Discover Early Court Records
Our early court records and indexes are invaluable tools for genealogical research. They provide a structured way to locate vital information such as births, deaths, divorces, etc. Using these indexes allows you to streamline your research process and uncover more material efficiently.
Your Gateway to History
Start Your Genealogical Journey
These indexes are not the actual records but serve as a guide to help you find the original documents. Planning a visit to the genealogy library? Use our indexes beforehand to maximize your time and productivity. We also encourage you to join the Lawrence County Genealogical Society for additional support and resources.
These records contain a wealth of information, but one must be patient and persistent to find one’s ancestor’s name.
If you need proof that your ancestor was in Lawrence County, Ohio, in order to join OGS First Families, one of the documents accepted is Jurors, which can be found in early court Journals and Complete Records. You can find the index to Journals Books 1 and 2 below. If you have any questions about these records, please drop us an email or leave a comment on any of our posts.
The early court records, housed in the Clerk of Court’s office at the Lawrence County, Ohio courthouse [because of their frail condition], cannot be handled. Familysearch.org has early records on its website.
Early Courthouse and Jail from Burlington, Lawrence County, Ohio
Photo Courtesy of The Lawrence Register Archives
Chancery Records
The following index is Volume 1 and covers the years 1843-1853. It was abstracted from a microfilm copy which was very difficult to read, so please remember there is a chance of human error in this index. To find these records, visit familysearch.org and search for Film # 008198781, in the image selector the Chancery Records begins on pages number 278 – 657.
Crimes & Incidents Reported in Newspapers
Read actual newspaper clippings taken from early newspapers about court proceedings in Lawrence County, Ohio, listed in chronological order from 1852 – 1914.
This is an incredible list gathered by Sharon M. Kouns as she carefully researched early newspapers about crimes, lawsuits, divorces, land transfers, and much more. To find a particular name, place, family, or crime we suggest using the “Ctrl + F’ keyboard shortcuts.
Deeds
- Early Deed Index
- Ballard, Harriet to Horace & Setty Mitcher 23-June-1859
- Ballard, James to John Ballard 27-Feb-1858
- Ballard, Jesse to Commissioners Lawrence Co. Ohio 16-June-1866
- Ballard, John to John A. Errick 4-Sept-1862
- Ballard, John to John W Earles 15-Mar-1865
- Ballard, Martha to John W. Mayhew 27-Feb-1867
- Ballard, Sarah to John Ballard 10-July-1857
- Ballard, Samuel from Coal Grove Company 3-Dec-1856
- Ballard, Samuel to Sarah (Mary) Ballard 5-March-1857
- Ballard, Stephen to John Ballard 6-May-1859
- Ballard, William Ballard to John Ballard 6 June 1856
- Ballard, William to James D Syar 31-March-1866
- Clark, William Clark, and wife to Samuel Koons/Kouns
- Combs, Jonas to John Combs
- Errick, John A. to John Ballard 4-Sept.-1862
- Fear, Valentine and Mary – Petition to Sell Land
- Ferguson, James – Emancipated Slaves 31 Oct. 1849
- Ferguson, William A. – Emancipated Slaves 15 Mar 1850
- Fulton, Robert G. – Died Intestate 1856
- Goldcamp, John to William Ballard 6-July-1867
- Kerr, Gabriel-Guardianship 27 April 1835
- Keller, Jacob Petition for Partition of Land 31 June 1834
- Kelley, Luke-Heirs to sell Real Estate 24 Dec. 1821
- Kelley, William D. sells Land 19 Sept. 1846
- Kouns Cemetery
- Kimball, Wallace Heirs 11 Sept. 1837
- Kimbel, Wallace-Heirs to Sell Real Estate 11 Sept 1837
- Mitcher, Horrace to Harriet Ballard 17 Dec. 1858
- Ratliff, Richard to William Ballard 26 Nov. 1864
- Russell, William to Samuel Russell 11 July 1831
- Stover vs Hepler Petition for Partition 1830
- Thomas, Samuel to Elisha Ballard 4 Dec. 1863
- Tresdell, Andrew sells land to Wm. J. Keeney 6 Feb. 1854
- Wood, John I. & Wife to John Ballard 15-March-1862
To view this and other land records, please visit familysearch.org
Early Court Entries 1817-1829 as Told by T.A. Walton
Thomas A. Walton wrote many stories about the early residents and historical facts concerning Lawrence County, Ohio, in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The following links are the stories he printed from the first records concerning the organization of the county. Lawrence County, Ohio, did not have its courthouse built at this period, so the court proceedings were done from the home of Joseph Davidson at the county seat in Burlington, Ohio.
