Bedford County, Tennessee Genealogy

United States   Tennessee    Bedford County





Middle Tennessee county in the Chestnut Ridge region. Established 1807.

County Courthouse
Bedford County Courthouse 1 Public Square Shelbyville, Tennessee 37160 931-684-3223

Bedford County Clerk Marriage and Probate Records 104 Northside Square (US Bank Building Basement) Shelbyville, TN 37160 Phone: 931-684-1921

Bedford County Register of Deeds Land Records 108 Northside Square (US Bank Building Basement) Shelbyville, TN 37160 Phone: 931-684-5719

Bedford County Circuit Court Clerk Court Records 1 Public Square, Suite 101 (Second Floor Courthouse) Shelbyville, TN 37160 Phone: 937-684-3223

Hours: Monday-Friday 8 am to 4 pm Saturday 8 am-12 pm

History
The county is named after "Revolutionary War officer Thomas Bedford, who was a large landowner in the area."

Parent County
1807--Bedford County was created 3 December 1807 from Rutherford County. County seat: Shelbyville

Record Loss
1863 and 1934 -- Courthouse burned and many records were damaged.


 * Lost censuses: 1810, 1890
 * All records before 1837, except deeds.
 * Some record loss between 1837 and 1865 due to fire.

For further information on researching in burned counties, see the following:


 * Burned Counties Research in FamilySearch Wiki
 * Michael John Neill, Burned Counties in Family History Circle
 * When the Records are Gone in Arlene Eakle's Tennessee Genealogy Blog

Populated Places
Cities and Towns:

Research Guides

 * Genealogical "Fact Sheets" About Tennessee Counties: Bedford County, courtesy: Tennessee State Library and Archives. (Identifies published county histories, published local records, census records, newspapers and local records on microfilm, and select manuscripts.)
 * "Bedford County Genealogical Records Survey," The Middle Tennessee Journal of Genealogy and History, Vol. 2, No. 4 (Spring 1989). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * "Checklist for Searching Middle Tennessee before 1820," The Middle Tennessee Journal of Genealogy and History, Vol. 12, No. 1 (Summer 1998). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * Historical Records Survey (Tennessee) Inventory of the county archives of Tennessee no. 2, Bedford County (Shelbyville) Nashville, Tennessee : Tennessee Historical Records Survey Project, 1940 FHL book 976.858 A3 Digital version available at BYU Family History Archives

General Advice
A good place to start is Byron and Samuel Sistler's Every Name Index to 18 Middle Tennessee County Record Books (Nashville, Tenn.: Byron Sistler &amp; Associates, Inc., 1992) FHL US/CAN 976.8 P22sb. It is a comprehensive index to nine publications about Bedford County, Tennessee records. It also covers records from nearby Giles and Lincoln counties.

Cemeteries

 * Find A Grave can be searched by the name of a person or family to find where a person is buried. Usually gives birth and death dates often with a picture of the tombstone.  May give obituaries, names of family members and links to their information in Find A Grave.


 * Find A Grave also gives a list of cemeteries in Bedford County linking to the information about the people buried there,

* Bedford Co. TN Cemetery Records, part of the TNGenWeb Cemetery Database, lists many cemeteries in the county, often with indexes and transcripts of the burials.


 * Bedford County, Tennessee, USGenWeb Tombstone Transcription Project lists many cemeteries in the county and has transcripts of the tombstones arranged by cemetery.


 * Bradley County cemetery transcriptions with additional information on TNGenweb Project


 * The Family History Library Catalog lists some records and indexes of cemeteries in Bedford County. Some of the books or others may be on Google Books or available at public libraries.


 * ePodunk list of Bedford County cemeteries

Census
1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 federal population schedules of Bedford County are available online. For tips on accessing census records online, see Tennessee Census. If you're having trouble finding your ancestors in online indexes, try checking printed indexes. Created by local experts, these indexes are often transcribed more accurately than those available online.

See Tennessee Population Schedule Indexes: Fiche, Film, or Book for more information about statewide printed indexes.

1800 - Lost, but a substitute is available, see Taxation.

