Sullivan County, Tennessee Genealogy

United States  Tennessee  Sullivan County East Tennessee county established in 1779. Originally part of the North Holston Settlement, from 1784 to 1788, this land was claimed by the abortive, short-lived State of Franklin.

Quick Dates
Sullivan County's civil records start the following years:

County Courthouse
Sullivan County Courthouse 3411 Highway 126 Blountville, TN 37617 Phone: 1-423-323-6483

Sullivan County Department of Archives &amp; Tourism Located directly beside historic Sullivan County Courthouse Marriage records (1863-1949) Wills (1830-2001) Death records (1908-1955) Chancery records (1850-1950) Circuit Court records (1850-1950) P.O. Box 3179 Blountville, TN 37617 Phone: 1-423-323-4660 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

Sullivan County Register of Deeds Land records 3411 Hwy 126, Suite 101 Blountville, TN 37617 Phone: 1-423-323-6420

History


The county is named after Revolutionary War General and New Hampshire Governor (1740-1795).

Sullivan County was created by the North Carolina legislature in 1779 from part of Washington County. In 1784 Sullivan joined two neighboring counties in declaring their independence from North Carolina. In 1785 these counties applied for admission to the United States as the State of Franklin. In March 1786 the Franklin legislaure created Spencer County from the western part of Sullivan County. Meanwhile, North Carolina created a duplicate of Spencer County but named it Hawkins County. By 1789 hopes for Franklin statehood faded. North Carolina refused to recognize Franklin's counties, so it is the Hawkins name that remains in use today. In 1796 all the land in these counties became part of the new State of Tennessee.

Parent County
18 October 1779: Sullivan County was created from Washington District and territory formerly claimed by Virginia. County seat: Blountville

County Pronunciation

 * 1) Hear it spoken (female)
 * 2) Hear it spoken (female)
 * 3) Hear it spoken (male)

Boundary Changes
"Rotating Formation Tennessee County Boundary Maps" (1777-1985) may be viewed for free at the My Tennessee Genealogy website. They rely on AniMap 3.0 software.

Record Loss
1863--Fired damaged records

According to Leroy W. Tilton, this 1863 fire destroyed all courthouse records, except the deed books.


 * Lost censuses: 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1890
 * Lost marriage records: 1780 to 1863
 * Lost probate records: 1780 to 1838
 * Lost court records: 1780 to 1850s/1860s

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


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

Getting Started
Use the free Search for Surnames at Mountain Press's website to quickly search a variety of published Sullivan County biographies, land, marriage, and probate records. To determine which books are being searched, or to search each publication's index individually, click here. You are now equipped with a checklist of books to pull off the shelves at a genealogy library, or a wish list for your personal book collection.

Research Guides



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

African American
United States African Americans Tennessee African Americans

Some "colored" marriages appear in published abstracts of nineteenth-century Sullivan County marriage books. See Vital Records.

Cemeteries
Tennessee cemetery records often identify birth, death, relationship, and military information, as well as religious affiliation. The Tennessee Cemeteries page provides explanations of the following online resources:

Published Sullivan County cemetery records:


 * Burow, Suzanne and David Burow. Cemetery Records of Sullivan County, Tennessee. Kingsport, Tennessee: S.Burow, 2007.  Index found at the end of Vol. 2. Maps on lining papers. Contents: v. 1. Kingsport, Indian Springs, Blountville, Bristol -- v. 2. Bristol, Holston Valley, Shady Valley, Lovelace, Sullivan Gardens, Boone Dam, Bluff City, Keenburg.


 * Montgomery, Mary Alice Hurt. Cemetery Census for Hawkins County, Tennessee, Sullivan County, Tennessee and Washington County, Virginia. Kingsport, Tenn.: M.A.H. Montgomery, [2002?].

Census
1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 federal population schedules of Sullivan 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 Sullivan County, TN census assignments, including links to transcribed files. The USGenWeb Census Project®.

