St Johns County Florida genealogy records give researchers a rare look at nearly five hundred years of family history. The county formed in 1821 and covers the oldest city in the United States, Saint Augustine, which Spanish settlers founded in 1565.
Records here stretch back to baptism entries kept by Catholic priests in the 1500s. Researchers can trace families through Spanish land grants, British colonial papers, American territorial files, and modern vital records. Local offices, state archives, and online databases all hold pieces of this long history. A complete search often means checking county, state, federal, and church sources. Each source fills a different gap. This page covers the main offices, the key record types, the search rules, and the best tools available in 2026.
Records at the St Johns County Clerk
The St Johns County Clerk of the Court serves as the main county office for older marriage licenses, probate files, land deeds, and court case papers. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes keeps these records open to the public. The clerk holds files from 1821 forward. Researchers can search many records online through the clerk website. Older Spanish and British papers sit inside the deed books and early probate packets. The office also keeps certified copies for legal use.
Marriage Licenses and Courthouse Files
Marriage records before June 6, 1927 stay at the county level. After that date, the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics holds the statewide file. The county clerk keeps the original license books and the application packets. Each packet often lists the bride and groom, their ages, their parents, their birth places, and the witnesses. Researchers should check both the license index and the actual book page. Some early books list only the groom. Names may appear in Spanish or English form. Spelling often shifts between books. Bring every possible spelling to the search. This saves hours of work.
Probate and Estate Settlement Records
Probate records show how a person died, who the heirs were, and how property was divided. These files list children, spouses, siblings, and sometimes parents. They also list debts, slaves, plantations, livestock, and land. Estate packets often include letters, receipts, and witness statements. Researchers can request probate files by name and by year of death. The clerk staff pulls the packets and brings them to the reading room. Older packets from the 1800s may sit in fragile folders. Staff handle these with care. Digital copies of some packets exist on the clerk website. Others need an in-person visit.
Land Deeds and Spanish Land Grants
Land records trace property through generations. The county deed books start in 1821 when Florida became a United States territory. Before that date, land records sit in Spanish or British archives. The State Archives of Florida holds copies of many old Spanish grants. Deed books show the buyer, the seller, the price, the acreage, and the location. Witnesses and neighbors often appear. These names help build family groups. Researchers should trace each deed back through the chain. A gap in the chain often points to an inheritance or a court case.
Court Cases and Civil Dispute Records
Court records cover civil disputes, divorces, criminal cases, and equity filings. These cases often name family members, neighbors, and business partners. Divorce files from before 1927 sit at the county level. Files from 1927 forward sit at the state level. Researchers should search both indexes. Chancery court records often hold estate fights, land disputes, and debt cases. Each file may include letters, depositions, and judgments. These papers reveal family relationships that other records miss.
Florida State Archives Collections
The State Archives of Florida in Tallahassee holds the deepest collection of old papers from St Johns County. These papers come from state agencies, churches, and private donors. Researchers can use the online catalog before visiting. The reading room is open on weekdays. Staff help locate files and explain old handwriting. Bring photo identification to register. Many collections are scanned and viewable online. Others need an in-person visit. The archives building sits in the R.A. Gray Building downtown.
Spanish Colonial Records from the 1500s
Spanish mission records cover baptisms, marriages, and burials from the late 1500s through the early 1700s. Catholic priests kept these books at the Parish of St. Augustine. The books list names, parents, godparents, ages, and towns of origin. Many entries name both parents, which helps trace female lines. The archives holds microfilm copies of the original books. Some books sit at the Catholic Diocese archive in St. Augustine. Researchers should check both sources. Spanish handwriting needs practice. Bring a Spanish paleography book or hire a translator.
British East Florida Records 1763 to 1783
Britain controlled Florida from 1763 to 1783. British officials kept land grants, tax rolls, and militia lists. These papers name planters, merchants, and indentured servants. Many names here later appear in American records. The archives holds copies of the British East Florida papers. Some originals sit in British archives. Researchers should check the online catalog under the East Florida collection. These papers often fill gaps between Spanish mission books and American territorial files.
Confederate Pension and Civil War Files
Confederate pension files cover veterans who lived in Florida after the war. Many moved to St Johns County after 1865. The files list the soldier, his unit, his service dates, his wounds, his wife, his children, and his property. Pension applications often include sworn statements from neighbors. These statements list family members and former slaves. Researchers should request the full file. The index on the archives website lists name, unit, and county.
Voter Registration Rolls 1867 to 1868
The 1867 and 1868 voter rolls list every registered male voter in St Johns County. These rolls were taken during the Reconstruction era. They include freedmen and poor white men who could not vote before the Civil War. The rolls list name, age, race, and length of residence. Researchers can use these rolls to place families in the county right after the war. The archives holds the original bound volumes. Microfilm copies exist at many libraries.
Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics holds statewide birth, death, marriage, and divorce records. The office sits in Jacksonville. Records begin in 1917 for births and deaths. Marriage records start on June 6, 1927. Divorce records start in 1927. Older records stay at the county level. Researchers can order certified copies through the mail, online, or by phone through VitalChek. The office does not take walk-in orders for vital records. Mail orders need the right form, payment, and proof of identity.
Birth Records and Florida Law Rules
Birth records less than 125 years old stay sealed under Florida law. Only specific people can get a certified copy. Eligible people include the person named on the record, parents listed on the record, adult children, legal guardians, and authorized representatives. Spouses need a marriage certificate. Each request needs a valid photo ID. The fee for a search is set by Florida law. Rush service costs extra. Researchers should expect a wait of two to six weeks for mail orders. Birth records older than 125 years move to the State Archives and become open to the public.
Death Records and Request Process
Death records follow the same rules as birth records. The fact of death becomes public after the file reaches 50 years old. The cause of death stays sealed for 50 years. Researchers can order a death record without the cause after that time. The standard death certificate includes name, date of death, county of death, age at death, and burial place. Older death records often list parents, spouse, and informant. These details help build family groups. Researchers should order the full record with cause of death when possible. Local funeral home records and obituary files often add more detail.
Statewide Marriage Records 1927 Onward
Florida marriage records from June 6, 1927 to the present sit with the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Each record lists the bride, the groom, the date, the county, and the officiant. Some records also list ages, birth places, and parents. Researchers can order copies online through VitalChek or by mail. The standard form needs both full names, the date of marriage, and the county. A credit card payment speeds the order. Checks and money orders also work. Marriage records older than 1927 sit at the county clerk office in the county where the license was issued.
Online Genealogy Databases for Florida
Online databases make it easier to search Florida records from home. FamilySearch, Ancestry, MyHeritage, and Find a Grave all hold Florida record collections. Each site covers different record types and different counties. Researchers should search each site for the same ancestor. Names appear in different forms across sites. Dates and places also shift. A free account on FamilySearch gives access to many Florida records. Ancestry and MyHeritage need a paid account. Find a Grave is free for most users.
FamilySearch Florida Record Collections
FamilySearch holds the largest free collection of Florida records. The site includes Florida death indexes from 1877 to 1939, Florida marriage indexes from 1822 to 1875 and from 1927 to the present, Florida land records, and Florida probate files. The site also holds digitized books from the State Archives. Researchers can search by name, date, county, and record type. The FamilySearch catalog lists every collection. New records are added each month. Researchers should check back often.
Ancestry.com Florida Genealogy Records
Ancestry holds Florida birth indexes, death indexes, marriage indexes, divorce indexes, and census records. The site also holds Florida city directories, school yearbooks, and military records. Ancestry owns the Social Security Death Index and many newspaper archives. Researchers can build a family tree on the site and link records to people in the tree. Hints appear when new records match a person in the tree. The site charges a monthly fee or a yearly fee. Library users can often access Ancestry for free through local libraries.
Find a Grave and Cemetery Records
Find a Grave lists cemetery records from across the United States. Volunteers add photos of headstones and short biographies. The site covers many St Johns County cemeteries. Researchers can search by name, birth year, death year, and cemetery. Photos often show family members buried nearby. Burial locations help researchers visit the cemetery and take their own photos. Local cemetery offices also hold burial records. Many small family cemeteries sit on private land. Researchers should ask local historians for help locating these sites.
Historical Newspapers and Obituaries
Historical newspapers fill gaps left by civil records. The St Augustine Record has published since the late 1800s. The paper covers births, marriages, deaths, court news, and local events. Obituaries often list survivors, funeral locations, and burial sites. Marriage notices describe ceremonies and list attendants. Birth announcements name parents and grandparents. Researchers can search Florida newspapers on Newspapers.com, Chronicling America, and the State Library digital newspaper collection. Many old papers sit on microfilm at the State Library in Tallahassee. Bring a roll of microfilm or use the library scanners to save copies.
Federal Census and Territorial Records
Federal census records help place families in St Johns County every ten years from 1830 forward. The 1820 census covered parts of Florida, but St Johns County did not exist yet. The 1830 census is the first federal census for the county. The 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950 censuses cover the county. The 1890 census was destroyed by fire. Substitute records exist for some 1890 households. Florida territorial census records from 1825 and 1830 also exist. These records sit at the State Archives and on Ancestry. Researchers should check each census for the same family. Names, ages, and birth places often shift between census years.
Church Records and Catholic Missions
Catholic mission records sit at the Diocese of St Augustine and at the State Archives. Baptism records from the 1500s through the 1700s cover the first Spanish settlers. Marriage records from the same period list couples, witnesses, and godparents. Burial records list names, ages, and burial locations. Some books sit in Spanish, some in Latin. Researchers should bring a Spanish dictionary or hire a translator. Protestant church records start in the early 1800s. Baptist, Methodist, and Episcopal churches kept their own books. Many of these sit at the State Archives or at local churches. Researchers should call the church office to check access rules.
