Records that survive
These are the record series from Brown 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 Record1839–1951
- Marriage Record Index1839–1995
- Birth Record Index1854–1895
- Marriage Licenses1868–1951
- Birth Record1877–1895
- Death Record1877–1915
- Death Record Index1877–1945
Wills and estates
- Probate Fee Books1850–1867
Military and pensions
- Military Discharge Record1901–1951
- Military Discharge Record Index1943–1950
Tax records
- Railroad Tax Books1928–1967
- Telephone and Telegraph Tax Books1933–1940
Court records
- Circuit Court Fee Books1841–1872
Schools
- School Teachers' Daily Registers1866–1952
- School Classification and Attendance Reports1904–1907
- School Schedules1909–1947
- School Final Standings Record, High School1910–1928
- School District Record1918–1947
Town and city records
- Township Record (Mount Sterling Twp.)1854–1868
County government
- County Bonds, Canceled1866–1868
- County Annual Audit Reports1926–1966
Other records
- Almshouse Registers1882–1963
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
- Find Brown County's official website
We haven't checked this county's website yet, so this opens a web search. Look for an address ending in .gov, then find the county clerk, the recorder of deeds and the clerk of the circuit court.
- 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, Brown" 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: Schuyler County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Schuyler County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1839, 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.