Montgomery County, Kentucky Genealogy
Guide to Montgomery County, Kentucky ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 Resources
- 2.1 Bible Records
- 2.2 Biographies
- 2.3 Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- 2.4 Cemeteries
- 2.5 Census Records
- 2.6 Church Records
- 2.7 Court Records
- 2.8 Directories
- 2.9 Emigration and Immigration
- 2.10 Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
- 2.11 Funeral Homes
- 2.12 Genealogies
- 2.13 Guardianship
- 2.14 Land and Property Records
- 2.15 Local Histories
- 2.16 Maps and Gazetteers
- 2.17 Migration
- 2.18 Military Records
- 2.19 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 2.20 Newspapers
- 2.21 Obituaries
- 2.22 Other Records
- 2.23 Periodicals
- 2.24 Probate Records
- 2.25 School Records
- 2.26 Social Security Records
- 2.27 Tax Records
- 2.28 Vital Records
- 3 Research Facilities
- 4 Societies
- 5 Websites
- 6 Research Guides
- 7 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
Montgomery County was named for Richard Montgomery. The county is located in the east-central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Montgomery County Courthouse
1 Court Street
PO Box 414;
Mount Sterling, KY 40353
Phone: 859-498-8700[3]
Montgomery County Website
Montgomery County, Kentucky 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.
Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
1852 | 1864 | 1852 | 1841 | 1797 | 1797 | 1810 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
1851, 1863 Fires in 1851 and the burning down of the Courthouse in Mount Sterling by Confederate forces in 1863 destroyed many records, including marriage records and circuit court records. County clerk records were in a different location and were saved. Some marriage records have been reconstructed based on other records.
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Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
The original County included some or all of the present Counties of Montgomery, Bath, Powell, Estill, Lee, Breathitt, Perry, Leslie, Harlan, Letcher, Pike, Floyd, Knott, Magoffin, Wolfe, Morgan, and Menifee. In 1800 part of the County was lost to Madison and part was lost to the creation of Floyd. In 1811 part of the County was lost to the creation of Bath. In 1816 land was lost to Estill. In 1818 land was lost to Floyd. In 1852 part of the County was lost to the creation of Powell. In 1869 part of the County was lost to the creation of Menifee County. For animated maps illustrating Kentucky county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Kentucky County Boundary Maps" (1776-1939) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website. |
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[6]
Cities | ||
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Unincorporated communities | ||
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History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- KY Biographies, Jeff Murphy's Kentucky Biographies Project
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
The following web sites have additional information on Montgomery county cemeteries.
- Interment.net, Kentucky cemetery records by county.
- Cemetery Junction, Links to cemetery transcriptions
- Naming the Forgotten, The Eastern State Hospital Project
- Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness, Local volunteers may take photographs of headstones found in county cemeteries.
Census Records[edit | edit source]
Historical populations | ||
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Census | Pop. | %± |
1800 | 7,082 | — |
1810 | 12,975 | 83.2% |
1820 | 9,587 | −26.1% |
1830 | 10,240 | 6.8% |
1840 | 9,332 | −8.9% |
1850 | 9,903 | 6.1% |
1860 | 7,859 | −20.6% |
1870 | 7,557 | −3.8% |
1880 | 10,566 | 39.8% |
1890 | 12,367 | 17.0% |
1900 | 12,834 | 3.8% |
1910 | 12,868 | 0.3% |
1920 | 12,245 | −4.8% |
1930 | 11,660 | −4.8% |
1940 | 12,280 | 5.3% |
1950 | 13,025 | 6.1% |
1960 | 13,461 | 3.3% |
1970 | 15,364 | 14.1% |
1980 | 20,046 | 30.5% |
1990 | 19,561 | −2.4% |
2000 | 22,554 | 15.3% |
2010 | 26,499 | 17.5% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
For tips on accessing Montgomery County, Kentucky Genealogy census records online, see: Kentucky Census.
- Kentucky Census Transcriptions 1850-1930, USGenWeb
- Census Images, USGenWeb
- KY Census Online, Links to online census records
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 Kentucky denominations, view the Kentucky Church Records wiki page.
