Madison County, Alabama Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named in honor of James Madison, fourth President of the United States of America. It is recognized as the "birthplace" of Alabama,which was founded there on December 14 1819. The economy of Madison county revolved mainly around agriculture, being recognized as one of the largest cotton-producing counties in the state. This all changed in 1950 when a group of German rocket scientists, led by Wernher von Braun, came to Redstone Arsenal and developed, among others, the Redstone rocket, which was modified to launch the first two Americans into space. Tens of thousands of jobs came to the area as a result of the Space Race. The county is located in the north-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Madison County Courthouse 100 North Side Square, Rm 821 Huntsville, Al 35801-4820 Phone: 256-532-3386 Fax: 256-532-3768 Madison County Website Probate Judge has marriage probate and land records from 1809 Clerk Circuit Court has divorce and court records County Courthouse has death and buried records

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator.

Biographies

 * Northern Alabama, Historical and Biographical. Birmingham, Ala.: Smith and De Land, 1888. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library. Madison County begins on page 61.
 * Madison County Biographies at The USGenWeb Archives Project

Cemeteries
The following web site has additional information on Madison county cemeteries.


 * Interment.net Alabama cemetery records by county.
 * Douthat, James L. Wheeler Reservoir Cemeteries. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, at Mountain Press. $$
 * Additional Madison County cemeteries are included in Alabama Cemetery Records FamilySearch Digital Library-Vol. 1

Census Records

 * 1809 Census of Madison County ~  USGenWeb Archives Project
 * 1816. Alabama Genealogical Society Magazine. See PERSI for issues. Also Alabama Census.
 * 1830 Census Index and Transcription ~  USGenWeb Archives Project
 * 1840 Census Index and Transcription ~  USGenWeb Archives Project
 * 1850 Census Index and Transcription ~  USGenWeb Archives Project
 * 1860 Census Index and Transcription ~  USGenWeb Archives Project
 * 1900 Census Index and Transcription ~  USGenWeb Archives Project

State Census


 * 1866 at FamilySearch

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Baptist
 * [1808-1868] Minutes Flint River Baptist Church [Madison] Alabama. Microfilmed by Historical Commission Southern Baptist Convention, Nashville, Tenn. FHL US/CAN Film 984,179. In 1821 members living near the Big Spring in Ashberns Cove joined the jurisdiction of Flint River Baptist Church. And in 1833 the church included members that lived on Clear Creek. .
 * "Flint River Baptist Church Minutes, May 13, 1809-June 1, 1810" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Mar 2009. Vol 43 Iss. 3
 * "Flint River Baptist Church Minutes, July 1810-Aug 1812"Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Jun 2009. Vol 43 Iss. 4
 * "Flint River Baptist Church Membership List 1832-1858" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Mar 2009. Vol 43. Iss 3
 * "First Baptist Church, Huntsville, 1809-1984" Alabama Genealogical Society Magazine. Birmingham, Alabama 1989. Vol 21. Iss 1-2.

Presbyterian
 * By 1840 a Presbyterian Church referred to as "Combesline Presbyterions" existed. Location thought to be relatively near the Flint River.
 * "Session Records of the Presbyterian Church, 1823-60" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Mar 1971. Vol 5 Iss. 3.
 * "Session Recs. of the Presbyterian Church, 1847-85" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Sep 1971. Vol 6 Iss. 1.

Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Meridianville


 * 1883-1903 Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Meridianville Baptism Index 1883-1903. Batch at FamilySearch

Court Records
Territorial
 * "Mississippi Territory Circuit Court Trial and Appearance Dockets, 1809-1812" Alabama Genealogical Society Magazine. Birmingham, Alabama Spring 2009.
 * "Mississippi Territory Minute Book, 1811-19" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Mar 1991. Vol 25, Iss 3.

