Madison County, Alabama Genealogy

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Guide to Madison County, Alabama ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Facts
County seat: Huntsville
Organized: 13 December 1808
Parent County(s): Cherokee and Chickasaw Cession
Neighboring Counties
Jackson  • Limestone  • Marshall  • Morgan  • Franklin (TN)  •
See County Maps
Courthouse
Madison County, Alabama Courthouse.jpg
Location Map
Madison County Alabama.png
Adoption

County Information[edit | edit source]

Description[edit | edit source]

The County was named in honor of James Madison, fourth President of the United States of America.[1] It is recognized as the "birthplace" of Alabama,which was founded there on December 14 1819. The economy of Madison county revolved mainly around agriculture, being recognized as one of the largest cotton-producing counties in the state. This all changed in 1950 when a group of German rocket scientists, led by Wernher von Braun, came to Redstone Arsenal and developed, among others, the Redstone rocket, which was modified to launch the first two Americans into space. Tens of thousands of jobs came to the area as a result of the Space Race. The county is located in the north-central area of the state. [2]

County Courthouse[edit | edit source]

Madison County Courthouse
100 North Side Square, Rm 821
Huntsville, Al 35801-4820
Phone: 256-532-3386
Fax: 256-532-3768
Madison County Website

Probate Judge has marriage probate and land records from 1809
Clerk Circuit Court has divorce and court records
County Courthouse has death and buried records [3]

Madison County, Alabama Record Dates[edit | edit source]

Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.

Known Beginning Dates for Major Records[4]
Birth Marriage Death Court Land Probate Census
1881 1809 1881 1820 1809 1809 1816
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1908. General compliance for births by 1927 and for deaths 1925.

Record Loss[edit | edit source]

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]

  • 13 December 1808: Madison County was created from the Cherokee and Chickasaw Cession of 1806-1807. [5]
  • County seat: Huntsville[6]

Populated Places[edit | edit source]

The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in Madison County:[7]

For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator.

Cities
Towns
Unincorporated communities
Census-designated places
  • Poplar Ridge
  • Redstone Arsenal
  • Sulpher Springs
  • Vienna
  • Wells
  • West Huntaville
  • Whitesburg


History Timeline[edit | edit source]

Wikipedia
 Wikipedia has more about this subject: Madison County, Alabama

Resources[edit | edit source]

Bible Records[edit | edit source]

Biographies[edit | edit source]

Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries of Madison, Alabama online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
TombstoneTranscriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
See Alabama Cemeteries for more information

The following web site has additional information on Madison county cemeteries.

Census Records[edit | edit source]

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1820 17,481 —
1830 27,990 60.1%
1840 25,706 −8.2%
1850 26,427 2.8%
1860 26,451 0.1%
1870 31,267 18.2%
1880 37,625 20.3%
1890 38,119 1.3%
1900 43,702 14.6%
1910 47,041 7.6%
1920 51,268 9.0%
1930 64,623 26.0%
1940 66,317 2.6%
1950 72,903 9.9%
1960 117,348 61.0%
1970 186,540 59.0%
1980 196,966 5.6%
1990 238,912 21.3%
2000 276,700 15.8%
2010 334,811 21.0%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

State Census

Church Records[edit | edit source]

Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Alabama denominations, view the Alabama Church Records wiki page.

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Baptist

  • [1808-1868] Minutes Flint River Baptist Church [Madison] Alabama. Microfilmed by Historical Commission Southern Baptist Convention, Nashville, Tenn. FHL US/CAN Film 984,179. In 1821 members living near the Big Spring in Ashberns Cove joined the jurisdiction of Flint River Baptist Church. And in 1833 the church included members that lived on Clear Creek.[8].
  • "Flint River Baptist Church Minutes, May 13, 1809-June 1, 1810" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Mar 2009. Vol 43 Iss. 3
  • "Flint River Baptist Church Minutes, July 1810-Aug 1812"Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Jun 2009. Vol 43 Iss. 4
  • "Flint River Baptist Church Membership List 1832-1858" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Mar 2009. Vol 43. Iss 3
  • "First Baptist Church, Huntsville, 1809-1984" Alabama Genealogical Society Magazine. Birmingham, Alabama 1989. Vol 21. Iss 1-2.

Presbyterian

  • By 1840 a Presbyterian Church referred to as "Combesline Presbyterions" existed. Location thought to be relatively near the Flint River.[9]
  • "Session Records of the Presbyterian Church, 1823-60" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Mar 1971. Vol 5 Iss. 3.
  • "Session Recs. of the Presbyterian Church, 1847-85" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Sep 1971. Vol 6 Iss. 1.

Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Meridianville

  • 1883-1903 Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Meridianville Baptism Index 1883-1903. Batch C594171 at FamilySearch

Court Records[edit | edit source]

Territorial

  • "Mississippi Territory Circuit Court Trial and Appearance Dockets, 1809-1812" Alabama Genealogical Society Magazine. Birmingham, Alabama Spring 2009.
  • "Mississippi Territory Minute Book, 1811-19" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Mar 1991. Vol 25, Iss 3.

Minute Books

  • 1811-1819 Records of Madison County, Alabama ALGenWeb (Varied records, including: Minute Book (1811-1819), Naturalization, Probate Index)
  • 1810-1817 Johnson, Dorothy Scott J. Madison County, Alabama Orphans Court minutes, 1810-1817. FHL US/CAN Book 976.197 P2j. Also film.
  • 1810-1819 Superior court minutes, 1810-1819, Madison County, Alabama. FHL Film.
  • 1831-1844 “Commissioner Court Minutes, 1832” Valley Leaves Huntsville, Alabama. Vol 23 Issue 4. Abstracted minutes from page 1 of 1831 to May 1844. These minutes mention the names of those caring for paupers, as well as the paupers names (including orphans)-- along with the usual things like roads. FHL US/CAN Book 976.19 B2v.

Chancery and Circuit Court

  • 1829-1968 Alabama Madison County Chancery and Circuit Court, 1829-1968 at FamilySearch - Images only, contains the Chancery Court Case Files from 1841+ (Case No. 173+), and the Circuit Court Divorce and Disputed Estate files from ca 1907+
  • Chancery Court Abstracts, 1824 Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Sep 2006. Vol 41. Iss. 1.

Misc

  • 1821 "Jurors List"Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Jun 1988. Vol 4. Iss 4. FHL US/CAN 976.19 B2v.
  • 1831-1844 "Commissioners Court Minutes, 1831" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Jun 1989. Vol 23 Iss 4 and Sep 1989. Vol 24. Iss. 1. Dec 1989. Vol 24. Iss 2.Mar 1990. Vol 24, Iss 3. Jun 1990. Vol. 24. Iss 4. FHL US/CAN 976.19 B2v.
  • 1841"Justice of the Peace and Constable Bonds, 1841" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Dec 1990. Vol 25. Iss 2. Dec 1991 Vol 26 Iss 2 p 85. FHL US/CAN 976.19 B2v.
  • 1842 "Court Records, 1842" Alabama Genealogical Exchange. Tuscaloosa, Alabama Winter 1987. Vol 3, Iss. 3. FHL US/CAN 976.D25ag. These are selected entries done by Pauline Gandrud whose unpublished files are in Special Collections, University of Alabama Library.
  • 1841-1844 "Justice of the Peace & Constable Bonds, 1841-1844" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Dec 1991. Vol 26. Iss 2. FHL US/CAN 976.19 B2v.
  • 1843 "Jurors List, 1843" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Dec 1988. Vol 23, Iss. 2. FHL US/CAN 976.19 B2v. FHL has Vol 23 Iss 1-4 bound together with index at back.

Directories[edit | edit source]

Madison County, Alabama Online Historical Directories - identifies historical city, county, business and other directories available online on both and pay-to-access websites.

Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]

Early settlers came primarily from Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia.

Court Records of Madison County, Alabama ALGenWeb (Varied records, including: Minute Book, Naturalization, Probate Index)

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]

African-American

Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]

Genealogies[edit | edit source]

Guardianship[edit | edit source]

Orphan Court

  • 1810-1817 Johnson, Dorothy Scott. Madison county, Alabama Orphans Court Minutes 1810-1817. FHL US/CAN Book 976.197 P2j
  • 1824 and on See Alabama State Archives

Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.

See Alabama Land and Property for additional information about early Alabama land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse, where records are currently housed.

To place a grant or deed on a map within context of Madison county see:

  • Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Madison County, Alabama: with Homesteads, Roads, Waterways, Towns, Cemeteries, Railroads, and More. Norman, Okla.: Arphax Pub. Co., 2009. This is a definitive work and can be used as an index to land grants. Digital version at HistoryGeo.com ($). Website includes surname index. FHL Book 976.197 E7b.

Southern Claims Commission: Alabama Claims 1871-1880. Tracking Your Roots.

