Welcome to the Tennessee - Reference Books

    History of Roane County, Tennessee, 1801-1870 - Emma Middleton Wells. The records show that many of the men who came into this area before the county was organized were Revolutionary soldiers and that their wives in many cases were daughters of soldiers of that war. Many were given land grants for service rendered their country. Part I, "Kingston and the County," contains tax lists from 1802 and 1808, the first licensed merchants and hotels, a list of voters and summons for jury in 1809, members of militia companies in 1855, and justices in 1819. Part II, "Military Record," lists Revolutionary soldiers and graves, Soldiers of the War of 1812, Mexican War, War between the States, World War Records, Gold Star list and Distinguished Service Crosses. Part III, "Churches, Academy and Lodge," describes Bethel Church, Rittenhouse Academy, Kingston Grave Yard and the Masonic Lodge. Part IV contains marriage records. Part V, "Records of Early Families," comprises nearly two-thirds of the book. Arranged alphabetically, these records typically give the early settler's place of origin, military service, occupation, spouse's name(s) and children. In some cases, several generations are recorded. Dates are given wherever known. A new surname index allows the reader to identify families and to find "buried" surnames among the records. (1927) reprint, c335 pp., new surname index, paper, $26.50 #W145

    The Story of Gatlinburg (White Oak Flats) Tennessee - Jeanette S. Greve. From the earliest known settlement to the development of the tourist trade that was created by the opening of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this book describes the culture and traditions of the people of this mountain community. Anecdotes and sketches of early settlers are combined with historical background. (1931) reprint, 136 pp., illus., maps, new fullname index, paper, $15.50 #ZG619

    Genealogical Abstracts from Tennessee Newspapers - Sherida K. Eddlemon. These abstracts from the earliest newspapers published in Tennessee are a genealogical goldmine for researchers attempting to locate early settlers because there is no complete, extant census until 1830. The material abstracted includes the usual marriage and death notices, but also all other references to local residents such as notices of estate settlements, delinquent taxpayers, announcements of goods and services for sale, notices of runaway spouses and slaves, etc.

    Vol. 1, 1791-1808, 8 papers, 1988, 380 pp., index, paper, $30.00 #ZE100

    Vol. 2, 1803-1812, 7 papers, 1989, 248 pp., index, paper, $22.50 #ZE101

    Tennessee Genealogical Records and Abstracts, Volume 1: 1787-1839 - Sherida K. Eddlemon. Although Tennessee achieved statehood in 1796, it remained a sparsely populated wilderness for years, and no complete censuses are available until 1830. In this new volume respected author Sherida K. Eddlemon aims to "close the gap left by census records" by providing researchers with a blend of rare tax lists, marriage records and other early source materials including the 1835 pension roll (surnames A-B). This volume contains useful information for the following counties: Bledsoe, Bradley, Blount, Franklin, Gibson, Grainger, Henry, Jackson, Lauderdale, Maury, Overton, Roane, Sevier, Sumner, Washington and Wilson. Eddlemon also supplies early records from Kentucky, Texas (Brazos County) and Washington state (Douglas County) to trace the migration of Tennessee natives. 1998, 243 pp., surname index, paper, $22.00 #E104

    Tennessee Families: A Bibliography of Books About Tennessee Families - Donald M. Hehir. With over 1,500 Tennessean surnames, Mr. Hehir provides, in one source, a comprehensive listing of all printed Tennessean genealogies and family histories that have made their way into major library collections across the U.S. The author researched library listings and catalogs covering many genealogical libraries, including the Library of Congress, the National Genealogical Society Library and the Library of the Daughters of the American Revolution, along with historical association libraries from Massachusetts to California. Many of the books deal with multiple families, some with non-Tennessee roots. Arranged for ease of use, the entries are presented alphabetically according to surname, with a cross-reference index to family and secondary names to help researchers find surnames that would otherwise remain buried within the text. No genealogist working with Tennessee families should be without this time-saving volume. The author has also added an appendix with helpful hints on "Accessing the Library of Congress records via the internet." 1996, 196 pp., append., index, paper, $21.00 #ZH138

    Carter County, Tennessee Record Abstracts - Eddie M. Nikazy. These abstracts were taken from records held at the Tennessee State Library and Archives. Entries include the typical information.

    Death Records 1908-1925 - 1992, 481 pp., index, paper $36.00 #ZN341

    Marriages 1871-1920 - 1992, 326 pp., paper $27.00 #ZN342


    Unicoi County, Tennessee, Death Record Abstracts, 1908-1936 - Eddie M. Nikazy. This book continues the series of works Mr. Nikazy has compiled on the vital records of the northeast tip of Tennessee, which includes Carter, Greene, Johnson, Sullivan, Washington and Unicoi Counties. Unicoi County was formed from Carter and Washington Counties in 1875, and "played an early role in the settlement of the frontier. Unicoi County was settled by many prominent families from [neighboring] North Carolina where most families came from nearby Mitchell, Yancey and Marshall Counties.

    "Many persons identified in this volume were direct descendants of early settlers of Tennessee. As the records also show, many people also moved to Unicoi County [for] its county seat, Erwin, was a thriving railroad center and at one time was home of prosperous silk and pottery producing works.

