Kent County, Delaware
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

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

Kent County was created on 1680 and was formed from Whorekill County. The County was named for the English county of Kent. The County Seat is Dover.

In about 1670 the English began to settle in the valley of the St. Jones River earlier known as Wolf Creek. On June 21, 1680, The Duke of York chartered St. Jones County, which was carved out of New Amstel/New Castle County and Hoarkill/Sussex County. St. Jones County was transferred to William Penn on August 24, 1682, and became part of Penn's newly chartered Delaware Colony. Penn ordered a court town to be laid out, and the courthouse was built in 1697. The town of Dover was finally laid out in 1717, and became the capitol of Delaware in 1777. In 1787 Delaware was first to ratify the U.S. Constitution, and became "the First State." Kent County was a small grain farming region in the 18th Century. See also County History for more historical details.

Counties adjacent to Kent County are New Castle County (north), Salem County, New Jersey (northeast), Cumberland County, New Jersey (east), Cape May County, New Jersey (east), Sussex County (south), Caroline County, Maryland (southwest), Queen Anne's County, Maryland (west), Kent County, Maryland (west).

Kent County Cities and Towns include Dover, Harrington, Milford, Bowers, Camden, Cheswold, Clayton, Farmington, Felton, Frederica, Hartly, Houston, Kenton, Leipsic, Little Creek, Magnolia, Smyrna, Viola, Woodside, Wyoming.

Communities and CDPs include Dover Air Force Base, Highland Acres, Kent Acres, Rising Sun-Lebanon, Riverview, Rodney Village, Woodside East.

Hundreds include Duck Creek, East Dover, Kenton, Little Creek, Milford, Mispillion, North Murderkill, South Murderkill, West Dover.

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Records at the Kent County Courthouse

See Also Delaware 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.

All Departments below are in the Kent County Courthouse 555 Bay Road, Room 113, Dover, DE 19901, unless otherwise noted below. The Official County website is located at http://www.co.kent.de.us/.

NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time. Most earlier records and many into the twentieth century have been transferred to the Delaware State Archives, although some counties have microfilms of transferred material.

Kent County Clerk of Chancery Court has Court Records from 1681and is located at the courthouse. Phone Number: (302) 736-2040

Kent County Clerk of the Peace has Marriage Records from 1829-1898 and is located at the courthouse. Phone Number: 302) 744-2346.

Functions include Witnessing County documents; attends all formal Levy Court Meetings; records all acts as custodian for the Minutes of the Levy Court Meetings; advertises and posts County ordinances; countersigns warrants drawn on County funds. Issues marriage licenses and performs marriages (civil ceremonies) in the County

Kent County Register of Wills has Probate Records from 1766 and is located at courthouse. Phone Number: 302-744-2330.

The primary purpose of the Register of Wills office is to record wills and documents pertaining to estate matters in Kent County, Delaware. The office is responsible for overseeing the appointments of personal representatives and for administering estate proceedings. This office is also held accountable for making sure that the estates are in compliance with the Delaware Law. All estate matters are maintained as permanent records.

Kent County Register of Deeds has Land Records from 1680 and is located at the courthouse. Phone Number: 302-744-2314.

Responsible for indexing and maintaining copies of legal documents pertaining to land, mortgages, appointments, etc. Only the most recent deeds are in the office, however. Most have been transferred to the archives.

There are a few online databases for Court, Land and Probate Records which include: Delaware Marriages, 1645-1899, Kent County, Delaware Probate Records, 1680-1800, New Castle County, Delaware Wills, 1682-1800 and Sussex County, Delaware Probate Records, 1680-1800.

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

  • Order County Court, Civil or Criminal Records Online
  • Probates Records Database
  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • Kent County, Delaware Court Books at Amazon.com
  • Delaware Immigration & Emigration Records - Immigration records help the family historian to understand the movements of their ancestry as they relocated to different parts of the world.
  • 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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Kent County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Delaware

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

The Delaware Public Archives holds Delaware Birth Certificates older than 72 years (certificates from 1934 and before) and Death and Marriage Certificates older than 40 (certificates from 1966 and before). The Office of Vital Statistics holds Delaware Birth Certificates from 1935 to the present and Death and Marriage Certificates from 1967 to the present. This means that the Delaware Public Archives only have birth certificates up through and including 1934, and marriage and death certificates up through and including 1966. To obtain vital records issued after the dates above please contact: Office of Vital Statistics, Jesse S. Cooper Building, 417 Federal St., Dover, DE  19901

