Casey County, Kentucky Genealogy: Uncovering Hidden Histories

In the rolling green hills of central Kentucky, where old tobacco barns stand as silent witnesses to generations past, Casey County holds stories waiting to be rediscovered. Tucked away in dusty courthouse archives, faded family Bibles, and weathered cemetery stones, the history of local families lies.

Local resources for researchers are rich and varied. Many institutions hold vital records dating back to the county’s inception, including marriage licenses, land deeds, and probate records. Let’s see how you can use these documents to locate your ancestors.

» Start exploring Casey County records using family history search

A primer on Casey County, Kentucky

Casey County, nestled in south-central Kentucky, is bordered by Pulaski, Lincoln, Boyle, Marion, Taylor, and Adair counties. The county is known for its beautiful landscapes, including Green River Lake and Knob Lick Creek, as well as its historic sites like Liberty Hall and the Casey County Courthouse.

Rooted in its rural heritage and agricultural traditions, Casey County is characterized by strong family ties and Appalachian values emphasizing community, music, and storytelling. The county played a significant role in the American Civil War, with residents divided between the Union and the Confederacy. During Kentucky’s early settlement, it served as a gateway for westward expansion, attracting settlers due to fertile land.

Influential figures like Governor William O. Bradley, Congressman James Sobieski Henry, and General William Preston, along with prominent families such as the Caseys, have shaped the county’s history.

Genealogical records reflect the county’s diverse heritage, influenced by Scottish, Irish, and English settlement in the 18th century, followed by German immigration and African American migration. These records are preserved through local churches, cemeteries, and organizations like the Casey County Historical Society.

» Read our deep dive into Kentucky historical records

7 useful genealogical records in Casey County

1. Birth records

Birth records are essential documents that provide vital information about an individual’s birth. Here’s a detailed definition along with examples of what these records typically include.

A birth certificate from Casey County may include the following details:

Start by accessing birth records specific to Casey County. You can find indexes and digital images of these records through various online platforms. For example, MyHeritage offers over 1 billion birth records that include names, dates, places of birth, and parents’ details. You can use this information as a valuable starting point for your search.

Additionally, Southern Genealogy Books provides downloadable PDFs of Casey County birth records covering specific years (1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, and 1903-1907), which detail the name of the child, date of birth, sex, and maiden name of the mother. [1]

Once you have identified potential records that may contain information about your ancestor, carefully examine the entries for relevant details. Look for names that match your ancestor or their parents. The information on these records can lead you to further genealogical research by connecting you with other vital records such as marriage certificates.

2. Marriage certificates

Marriage certificates are official documents that provide vital information about a couple’s marriage. They are typically maintained by government agencies or religious institutions and serve various legal, social, and genealogical purposes.

Here’s an example of what you might see:

You can visit the Casey County Clerk’s office or local archives, as they likely hold physical marriage records. You can also explore online genealogical resources like MyHeritage, which hosts over 800 million marriage certificates.

The witnesses listed on the certificate might be siblings or other relatives, providing clues about their marriages and families. To deeply understand your ancestor’s life, consult census records from the time of their marriage. These documents reveal living arrangements and family members.

As you gather information, organize it using the MyHeritage Family Tree Builder to visualize connections clearly. When you first sign up, you’ll start by entering details about yourself, your parents, and your grandparents. This initial setup, known as the “magic 7,” forms the foundation of your family tree.

MyHeritage offers several different ways to view your family tree:

• Family view: This is the default view, displaying your family members in a traditional tree format with lines connecting individuals. It’s a great way to visualize relationships and see how different branches of your family are connected.
• Pedigree view: By focusing on your direct ancestors, the pedigree view presents them in a compact format that emphasizes lineage. It’s ideal for tracing your ancestry back through the generations.
• Fan view: This view displays your direct ancestors in an arch format, with each generation represented by a row. It’s a visually appealing way to see your family history, and you can even color-code different branches to highlight specific relationships.
• List view: This view provides a comprehensive list of all individuals in your family tree. You can sort and filter this list by various criteria, such as name, birth date, or location.

3. Census records

If you haven’t had any luck with marriage certificates, census records might help. They are conducted every ten years and provide a snapshot of a population at a specific time. Inside, you’ll find information about individuals’ names, ages, relationships, and places of birth.

