Hawkins County, Tennessee Genealogy

United States   Tennessee    Hawkins County





County Courthouse
Hawkins County Courthouse Hawkins County Clerk 100 E. Main Street, rooms 203- 205 Rogersville, Tennessee 37857 Phone: (423) 272-7002

Register of Deeds Hawkins County Courthouse P.O. Box 235 150 Washington Street Rogersville, Tennessee 37857 Phone:(423) 272-8304

Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am - 4 pm

History


The county is named after North Carolina Senator Benjamin Hawkins (1754-1816).

Parent County
1786--Hawkins County was created 18 November 1786 from Sullivan County. County seat: Rogersville

Record Loss
1863--Fire damaged records

Timelines
A timeline of events in Hawkins County, Tennessee before 1790 is found on page 48, Vol 21 No 2 (Apr 2004) of Distant Crossroads, the quarterly publication of Hawkins County (TN) Genealogical and Historical Society. (FHL US/CAN Book 976.895 B2d)

Bible Records
Transcripts of various family bibles are found in scattered issues of Distant Crossroads, the quarterly publication of the Hawkins County Genealogical and Historical Society.


 * Reynolds--Smith--Sanders Family Bible Records, ca. 1789-1957 in Old Family Records Collection, ca. 1754-1966: Hawkins County, Tennessee. FHL US/CAN Film 1550780.

Cemeteries

 * Montgomery, Mary Alice Hurt. Cemetery Census for Hawkins County, Tennessee, Sullivan County, Tennessee and Washington County, Virginia. Kingsport, Tenn.: M.A.H. Montgomery, [2002?]. FHL US/CAN Book 976.896/K1 V3m.

BAPTISTS
The memberships records for Richardson Creek Missionary Baptist Church (near Byrd Creek, Tate Cem, and Chestnut Grove) for 1847-1857, 1874-1875 are transcribed on page 52 of the Jan 1998 edition of Distant Crossroads, the quarterly publication of the Hawkins County (TN) Genealogical and Historical Society.

METHODISTS
Carter Valley - A list of those promising to pay for the securing of ground and building of a parsonage house for the Carter Valley Circuit is found on page 75, Vol 19, No. 3 of Distant Crossroads, the quarterly publication of the Hawkins County (TN) Genealogical and Historical Society, 2002.

Family Histories
It is anticipated that this bibliography will eventually identify all known family histories published about residents of this county. Use this list to:


 * Locate publications about direct ancestors
 * Find the most updated accounts of an ancestor's family
 * Identify publications, to quote Elizabeth Shown Mills, about an ancestor's "FAN Club" [Friends, Associates, and Neighbors]

General


 * Hawkins County Genealogical and Historical Society. Families of Hawkins County, Tennessee. 2 vols. Rogersville, Tenn.: n.p., 1999. FHL US/CAN Book 976.895 D2h v. 1 ff.
 * Old Family Records Collection, ca. 1783-1966: Hawkins County, Tennessee. MSS., FHL US/CAN Film 1550780.
 * Trent, William S. Across the Mountain, Over on Clinch: A Folk History. Talbott, Tenn.: W.S. Trent, 2008. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 D2tw v. 1. [Includes Brown, Cole, Collins, Cope, Hardin, Martin, Stapleton, Trent and other families.]