1810 - Lost, but a substitute is available:


 * Sherrill, Charles A. The Reconstructed 1810 Census of Tennessee: 33,000 Long-lost Records from Tax Lists, Court Minutes, Church Records, Wills, Deeds and Other Sources. Mt. Juliet, Tenn.: C.A. Sherrill, 2001..

1820


 * Bentley, Elizabeth P. Index to the 1820 Census of Tennessee. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1981.
 * Porch, Deane. Bedford County, Tennessee, 1820 Census. Nashville, Tennessee: Deane Porch, 1969.


 * Index and transcription to 1820 Federal Census, Bedford Tennessee located at USGenWeb Census Project.

1830


 * Sistler, Byron. 1830 Census-Middle Tennessee. Evanston, Illinois: Byron Sistler &amp; Assoc., 1971.

1850


 * Bell, Annie W. B. Family Records of Bedford County, Tennessee as Given the United States Census Taker in 1850.s.p., 19--?.
 * Porch, Deane. 1850 Census of Bedford County, Tennessee.s.p., 1968.

1860


 * Index and transcription to the 1860 Federal Census, Bedford Tennesseelocated at USGenWeb Census Project.
 * Transcription to 1860 Federal Census, Rover, Bedford, Tennessee.

1880


 * Sistler, Byron et al. 1880 Census-Tennessee: Transcription for Bedford County. Easley, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press: 198--?

1890-Lost but a substitute is available


 * Sistler, Byron H. and Barbara Sistler. 1890 Civil War Veterans Census, Tennessee. Evanston, Ill.: Byron Sister and Associates, 1978..

Church
Methodist Episcopal


 * Mathews, Reverend John D.D. Peeps into Life Autobiography. Methodist Episcopal Church Tennessee Conference, 1904. Free digital copy.

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


 * Poplin, Dick. Bedford County, Tennessee Family History Book. Paducah, Ky.: Turner Pub. Co., 2002. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8583 D2b.

Bibliography


 * [Chappell] Chappell, Anne Lorean Young and Florence Guttery. Chappells and Stanleys of Bedford County, TN; Jasper County, GA; Fayette and Tuscaloosa Counties, AL; and Hill and Johnston Counties, TX: Information By and About These and Allied Families and Neighbors Acquired from Various Public and Private Sources Including Personal Family Letters and a Transcript of the Voluminous Estate Records of Miles Chappell, 1790-1887. Memphis, Texas: A.L.Y. Chappell, 1997. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C368cs.
 * [Dickson] Smith, Austin Wheeler. The Dickson-McEwen and Allied Families Genealogy. Cookeville, TN: Unknown, 1945. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D561s. Digital version available at Heritage Quest Online ($).
 * [Eakin] Burdette, Benjamin L. The Eakin Family: Excerpts from Memoirs of Family Members Who Came from Ireland to Shelbyville, Bedford County, Tennessee, in the Year 1822: Records from the Deed Books of Bedford County, Tennessee and Inscriptions from Grave Stones in the Eakin--Cowan Section of the Old Shelbyville Cemetery in Shelbyville, Bedford County, Tennessee. Typescript, donated in 1960. FHL US/CAN Film 896607 Item 1.
 * [Elkins] One page summary of Rev. Asa Elkins and family. BYU Family History Archive
 * [Ferguson] Ferguson, Herman W. Descendants of James and Elizabeth Fleming Ferguson: Bedford County (Now Marshall), Tennessee. Rocky Mount, N.C.: H. Ferguson, 1988. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 F381fhw.
 * [Frost] Frost, Wright Wilson. The Frosts and Related Families of Bedford County, Tennessee. Knoxville, TN: W.W. Frost, c1962. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 F929f and FHL US/CAN Fiche 6104871; digital versions at Heritage Quest Online ($) and World Vital Records ($).
 * [Frost] Frost, Wright Wilson. A Supplement to the Frosts and Related Families from Bedford County, Tennessee. Knoxville, Tenn.: W.W. Frost, 1962, 1972. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 F929f supp. 1.
 * [Gray] Greenlee, Martha Sansom. Capt. William Gray, 1754-1841, and Some Descendants: Pension, Court, Cemetery, Census, and Old Newspaper Records from Washington, D.C.; Bedford County, Tennessee; Christian County, Kentucky; Gibson County, Indiana; Vanderburgh County, Indiana. Typescript, Willard Library, Evansville, Ind. FHL US/CAN Film 1481371 Item 10.
 * [McEwen] See Dickson.
 * [Norvell] Norvell, Grace. James Norvell of Colonial Goochland County, Virginia; the Virginia Collection; James Norvell of Bedford County, Tennessee. Austin, Texas: Grace Norvell, 1988. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 N829n.
 * [Norvell] Norvell, Grace. James Norvell of Colonial Goochland County, Virginia: Line of Capt. Hugh Norvell of Williamsburg with Some Indications of His Tidewater Ancestry; Hugh Norvell of Mecklenburg County, Virginia and James Norvell of Granville County, North Carolina; James Norvell of Bedford County, Tennessee. n.p.: G. Norvell, 1996. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 N829ng.
 * [Roberts] Turbett, James A. The Roberts--Smith Book: The Roberts and Smith Families of Upcountry South Carolina; Bedford County, Tennessee; Coffee County, Tennessee; Hamilton County, Tennessee; and Boone County, Arkansas. Alexandria, Va.: J.A. Turbett, 1994?. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R541t.
 * [Thompson] Schack, Elizabeth Thompson and Mary Thompson-Lewis LeBrecht. John Theophilus Thompson (1750s-1826): Some Ancestors and Descendants in Frederick County, Maryland; Orange County, North Carolina; Bedford County, Tennessee. New York, N.Y.: E.T. Schack &amp; M.T.-L. LeBrecht, 1997. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 T374s.

