Many of you from out of Indiana may not know that the Jefferson County courthouse was
severely damaged by fire, with the second floor falling in, as far as I have heard.
I sent a list of records to the Jefferson County Historical Society about what I know
about the location of many records, in case there is any ability to salvage these. Many
records were no longer in the circuit court clerk's office as they were for years.
To my knowledge, all deed, will and probate books on microfilm. One of the confusing
things about Jefferson County wills is that most of the ones in the 1830s and 1840s were
in books marked Probate Record, not Will. I have examined many of these in microfilm form
in the Madison library so I think all of the 1800s wills will survive in that form.
However, when the addition to the courthouse was made, all of the probate records,
including probate order books, and complete records, all criminal and civil court records,
were placed in the basement, which as I understand had a lot of water damage, but some of
these may have been retrieved. I have scattered reports. All of the original will and
marriage books were in the circuit court clerks office on the second floor and I am not
aware whether any were save or their condition.
In any event, I hope the list I sent on will be of use if there is any ability to rescue
any of the original books