1790: Lost, only statistics survive, but substitutes are available:


 * Eakle, Arlene. Tennessee Research. 2010. Purchase information at Arlene Eakle's Tennessee Genealogy Blog. Includes a reconstructed 1790 census, sources: "Contemporary lists–tax lists, militia rolls, land grants and deeds, claims for pre-emption lands, names recorded in diaries and journals. And numerous histories compiled by local historians from records that we have not seen or read ourselves."
 * Jackson, Ronald Vern. Ohio, 1790, Volume Two. North Salt Lake, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1986. US/CAN Book 977.1 X2o 1790. [Includes "Territory Southwest of the River Ohio," i.e. East Tennessee. ]
 * McGhee, Lucy Kate. Partial Census of 1787 to 1791 of Tennessee as Taken from the North Carolina Land Grants. 3 Parts. Microfilmed in 1990. US/CAN Films 1728882 Item 4 and 1683130 Item 3.

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. US/CAN Book 976.8 X2s 1810.

1820: Lost

1820 Manufactures:

The original manufactures schedules for the Eastern and Western Districts of Tennessee are kept at the National Archives, Washington, D.C. FHL copies: US/CAN Films 1024517-1024518.

The following book is a useful aid for finding the original records. A free online index, provided by Lineages, will help researchers determine if this resource can be of assistance:


 * National Archives. Indexes to Manufactures Census of 1820. 1920; reprint, Knightstown, Ind.: Bookmark, 1977. US/CAN Book 973 X2m 1820]; digital version at Lineages. Covers this county.

These records have also been abstracted:


 * 1820 Census of Manufactures, East Tennessee Roots, Vol. 6, No. 2 :56-. See Periodicals.

1830:


 * Sistler, Byron H. 1830 Census, East Tennessee. Evanston, Ill.: n.p., 1969. US/CAN Book 976.8 X2p 1830.
 * Hunt, Shelia Steele. 1830 and 1840 Sullivan County, Tennessee Censuses. Kingsport, Tenn.: S.S. Hunt, 1997. US/CAN Book 976.896 X2hs.

1840:


 * Hunt, Shelia Steele. 1830 and 1840 Sullivan County, Tennessee Censuses. Kingsport, Tenn.: S.S. Hunt, 1997. US/CAN Book 976.896 X2hs.

1840 Revolutionary War 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. ▲  US/CAN Book 973 X2pc 1840; US/CAN Film 2321. 1841 edition digitized by the U.S. Census Bureau and Google Books et. al. See Tennessee, Eastern District, Sullivan County on page 154.

1850:


 * Burgner, Marion Keith. Population Schedule of the United States Census of 1850 for Sullivan County, Tennessee. Knoxville, Tenn.: Clinchdale Press, 1963. US/CAN Book 976.896 X2p 1850.
 * Hunt, Shelia Steele. 1850 Sullivan County, Tennessee Census. Kingsport, Tenn.: S.S. Hunt, 1997. US/CAN Book 976.896 X2h 1850.

1850 Slave Schedule:


 * 1850 Slave Schedules, East Tennessee Roots, Vol. 5, No. 1 :15-. See Periodicals.

1860


 * Hunt, Shelia Steele. 1860 Sullivan County, Tennessee Census. Kingsport, Tenn.: S.S. Hunt, 1997. US/CAN Book 976.896 X2h 1860].

1870:


 * Holston Territory Genealogical Society. 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Sullivan County, Tennessee. Bristol, Va.: Holston Territory Genealogical Society, 1994. FHL US/CAN Book 976.896 X29us 1870.

1880:


 * Sistler, Byron and Samuel D. Sistler. 1880 Census, Sullivan County, Tennessee. Nashville, Tenn.: B. Sistler &amp; Associates, 1992. US/CAN Book 976.896 X2s 1880.

1890: Lost, but substitutes are available:


 * Reed, Sue S. Enumeration of Male Inhabitants of Twenty-one Years of Age and Upward, Citizens of Tennessee, January 1, 1891, as Provided for by an Act of General Assembly of Tennessee, Passed January 15, 1891, and Approved January 22, 1891. 8 vols. Houston, Texas: S.S. Reed, 1989. US/CAN Book 976.8 X2r v. 7 1891. Sullivan County is included in Vol. 7.
 * Sistler, Byron H. and Barbara Sistler. 1890 Civil War Veterans Census, Tennessee. Evanston, Ill.: Byron Sister and Associates, 1978. US/CAN Book 976.8 X2s 1890.

