Records that survive
These are the record series from Hancock 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 Record1829–1933
- Marriage Licenses1830–1922
- Cemetery Record1831–1874
- Birth Certificates1844–1922
- Birth Record, Delayed1844–1877
- Marriage Record Index1862–1940
- Birth Record Index1867–1947
- Birth Record1877–1915
- Death Certificates1877–1931
- Death Record1877–1917
- Death Record Index1877–1947
- Death Record, Stillbirths1878–1916
- Marriage License Applications1880–1925
- Burial and Removal Permits1902–1941
- and 7 more series in the full listing
Deeds and land
- Deed Index1817–1901
- Deed Record1817–1934
- Entry Books1817–1838
- Taxable Lands Lists1817–1857
- Plat Record1834–1938
- School Land Sale Record1836–1856
- Surveyor's Record1836–1884
- Probate Sale Petitions Index, Real Estate1850–1963
- Plats (Appanoose Twp.)1864
- Plat Record, Roads1874–1893
- Mortgage Record1882–1924
- Village Trustees' Minutes (Plymouth)1889–1920
Wills and estates
- Probate Inventory, Appraisement and Sale Record1830–1915
- Probate Record1830–1923
- Probate Record Index1830–1942
- Probate Case Files1831–1923
- Probate Will Record1833–1923
- Probate Case Files, Guardians1835–1954
- Probate Claim and Judgment Dockets1839–1849
- Probate Administrator's Record1859–1924
- Probate Executor's Record1864–1928
- Probate Inventory Record, Guardians1879–1937
- Probate Widow's Relinquishment and Selection Record1879–1925
- Probate Administrator's Record With Will Annexed1885–1920
- Probate Administrator's and Executor's Reports1887–1922
- Probate Guardian's Record1889–1938
Naturalization
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent, Circuit Court1851–1928
- Naturalization Record, Final, Circuit Court1852–1868
- Naturalization Record of Soldiers and Minors, Circuit Court1865–1880
- Naturalization Record, Final, County Court1876–1906
- Naturalization Record, County Court1878–1906
- Naturalization Certificate Stubs, Circuit Court1904–1910
- Naturalization Petition Record, Circuit Court1928–1930
Military and pensions
- Military Discharge Record1865–1965
- Military Discharge Record Index1943–1965
Tax records
- Tax Sale Record1834–1848
- Assessor's Books1848–1872
- Collector's Books1850–1963
- Tax Sale Notices1851–1861
- Assessor's Books (St. Mary's Twp.)1852–1853
- Tax Lists, Delinquent1858–1872
- Assessor's Books (Dallas City)1871–1872
Court records
- Board of Supervisors' Minutes1829–1847
- Circuit Court Case Files1829–1858
- Circuit Court Record1829–1922
- Circuit Court Index1830–1964
- Circuit Court Record, Chancery1838–1924
- Master's and Sheriff's Levy and Redemption Certificates1841–1956
- County Court Case Files1846–1922
- County Court Dockets1849–1855
- County Order Record1849–1858
- Township Meeting Minutes (Nauvoo Twp.)1850–1941
- Master's and Sheriff's Certificates of Purchase1853–1924
- Justice of the Peace Dockets1854–1858
- Circuit Court Default Judgment Record1859–1878
- Circuit Court Master's Certificate of Purchase1861–1881
- and 4 more series in the full listing
Schools
- School Fund Loan Record1837–1856
- School District Record1862–1934
- School Teachers' Daily Registers1879–1953
- School Treasurer's Semi-annual Reports1934–1935
- School District Annual Financial Reports1955–1970
- School Treasurer's Account Books1958–1960
- School District Annual Audit Reports1965
Elections and voters
- Election Papers1843–1869
- Election Papers (Augusta Twp.)1862–1953
- Voter Registers (Augusta Twp.)1898
- Election Papers (Nauvoo)1908–1975
- Election Papers (Montebello Twp.)1951–1974
- Election Papers (Nauvoo Twp.)1973
Census
- Census Record1880
Town and city records
- City Council Minutes (Nauvoo)1841–1845
- Incorporation Record, Towns1849–1866
- City Council Minutes (Laharpe)1850–1927
- Township Record (St. Mary's Twp.)1850–1864
- Township Supervisor's Annual Reports (Montebello Twp.)1950–1969
County government
- Highway Commissioners' Record (St. Mary's Twp.)1859–1920
- Village Annual Audit Reports (Bowen)1952–1976
Other records
- Circuit Clerk's Miscellaneous Files1827–1864
- Marks and Brands Record1829–1973
- Adoption Record1883–1904
- Treasurer's Annual Reports1968–1969
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
- Hancock 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, Hancock" 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: Land not yet in any 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.