Sumter County, Florida
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

Court Records | Vital Records | CENSUS Records | TAX Records | Military Records | Church & Cemetery |
Maps & Atlases | Genealogy Addresses | Genealogy Related Sites |


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Sumter County

Sumter County was created in 8 Jan 1853 and was formed from Marion and Lake County. The County was named after Thomas Sumter, a general in the American Revolutionary War. The County Seat is Bushnell. See also County History for more historical details.

Counties adjacent to Sumter County are Marion County (north), Lake County (east), Polk County (southeast), Pasco County (southwest), Citrus County (west), Hernando County (west).

Sumter County Cities and Towns include Bushnell, Center Hill, Coleman, Webster, Wildwood. CDPs Include Lake Panasoffkee. Communities Include Linden, Mabel, St. Catherine, Sumterville, Tarrytown, The Villages, Wahoo

  • The Sumter County Official Government Website
  • Sumter County, Florida History Books at Amazon.com
  • Family History Library - The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world.
  • Search Historical Newspapers from Florida (1823 - 1959) - Quickly find names and keywords in over 450 million articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements and other items published in over 2,800 historical U.S. newspapers. New content added monthly!
  • Stories, Memories & Histories - Stories and histories compiled by others researching a person or area can be an amazing source of information about your ancestors. Not only do they generally contain dates and places of vital events like birth, marriage, and death, but they often relate stories and memories that help you really get to know the character of your ancestors.
  • Search Florida Historical Records - Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists and much more....

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Records at the Sumter County Courthouse

See Also Florida Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

PLEASE READ FIRST!!!! 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.

The Official County website is located at http://bocc.co.sumter.fl.us/. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time. See also Courthouse History

Sumter County Clerk of the Circuit Court / County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1853, Land Records from 1854, Probate Records from 1856 and Court Records from 1853 and is located at 209 N. Florida Street, Bushnell, Florida 33513; 352-793-0215, Fax: 352-568-6608

The Clerk of the Circuit Court is also the County Clerk. His office is located in the County Courthouse. The office of the Clerk is created in Article V and Article VIII of the Florida Constitution. The Clerk is an officer of the court of justice whose responsibilities are mandated by the Constitution as well as state and local laws. Under a 1973 reorganization of the judicial system, the clerk of courts in each county was made, and remains, custodian of all records of all predecessor courts, whether justice of the peace, city, county, probate, civil, or criminal.

You may also search the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) which covers Florida and surrounding states. Many pioneers and settelers bought land from the government instead of individuals.

Below is a list of online resources for Sumter County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Sumter County Court Records by clicking the link below:

  • Order County Court, Civil or Criminal Records Online
  • Sumter County, Florida Court Books at Amazon.com
  • Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
  • Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.
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Sumter County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Florida

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Office of Vital Statistics, Dept of Health, P.O. Box 210, 1217 Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042; (904) 359-6900 Ext. 1029, Fax: (904) 359-6993.

  • Birth Certificates: has custody of birth records filed from January 1917 to date. Scattered birth records from 1865 through 1916 are also held by the bureau, and some city health departments have some additional scattered records (e.g., Jacksonville, 1893-1913; Pensacola, 1897-1916).
    • Cost: $9.00 for computer certification & $14.00 per photocopy certification (1930 to present), payment is payable to the Office of Vital Statistics. Additional copies of the same record are $4.00 each. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $9.00/$14.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Death Certificates: From 1917 - present. Death records begin about 1877, but the first state law mandating registration of deaths was passed in 1899, and records before 1917 are spotty. It is always well to check with city health departments.
    • Cost: $5.00 per certificate. Additional copies of the same record are $4.00 each. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $5.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Marriage & Divorce Certificates: has custody of marriage, divorce, and annulment records filed after 6 June 1927. For records prior to that date, and there are thousands of them, query the clerk of courts in the county where the license or decree was issued. Numerous divorces and resulting name-changes are to be found in Names and Abstracts from the Acts of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida, 1822-1845 (Pass-A-Grille Beach, Fla.: William A. and Janet B. Wolfe, 1985). Copies of marriage license applications are available only from the clerk of courts in the county courthouse. Standard request forms for copies of state-held records are necessary and available as indicated above.
    • Cost: $5.00 per certificate. Additional copies of the same record are $4.00 each. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $5.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.
  • Processing Time: Allow 3 to 6 weeks for the search by mail for Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY.
  • Order In Person: To order your copy through your local County Health Department Vital Statistics office click here for a list of the 67 County Health Departments. WALK-IN SERVICE is available at 1217 Pearl Street, Jacksonville, Florida, between 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Orders prepaid by Noonmay be picked up after 3:30 p.m. Orders prepaid after Noon may be picked up after 10:00 a.m. the next workday. Each requestmust be accompanied by picture identification Certifications for photocopies rush service requires an additional fee of $10.
  • Order By Mail:  Turn around is estimated at 3 to 6 weeks from the day the request is received. Mail to the following address: Office of Vital Statistics, Dept of Health, P.O. Box 210, 1217 Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042. Please include return address on envelope and application form.

