Records that survive
These are the record series from Coles 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 Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Record1831–1929
- Birth Certificates, Delayed1860–1915
- Cemetery Deed Record, Dodge Grove Cemetery (Mattoon)1868–1983
- Birth Record Index1878–1915
- Death Record1878–1918
- Death Record Index1878–1913
- Marriage Record Index1878–1929
- Death Record, Stillbirths1887–1909
- Death Record (Mattoon)1899–1937
- Birth Record (Mattoon)1900–1937
- Burial Permit Registers (Ashmore Twp.)1902–1903
- Burial Permit Registers (Ashmore)1902–1903
- Death Certificate Registers (Ashmore Twp.)1902–1903
- Death Certificate Registers (Ashmore)1902–1903
- and 1 more series in the full listing
Deeds and land
- Village Trustees' Minutes (Ashmore)1894–1909
Naturalization
- Naturalization Record, Circuit Court1872–1888
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent, Circuit Court1894–1946
- Naturalization Record, County Court1894–1906
- Naturalization Petition Record, City Court (Mattoon)1908–1927
- Naturalization Certificate Stubs, City Court (Mattoon)1910–1927
- Naturalization Petition Record, Circuit Court1911–1930
Tax records
- Assessor's Books (Ashmore Twp.)1861–1881
- Tax Lists, Delinquent1868–1968
- Collector's Books1880–1967
- Assessor's Books (Paradise Twp.)1884
- Railroad, Telephone and Telegraph Tax Books1923–1945
- Tax Schedules, Townships1942–1944
- Assessor's Books1953–1972
Court records
- Circuit Court Case Files1832–1890
- Justice of the Peace Dockets (Pleasant Grove Twp.)1834–1838
- Circuit Court Case Files, Chancery1835–1910
- Circuit Court Record, Chancery, Circuit Court1849–1915
- Coroner's Inquest Files1853–1969
- School Board Minutes1866–1948
- Court of Common Pleas Case Files (Mattoon)1869–1873
- Jail Registers1872–1987
- Justice of the Peace Dockets (Ashmore Twp.)1877–1908
- Sheriff's Process Dockets1886–1984
- Sheriff's Fee Books1891–1983
- Sheriff's Execution Dockets1894–1965
- Sheriff's Fee Books, Mattoon City Court1898–1944
- County Court Fee Books1907–1913
- and 3 more series in the full listing
Schools
- School Notes and Bonds Record1859–1905
- School Treasurer's Account Books1860–1952
- School District Record1861–1949
- School Teachers' Certificate Examination Record1861–1914
- School Teacher Candidates Examination Record1864–1893
- School Officers' Directories1886–1919
- School Teachers' Directories1886–1948
- School Pupil Examination Record1899–1934
- School Officers' and Teachers' Directories1903–1911
- School Teachers' Daily Registers1904–1947
- School Schedules1906–1947
- School Fund Loan Record1912–1916
- School Teachers' Certificate Registers1914–1972
- School Treasurer's Cash Books1933–1942
Elections and voters
- Election Papers1972–1974
Town and city records
- City Council Minutes (Mattoon)1857–1982
- Township Record (Ashmore Twp.)1860–1932
- Township Supervisor's Cash Books (Ashmore Twp.)1861–1923
- Road Record (Paradise Twp.)1862–1939
- Road Record (Ashmore Twp.)1874–1904
- Road Release Record (Paradise Twp.)1876–1897
- Township Auditors' Record (Ashmore Twp.)1879–1932
- Township Record (Paradise Twp.)1896–1931
- Waterworks Electrification Study Report (Charleston)1923
County government
- Highway Commissioners' Record (Paradise Twp.)1860–1977
- Highway Commissioners' Record (Ashmore Twp.)1872–1944
- Budget and Appropriation Resolutions1952–1968
Other records
- Circuit Clerk's Miscellaneous Files1832–1935
- County Clerk's Miscellaneous Files1835
- Treasurer's Statements1954–1969
- Treasurer's Annual Reports1960–1968
- Livestock Claims1964–1968
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
- Coles 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, Coles" 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: Clark County, Edgar County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Clark County, Edgar County
Later formed partly from Coles County: Cumberland County, Douglas County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1830, 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.