Land
The organization Strictly By Name provides free online indexes to early Bedford County land records. They offer a research service to photocopy and transcribe microfilm copies of the original documents for a small fee. Here are the indexes:


 * 1) Land Records Vol. A: 1808-1809
 * 2) Land Records Vol. B: 1809-1811

Law and Legislation

 * Tennessee State Library and Archives, Acts of Tennessee 1796-1850: Index to Names. January 25, 2005. [In addition to creating new laws, legislative acts were often required to obtain a divorce, grant legitimacy to a child, or for appointments to or grant payments for public service.] Tennessee State Library and Archives has created an index to names that appear in these acts covering the years 1796 to 1850. To read more about this valuable resource Click here. The searchable index is available at The Tennessee State Library and Archives; another version is available at World Vital Records.

Military
Revolutionary War


 * Marsh, Helen C. and Timothy R. Marsh. Soldiers of the Revolution in Bedford County, Tennessee. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1989. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8583 M2m.

Occupations

 * Miller, Alan N. Middle Tennessee's Forgotten Children: Apprentices from 1784 to 1902. Baltimore, Md.: Printed for Clearfield Company, Inc., by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2004. FHL US/CAN 976.8 U2ma. Purchase at Genealogical.com. [Includes Bedford County.]

Periodicals
Tap into the minds of local experts. Editors of genealogical periodicals publish unique sources that researchers who are new to their area would not likely discover. This type of material may be found in local, regional, or statewide genealogical society journals. The following periodicals cover this county:

Ansearchin' News

Several genealogical articles with abstracts of records of Bedford County, Tennessee have been published in Ansearchin' News, the quarterly magazine of the Tennessee Genealogical Society. To view a list of these articles, visit their county index. To read digitized versions of the first 36 years of articles (Vols. 1-36), browse their archive or conduct a surname search. The Family History Library has a complete collection of the Ansearchin' News quarterly FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a.

Bedford County Historical Quarterly

The Bedford County Historical Society first met in 1954. In July 1965, the society was formally organized. The Family History Library has most issues beginning with Spring 1975 and is kept current. Vol. 11, no. 4 (winter 1985), v. 12, no. 4 (winter 1986) and v. 24, no. 4 (winter 1998) are special editions which include indexes to previous quarterlies. FHL US/CAN 976.8583 B2b For additional information see website: Bedford County Historical Society. Indexed in PERiodical Source Index (PERSI).

The Middle Tennessee Journal of Genealogy and History

Several genealogical articles with abstracts of records of Bedford County, Tennessee have been published in The Middle Tennessee Journal of Genealogy and History, the quarterly of the Middle Tennessee Genealogical Society (23+ Vols.). To view a list of these articles, visit their online Index to Articles (1988-2005). Surname indexes are also available online for Vols. 2-22. The website also offers back issues for sale in paper and on CD. The Family History Library has a complete collection of this quarterly FHL US/CAN Book 976.85 D25m.

