Sumter County, Alabama Genealogy
Guide to Sumter County, Alabama ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 Resources
- 2.1 Bible Records
- 2.2 Biographies
- 2.3 Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- 2.4 Cemeteries
- 2.5 Census Records
- 2.6 Church Records
- 2.7 Court Records
- 2.8 Directories
- 2.9 Emigration and Immigration
- 2.10 Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
- 2.11 Funeral Homes
- 2.12 Genealogies
- 2.13 Guardianship
- 2.14 Land and Property Records
- 2.15 Local Histories
- 2.16 Maps and Gazetteers
- 2.17 Migration
- 2.18 Military Records
- 2.19 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 2.20 Newspapers
- 2.21 Obituaries
- 2.22 Other Records
- 2.23 Periodicals
- 2.24 Probate Records
- 2.25 School Records
- 2.26 Tax Records
- 2.27 Vital Records
- 3 Research Facilities
- 4 Societies
- 5 Websites
- 6 Research Guides
- 7 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named in honor of General Thomas Sumter, of South Carolina. [2]The county is located in the west-central area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Sumter County Courthouse
115 Franklin St
PO Box 936
Livingston, AL 35470
Phone: 205-652-2291
Fax: 205-652-1010
Sumter County Website
Probate Judge has a few birth records from 1888-1918, marriage and probate record from 1833, land records and historical voters maps [4]
Sumter County, Alabama Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth | Marriage | Death | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1888 | 1833 | 1881 | 1876 | 1825 | 1833 | 1816 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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Sumter County had a destructive courthouse fire in 1901.[6] For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
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Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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Populated Places[edit | edit source]
The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in Sumter County:[8]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator.
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History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
The following web site has additional information on Sumter county cemeteries.
- Interment.net Alabama cemetery records by county.
- Additional Sumter County cemeteries are included in Alabama Cemetery Records Vol. 1 at FamilySearch Digital Library
Census Records[edit | edit source]
For tips on accessing Sumter County census records online, see: Alabama Census.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 29,937 | ||
| 1850 | 22,250 | −25.7% | |
| 1860 | 24,035 | 8.0% | |
| 1870 | 24,109 | 0.3% | |
| 1880 | 28,728 | 19.2% | |
| 1890 | 29,574 | 2.9% | |
| 1900 | 32,710 | 10.6% | |
| 1910 | 28,699 | −12.3% | |
| 1920 | 25,569 | −10.9% | |
| 1930 | 26,929 | 5.3% | |
| 1940 | 27,321 | 1.5% | |
| 1950 | 23,610 | −13.6% | |
| 1960 | 20,041 | −15.1% | |
| 1970 | 16,974 | −15.3% | |
| 1980 | 16,908 | −0.4% | |
| 1990 | 16,174 | −4.3% | |
| 2000 | 14,798 | −8.5% | |
| 2010 | 13,763 | −7.0% | |
State Census
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Alabama denominations, view the Alabama Church Records wiki page.
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Alabama, Sumter County Circuit Court Files, 1840-1950
The collection consists of circuit court civil case files for the years 1840 to 1950. A wiki article describing an online collection is found at:
Alabama, Sumter County Circuit Court Files - FamilySearch Historical Records
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
African American
- 1867-1895 Sumter County Colored Marriage Books 2-7 Index 1867-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Alabama Land and Property for additional information about early Alabama land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse, where records are currently housed.
To place a grant or deed on a map within context of Sumter County see:
- Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Sumter County, Alabama: with Homesteads, Roads, Waterways, Towns, Cemeteries, Railroads, and More. Norman, Okla.: Arphax Pub. Co., 2007. This is a definitive work and can be used as an index to land grants. Digital version at HistoryGeo.com ($). Website includes surname index. FHL Book 976.141 E7b.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Sumter County. The histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Alabama Local Histories.
