OH RESOURCES
STATE QUICKLINKS
OTHER GENEALOGY RESOURCES
SPONSORS
Williams County, Ohio
Genealogy, History & Facts
County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links
Williams County, Ohio Facts
When was Williams County, OH Created?
Williams County was created on April 1, 1820 from Columbiana County and Stark County. This county was named for David Williams (1754-1831), captor of spy John André during the Revolutionary War.
What is the County Seat of Williams County, OH?
The County Seat is located in Bryan also, the county government website is www.co.williams.oh.us/ .
What counties are adjacent to Williams County, OH?
Bordering Counties are Hillsdale County, Michigan, Fulton County, Henry County, Defiance County, DeKalb County, Indiana, Steuben County, Indiana .
Williams County, OH Vital Records
Where can find Williams County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Williams County vital records can be found at the Ohio Department of Health which has Birth Records since Dec 20, 1908; Death Records since since 1954 and copies of Marriage and Divorce Records since 1918 to present There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Ohio for current fees and application process.
You can search online for Williams County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or can download an application for Ohio Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Application to mail. The Archives Division has copies of births before 1908, death before 1944 and marriage records before 1949.
- County Vital Records Held at the OHS
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- Social Security Death Index
- USGenweb Archives Ohio Marriage Project
- Ohio, County Births, 1856-1909
- Ohio, Births and Christenings Index, 1800-1962
- Ohio, Births and Christenings, 1821-1962
- Ohio, Marriages, 1800-1958
- Ohio, County Marriages, 1790-1950
- Ohio Marriage Index, 1970, 1972-2007
- Ohio Marriages, 1803-1900
- Ohio Divorce Index, 1962-1963, 1967-1971, 1973-2007
- Ohio Death Certificate Index, 1913 – 1944
- Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953
- Ohio, Death Index, 1908-1932, 1938-1944, and 1958-2007
- Ohio Deaths and Burials, 1854-1997
- Ohio Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-1944, and 1958-2007
Williams County, OH Census Records
What Williams County, OH census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Williams County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Williams Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Williams Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Williams Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890. One can find free online and printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also Ohio Census Records Research Guide
Williams County, OH Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical records can I find in the Williams County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Williams County court, probate, and land records data as a useful resource of ancestry and genealogy information. Buried away in Ohio courthouses and archives everywhere are the ambitions and frustrations of countless Ohio residents. The possibilities are excellent that your forefathers have left a comprehensive document of at least a number of facets of their lives in the Williams County court records. Even if your forebears is not referred to in a Court case, contemplate all of the other procedures that could have lead to him or her to appear in court records. See Also Ohio Courthouse Records Research Guide.
- Williams County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 1 Courthouse Square, Bryan 43506
- Phone: (419) 636-2059
- Williams County Clerk of Probate Court
- Phone: 419-636-1548
- Marriage Records: 1824
- Probate Records: 1825
- Williams County Recorder
- Phone: 419-636-3259
- Land Records: 1824
- Williams County Clerk of Court of Common Pleas
- Phone: 419-636-1551
- Court Records: 1824
- Ohio, Wills and Probate Records, 1786-1998
- BLM Land Records
- Williams County USGenWeb Archives Project
Williams County, OH Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Williams County, OH?
A list of Williams County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Ohio Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Williams County Chapter, OGS, PO Box 293, Bryan, OH 43506-0293; Phone: (419) 636-3751; Williams County Chapter, OGS meets at the East End Community, East End Park, OH on the second Monday of each month at 7:30pm except June when we meet the second Monday for a dinner and presentation of First Family certificates. No meeting in July and August. The William County Genealogical Society’s holdings are housed in the genealogical section of the Bryan Public Library. The Society’s publications include volumes of the census, cemetery, and marriage records of Williams County townships.
- Williams County Historical Society, PO Box 415, Montpelier, OH 43543-0415; Phone: (419) 485-8200; The Williams County Museum Complex is located on the fairgrounds in Montpelier, the museum houses changing exhibits and permanent displays ranging from early Williams County history to the 1980s. A new museum feature is the Children’s Own Museum with children’s hands-on exhibit area that includes a dress-up room, a miniature office, a drawing and coloring station and a sand table to replicate an archaeological dig. The Farm Museum presents the farming heritage of Williams County.
