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Garrard County History and Information |
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Garrard County, the twenty-fifth in order of
formation, is located in the Outer Bluegrass region of
central Kentucky. It has an area
of 232 square miles. The county was created by the legislature
on December 17, 1796 from Madison, Lincoln and Mercer Counties , and named for Gov. James Garrard
(1796-1804). LANCASTER, the county seat of Garrard County
and its only incorporated town, was established by the
first county court in 1797 on fifty-seven acres of land
near Wallace's Crossroads donated by Capt. William Buford,
a veteran of the Revolutionary War.
The County is bordered by Jessamine County (north), Madison County (northeast), Rockcastle County (southeast), Lincoln County (southwest), Boyle County (west), Mercer County (northwest). Cities, Towns and Communities include Lancaster, Bryantsville, Paint Lick, Cartersvile
The population of Garrard County was 9,457
in 1970; 10,853 in 1980; and 11,579 in 1990. The Official County Website is located at http://www.garrardchamber.com/ .
See Extended History for More information.
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See Also Kentucky Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records
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PLEASE READ!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information. |
Garrard County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1797 and Land Records from 1797 and is located at 15
Public Square, Suite
5, Lancaster, KY 40444-1057;
Phone: (859) 792-3071,
FAX: (859) 792-6751 .
The duties of the county clerk are numerous and varied, falling into the general categories of clerical duties of the fiscal court, issuing and registering, recording and keeping records of various legal instruments, election duties, tax duties, transfers, and titling, and issuance of marriage licenses and much more. One of the most important responsibilities of the County Clerk's office is the recording of land records. The most common documents recorded are deeds, mortgages, and assignments and mortgage releases. The other is Marriage Liscenses
Garrard County Clerk of the Circuit Court has Probate Records from 1797 and Court Records from 1797 and is located at Courthouse
Annex,
7 Public Square,
Lancaster, KY. 40444;Phone Number(s):
859-792-2961 .
The Circuit Clerk's office is responsible for maintaining the records of the circuit court. Divorces, civil litigation, criminal crimes, probate, wills , estates and various other functions.
Below is a list of online resources for Garrard County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Garrard County Court Records by clicking the link below:
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See Also Vital Records in Kentucky
Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. Birth, Marriage, Divorce & Death Certificates Signed. Sealed. Delivered. Often in as few as three business days!
Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics is located at State
Dept of Human Resources, 275 E. Main St. 1EA, Frankfort, KY 40621; (502) 564-4212. They have the following records:
- Birth & Death Certificates:
The Vital Statistics Law of Kentucky, providing for and legalizing the registration of births and deaths, was enacted by the General Assembly of 1910 and became effective Jan. 1, 1911.
The Office of Vital Statistics has no records of births and deaths occurring prior to the above date except delayed records of births for those born before 1911, which have been established by affidavits and documentary evidence.Fees are listed below. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates or Death Certificates . You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates much quicker by ordering HERE
- Marriage & Divorce Certificates: Central registration of marriages and divorces began in Kentucky in June 1958. The Office of Vital Statistics has no records of marriages and divorces prior to that date. Copies of marriage certificates prior to June 1958 may be obtained from the county clerk in the county where the license was issued. Records of divorce proceedings are available from the Garrard County clerk of the circuit court that granted the decree.You can download an application online for Marriage Certificates or Divorce Certificates . You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates much quicker by ordering HERE
Cost of certificates: Birth: $10 per certificate;
Death, Marriage and Divorce are $6 per certificate
In Person: You can stop in the office at 275 E. Main St. in Frankfort and obtain a certified copy of a birth, death, marriage or divorce certificate by completing an application form between the hours of 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. EST, Monday-Friday. There is approximately a one-hour wait to receive the certificate.
Directions to Vital Statistics Office
By Mail: Mail a check or money order (no cash) payable to the "Kentucky State Treasurer" along with the necessary information to the following address: Office of Vital Statistics, 275 E. Main St. 1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621. Please include return address on envelope and application form.
Processing Time: Please allow up to approximately 30 working days for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail.
Birth Records: Expect longer delays during peak request periods from May through September. You should request certified copies of your birth certificate early enough to avoid delays if you are planning retirement, sporting events for the children, travel/passports, children entering school for the first time, etc.
Death Records: There may be delays in issuing new certified death certificates if the original certificate is not promptly filed in Frankfort by the funeral homes. Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE
Phone, Fax, On-Line, or Credit Card: To obtain a certified copy of a vital record by phone, fax, on-line or purchase with a credit card, please link to VitalChek. There is an additional $10.50 fee for all credit card purchases. Discover, Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted. If faster delivery is required, you may wish to have the certified copy sent by Federal Express. Please state this when placing the order for the copy. There is an additional fee for this service.
Below is a list of online resources for Garrard County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Garrard County Vital Records by clicking the link below:
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See Also Research In Census Records
Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Garrard County, Kentucky are 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Earlier U.S. censuses for Kentucky were destroyed, but published tax lists serve as a replacements for the lost 1790 and 1800 censuses. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in Garrard County, Kentucky are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Union Veterans Schedules were conducted in 1890 but only returns for sixty-five Kentucky counties remain of the 1890 Union veterans and widows schedule of the federal census of Kentucky.
