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Yalobusha 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
Yalobusha County Mississippi Map
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Yalobusha County was established on December 23, 1833, and most of its area lies within the territory acquired from the Choctaw Indians in the treaty of Dancing Rabbit, 1830. The original act defined its boundaries as follows:

“Beginning on the line between townships 21 and 22, at the point at which the line between 8 and 9 east crosses the line between townships 21 and 22, and running from thence north, with the said line between ranges 8 and 9 east, thirty miles; from thence west, to the line between ranges 3 and 4 east, from thence south with said line between ranges 3 and 4 east, to the line between townships 21 and 22, and from thence east to the place of beginning.”

It was originally a large county, containing an area of 25 townships of 900 square miles, but surrendered part of its territory to Calhoun County in 1852, and a large part of its southern area to Grenada, when that county was created in 1870. Its name “Yalobusha” is an Indian word, meaning “tadpole place”, and was suggested by the river of the same name which waters its territory. Emigration was rapid into this region during the ‘30s and early ‘40s, from the older states on the east and north and from the older settled parts of Mississippi. By the year 1837, Yalobusha had attained a population of 4,355 whites, and 4,215 slaves; by the year 1840, there were 12,248 people in the county including slaves, and 17,258 in 1850.

Three of the earliest settlements in the county were at Hendersonville, Sardinia and Preston, all of which are now extinct. Hendersonvifle was four miles south of Coffeeville on the site of an old Indian village. Says Captain Lake, who lived there in 1834: “It was here that Col. T.C. McMacken, the celebrated hotel keeper, in the early history of Mississippi, began his career. The mercantile firms of this town in 1834 were: Martin, Edwards & Co., John H. McKenney, Armour, Lake & Bridges, H. S. & W. Lake and McCain & Co. The physicians were Thomas Vaughn, Robert Malone, and _____ Murkerson. The following citizens were then living at that place: Thomas B. Ives, Murdock Ray, Justice of the Peace; Stephen Smith, blacksmith; Alfred McCaslin, blacksmith, and Joshua Weaver, Constable.” Beaten by Coffeeville in its efforts to become the county seat, the town rapidly decayed. Sardinia, on the Craig plantation near the Yocona River one mile north of the present church of Sardinia, was once a place of about 150 people. Here lived in the early days, the Bradfords, Kuykendalls, Bensons, Craigs, Carringtons, Reeds, and Dr. Moore. The town had become dead by 1856, owing to the rivalry of the towns along the railroad. Preston was located near Scobey, and about fourteen miles north of Grenada. Settled in 1835, it once had about 250 people and was incorporated in 1840. Here lived the Simmons family, the Harpers, Bridgers, Townes, Calhouns, Doctors Sutton, Payne, Neville, and the Rev. Hayward; Duke & Co., and Evans & Co. were mercantile firms. When the station of Garner sprang up on the railroad in 1858, most of Preston’s population moved there. A few of the earliest settlers of Oakland, a pleasant little town in the western portion of the county, besides those above mentioned were William W. Mitchell, Green D. Moore, Grief Johnson, Stewart Pipkin, Charles J.F. Wharton, Rev. Wm. A. Bryan, John Lemons, Wm. Metcalf, Dr. W.B. Rowland, Dempsey H. Hicks, William Winter, Robert Edsington. Some of the early county officers were: David Mabray and James H. Barfield, Sheriffs; Matthew Clinton and John W. McLemore, Judges of the Probate Court; Davidson M. Rayburn, Clerk of the Probate Court; Robert C. Malone and Murdoch Ray, County Treasurers; Virgil A. Stewart, Thos. B. Ives, Wm. B. Wilbourn, Robert Edrington, Allen Walker, James Minter, George Thompson, and L.R. Stuart were all early members of the legislature for Yalobusha County.

The county seat was located at Coffeeville, March 27, 1834 and the place received its name in honor of Gen. John Coffee. The first county court was held the same year, presided over by Judge Matthew Clinton. Yalobusha county, Mississippi, is a dual county seat county. The First Judicial District is located in Coffeeville. The Second Judicial District is located in Water Valley. The southern half of the county, i. e. Coffeeville, Oakland, Tillatoba, etc., came from the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek; Water Valley and the northern section of the county came from the Treaty of Pontotoc. The First Judicial District was from the Choctaw session of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. The Second Judicial District came from the Chickasaw session.

Yalobusha County is bordered by Lafayette County (northeast), Calhoun County (east), Grenada County (south), Tallahatchie County (west) and Panola County (northwest) . Cities and Towns include Coffeeville, Oakland, Tillatoba, Water Valley .

The Official County Government Website is located at ?.

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Yalobusha County Court, Probate and Tax Records

See Also Mississippi Court, Land, Tax & Probate Records

Yalobusha County Clerk of Circuit Court has Marriage Records from 1847/1866 and Court Records from 1834 and is located at P. O. Box 431, Water Valley, Mississippi 38965; Phone: 473-1341, Fax: 473-5020 .

Duties of the Circuit Clerk include Receiving and filing 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.

Yalobusha County Chancery Court Clerk has Land Records from 1834 and Probate Records from 1834 and is located at P.O. Box 664, Water Valley, Mississippi 38965; Phone: 473-2091, Fax: 473-5020.

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

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Yalobusha 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.

Yalobusha County Health Department has Birth and Death Records from November of 1912 and is located at 209 Simmons Street, Water Valley, MS 38965; Phone: 662-473-1424 . 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 Yalobusha 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 Yalobusha 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 Yalobusha County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Yalobusha County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

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

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Yalobusha County Maps & Atlases

See Also Statewide Maps that exist for Mississippi

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

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Yalobusha County Military Records

See Also Research In Military Records or Military Records in Mississippi

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

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Yalobusha County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Mississippi Genealogical Addresses

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

  • Submit a website for Yalobusha Co. Genealogical Addresses
  • Yalobusha County Historical Society, Inc., P.O. Box 258, Coffeeville, MS 38922-0258
  • Yalobusha Chancery Clerk, P.O. Box 260, Coffeeville, MS 38922, (601) 675-2716, (has records for the southern half of the county)
  • Yalobusha County Court House, P.O. Box 260, Water Valley, MS  38965, (662) 675-2716
  • 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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Yalobusha County Cemeteries & Graveyards

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

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

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