Office of Vital Statistics, Jesse S. Cooper Building, 417 Federal St., Dover, DE  19901, Please allow up to approximately 3 weeks to 6 weeks for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail. They have the following records:

  • Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates: The state of Delaware began issuing certificates for births on December 20, 1908. The Ohio Department of Health holds birth certificates for the state of Ohio from December 20, 1908 to the present. The Vital Statistics Office maintains statewide Death Certificates from 1954 to the present. Individual health departments in the county or city where the death took place keep certificates for their local area (not statewide).
    • Cost: $10.00 per certificate, payment is payable to the "Office of Vital Statistics”. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $10.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • Processing Time: 3-6 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
    • By Mail Applications: Marriage Certificate, Birth Certificate, Adoptee's Birth Certificate, Death Certificate
    • For Divorce Records the Prothonotary in the county where divorce was granted up to 1975. For divorces granted after 1975 the parties concerned should contact Family Court in county where divorce was granted.
  • Order In Person:  Same day service is available to walk-in customers. This is the fastest way to obtain a birth certificate. When you arrive, you will complete an application and pay the $10.00 required fee. Walk-in address is
    • New Castle County: Limestone Building - (302) 995-8588 - Office Hours 8:00 AM - 4:15 PM Monday through Friday except Holidays
    • Kent County: Jesse S. Cooper Building - (302) 744-4549 - Office Hours 8:00 AM - 4:15 PM Monday through Friday except Holidays
    • Sussex County: Georgetown State Service Center - (302) 856-5495 - Office Hours 8:00 AM - 4:15 PM Monday through Friday except Holidays
  • 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.

Below is a list of online resources for Kent County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Kent 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 Delaware 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.
  • Kent County, Delaware 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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Kent County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & See also What census documents are available in Delaware? and How to use Assessment Records?

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 Kent County, Delaware are 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850 ,1860 ,1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930.Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Kent County, Delaware are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 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.

From the second federal census of 1800, the records are complete for Delaware and are widely available. Published indexes through 1870 are also available, with two each for 1850 and 1870 and three for 1860.

The first census for 1790 was lost or destroyed. The claim that it was found in the Cornell University Library is unfounded, but a reconstruction from tax and assessment records was published by the National Genealogical Society as Reconstructed 1790 census of Delaware, NGS Special Publication No. 10, 2d printing (Washington, D.C.: NGS, 1962).

The original mortality schedules, which are at the Delaware State Archives, have been published, as have the 1850 and 1860 slave schedules. Other non-population schedules for 1850–80 are at the state archives, as are the original state copies of the federal population censuses for these years.

Colonial: Some earlier Delaware “censuses” have been published from tax records. These include The Reconstructed Delaware State Census of 1782 (Wilmington, Del.: Delaware Genealogical Society, 1983), and Early Delaware Census Records 1665–1697 (Bountiful, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1977), compiled from tax and other lists. A 1688 census for Kent County was published in volume 37 of The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine in 1991, which corrects the incomplete “Kent County Census” in Delaware Genealogical Journal 3 (1986): 49–51.

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

  • Delaware Census, 1790-1890: This collection contains the following indexes: 1790 Federal Census Index; 1800 Federal Census; 1810 Federal Census Index; 1820 Federal Census Index; 1830 Federal Census Index; 1840 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners List; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1860 Federal Census Index; 1860 Slave Schedules; 1870 Federal Census Index; 1890 Veterans Schedule
  • 1889 City Residential and Business Directory - Wilmington
  • The USGenWeb Archives Census Project
  • Kent County, Delaware 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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Kent 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.

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

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Kent County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Delaware

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 Kent County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Kent County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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Kent County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

Early tax or assessment lists for the three Delaware counties are found at the Delaware State Archives and start in 1726 for Kent, 1738 for New Castle, and 1769 for Sussex. Some earlier records are at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia: 1693 for all three counties and an incomplete list for 1696 for New Castle County. For the former, see “Provincial Tax List of the Three Lower Counties 1693” in The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 37 (1991): 1–32. It has sometimes been stated that the 1798 U.S. direct tax records for Delaware are at the Historical Society of Delaware. They are not extant, however, and were perhaps destroyed in a fire in Philadelphia.

Some tax records have been published as “censuses” (see Census Records). An 1861 national tax and its corresponding refund records of 1901 are at the state archives. Internal Revenue assessments for Delaware, 1862–66, are on microfilm at the National Archives-Mid Atlantic Region. Modern tax information should be sought in the county courthouses.