Bibliography


 * [Acuff] McNamara, Billie R., Acuff Family Archives and Acuff-Ecoff Family Archives. Acuff Ancestors: Quarterly Journal of the Acuff Family Archives. Knoxville, Tenn.: Acuff Family Archives, 1995-[2001]. FHL 929.27305 Ac93.
 * [Arnote] Arnote, James Samuel. James Samuel Arnote, His Life: The Arnote Family or Clan. n.p.: J.S. Arnote, 1959. FHL FAM HIST Book 921.73 Ar66a.
 * [Ballard] Miller, Lynne D. Tennessee Ballards. Lincolnton, Tenn.: L.D. Miller, 2000. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B212mtn; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Barrett] Pyron, Ron. John Clinton Barrett, Tennessee Settler in the Ozarks: The Life and Times of John C. Barrett, His Family and Descendants: With Notes and Excerpts of Findings on the Families of Wm. C. Baldwin and Thomas F. Allen. Greeneville, Tenn.: R. Pyron, 1980. FHL US/CAN Film 1035924 Item 1.
 * [Barrett] Pyron, Ron. The Descendants of Thomas and Winnie Barrett: With Notes on the Origins of the Hawkins County-Tennessee Barretts, Newspapers Clippings, Selected Letters, Wills, Bible Records, and Complete Index. Greeneville, Tenn.: R. Pyron, 1981. FHL US/CAN Film 1035924 Item 2.
 * [Beal] Bounds, Eleanor Poe. Biehl/Beal--Kuefer Descendants. Effingham, Illinois: E.P. Bounds, 1997. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B362be.
 * [Bean] Garner, Hallie. The Bean Tree: Descendants of John Bean of Hawkins County, Tennessee. Dallas, Texas: Garner Services, 2009. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B375g.
 * [Beatty] Beatty, Marvin P. The Beatty Connection: A Genealogical Account of the Beattys Who Came from the Mountains of East Tennessee into the Hills of Southern Indiana. [Morris, Illinois]: M.P. Beatty, 2002. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B38bm 2002.
 * [Booker] Caldwell, Kay Tunnell. Davis S. Booker: A Confederate Soldier from the Cumberland Gap to Vicksburg, 1834-1912. Surgoinsville, Tenn.: K.T. Caldwell, 1994. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B644ck.
 * [Buren] Buren, Dorothy. The Buren Story. Colorado Springs, Colo.: D. Buren, 1961. FHL US/CAN Film 872858 Items 4-5.
 * [Byrd] Minter, Elbert J., Maxine Newton Gibson and Drinkard Funeral Home (Hartselle, Ala.). The Elbert Minter Collection. MSS., Morgan County Archives, Decatur, Ala., FHL US/CAN Film 2315236 Item 1.
 * [Caldwell] Caldwell, Kay Tunnell. The Andrew Caldwell Family of Hawkins County, Tn. Surgoinsville, Tenn.: K.T. Caldwell, 1994. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C127ck.
 * [Campbell] Campbell Family Information, ca. 1718-1915. MSS., Clan Campbell Society, Baton Rouge, La. FHL US/CAN Film 1787180 Item 13.
 * [Campbell] Derby, William B. Draft of Outline Checklist Partly Substantiating a Campbell Legend. FHL FAM HIST Large Q Book 929.273 C152d. [Research of professional genealogical firm Institute of Family Research, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah.]
 * [Cantwell] Belknap, Donald F. Cantwell Family. MSS., 1945. FHL US/CAN Film 1015845 Item 5.
 * [Charles] Smith, Sybil Roberts. The Charles Branch of My Sunshine Tree. [Grove, Oklahoma]: S.R. Smith, 1983. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C38s.
 * [Church] Murray, James Lawrence. Church - Edens Families of Hawkins and Hancock Counties, Tennessee. El Paso, Tex.: J.L. Murray, 1960. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 A1 no. 1487.
 * [Criner] The Criner Family. 199-?. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 A1 no. 7829.
 * [Crockett] Jones, Kathryn E. Crockett Cousins. Graham, Texas: K.E. Jones, 1984. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C872j and Supplement: FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C872j supp.
 * [Dodson] Lehmann, Joy Deal. The Descendants of Elijah Dodson of Yamhill County, Oregon: Six Generations of Descendants Since His Arrival in Oregon Territory in 1847. Novato, Calif.: J. Lehmann, 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D668Lj.
 * [Dyer] Dyer Family. Typescript. FHL US/CAN Film 821597 Item 2.
 * [Dykes] Rowland, Elaine. The William Dykes Family of Hawkins County, Tennessee, 1745-1985. Dallas, Texas: E. Rowland, 1985. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D991f.
 * [Edens] Murray, James Lawrence. Church - Edens Families of Hawkins and Hancock Counties, Tennessee. El Paso, Tex.: J.L. Murray, 1960. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 A1 no. 1487.