Military Records and Naturalization Files
Military records cover Florida soldiers from the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II. Florida Confederate pension files sit at the State Archives. World War I service cards also sit there. World War II draft registration cards exist on Ancestry and FamilySearch. Naturalization records cover immigrants who became American citizens. Federal naturalization records sit at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. County-level records sit at the St Johns County Clerk. Researchers should check both federal and county files. Many immigrants filed at the county level and again at the federal level. Each file may hold different details.
Research Tips for St Johns County
Researchers should start at home. Gather family stories, photos, Bibles, letters, and old documents. Talk to older relatives. Record names, dates, and places. Build a timeline for each ancestor. Check census records to place the family in the county. Search the county clerk indexes for land, probate, and marriage records. Search the State Archives for colonial papers and pension files. Search the Bureau of Vital Statistics for birth, death, and marriage records after 1917 and 1927. Search online databases for newspapers and cemetery records. Visit local libraries and historical societies. Join the St Augustine Historical Society and the Florida State Genealogical Society. These groups host meetings, publish newsletters, and share research tips.
Contact Offices and Visiting Hours
Researchers should call each office before visiting. Hours and rules can change. The St Johns County Clerk of Court sits at 4010 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine, FL 32084. The phone number is (904) 819-3600. Office hours run from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The State Archives of Florida sits at 500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399. The phone number is (850) 245-6700. Office hours run from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics sits at 1217 North Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202. The phone number is 877-550-7330. Office hours run from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Frequently Asked Questions
This section covers common questions from researchers working on St Johns County Florida genealogy records. These answers cover the most asked questions about vital records, archives, online tools, and courthouse files. Each answer gives clear steps and points to the right office. Researchers with deeper questions should call the office listed for each record type. Many offices answer questions by phone before a visit. This saves travel time.
Where Do I Start My Search?
Start at home with family papers, Bibles, photos, and stories from older relatives. Write down every name, date, and place you find. Check the 1850, 1900, and 1940 federal censuses on Ancestry or FamilySearch. These censuses show parents, birth places, and neighbors. Search the FamilySearch Florida marriage index for any marriage after 1927. Search the Florida death index for any death between 1877 and 1939. Search the St Johns County Clerk website for marriage, probate, and land records from 1821 forward. Search the State Archives catalog for colonial and pension records. Build a timeline for each ancestor before you order any record.
How Do I Get a Birth Certificate?
Birth records less than 125 years old are sealed under Florida law. Only the person named on the record, parents listed on the record, adult children, legal guardians, and authorized representatives can order a copy. Each request needs a valid photo ID and the right form. You can order online through VitalChek, by mail using the form from the Bureau of Vital Statistics, or in person at the Jacksonville office. Mail orders take two to six weeks. Online orders through VitalChek are faster. The fee for a search is set by Florida law and is non-refundable even if no record is found.
Can I See Records Before 1821?
Yes, records before 1821 sit at the State Archives of Florida in Tallahassee. The archives holds Spanish mission records, British East Florida papers, and Spanish land grants. Some Spanish mission books sit at the Catholic Diocese of St Augustine. Call the diocese before visiting. The archives holds microfilm copies of most mission books. Researchers can view these copies in the reading room. Staff help locate records and explain old handwriting. Bring photo identification to register. The reading room opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
What Does a Marriage Record Show?
A Florida marriage record lists the bride, the groom, the date of marriage, the county where the license was issued, and the name of the officiant. Records from the 1900s also list ages, birth places, parents, and witnesses. Marriage records before 1927 sit at the county clerk office in the county where the license was issued. Marriage records from June 6, 1927 forward sit at the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. Researchers should check both the license index and the actual certificate. The certificate holds more detail than the index.
How Do I Find Old Cemetery Records?
Start with Find a Grave. Volunteers list cemetery records from across the United States. Search by name, birth year, death year, and cemetery. The site covers many St Johns County cemeteries. Visit the cemetery office for burial records. Many small family cemeteries sit on private land. Local historians know the locations of these sites. The St Augustine Historical Society and the St Johns County Public Library also hold cemetery records. Bring a camera and take photos of any headstone you find.
What About Slave and Freedmen Records?
Slave records before 1865 sit in plantation papers, probate files, and church books. The State Archives holds plantation inventories from St Johns County plantations. Probate files list enslaved people by name, age, and value. Catholic mission baptism records name enslaved people, parents, and owners. Freedmen records after 1865 sit in voter rolls, school records, marriage records, and Freedmen’s Bureau papers. The 1867 and 1868 voter registration rolls list freedmen by name, age, and race. The Freedmen’s Bureau papers sit at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Microfilm copies exist at many libraries.
Are There Local Genealogy Societies?
Yes, the St Augustine Historical Society, the St Johns County Genealogical Society, and the Florida State Genealogical Society all help researchers. These groups host meetings, publish newsletters, and share research tips. Members often know local sources that do not sit in any official archive. Local historical societies also hold private papers, photos, and Bible records donated by families. Researchers should join one or more of these groups. Annual dues are small. Many groups offer free meetings for first-time visitors.