Link To This Page — Contact Us —

Meriwether County, Georgia
Genealogy, Facts and Records Resources

County Court, Probate, Land & Tax Records  •  County Census Records
County Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records and Death Records
County Cemeteries & Graveyards  •  County Church & Bible Records
????? County Georgia Map
VEIW FULL SIZED SIZED D.O.T. COUNTY MAP

Browse Georgia Counties

Meriwether County [initially spelled Merriwether] was created from Troup County on Dec. 14, 1827 by an act of the General Assembly. The county was organized by an act of Dec. 24, 1827. Georgia's 71st county was created entirely from Troup County. Georgia's 71st county was named for former Georgia congressman David Meriwether (1755-1822).

The Dec. 24, 1827 act organizing Meriwether County provided that the first election of county officials take place on the first Monday in Feb. 1828 at the house of Hugh W. Ector. The legislation also authorized the justices of the county's new inferior court to select the site of the county seat, purchase the land, lay out town lots, and arrange for building a courthouse. The inferior court selected a site on land owned by Ector and named the new town Greenville after Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene. On Dec. 20, 1828, the legislature designated Greenville permanent county seat and incorporated it as a town.

Meriwether County's first courthouse reportedly was a two-story brick building constructed in 1832. The courthouse was badly damaged by a tornado in 1893 -- but it was rebuilt and served until the current courthouse was completed in 1904. In 1976, a fire destroyed much of the building -- except for the brick exterior walls. In a restoration begun in 1977 and completed in 1980, the courthouse was rebuilt within the original walls. The interior, however, was significantly altered to provide more office space. The courthouse rotunda was eliminated, a basement dug, and the ceiling space reduced to allow three floors instead of two. A French bell weighing one-half ton was installed in the clock tower, and a statue of the female muse Justice placed on top of the tower.

Cities and Towns Includes the cities of Gay, Greenville, Lone Oak, Luthersville, Manchester, Warm Springs and Woodbury. The Official County Government Website is located at http://www.meriwether.ga.us/

Back to top

Meriwether County Court, Probate and Tax Records

See Also Georgia Court, Land, Tax & Probate Records and Marriage Records

Meriwether County Clerk of Superior Court has Court Records from 1828 and Land Records from 1827 and is located at 100 Court Sq., P.O. Box 160, Greenville, GA 30222; Phone: (706) 672-4416, Fax: (706) 672-9465 . The Superior Court, Georgia's general jurisdiction trial court, has exclusive constitutional authority over felony cases, cases regarding title to land and equity, declaratory judgments, habeas corpus, mandamus, adoptions, name changes, divorces, child custody, and child support enforcement. The clerk is responsible for recording deeds and maintaining the chain of title to all property in the county.

Meriwether County Clerk of Probate Court has Marriage Records from 1828 , Probate Records from 1825 and is located at PO Box 608, Greenville, GA 30222-0608; 706-672-4952/F 672-9465 . The jurisdiction of Probate Court are all legal proceedings that deal with Wills, Estates, Guardianships of minor children, Involuntary Committals Hearings, Filing of Wills for saf, Issuance of Marriage License, ect... The office of the probate judge is the county office where the most significant genealogical records are created and maintained in Georgia.

None of Georgia's colonial tax records have survived. Surviving Georgia tax records begin on a county basis in the late 1780s. By 1783 Georgia tax laws provided for taxing land according to its quality and quantity, and male polls were white males over twenty-one. Other taxes were imposed on town lots, slaves, and free persons of color, buildings and improvements, merchandise, lawyers, and doctors. The poll tax on all adult males made Georgia tax digests good census substitutes and supplements.

Below is a list of online resources for Meriwether County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Meriwether County Court Records by clicking the link below:

Back to top

Meriwether County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

See Also Vital Records in Georgia

Meriwether County Health Department has Birth and Death Records since January 1919 and is located at 51 Gay Connector, Greenville, Georgia 30222; (706) 672-4974. You may go to any county health department in the State of Georgia to obtain a certificates can be issued while you wait. Contact Clerk of Superior Court For County Divorce Records (See Meriwether County Court Records for Address and Phone number) in the county where divorce was granted, and Contact Probate Judge For County Marriage Records (See Meriwether County Court Records for Address and Phone number) in county where license was issued.