    "This volume contains Tennessee death record abstracts for Unicoi County for the years 1908 through 1936. Death records were first filed for rural Tennessee counties beginning in 1908. Records for the years 1908 through 1912 did not record the names of parents and in 1913 deaths were not recorded. Beginning in 1914, the State imposed more stringent recording requirements and the records included parents' names, the name of the informant, and place of burial. The [everyname] index contains 9,010 names. Records contained herein were compiled from the original records."

    Records are presented in order of the numbers on file in the Tennessee State Library and Archives, and include name of the deceased, age (or birth date), date of death and record number, with the addition in later records of parents' names, place of burial and name of informant. 1997, 356 pp., index, paper, $26.50 #ZN339

    Index to McMinn County, Tennessee, Tax Lists, 1829-1832 and 1836, and Detail From 1836 Tax List - Harald Reksten and Reba Boyer. About one-half of the book is an everyname index of names from all lists--1829 to 1832 and 1836--which directs the researcher to page numbers in the original sources. The rest of the book contains tax lists. The original tax list arrangement for the years 1829 to 1832 have alphabetical listings of captains of military companies; for 1836, a listing arranged numerically by district is provided--all with page references to original sources. Also contained in this book is a partial transcription of the 1836 tax list. 1996, 127 pp., paper, $16.00 #ZR147

    Davidson County, Tennessee, Deed Book "P": Personal Property Deeds 15 November 1821 - 13 February 1829 - Mary Sue Smith. A companion book to the author's Davidson County, Tennessee, Deed Books "T" and "W": 1829-1835 (see the listing for #ZS537 in the Main Catalog under TENNESSEE). This volume transcribes personal property deeds for Davidson County, Tennessee, from 1821 to 1829, identifying family members (and relationships) for both white and black families. Records include deeds of trust, deeds of gift, deeds of transfer, bills of sale, mortgages, marriage agreements, powers of attorney and other agreements.

    These records are particularly full of slave sales and therefore a most valuable resource for African-American researchers. Slaves are listed by family units; ages and physical descriptions are included.

    The inventories give us a picture of the early days in Middle Tennessee, listing the home furnishings, books in the home library, and early business inventories down to the last set of sheets in the Nashville Inn. 1997, 208 pp., everyname and slave indices, paper, $18.50 #ZS544

    Morgan Co., TN 1850 Census - Spurling & Cross. Complete transcription. 1985, 8.5x11, 80 pp., index, paper, $17.50 #ZS600

    Blount County, Tennessee, Deeds 1819-1833 - Jane Kizer Thomas. Each deed contains the date the deed was written; the consideration for which the property was conveyed; a description of the property including location and adjoining property owners, when known; names of witnesses; and date of registration by county clerk. The deeds of this period reflect the hard circumstances in the early 1820s followind the Panic of 1819. 1993, 283 pp., index, paper, $26.00 #ZTH01

    Rhea County, Tennessee, Tax Lists 1832-1834, and County Court Minutes, Volume D: 1829-1834 - Carol Wells. Records of this type help genealogists place their ancestors in the context of historical events as well as the social environment in which they lived. Other kinds of research books (county histories, wills, etc.) contain only a few of the names that appear in county court minutes. Names of persons who can be found in no other records, persons of no wealth of land, persons never mentioned in a will, persons never sued, might readily be found in county court minutes, because the county justices kept order in most aspects of everyday life.

    County courts of pleas and quarter sessions were held in the early years in this country. Court duties were so varied that most persons were mentioned from time to time as they went about their ordinary lives. These courts oversaw care of indigents, orphans, insane, illegitimate babies, apprentices and other persons needing public assistance, and they regulated care and discipline of slaves. They licensed certain occupations such as tavern keepers, ferry operators, water mill operators and inspectors of various sorts, and they appointed overseers of public roads. They paid bounties for wolves and other predators killed. The court appointed juries to lay out or change the placement of roads, and made sure roads and bridges were kept in good condition. They passed taxes to aid the poor, keep up public buildings, meet state requirements and operate courts. Courts granted emancipation when conditions were in conformity with state law. Deeds, depositions, wills and other documents were proven and recorded. Administrators were appointed for estates of intestates and wills in which no executor was named. Names of jurymen and witnesses are listed. Public order was kept by bringing to trial those accused of Sabbath breaking, gambling, profane swearing, horse thievery and other such offenses. Suits were brought forth, and local disputes were settled. This book contains an everyname index. Watercourses are also indexed. Carol Wells is a retired archivist and author of several Heritage books about Tennessee. She has also published articles in local historical quarterlies on early French building techniques and Civil War lighthouses and blockade runners. She is the former editor of Southern Studies, a Journal of the South. 1996, 168 pp., index, paper $20.00 #ZW153

    Robertson County, Tennessee, Court Minutes, 1796-1807 - Carol Wells. The information, chronologically arranged, includes the names of the officials who were present at each session and the names of the parties involved in the court proceedings. Records of meetings could include appointments to offices, applications for licenses, petitions, descriptions of deeds, new roads and property boundaries, sales of slaves, etc. 1992, 266 pp., index, paper, $24.00 #ZW147

    Williamson County, Tennessee, County Court Minutes, - Carol Wells. These court minutes give a picture of life on an expanding frontier and also demonstrate how events were handled: not just disputes and lawsuits, but also the building of roads and bridges, the handling of troubles like insanity, illegitimacy, death, guardianships, apprenticeships, and the remarriage of widows. The information was transcribed from microfilm and is chronologically arranged.

    May 1806 - April 1812 - 1994, 227 pp., everyname index, paper, $22.00 #ZW150

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