 1840-1904 Bonds and mortgages
 * 1841-1956 Master's and Sheriff's Levy and Redemption Certificates IRAD–WIU
 * 1853-1897 Certificates of purchase
 * 1853-1924 Master's and Sheriff's Certificates of Purchase IRAD–WIU
 * 1874-1893 Plat Record, Roads IRAD–WIU
 * 1882-1924 Mortgage Record IRAD–WIU
 * Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
 * Illinois Public Land Purchase Records This record extract includes over 538,000 land sales from the 19th Century. Each entry includes the purchaser's name, purchase date, number of acres, price per acre, and in some cases the purchaser's sex and residence. Available at www.ancestry.com ($)
 * Hancock County Federal Township Plats
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

 At IRAD Archives The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Hancock County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.
 * 1817-1934 Deed Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1817-1838 Entry Books IRAD–WIU

Local Histories

 * Biographical review of Hancock County, Illinois: Containing Biographical and Genealogical Sketches. (1907). Online at:  Internet Archive.
 * History of Hancock County, Illinois. by Thomas Gregg. Chicago: C.C. Chapman &amp; Co., 1880. Online at: Internet Archive, Ancestry ($).
 * Portrait and Biographical Record of Hancock, McDonough and Henderson Counties, Illinois. (1894). Online at:  Internet Archive.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
 * Township Map of 1870 Hancock County, Illinois with numerous small settlements. (My Genealogy Hound)
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Migration
Early migration routes to and from Hancock County for European settlers included:
 * Mississippi River
 * Mormon Trail 1846 from Nauvoo, Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah

Military Records
 Multiple Wars
 * 1865-1965 Military Discharge Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1943-1965 Military Discharge Record IndexIRAD–WIU
 * 1860s-1960s at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

 Civil War Regiments. Civil War service men from Hancock 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 Hancock County.
 * - 2nd Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Companies G and L.
 * - 12th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, Company G.
 * - 16th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies D and I.
 * - 25th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D
 * - 32nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B.
 * - 50th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies E, F and G.
 * - 57th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A and H.
 * - 78th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies D and H.
 * - 88th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company F.
 * - 118th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Companies A, B, C, E, G, H, and I.
 * - 119th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 137th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company A.
 * - 146th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
 * - 7th Regiment, Missouri Cavalry (Union), Company E
 * - 7th Regiment, Missouri Cavalry (Union), Company F
 * - 7th Regiment, Missouri Cavalry (Union), Company G

Naturalization and Citizenship
Original naturalization records are held in the office of the County Clerk. See Illinois Naturalization Records for more information about using naturalization records. The following copies of original records may be accessed through the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Hancock County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page. Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1800-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1856-1991 Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991 at Ancestry - index and images ($)
 * 1851-1928 Naturalization Declarations of IntentIRAD–WIU
 * 1852-1868 Naturalization Record, FinalIRAD–WIU
 * 1865-1880 Naturalization Record of Soldiers and MinorsIRAD–WIU
 * 1876-1906 Naturalization Record, final IRAD–WIU
 * 1878-1906 Naturalization Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1928-1930 Naturalization Petition RecordIRAD–WIU

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

Probate Records
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.

Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1772-1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * 1819-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
 * 1827-1942 Probate journals and records, wills, administrators' records, executors' records, guardianship records, and widows relinquishment records for Hancock County probate records are also available in . Click on the browse through images link, select Hancock County, and select the record type you are interested in.
 * 1831-1940 – Digital images, index at the beginning of the volumes
 * 1831-1942 - Digital images of indexes and records
 * 1831-1972 - Digital images of indexes and records
 * 1839-1923 - Digital images of indexes and records
 * 1839-1942 - Digital images of index
 * 1840-1866, 1893-1934 – Digital images of indexes and records
 * 1849-1878 – Digital images, index at the beginning of the volumes
 * 1849-1938 - Digital images of indexes and records
 * 1850-1963 - Digital images of indexes and records
 * 1859-1925 – Digital images, index at the beginning of the volumes
 * 1865-1928 - Digital images, index at the beginning of the volumes
 * 1870-1874 - Digital images, index at the beginning of the volumes
 * 1879-1908 - Digital images, index at the beginning of the volumes, records are for those appointed by the court to be conservators
 * 1879-1925 - Digital images, index at the beginning of the volumes
 * 1886-1920 - Digital images, index at the beginning of the volumes
 * 1892-1916 - Digital images, index at the beginning of the volumes
 * 1911-1922 - Digital images, index at the beginning of the volumes


 * 1830-1923 Probate Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1830-1942 Probate Record Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1830-1915 Probate Inventory, Appraisement and Sale Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1831-1923 Probate Case Files IRAD–WIU
 * 1833-1923 Probate Will Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1835-1954 Probate Case Files, Guardians IRAD–WIU
 * 1839-1949 Probate Claim and Judgment DocketsIRAD–WIU
 * 1850-1963 Probate Sale Petitions Index, Real Estate IRAD–WIU
 * 1859-1924 Probate Administrator's RecordIRAD–WIU
 * 1864-1928 Probate Executor's Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1879-1908 Probate Conservator's Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1879-1937 Probate Inventory Record, Guardians IRAD–WIU
 * 1879-1925 Probate Widow's Relinquishment and Selection RecordIRAD–WIU
 * 1885-1920 Probate Administrator's Record with Will AnnexedIRAD–WIU
 * 1887-1922 Probate Administrator's and Executor's Reports IRAD–WIU
 * 1889-1938 Probate Guardian's Record IRAD–WIU
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

 At IRAD Archives The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Hancock County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the WIU IRAD Wiki page.