Minute Books
 * 1811-1819 Records of Madison County, Alabama ALGenWeb (Varied records, including: Minute Book (1811-1819), Naturalization, Probate Index)
 * 1810-1817 Johnson, Dorothy Scott J. Madison County, Alabama Orphans Court minutes, 1810-1817. FHL US/CAN Book 976.197 P2j. Also film.
 * 1810-1819 Superior court minutes, 1810-1819, Madison County, Alabama. FHL Film.
 * 1831-1844 “Commissioner Court Minutes, 1832” Valley Leaves Huntsville, Alabama. Vol 23 Issue 4. Abstracted minutes from page 1 of 1831 to May 1844. These minutes mention the names of those caring for paupers, as well as the paupers names (including orphans)-- along with the usual things like roads. FHL US/CAN Book 976.19 B2v.

Chancery and Circuit Court
 * 1829-1968 at FamilySearch - Images only, contains the Chancery Court Case Files from 1841+ (Case No. 173+), and the Circuit Court Divorce and Disputed Estate files from ca 1907+
 * Chancery Court Abstracts, 1824 Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Sep 2006. Vol 41. Iss. 1.

Misc
 * 1821 "Jurors List"Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Jun 1988. Vol 4. Iss 4. FHL US/CAN 976.19 B2v.
 * 1831-1844 "Commissioners Court Minutes, 1831" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Jun 1989. Vol 23 Iss 4 and Sep 1989. Vol 24. Iss. 1. Dec 1989. Vol 24. Iss 2.Mar 1990. Vol 24, Iss 3. Jun 1990. Vol. 24. Iss 4. FHL US/CAN 976.19 B2v.
 * 1841"Justice of the Peace and Constable Bonds, 1841" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Dec 1990. Vol 25. Iss 2. Dec 1991 Vol 26 Iss 2 p 85. FHL US/CAN 976.19 B2v.
 * 1842 "Court Records, 1842" Alabama Genealogical Exchange. Tuscaloosa, Alabama Winter 1987. Vol 3, Iss. 3. FHL US/CAN 976.D25ag. These are selected entries done by Pauline Gandrud whose unpublished files are in Special Collections, University of Alabama Library.
 * 1841-1844 "Justice of the Peace &amp; Constable Bonds, 1841-1844" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Dec 1991. Vol 26. Iss 2. FHL US/CAN 976.19 B2v.
 * 1843 "Jurors List, 1843" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Dec 1988. Vol 23, Iss. 2. FHL US/CAN 976.19 B2v. FHL has Vol 23 Iss 1-4 bound together with index at back.

Directories
Madison County, Alabama Online Historical Directories - identifies historical city, county, business and other directories available online on both and pay-to-access websites.

Emigration and Immigration
Early settlers came primarily from Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia.

Court Records of Madison County, Alabama ALGenWeb (Varied records, including: Minute Book, Naturalization, Probate Index)

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African-American
 * 1808-1868 Minutes Flint River Baptist Church [Madison] Alabama. Microfilmed by Historical Commission Southern Baptist Convention, Nashville, Tenn. FHL US/CAN Film 984,179. At the beginning of this it states that there is a list [1850] of African Americans at the back. It is of note however, African-Americans are noted throughout the 1808-1868 volume. 
 * 1936-1951 in "Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950," at FamilySearch
 * County Court Records - Case Files. 1824-1842. Original documents in folders. has 84 different African-American cases in it.
 * List of Slaves sent to Ft. Henry in 1862 Chancery Court Minute Book 1839-184. Madison County Record Center.

Genealogies

 * Madison county Public Library has surname vertical file material. In 1978 this was microfilmed and is available on film at the FHL.
 * Madison County, AL Genealogy Forum

Guardianship
Orphan Court
 * 1810-1817 Johnson, Dorothy Scott. Madison county, Alabama Orphans Court Minutes 1810-1817. FHL US/CAN Book 976.197 P2j
 * 1824 and on   See Alabama State Archives

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


 * Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Madison County, Alabama: with Homesteads, Roads, Waterways, Towns, Cemeteries, Railroads, and More. Norman, Okla.: Arphax Pub. Co., 2009. This is a definitive work and can be used as an index to land grants. Digital version at HistoryGeo.com ($). Website includes surname index..

Southern Claims Commission: Alabama Claims 1871-1880. Tracking Your Roots.