- The Minutes from the Second Session of the First Board of Commissioners on 2 June 1817 proceed to make the sale of the jailhouse of the town of Burlington to be sold to the lowest bidder and ordered that John Kelly’s bond as road commissioner be put on record. On a petition for a new road leading from Scioto county line at the county road. SOURCE: Ironton Register 4 Dec. 1902
- Additional Notes of Commissioners’ Doings in June 1817 SOURCE: Ironton Register, December 11, 1902
- More Extracts from Records of First Board of Commissioners June 1817 SOURCE: Ironton Register, December 18, 1902.
- Some Payments Made to the County for Various Purposes 1819 and 1820 SOURCE: Ironton Register, January 8, 1902
- Spring Session of Common Pleas Court in 1820 – Rules for Attorneys; Commissioners Minutes 21 April 1817; Rates for Ferry and Tavern Licenses; Appointment of Treasurer Thomas Kerr; Rates of each wolf scalp, paid our of County Treasurer; Court to be held at Joseph Davidson’s home until further notice. SOURCE: Ironton Register, November 27, 1902
- Burlington’s List of Officers in Courthouse 1821 SOURCE: Ironton Register, Jan. 15, 1902
- Early Deeds 1817 – 1818 and Guardianships 1820 – 1824 SOURCE: Ironton Register, February 12, 1903 [sic – should be 1902]
Early Court Officials
Lawrence County, Ohio, was taken from Gallia and Scioto counties in Southern Ohio and first met in the home of Joseph Davidson in Burlington, Ohio, then just ten days later our county was organized on March 24, 1817. It wasn’t until December 20, 1816, that Lawrence county became a geographic unit by the legislative act, which fixed its present boundaries.
Early Court Judges and Elected Officials were researched using courthouse records, newspaper articles, Howe’s History of Ohio, and other means of early resources.
Early Lawrence County, Ohio Prisoners Sent to Ohio State Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio
List of Early Prisoners from Lawrence County, Ohio, that were sentenced to the Ohio State Penitentiary 1834-1900 – The original records were carefully read by Martha J. (Kounse) Martin. Please keep in mind, that some were faded and hard to read, and there may be errors. You can view the microfilmed copy online or at your local Family History Center.
At the Penitentiary – Last week, we commissioned a special reporter to take a look at the boys now serving a term in the penitentiary from this county. He reports as follows…… Newspaper clippings about early prisoners and their stories inside the Penitentiary at Columbus, Ohio.
Journal 1 & 2 [Index] 1818-1830
We have indexed Journals 1 & 2 from the Court of Common Pleas for 1818-1830. Some of the other information found in these Journals are:
- Naturalizations
- Administration records
- Guardianship
- License to operate early Ferry and Taverns; License to become Ordained Ministers or attorneys.
- If your ancestor was convicted of a crime, you could find the case listed under “The State of Ohio vs.—–”.
- Appointments for Judges, Clerks, Justice of Peace, Commissioner, etc.
- Intestate records of persons who died without a will but needed their goods, lands, etc. distributed to the heirs and debtors. In some cases, these records will give the date of death, living relatives, plus other info.
- Revolutionary War Veteran claims
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A B C D E – F G H – I J K L M N – P R S State of Ohio T W NOTE: There is no index for letters Q, U, V, Y, and Z – [Martha] |
Naturalizations
Please Note: To find early Lawrence County, Ohio, naturalization, one must research the old courthouse books. For instance, some of the indexes below were taken from the old Journals in the Clerk of Courts Office in Ironton, Ohio.
Before making a trip to Ironton, Ohio, Courthouse, be aware that these books are fragile and are not available for handling, but some of the records can be viewed on familysearch.org. Unfortunately, not all records have been digitized, but their website is a good place to check on any progress made.
In the links below are some of the indexes we have finished transcribing. Please check back often for new updates on this site. If you would like to help, please leave me a comment below.
Stover, Booker, and Hankins Family Court Records
[Transcribers notes: By this court record, it is established and validated that the Father of Daniel Hankins Junior was Daniel Hankins Senior, who was at the time of this court record, residing in Upper Township, which has been validated with the 1830 Lawrence County, Ohio federal census.
Copy of Microfilm document provided by Martha (Kounse) Martin, Manager, Briggs Lawrence County Library Hamner Room, on 12 July 2000. – Written by the late Ken Clark.]