Records that survive
These are the record series from Jersey 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 the University of Illinois Springfield.
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Record1839–1967
- Birth Record, Proof of1845–1866
- Birth Record Index1857–1967
- Birth Record1878–1932
- Death Record1878–1900
- Death Record Index1878–1983
- Death Record, Stillbirths1905–1932
Deeds and land
- Entry Books1821–1875
- Deed Index1822–1855
- Plat Record, Original Survey1856
Wills and estates
- Probate Will Record1839–1964
- Probate Inventory Record1874–1966
- Probate Inventory Record, Guardians1879–1922
- Probate Inventory and Appraisement Record1882–1914
Military and pensions
- Military Discharge Record1918–1965
- Military Discharge Record Index1918–1967
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
- Jersey 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, Jersey" 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: Greene County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Greene 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.