Winston County, Alabama Genealogy

United States   Alabama    Winston County

County Courthouse
Winston County Courthouse 195 Main Street Courthouse Square Double Springs, AL 35553 Phone: (205) 489-5533

Pro Judge has marriage, probate, land records from 1891; Clerk Circuit Court has divorce and Court Records

History
Winston County was formed as Hancock County from Walker County on 12 February 1850, renamed Winston County on 22 January 1858.

"The Free State of Winston is a popular name given to Civil War-era Winston County, as a reflection of the county's generally pro-Union stance and resistance to Confederate rule during the war." The name comes from a series of resolutions made by unionists on 4 July 1861 at Looney's tavern. The resolutions stated that Alabama did not have the right to secede, but if it did, then Winston County had the right to secede from Alabama.

Parent County
1850--Winston County was created 12 February 1850 from Walker County. County seat: Double Springs

Record Loss
1891 -- Courthouse burned and many records were damaged.

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


 * Burned Counties Research
 * http://blogs.ancestry.com/circle/?p=2424

Neighboring Counties

 * Cullman
 * Franklin
 * Lawrence
 * Marion
 * Morgan
 * Walker

Cemeteries
Some Winston County cemeteries are included in Alabama Cemetery Records at FamilySearch Books Online - free.


 * Ivison, Hazle R. Collins. Index to Alabama Cemeteries: Blount County, Coosa County, St. Clair County, Talladega County, Winston County. n.d. Digital version at - free.

Land and Property
To place a grant or deed on a map within context of see:


 * Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Winston County, Alabama: with Homesteads, Roads, Waterways, Towns, Cemeteries, Railroads, and More. Norman, Okla.: Arphax Pub. Co., 2008. This is a definitive work and can be used as an index to land grants. Digital version at HistoryGeo.com ($). Website includes free surname index..

Research Guides

 * Inventory of the County Archives of Alabama: Winston County. Birmingham, Ala.: The Survey, 1941. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Taxation

 * 1865-1866 - U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 at Ancestry ($). Winston County is in District 3.

Birth

 * 1881-1930 - FamilySearch Historical Records Collection

Marriage

 * 1816-1957 - FamilySearch Historical Records Collection. Incomplete.

Death

 * 1881-1952 - FamilySearch Historical Records Collection


 * 1908-1974 - FamilySearch Historical Records Collection

Voting Registers
Alabama Voting Registers for 1867 are available online at the Alabama Department of Archives and History. Winston County has two books:


 * Book 1
 * Book 2

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

Web Sites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * USGenWeb Archives Project ~ contains record transcriptions from Bibles, obituaries, court records and more.
 * Winston County ALGenWeb ~ record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.
 * Winston County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Winston County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)