Search Camden County Genealogy

Camden County genealogy records go back to 1777, making it one of the original counties in Georgia. The Probate Court in Woodbine holds marriage records, wills, and estate files from the county's founding. The Superior Court Clerk keeps land deeds, divorce records, and civil case files. Camden County sits on the coast near the Florida border and has deep records for families who lived in southeast Georgia. Whether your ancestors were farmers, fishermen, or timber workers, Camden County courthouse records hold key details for tracing family lines.

Camden County Probate Court Genealogy

The Camden County Probate Court in Woodbine is the primary source for marriage and estate records. Marriage licenses date back to 1777. The court also holds wills, letters of administration, guardianship files, and estate inventories.

You can visit the courthouse at 117 N. Osborne Street, Woodbine, GA 31569. The phone number is (912) 576-5600. Staff can help you find the records you need if you provide names and approximate dates. Mail requests are accepted too. Include a written description of what you need, a check or money order for fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has full jurisdiction over wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and marriage licenses in Camden County.

Note: Camden County is one of Georgia's original eight counties from 1777. Its early records are among the oldest in the state, which makes them especially valuable for genealogy research in the coastal region.

Camden County GAGenWeb Resources

The Camden County GAGenWeb page is a free resource run by volunteers. It has cemetery transcriptions, census records, family trees, and other shared research for Camden County genealogy.

Volunteers post records they find at courthouses, libraries, and archives. This is a good place to connect with other people researching Camden County family lines. You might find transcriptions of records you did not know existed.

Free online databases at FamilySearch include Georgia marriages from 1754 to 1960, probate records from 1742 to 1990, and death records from 1914 to 1943. The Georgia Historic Newspapers archive offers over one million pages of newspapers from around the state, including obituaries and legal notices useful for Camden County genealogy.

Camden County Land and Court Records

The Camden County Superior Court Clerk maintains land records, divorce files, and court cases from 1777 to the present. Deed books show who owned land, where it was located, and when it changed hands. These records are crucial for placing your ancestors in a specific location.

Divorce records in Camden County can also help with genealogy. They often name children, list property, and give ages or birth dates that connect family members. Court minutes from the 1700s and 1800s can reveal disputes, guardianship appointments, and other legal matters that name family members. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most Superior Court records are public and open for inspection.

Vital Records for Camden County

Statewide birth and death registration in Georgia started in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. The Camden County health department issues birth and death certificates from that year forward. Before 1919, births and deaths in Camden County were generally not recorded at the state level.

For earlier records, check church records, cemetery inscriptions, and family Bibles. The Georgia Archives in Morrow has death certificates from 1919 to 1943 online through the Virtual Vault for free. FamilySearch.org has indexed Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943 as well. Marriage records at the state level only cover 1952 to 1996. For all other years, the Camden County Probate Court is the source.

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified birth certificates have access restrictions. Only the person named, parents, grandparents, adult siblings, adult children, spouses, or legal guardians can get certified copies. Death certificates have fewer restrictions and are easier to get for genealogy purposes.

Note: Camden County's coastal location means some early families also appear in records from neighboring Glynn County and even in Florida records if they crossed the state line.

Genealogy Research Tips for Camden County

Start by gathering what you already know. Write down names, dates, and places for your Camden County family. Work backward from the most recent generation you can confirm.

Census records are a strong next step. Federal census data for Camden County goes back to 1790 for Georgia, though the 1790, 1800, 1810, and 1890 census records for the state were destroyed. Use tax digests from those missing years to locate ancestors. The 1850 census was the first to name every person in a household. The Georgia Archives at 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260 has free access to Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org in the search room. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

• Search cemetery records when vital records are not available
• Check church records for baptisms and marriages
• Look for Family Bible records at the Georgia Archives
• Review old newspapers at the Georgia Historic Newspapers site

Camden County has been stable in its boundaries since the 1800s, but early Georgia records can be tricky because the state had so few counties at first. Check the Virtual Vault resource "Georgia Counties: Their Changing Boundaries" to verify which county your ancestors were counted in for any given year.

Cities in Camden County

Camden County includes the cities of Woodbine, Kingsland, and St. Marys. All genealogy records for these communities are held at the Camden County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Woodbine. No cities in Camden County meet the population threshold for a separate city page.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Camden County. If your ancestors moved in this area, check the neighboring county records. Many families moved between these coastal and southeast Georgia counties over the years.