Tennessee Civil Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection is an index to selected county marriages for the years from 1838-1888 from the Historical Records Survey, Works Projects Administration for the following counties Crockett, Benton, Sevier, Davidson, and Lauderdale. Some information on slaves at the Hermitage (1845-1877) are also included.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:


 * Name
 * Age
 * Marriage date
 * Marriage place
 * Estimated birth year


 * Birthplace
 * Parents’ names
 * Previous spouses
 * Marital status
 * Page/Volume/Entry/Certificate number

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The approximate date of marriage
 * The place where the marriage occurred
 * The name of the intended spouse

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor’s marriage record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. The information may also lead you to other records about your ancestors.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Use the marriage index information to locate the original marriage certificate in the county records
 * Search for other vital records, such as birth and death
 * Search for the family in census records
 * Marriage was often times both a religious and a civil contract. Search for records created by both jurisdictions because they may provide different information
 * If no age is listed try to determine the legal age of marriage for that jurisdiction. This will provide a minimum age for your ancestor at time of marriage
 * Many marriage forms state that the bride and groom were of a certain age (commonly 21 or 18 years old). This may not be your ancestor’s age but a statement that the couple is of legal age to marry

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they were married, then try searching the records of a nearby locality
 * If the bride and groom were from different localities try searching the records of both places for the marriage record. It was common for a couple to be married in the bride’s home town
 * Because marriage could be either a civil or religious event, try searching both church and civil records for the couple’s marriage record
 * Sometimes marriage records for a particular locality are missing. Try searching newspapers for an announcement of the marriage

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Tennessee.
 * Tennessee Guided Research
 * Tennessee Record Finder
 * Tennessee Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Andrew Jackson, Account book, 1845-1877
 * Benton County, Marriage records, 1846-1850
 * Crockett County, Marriage records, 1872-1888
 * Davidson County, Marriage records, 1838-1847
 * Lauderdale County, Marriage records, 1838-1866
 * Sevier County, Marriage records, 1856-1873

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * Tennessee Church Marriages, 1810-1965
 * Tennessee Marriages, 1796-1950

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * Tennessee Historical Records Survey, Division of Community Service Programs, Work Projects Administration, Guide to public vital statistics in Tennessee Nashville, Tennessee : Tennessee Historical Records Survey, 1941

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.