School Records

 * 1879-1953 School teachers' daily registers IRAD–WIU

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

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records
 * 1817-1857 Taxable Lands Lists IRAD–WIU
 * 1834-1848 Tax Sale Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1851-1861 Tax Sale Notices IRAD–WIU
 * 1858-1872 Tax Lists, Delinquent IRAD–WIU

Vital Records
Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Original birth and death certificates recorded until the year 1916 are kept by the Hancock 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 and the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Western Illinois University (WIU) - search for Hancock County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the IRAD Wiki page.

Birth

 * 1829-1947 – Online index and images
 * 1877-1947 – Digital images of indexes and records, incomplete
 * 1878-1916 – Digital images, starting at item #4, index before the volumes.
 * 1844-1877 Birth Record, delayed IRAD–WIU
 * 1844-1922 Birth Certificates IRAD–WIU
 * 1867-1947 Birth Record Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1877-1915 Birth register IRAD–WIU

Marriage

 * 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1790-1860 Illinois Marriage index found at Ancestry ($)
 * 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1810-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1829-1849 – Online index and digital images
 * 1829-1915 – Online index and digital images
 * 1829-1947 – Online index and images
 * 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1829-1933 Marriage Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1830-1922 Marriage LicensesIRAD–WIU
 * 1862-1940 Marriage Record Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1880-1925 Marriage License Applications IRAD–WIU

Death

 * 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1829-1947 – Online index and images
 * 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1850-1885 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 found at Ancestry ($)
 * 1877-1917 Death Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1877-1931 Death Certificates IRAD–WIU
 * 1877-1947 - Digital images of index and records
 * 1877-1947 Death Record Index IRAD–WIU
 * 1877-1915 Register of deaths
 * 1878-1916 Register of stillbirths IRAD–WIU
 * 1893-1912 – Digital version of index and records
 * 1893-1913 Coroner's Inquest Record IRAD–WIU
 * 1902-1941 Burial and Removal Permits IRAD–WIU
 * 1903-1919 Death Certificates, Stillbirths IRAD–WIU
 * 1910-1915
 * Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 at Illinois State Archives - index
 * 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950
 * 1916-1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * 1951-1971 Illinois Death Certificates, 1951–1971 at Illinois State Archives - index

Archives
 Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) IRAD is a system of Illinois Regional Archives Depositories managed by the Illinois State Archives, housing the archival records of local Illinois counties, townships, municipalities and school districts. The seven Regional Depositories are housed on state university campuses scattered throughout Illinois. Western Illinois University houses the records for Hancock County.
 * Nauvoo Land and Records Office Cor. Parley and Partridge st Nauvoo, IL 62354 Phone: 217-453-2733 Fax: 217-453-2757 Email: [mailto:nauvoolr@ldschurch.org nauvoolr@ldschurch.org] Website
 * Primitive Baptist Library 416 Main St Carthage, IL 62321-1337 Email: [mailto:bwebb9@juno.com bwebb9@juno.com] Facebook Website

FamilySearch Centers

 * Macomb Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Nauvoo Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * Quincy Illinois FamilySearch Center
 * McDonough County Genealogical Society - an affiliate library

Libraries
Carthage Public Library District 538 Wabash Ave. Carthage, IL 62321 Phone: 217-357-3232 Fax: 217-357-2392 Email: [mailto:cartlib@adams.net cartlib@adams.net] Website Greater West Central Public Library District 202 Center St Augusta, IL 62311 Phone: 217-392-2211 Website Hamilton Public Library 861 Broadway St Hamilton, IL 62341 Phone: 217-847-2219 Fax: 217-847-3014 Email: [mailto:hamlib@adams.net hamlib@adams.net]Website La Harpe Carnegie Public Library District 209 East Main Street La Harpe, IL 61450 Phone: 217-659-7729 Fax: 217-659-7735 Email [mailto:lahalib@yahoo.com lahalib@yahoo.com] Website Nauvoo Public Library 1270 Mulholland Nauvoo, IL 62354 Phone: 217-453-2707 Email: [mailto:nauvoopl@mchsi.com nauvoopl@mchsi.com] Website Warsaw Public Library 1025 Webster Street Warsaw, IL 62379 Phone: 217-256-3417 Fax: 217-256-3154 Email: [mailto:info@warsawlib.org info@warsawlib.org] Website

Societies

 * Hancock County Historical Society 306 Walnut Street Carthage, IL 62321-0068 Phone 217-357-0043 Email:[mailto:info@hancockcountyhistory.com info@hancockcountyhistory.com] Website The Hancock County Historical Society is located in the Kibbe Museum.
 * LaHarpe Historical and Genealogical Society PO Box 289 LaHarpe, IL 61450 Phone 217-659-3635 Website
 * Nauvoo Historical Society Weld House Museum 1380 Mulholland St Nauvoo, IL 62354 Email:[mailto:historian@nauvoohistoricalsociety.org historian@nauvoohistoricalsociety.org] Website
 * Warsaw Illinois Historical Society and Museum 401 Main St Warsaw, IL 62379 Phone 217-256-3400 Website

Websites

 * Hancock County IL Genealogy
 * Hancock ILGenWeb
 * Early Pioneers of Nauvoo database
 * Hancock County, IL Linkpendium
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.