1900:


 * Wagner, Fred L. 1900 Sullivan County, Tennessee Census Surname Index. [Blountville, Tenn.]: F.L. Wagner, 2002. US/CAN Book 976.896 X22w 1900.

1910:


 * Wagner, Fred L. 1910 Sullivan County, Tennessee Census Surname Index. [Blountville, Tenn.]: F.L. Wagner, 2002. US/CAN Book 976.896 X22w 1910.

1920:


 * Wagner, Fred L. 1920 Sullivan County, Tennessee Census Surname Index. [Blountville, Tenn.]: F.L. Wagner, 2003. US/CAN Book 976.896 X22w 1920.

Church History and Records

 * Sullivan County Historical Society. Foundations of Faith in Sullivan, 1777-1935. [Blountville, Tenn.?]: Sullivan County Historical Society, 1986. [A history of the early churches and religious organizations of Sullivan County in existence for more than fifty years.]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

LDS Ward and Branch Records


 * Kingsport

Historic Residences

 * Blountville: Historic House, Ansearchin' News, Vol. 49 (2002). Available at FHL, see Periodicals.

History

 * Taylor, Oliver. Historic Sullivan: A History of Sullivan County, Tennessee with Brief Biographies of the Makers of History. Bristol, Tenn.: The King Printing Co. (Le Roi Press), 1909. US/CAN Book 976.896 H2t and Index:  US/CAN Book 976.896 H2t index; digital version at Google Books.

Immigration and Emigration
During the War of 1812, American officials reported finding a total of 7 British aliens, many of whom had families, living in Blountville and Sullivan County.

Land and Property
Deeds

The original Sullivan County Deed Books are held at the County Courthouse. TSLA microfilmed Deed Books 1-58 (1775-1894) and Indexes (1781-1930) in the 1970s. FHL copies: US/CAN Films 972701-972726.

The organization Strictly By Name provides free online indexes to early Sullivan County land records. They offer a record retrieval service to photocopy and transcribe microfilm copies of the original documents for a small fee. Available indexes:


 * 1) Deed Book 1: 1775-1789
 * 2) Deed Book 2: 1788-1796

The early deed books have been abstracted multiple times:


 * [1775-1836] Austin, Susan Hardin. Sullivan County, Tennessee Deeds. 11 vols. [1775-1836] n.p.: S.H. Austin, 2002-2004. US/CAN Book 976.896 R2a v. 1-4 ff. Digital versions at BYU Family History Archives:

N.B. These volume numbers refer to the published abstract volumes and not to the original deed book volumes.


 * [1775-1835] Edwards, Shelby Ireson. Sullivan County, Tennessee, Deed Books: Abstracted from the Original Records. 10 vols. [1775-1835] Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 1984-1985. US/CAN Books 976.896 R2e ff. Free Surname Indexes and purchase details for several volumes, courtesy: Mountain Press website.
 * [1775-1815] Historical Records Project. Deeds, 1775-1815, Sullivan County, Tennessee. Typescript, TSLA, Nashville, Tenn. US/CAN Film 24836 Items 1-7.
 * [1775-1789] Willis, Laura and Betty Sellers. Sullivan County, Tenn. Deeds. Mayfield, Ky.: Willis Historical, 1998. US/CAN&amp; Book 976.896 R2w.

Local Land Entries Issued by North Carolina

The original Sullivan County land entries issued by North Carolina are kept at the North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh. On their website, users can bring up a list of land entries issued in Sullivan County, both before and after its land became a part of the state of Tennessee. Years covered: 1770-1798.