- Edgerton Historical Society, 237 E Bement St, Edgerton, OH 43517-9688; Phone: (419) 298-2124; The Edgerton Historical Society has exhibits at homecomings. Educational programs and bus tours of historical places in the area are available.
- Tiffin River Scenic & Historic Association, PO Box 648, Stryker, OH 43557-0648; Phone: (419) 636-9269; The Tiffin River Scenic and Historic Association initiated the development of the Rupps and the Knights Landing Parks on Tiffin River, successfully halted a 1988 proposal which would have required the channelization of the entire Ohio length of the Tiffin River, and has initiated plans for replacing the covered bridge at Lockport.
- Williams County Records Center, 107 West Butler, Bryan, OH 43506; 419-636-8253
- Center for Archival Collections, Bowling Green State University, Jerome Library, 5th Floor, Bowling Green, OH 43403; Phone: (419) 372-2411; The Center for Archival Collections is a local history repository at Bowling Green State University, collecting materials that document the history of Northwest Ohio and Bowling Green State University. Collections include archives, public records, manuscripts, newspapers and photographs
- Ohio Historical Society, Archives-Library Division, 1982 Velma Avenue, Columbus, OH 43211; Telephone: 614-297-2300
- Ohio Genealogical Society, 713 South Main Street, Mansfield OH 44907-1644
Where can I connect with other Williams County, OH Researchers through message boards and forums?
- https://www.archives.gov/research/census
- Ohio Genealogy Community (plus.google.com)
- Ohio State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Williams County, Ohio Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Williams County
- Williams County, Ohio Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com) read and post messages with other genealogy researchers for Williams County
What other genealogical resources are available in Williams County, OH?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Williams County.
Williams Co. OH Books, Newspapers & Publications
- Ohio Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
- Ohio historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
- Historical Newspapers from Ohio (1802 – 1970) (genealogybank.com)
- Williams County, Ohio Books (amazon.com)
- Search Ohio Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
- Williams County Newspaper Articles (usgwarchives.net)
- Williams County Obituaries (usgwarchives.net)
Williams Co. OH Church / Bible Records & Cemeteries / Graveyards
- Williams Co., Ohio Graves (findagrave.com)
- Williams County Cemetery Transcriptions and Tombstone Photos (usgwarchives.net)
- Williams Co. Ohio Tombstone Photo Project (usgwarchives.net)
- Williams County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Williams Co., Ohio Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Williams Co., Ohio Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Williams Co. Church Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Williams Co. Bible Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Williams County, Ohio Church Books (amazon.com)
Williams Co. OH Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- County Biographies (usgwarchives.net)
- Penny Postcards From Williams Co. (usgwarchives.net)
- County Photos (usgwarchives.net)
Williams Co. OH General and History Websites
- See Also State History for Ohio
- Williams County Ohio (genealogytrails.com)
- Commemorative biographical record of northwestern Ohio : including the counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams and Fulton, contai (search.ancestry.com)
- Williams County, Ohio Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Williams County, Ohio Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Williams Co. OH Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Williams County History (usgwarchives.net)
- Williams County, Ohio (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Ohio – Counties – Williams (cyndislist.com)
- Williams Co. OHGenweb (ohgenweb.org)
- Williams County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Williams Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Williams Co. OH Immigration & Naturalization
- See Also Statewide Immigration and Naturalization Links for Ohio
- Williams County Naturalization Records held by OHS (ohiohistory.org)
Williams Co. OH Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Statewide Maps and Atlas Links for Ohio
- Williams Co., Ohio Township Map
- Adams County Maps Index (usgwarchives.net)
- 1895 Williams County Map (livgenmi.com)
Williams Co. OH Military Records
- Ohio Military Records Research Guide
- Williams County Military Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Ohio Military Records (Fold3.com) provides access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents belonging to the Ohio women and men which served. Great for Williams County genealogists, researchers, historians and a lot more.