 * [Feazel] McCarley, LaJoy DeShane. George L. Feazle of Spring Valley, His Ancestors and Descendants: A Biographical &amp; Historical Genealogy. Fort Worth, Texas: J.D. McCarley, 1980. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 F314m.
 * [Feazel] Gritzbaugh, Sherry Gresham. John O. Feazel of Louisiana: His Ancestors and Descendants. Bellaire, Texas: S.G. Gritzbaugh, 199_?]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 F314g.
 * [Gardner] Myers, Nella Smith. The Gardner Family of East Tennessee. Knoxville, Tenn.: N.S. Myers, 1986. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G171gmn.
 * [Gideon] Gideon, Thomas Jefferson and Gertrude Cleghorn Josserand. Chronological and Biographical History of the Gideon Family of America. Pratt, Kansas: G.C. Josserand, 1949?. FHL US/CAN Film 1783413 Item 12.
 * [Greer] Shanks, Mary Jo. The Family of Joel Stacy Greer of Hawkins County, Tennessee. n.p.: M.J. Shanks, 1996. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G859sm.
 * [Grigsby] Grigsby Family Genealogical Collection, ca. 1789-1960. MSS., FHL US/CAN Film 1550779, 1550781, 1550783.
 * [Grigsby] Grigsby Family Records. MSS., FHL US/CAN Film 972671-972675.
 * [Grigsby] Compton, William H. Descendants of Nathaniel Grigsby, 1806-1859. Knoxville, Tenn.: W. Compton, 198-. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G878c.
 * [Gulley] Shockey, Amanda Rudder Taylor. Rudder &amp; Relatives. Camden, Ohio: A.R. Shockey, 1993?. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R831saa.
 * [Hileman] Garner, Hallie. Adam Trevey Hileman Family of Hawkins County, Tennessee. Dallas, Texas: H. P. Garner, 2007. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H547g.
 * [Huffmaster] Huffmaster, James T. Huffmaster-Hoffmeister Family Records. [Galveston, Texas: Oscar Springer Print], 1922. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H872h; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Hutchisson] Hutchisson, Elmer. Family of Benjamin Hutchisson, 1765-1852. Portola Valley, Calif.: E. Hutchisson, 1976. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H97he.
 * [Jones] Cook, Margaret W. and Rosella Dykes Faulk. Daniel Jones and His Descendants. Tennessee: Hawkins County Genealogical &amp; Historical Society, 2001. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 J713c.
 * [Jones] Garner, Hallie. Keeping Up with the Joneses: The Descendants of Peter Paul Jones of Hawkins County, Tennessee. Dallas, Texas: H. P. Garner, 2009. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 J723g.
 * [Lee] Johnston, Weldon. Some of the Descendants of Capt. Thomas Lee of Hawkins Co., Tennessee. Loudon, Tenn.: n.p., 1972. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L515j.
 * [Livingston] Bass, Elise Livingston, Joanna Livingston Matthews and Leonard Livingston. The Livingston Cousins of Tennessee: A History of the Jacob Livingston Family, His Descendants and Their Cousins. Spartanburg, S.C.: Reprint Company Publishers, 1994. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L762be and two supplements.
 * [Long] Long--Batchelor--Purcell Families, ca. 1776-1957. MSS., FHL US/CAN Film 1435497 Item 1.
 * [Looney] Tompkins, Norma L. Looney, Hawkins County. Dallas, Tex.: N. Tompkins, 2000. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L873t.
 * [Maddox] Thompson, Paul Terry. Fathers &amp; Sons of Thomas Maddox. Stockton, Calif.: P.T. Thompson, 1987. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M264t.
 * [Mallory] Boyett, Woodrow W. Mama's Tennessee and Virginia Mallorys (with Index). Tuscaloosa, Ala.: W.W. Boyett, 1991. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B696bw supp.
 * [Manis] Spencer Owen Public Library (Spencer, Ind.). Manis--Maners Family Information. Typescript., FHL US/CAN Film 1313127 Item 24.
 * [Manis] Breazeale, E.V. and Ruth Ellen Maness. Manes, Maness, Mainess, Manis, Manus, Maners, Menees and Related Surnames: (The E. V. Breazeale Collection). FHL US/CAN Film 1307671-1307674.
 * [Manis] Breazeale, E.V. Descendants of Jacob Wilson Manes. Springfield, Mo.: E.V. Breazeale, 1977. FHL US/CAN Film 1307671.
 * [Moneyhun] Eppard, Sarah Elizabeth. The Moneyhuns of Copper Ridge, Hawkins County, Tennessee: John and Pharaba (Sizemore) Moneyhun and Some of Their Many Descendants. Indianapolis, Ind.: S. E. Eppard, 1974. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M746e; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Mosley] McCloskey, Cheryl Moore. Descendants of William Mosley, Sr. Early Resident, Floyd County, Kentucky, via Hawkins County, Tennessee, via Rockingham County, North Carolina: Allied Families, Boggs, Bolen, Boyd, Calhoun, Castell/Steel/Steele, Gearheart/Gayhart, Hale, Hicks, Hignite, Kitchen, Moore, Scutchfield, Stephens, Thornsbury. Villa Hills, Ky.: C.M. McCloskey, 2004. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M853mc.
