During the 1920s and early 1930s, a jug of illegal whiskey could change a family’s fortune—or tear it apart. Whether your ancestors ran stills deep in the woods or simply served homemade brew at a quiet kitchen table, Prohibition touched nearly every community in America.
The records left behind by this period—if you know where to look—reveal a time of defiance, desperation, and secret enterprise. And if you’ve got Southern, Appalachian, Midwestern, or even urban roots, there’s a good chance someone in your family tree ran afoul of the law during this dry era.
Let’s take a closer look at the legacy of Prohibition, how moonshining worked, why so many people got involved, and how to uncover those stories in your own family history.
What Prohibition Really Meant for Families
The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, enforced by the Volstead Act, made the manufacture, sale, and transport of alcohol illegal from 1920 until it was repealed in 1933. But alcohol didn’t vanish. It just went underground.
In cities, speakeasies popped up in backrooms and basements. In the countryside, homemade stills bubbled away in hidden hollows, barns, and root cellars. While some people stood firm on the law and morality, others saw an opportunity to feed their families or turn a fast profit.
The risk? Arrest, fines, jail time, and property confiscation. The reward? Steady income in hard times. For many, the choice was less about rebellion and more about survival.
Why So Many Got Involved
Moonshining wasn’t just a Southern tradition. It happened in farming communities, mining towns, and working-class neighborhoods from Maine to California.
Some got involved because their families had been brewing or distilling for generations. Others were recent immigrants who brought old-country know-how. And in many areas, enforcement was inconsistent—or corrupt—so it felt like a manageable risk.
You might find bootleggers, runners, brewers, and even Prohibition agents in your lineage. This period created unusual bedfellows and complicated stories that don’t always fit neatly into the “lawful versus lawless” categories.
What Kinds of Records Exist
The federal government took Prohibition enforcement seriously, creating a paper trail that still exists in various archives. Here are the types of documents to look for when researching this chapter in your family’s past:
Arrest Records and Court Cases
Many bootlegging arrests were handled in county or district courts. Records may include case numbers, arrest details, witness statements, and sentencing.
Federal Court Records
Since alcohol laws were enforced federally, many cases ended up in U.S. District Courts. These files are often archived at regional branches of the National Archives and may include detailed depositions and evidence lists.
Prohibition Agent Reports
Agents kept meticulous logs. Some of these records survive, especially for larger busts. They might include still descriptions, confiscated goods, and names of those arrested.
Newspaper Reports
Local papers often published the names of those caught running stills or transporting liquor. These stories can include exact locations, ages, occupations, and colorful commentary.
Mugshots and Jail Logs
Not every arrest led to jail time, but in areas where jails were overcrowded or repeat offenses were common, you may find booking records and photos.
Revenue and Confiscation Notices
The government sometimes seized property—cars, homes, livestock—that were linked to illegal liquor operations. Those records often appear in tax and court filings.
Death Records
Sadly, some people died from drinking poorly made alcohol during this time. Death certificates sometimes list alcohol poisoning or “acute nephritis” (kidney failure) linked to toxic spirits.
Clues That Point to a Moonshiner
Here are a few signs that suggest your ancestor might have been involved in bootlegging or illegal alcohol:
- A sudden spike in income during the 1920s, with no obvious source
- Arrests for “disturbing the peace” or “transport violations” during Prohibition years
- Property losses or fines that don’t match census income
- Multiple court appearances over a short period of time
- Rumors or family stories of “whiskey running” or “trouble with the law”
- Obituaries that mention a fondness for independence or “making ends meet however he had to”
One researcher from Georgia found her great-grandfather in a 1923 newspaper story about a whiskey raid that resulted in three arrests and the seizure of “two mules, one truck, and fourteen gallons of strong spirits.” She had no idea he was involved until the clipping turned up. It changed how the family viewed him—not as a criminal, but as a survivor doing what he could in hard times.
Where to Search for These Records
Start with the same tools you’d use for other criminal cases, but widen your net:
National Archives (NARA):
Search federal court records, especially for U.S. District Courts in areas known for moonshining activity. Many of these records are held off-site but are accessible with a written request.
State Archives:
State police, court, and prison records from the 1920s and 1930s may reveal arrests, sentences, or surveillance reports.
County Courthouses:
Look in civil and criminal dockets for alcohol-related cases. Some cases were listed simply as “violation of liquor law” or “transporting illegal goods.”
Historical Newspapers:
Use Newspapers.com, Chronicling America, GenealogyBank, or local archives to search for your ancestor’s name in combination with keywords like “liquor,” “still,” “raid,” “Prohibition,” “bootlegging,” or “arrested.”
Library Special Collections:
University and local libraries sometimes preserve oral histories or special collections related to Prohibition in their region.
Family Bibles and Oral Histories:
Not everything is in the archives. If your family has stories about someone who “ran with a rough crowd” or “drove trucks at night,” don’t dismiss them—those tales may contain more truth than anyone realized at the time.
Famous Figures Tied to Moonshining
Several well-known families today descend from individuals arrested during Prohibition. The culture of that era was so widespread that moonshining even crossed into music and politics.
- NASCAR has its roots in Prohibition, where fast-driving bootleggers modified cars to outrun lawmen.
- Pop and country songs of the 1930s and 1940s often referenced homemade liquor, backwoods stills, and law evasion.
- Some politicians came from families who quietly supplied local communities with alcohol, earning both favor and suspicion.
If your family hails from regions like rural Kentucky, West Virginia, North Carolina, or southern Ohio, there’s a good chance they were near—or part of—the moonshine trade.
The Human Side of Bootlegging
It’s easy to look back and judge. But Prohibition created gray areas in morality and law. A farmer might have run a still to keep his farm going. A widow might have sold homemade wine to pay for her children’s shoes. For many, the line between crime and necessity blurred.
As with other legal records, the story lies in the context—not just the charge. Tracing a bootlegging ancestor might lead you to discover a strong, resourceful individual shaped by hard times and hard choices.
Final Thoughts
Bootlegging and Prohibition-related arrests weren’t just for gangsters and big-city speakeasies. Everyday people got caught up in the wave—some as participants, others as victims of its consequences. By digging into court files, news archives, and local sources, you can uncover surprising stories that bring your family’s Prohibition era into sharper focus.
Whether your ancestor ran a still in the hills, served as a federal agent, or simply got caught with a bottle of home brew, their story is part of America’s—and your family’s—history.
