Madison County, Tennessee Genealogy

Guide to Madison County, Tennessee ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
Madison County was named for founding father and president, James Madison. The county is located in the west-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Madison County Courthouse 100 East Main, Room 105 Jackson, TN 38301 County Courthouse Phone: 731-423-6022 County Clerk Phone: 731-423-6022 Chancery Court Phone: 731-423-6030 Register of Deeds Phone: 731-423-6089

Madison County Circuit Court Clerk 515 S. Liberty Street, Suite 200 Jackson, TN 38301 Circuit Court Clerk Phone: 731-423-6035 County Clerk has marriage records from 1823 (except 1833-1845), Probate records from 1825 Register of Deeds has land records.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

History Timeline
Additional Information

West Tennessee county established 1821.

The county is named after President James Madison (1751-1836).

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

 * West Tennessee's Forgotten Children: Apprentices from 1821 to 1889. 2006. By Alan N. Miller. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield Company. . Online at MyHeritage ($). Includes Madison County.

Cemeteries
Additional Cemetery Resources
 * Tennessee Cemeteries - Hometown Locator

Census Records
1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 federal population censuses of Madison 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 familiar with the area's families, these indexes are often transcribed more accurately than nationwide online indexes.

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

See Madison County, TN census assignments, including links to transcribed files. The USGenWeb Census Project®

1810-1891
 * Tennessee, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1810-1891 at Ancestry ($)

1840 Pensioners


 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing, 1967. . 1841 edition digitized by the U.S. Census Bureau and Google books et. al. See Tennessee, Western District, Madison County on page 159.

1850


 * Carpenter, Mrs. V.K. Seventh census of the United States, 1850 Madison County, Tennessee,population schedules Huntsville, Arkansas Century Enterprises Genealogical Services, 1971
 * Free African Americans Listed in the 1850 and 1860 Madison County,. Tennessee Free Census Schedules, available online, courtesy: Christine's Genealogy Website: Who are Your People?

1860


 * Free African Americans Listed in the 1850 and 1860 Madison County,. Tennessee Free Census Schedules, available online, courtesy: Christine's Genealogy Website: Who are Your People?

1870


 * Wiggins, Joy Darlene Madison County, Tennessee, 1870 census Jackson, Tennessee: Joy Darlene Wiggins, 1992

1880


 * Sistler, Barbara 1880 census Madison County, Tennessee Nashville, Tennessee: Byron Sistler, 2001

1891 Male Voters


 * 1891 Tennessee Enumeration of Male Voters 1891 at Ancestry ($)

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Methodist

Memphis Conference United Methodist Archives Luther L. Gobbel Library Lambuth University 24 Corporate Blvd Jackson, TN 38305 Telephone: 731-664-8480 Website

Court Records
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. The TSLA has created an index to names that appear in these acts covering the years 1796 to 1850. Online searchable index at TSLA.

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African Americans
 * Free African Americans Listed in the 1850 and 1860 Madison County,. Tennessee Free Census Schedules, available online, courtesy: Christine's Genealogy Website: Who are Your People?

Genealogies

 * Bonner - Bonner, Kathryn R. The Bonner Family Record: This Record is Primarily of the Bonners of Surry and Sussex Counties, Virginia, Those that Went to Wilson, Madison and Shelby Counties, Tennessee, and Those that Went on to Phillips County, Arkansas: Today the Descendants are Spread into Many States. Marianna, Ark.: K.R. Bonner, 1979..
 * Byron - See Byrum.
 * Byrum - Byron, Mark Bennett. Descendants of Henry Byrom of Virginia. Waterbury, CT: Heminway Press, 1956. Available at FHL US/CAN Film 872775; digital version at Heritage Quest Online ($).
 * Derryberry - Williams, John T. The John Wesley C. Derryberry Family, ca. 1800-1973. MSS., microfilmed in 1983. FHL US/CAN Fiche 6019288.
 * Derryberry - Graziano, Eugene Edward and Freida Mullen Graziano. The Andrew Derryberry, Sr., (bef. 1780) Family Line: A Genealogy Including Individuals Related through Marriage ... Goleta, Calif.: E. &amp; F.M. Graziano, 1999. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D448g.
 * Gibbs - Smith, Jonathan K.T. The Gibbs Place in Madison County, Tennessee. n.p.: J.K.T. Smith, 1993..
 * Luckey - Luckey, Ann Colvin and Elizabeth Luckey Bennett. The Luckey Family of Tennessee: A Genealogical History of the John Henry Luckey, William Franklin Luckey and Samuel Joseph Luckey of Gibson/Madison Counties, Tennessee Their Ancestors and Descendants, 1732-1987. Cullman, Ala.: Gregath, 1987..
 * Robison - Robison, Maude. Robison Family of Jackson, Madison, Tennessee. MSS., microfilmed in 2002..
 * Watlington - Watlington, Elton A. and Janice T. Watlington. Watlingtons of West Tennessee, 1830-1997. Jackson, Tenn.: Minuteman Press, 1997..
 * Watlington - Watlington, Janice T. and Elton A. Watlington. Watlingtons and Allied Families: Genealogical Data, 1830-1997; Madison County, Western Tennessee. Memphis, Tenn.: J.T. Watlington, 1997?..
 * Young - Young, Joseph Futrell. Ancestors of Joseph Clifford Young, b. 23 June 1891, Madison County, Tennessee, d. 6 Jul 1967, Marianna, Lee, Arkansas. n.p.: J.F. Young, 1999..