- The First Presbyterian Church of Mount Sterling, Kentucky 1795 – 1955. Published by church, 1955. “160th anniversary of local organization.”
Available at Mount Sterling, Kentucky, Main branch library. Call No: 270 FIRS c.1. - History of St. Patrick Church, Mt. Sterling Kentucky. Edited by Anne C. Hickey. Published 1982.
Available at Mount Sterling, Kentucky, Main branch library. Call No:G282 HICK.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
- Abstracts of Early Kentucky Supreme Court Cases, KYGenWeb
- Kentucky Court of Justice Research & Reference
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
African Americans[edit | edit source]
More information about African American resources in Kentucky can be found on the African American Resources for Kentucky and the United States African Americans Wiki pages.
The following have information concerning African American research. Both should be used:
- African American Genealogy (US) has more information about the kinds of records available
- The KY African American Griots Project
- Kentucky Cultural Groups has information specific to Kentucky African Americans.
- Sandi Gorin's Tips, Hangings in Kentucky 1792-1900
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
- [Cheatham] Dennstedt, Alberta Marjorie. "The Cheatham Family of Colonial Virginia," in The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 27, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1983):163-173; Vol. 27, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1983):273-279; Vol. 28, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1984):38-43; Vol. 28, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1984):102-112; Vol. 28, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1984):209-216; Vol. 28, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1984):293-297; Vol. 29, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1985):32-40; Vol. 29, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1985):123-127; Vol. 29, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1985):179-185; Vol. 29, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1985):262-265; Vol. 30, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1986):17-23; Vol. 30, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1986):99-104. Digital version at American Ancestors ($). FHL Book 975.5 B2vg v. 27 (1983)-v. 30 (1986).
- [Finley] Finley, Carmen J. "The John Finleys of Augusta County, Virginia: Correcting the Record," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 46, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 2002):3-13; Vol. 46, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 2002):98-113; Vol. 46, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 2002):171-178; Vol. 46, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 2002):268-281. Digital version at American Ancestors ($). FHL Book 975.5 B2vg v. 46 (2002).
- [Hawley] Mack, Ann H. "Hawley/Halley in Seventeenth Century Virginia," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 28, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1984):3-7; Vol. 28, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1984):121-125; Vol. 28, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1984):197-203; Vol. 28, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1984):281-292; Vol. 29, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1985):21-28. Digital version at American Ancestors ($). FHL Book 975.5 B2vg v. 28 (1984)-v. 29 (1985).
- [Jameson] Bourne, James M. "The Jameson Family," The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Jan. 1895):199-201; . Digitized by JSTOR - free.
- [Kirk] Mosher, Merrill Hill. "Origin of the John, Mathew & Robert Kirk Families of Lancaster County, South Carolina," The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. 23, No. 2 (Spring 1995):74-79. FHL Book 975.7 B2sc v. 23
- [McClure] Ancestry of the children of Andrew McClure of Montgomery County, Kentucky at Ancestry ($)
- [Pritchett] Jones, Thomas W. "Logic Reveals the Parents of Philip Pritchett of Virginia and Kentucky," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 97 (March 2009):29-38. FHL Book 973 B2ng v. 97 (2009).
- [Sanders] Helmer, Richard Bryan and Mark L. Lehman. James & Alvin Sanders, Livestock Journalists of the Midwest. Bryn Mawr, Pa., 1985. FHL Book 921.73 Sa56h.
- [Spratt] Pompey, Sherman L. The Moses Spratt Family of Platte, Missouri. Pasadena, Calif., 1965.
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
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 Kentucky Land and Property for additional information about early Kentucky land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Montgomery County, Kentucky Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories see the wiki page section Kentucky Local Histories.
- The Archives of Appalachia
- A history of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, 1792 – 1918. By Carl B. Boyd Jr. and Hazel Mason Boyd. Published 1984. Available at Mount Sterling, Kentucky, Main branch library. Call no: K976.955 Boyd.
