Moultrie County, Illinois Genealogy Records

Which records survive from Moultrie County, the years each set covers, and where to find them.

Formed
1843
County seat
Sullivan
Champaign CountyChristian CountyClark CountyColes CountyCumberland CountyDeWitt CountyDouglas CountyEffingham CountyFayette CountyJasper CountyLogan CountyMason CountyMenard CountyMontgomery CountyPiatt CountySangamon CountyMacon CountyShelby CountyMoultrie CountyChristianColesCumberlandDouglasLoganMenardMontgomeryPiattSangamonMaconShelbyMoultrie
Moultrie CountyParent counties (search here for earlier records)Today's boundaries · U.S. Census Bureau

Records that survive

These are the record series from Moultrie 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 Record1843–1919
  • Marriage Record Index1843–1981
  • Birth Certificates1859–1900
  • Birth Record1859–1920
  • Birth Record Index1859–1980
  • Birth Certificates (Arthur)1868–1964
  • Death Record1877–1927
  • Death Record Index1877–1973
  • Death Record (Sullivan)1916–1932
  • Burial and Removal Permits (Arthur)1918–1964
  • Death Certificates (Arthur)1918–1972

Deeds and land

  • Water Improvement Survey Questionnaires (Sullivan)1935
  • Chattel Mortgage Releases1948–1951
  • Chattel Mortgages1948–1952

Military and pensions

  • Military Discharge Record1862–1919

Tax records

  • Motor Fuel Tax Fund Audit Reports (Sullivan)1948–1951
  • Tax Schedules, Townships1956–1967

Town and city records

  • Township Record (Jonathan Creek Twp.)1867–1965
  • Road Record (Jonathan Creek Twp.)1891–1916
  • Township Auditors' Record (Jonathan Creek Twp.)1925–1946
  • City Council Proceedings Files (Sullivan)1936–1951

County government

  • Highway Commissioners' Record (Jonathan Creek Twp.)1867–1929

Other records

  • Poor Farm Warrant Stubs1907–1911

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

  • Moultrie 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, Moultrie" 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: Macon County, Shelby County

Check the parent counties for earlier records: Macon County, Shelby County

ColesFayetteEffinghamJasperChampaignSangamonMontgomeryLoganChristianPiattDE WittMenardShelbyMaconMoultrieMoultrieShelbyMaconColesSangamonMontgomeryChristianPiatt
Moultrie as created in 1843Where its land was the day beforeToday's boundaryBoundaries: Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries

Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1843, 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.