Grants

The original land office for Madison (MS) was established in Nashville, Tennessee on Mar 3, 1807 and was moved to Huntsville in 1811. In 1807 Thomas Freeman, Government Surveyor, was assigned to survey the the lands in the “Triangle” which became Madison Co., Mississippi Territory on Dec 13, 1808. A census of the inhabitants was taken by him in January 1809. Subsequently, acting as Registrar, he received the “squatters” applications to buy their land. After a fee was paid, permission was granted then to remain as “tenants at will” on their land with rights to purchase at auction at a Public Land Sale. This sale took place at Nashville in August 1809 and fee simple land titles were established. (Less than half of the men who made application appear in the Tract Book.)[10]

There were no land grants given for military service in Madison county until after the Mexican War.[11]

  • Cowart, Margaret Matthews . Old land records of Madison County, Alabama. FHL US/CAN BOOK 976.197 R2c. See catalog for scope description. Has index and map of original "triangle" that was Madison county.
  • "MS Tr. 1809 Register of Applications & Permissions" Valley Leaves Huntsville, Alabama Jun 1972. Vol 6, Iss 4.

Deeds

  • 1810-1819 Johnson, Dorothy Scott. Madison County, Alabama deed books A, B, C, D, E, 1810-1819 (territorial) a synopsis of every instrument recorded in deed books A through E, which covers the period Madison County was a part of the Mississippi and Alabama territories from July, 1810 through November, 1819. (Huntsville, Alabama Johnson Historical Publications (AL), c1976 ) FHL US/CAN Book 976.197 R2j.
  • 1810-1886 FHL has direct and reserve index on film. Also deed books on film.

Local Histories[edit | edit source]

Local histories are available for Madison County. The histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Alabama Local Histories.

  • Betts, Edward Chambers. Early History of Huntsville, Alabama 1804 to 1870. 1909; revised, Montgomery, Ala.: The Brown Printing Co., 1916. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library

Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]

LimestoneJacksonMarshallMorganGiles County, TNLincoln County, TNAL MADISON.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Migration[edit | edit source]

Military Records[edit | edit source]

Civil War
Regiments. Men in Madison County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (part of a large regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Madison County:

- 1st Battalion, Alabama Artillery, Company D and F
- 4th Regiment, Alabama Cavalry (Russell's), Company C and F
- 4th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company F(Huntsville Guards)
- 4th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company I(North Alabamians)
- 7th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D(Madison Rifles)
- 27th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company F
- 35th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E and F
- 49th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company H and K


Creek Indian War - Company from County Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Dec 1985. Vol 20 iss 2.

World War I

World War II

Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]

Newspapers[edit | edit source]

  • 1828-1829 "Some 1828-29 area marriages in the Democrat" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Dec 1972. Vol 2. Iss 4.
  • 1844-1846 "Area Marriages 1844-46 in the Democrat" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Jun 1973. Vol 7. Iss 4.
  • Alabama Online Historical Newspapers - identifies historical archived and digitized newspapers available online on both and pay-to-access websites.
  • Madison county newspapers - a listing of newspapers published in the county & libraries that hold them; via the Library of Congress.
  • 1833, 1835 Caver, Larry E. Abstracts from Alabama Newspapers, Volume II: Limestone County, Madison County, Marshall County, Jackson County. Carrollton, Miss.: Pioneer Publishing Co., 2007. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library - Abstracts of The Southern Advocate (1833) and The Democrat (1835)

Obituaries[edit | edit source]

  • Huntsville Obituary Index - searchable database of obits done by the Huntsville Madison County Public Library
  • Madison County, Alabama Obituary and Death Notices Collection - A collection of obituaries and death notices from various funeral homes in the Madison County area has been put together by GenealogyBuffs.com
  • "Few North Alabama Newspaper Obituaries, 1847-49." Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Sep 1974. Vol 9. Iss 1. FHL US/CAN 976.19 B2v.
  • "N. AL Obits from Out-of-Co. Newspapers 1827-39" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Mar 1972. Vol 6 Iss 3. FHL US/CAN 976.19 B2v.

Other Records[edit | edit source]

  • 1824 "A List of Letters (Dead Letters) 1824" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Mar 1975. Vol 9. Iss 3. FHL US/CAN Book 976.19 B2v.
  • 1828 "List of Letters in Post Office, Huntsville, 1828" Alabama Genealogical Exchange.Tuscaloosa, Alabama Sep 1986. Vol 3. Iss 1.(surnames A-M) Vol 3 Iss 2 p 23 (surnames N-Z). FHL US/CAN 976.D25ag.
  • 1833 "Letters in the Hunstville P. O., Apr 4, 1833" Valley Leaves. Huntsville, Alabama Jun 1979. Vol 13 Iss 4, p. 179 (surnames A-M). Vol 14, Iss. 1 (surnames M-Z). FHL US/CAN Book 976.19 B2v. FHL has Vol 13 & 14, Iss 1-4 bound together with index at back of each bound volume.