Statewide Records that exist for Kentucky are 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Earlier U.S. censuses for Kentucky were destroyed, but published tax lists serve as a replacements for the lost 1790 and 1800 censuses. Extracts and indexes for many of Kentucky's censuses have been compiled and published. Original or microfilm copies of the federal census returns are available at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Several Kentucky indexes to censuses predate those published by AISI.
State School Census for Kentucky infrequently enumerated public school students beginning in 1888. Scattered records are at the office of the respective county Board of Health or Board of Education. Some are maintained by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives and the Kentucky Historical Society.
See Also Statewide Records that exist for Kentucky
Below is a list of online resources for Garrard County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Garrard County Census Records by clicking the link below:
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Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Kentucky and other states.
You can view rotating animated maps for Kentucky showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps
You can view rotating animated maps for Kentucky showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries . You can view a list of maps for other states and State Department of Transportation Maps at County Maps. The Kentucky Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches, cemeteries, roads, ect...
Below is a list of online resources for Garrard County Maps. Email us with websites containing Garrard County Maps by clicking the link below:
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See Also Military Records in Kentucky
The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design. A list of Wars fought on American.
Below is a list of online resources for Garrard County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Garrard County Military Records by clicking the link below:
- Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
- Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
- Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, from NARA publication M804.
- Southern Claims Commission from the State of Kentucky (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents In the 1870s, southerners claimed compensation from the U.S. government for items used by the Union Army, ranging from corn and horses, to trees and church buildings.
- Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900 from the State of Kentucky (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Pension applications for service in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served.
- Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the CSA (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Compiled service records of Confederate soldiers from southern units, labeled with each soldier's name, rank, and unit, with links to revealing documents about each soldier.
- Kentucky Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, 323 High Str, Paris, Ky, 40361;(859) 987- 1788
- National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution,
- Kentucky Society of Sons of the American Revolution,
- National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, 1000 South Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203; (502) 589-1776
- Garrard County, Kentucky Military Books at Amazon.com
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See Also Research In Tax Records
One of the most valuable sources for early Kentucky until 1892 is its tax records. Most counties have yearly tax records from the date of organization. Some early tax schedules list watercourse, value and acreage of real estate, men over twenty-one, young men between sixteen and twenty-one, slaves, and horses. Extant county tax schedules from the date of organization of the county through 1892 have been microfilmed for most counties and are available from the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives and the FHL.
Numerous original tax records from 1892 are available at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. The Kentucky Historical Society has tax records to 1875.
Kentucky tax lists are arranged by county and date. Within the counties, residents within its districts are grouped together and names usually arranged under the beginning letter of the surname, although these are not in strict alphabetical order. Some early tax records have been published and are available in research libraries.
Below is a list of online resources for Garrard County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Garrard County Tax Records by clicking the link below:
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See Also Other Kentucky Genealogical Addresses
The Repositories
in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical
and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical
Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly,
quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies
should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are
usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived
materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be
more generalized and over look the smaller details that local
societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to
look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy
section and may have some resources that are not located at
archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums
in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years
gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All
these places are vitally important to the family genealogist
and must not be passed over.
Below is a list of online resources for Garrard County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Garrard County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:
- Garrard
County Historical Society,
128 Redwood,
Richmond, KY 40475
- Local Kentucky Researchers, Find a local researcher or become a local researcher.
- The Kentucky Historical Society, 100 W. Broadway, Frankfort, KY 40601; 877-444-7867,[EMAIL]
- The Kentucky Genealogical Society, PO Box 153, Frankfort, KY 40602-0153 [EMAIL]
- Kentucky Newspapers & Periodicals Records - Newspapers and periodicals are the diaries of local communities. They are excellent sources of family history details - often recorded nowhere else. Look for obituaries, marriages, legal notices, and more found in our Historical Newspaper Archives.
- Kentucky Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
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See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Kentucky
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Click Here to Search Kentucky Obituary Records! - This database is a compilation of obituaries published in U.S. newspapers, collected from various online sources. Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships. |
There are many churches and cemeteries in Garrard County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Garrard County Tombstone Transcription Project.
Church membership of early Kentuckians include Baptist, Church of Christ, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic. Some church records were published, others were microfilmed, some are housed in church repositories, but many remain in the local church. Church records and histories may be found in periodicals pertaining to Kentucky. Repositories include the DAR Library, the FHL, Kentucky Historical Society, University of Kentucky Library, and Filson Club Library.
Many
collections of cemetery records are available for Kentucky.
In 1977 the Kentucky Historical Society began computerizing
extant cemetery records for the state. Cemetery tombstone transcriptions
are included in the Ardery collection.
Kentucky regional libraries and some other large genealogical
libraries outside the state have collections of Kentucky cemetery
transcriptions. In addition, publications pertaining to Kentucky
and Kentuckians frequently contain cemetery records for the
state.
