Prentiss County, Mississippi Genealogy

United States

Mississippi

Prentiss County

Guide to Prentiss County, Mississippi ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

Mississippi Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: Booneville Organized: 15 April 1870 Parent County(s): Tishomingo Neighboring Counties Alcorn • Itawamba • Lee • Tippah • Tishomingo • Union See County Maps Courthouse Location Map

County Information

Description

This county was named for Sargent Smith Prentiss. Prentiss County is located in the northeast area of the state.

County Courthouse

Prentiss County Courthouse
P.O. Box 477
Booneville, MS 38829-0477
Phone: 662-728-8151
Prentiss County Website

Clerk Chancery Court has divorce, probate and court records from 1870 and land records from 1836.
Clerk Circuit Court has marriage records.

Prentiss County, Mississippi Record Dates

Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1 Nov 1912	1870	1 Nov 1912	1870	1836	1870	1810
*Statewide registration started in Nov 1912 for births and deaths. General compliance by 1921.

Record Loss

1912 Some records were lost. For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see: Burned Counties. By Michael John Neill at 24-7 Family History Circle. When the Records are Gone. By Arlene Eakle at Arlene Eakle's Tennessee Blog. Burned Counties Research in the FamilySearch Research Wiki. List of counties in the United States with Record Loss

Boundary Changes

1870 Prentiss County was created 15 April 1870 from Tishomingo County. County seat: Booneville For animated maps illustrating Mississippi county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Mississippi County Boundary Maps" (1785-1918) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Populated Places

Populated Places

For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Cities
Baldwin‡	Booneville (county seat)
Towns
Jumpertown	Marietta
Unincorporated communities
Altitued Hobo Station	New Site Thrasher	Wheeler

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

Resources

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Prentiss County, Mississippi online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Findagrave.com MSGenWeb MSGenWeb Archives Tombstone Project Billion Graves
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	FamilySearch Library WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the County	Findagrave.com Billion Graves FamilySearch Places
See Mississippi Cemeteries for more information

 

Census Records

For tips on accessing Prentiss County census records online, see: Mississippi Census.

Federal Census

• 1660-1820 U.S. Census Reconstructed Records, 1660-1820 at Ancestry $
• 1850 United States Census (Mortality Schedule), 1850 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and some images
• 1850 United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1860 United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

State Census

• 1792-1866 Mississippi, State and Territorial Census Collection, 1792-1866 at Ancestry $
• 1805-1890 Mississippi, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1805-1890 at Ancestry $
• 1870 State Census Returns 1870 - Prentiss County Collection at FamilySearch - images only
• 1880 State Census Returns 1880 - Prentiss County Collection at FamilySearch - images only

Church Records

Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Mississippi denominations, view the Mississippi Church Records wiki page.

• 1910-1919 Mississippi, Church Records, 1910-1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places

Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

• Booneville

Court Records

• 1872-1881 Miscellaneous Final Record of Probate Business, 1872-1881(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1872-1896 Final Record of Court Cases, 1872-1896(*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

African Americans

• 1863-1866 Mississippi, Freedmen's Department (Pre-Bureau Records), 1863-1866 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
• 1865-1872 Mississippi, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
• The Freedmen's Bureau Marriage Records at Mississippi Department of Archives and History - index and transcription

Funeral Homes

• Booneville Funeral Home in Booneville.
• Kesler Funeral Home, Inc. in Baldwyn and Booneville.
• McMillan Funeral Home in Booneville.
• Waters Funeral Home in Baldwyn.

Land and Property Records

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.

See Mississippi Land and Property for additional information about early Mississippi land ownership. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.

Online Land Indexes and Records

• Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

Local Histories

Local histories are available for Prentiss County. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories see the wiki page section Mississippi Local Histories.

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
• Maps of Mississippi (1785-1918)

Military Records

Multiple Wars

• 1769-1951 Military grave registrations - Prentiss County Collection at FamilySearch - images only

Mexican-American War

• 1846-1848 United States Mexican War Index and Service Records, 1846-1848 How to Use this Collection; at FamilySearch — index and images

Civil War

• 1861-1865 Mississippi, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images at partner site
• 1861-1865 Mississippi, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images at partner site
• 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry free index
• 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry free index
• 1889-1942 Mississippi, Confederate Records, 1889-1942 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
• 1900-1974 Mississippi, Confederate Veterans and Widows Pension Applications, 1900-1974 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
• 1936-1939 Civil War records 1936-1939 - Prentiss County Collection at FamilySearch - images only

Civil War Battle
The following Civil War Battle was fought in Prentiss County:

• June 10, 1864 - Brice's Cross Roads, also known as Tishomingo Creek.
• Battles of the American Civil War maps - filter by state or by battle name.

