Lowndes County (Mississippi) Courthouse Records

School Records:

1. Franklin Academy Ledger. Aug., 1821 – Aug., 1835. This ledger contains the minutes of the board of trustees of Franklin Academy beginning with the election of the trustees for the school site. The first three pages of this ledger prior to the Franklin Academy entries are the minutes of the proceedings of the commissioners for the Town of Columbus (June, 1821-July, 1821.) and concern laying out the Town of Columbus and naming the first streets.

2. “Record Book No. 1” Dec. 30, 1824-Jan., 1870. This ledger contains the records of the board of trustees of Monroe County (later Lowndes), Township 19, Range 17 West, beginning with the election of trustees for a school and school lands and the employment of a teacher. Entries beginning in March, 1844, specify Zion schoolhouse as the meeting place for the trustees.

3. “Record Book of the Trustees for the 16th Land and Plymouth Academy of To. Ship 19 – Range 17-E. Plymouth, July 7th, 1837.” July, 1837-Nov., 1866.

4. “Book of Minutes for the trustees of the 16th section.” March, 1837-February, 1869. This ledger begins with a copy of a petition to the president of the Lowndes Co. Board of Police from the heads of families of Township 18, Range 17 East (sometimes written Township 18 North, Range 17 East) requesting an order for the election of trustees of school lands. The entries in this ledger do not follow a strict chronological order.

Bond Books:

1. Bond Book 1. Bonds for elected officials of Lowndes Co., 1839-1852.

2. Bond Book 2. Bonds for elected officials of Lowndes Co., 1853-1859.

Poll Books and Jury Lists:

1. “Record of Jury.” 1850-1856. Lowndes Co. A through D listings are covered with newspaper clippings from 1866 newspapers.

2. “Lists of Persons Liable for Jury Service, Returned by Geo. C. Cobb, Assessor, Jan. 1st, 1874.” Lowndes Co.

3. Poll Book, Lowndes Co., Miss. Artesia Election District. 1876-1878.

4. Poll Book, Lowndes Co., Miss., Caledonia Precinct. 1885.

5. Poll Book, Lowndes Co., Miss., Crawford Election Precinct. 1892-1902.

6. Poll Book, Lowndes Co., Miss., Mayhew Precinct. 1885-1902?.

7. Poll Book, Lowndes Co., Miss, Odeneal’s School House Precinct. 1881.

8. Poll Book, Lowndes Co., Miss., Old Zion Precinct. 1881.

Enslaved/Formerly Enslaved Persons Records:

1. Record of enslaved persons brought into Lowndes Co. 1837-1845. “Records of certificates given to persons bringing [enslaved persons] into the State of Mississippi according to the Provisions of the Law. Approved May 13, 1837.”

2. Record of apprentices, bonds, and indentures. Lowndes County. Jan. 1866 – Oct. 1870.

Immigration Records:

1. Petitions for naturalization. Lowndes Co. Apr. 1912 – June 1927.

2. Declarations of Intention. Lowndes Co. July 1912 – Mar. 1921.

3. Petitions for Citizenship. Lowndes Co. 1929.

4. Declaration of Intention. Lowndes Co. July 1931.

Ledgers from the courthouse brought in for microfilming by Carl Butler.

1. “Record Book.” This ledger contains Circuit Court records, 1829-1832.

2. Deed Book. 1830-1832. Very poor condition, fragile, cover missing.

3. “Deeds No. 2.” Aug. 17, 1832 – Apr. 15, 1833. This ledger contains many records of deeds with Indians, also board of trustees of Franklin Academy.

4. Record book. Pages 1-53 of this ledger contain Lowndes Co. Court Records, 1830-1832. Pages 53-63 contain County and Probate Court Records, 1832-1833, and pages 64-680 contain Police Court Records, 1833-1843.

5. “Polices Minutes.” Records of board of police of Lowndes County, Miss., 1837-1856.

Ledgers from the courthouse brought in for microfilming by Edward R. Barrels, M.S.C.W.

1. School records. Trustee’s minutes for 16th section, Township 18, Range 17 west at Lebanon, Lowndes Co., Miss. (New Hope School?). 1833-1870.

2. “Appointments of Officers and Orders of the Military Governor”. 1869-1870.

3. Real Estate Tax Records. 1850.

4. Real Estate Tax Records. 1850.