Grants

The original land office for Madison (MS) was established in Nashville, Tennessee on Mar 3, 1807 and was moved to Huntsville in 1811. In 1807 Thomas Freeman, Government Surveyor, was assigned to survey the the lands in the “Triangle” which became Madison Co., Mississippi Territory on Dec 13, 1808. A census of the inhabitants was taken by him in January 1809. Subsequently, acting as Registrar, he received the “squatters” applications to buy their land. After a fee was paid, permission was granted then to remain as “tenants at will” on their land with rights to purchase at auction at a Public Land Sale. This sale took place at Nashville in August 1809 and fee simple land titles were established. (Less than half of the men who made application appear in the Tract Book.)

There were no land grants given for military service in Madison county until after the Mexican War.


 * Cowart, Margaret Matthews . Old land records of Madison County, Alabama. FHL US/CAN BOOK 976.197 R2c. See catalog for scope description. Has index and map of original "triangle" that was Madison county.
 * "MS Tr. 1809 Register of Applications &amp; Permissions" Valley Leaves Huntsville, Alabama Jun 1972. Vol 6, Iss 4.

Deeds


 * 1810-1819 Johnson, Dorothy Scott. Madison County, Alabama deed books A, B, C, D, E, 1810-1819 (territorial) a synopsis of every instrument recorded in deed books A through E, which covers the period Madison County was a part of the Mississippi and Alabama territories from July, 1810 through November, 1819. (Huntsville, Alabama Johnson Historical Publications (AL), c1976 ) FHL US/CAN Book 976.197 R2j.
 * 1810-1886 FHL has direct and reserve index on film. Also deed books on film.

Local Histories

 * History of Madison county


 * Betts, Edward Chambers. Early History of Huntsville, Alabama 1804 to 1870. 1909; revised, Montgomery, Ala.: The Brown Printing Co., 1916. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)
 * Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Madison County, Alabama: with Homesteads, Roads, Waterways, Towns, Cemeteries, Railroads, and More. (Norman, Oklahoma Arphax Pub. Co., c2009). FHL US/CAN BOOK 976.197 E7. This is a definitive work. Available online at *HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Military Records
Civil War

Creek Indian War - Company from County ''Valley Leaves. ''Huntsville, Alabama Dec 1985. Vol 20 iss 2.
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch
 * 1861-1865 Civil War Service Database at Alabama Department of Archives and History - index
 * 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry $
 * 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry $
 * 1871-1880 at FamilySearch
 * 1880-1930 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1907, 1921, 1927 at FamilySearch
 * Alabama Civil War and Reconstruction Newspapers at Alabama Department of Archives and History


 * - 1st Battalion, Alabama Artillery, Company D and F
 * - 4th Regiment, Alabama Cavalry (Russell's), Company C and F
 * - 4th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company F(Huntsville Guards)
 * - 4th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company I(North Alabamians)
 * - 7th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D(Madison Rifles)
 * - 27th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company F
 * - 35th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E and F
 * - 49th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company H and K

World War I
 * 1917-1919 at FamilySearch
 * 1917-1918 Alabama World War I Service Records at Alabama Department of Archives and History - alpha index by name and images
 * 1917-1918 Alabama World War I Gold Star Files at Alabama Department of Archives and History - alpha index by name and images

World War II
 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1940-1966 Alabama Active Military Service Reports at Alabama Department of Archives and History - alpha index by name and images

Newspapers

 * 1828-1829 "Some 1828-29 area marriages in the Democrat" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Dec 1972. Vol 2. Iss 4.
 * 1833, 1835 Caver, Larry E. Abstracts from Alabama Newspapers, Volume II: Limestone County, Madison County, Marshall County, Jackson County. Carrollton, Miss.: Pioneer Publishing Co., 2007. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library - Abstracts of The Southern Advocate (1833) and The Democrat (1835)
 * 1844-1846 "Area Marriages 1844-46 in the Democrat" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Jun 1973. Vol 7. Iss 4.
 * Alabama Civil War and Reconstruction Newspapers at Alabama Department of Archives and History
 * Alabama Online Historical Newspapers - identifies historical archived and digitized newspapers available online on both and pay-to-access websites.
 * Madison county newspapers - a listing of newspapers published in the county &amp; libraries that hold them; via the Library of Congress.