World War I

• 1917-1919 Mississippi, World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1917-1918 Mississippi, World War I Army Veterans, Master alphabetical index, 1917-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Naturalization and Citizenship

• 1936-1941 Naturalization index take-off cards - Prentiss County Collection at FamilySearch - images only

Newspapers

• 1800s-Current Mississippi, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Other Records

State Archives

• 1820-1951 Mississippi, State Archives, Various Records, 1820-1951 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images - incomplete - Topics covered: Ex Slave Narratives, list of military veterans, Military grave registrations, Naturalizations and some Land records.

Voter List

• 1871-1967 Mississippi, Voter Registration, 1871-1967 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Probate Records

Probate records are held by the Prentiss County, Mississippi Genealogy Clerk of Court and are housed at the Prentiss County, Mississippi Genealogy Courthouse. Microfilmed records can be found online at Mississippi Probate Records, 1781-1930. See the wiki page Mississippi Probate Records for information about how to use probate records.

Content: Probate Records may give the decedent's date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.

Record types: Wills, estates, guardianships, naturalizations, and adoptions.

Online Probate Indexes and Records

• 1780-1982 Mississippi Wills and Probate Records 1780-1982 at Ancestry ($)
• 1781-1930 Mississippi Probate Records 1781-1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
• 1870-1932 Will Records, 1870-1932(*); Chancery Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1870-1943 Executors' Bonds, 1870-1943; Administrators' Bonds, 1870-1926; Guardians' Bonds, 1870-1913(*); Chancery Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — imagesx
• 1872-1881 Miscellaneous Final Record of Probate Business, 1872-1881(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1872-1896 Final Record of Court Cases, 1872-1896(*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

School Records

• 1850-1892; 1908-1957 Enumeration of Educable Children, 1850-1892; 1908-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Social Security Records

• 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
• 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
• 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records

Mississippi tax records replace missing censuses and provide lists of residents during years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years. For more information, see Mississippi Taxation.

• 1870-1898 County Tax Rolls at FamilySearch - index and images - incomplete
• 1870-1898 County Tax records 1870-1898 - Prentiss County Collection at FamilySearch - images only

Vital Records

Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. Mississippi law did not require keeping birth or death records until 1912. Births and deaths are kept by the Mississippi Bureau of Vital Statistics. Marriage records are kept by the county. See also How to order Mississippi Vital Records or order electronically online.

See Mississippi Vital Records for more information on getting Mississippi records.

Marriage

• 1776-1935 Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935 at Ancestry $
• 1800-1825 Mississippi Marriages to 1825 at Ancestry $
• 1800-1911 Mississippi, Marriages, 1800-1911 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
• 1826-1850 Mississippi Marriages, 1826-50 at Ancestry $
• 1826-1900 Mississippi Marriages, 1826-1900 at Ancestry $
• 1858-1979 Mississippi, County Marriages, 1858-1979 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1870-1879 Prentiss County Marriage Books 1 and 2 Index 1870-1879. Batch M520251 at FamilySearch
• 1879-1887 Prentiss County Marriage Books 3 and 4 Index 1879-1887. Batches M520252 at FamilySearch
• 1888-1896 Prentiss County Marriage Books 5 and 6 Index 1888-1896. Batches M520254 at FamilySearch

Death

• 1822-1921 Mississippi Deaths and Burials, 1822-1921 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, some images
• 1912-1943 Mississippi, Death Certificate Index, 1912-1943 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
• 1912-1943 Reclaim the Records: Mississippi Death Index at Archive - images of index

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Prentiss County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Mississippi Archives and Libraries.

FamilySearch Centers

FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries

• FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
• FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
  

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

• Booneville Mississippi FamilySearch Center
• Senatobia Mississippi FamilySearch Center
• Tupelo Mississippi FamilySearch Center

Libraries

Listed below are libraries in Prentiss County. For state-wide library facilities, see Mississippi Archives and Libraries.

Societies

Listed below are societies in Prentiss County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Mississippi Societies.

Prentiss County Genealogical and Historical Society
PO Box 491
Booneville, MS 38829
Email: prentisscghs@yahoo.com
Website
Facebook

Websites

• Mississippi Genealogy Network Community on Google+
• Mississippi Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
• Prentiss County Mississippi Genealogy and History Network
• Prentiss County, Mississippi Genweb
• FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.

This table contains the dates the local or state government began recording in the county or county equivalent. Use substitute records for earlier dates. If you believe there is an error, email us at wikisupport@familysearch.org.

To access available information, first log into FamilySearch.

Due to contractual agreements, some images and/or databases on FamilySearch.org may only be viewed at a FamilySearch Center or FamilySearch Affiliate Library.

“Current” indicates records are available as recently as privacy laws allow. This date can change from year to year. To determine the exact dates available, contact the respective organization/repository.

This website requires a paid subscription for full access. Some subscription websites are available for free at your local FamilySearch Center or Affiliate Library.