Prisons
Learn if your Bedford County ancestors went to prison!


 * Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1831-1850, free index available online, courtesy: Tennessee State Library and Archives.
 * Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1851-1870, free index available online, courtesy: Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Taxation
The following Bedford County tax records have been abstracted:


 * [1809] "Sheriff Announces Unpaid 1809 Taxes in Bedford County," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 48, No. 3 (Fall 2001):58. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * [1812] Duncan, Ruth Henley G. "Bedford County, Tennessee Tax List - 1812," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 7, No. 1 (Jan. 1960):17-22; Vol. 7, No. 2 (Apr. 1960):46-49; Vol. 7, No. 3 (Jul. 1960):69-72; Vol. 7, No. 4 (Oct. 1960):94-97; Vol. 8, No. 1 (Jan. 1961):24-27; Vol. 8, No. 2 (Apr. 1961):53-56; Vol. 8, No. 3 (Jul. 1961):99-102; Vol. 8, No. 4 (Oct. 1961):126-128. For FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * [1812] Tax List, 1812, Bedford County Historical Quarterly. Shelbyville TN: Spring 1975. Vol. 1 Iss. 1; Summer 1975. Vol. 1 Iss. 2; Fall 1975. Vol. 1 Iss. 3; Winter 1975. Vol. 1 Iss. 4; Spring 1976. Vol. 2 Iss. 1; Summer 1976. Vol. 2 Iss. 2; Fall 1976. Vol. 2 Iss. 3.
 * [1812] Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Index to Early Tennessee Tax Lists. Evanston, Ill.: B. &amp; B. Sistler, 1977. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 R4s. [Includes 1812 tax list.]
 * [1814] "Direct Federal Tax-Delinquent Property Owners Listed for 1814," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 43, No. 3(Fall 1996):115-120. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals. [Includes Bedford County.]
 * [1816] "Bedford County Lands Auctioned Off for Unpaid 1816 Taxes," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 43, No. 4(Winter 1996):180. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * [1817] "U.S. Holds 1817 Public Sale of Federal Tax-Delinquent Properties in Tennessee," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 43, No. 2 (Summer 1996):63-68. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals. [Includes Bedford County.]
 * [1836] Tax List, 1836, Bedford County Historical Quarterly. Shelbyville TN: Winter 1977. Vol. 3 Iss. 4; Spring 1978. Vol. 4 Iss. 1; Summer 1978. Vol. 4 Iss. 2; Fall 1978. Vol. 4 Iss. 3; Winter 1978. Vol. 4 Iss. 4; Spring 1979. Vol. 5 Iss. 1; Summer 1979. Vol. 5 Iss. 2; Fall 1979. Vol. 5 Iss. 3; Winter 1979. Vol. 5 Iss. 4; Spring 1980. Vol. 6 Iss. 1; Summer 1980. Vol. 6 Iss. 2; Fall 1980. Vol. 6 Iss. 3.
 * [1836] Tax List, 1836, Bedford County Historical Quarterly. Shelbyville TN: Winter 2004. Vol. 30 Iss. 4.
 * [1878] Tax List of Corporation of Shelbyville, 1878, Bedford County Historical Quarterly. Shelbyville TN: Winter 1980. Vol. 6 Iss. 4.
 * [1890] Tax Record, 1890, Bedford County Historical Quarterly. Shelbyville TN: Summer 1984. Vol. 10 Iss. 2; Fall 1984. Vol. 10 Iss. 3; Winter 1984. Vol. 10 Iss. 4; Spring 1985. Vol. 11 Iss. 1; Summer 1985. Vol. 11 Iss. 2; Fall 1985. Vol. 11 Iss. 3; Winter 1985. Vol. 11 Iss. 4.
 * [1891-1893] Tax Releases, 1891-93, Bedford County Historical Quarterly. Shelbyville TN: Summer 1988. Vol. 14 Iss. 2.

Vital Records
Marriages

Many early Bedford County marriage records are lost. The following publication, based on early newspapers that survived courthouse fires, may serve as a substitute:


 * Lucas, Silas Emmett. Marriages from Early Tennessee Newspapers 1794-1851. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1978. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 V2L.