 * [Phillips] Phillips, Helen L. and James R. Shults. Jonas Phillips and Descendants: Children of the Mountains. Cosby, Tenn.: H. Phillips, 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 P544p; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Price] Garner, Hallie. The Ancestry and Descendants of Henry Price, Jr. of Hawkins Co., Tennessee. Dallas, Texas: Garner Services, 2001. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 P931gh.
 * [Reynolds] Reynolds, John Hughes (b. 1846). Reynolds. Rome, Ga.?: J.H. Reynolds, 1900?. FHL US/CAN Film 1698017 Item 13.
 * [Riddle] Plum, Fred W. Genealogy of the Riddle Family, 1760 to 1965: 205 Years. Texas?: F.W. Plum, 1965. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R431pf.
 * [Riddle] Plum, Fred W. History &amp; Genealogy of the Riddle Family from 1760-1973, 213 Years. Mt. Pleasant, Tex.: Jack Firmin, 1973. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R431p; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Riddle] Riddle, Chauncey Cazier and Bertha Allred Riddle. Isaac Riddle and His Family. Provo, Utah: C.C. &amp; B.A. Riddle, 1990. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R431rc 1990.
 * [Riddle] Hill, Mary E. Vassel. William Riddle, 1740-1781. Provo, Utah: M.E.V. Hill, 1997. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R431hme.
 * [Riddle] Riddle, Chauncey Cazier and Bertha Allred Riddle. The Descendants of John Riddle, 1803-1887. 3 vols. Provo, Utah: C.C. Riddle, 1997-2003. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R431rcc v. 1 ff.
 * [Risner] Gausel, Kurt. The Risner Family of Eastern Kentucky. 4 vols. + index. Salyersville, Ky.: Magoffin County Historical and Genealogical Society, 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R494ri ff.
 * [Rogers] Huskey, Allan. The Joseph Rogers Papers. 2 vols. St. Louis, Missouri: A. Huskey, 1990. FHL FAM HIST Book 921.73 R632j ff.
 * [Shelton] Casey, Harold and Robert Brooks Casey. Shelton, Wininger and Pace Families. Stillwater, Oklahoma: H. Casey, 1988. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sh44c.
 * [Sizemore] Parrish, Verle H. Who's Who in My Sizemore Family. Georgetown, Ky.: V.H. Parrish, 1989. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Si99p.
 * [Smith] Smith, Leland L. Gone to Texas; Texas and Tennessee Smiths: and Related Breeding, Burleson, Burris, Chamblee, Fincher, Graves, Green, Grigsby, Haynes, Hill, Hobgood, Jones, King, Lewis, McMinn, Owen, Powell, Ridley, Shipman, Spears, Strickland, Taylor, and Turner Families of the South. 3 vols. Austin, Texas: Historical Pub., 1999-2000. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sm51sLL ff [FHL lacks v. 2].
 * [Spears] Spears, Helen R. Families of Samuel Spears, 1761-2001. Fountain Valley, Calif.: Joy Pub., 2002. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sp31sh.
 * [Thompson] Caldwell, Kay Tunnell. Davis S. Booker: A Confederate Soldier from the Cumberland Gap to Vicksburg, 1834-1912. Surgoinsville, Tenn.: K.T. Caldwell, 1994. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B644ck.
 * [Vaughan] Frandsen, Margaret Walter Croom and Jean Knight Whalen. The History of William Vaughan and Related Families. [Las Vegas, Nevada?]: M.A. Frandsen, 1989. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 V465f.
 * [Webb] Webb, Earl F. The Webb Genealogy: This is a Record of the Men Who were Born Webbs, as Well as the Women They Chose to Begat More Webbs; Also the Girls Who were Born Webbs and the Husbands They Married to Father the Children of the Allied Families, Who Carried On and Perpetuated the Long Line. Dayton, Ohio: E.F. Webb, 1982. FHL US/CAN Film 1033908 Item 1.
 * [Williams] Williams, Deward C. Our Yankee Kinfolk: Our Cumberland Mountain Kinfolk, Our Noble English Ancestry of Three PK's, Preacher's kids, Deward Charles Williams, Jr., Donald Eugene Williams, Betty Marie Williams Spitze. [Sesser?, Ill.: D.C. Williams, 193-?]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W671d.
 * [Winegar] Doane, Lillian. Wineinger--Wininger--Winegar, ca. 1781-1981. MSS., FHL US/CAN Film 1443516 Item 3.
 * [Witt] Fisher, William Scott and Julieann Witt Fisher. Tales of Witt: The Lives and Times of Our Witt Family Ancestors. Fruit Heights, Utah: W.S. Fisher, 1996. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W783f; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.

