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Prentiss County, Mississippi
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
Prentiss County Mississippi Map
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Prentiss County was created on April 15, 1870, during the administration of Governor Alcorn, from Tishomingo County , one of the numerous counties formed in 1836 from the Chickasaw cession of 1832. The County seat is Booneville and was named in honor of Sargent Smith Prentiss, the gifted statesman, jurist and orator.

In compliance with the act which created the new county, Governor Alcorn appointed the following county officers: Board of Supervisors, John R. Moore, President, J.M. Moore, Alonzo Bowdry, Joseph Rodgers, M.L. Martin; Henry C. Fields, Sheriff; W.H. Walton, Clerk of the Chancery Court and of the Board of Supervisors. J.M. Stone became the first State Senator for the county, and Hugh M. Street, elected Speaker of the House, (1873-1874) was the first Representative in the lower house of the legislature.

By the year 1850 the region comprising this county had become thickly settled with an excellent class of emigrants from Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, and northern Alabama. Many of the best settlers of the other counties of the State removed to Prentiss and like nearly all of the State the population was mainly Anglo-Saxon or British. The old village of Carrollville, founded in 1834, in what was then Tishomingo County, was once a thriving trade center for southeastern Tishomingo County . When the Mobile & Ohio railroad was completed to Baidwyn, two miles away, the latter town absorbed its business and population. During the early days before the railroad, all shipments were made to and from Memphis over 100 miles away by wagon, and later to and from Eastport on the Tennessee River. With the railroad came a shifting of trade centers, as well as increased population and wealth. The act creating the county established the seat of justice at Booneville, near the center of the county. It is the largest town in the county.

Prentiss County is bordered by Alcorn County (north), Tishomingo County (east), Itawamba County (southeast), Lee County (southwest), Union County (west) and Tippah County (nothwest) . Cities and Towns include Baldwyn, Booneville, Jumpertown, Marietta .

The Official County Government Website is located at ?.

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Prentiss County Court, Probate and Tax Records

See Also Mississippi Court, Land, Tax & Probate Records

Prentiss County Clerk of Circuit Court has Marriage Records from 1870 and Court Records from 1872 and is located at 101-A North Main Street, Booneville, Mississippi 38829; Phone: 728-4611, Fax: 728-2006 .

Duties of the Circuit Clerk include Receivin and fileing all law suits, indictments, motions and other related papers in all Civil and Criminal Cases filed in the Circuit or County Courts and issues all process including summons and subpoenas, Draws Jurors and qualifies Juries, Keeps a record of all Judgments and Executions, Issues marriage licenses and keeps records of marriages.

Prentiss County Chancery Court Clerk has Land Records from 1836 (Earlier deeds from parent county) and Probate Records from 1870 and is located at P. O. Box 477, Booneville, Mississippi 38829 ; Phone: 728-8151, Fax: 728-2007 .

The Chancery Clerk occupies perhaps the most unique and diverse office in all of Mississippi government. The various duties given the Chancery Clerk by statute, or assumed voluntarily by the individual Clerk, cover a wide range of vitally important functions. Some of the duties and functions of the Chancery Clerk are recording the official minutes. As public recorder, the Clerk handles the recording and storage of several types of documents and maintains various indexes that aid people in researching these records. The primary records are deeds and mortgages relating to real property, but the Clerk also records federal tax liens, Lis Pendens ( notices of pending lawsuits ) and military discharges. The Clerk is in charge of the storage and authorized disposal of older land rolls, tax receipts and many other County records after their active use lifespan. As Clerk of the Chancery Court, the Clerk handles a multitude of tasks such as matters of estates, guardianships, conservatorships, divorces, child custody, adoption, property disputes and other matters of equity.

Local county courthouses maintain original tax records, both real and personal. Microfilm copies of the earlier records are found in the Mississippi Department of Archives and History where the collection is extensive, but there are gaps. Although not many, some counties have published selected years of tax rolls.

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

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Prentiss County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

See Also Research In Vital Records or Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records in Mississippi

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Prentiss County Health Department has Birth and Death Records from November of 1912 and is located at 615 East Parker Drive, Booneville, MS 38829; Phone: 662-728-3518 . You may go to any county health department in the State of Mississippi to obtain a certificates can be issued while you wait.

Contact Chancery Clerk for County Divorce Records (See Prentiss County Court Records for Address and Phone number) in the county where divorce was granted, and Contact Clerk of Circuit Court Judge For County Marriage Records (See Prentiss County Court Records for Address and Phone number) in county where license was issued

Mississippi Department of Health is located in the Underwood Building, 571 Stadium Drive, just off North State Street near Woodrow Wilson Avenue in Jackson, Mississippi. The phone number is 601.576.7981. They have the following records:

  • Birth Certificates: The Mississippi Department of Health began filing birth certificates in November of 1912 for persons born in Mississippi. For earlier records, contact the Mississippi Department of Archives and History at (601) 576-6876.The certified copy of the birth certificate is available for $12.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates.
  • Death Certificates: The Mississippi Department of Health began filing death certificates in November of 1912 for persons who died in Mississippi. For earlier records, contact the Mississippi Department of Archives and History at (601) 576-6876. The fee for a certified copy of a death certificate is $10.00. Each additional copy ordered at the same time is $2.00. You can download an application online for Death Certificates. You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates much quicker by ordering HERE. Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index
  • Marriage Certificates: The Mississippi Department of Health began filing Marriage records from January 1, 1926 to June 30, 1938, and for January 1, 1942 to present. for marriages that occurred in Mississippi. (Information for marriages prior to 1926 must be obtained from the Clerk of Circuit Court office in the county where the marriage license was issued.).The fee for a search of the records and a certified copy is $10.00. Additional copies ordered at the same time are $2.00 each. You can download an application online for Marriage Certificates.
  • 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.

Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to "Vital Records." Please do not send cash. Fees are non refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service. Mail all Applications to: Mississippi Vital Records, P.O. Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-1700. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates or Death Certificates.

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

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Prentiss County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Census Records for Mississippi

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Federal Population Schedules that exist for Mississippi are 1820, 1830 (Partial), 1840, 1850, 1860 (Partial), 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. In 1817 Mississippi became the twentieth state to enter the union; therefore, the first federal population census available is that of 1820.

Variations of this census appear in three printed forms, none of which include slave or miscellaneous information. Enumerations for Pike County are missing in 1830, but the Gillis index used extant tax records to supplement their index. Transcriptions are subject to error; use these reprints simply as a guide to the original records.

A significant addition to the 1840 census supplies the names and ages of pensioners. Schedules are missing for Hancock, Sunflower, and Washington counties in 1860.

By 1870, with slavery abolished, all blacks, natives, and Chinese were included, along with information regarding citizenship. With the destruction of the 1890 population schedules, only the schedules enumerating Union veterans are available for Mississippi. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms & U.K. Census Extraction Forms

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

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Prentiss County Maps & Atlases

See Also Statewide Maps that exist for Mississippi

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

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Prentiss County Military Records

See Also Research In Military Records or Military Records in Mississippi

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

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Prentiss County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Mississippi Genealogical Addresses

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

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Prentiss County Cemeteries & Graveyards

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

There are many churches and cemeteries in Prentiss County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Prentiss County Tombstone Transcription Project. The Mississippi 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 Prentiss County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Prentiss County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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County Church & Bible Records

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

 

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

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

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