Claiborne County, Tennessee Genealogy

United States   Tennessee    Claiborne County





County Courthouse
Claiborne County Courthouse 1740 Main St. Tazewell, Tennessee 37879 Phone: (423) 626-3283

Hours: Monday - Friday 9 am - 4 pm Saturday 8:30 am - noon

History


The county is named after Governor of Louisiana and Governor of Mississippi Territory William C. C. Claiborne (c1775-1817).

Parent County
1801--Claiborne County was created 29 October 1801 from Grainger and Hawkins Counties. County seat: Tazewell

Record Loss
1863 and 1931 -- 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

Neighboring Counties
Bell County, Kentucky

Campbell 

Grainger

Hancock

Lee County, Virginia

Union 

Whitley County, Kentucky

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

Census
1820 - Lost

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

Bibliography

Land
The original Claiborne County Deed Books are held at the County Courthouse. The Tennessee State Library and Archives microfilmed Deed Books A to Z2 (1801-1895) and the Index (1801-1910). Copies of their microfilms are also available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Films 898403-898416.


 * Willis, Laura and Betty Sellers. Claiborne County, Tenn. Deeds. Melber, KY: Simmons Historical, 1997-1998. Three volumes. v. 1. 1802-1806 -- v. 2. 1806-1810 -- v. 3. 1803-1808. Available at FHL US/CAN Book 976.8944 R29w. Digital version of volume 2 is available at World Vital Records ($). All three volumes available for purchase at Simmons Historical Publications.

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 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.

Probate

 * Claiborne County, Tennessee, Bonds and Letters of Administration, December 1878 - August 1921. Kentucky: Simmons Historical Publications. s.d. Available at World Vital Records ($). Available for purchase at Simmons Historical Publications.
 * Claiborne County Will Books Vol. 1-1848-1851. Kentucky: Simmons Historical Publications. s.d. Available at World Vital Records ($). Available for purchase at Simmons Historical Publications.
 * Claiborne County Will Books Vol. 2-1851-1855. Kentucky: Simmons Historical Publications. s.d. Available at World Vital Records ($). Available for purchase at Simmons Historical Publications.
 * Claiborne County Will Books Vol. 3-1855-1865. Kentucky: Simmons Historical Publications. s.d. Available at World Vital Records ($). Available for purchase at Simmons Historical Publications.

Taxation

 * [1803] Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Index to Early Tennessee Tax Lists. Evanston, Ill.: B. & B. Sistler, 1977. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 R4s. [Includes 1803 tax list.]
 * [1803] Curtis, Mary Barnett. Early East Tennessee Tax Lists. Fort Worth, Texas: Arrow Printing Company, 1964. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 R4c. [Includes 1803 petition.]

Family History Centers
Cumberland Gap Tennessee 2063 Highway 63 Arthur, Claiborne, Tennessee, United States Telephone: 423-869-2481 Hours: By appt These are not mailing addresses. Due to limited staff, Family History Centers are unable to respond to mail inquiries.

Web Sites

 * Family History Library Catalog