Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller

Researching a Family Tree

Many records in our library can help you in your search for your ancestors as long as they lived in Manatee County after 1856. If they lived in a county that was once part of Manatee County, we will have records from 1856 until that county was sectioned off (5/14/1921 for Sarasota County, 4/23/1921 for Hardee County, and 5/9/1887 for DeSoto County).

Marriage Licenses are important records for genealogists. Indexes for 1856-1912 are available at the front counter. Indexes for the years 1913-1971 are located in the southeast corner of the upper level. These are arranged by year, so you need to know an approximate date of marriage. An alphabetical index for 1972-1978 is also located in this area. An index for 1972-1983 is computerized and is available at the front counter. Indexes list both the bride’s and the groom’s names. In most cases, we have the original marriage license in our records if you would like to have copies made.

City Directories provide information about city residents. If your ancestor lived in Bradenton, Palmetto or depending on the time period, some of the smaller communities is the county, they may be listed in one of them. The directories are not always accurate and sometimes left people out or gave wrong information. The Directories are important because they list occupations and addresses as well as names. We have directories for the years 1918, 1922-4, 1926-9, 1939, 1945, 1947, 1951, 1955, and 1958 and for most years between 1960 and the present. City Directories are shelved just inside the office door between the lower level and the stairway.

If the person lived in Manatee County between the years 1860-1895, they may be listed in the Census Book published by the Manasota Genealogical Society. This is a typewritten alphabetized version of the originals which are available on microfilm. The census lists households, names, ages and place of birth for each family member and the value of the family’s real estate. The book lists the federal census for 1860, 1870, and 1880 and the state census for 1885 and 1895. Library staff can provide you with this book to use while in the library.

Check our probate indexes for a wealth of family history. We have probate files from 1856-1992. The index for 1856-1972 is housed in a metal bin at the end of the counter on the upper level. In 1973, indexing became computerized and the printouts can be requested at the front counter. If you find the name you are looking for, write down the file number and the date of death and library staff will retrieve the file for you. Inside, you may find a will, death certificates, names of heirs and personal representatives, an inventory of the estate, and receipts and bills related to the settlement of the estate. If the person died recently, check the obituary file. This is maintained by the Manasota Genealogical Society and is located in the center of the upper level. It consists of a brown card catalogue and several gray file drawers. We have obituaries from the years 1974-76 and 1978-present. Years 1983-present are filed together. Other years are filed separately. All are alphabetized.

The Cemetery is a third source to find information about a deceased relative. The Cemetery Tombstone Inscriptions Book is published by the Manasota Genealogical Society. This lists all tombstones at county cemeteries. It has an alphabetical index. Ask Library staff if you would like to use this book.

Land Deed records are a way to approximate what years someone lived in our county. Look for your ancestor’s name in the deed and mortgage book indexes for the years that you think they were here. Look in both of the grantor (seller) and grantee (buyer) indexes. These are located in the center of the upper level. See the Guide to Researching a Piece of Property for more information.

Tax records also tell when a person lived in Manatee County. The tax rolls are on the lower level. We have tax rolls for Manatee County from 1870-1911. We have tax rolls for the City of Bradenton from 1903-1928. These are listed alphabetically.

Soldier and Sailor Discharge Records from 1919-1960 are in the center of the upper level. These are listed by the date filed and not by the date of discharge. If the person you are looking for served in the military and returned to Manatee County after their term of service, their name may be listed.

If they did not receive a birth certificate at birth, some people file for a delayed birth certificate. We have some of these from 1958-1972 (year filed, not birth date). You may find information here. These are located in file cabinets on the upper level near the back door.
Indices to court files may be of help. Court files are located on the lower level. The type of court you need will depend on the year you are searching. Indexes to court files are located with the record books.

Voter’s Registration Books can also be helpful in establishing a person’s registry and age. We have Voter’s Registration Books for some districts for the years 1889-1957. These are located on the lower level in the southwest corner, but please ask for assistance in working with these books as they are very delicate.

Your ancestor’s name may be recorded in the Board of County Commission minute books. Minute books for the years 1855-1985 are located in the northwest corner of the lower level.