Below is a list of online resources for Sumter County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Sumter County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

  • VitalChek Express Certificate Service - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek's order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
  • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREEicon - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
  • Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical Florida newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
  • Sumter County, Florida Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
  • Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.
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Sumter County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Florida

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Sumter County, Florida are 1860 ,1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Sumter County, Florida are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1860, 1870 and 1880.There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.

Below is a list of online resources for Sumter County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Sumter County Census Records by clicking the link below:

  • Florida Census, 1820-90: This collection contains the following indexes: 1820 Census Index (Pensacola and Escambia River Areas); 1825 Leon County Census Index; 1830 Federal Census Index; 1840 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners List; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1850 Slave Schedule; 1860 Federal Census Index; 1860 Slave Schedule; 1870 Federal Census Index; 1890 Veterans Schedule; 1890 Naval Veterans Schedule; Early Census Index, Vol. 1-2.
  • Florida State Census, 1885: This database is an index with corresponding images of the 1885 Florida State Census
  • Sumter County, Florida Census Books at Amazon.com
  • Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.
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Sumter County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

Maps are an excellent source for beginning your research, because they provide much useful information at a glance. Many historic maps show individual buildings and are especially useful because they also record owners' names and features in the surrounding community. More detailed maps reveal property acreage and estate names. By examining a series of maps, you will be able to date changes in your property over time.

Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Ohio and other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for Florida 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 Florida showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. The Florida Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches, cemeteries, roads, ect... free for viewing or download here

Below is a list of online resources for Sumter County Maps. Email us with websites containing Sumter County Maps by clicking the link below:

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Sumter County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Florida

Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

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.

Below is a list of online resources for Sumter County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Sumter County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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Sumter County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

Early tax rolls, especially between census years, can be a gold mine for the fortunate researcher. Most existing rolls can be found in the counties of origin, but the Flordia State Archives also has some bound volumes sent to the state comptroller during the period 1829-81. Normal information includes the taxpayer's name, land ownership, number of white males (above taxable age, 21) and slaves, horses, wagons, and other taxable items of personal property such as jewelry, watches, musical instruments, and carriages. Many of the counties' records in the series are incomplete, but there are some in the Florida State Archives that the originating counties no longer have. This valuable resource is not indexed. It must be searched in the county, at the Florida State Archives, or both.

Below is a list of online resources for Sumter County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Sumter County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

  • Sumter County, Florida Tax Books at Amazon.com
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Sumter County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Florida 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 Sumter County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Sumter County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

  • Sumter County Historical Society, 6355 East CR-478 South Center Hill, Florida 33514.
    Meeting's are held on the 4th Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM at the Sumterville Community Hall in Sumterville, FL. If you have any Question's please feel free to call or write the to address below. Please note that all DUE'S are needed no later than the Jan., 31 of each year.
  • Florida Dept of State Div of Library & Information Services, Bureau of Archives & Records Management, 500 S. Bronough St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250; (850)245-6700, [EMAIL]
  • Florida Historical Society 1320 Highland Ave, Melbourne, FL 32935; (321) 254-9855,[EMAIL]
  • Florida State Genealogical Society, PO Box 10249, Tallahassee, FL 32302-2249
  • Florida State Library, R.A. Gray Building, 500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250, (850)245-6600; Hours: Mon.- Fri. 9:00am - 4:30pm, Sat. 9:30am - 3:30pm
  • Florida State Records Center, 4319 Shelfer Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250; (850)245-6750; Hours: By Appointment Only
  • Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
  • Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.
  • Florida Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
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Sumter County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Florida

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 Sumter County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Sumter County Tombstone Transcription Project.

As in most former frontier societies, early Florida church records are hit-and-miss, but they can be valuable when located. The Roman Catholic faith accompanied the earliest Spanish settlers to Florida, and by 1822 the Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, and Presbyterians were also active in the new territory. By 1845 the Baptists had split into the Missionary and Primitive varieties (probably totaling more than 5,000 Florida members), and all of the above groups had become more or less well organized Methodists had two churches in Fernandina as early as 1822 (under the South Carolina Conference) and more than 10,000 members by statehood.

Cemetery records are held by most Florida libraries and archives. One important compiled source is the WPA Register of Deceased Veterans Buried in Florida, which covers fifty-one of the sixty-seven counties. Access to the massive amount of cemetery information scattered throughout the state is being facilitated by a continuing cemetery location project of the Florida State Genealogical Society.