Georgia State Vital Records, Center for Health Statistics Office is located at State Dept of Human Resources, 2600 Skyland Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30319-3640 (404) 679-4730 info, (877) 572-6343; Fax: (404) 524-4278. They have the following records:

  • Birth & Death Certificates: Birth records are available from 1919 to the present. For earlier records in Atlanta or Savannah or other cities or counties, write to the Vital Records Office (see above) in county where event occurred. Fees are listed below. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates.
  • Death Certificates: Certified copies of death records are available from 1919 to the present. Death certificates are available to the general public. For earlier records in Atlanta or Savannah or other cities or counties, write to the Vital Records Office (see above) in county where event occurred. Fees are listed below. You can download an application online for Death Certificates. Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index
  • Marriage Certificates: Centralized State records since June 9, 1952. Certified copies of marriage documents up to 1966 are issued at State office. Contact the Meriwether County Probate office for marriages in Meriwether County occurring before June 9, 1952, and all other counties will be forwarded to appropriate Probate Judge in county where license was issued.The state office does no record marriage license or applications after July 1, 1997.

Ordering Vital Records - You can also order Order Electronically Online or You can download an application for Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Certificates to mail. Order Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records or Death Records.

Ordering Vital Records by Mail -The fee to search for a birth, Marriage or Death certificate is $10.00, which includes one certified copy of the certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $5.00. Make certified checks and money orders should be made payable to "Vital Records, GA. DHR". Please do not send cash or checks. Fees are non refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service. Mail all Applications to:Vital Records, 2600 Skyland Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30319-3640. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates or Death Certificates.

Below is a list of online resources for Meriwether County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Meriwether County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

Back to top

Meriwether County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Census Links for Georgia

Federal Population Schedules that exist for Georgia are 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. The 1820 census is the earliest enumeration of Georgia's population to have survived, making it necessary to substitute other lists for the missing censuses. Land lottery, military and tax lists, and other records, are available as census substitutes and supplements for the 1820 and earlier censuses.

The first three census schedules for Georgia (1790, 1800 & 1810) are missing. A total of seventeen volumes of 1790-1820 censuses were lost by the federal government, evidently before 1895, and the cause is unknown. Tax lists for various years for a few of the counties have been published.. These can be used as a substitution for the first three census schedules. Additionally, Wills, deeds, tax digests, court minutes, voter lists, and newspapers can be searched to locate ancestors during this period The 1820 schedules for Franklin, Rabun, and Twiggs Counties are missing.

Georgia conducted state censuses for various years from 1787 to 1866. Only a relatively few of these returns survive, and they are only lists of heads of households with some minor statistical information. The returns prior to 1852 have been published in various sources. Later census returns, when they survive, are almost all on microfilm at the Georgia Department of Archives and History . The Georgia Census, 1790-1890 contains the following indexes: 1790 Tax Substitute Index; 1792-1819 Tax Lists Index; 1800 Oglethorpe County Territorial Census Index; 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860 & 1870 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners List; 1838 & 1845 State Census Index; ,1860 Slave Schedule; 1890 Veterans Schedule.

There are many other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in the state of Georgia. There are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.

Below is a list of online resources for Meriwether County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Meriwether County Census Records by clicking the link below:

Back to top

Meriwether County Military Records

See Also Research In Military Records or Military Records in Georgia

Below is a list of online resources for Meriwether County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Meriwether County Military Records by clicking the link below:

Back to top

Meriwether County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Georgia Genealogical Addresses

Below is a list of online resources for Meriwether County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Meriwether County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

  • Submit a website for Meriwether Co. Genealogical Addresses
  • Meriwether Historical Society; PO Box 741 ; Greenville , GA 30222-0741 ; Sally Neal.
  • Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute Archive; PO Box 1000; Warm Springs, GA 31830-0100; Michael D. Shadix; (706) 655-5616.
  • Georgia Department of Archives and History, 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260;
    For history, genealogy, or other research: Reference Services Tel: (678) 364-3710 , [EMAIL]
  • Georgia Historical Society, 501 Whitaker Str, Savannah, GA 31401; 912-651-2125
  • Georgia Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 54574, Atlanta, Georgia 30308-0575, [EMAIL]
  • Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
Back to top

Meriwether County Cemeteries & Graveyards

See Also Research In Cemetery Records or Statewide Cemetery Links for Georgia

There are many churches and cemeteries in Meriwether County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Meriwether County Tombstone Transcription Project.

The Georgia Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches and cemeteries free for viewing or download here.

Below is a list of online resources for Meriwether County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Meriwether County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

Back to top

County Church & Bible Records

See Also Research In Church Records or Statewide Church & Bible Links for Georgia

 

Back to top

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

Below is a list of online resources for Meriwether County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information . Email us with websites containing Meriwether County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

Back to top
Site Map | Copyright © 2011 N2Genealogy.com,