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of Kentucky (1776-1939)
- KYGenWeb compiled list of maps
- Click on the county to go to the KYGenWeb site
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
- Military Resources, Revolutionary War through Civil War
Civil War[edit | edit source]
Online Records
- 1861-1865 - Kentucky Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1861-1865 - Kentucky Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1861-1865 - U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (Free)
- 1861-1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry— index (Free)
- 1912-1950 - Kentucky Confederate Pension Applications 1912-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Regiments. Men in Montgomery County served in various regiments and companies. Those listed below were specifically formed in this county:
- - 1st Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (Union), Company J.
- - 3rd Battalion, Kentucky Mounted Rifles (Confederate). Companies A, B, and D.
- - 3rd Battalion, Kentucky Mounted Rifles (Confederate), Companies A, B and D.
- - 6th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (Union), Company E.
- - 10th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (Confederate), Companies B and G.
- - 11th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (Confederate). Company H.
- - 11th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (Union), Companies B, D, E and H.
- - 12th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (Union), Companies B, C, D, F and K.
- - 14th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (Union), Companies A, B, C and D.
- - 45th Regiment, Kentucky Infantry (Union), Companies D, H and I.
World War I[edit | edit source]
Korean War[edit | edit source]
- Korean War Memorial for Soldiers from KY, KYGenWeb
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- Mount Sterling, Kentucky Library (main branch), The Mt. Sterling Advocate on microfilm. Call No: KFILM MOUN.
- USNPL, Kentucky, Kentucky newspaper index with links
- World-Newspapers, Kentucky, Kentucky newspaper index with links
- Kentucky Newspapers on Microfilm
Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Montgomery County, Kentucky Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Do a Montgomery County, Kentucky Genealogy Place-name search for these and other records in the FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Places Search).
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- Kentucky Footsteps Archives, KYGenWeb
- Kentucky Obituary Sources, KYGenWeb
- Links to research and locate obituaries
- Browning Genealogy Database, Compiled by Charles Browning.
- Kentucky Obituaries, USGenWeb
- Afrigeneas, African American death notices, obituaries and funeral programs compiled by users from current newspapers and historical sources
- Obituary Depot, Kentucky Newspaper Citations
- Obituary Daily Times, Citations to over 15,000,000 obituaries including interactive search function
- Nashville Christian Advocate Death Abstracts
- Mount Sterling, Kentucky Library (main branch), Mt. Sterling Advocate, published since 1890. Mt. Sterling Advocate Obituary Index, compiled by Paula Kelley, pub. 2004. Call No: KG929.3747 KELL.
Other Records[edit | edit source]
- Kentucky Postcards, USGenWeb
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Probate records are held by the Montgomery County, Kentucky Genealogy Clerk of Court and are housed at the Montgomery County, Kentucky Genealogy Courthouse. Microfilmed records can be found online at Kentucky, Probate Records, 1792-1977 for Caldwell, Henry, Hickman, Russell and Trimble counties. See the wiki page Kentucky Probate Records for information about how to use probate records.
Content: Probate Records may give the decedent's date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.
Record types: Wills, estates, guardianships, naturalizations, and adoptions.
Online Probate Records
- 1774-1999 Kentucky Wills and Probate Records 1774-1999 at Ancestry ($) — index and images
- 1797-1874 Will Books A to F (1797-1874) digitized by FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- Will Book A: 1797-1812
- Montgomery County, Kentucky Wills: 1796-1821 at Ancestry ($)
- Strictly By Name provides free online indexes to early Montgomery County probate records. They offer a record retrieval service to photocopy and transcribe microfilm copies of the original documents for a small fee. Available indexes.
- Images of Wills, Estates, Inventories, Guardians, Book A, 1797-1812; Book B, 1813-1822; Book C, 1823-1828. Kentucky Pioneers ($)
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Taxes were levied on free white males over 21 and slaves aged 21 to 60. These persons are referred to as "polls." Tax listings, or digests, of a county generally list the taxable landowners and other polls and the amount of tax. The records for each county are divided by militia district. For more background information and state-wide resources see the wiki page Kentucky Taxation.
- 1800 - 1800 Tax List of Montgomery County, Kentucky Genealogy is included in Clift's Second Census of Kentucky 1800,[7] digitized by Ancestry ($).
