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Complete Guide to Ashtabula County Genealogy, Ancestry, and History

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So, you want to know a little bit about Ashtabula County Genealogy?

Ashtabula County is located in the northeastern corner of Ohio and is bordered by Lake Erie and Pennsylvania. The county has experienced a small decline in population, losing 2.9 percent of its 102,360 residents between 1995 and 2000. Ashtabula is the largest community in the county, with almost twenty-one thousand residents in 2000. The county seat of Jefferson ranks a distant fourth in size, with just over 3,300 residents in 2002. The county averages 146 residents per square mile. It also has more covered bridges than any other Ohio county.

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Across Lake Erie lie Elgin and Norfolk Counties, Ontario, Canada (north). Ashtabula County is surrounded by the following counties: Erie County, Pennsylvania (northeast; Crawford County, Pennsylvania (east), Trumbull County (south), Geauga County (southwest), and Lake County (west).

Ashtabula County Genealogy: Overview

After Europeans arrived in the Americas, the land that became Ashtabula County was originally part of the French colony of Canada (New France), which was ceded in 1763 to Great Britain and renamed the Province of Quebec. In the late 18th century, the land became part of the Connecticut Western Reserve in the Northwest Territory, then was purchased by the Connecticut Land Company in 1795.

Ashtabula County was founded on February 10, 1807, and was the first county created in the Western Reserve. The county is named for an Indian word for fish. In 1796, Moses Cleaveland, the founder of Cleveland, Ohio, traveled through the county for the Connecticut Land Company. Five of his companions, James Kingsbury and his wife and three children, remained behind in what would become Ashtabula County.

Ashtabula County Genealogy: Geography and Politics

Ashtabula County Genealogy

Ashtabula County is overwhelmingly rural, but most residents earn their livings by working in manufacturing, sales, or service positions. Many people work in the shipping industry, transferring coal, iron ore, and steel across the Great Lakes. The county's average income was approximately 21,700 dollars per person in 1999, with just over thirteen percent of the population living in poverty.

Most voters in Ashtabula County claim to be independents, yet in recent years, they have supported Democratic candidates at the national level by a small margin.

When researching an ancestor from Ashtabula County, it would be beneficial to take a look at the county using Google Maps. It provides perspective of the various rivers, significant buildings, cemeteries, townships, cities, churches, and other important areas that your ancestor may have left a trail.

  • Ashtabula County Clerk of Probate Court has Marriage Records from 1910 and Probate Records from 1849. The County Clerk of Probate Court handles the probating of wills, estate administrations, trusts, guardianships, adoptions, birth corrections, delayed birth registrations, and issues marriage licenses. The Probate Court is that the Probate Judge is the ex-officio Clerk of Courts. Thus, the Court performs all the duties as its own Clerk of Courts.
  • Ashtabula County Recorder has Land Records from 1797. The County Recorder has the duty of keeping specific records, which may include deeds, mortgages, military discharges, plats, etc.
  • Ashtabula County Clerk of Court of Common Pleas has Court Records. The County Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas is responsible for duties that include filing, docketing, indexing, and preserving all court pleadings for civil, felony criminal, and domestic relations cases. Other services provided by the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas are administering oaths, keeping naturalization records, and recording and retention of coroner records.
  • The Ashtabula County Health Department has Birth and Death Records from 1908-Present. For birth and death records prior to Dec. 20, 1908, contact the Probate Court of this county.

Ashtabula County Genealogy: Online Resources