The following Bedford County Courthouse marriages have been abstracted and/or indexed:


 * Lucas, Silas Emmett and Ella Lee Sheffield. 35,000 Tennessee Marriage Records and Bonds 1783-1870. 3 vols. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1981. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 V2t v. 1 ff. [Abstracts include names of brides, grooms, bondsmen, marriage bond dates, and officiators for weddings in this county. Marriage data taken from an index card file at the Tennessee State Library and Archives. Authors do not specify whether or not the card index completely indexes this county's marriages.]

Deaths

For deaths of Methodists in Bedford County between the 1830s and the 1920s, try:


 * Smith, Jonathan K.T. Genealogical Abstracts from Reported Deaths, the Nashville Christian Advocate. [1847-1914] 10 vols. [Jackson, Tenn.]: J.K.T. Smith, 1997-2003. FHL US/CAN Books 976.855/N1 V48s 1847-1851 ff; digital versions at David Donahue Memorial: Tennessee Records Repository. [Website expands upon the publications and includes deaths from the 1830s, 1840s, 1910s and 1920s.]

Libraries

 * Argie Cooper Public Library 100 South Main Street, Shelbyville, TN 37160-3984 Tel: 931-684-7323 Website: http://www.acolibrary.com/index.htm Summer hours: M T Th 9:00-8:00 W F Sa 9:00-5:00 Winter hours: M T Th 9:00-8:00 W F Sa 9:00- 5:00 Su 1:00-4:00 The Argie Cooper Publuc Library has books related to genealogy and local area history as well as books from other regions of the States. Mirofilms of census and county newspapers. Family name file clippings. obituaries and associated clippings from old newspapers.
 * Linebaugh Public Library 105 West Vine Street Murfreesboro, TN 37130-3673 Tel: 615-893-4131 Hours: M T W Th 9:00 - 9:00 F Sa 9:00 - 5:00 Su 1:00 - 6:00 Website: http://www.linebaugh.org/ The Linebauch Library System services Linebaugh, Eagleville and Smyrna. Though it does not appear to draw attention to its genealogy collection, a search of the online catalog for the word genealogy brings up nearly 4,000 titles.
 * East Tennessee Historical Center Street Address: 601 South Gay Street Knoxville, Tennessee 37901-1629 Tel: 865-215-8824 Website: http://www.easttnhistory.org/ Email: eths@east-tennessee-history.org Mailing Address: PO Box 1629, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901-1629 Hours: (Eastern Time): Monday &amp; Tuesday 9:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Thursday, &amp; Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.; Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. The East Tennessee Historical Center is the home of the East Tennessee Historical Society. It has a museum, programs, and exhibits that showcase the East Tennessee History. The associated Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection ranks among the top research and genealogical libraries in the Southeast. From rare manuscript collections, an extensive photograp collection, maps, and books. the McClung Collection is your gateway to exploring the family's and history of the East Tennessee region.

Societies
Bedford County Historical Society P. O. Box 141 Shelbyville, Tennessee 37162

Middle Tennessee Genealogical Society PO Box 330948 Nashville, TN, USA 37203-7507 The society serves the 40 counties of middle Tennessee of which Bedford County is one. It publishes The Middle Tennessee Journal of Genealogy &amp; History, a quarterly containing articles of genealogical and historical interest. Little-known Tennessee records are published and indexed, along with family genealogies, Bible records and material submitted by members. There is an alphabetical Index to articles in the Journal 1988-summer 2005

Web Sites

 * Bedford County, Tennessee Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Bedford County, TN Family History and Genealogy Message Board (Ancestry)
 * Bedford County, TN Genealogy Forum (GenForum)
 * Bedford County, TNGenWeb (USGenWeb)
 * Chestnut Ridge Cousins Genealogy Records, Surname Exchange, Maps, Obituaries, Photos, History
 * Family History Library Catalog (FamilySearch)
 * RootsWeb Mailing List: TN-CHESTNUTRIDGECOUSINS-L (Chestnut Ridge Region Genealogy List)
 * RootsWeb Mailing List: TN-SOUTHCENTRAL-L (South Central Tennessee List)