- Search Tax, Criminal, Land and Wills Records, Ancestry ($)
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Although Kentucky enacted a statute in 1852-1862 requiring registration of births and deaths,many counties did not comply. A second law was written in 1874-1879, and 1892-1910 but, again, was not always followed. By 1911, the law was more clearly defined and kept by 1920. Any existing births 1852-1960 and death records 1852-1953 can be accessed online. See How to Find Kentucky Birth Records and How to Find Kentucky Death Records for links to indexes and images.
Original marriage records are held at the office of the Montgomery County Clerk, with divorce records 1849-1958 located with the Montgomery County Circuit Court. For more information see How to Find Kentucky Marriage Records. For Kentucky divorce records see the wiki page Kentucky Vital Records.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1839-1960 – Kentucky Births and Christenings, 1839-1960 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1852-1861 - Montgomery County Birth Index 1852-1861. Batch C517781 at FamilySearch[8]
- 1874 - Montgomery County Birth Index 1874. Batch C517782 at FamilySearch
- 1875 - Montgomery County Birth Index 1875. Batch C517783 at FamilySearch
- 1911-1912 - Searchable KY Birth Index
- 1911-1999 Kentucky Births, 1911-1999 at MyHeritage ($) — index
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1609-2016 - Kentucky, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
- 1785-1979 – Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1797-1954 - Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1817-50 - Montgomery County, Kentucky Marriage Records, 1817-50 at Ancestry ($)
- 1852-1861 - Montgomery County Marriage Index 1852-1861. Batch M517781 at FamilySearch
- 1875 - Montgomery County Marriage Index 1875. Batch M517784 at FamilySearch
- 1876-1878 - Montgomery County Marriage Index 1876-1878. Batch M517785 at FamilySearch
- 1894 - Montgomery County Marriage Index 1894. Batch M517781 at FamilySearch
- 1973-2000 - Searchable KY Marriage Records
- 1973-2000 - Kentucky Marriage Records 1973-2000
- 1960-1993 Kentucky Marriages, 1960-1993 at MyHeritage ($) — index
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1843-1970 – Kentucky Deaths and Burials, 1843-1970 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1900-1999 Kentucky Deaths, 1900-1999 at MyHeritage ($) — index
- 1911-1965 - Kentucky Death Records, 1911-1965 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1911-2000 - Searchable KY Death Index
- The Social Security Death Index - How to Use this Collection
- The Kentucky Vital Records Project, Transcriptions and Images of Kentucky Death Certificates
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1973-1993 - Kentucky Divorce Records 1973-1993, University of Kentucky Vital Records Databases
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Montgomery County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Kentucky Archives and Libraries.
- Archives of Appalachia
East Tennessee State University
Website
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
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Montgomery County. For state-wide library facilities, see Kentucky Archives and Libraries.
- Mt. Sterling - Montgomery County Library
241 West Locust St.
Mt. Sterling, KY 40353
Phone: 859-498-2404
Fax: 859-498-7477
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Montgomery County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Kentucky Societies.
- Montgomery County Historical Society
30 East Main St
PO Box 861
Mt. Sterling, KY 40353
Telephone: 606-498-1413 - Links and addresses to Kentucky genealogical and historical societies
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Montgomery County, KY History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- Montgomery County KYGenWeb Project.
- KYGenWeb project. Has maps, name indexes, history or other information for each county. Select the county.
- State of Kentucky Website
- USGenWeb Kentucky Archives
- The USGenWeb project May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
- Montgomery County, Kentucky Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- Montgomery County KY Genealogy (Kentucky Genealogy)
- FamilySearch Catalog . Free - The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Kentucky. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Montgomery County, Kentucky" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery_County,_Kentucky."
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Montgomery County, Kentucky page 273, At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Montgomery County, Kentucky. Page 268-276 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 251-254.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Kentucky. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Montgomery County, Kentucky ," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery_County,_Kentucky, accessed 3 September 2018.
- ↑ G. Glenn Clift, Second Census of Kentucky 1800: A Privately Compiled and Published Enumeration of Tax Payers Appearing in the 79 Manuscript Volumes Extant of Tax Lists of the 42 Counties of Kentucky in Existence in 1800 (1954; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2005).
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/7/75/Igikentuckymz.pdf.