PROJECT

COMPLETED!

EARLY WAYNE COUNTY HISTORY

NOW MADE AVAILABLE

TO EVERYONE!

  Please excuse us if we seem to be excited about this announcement but it is one that we’ve been waiting for years to make.

  The Wayne County courthouse is the location of many Wayne County treasures.  Marriage records, deeds, and other records in the courthouse contain the history of our ancestors and we use those resources in our own personal quest to record our genealogy.

  For years I have been fascinated by one particular book in the record room of the clerk’s office—BOOK “A” COURT ORDERS FROM 1801-1822.  I have had the utmost respect when I have handled the book because of the information it contains and because of its fragile condition.  The pages are falling apart from the binding and some of the pages are beginning to crumble. 

  Here’s the good news—The Wayne County Judge/Executive, Greg Rankin, and the Wayne County Court Clerk have allowed the Museum to have temporary possession of the book to have it professionally restored and repaired.  In the process of that effort, the Museum staff has digitally scanned every precious page of BOOK “A” (We have also included scans of a BOOK "B" that includes 1823-August 1824.) and can now make it available to those who really are serious about a study of Wayne County history.

  The Museum has organized the records into the following sections:

Volume I—1801 through 1805

VOLUME I NOW CONTAINS AN INDEX!!!

Volume II—1806 through 1810

VOLUME II NOW CONTAINS AN INDEX!!!

Volume III—1811 through 1815

VOLUME III NOW CONTAINS AN INDEX!!!

Volume IV—1816 through 1820

VOLUME IV NOW CONTAINS AN INDEX!!!

Volume V— 1821—August 1824

VOLUME V NOW CONTAINS AN INDEX!!!

  The documents contain the earliest records of the establishment of roads, taverns, mills, and ferries.  They contain information concerning the settlement of estates and records of children being “bound out” to be cared for and trained by others.  There are records that deal with litigation and court appeals.  The transfer of lands are recorded in these volumes.  Certificates to perform marriage ceremonies are recorded giving us an indication of the earliest preachers of Wayne County.  There are records of lawyers, sheriffs, constables, clerks, jailers, coroners, and constables being appointed. Personally, I believe these are the most informative, interesting, authoritative, and accurate records of Wayne County history.

  There are over 1,100 pages of Pure Wayne County History in the complete set with each volume containing an average of 225 pages on 8.5 x 11 inch paper bound with a spiral binding.  Cost for volume I, II, III, IV, V (Remember these five volumes are indexed.) is  $35.00 for each volume + $2.10 tax for each volume + $5.00 postage for each voume.  

  ALL FIVE VOLUMNS OF THE "WAYNE COUNTY COURT ORDER BOOK 1801-1824" (over 1,100 pages!) can be purchased in one order for a total cost of $185.00.  This prices includes all taxes and shipping costs, resulting in a significant savings.