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)
- Family Maps of Sumter County (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Civil War
Regiments. Men in Sumter County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (part of a large regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Sumter County:
- - 5th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company B
- - 5th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company F "Cahaba Rifles"
- - 36th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A
- - 40th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A and C
- 1861-1865 - Alabama Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch
- 1861-1865 - Alabama Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch
- 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 - Alabama, Southern Claims Commission Approved Claims, 1871-1880 at FamilySearch
- 1880-1930 - Alabama, Confederate Pension Applications, ca. 1880-1930's at FamilySearch
- 1907, 1921, 1927 Alabama, Census of Confederate Veterans, 1907, 1921, 1927 at FamilySearch
World War I
- 1917-1919 - Alabama, World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch
World War II
- 1940-1945 - Alabama, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Probate Records
- 1753 – 1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry
- 1809 – 1985 Alabama Probate Records, 1809-1985 at FamilySearch
School Records[edit | edit source]
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Alabama tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see the wiki page Alabama Taxation.
- 1865-1866 - U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 at Ancestry ($). Sumter County is in District 2.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Alabama State Department of Health , the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred or order electronically online $.
For some online statewide indexes, see the FamilySearch Historical Record Collections for Alabama.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1881–1930 Alabama Births and Christenings, 1881-1930 at FamilySearch
- 1881-1930 - Alabama, County Birth Registers, 1881-1930 at FamilySearch — index, and some images
- 1913-1919 - Sumter County Marriage Index 1913-1919 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch[9]
- Dec 1916–May 1918 Index for White Birth Records in the Alabama State Archives found at ALGenWeb
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1733-2013 Alabama, United States Marriages at FindMyPast $
- 1800–1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800-1969 at Ancestry $
- 1809–1950 Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950 at FamilySearch
- 1816–1957 Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957 at FamilySearch
- 1833-1895 - Sumter County Marriage Books 1-6 Index 1833-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
- 1833-1838, 1847-1901, 1936–1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800–1969 at Ancestry– ($); . This collection is comprised of indexes created by several agencies - the Alabama Center for Health Statistics, Jordan Dodd of Liahona Research, and Hunting For Bears.
- 1847-1900 "Alabama Marriages, 1809–1920" at Ancestry– ($); . 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.
- Marriages at ALGenWeb
- To 1825 Index to Marriages at Ancestry– ($); . contains over 12,000 names. Each entry includes groom, bride, marriage date, county, and state. Every name is indexed so you can search for one name, or two names that are linked.
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1881–1952 Alabama Deaths and Burials, 1881-1952 at FamilySearch
- 1881-1974 Index to Deaths and Burials at Ancestry– ($); . 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– ($); . The index includes name of the deceased, county of death, date of death, and the state certificate number (volume and page).
- 1908-1974 - Alabama, Deaths, 1908-1974 at FamilySearch Historical Records Collection.
- 1913-1918 - Sumter County Death Index 1913-1918 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
- Sumter County Deaths at ALGenWeb
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance and free access to premium genealogical websites. In addition, many centers have free how-to genealogy classes.
- For current information about a center near you, go to the Family History Center Map
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Hightower Memorial Library
630 Ave. A
York, Alabama 36925
Phone: 205-392-2004
Facebook
Ruby Pickens Tartt Public Library
201 Monroe St.
Livingston, Alabama 35470
Phone: 205-652-2349
Website
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Sumter County Historical Society
P.O. Box 213
207 N Washington St
Livingston, Alabama 35470
Phone: 205-652-4015
Facebook
Websites[edit | edit source]
- 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.
- Sumter County ALGenWeb ~ record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.
- Sumter County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- FamilySearch Catalog – 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.
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Alabama.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, "Sumter County, Alabama Genealogy and History", http://genealogytrails.com/ala/sumter/ 6/26/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Sumter, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumter_County,_Alabama 6/26/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Alabama.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Alabama.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Alabama Counties: Sumter County in Alabama Department of Archives and History (accessed 16 March 2014).
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Alabama.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Sumter County, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumter_County,_Alabama, accessed 26 October 2018.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/c/cf/Igialabamals.pdf.
