Davidson County, Tennessee Genealogy

United States &gt; Tennessee &gt; Davidson County

Parent County
1783--Davidson County was created 6 October 1783 from Washington County. County seat: Nashville

Record Loss
1856 -- Courthouse burned and many records were damaged.

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

Populated Places
Cities and Towns:

African American
Employment Rolls and Nonpayment Rolls of Negroes Employed in the Defenses of Nashville, Tennessee, 1862-1863 Index On-line.

In 1862 Nashville built a series of forts around the city. The project was built by Union soldiers and impressed slaves and free black workers in just five months. This site lists the laborers employed August 1, 1862 to April 1, 1863. The site gives the name of the slave, the slave owner and the file number.

Cemeteries
For a list of Davidson county cemeteries, click here.

Directories
Nashville City Directories are available for most years between 1853 and 1997 at the Tennnessee State Archives. Digitzed copies are available online for the following years:


 * 1853
 * 1855-56
 * 1857
 * 1859
 * 1860
 * 1865
 * 1880
 * 1924

Vital Records

 * Statewide Index to Tennessee Death Records 1908-1912  Online index from Tennessee State Library and Archives.
 * Statewide Index to Tennessee Death Records 1914-1930.  Online index from Tennessee State Library and Archives.
 * Davidson County Death Records 1900-1913 Online index from Tennessee State Library and Archives. Many of these records do not appear in the Tennessee Death Records 1908-1912.
 * Some Davidson county marriage records are indexed at . At this time it is better to search from the main page, and not to go directly to the Tennessee marriage collection. On main page titled "Discover your Ancestors", enter either a full name or surname only.  Choose "event" as marriage with no year range.  For location, enter "Davidson, Tennessee, United States".  Marriages as late as 1955 are indexed in this collection.

Societies and Libraries
The Nashville Public Library has a significant collection of Davidson County records. They have posted an online index to Nashville marriages 1864-1905 and Nashville obituaries 1964 to the present. Obituaries from 2006 are available in full text with a Nashville Library card. Copies of obituaries can be accessed at the library or at the Tennessee State Library and Archives. For a $15 fee, up to 5 obituaries will be researched, copied and mailed to those unable to research in person.

The Metropolitan Government Archives, a division of the Nashville Public Library, contains historical records of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County. The hours are 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Metro Archives 3801 Green Hills Village Drive Nashville, TN 37215 Phone: (615) 862-5880

Family History Centers
Dickson Ward Tennessee 100 Brown Rd Burns, Davidson, Tennessee, United States Phone: 615-441-1006 Hours: T-Th 10am-2:30pm; W 6pm-8pm; Th 3:30pm-7:30pm; 3rd Sat 10am-2:30pm Closed: closed all holidays. the need for any other closing's will be posted on the door at the building.

Madison Tennessee 107 Twin Hills Dr Madison, Davidson, Tennessee, United States Phone: 615-859-6926 Hours: T-Th 10am-2pm, 7pm-9pm; Sat 10am-12pm

These are not mailing addresses. Due to limited staff, Family History Centers are unable to respond to mail inquiries.

Websites

 * Family History Library Catalog
 * Davidson County, TNGenWeb
 * Friends of Metropolitan Archives of Nashville &amp; Davidson County. Online Records