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Wilkinson County, Mississippi

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
Wilkinson County Mississippi Map
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Wilkinson County is historic ground. It was established January 30, 1802, during the administration of Gov. W.C.C. Claiborne, and was the fifth county to be erected in the new Territory. It was named for Geri. James Wilkinson, in command of the United States troops during the early territorial era of Mississippi. It was created by act of the General Assembly, which recited that

“The county of Adams shall be divided as follows, to-wit: Beginning on the river Mississippi at the mouth of the Homochitto River, thence running up the Homochitto River to Richards ferry, thence by a line running due east to the western boundary of Washington County; and all that tract of country south of the above described boundary, to the line of demarcation, shall compose a county, which shall be called Wilkinson.”

From its territory lying east of a line drawn due north from the thirty mile post, east of the Mississippi River, were subsequently drawn the counties of Amite, Pike and the portion of Marion lying west of the Pearl River. June 29, 1822, the river Homochitto was declared to be the dividing line between the counties of Adams and Wilkinson, from its mouth to its intersection with the basis meridian line; and from thence the said river was made the line of demarcation between the counties of Wilkinson and Franklin, as far as the mouth of Foster’s Creek. In 1846, the north channel of the Homochitto, where it forms an island below the lower or western Natchez and Woodville road was declared to be the boundary between Wilkinson and Adams, and Tanzy Island was embraced within the limits of Wilkinson.

This historic region composed the southern part of the old Natchez District, and contained some of the earliest settlements of white people in the State. During the latter part of the eighteenth century, several large settlements had been made in Wilkinson County, along the Homochitto River, Buffalo Bayou and in the vicinity of the Mississippi River. The whole interior of the present State of Mississippi, with the exception of a small district on the Tombigbee River, was at this time in the sole and undisputed possession of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians. Many of these early settlers were Anglo-Americans, and some were of Spanish and French descent, due to the successive occupancy of the region by France, England and Spain. Others had emigrated to the district from the United States after the close of the Revolutionary war, under the inducements held out by the Spanish authorities. After the treaty of San Lorenzo in 1795 many more came from the western states, and from the Carolinas and Georgia. The census of 1810 shows that Wilkinson had attained a population of 5,068, and by 1837 it had a total population of nearly 13,000, including slaves. The year after General Wilkinson came to Natchez, in the summer of 1798, he erected a military post at the first highland point on the Mississippi, a few miles above the Spanish line of demarcation, and called it “Fort Adams.” The historic old place is now a small village. A few of the early settlers of Wilkinson County at the beginning of the last century were George Poindexter, Daniel Williams, Abram M. Scott, John Joor, Gerard C. Brandon, Joseph Johnson, all members of the Constitutional Convention of 1817, and elsewhere mentioned in this work; Judge Edward McGehee, Peter Smith, father of Coteworth Pinckney Smith, Chief Justice of the High Court of Errors and Appeals, John Dunkley, Thos. Kirkham, John L. Lewis, Archibald McGehee, London Davis, Hugh Davis, Douglas Cooper, Gen. Wm. L. Brandon, and Wm. and James A. Ventress. Few, if any counties in the State, can furnish a roll of names as distinguished in the annals of the commonwealth and the above list might be indefinitely extended. The following men were commissioned Justices of the Peace, February, 2, 1802: John Ellis, Hugh Davis, John Collins, Richard Butler, William Ogden and Thomas Dawson.

Courts were first held at Fort Adams and Pinckneyville, and a little later the seat of justice was moved to the present county site of Woodville, which was incorporated in 1811. Woodville is situated in the south central part of the county at the terminus of the Bayou Sara and Woodville branch of the Y. & M. V. railroad. This old railroad is noteworthy as one of the first railroads to be built in the United States, and is the oldest line in Mississippi. It was incorporated by Woodville people in 1831, under the name of The West Feliciana Railroad Company. Judge Edward McGehee was one of the active promoters of the road.

Wilkinson County is bordered by Adams County (north), Franklin County (northeast), Amite County (east), East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana (south) and Concordia Parish, Louisiana (west) . Cities and Towns include Centreville, Woodville .

The Official County Government Website is located at ?.

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Wilkinson County Court, Probate and Tax Records

See Also Mississippi Court, Land, Tax & Probate Records

Wilkinson County Clerk of Circuit Court has Marriage Records from 1804/1823 and Court Records from 1822 and is located at P. O. Box 327, Woodville, Mississippi 39669; Phone: 888-6697, Fax: 888-6984 .

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.

Wilkinson County Chancery Court Clerk has Land Records from 1803 and Probate Records from 1806 and is located at P. O. Box 516, Woodville, Mississippi 39669; Phone: 888-4381, Fax: 888-6776.

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 Wilkinson County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Wilkinson ounty Court Records by clicking the link below:

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Wilkinson 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.

Wilkinson County Health Department has Birth and Death Records from November of 1912 and is located at First South Street, P.O. Box 398, Woodville, MS 39669; Phone: 601-888-4202 . 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 Wilkinson 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 Wilkinson 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 Wilkinson County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Wilkinson County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

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Wilkinson 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, 1910, 1920 and 1940. 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 Wilkinson County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Wilkinson County Census Records by clicking the link below:

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Wilkinson County Maps & Atlases

See Also Statewide Maps that exist for Mississippi

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

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Wilkinson County Military Records

See Also Research In Military Records or Military Records in Mississippi

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

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Wilkinson County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Mississippi Genealogical Addresses

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

  • Submit a website for Wilkinson Co. Genealogical Addresses
  • Woodville Civic Club, Friends of the Museum, P.O. Box 814, Woodville, MS 39669
  • Southwest Mississippi Genealogy Society, P.O. Box 175, McComb, Mississippi, 39649
  • Wilkinson County Historical Society, c/o Wilkinson County Museum, P. O. Box 1055, Woodville, MS 39669
  • Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Ph. (601) 576-6850, fax (601) 576-6964
    Physical Address: 200 North Street, Jackson, MS 39201
    Mailing Address: P. O. Box 571, Jackson, MS 39205-0571
  • Mississippi State Records Center, 929 High Str, Jackson, MS 39201; (601) 354-7688
  • Mississippi Historical Society PO Box 571, Jackson, MS 39205-0571
  • Mississippi Genealogical Society, PO Box 5301, Jackson, MS 39296-5301
  • 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.
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Wilkinson County Cemeteries & Graveyards

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

There are many churches and cemeteries in Wilkinson County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Wilkinson 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 Wilkinson County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Wilkinson 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 Wilkinson County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information . Email us with websites containing Wilkinson County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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