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Winston 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
Winston County Mississippi Map
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Winston County was established December 23, 1833, and was one of the numerous counties formed in that year from the territory acquired from the Choctaws, by the treaty of Dancing Rabbit, in 1830. The county has a land surface of 597 square miles. It was named in honor of Colonel Louis Winston (1784-1824), a native of Virginia, who moved to Mississippi Territory and became a prominent lawyer and the colonel of a regiment of militia. In 1809 he was appointed the district attorney general for Madison County, but it appears that he moved to the Natchez District in about 1817. He was the secretary of the Constitutional Convention of 1817, and he served as a judge of the Mississippi Supreme Court from 1821 until his death, on August 20, 1824, at his home in Washington, Mississippi. Winston County, Alabama, was named for his kinsman, John A. Winston, who served as Governor of Alabama from 1853 to 1857.

The original act declared that it should embrace the following territory: Townships 13, 14, 15, and 16 of ranges 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14. By an act of the legislature in 1875, townships 15 and 16, range 10, and township 16, range 11, were added to Choctaw County and about the same time the north half of sections 2 and 3, township 12, range 13, were taken from Neshoba County and added to Winston. It is situated in the so-called Yellow Loam Region. Shortly before and after its organization, a strong tide of emigration set in toward this section of the State from the older parts of Mississippi, and from the States of Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee, and by the year 1837 the population of the county was whites 2,193, slaves 959, and by 1840 the population had reached 4,650, including slaves. Some of the earliest settlers in the county were S.R. McClanahan, Jonathan Ellison, Wm. C. Coleman, Larken T. Turner, Henry Fox, Judge Felix M. Ellis, Judge of Probate, John H. Hardy, Sheriff, Leroy H. McGowan, Josiah Atkinson, George W. Thomason, first county surveyor, Amos C. Morris, first Sheriff, James Phagan, first Circuit Clerk, James Bevill, first Probate Judge, and J.M. Field, Isaac Jones, John H. Buckner, Wm. McDaniell, Geo. B. Augustus, and Joseph Bell early members of the legislature from the county.

Louisville, Incorporated in 1836, is the county seat named for Louis Winston and platted on a tract near the center of the county, donated by Jesse Dodson. It was on the great mail route from Nashville to New Orleans, and the terminus of five mail routes in the early days.

Winston County is bordered by Oktibbeha County (north), Noxubee County (east), Kemper County (southeast), Neshoba County (south), Attala County (west) and Choctaw County (northwest) . Cities and Towns include Louisville, Noxapater.

The Official County Government Website is located at http://www.winstoncounty.com/.

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Winston County Court, Probate and Tax Records

See Also Mississippi Court, Land, Tax & Probate Records

Winston County Clerk of Circuit Court has Marriage Records from 1834/1906 and Court Records from 1856 and is located at P. O. Drawer 785, Louisville, Mississippi 39339; Phone: 773-3581, Fax: 773-8831 .

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.

Winston County Chancery Court Clerk has Land Records from 1835 and Probate Records from 1834 and is located at P. O. Drawer 69, Louisville, Mississippi 39339; Phone: 773-3631;773-3517, Fax: 773-8831. LAND DEEDS: Deed Book T has been stolen from the courthouse, and some trust deed books are housed in the basement vault

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

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Winston 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.

Winston County Health Department has Birth and Death Records from November of 1912 and is located at 260 Vance Street, Louisville, MS 39339; Phone: 601-773-8087 . 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 Winston 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 Winston 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 Winston County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Winston County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

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Winston 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 Winston County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Winston County Census Records by clicking the link below:

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Winston County Maps & Atlases

See Also Statewide Maps that exist for Mississippi

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

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Winston County Military Records

See Also Research In Military Records or Military Records in Mississippi

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

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Winston County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Mississippi Genealogical Addresses

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

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Winston County Cemeteries & Graveyards

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

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

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