Obituaries

 * Huntsville Obituary Index - searchable database of obits done by the Huntsville Madison County Public Library
 * Madison County, Alabama Obituary and Death Notices Collection - A collection of obituaries and death notices from various funeral homes in the Madison County area has been put together by GenealogyBuffs.com
 * "Few North Alabama Newspaper Obituaries, 1847-49." Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Sep 1974. Vol 9. Iss 1. FHL US/CAN 976.19 B2v.
 * "N. AL Obits from Out-of-Co. Newspapers 1827-39" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Mar 1972. Vol 6 Iss 3. FHL US/CAN 976.19 B2v.

List of Letters at Post Office

 * 1824 "A List of Letters (Dead Letters) 1824" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Mar 1975. Vol 9. Iss 3. FHL US/CAN Book 976.19 B2v.
 * 1828 "List of Letters in Post Office, Huntsville, 1828" Alabama Genealogical Exchange.Tuscaloosa, Alabama Sep 1986. Vol 3. Iss 1.(surnames A-M) Vol 3 Iss 2 p 23 (surnames N-Z). FHL US/CAN 976.D25ag.
 * 1833 "Letters in the Hunstville P. O., Apr 4, 1833" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Jun 1979. Vol 13 Iss 4, p. 179 (surnames A-M). Vol 14, Iss. 1 (surnames M-Z). FHL US/CAN Book 976.19 B2v. FHL has Vol 13 &amp; 14, Iss 1-4 bound together with index at back of each bound volume.

Voting Records

 * 1834-1981: at FamilySearch - How to use this collection, index and images

Periodicals

 * Valley Leaves. 1966–. Published by the Tennessee Valley Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1568, Huntsville, Alabama 35807. . Website identifies articles relating to Madison County (click "Search by County").

Probate Records
Online Probate Records
 * 1753-1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry $
 * 1809-1985 at FamilySearch
 * 1809-1965 Madison County Probate Court Indices at the Madison County Records Center Online. Includes wills, estate inventories and accounts, guardianships, petitions, name changes, adoptions, etc.
 * Partlow, Thomas E. Franklin County, Tennessee Wills, 1808-1876 &amp; Deeds, 1801-1840 (Southern Historical Press, Inc. Greenville, SC, 1991) FHL US/CAN Book 976.863 P2pt.
 * Court Records of Madison County, Alabama ALGenWeb (Varied records, including: Minute Book, Naturalization, Probate Index)

Abstracts
 * "Abstracts of Wills in Probate Record 4, 1826-1827" Valley Leaves Huntsville, Alabama Dec 1972. Vol 7. Iss. 2
 * "Abstracts of Wills in Probate Rec 2 &amp; 5, 1823-30" Valley Leaves Huntsville, Alabama Dec 1973. Vol 8. Iss 2.
 * "Abstracts of Wills In Probate Rec 2 &amp; 5, 1824-31" Valley Leaves Huntsville, Alabama Mar 1974. Vol 8, Iss 3.
 * "Abstracts of Wills, Probate Records 1829-33" Valley Leaves Huntsivlle, Alabama Sep 1974. Vol 9, Iss. 1

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.

Tax Records

 * 1802 Franklin, Lisa R. 1802 List of Taxable Property: Madison County, MS Territory Tracking Your Roots.
 * 1810 Franklin, Lisa R. List of Taxable Property in Madison County, MS Territory-Dated 19 JUL 1810 Tracking Your Roots.
 * 1810-1815 Cochran, Mrs. Roy J. Taxpayers of Madison County (Alabama), Mississippi Territory from 1810-1815 tax lists names alphabetically arranged with annotation of polls (Huntsville, Ala. Tennessee Valley Genealogical Society, 1978) See Tennesse Valley Genealogical Society.
 * 1811, 1812 Jones, Mrs. Blair. Tax lists 1811 & 1812, Madison County, Miss. & a few Alabama land entries (Pell City, Ala. [s.n., 19--?]). Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library
 * 1816 - Inhabitants of Alabama in 1816. Broken Arrow Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1955. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library. Includes Madison County.
 * 1859 1859 Tax List Collier Store Madison County, Alabama Rootsweb