Land and Property Records

 * Madison County Register of Deeds at 100 East Main St. Suite 109 Jackson, Tennessee 38301, telephone 731-423-6089, has records of deeds, trust deeds, liens, charters of incorporation, maps, plats, military discharges, and all UCC filing on personal property.
 * The Family History Library has microfilm copies of deeds 1821-1964 and trust deeds which are indexed; and land ownership map for 1877 from the Library of Congress.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1777-1985 - Maps of Tennessee (1777-1985)
 * 1870 Bird's Eye View of the City of Jackson, Madison County, Tennessee. Originally published 1870. Library of Congress.
 * FamilySearch Places: Cities and Towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
Revolutionary War The following Madison County Revolutionary War records are available online through TNGenWeb:


 * 1835 Pension Roll
 * 1852 Rejected or Suspended Pensions

Additional resources include:


 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing, 1967. . 1841 edition digitized by the U.S. Census Bureau and Google books et. al. See Tennessee, Western District, Madison County on page 159.
 * Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions. Washington, D.C., 1852. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1969, and 1991. Reprints include "an Added Index to States." Digital version at Ancestry. Tennessee entries abstracted online at Tennesseans in the Revolutionary War, courtesy: TNGenWeb. Includes veterans from this county; Tennessee section begins on page 381.

War of 1812
 * Embry, Hermione D. "War of 1812 - Tennessee Pensioners on List - January 2, 1883," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 8, No. 1 (Jan. 1961):20-23. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a v. 8 (1961); digital version at journal website. Includes Madison County pensioners (p. 21).

Civil War

Online Records
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1861-1865 - U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry
 * 1861-1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry
 * 1861-1865 - U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 at Ancestry
 * 1891-1965 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System

Confederate Soldiers


 * 6th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Companies B, C, E, F, G, H, I, and K.
 * 14th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Neely's) - CSA - Companies C, F, and H.
 * 14th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry - CSA - Companies C, G, I, and K.
 * 15th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company D.
 * 18th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Newsom's) - CSA - Companies B, I, and K.
 * 19th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Biffle's) - CSA
 * 20th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Russell's) - CSA - Company D.
 * 21st Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Wilson's) - CSA - Companies E, G, H, and 2nd I.
 * 31st Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (A. H. Bradford's) - CSA - Company F.
 * 33rd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company B.
 * 38th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (Looney's) (8th Infantry) - CSA - Company C
 * 51st Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Companies D, E, F, H, and I.
 * 55th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (Brown's) - CSA - Company E.
 * 121st Regiment, Tennessee Militia - CSA.

Additional sources for Civil War soldiers from Madison County:


 * USGenWeb Archives, Madison County Tennessee Archives. Civil War Records.
 * Genealogy Trails, Those Who Served From Jackson County TN. Confederate and Union.
 * Tennessee State Library and Archives, Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications: Madison County. Includes soldier's name, county, pension #, unit or widow.
 * United States Pension Bureau, List of Pensioners on the Roll January 1, 1883: Giving the Name of Each Pensioner, the Cause for... (Washington Printing Office; 1883). Online at Internet Archive. Madison County, page 362.
 * TNGenWeb, Madison County, Tennessee, Military Records. West Tennessee Casualties, Seventh Tennessee Cavalry, CSA, Col. Stephen’s Regiment, CSA, Forked Deer Regiment.
 * Civil War Soldiers in Madison County. Database.
 * CWSAC, Battle Summaries, Jackson. Located in Madison County.

Civil War Battle The following battle was fought in Madison County:


 * December 19, 1862 - Jackson


 * Map showing Civil War battles in Tennessee.

