Dorcheat Historical Association Museum
Research in Webster Parish
Whether you are researching your family history or local history, we want to make it easier to find the resources you need.
Things to Keep in Mind
Consider the time period you are researching. Webster Parish was created in 1871. It was carved from Bossier, Bienville, and Claiborne Parishes. For records prior to 1871, you will need to determine which parish holds the records you need.
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Natchitoches Parish (Pre-1828)
Prior to 1828, the area encompassed by Webster Parish was part of Natchitoches Parish. Please keep this in mind in relation to any records created during that time. For example, on the 1820 United States Census, residents of the area are recorded as residents of Natchitoches Parish.
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Natchitoches Parish Clerk's Office
Marriage, Land, Probate, Court Records
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Unindexed Records Available on FamilySearch
Succession records, 1813-1902
Conveyance records (deeds, notarial records, marriage contracts, records of orphans, mortgages, administration of estates, intestate settlements, etc.), 1738-1900
Conveyances, 1746-1900 ; Index to conveyances, ca. 1800-1913
Miscellaneous archive records, 1726-1835
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​(Please note, you will need to visit a FamilySearch affiliate library to access the images of these records. Affiliate libraries include Webster Parish, Bossier Parish, and Shreve Memorial Libraries.)
Claiborne Parish (Established 13 March 1828)
Claiborne Parish was carved from Natchitoches Parish in 1828. The courthouse burned in November 1849 destroying all records created from 1828 - 1849. However, many deeds were rerecorded after the fire and can be found in both Claiborne and Webster Parish.
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Claiborne Parish Clerk's Office
Marriage, Land, Probate, Court Records Since 1850
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Unindexed Records Available on Family Search
Conveyance records, 1850-1913
Probate records, 1851-1908
Marriage records, 1849-1902; Index to marriage records, 1849-1940
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​(Please note, you will need to visit a FamilySearch affiliate library to access the images of these records. Affiliate libraries include Webster Parish, Bossier Parish, and Shreve Memorial Libraries.)
Bossier Parish (Established 24 February 1843)
Beginning in February 1843, the portion of Webster Parish west of Bayou Dorcheat was located in Bossier Parish. For records created 1843-1871 for residents located in this area, please consult Bossier Parish records.
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Bossier Parish Clerk's Office
​Marriage, Land, Probate, Court Records beginning 1843
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Unindexed Records Available on FamilySearch
Conveyance records, 1843-1903
Bossier Parish, Louisiana probate records, 1844-1914
Conveyances, 1746-1900 ; Index to conveyances, ca. 1800-1913
Marriages, 1843-1900 ; Index to marriages, 1843-1930
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​(Please note, you will need to visit a FamilySearch affiliate library to access the images of these records. Affiliate libraries include Webster Parish, Bossier Parish, and Shreve Memorial Libraries.)
Bienville Parish (Established 2 March 1848)
In March 1848, the southeast portion of what is now Webster Parish became part of Bienville Parish. Records for this area created 1848-1871 can be found in Bienville Parish.
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Bienville Parish Clerk's Office
Marriage, Land, Probate, Court Records 1848-1871
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Unindexed Records Available on Family Search
Conveyance records, 1848-1900 ; Index to conveyance records, 1848-1930
Succession records, 1849-1904
Wills, 1850-1932
Marriage records, 1849-1900 ; Index to marriages, 1849-1961
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​(Please note, you will need to visit a FamilySearch affiliate library to access the images of these records. Affiliate libraries include Webster Parish, Bossier Parish, and Shreve Memorial Libraries.)
Webster Parish (Established 27 February 1871)
Records created after February 1871 can be found in Webster Parish.
​Webster Parish Clerk's Office
Marriage, Land, Probate, Court Records Beginning 1871
Pre-1871 Land Records extracted from Bossier, Bienville, and Claiborne Parishes
Unindexed Records Available on FamilySearch
Conveyances records, 1843-1875 ; Index to conveyances record
Index to conveyances, 1871-1961 ; Conveyances, 1871-1961
Index to probate records and book of wills, 1872-1952
Probate records, 1871-1900
Marriage records, 1871-1901; Index to marriage records, 1871-1923
​(Please note, you will need to visit a FamilySearch affiliate library to access the images of these records. Affiliate libraries include Webster Parish, Bossier Parish, and Shreve Memorial Libraries.)
Online Resources
Find A Grave
Remember, all information on FindAGrave is user-generated and may not be accurate. Verification of information is absolutely necessary. Graves are even sometimes recorded in the wrong cemetery.
Louisiana Historic Cemetery Registry
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Webster Parish Library
The library provides access to several online databases.
Ancestry.com
Newspapers.com
Fold3
Newspaper Archive
FamilySearch
eClerks
Webster Parish Tax Assessor
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Bienville Parish Library
The library provides access to several online databases.
Ancestry.com
Newspapers.com
Fold3
Newspaper Archive
FamilySearch
How do I know my information is accurate?
Always look for primary sources.
When consulting secondary sources, use them as a guide to find the original source.
Corroborate information. Multiple documents supporting the same facts provide stronger evidence.
Keep in mind that multiple secondary sources with the same information does not constitute proof.