Clay County, Alabama Genealogy
Clay County, Alabama genealogy and family tree research page. Discover links to record collections, history, and genealogy sources to assist you to you track your personal Clay Co., ancestors. Get started by constructing a Free Family Tree.
Clay County was created on Dec. 7, 1866. It was formed from Randolph County and Talladega County. This particular county was named in honor of U.S. Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky.
Currently the Clay County Seat is located in Ashland and in addition the county government website is http://www.alabama.gov/
Locations adjacent Clay County happen to be Cleburne County (north), Randolph County (east), Tallapoosa County (south), Coosa County (southwest), Talladega County (west)
Cities and towns found in Clay County consist of Ashland, Lineville.
Clay County includes Federal Census Schedules to assist in looking into your family tree. Government Population Schedules can be found for 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940. Clay Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1870 and 1880. Clay Co. Industry and Agriculture Schedules can be obtained for 1870 and 1880. Clay Co. Union Veterans Schedules can be obtained for 1890. Two State censuses for confederate veterans exist for 1907 and 1921. You can find free down-loadable and also printable census forms that can help with your research.
- Government Website:
- Created Date / Origin:
- County Seat:
- Named After:
- Bordering Counties:
- Cities & towns include:
Clay County Societies and Family History Resources
A list of Clay County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See Also Alabama Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.
- Clay County Historical Society, PO Box 997, Ashland, Alabama 36251
- Ashland Public Library, 256-354-3427
- Northeast Alabama Genealogical Society, Box 8268 , Gadsden, AL 35902; Publication: Northeast Alabama Settlers
- ALCLAY. A mailing list for anyone with a genealogical interest in Clay County, Alabama. To subscribe send "subscribe" to alclay-l-request@rootsweb.com (mail mode) or alclay-d-request@rootsweb.com (digest mode).
- ALClay-Rooters. A mailing list for anyone with a historic or genealogical interest in Clay County, Alabama. Surname queries are welcome. To subscribe send the following to alclay-rooters-request@genexchange.org: subscribe
- RAN-CLAY. A mailing list for anyone who has an interest in genealogy related to Randolph County and Clay County in east-central Alabama as well as Autauga County, Bullock County, Calhoun County, Chambers County, Cherokee County, Chilton County, Cleburne County, Coosa County, Elmore County, Etowah County, Lee County, Macon County, Montgomery County, Russell County, St.Clair County, Shelby County, Talladega County and Tallapoosa County, all of which are on or near the Georgia border. Additional information can be found on the East-Central Alabama Researchers web page. To subscribe send "subscribe" to ran-clay-l-request@rootsweb.com (mail mode) or ran-clay-d-request@rootsweb.com (digest mode).
- Alabama State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Clay County USGenWeb Archives Project (usgwarchives.net)
- Clay County, Alabama Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Clay County
- Clay County, Alabama Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com) read and post messages with other genealogy researchers for Clay County
Clay County Courthouse and Government Records
Genealogist often overlook the significance of Clay County court, probate, and land documents as a source of genealogy and family history details. Buried away in Alabama courthouses and archives just about everywhere are often the hopes and dreams and frustrations of countless Alabama people. The odds are excellent that your ancestors and forefathers have left a in-depth record of at least several aspects of their lives in the Clay County court records. Even if your forebears is not discussed in a Court case, take into consideration all of the other methods which could have lead to him or her appearing in court records.
You need to speak to the clerk's office to identify hours, mailing address, fees and other facts prior to visiting or asking for information because of in some cases changing contact info. The Department Offices DO NOT DO RESEARCH. The files are available to interested parties, barring private issues. Many staff will guide individuals in locating the materials, however it's up to the person to carry out the research.
The below facts shows exactly what birth, marriage, death, land, probate, and legal records will be in Clay County. The years pointed out below could be the first widely known documents in this county.
- Clay County Clerk of Circuit Court serves as custodian of all county court records, and is responsible for providing access to those court records by court personnel, the legal community and the public.
- Address: Courthouse Square, P.O. Box 187, Ashland, AL 36251
- Phone: (256) 354-2198
- Court Records: 1875
- Divorce Records: are maintained among the equity records (Divorces issued prior to 1950 are located here. Divorces issued after 1950 can be found at the Alabama Department of Public Health)
- Clay County Clerk of Probate Court maintains following records in the probate office: Plats, Maps, Judgments, Liens, Deeds, Mortgages, Corporations, Lis pendens, Marriage licenses, Military discharges. The Probate Judge presides over all probate court hearings for Probate of Wills, Administrations, Conservators, Guardianships, Adoptions, Legitimations, Name changes, Condemnations, Mental Commitment hearings, and performs marriage ceremonies.
- Address: Courthouse Square, P.O. Box 187, Ashland, AL 36251
- Phone: (256) 354-2198
- Marriage Records: 1872 (Marriages issued prior to 1936)
- Probate Records: 1876
- Land Records: 1875
- Clay County Revenue Commissioner's Office maintains County tax records. These records are usually arranged by legal description and are not indexed.
- Clay County Health Department has Birth Records from 1920, Death records from 1920. You may go to any county health department in the State of Alabama to obtain a certificates can be issued while you wait.
Clay County Genealogy Links
The following are web links to Genealogy and family history, Records and Resources relevant to Clay County. Each of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Commercial Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some have to have a cost. This is basically a directory that has been gathered or submitted. I do not recommend or promote one genealogy site over another. Feel free to present your own favorite Clay County genealogy or family history related sites.
Clay Co. AL Books, Newspapers & Publications
Clay Co. AL Birth, Marriage & Death Records
Clay Co. AL Court, Probate Land and Tax Records
Clay Co. AL Census Records
Clay Co. AL Cemeteries & Graveyards
Clay Co. AL Church & Bible Records
Clay Co. AL Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
Clay Co. AL General and History Websites
Clay Co. AL Immigration & Naturalization
Clay Co. AL Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
Clay Co. AL Military Records
Clay Co. AL Schools & Directories