Below is a list of online resources for Sumter County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Sumter County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

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 Sumter County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Sumter County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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Extended History

 

From what once was an area known for its simple beauty, where Seminole Indians roamed freely, to a strong community bringing settlers in search of land to farm and raise their families, a County grew.

From a portion of Marion County, Sumter County was established by legislation on January 8, 1853, and proves today to be the same small 'community' with big dreams.

In its very early years when settlers came to Sumter County, battles arose with Seminole Indians in the Second Seminole Indian War. The most famous of these battles occurred on December 28, 1835. It became known as the infamous Dade Massacre. Dade Battlefield Park now marks the site of this historic battle. There is a museum located at the park which displays artifacts. There are monuments and descriptive plaques throughout the park. Each year on the anniversary date of this historic event, a reenactment of the battle attracts area spectators and history enthusiasts alike.

One of the first towns to be erected in Sumter County was Adamsville. There in the first school house children were taught with an education provided outside of the home. The school became a place for church gatherings and social events. According to history, Adamsville became known as the County 'site' since it was the first town in the County.

Many of the early towns of Sumter County are still known today by their original name. For instance, Lake Panasoffkee was not referred to as Lake Panasoffkee according to old ledgers when an out break of Yellow Fever caused a town quarantine on October 11, 1883. It was only referred to as Panasoffkee.

Until 1881 all County business was conducted in Leesburg, which was a part of Sumter County at that time. October 15, 1881 was the first documented County Commission meeting in Leesburg, Sumter County. Leesburg and the surrounding area would remain as Sumter County until Florida Legislature, in 1887, took a portion of Sumter and Orange County to form Lake County. All County business remained in Leesburg until the decision was made to move to Sumterville. On October 10, 1881, an election was held to move the Sumter County Courthouse. Sumterville received the majority of votes. It was then decided that the Clerk's office would start receiving sealed bids for construction of the Sumterville Courthouse. Prior to construction of the new courthouse, it was decided by the County Commission to rent a site in Sumterville. A lease agreement for $85.00 per month with Mr. W.W. Mallard was drawn for lot #66 in the town of Sumterville.

The first meeting to be held in Sumterville, Sumter County, Florida was November 7, 1881. Then the old Courthouse in Leesburg was advertised to the public for sale. Later it was decided by the Mayor of Leesburg that Leesburg would purchase the old courthouse, and did so on August 6, 1883.County records remained in Leesburg until the completion of the Sumterville Courthouse. Ledgers show many road petitions were filed and completed during the 1800's and early 1900's. Traveling proved hard work over the terrain from Sumterville and Leesburg, as well as throughout the rest of the County. Long distance travelers and shippers utilized the newly constructed rail lines for transportation.

The Sumterville Courthouse was completed, and the County continued to help implement the many changes needed for its future growth. The courthouse remained in Sumterville until a fire destroyed the building and nearly all contents on January 30, 1909. Commission meeting minutes prior to October 18, 1881 were lost in the fire. This set the Commission back for a short time until another location could be secured and a new Courthouse could be constructed. Mr. Rutland was approached by the Board, and the County rented a site for $150.00 per year until the new courthouse was completed.

Soon the temporary location proved inadequate for County business, and it was determined a more suitable location was needed.

After bitter political fighting, another election was held in 1912 to determine the courthouse location. Votes were cast between the town of Wildwood and Bushnell. By a margin of only nine, Bushnell was selected the new County Seat for Sumter County - Bushnell 657, Wildwood 648 votes.

The process of constructing a building to house County Government began once more. William A. Edwards, an Atlanta architect who designed campus buildings for Florida State University and the University of Florida, was employed to design the plans for the Bushnell courthouse. Acreage was purchased in Bushnell for an unknown amount, and the construction contract was awarded to J.F. Jenkins for $49,759.

The completion of the Sumter County Courthouse was a much awaited event. Local town people watched with anticipation as each brick was laid. Construction began in 1912 and was completed in 1914 and the County Seat remains unchanged. In recent years, annex offices have been established in Wildwood and Oxford to better serve the public.

The Courthouse Building stands strong and solid for what the people of Sumter County believe in - hard work, family, friends, good fellowship, and strong values.

Courthouse History

Sumter County, founded in 1853, was named for Sumter, South Carolina, whence many settlers came; that name in turn honors Revolutionary War hero Thomas Sumter. The original county seat was Adamsville, near Wildwood, where a log courthouse existed until the seat was relocated to Sumterville in 1858.

After several more moves, a permanent county seat was established in Bushnell. This was originally arailroad stop, named in 1885 for J. W. Bushnell, a railroad surveyor. The current Sumter County Courthouse was built by James Naim in 1913-14.

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