One thing you should remember is that census records have listed different information over the years. The 1840 census primarily focused on general household information, such as the number of free white males and females within specific age groups.

In contrast, the 1850 census represented a major advancement in data collection. For the first time, it listed every individual by name within a household, along with their age, sex, occupation, and birthplace.

To find your ancestor, start by identifying the specific census year that is most relevant to your research. Casey County has census records available from 1810 through 1940, so choose a year that aligns with their known life events — like marriage — or the time period you are interested in exploring.

Next, access the census records through online resources such as Forebears or other genealogical databases that index these records. For Casey County, you can find an index to over 120,000 names from federal censuses, pensioner lists, slave schedules, and veterans schedules. This will help you locate your ancestor quickly and efficiently.

Once you have access to the census records, search for your ancestor by entering their name into the search function. Be mindful of variations in spelling or common name changes over time, as this can affect your search results. After conducting the search, review the list of results and select the entry that matches them based on other known details like age.

» Investigate the Kentucky census records index

4. Land deed

A land deed is a legal document that formally transfers ownership of real property, such as land or buildings, from one party (the grantor) to another (the grantee). It serves as a public record of ownership and is essential in real estate transactions.

A deed typically includes five key components:

• Identification of the parties: The deed must clearly identify the grantor (the seller or current owner) and the grantee (the buyer or new owner) by their full legal names and addresses.
• Property description: The document contains a precise description of the property being transferred. This may include details such as boundaries, landmarks, and other identifying features to ensure clarity about what is being conveyed.
• Granting clause: This section conveys ownership from the grantor to the grantee, often using phrases like “convey and warrant” or “grant.”
• Consideration clause: This clause indicates what the grantor receives in exchange for the property, typically stating the sale price or other forms of compensation.
• Signatures: The deed must be signed by the grantor (and sometimes by the grantee) to be legally valid.

To begin your family history research in Casey County, gathering your ancestor’s full name and approximate dates of residence or property. Given that Casey County’s land records date back to 1807, you can visit the clerk’s office in Liberty or use their online records system.

The Clerk’s office maintains a comprehensive collection of land deeds, including grants, mortgages, and liens. To find any transactions involving your ancestor, search the recorded land deeds by their name. The records are typically indexed by party name, legal description, recording date, and book/page reference.

Once you locate a relevant land deed, carefully examine it for key details as outlined above. Pay close attention to any mentions of family relationships or connections that might be shown within the document.

5. Newspaper archives

Newspaper archives are collections of historical newspapers, which can be stored in various formats, including original paper copies, microfilm, and digital formats. Many newspaper archives are now digitized and searchable online, allowing users to conduct keyword searches across millions of pages from different time periods.

For example, you can use OldNews.com to search, save, and share millions of historical articles about significant people and events throughout history. The site uses advanced optical character recognition technology to enhance the scanned content, ensuring all the documents you access are high-quality.

You can also try the Casey County Public Library; it houses microfilm archives of local newspapers dating back to 1910 and offers access to Ancestry Library Edition. [2] While the microfilm is not indexed, you can ask the library staff to assist you in your search.

6. Probate records

Probate records are legal documents and files maintained by probate courts, which oversee the distribution of a deceased person’s assets according to their will or, in the absence of a will, according to state inheritance laws.

Let’s say you’re investigating an ancestor named John Smith. In his probate documents, you might find the following information outlined:

• Will: This document outlines John Smith’s wishes regarding the distribution of his assets, naming his wife, Mary Smith, as the primary beneficiary and listing their children as heirs.
• Petition for probate: Filed by Mary Smith, this petition informs the probate court of John’s death and requests that his will be validated and executed.
• Inventory of estate: A detailed list of John’s belongings at the time of his death, including real estate, personal property, and financial accounts. This inventory may reveal insights into his occupation and lifestyle.
• List of heirs: This document identifies all individuals entitled to inherit from John’s estate, including names, relationships (e.g., son, daughter), and addresses.
• Receipts and distributions: Records showing how assets were distributed among the heirs or payments made to creditors from the estate.
• Court decrees: Official orders from the court confirming the validity of the will and the appointment of Mary Smith as the executor of the estate.

To start your genealogical research, visit or contact the Casey County Courthouse (see the section below for contact information). This is where you can find probate records, wills, estate inventories, and guardianship documents. Additionally, consider checking the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. They often have copies of probate records and may offer online access or assistance in requesting specific documents.