Birth

 * 1881-1912 Madison County Birth Index 1881-1912 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
 * 1881-1930 at FamilySearch
 * 1881-1930 - at FamilySearch — index, and some images

Marriage

 * 1733-2013 Alabama, United States Marriages at FindMyPast $
 * 1800-1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800-1969 at Ancestry $
 * 1802-1825 Index to Marriages at Ancestry $
 * 1809-1920 Alabama Marriages $
 * 1809-1920 (Selected Counties)] at Ancestry $
 * 1809-1826, 1828, 1831-1843, 1853–1869, 1871, 1875–1883, 1896, 1936–1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800–1969 at Ancestry $ This collection is comprised of indexes created by several agencies - the Alabama Center for Health Statistics, Jordan Dodd of Liahona Research, and Hunting For Bears.
 * 1809-1843; 1853-1882 "Alabama Marriages, 1809-1920" at Ancestry $ Index. This database is a collection of marriage records from the state. Researchers will find the names of both bride and groom along with the marriage date. The county where the ceremony was performed is also provided. Containing about 150,000 records and the names of nearly 300,000 men and women.
 * 1809-1919 Madison County Marriage Books 3-44 Index 1809-1919 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
 * 1809-1950 at FamilySearch
 * 1816-1957 at FamilySearch
 * 1820-1831, 1853-1893, 1919-1951 in "Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950," at FamilySearch
 * Marriages at ALGenWeb

Death

 * 1881-1912 Madison County Death Index 1881-1912. Batch at FamilySearch
 * 1881-1952 at FamilySearch
 * 1881-1974 Index to Deaths and Burials at Ancestry $; Index. Volunteers extracted the details in this index from microfilmed copies of church, civil, family, and other records of Alabama deaths and burials. details vary depending on the original record. Note that the number of available records can vary widely by county, and this database does not necessarily represent a comprehensive set of death records for the state during this time.
 * 1908-1959 Index to Deaths Recorded by the State of Alabama at Ancestry $ Index to Deaths Recorded by the State of Alabama] at Ancestry – ($); Index. The index includes name of the deceased, county of death, date of death, and the state certificate number (volume and page).
 * 1908-1974 at FamilySearch Historical Records Collection

Family History Centers

 * Byrd Springs Alabama Family History Center


 * Huntsville Alabama Family History Center


 * Madison-Harvest Alabama Family History Center

Libraries
Huntsville Madison County Public Library 915 Monroe Street Huntsville, Alabama 35801 256-532-5940 Website.

Madison County Record Center Huntsville Public Library PO Box 443 Huntsville AL 35804 205 532-2347. Website.

The Heritage Room has local and state histories, genealogical and family collections, newspapers, Madison County records, military records, and more.

Societies
Tennessee Valley Genealogical Society P.O. Box 1568 Huntsville, Alabama 35807 Website
 * Publication: Valley Leaves

Madison African-American Alliance Group P. O. Box 445 Madison, AL 35758 Website

Huntsville-Madison County Historical Society P.O. Box 666 Huntsville, AL 35804 Website
 * Publication: Historic Huntsville Review Link

Madison Station Historical Preservation Society 18 Arnett St. Madison, AL 35758 Email: [mailto:steadmancorner@juno.com steadmancorner@juno.com]

Monte Santo Historical Association jbarr30@comcast.net

Huntsville Genealogical Computing Society 256-882-2912

Websites

 * Madison County, ALGenWebe genealogy resources; part of the national USGenWeb Project
 * USGenWeb project may have maps, name indexes, history, or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Madison USGenWeb Archives Project~ contains record transcriptions from Bibles, obituaries, court records and more.
 * Madison County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (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.
 * Madison Co. AL
 * United States Resources: Alabama
 * Al Gen Web