Books of Interest: Kent County Assessments, 1727-1850. Dover, DE: State of Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Bureau of Archives and Records Management, 1984. Internal Revenue Assessment Lists for Delaware, 1862-1866. 8 reels. Washington, DC: National Archives, 1968.Delaware 1782 Tax Assessment and Census Lists. Ralph D. Nelson, ed. Wilmington, DE: Delaware Genealogical Society, 1994.

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

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Kent County Genealogical Addresses

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

  • Lower DelMarVa Genealogy Society, P.O. BOX 3602, Salisbury, DE 21802-3602
  • Downstate Delaware Genealogical Society, 45 S. State Street, Dover, DE 19901
  • Greater Harrington Historical Society, P.O. Box 64, 108 Fleming Str, Harrington, DE 19952; (302) 398-3698
  • Milford Historical Society, P.O. Box 352, Milford, DE 19963; (302) 422-3115
  • Delaware State Archives, 121 Duke of York Street, Dover, DE 19901;(302) 744-5000
  • The Historical Society of Delaware, 505 Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
    The Historical Society of Delaware has an extensive collection of early northern Delaware newspapers, but papers in the adjoining states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey should also be consulted. Southern Delaware newspapers are at the Delaware State Archives
  • Delaware Genealogical Society, 505 Market Street Mall, Wilmington, DE 19801
  • 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.
  • Delaware Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
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Kent County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Delaware

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

Some Delaware church records have been printed in the Delaware Genealogical Society Journal, Delaware History, and in other publications. Original and WPA-transcribed records of many Delaware churches are at the state archives and some are at the Historical Society of Delaware. At the historical society, the Kelso Collection contains a large amount of nineteenth- and twentieth-century Methodist records, mostly from rural circuits and charges, for Delaware and Maryland's eastern shore. An index to this valuable collection is in progress. Some Quaker records are at the state archives and the Historical Society of Delaware; others are at the Friends Historical Library in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.

The largest central file of grave marker transcriptions and abstracts is in the Tatnell Tombstone Collection at the Delaware State Archives, compiled by the Historical Records Survey. Also at the state archives is the Hudson Collection of Sussex County tombstones, which is more thorough than the Tatnell. Some cemetery records are at the Historical Society of Delaware, and some have been printed in the Delaware Genealogical Society Journal and in other publications.

Below is a list of online resources for Kent County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Kent 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 Kent County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Kent 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: [ Kent County ] [ Delaware ] [ 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.
  • Delaware Family Group Sheets
  • Family Trees - Ancestry has thousands of family trees shared by other members. They can help you identify how ancestors are related and give you clues about birth, marriage, and death information. Family trees are an excellent resource for filling in gaps in your research or even to simply know where to begin.
  • Pictures - One of the more exciting discoveries in doing family history research is finding a photograph of your ancestors or their residence. Finding historic postcard photos and drawings of towns and important events throughout history can also give you a visual look into your ancestors lives.
  • Reference Materials & Finding Aids - Reference materials, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other how-to books, can be tremendously helpful in finding and interpreting historical documents. Many of these books can help you learn where to look for more information and how to use what you've already found to uncover more clues.
  • Kent County, Delaware Family Books at Amazon.com
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Extended History

 

Kent County is one of three counties in the small state of Delaware (only Rhode Island is smaller). In about 1670 Englishmen began to settle in the valley of the St. Jones river formally known as Wolf Creek. William Penn chartered Kent County as the Successor to St. Jones. Penn ordered a court town to be layed out, and the courthouse was built in 1697. The town of Dover was finally layed out in 1717, and became the capitol of Delaware in 1777. In 1787 Delaware was first to ratify the U.S. Constitution, and became "the First State." Kent County was a small grain farming region in the 18th Century.

The Federal Census begins in 1800 for this area and goes to 1920. The 1790 is missing but has been reconstructed using tax records. There are statewide indexes from 1800 to 1870 which will make location of the family easier.

Land records after 1785 can be found in the county courthouses. Land grants were given by William Penn until the Revolutionary War. There are Deeds for Kent County from 1680 to 1850, which are indexed, indicated in the FHL. The Delaware State Archive have a card index of original land patents, warrants, and surveys, arranged by county . The original deed and mortgage volumes or microfilms of them, are also at the Delaware State Archives.

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