Newspapers
Many Tennessee newspapers are filmed and available at the TSLA. Most of these newspapers may be accessed by interlibrary loan to libraries within Tennessee, although there are some newspapers which are not available in or outside of Tennessee. For further information regarding interlibrary loan policies and newspapers not available for interlibrary loan click here. For a list of newspapers available at the archives for Madison County click on the following city:


 * Jackson

Other places for Madison County, Tennessee newspapers:


 * Newspapers.com has the Whig &amp; Tribune (Jackson, Tenn.) from 1872-1874.


 * 1794-1851 - Lucas, Silas Emmett. Marriages from Early Tennessee Newspapers 1794-1851. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1978..
 * 1847 - 1851 - 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. 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. (Largely Methodist?)

Prisons

 * 1831-1850 - Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1831-1850 at Tennessee State Library and Archives
 * 1851-1870 - Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1851-1870 at Tennessee State Library and Archives

Periodicals

 * Ansearchin' News: Quarterly magazine of the Tennessee Genealogical Society. For a keyword search, go to the county index. Read previous issues on their website;
 * Family Findings: Quarterly of the Mid-West Tennessee Genealogical Society. For tables of contents and online access to issues, see TNGenWeb Project. Also try this specialized Google search..


 * Volumes 1-10 (1969-1978)
 * Volumes 11-20 (1979-1988)
 * Volumes 21-24 (1989-1992)
 * Volumes 32-35 (2000-2003)


 * West Tennessee Historical Society Papers: Occasional publication of the West Tennessee Historical Society. . To view Table of Contents and complete articles from 1947 - 2005 see Shelby County Register of Deeds

Probate Records
The County Court and Circuit Court have responsibility for Madison County probate records.

Online Records and Indexes
 * 1779-2008 Tennessee Wills and Probate Records 1779-2008 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1822-1963 Madison County portion of  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; handwritten indexes may be found at the front or back of some volumes.
 * 1839-1843; 1843-1845; 1845-1854 SourtheasternGenealogy.com Images of Wills & Inventories ($)

Book Abstracts and Indexes
 * 1821-1861 - Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Index to Tennessee Wills &amp; Administrations 1779-1861. Nashville, Tenn. Byron Sistler &amp; Associates, Inc., 1990. . Includes an index to this county's probate records.
 * 1821-1937 - Jonathan K.T. Smith's Last Will and Testament Abstracts for Madison County Will Books 1 to C (1821 to 1937) are availableonline, courtesy: David Donahue Memorial: Tennessee Records Repository.

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.


 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.

Tax Records
Book Abstracts and Indexes


 * 1821-1826 - Madison County, Tennessee Tax Book, Vol. I, 1821-26, Family Findings, Vol. 15, No. 4 (Oct. 1983). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * 1822-1832 - Historical Records Project. Tax Books, 1822-1832, Madison County, Tennessee. Typescript, Tennessee State Library, Nashville, Tenn. Microfilmed in 1939..
 * 1823 Tax Roll, 1823, Family Findings, Vol. 4, No. 3 (Jul. 1972). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * 1833 "Madison County Justices Approve Land Sale for Unpaid 1833 Taxes," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 50, No. 3 (Fall 2003):8. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * 1837 "Madison County Unpaid 1837 Taxes," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 46, No. 4 (Winter 1999):50. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * 1854 Delinquent Railroad Taxes, 1854, Family Findings, Vol. 37, No. 4 (Oct. 2005). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * 1857 Tax Collector Report, 1857, Family Findings, Vol. 37, No. 3 (2005). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * 1865-1866 - Smith, Jonathan K.T. Persons Appearing on the Federal Direct Tax, Madison County, Tennessee, 1865-1866. 1996..
 * 1866 Madison County, Tennessee Poll Tax Insolvencies for 1866, Family Findings, Vol. 32, No. 3 (July 2000). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * 1866 Poll Tax Insolvencies, 1866, Virginia Genealogical Society Newsletter, Vol. 26, No. 6 (Dec. 2000).
 * 1867 Delinquent Tax Payers, 1867, Family Findings, Vol. 31, No. 4 (Jan. 1999). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * 1870-1871 - Taxation, 1870-71, Family Findings, Vol. 31, No. 1 (Jan. 1999). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * 1873 Persons Asking to be Released from Poll Tax, 1873, Family Findings, Vol. 31, No. 4 (1999). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * 1880's - Madison County, Tennessee Courthouse Records Release of Poll Tax 1880s, Family Findings, Vol. 32, No. 2 (April 2000). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * 1919 Madison County, Persons Released from Paying Poll Tax in 1919, Family Findings, Vol. 34, No. 3 (July 2002). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * Smith, Jonathan K.T. Antebellum Militia, Justices and Some Early Taxpayers Madison County, Tennessee. Jackson, Tenn.: J.K.T. Smith, 1998..

