Accurate county records are often the missing piece of the puzzle when it comes to tracing genealogy, researching land ownership, or studying history. For those in pursuit of history, regardless of the reason, predicting obstacles such as gaps in ownership or lineage may reduce future frustration and surprises. Review part two of our complete list of Texas county courthouse fires to ensure your quest isn’t affected.
County Courthouse Fires 1865-1873
As an increase in structure fires becomes apparent, courthouses in Texas counties attempt to recover from damage, rebuild courthouses and protect records against future loss. While some do this well, others fail time and again. In less than a decade, the incidence rate of courthouse fires doubled to include:
- 1865 - A fire started by an unknown source decimated the Houston County Courthouse in February 1865. Other than probate documents, no marriage, land or court records are available before the year 1865.
- 1866 - The summer of 1866 witnessed the complete destruction of the Erath County Courthouse, where most of the county’s records were engulfed in flames. Little, if any, records dated prior to 1866 are currently available.
- 1870 - With nearly no records remaining after a June 1870 courthouse fire, Goliad County struggled to recover from this loss. Currently, some land and court records dated around the mid-18th century are available.
- 1871 - One of the only county courthouses to institute an effective document protection plan after a fire, Rains County was set ablaze from unknown causes in 1871 with no surviving records. Thirteen years later, when the courthouse would suffer another fire, all records were safely contained in a fireproof vault.
- 1872 - Only 15 years old at the time, the Liberty County Courthouse, was enveloped in flames in 1872. After complete destruction of court records, officials failed to protect future record loss. Two years later, another fire would destroy all records yet again. No records before 1874 are currently available.
- 1872 - Though not as severe as other cases, the September 1872 structure fire of Hill County Courthouse resulted in the destruction of many, but not all, court records.
- 1872 - Like the Liberty County Courthouse, Trinity County Courthouse suffered two fires, both of which proved damaging to the building and documents within. Just four years apart, both fires occurred in the winter months of 1872 and 1876.
- 1873 - Prior to 1873, the Montague County Courthouse was a bustling center of local documentation and legal proceedings. A February 1873 fire would change all that, resulting in complete loss of probate, marriage, land, and court records.
- 1873 - Seven months after Montague’s courthouse burned down, Limestone County Courthouse was engulfed in flames, ending in significant record loss. Nearly two decades later, in 1891, the Limestone County Courthouse would endure another fire, though records were kept safely in a vault.
With a quarter century yet to be experienced, Texans in the 1800’s had several more years of fire-related record loss and structure damage to endure. “How many more can there possibly be?” you ask? Head to part three of this series for a glimpse into the answer.
* Some information courtesy of Genealogy Inc.