Land
Deeds

The original Hawkins County Deed Books are held at the Hawkins County Courthouse. The Tennessee State Library and Archives microfilmed Deed Books 1-39 (1787-1894) and General Indexes (1787-1906) in 1974. Copies of these films are also available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Films 972798-972815.

Some of these records have been abstracted:


 * [1788-1800] Historical Records Project (Tennessee). Deed Books, 1788-1800, Hawkins County, Tennessee. Typescript, Tennessee State Library, Nashville, Tenn. FHL US/CAN Film 24686 Item 3.
 * [1788-1861] Historical Records Survey (Tennessee). General Index to Deeds, 1788-1861, Hawkins County, Tennessee. Typescript, Tennessee State Library, Nashville, Tenn. FHL US/CAN Film 24687.
 * [1801-1819] Murray, Joyce Martin. Hawkins County, Tennessee, Deed Abstracts, 1801-1819. Dallas, Texas: J.M. Murray, 1998. FHL US/CAN Book 976.895 R2m.
 * [1802-1860] Hawkins County Genealogical and Historical Society (Rogersville, Tennessee). Hawkins County Deeds 1802-1860 (Selected). n.p.: Hawkins County Genealogical &amp; Historical Society, 2008. FHL CD-ROM no. 5624.

Land Grants

The original Hawkins County Land Grant Books are held at the Hawkins County Archival Project in Rogersville, Tenn. The Genealogical Society of Utah microfilmed Land Grant Books 1-2 (1784-1819) in 2007: FHL US/CAN Film 2421541 Items 1-2.

Billie R. McNamara abstracted, indexed, and published these records:


 * McNamara, Billie R. Hawkins County, Tennessee Land Grant Books 1 &amp; 2, 1787-1819. Knoxville, Tenn.: B.R. McNamara, 1996. FHL US/CAN Book 976.895 R29m.

Occupations

 * Gump, Lucy Kennerly and Thomas Amis. Amis Ledger: Interpretive Transcription of an East Tennessee Business Record Book. 2 vols. Johnson City, Tenn.: L.K. Gump, 1996. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 U3g v. 1 ff.

Probate
Wills

The original Hawkins County Wills are held at the Hawkins County Archival Project in Rogersville, Tenn. In the 1970s, the Tennessee State Library and Archives microfilmed some of these records covering the years 1797-1910. A copy of their film is also available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Film 972797. In 2007, the Genealogical Society of Utah microfilmed wills (1779-1975) and an index covering the same years: FHL/VAULT US/CAN Films 1572779 Items 2-3, 1572794, 1572795, 1572805 Item 1.

These records have been abstracted multiple times:


 * [1786-1864] Eugenia Lauderdale Messick's book Hawkins County, Tennessee Wills, 1786-1864 (FHL US/CAN Book 976.895 P2m Vol 1) contains complete TRANSCRIPTIONS of the surviving wills that were copied by the County Court Clerk sometime after the Civil War, as the original will books of Hawkins County, Tennessee were destroyed by fire in 1863. The every name index makes her book a powerful starting point in researching the wills of Hawkins County, Tennessee.
 * [1786-1851] Bell, Annie W.B. Hawkins County, Tennessee Marriages and Wills, 1786-1851. 1934. FHL US/CAN Film 896967 Item 3.
 * [1786-1886] Gardner, Carolyn S. and Sheila W. Johnston. Wills of Hawkins County, Tennessee. Rogersville, Tenn.: Hawkins County Genealogical &amp; Historical Society, 1991. FHL US/CAN Book 976.895 P2g v. 1.
 * [1797-1886] Historical Records Project (Tennessee). Will Books, 1797-1886, Hawkins County, Tennessee. Typescript, The Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tenn. FHL US/CAN Film 24689.

Taxation
The original Hawkins County Tax Books (1879-1880, 1886, 1892-1893) are held at the Hawkins County Courthouse. The Tennessee State Library and Archives microfilmed these records in the 1970s. Copies of these films are also available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Film 972820-972821.


 * [1809-1812] Hawkins County, Tennessee, 1809-1812 Tax List. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 A1 no. 95.
 * [1836] Douthat, James L. 1836 Hawkins County, Tennessee Civil Districts and Tax Lists. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 1994. FHL US/CAN Book 976.895 R4d.

Societies and Libraries
H. B. Stamps Library 407 East Main Street Rogersville, Tennessee 37857

A guide to the Genealogy Room at the H. B. Stamp Library is found on pages 76-77, Vol 19 No 3 (2003) of Distant Crossroads, the quarterly publication of the Hawkins County (TN) Genealogical and Historical Society.

Websites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Family History Library Catalog