Periodicals[edit | edit source]

Probate Records[edit | edit source]

Online Probate Records

Abstracts

  • "Abstracts of Wills in Probate Record 4, 1826-1827" Valley Leaves Huntsville, Alabama Dec 1972. Vol 7. Iss. 2
  • "Abstracts of Wills in Probate Rec 2 & 5, 1823-30" Valley Leaves Huntsville, Alabama Dec 1973. Vol 8. Iss 2.
  • "Abstracts of Wills In Probate Rec 2 & 5, 1824-31" Valley Leaves Huntsville, Alabama Mar 1974. Vol 8, Iss 3.
  • "Abstracts of Wills, Probate Records 1829-33" Valley Leaves Huntsivlle, Alabama Sep 1974. Vol 9, Iss. 1

School Records[edit | edit source]

Tax Records[edit | edit source]

Alabama tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see the wiki page Alabama Taxation.

Vital Records[edit | edit source]

Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Alabama State Department of Health , the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred or order electronically online $.

For some online statewide indexes, see the FamilySearch Historical Record Collections for Alabama.

Birth[edit | edit source]

Marriage[edit | edit source]

Death[edit | edit source]

  • 1881-1912 Madison County Death Index 1881-1912. Batch B548072 at FamilySearch
  • 1881-1952 Alabama Deaths and Burials, 1881-1952 at FamilySearch
  • 1881-1974 Index to Deaths and Burials at Ancestry $; Index. Volunteers extracted the details in this index from microfilmed copies of church, civil, family, and other records of Alabama deaths and burials. details vary depending on the original record. Note that the number of available records can vary widely by county, and this database does not necessarily represent a comprehensive set of death records for the state during this time.
  • 1908-1959 Index to Deaths Recorded by the State of Alabama at Ancestry $ Index to Deaths Recorded by the State of Alabama] at Ancestry – ($); Index. The index includes name of the deceased, county of death, date of death, and the state certificate number (volume and page).
  • 1908-1974 Alabama, Deaths, 1908-1974 at FamilySearch Historical Records Collection

Divorce[edit | edit source]

Research Facilities[edit | edit source]

Archives[edit | edit source]

Family History Centers[edit | edit source]

Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.

Local Centers and Libraries


Byrd Springs Alabama Family History Center
2110 Byrd Spring Rd
Huntsville, Alabama, 35802
Phone:256-881-4461
Website

Huntsville Alabama Family History Center
1804 Sparkman Dr
Huntsville, AL 35806
Phone: 256-721-0905
Website

Madison-Harvest Alabama Family History Center
1297 Slaughter Rd
Madison, AL 35758
Phone: 256-722-9450
Website

Libraries[edit | edit source]

Huntsville Madison County Public Library
915 Monroe Street
Huntsville, Alabama 35801
256-532-5940
Website.

Madison County Record Center
Huntsville Public Library
PO Box 443
Huntsville AL 35804
205 532-2347.
Website.

The Heritage Room has local and state histories, genealogical and family collections, newspapers, Madison County records, military records, and more.

Museums[edit | edit source]

Societies[edit | edit source]

Tennessee Valley Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 1568
Huntsville, Alabama
35807
Website

Publication: Valley Leaves

Madison African-American Alliance Group
P. O. Box 445
Madison, AL 35758
Website

Huntsville-Madison County Historical Society
P.O. Box 666
Huntsville, AL 35804
Website

Publication: Historic Huntsville Review
Link

Madison Station Historical Preservation Society
18 Arnett St.
Madison, AL 35758
Email: steadmancorner@juno.com

Monte Santo Historical Association
jbarr30@comcast.net

Huntsville Genealogical Computing Society
256-882-2912

Websites[edit | edit source]

Research Guides[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, "Madison County, Alabama Genealogy and History", http://genealogytrails.com/ala/madison/ 6/08/2017.
  2. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Madison, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madison_County,_Alabama 6/08/2017.
  3. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Alabama.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
  4. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Alabama.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
  5. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Alabama.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
  6. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Alabama.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
  7. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Madison County, Alabama," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madison_County,_Alabama, accessed 22 October 2018.
  8. ↑ Minutes Flint River Baptist Church, Alabama. Microfilmed by Historical Commission Southern Baptist Convention, Nashville, Tenn. Unpaginated. See 1821. FHL US/CAN Film 984,179.
  9. ↑ Minutes Flint River Baptist Church [Madison] Alabama. Microfilmed by Historical Commission Southern Baptist Convention, Nashville, Tenn. Unpaginated. See June 1840. FHL US/CAN Film 984,179.
  10. ↑ Cowart, Margaret Matthews . Old land records of Madison County, Alabama. Page i. FHL US/CAN BOOK 976.197 R2c
  11. ↑ Cowart, Margaret Matthews . Old land records of Madison County, Alabama. Page i. FHL US/CAN BOOK 976.197 R2c
  12. ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/c/cf/Igialabamals.pdf.
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