Birth

 * 1828-1939 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1869-1909 - Tennessee Delayed Birth Records 1869-1909 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1908-1912 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Marriage
Online indexes and Records


 * 1625-1966 - Tennessee, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($)
 * 1780-2002 - Many county marriage records are indexed with images at Ancestry.com's Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002 ($).
 * 1780-2002 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1790-1962 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection. Covers all counties in Tennessee.
 * 1796-1950 (Indexes only) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1838-1871 - Marriage records, 1838-1871, Madison County, Tennessee FHL US/CAN Film 24758 items 407 +++
 * 1838-1888 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1838-1938 - Madison County Marriage Index 1838-1938 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
 * 1851-1900 - Tennessee Marriages 1851-1900 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1980-2014 - Marriage Records Index 1980-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index

Book Abstracts and Indexes


 * 1823-1832 - Madison County, Tennessee, loose marriage bonds, 1823-1832: taken from the WPA records FHL US/CAN Book 976.827 V2mc
 * 1823-1871 - Early West Tennessee Marriages. 2 vols. Indexes names of brides, grooms, marriage dates for this county for specified years.
 * 1838-1847 - Madison County, Tennessee, marriage book 2, 1838-1847 FHL US/CAN Book 976.827 V2mct
 * 1868-1888 - Public marriage records of black persons in Madison County, Tennessee 1868-1888 FHL US/CAN Book 976.827 V2sj

Death

 * 1823-1852 - Hays, Tony. West Tennessee Death Records (ca. 1823-1852). 2 vols. n.p.: Kitchen Table Press, 1987. . Madison County is included in Vol. 2
 * 1874-1955 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1908-1933 - Tennessee Deaths, 1908 - 1933 at MyHeritage ($) — index
 * 1908-1958 - Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1958 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1908-1912 - Tennessee Death Records 1908-1912 at Tennessee State Library & Archives - index
 * 1914-1933 - Tennessee Death Records 1914-1933 at Tennessee State Library & Archives - index
 * 1914-1966 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1925-1939 - Madison County Death Index 1925-1939 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch
 * 1930 - Hutcherson, Sarah. "Madison County, TN - Vital Records-1930 Death Certificates," abstracts available online, courtesy: USGenWeb Archives.
 * 1949-2014 - Death Records Index 1949-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index

Divorce
Online Records Online Titles
 * 1796-1850 - Acts of Tennessee 1796-1850 at Tennessee State Library & Archives - index
 * 1980-2014 - Divorce Records Index 1980-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index
 * W.P.A. Guide to Public Vital Statistics in Tennessee. Nashville, Tenn.: The Tennessee Historical Records Survey, 1941. FamilySearch Digital Library

Family History Centers

 * Jackson Tennessee Family History Center
 * Trenton Tennessee Family History Center
 * Bolivar-Hardeman County Public Library - an affiliate library.
 * Chester County Public Library - an affiliate library.

Libraries
Jackson-Madison County Library 433 E Lafayette St. Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: 731-425-8600 Website The Tennessee Room has a variety of resources including County Records, Census Schedules, Newspapers, Death Indexes and Certificates, Maps, City Directories, Funeral Records, Photographs, etc. Library North Branch of the Jackson-Madison County Library 3189 North Highland, Units F & G Jackson, TN 38305 Phone: 731-425-8600 Facebook Hatchie River Regional Library 63 Executive Dr Jackson, TN 38305 Phone: 731-668-0710 Website West Tennessee Heritage Study Center Paul Meek Library 10 Wayne Fisher Dr. Martin, TN 38238 Phone: 731-881-7065 Website Houses a variety of genealogical resources including materials relating to the following counties in Tennessee: Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Houston, Humphreys, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Perry, Shelby, Stewart, Tipton, Wayne, Weakley and Carlisle (KY), Fulton (KY), and Hickman (KY) counties in Kentucky.

Societies
Bemis Historical Society P.O. Box 9266 Murray Station Jackson, TN 38314-9266 Website Facebook

Websites

 * Madison County, TNGenWeb (USGenWeb)
 * Madison County TN Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.

Research Guides

 * Genealogical "Fact Sheets" About Tennessee Counties: Madison County, courtesy: TSLA. (Identifies published county histories, published local records, census records, newspapers and local records on microfilm, and select manuscripts.)