Below is a list of online resources for Garrard County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Garrard County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:
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When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Garrard County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information . Email us with websites containing Garrard County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:
- Search 60 Years Of Everton Data: For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons. Learn More
- Search the Family Tree DNA Project- Use DNA testing to break through your genealogical barriers!
- Sites on USGenweb: [ Garrard County ] [ Kentucky ] [ Main Page ]
- [GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards]
- Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
- Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
- Meet your ancestors. Learn their stories. Start your FREE family tree.
- Kentucky Family & Local History Records - The Family & Local Histories Collection lets you read journals, memoirs, and other first-hand historical narratives right on your computer. Gathered from some of the world's finest libraries, these materials may provide hard-to-find town, county, and state information; tax records and wills; military, church, and court records; as well as photographs, stories, and maps.
- Garrard County, Kentucky Family Books at Amazon.com
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The
terrain is mostly rolling and includes the Palisades of
the Kentucky River on the north and the Knobs and foothills
on the southeast.
Garrard County was first settled because of
its proximity to the Wilderness Road. Pioneers in the county
maintained close ties with Fort Boonesborough and Logan's
Station (Stanford) and had somewhat less contact with Lexington
and Harrodsburg. The first station in what later became
Garrard County was William Miller's, established in 1776
near Paint Lick. It was followed by James Smith's Station
in 1779 near Bryantsville; James and John Downing's Station
on Sugar Creek in 1779; Humphrey Best's Canebreak Station
on Upper Paint Lick Creek in 1779-80; and Zophar Carpenter's
Station, was believed to have been near Suck Fork Creek.
William Grant established a station in the northern part
of the county by 1784 on Hickman Creek. On Gilbert's Creek
in the southwestern part of the county, Lewis Craig and
his Baptist congregation from Upper Spotsylvania, Virginia,
known as the Traveling Church, relocated en masse to Craig's
Station in 1780-81.
Cattle, hemp, and tobacco were among the early
agricultural products of the county, shipped via the Kentucky
River by flatboat to downstream markets. James Hogan established
a ferry in 1785 to bring Garrard County products to his
warehouse across the river at the mouth of Hickman Creek
in what is now Jessamine County. In 1789 Collier's warehouse
was built at the mouth of Sugar Creek. Later the town of
Quantico developed there, and flour, hemp, tobacco, beef,
and pork were inspected and shipped from that point until
the 1820s. The county then began a vigorous road-building
program so that goods could be taken to market by wagon.
Garrard County provided the commonwealth with
a number of distinguished leaders, including Gov. William
O. Bradley (1895-99) and George Robertson, who was U.S.
congressman (1817-21) and chief justice of the Kentucky
court of appeals (1829-43, 1870-71). One of the most prominent
families of antebellum Garrard County was the Kennedys.
General Thomas Kennedy, a veteran of the Revolutionary
War, immigrated from North Carolina in 1776.
In 1840 the Hill-Evans feud started in Lancaster
because of a disagreement over the treatment of a slave
woman whom Dr. Hezekiah Evans had hired from Dr. O.P. Hill.
Members of both families were drawn into the violence,
which killed nine people and wounded others. Hill left
the county for Mexico after an assassination attempt but
returned in 1855 and was murdered in 1862 by a man unrelated
to the feud.
(CORRECTION SUBMITTED BY READER: The start of the Hill-Evans Feud was supposedly started because of a disagreement over a slave between Dr. Evans and John Hill, the father of Dr. O.P. Hill. When John Hill died 16 Sep 1851, Dr. O.P. Hill then became the leader of the Hills. According to the Bible of my gr-grandmother, Elizabeth (Hill) Stanley (who was the granddaughter of John Hill), Dr. O.P. Hill was not murdered, but died of old age 3 June 1891 and is buried in the Lancaster Cemetery. The death dates are from the Bible of Elizabeth's and are also listed in the cemetery books of Garrard County.
)
In August of 1861, Camp Dick
Robinson was established seven miles north of Lancaster
as the first Union enlistment station south of the Ohio
River. Many Union troops from central and eastern Kentucky
as well as eastern Tennessee entered federal service
there. During the war, enlistments from Garrard County
ran approximately three to one in favor of the Union.
After the war, the completion of the Stanford-Richmond
line of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad (now CSX
Transportation) in 1868 through Lancaster spawned growth
in the city. Products grown or raised in the county could
be sent rapidly to market. Garrard County produced cattle,
sheep, hogs, poultry, and thoroughbred horses, but was
most noted for burley tobacco. The railroad helped Lancaster
grow into a prosperous market town, but by the 1930s the
line suffered from truck and auto competition, which caused
the Richmond-Lancaster branch to be abandoned. The Stanford-Lancaster
branch lingered until the 1980s, when it too was abandoned.
During the twentieth century, Garrard County
has remained primarily an agricultural area with a major
emphasis on the production of burley tobacco. In 1989 there
were approximately 1,500 tobacco growers in the county,
who produced a total of 7 million pounds of burley, for
an income of $11,700,000.
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