Moultrie County Genealogy Records

Moultrie County genealogy records are held at the county clerk's office in Sullivan, a small town in east-central Illinois. The clerk keeps birth, death, marriage, and land files for the county. Researchers need to know about a major gap in Moultrie County records. A fire on November 25, 1864 destroyed the courthouse and most records from 1843 to 1864 were lost. That 21-year gap means you may need to use alternative sources for families who lived here during that period. The IRAD depository at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston stores surviving older Moultrie County government documents. You can reach the clerk at (217) 728-4389 to start a search.

Moultrie County Clerk Records

The Moultrie County Clerk is at 10 S. Main St, Suite 6, Sullivan, IL 61951. The phone number is (217) 728-4389. This office handles vital records, marriage licenses, and land files for Moultrie County. Birth and death records begin around 1877, which matches the statewide pattern. Marriage and land records should go back to at least 1864, since files created after the November 1864 fire survived. The Counties Code (55 ILCS 5) designates the county clerk as the legal keeper of these documents.

In-person visits to the Sullivan courthouse are the quickest way to search Moultrie County records. Staff can help you look through the index volumes and pull files on the spot. The office is small, and the staff know the local collections well. Bring the full name and any dates you have. For mail requests, write to the clerk with the name, dates, record type, your check, and a photo ID copy. Make checks payable to the Moultrie County Clerk.

Moultrie County 1864 Fire

The November 25, 1864 courthouse fire is the single most important fact for Moultrie County genealogy research. The fire destroyed most county records from 1843 (when the county was formed) through 1864. Marriage records, land files, court documents, and early government papers were lost. This creates a significant gap for researchers looking for ancestors who lived in the Sullivan area during those two decades.

If your family was in Moultrie County between 1843 and 1864, you will likely need to use alternate sources. Church records from local congregations may fill some gaps. Federal census records from 1850 and 1860 are still intact since those were held at the federal level. Land patents from the General Land Office were also kept separately and survived. Neighboring counties like Shelby, Coles, and Macon may have records that mention Moultrie County residents, especially for court matters that crossed county lines. Some land deeds were re-recorded after the fire when property owners brought in their personal copies.

Records created after late 1864 survived. The county rebuilt and continued filing new documents from that point forward. Birth and death records that began around 1877 are intact. So the gap runs roughly from 1843 to late 1864, not beyond that date.

Note: The 1864 fire makes federal census records from 1850 and 1860 especially valuable for Moultrie County families.

Moultrie County Records at IRAD

The IRAD depository for Moultrie County is at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Call (217) 581-6093 to check what Moultrie County files they hold. IRAD stores older government records transferred from the Sullivan courthouse. Given the 1864 fire, the surviving records at IRAD are especially precious for researchers. Any pre-fire documents that made it through are irreplaceable. Research at IRAD is free and you can photograph documents at no charge.

Staff take mail and phone requests but limit each to two names. Use the IRAD holdings database to look up what Moultrie County records are at EIU before visiting. Charleston is a short drive from Sullivan, making it easy to combine a courthouse visit with an IRAD stop in the same day. The Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205) created the IRAD system to ensure county records with research value get preserved.

Searching Moultrie County Genealogy

Start at the Moultrie County Clerk for post-1864 local records. For state-level birth and death files from 1916 forward, the Illinois Department of Public Health handles requests. IDPH genealogy copies cost $10 and must go by mail. Processing takes about 12 weeks. Birth records are available 75 years after the birth date. Death records open after 20 years. These rules come from the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535).

The Illinois State Archives has free databases that include Moultrie County entries. The marriage index covers 1763 to 1900. Death indexes cover pre-1916 and 1916 to 1950. For the lost 1843 to 1864 period, also check the State Archives for any statewide records that mention Moultrie County residents.

• IDPH genealogy birth copy: $10 by mail, about 12 weeks
• IDPH death research copy: $10 by mail
• IRAD at EIU Charleston: free research, close to Sullivan
• State Archives databases: free online
• Federal census 1850 and 1860: key source for fire gap

Moultrie County Vital Records Access

Moultrie County does not have an online search portal for genealogy records. Requests go through the Sullivan clerk's office by phone, mail, or walk-in. For state records from 1916 forward, the IDPH birth certificate ordering page below explains the mail-in process. The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) covers public records generally, but vital records follow stricter rules under the Vital Records Act.

The IDPH site lists fees, forms, and the mailing address for each record type. For Moultrie County records before 1916, the Sullivan clerk or IRAD at Eastern Illinois University are the sources to check. Keep in mind that the 1843 to 1864 gap applies to local records only, not to state or federal files.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Moultrie County in east-central Illinois. Families often crossed county lines, and records may show up in a neighboring county. This is especially true for the 1843 to 1864 gap period when Moultrie County records were lost to fire.