7. Church records

Church records, which are official documents kept by religious institutions, document significant events such as baptisms, marriages, deaths, and confirmations. These records can provide valuable information about your ancestor’s social status and community involvement. Historically, these records were often kept in Latin, but many denominations, like the Roman Catholic Church, have transitioned to recording in local languages.

If you want to locate your ancestor using these documents, identify the specific church or denomination they were associated with. Casey County has various churches, including Baptist, Methodist, Christian, and Catholic congregations. The Liberty Casey County Chamber of Commerce can provide a detailed list of local churches and their histories. [3]

Once you have identified potential churches, contact them directly to ask about their historical records. Many of them maintain archives with baptismal records, marriage licenses, and burial information. For example, you could reach out to the Liberty United Methodist Church or First Baptist Church in Liberty to see if they have any documents from your ancestor’s time. [4,5]

Where to access Kentucky genealogical records

Online resources

MyHeritage hosts a vast collection of historical documents, including birth, marriage, death, and census records. They may include vital information about your ancestors from Casey County. You can search these databases using names and other identifying information to find relevant records.

When you find a record, you can use the Family Tree Builder to create and organize your family history. You can input information about your ancestors, link them to records found on the platform, and visualize your family connections.

The Smart Matches™ feature will automatically connect you with other users who may have researched the same ancestors or families. This can lead to discovering new information or previously unknown relatives who might have additional details about your ancestry. At the same time, Record Matches™ alert you when new records are available that correspond to individuals in your family tree.

Casey County Public Library

Located at 238 Middleburg St., Liberty, KY, this library offers a dedicated genealogy section with various resources, including Ancestry Library Edition available for use on-site.

The library is actively digitizing genealogical records and has a collection of local reference materials, microfilm archives of The Casey County News dating back to 1910, and compiled genealogy information by family surname.

• Address: 238 Middleburg St, Liberty, KY 42539
• Phone: (606) 787-9381

Casey County Library building.

» Planning to visit the public library? Learn how to research in its archive

Old Courthouse Building

The Deed Room in the old courthouse houses important public records, including marriage records, military discharge records, property deeds, and wills. These records are indexed and can be searched easily.

• Address: 231 Courthouse Square, Liberty, KY
• Phone: (606) 787-6471.

A streetview of the Old Couthouse building, Kentucky.

» Learn more about the U.S. state archives

Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

This state resource offers access to a wide range of historical documents and may have additional genealogical information relevant to Casey County. it also provides free online access to digital public records from state and local government agencies. This digital archive can be an excellent starting point for your genealogical research.

• Address: 300 Coffee Tree Rd, Frankfort, KY
• Phone: (502) 564-8300
• Email: kdla.archives@ky.gov

A view of the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.

» Find out how to make your personal archive

Challenges when accessing records in Kentucky

Accessing genealogical records for Casey County, Kentucky, can present several challenges:

• Lack of digitization: Many genealogical records, including church and probate documents, may not be fully digitized or indexed. This can make it difficult to locate specific information online, requiring you to visit local repositories.
• Fragmented record-keeping: Historical records may be scattered across various institutions, including churches, county courthouses, and local libraries. This fragmentation can complicate the search process, as you must identify and contact multiple sources.
• Historical context and changes: The historical context of Casey County includes changes in church denominations and community structures over time. Many churches have merged or changed names, which can lead to confusion.
• Language barriers: Some older church records may be written in languages other than English — such as Latin for Catholic records.
• Condition of records: The physical condition of older records can also be a challenge. Many documents may be fragile or damaged, making them difficult to read or access without specialized handling.
• Lack of detailed surveys: Casey County has been noted as one of the least surveyed counties in the Outer Bluegrass Region, which means that many historical sites and records may not have been documented thoroughly. [6]

» Learn to overcome geographic barriers in genealogy research

Exploring your Kentucky roots

Casey County, Kentucky, offers a unique opportunity to delve into the past and uncover the stories of our ancestors. This region, steeped in history, provides a rich tapestry of family histories waiting to be explored. By exploring historical records, family trees, and DNA databases like MyHeritage, you can piece together the intricate puzzle of your family history.

As you continue to explore your rich heritage, honor the lives of those who came before you and inspire future generations. By sharing your findings with others, you can build a stronger sense of community and preserve the legacy of Casey County for years to come.