Records that survive
These are the record series from Adams County held by the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) system, with the earliest and latest years. A span can include gaps. They include county, township and city records. This county's are held at Western Illinois University in Macomb.
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Record1825–1926
- Marriage Record Index1825–1917
- Circuit Court Case Files, Divorces1851–1853
- Birth Record Index1855–1915
- Birth Certificate Index, Delayed1859–1915
- Birth Record1877–1903
- Death Certificate Index1877–1990
- Death Record1877–1915
- Death Record Index1878–1972
Deeds and land
- Deed Record, Transcription1817–1833
- Land Patent Record1817–1861
- Deed Record1818–1927
- Deed Index1825–1892
- Mortgage Entry Books1835–1852
- Mortgage Record1836–1845
- Chattel Mortgages1840–1959
- Plat Record (Quincy)1846
- Entry Books1849–1874
- Swamp Land Record1851–1857
- School Trustees' Minutes1937–1954
- School Trustees' and Treasurer's Annual Reports1945–1956
Wills and estates
- Probate Case Files1826–1900
- Probate Case Files Index1826–1964
- Probate Record Index1826–1969
- County Court and Probate Index1830–1919
- Probate and County Court Index1830–1919
- Probate Will Record1837–1908
- Probate Will Record Index1837–1964
- Probate Minutes1847–1849
- Probate Wills1849–1908
- Probate Will Record, Extra-jurisdictional1897–1920
Tax records
- Assessor's Books (Quincy)1840
- Collector's Books1851–1917
- Street Assessment Record (Quincy)1853–1866
- Assessor's Books (Burton Twp.)1861–1870
Court records
- Recorder's Unclaimed Instruments1817–1960
- Circuit Court Case Files Index, Chancery1826–1953
- Circuit Court Record1829–1845
- Circuit Court Record Index, Chancery1853–1953
- Circuit Court Judgment Dockets1855–1974
- School Board Minutes (Quincy)1861–1952
- Township Meeting Minutes (Quincy Twp.)1875–1938
- Local Improvements Board Minutes (Quincy)1898–1909
- Jail Registers (Quincy)1905–1950
- Jury Files1945–1963
Schools
- School District Record1848–1963
- School Teachers' Daily Registers1883–1956
- School Bond Registers (Quincy)1905–1948
- School Treasurer's Cash Books (Quincy)1905–1908
- School Election Papers1972–1978
- School Treasurer's Account Books (Quincy)1976–1987
Elections and voters
- Election Papers (Quincy)1845–1899
- Voter Registers (Burton Twp.)1912–1940
- Election Papers1920
- Election Papers (Burton Twp.)1955–1963
Town and city records
- City Council Proceedings Files (Quincy)1831–1934
- City Ordinance Record (Quincy)1834–1925
- City Council Minutes (Quincy)1839–1913
- Township Record (Burton Twp.)1850–2009
- Railroad Record, Northern Cross (Quincy)1851–1875
- Mayor's Correspondence (Quincy)1869–1897
- Township Record (Clayton Twp.)1869–1919
- Police Arrest Record (Quincy)1873–1959
- Police Expenditures Record (Quincy)1874–1907
- Estray Record (Quincy)1875–1888
- Road Record (Clayton Twp.)1878–1903
- Township Auditors' Record (Burton Twp.)1880–1937
- Vaccination Record (Quincy)1902
- Police Attendance Record (Quincy)1906–1933
- and 8 more series in the full listing
County government
- Highway Commissioners' Record (Clayton Twp.)1861–1900
- Highway Commissioners' Record (Burton Twp.)1900–1935
Other records
- Certificates of Moral Character1846–1937
- Bar Association Memorial Resolutions1865–1966
- Almshouse Registers1873–1898
- Poor Farm Account Books1906–1947
Search the IRAD database for this county
Source: Illinois State Archives, Local Government Records Database (choose the county to see every series and its accession number). Contact the depository before you visit. Illinois began statewide registration of births and deaths in 1916.
Where to find the records
- Adams County official website
Hours, addresses and phone numbers for the county clerk, the recorder of deeds and the clerk of the circuit court, and any online record search the county offers.
- The county clerk
Births, deaths and marriages registered in the county.
- The recorder of deeds
Deeds, mortgages and other land records (in some counties the county clerk is also the recorder).
- The clerk of the circuit court
Probate (wills and estates), divorces and civil and criminal cases.
- The Illinois State Archives
In Springfield, with older county records at its regional depositories (IRAD) on university campuses.
- Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) systemfree
The State Archives' regional depositories, which hold older county, township and city records; search its Local Government Records Database by county.
- FamilySearch Catalogfree
Search by place for "Illinois, Adams" to find filmed and digitized records, many viewable free online with a FamilySearch account.
Offices change their hours and access rules; call before you visit.
Boundaries and parent counties
Formed from: Pike County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Pike County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1825, search the parent county. The Atlas of Historical County Boundaries shows each boundary change.
Research tip
Illinois began statewide registration of births and deaths in 1916; counties kept registers earlier, often from 1877 or 1878. The Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, from the State Archives, covers many marriages from 1763 to 1900.