Instructions:


 * 1) Follow this link to conduct a "Call Number Search" using the MARS Catalog on their site.
 * 2) Using the pull down window, change "Call Numbers starting" to "A MarsID matching."
 * 3) Type 12.14.2 (Windows Vista users may need to include a period after the last digit, for example 12.14.2.) and click Search. This is the specific MarsID for Sullivan County.
 * 4) Click on the entry that is returned: "Tennessee, Sullivan County."
 * 5) In the window that pops up, click Show List of Child Records and a list of Sullivan County land entries will be produced. Browse to find abstracts of the original records.

N.B. You can also search by name through the Basic Search, but it lacks soundex capabilities.

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.] TSLA 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 TSLA; another version is available at World Vital Records.

Maps

 * [1779] Reeves, Charles A. Sullivan and Washington Counties [Tennessee], the County Bounds in 1779. Published 2000. Purchase at ReevesMaps.com; website includes a scaled-down version of the map.
 * [1832] Creekmore, Pollyanna. Early East Tennessee Taxpayers. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1980. US/CAN Book 976.8 R4cp and Silas Emmett Lucas's Revised Index  US/CAN Book 976.8 R4cp index. Includes 1832 map of the county.
 * [1912] Mortimore, Thaddeus. Aero View of Bristol Virginia and Tennessee. Originally published 1912. Purchase at ReevesMaps.com; website includes a scaled-down version of the map.

Revolutionary War
The following Sullivan County Revolutionary War records are available online through TNGenWeb:


 * 1835 Pension Roll
 * 1852 Rejected or Suspended Pensions
 * Militia Lists of companies which were from areas which now are located in Sullivan county. The 1774 and 1779 Militia List of Capt. Shelby The 1776 Militia List of Capt. Womack The 1778 Militia list of Capt. Thomas Vincent of Sullivan county The Battle of Kings Mountain

The 1840 Census of Pensioners has been abstracted multiple times:


 * 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. ▲  FHL US/CAN Book 973 X2pc 1840; FHL US/CAN Film 2321. 1841 edition digitized by the U.S. Census Bureau and Google Books et. al. [See Tennessee, Eastern District, Sullivan County on page 154.]
 * 1840 Census Index, Military Pensioners, Ansearchin' News, Vol. 26 (1979). Available online, see Periodicals.
 * Census of Pensioners, 1840, Eastern District (sel.), Sullivan County Genealogical Society Journal, Vol. 8, No. 1 (Spring 2004).

Additional resources include:


 * Allen, Penelope Johnson. Tennessee Soldiers in the Revolution: A Roster of Soldiers Living During the Revolutionary War in the Counties of Washington and Sullivan. n.p.: Tennessee Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1935. US/CAN Book 976.89 M23a.
 * Long Island Flats Battle, 1776, Appalachian Quarterly, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Mar. 2001).
 * 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.]
 * Rejected or Suspended Revolutionary War Pensions, June 7, 1832, Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin, Vol. 36, No. 1 (2007).
 * Revolutionary War Petitioners Rejected, Holston Pastfinder, Vol. 7, No. 25 (Dec. 1988).
 * Revolutionary War Stub Indents Books, 1782, North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Apr. 1975).
 * Soldiers in Battle of Kings Mountain, Holston Pastfinder, Issue 70 (Mar. 2000).
 * Soldiers of the Revolution, Holston Pastfinder, Vol. 16, No. 2 (Dec. 1997).

Indian Wars

 * Service against Chickamaugas, 1790 Claims, Tennessee Ancestors, Vol. 5, No. 3 (Dec. 1989).

War of 1812

 * Embry, Hermione D. "War of 1812 - Tennessee Pensioners on List - January 2, 1883," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 8, No. 3 (Jul. 1961):95-98. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a v. 8 (1961); digital version at journal website. [Includes Sullivan County pensioners (p. 96).]
 * 1813 Petition to Relocate Muster Ground, Ansearchin' News, Vol. 36 (1989). Available online, see Periodicals.
 * 1812 Sullivan County, Tennessee Tax List of Capt. Everitt's Company Courtesy:TNGenWeb

Civil War

 * Civl War Research Database $
 * Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System

Civil War service men from Sullivan County served in various regiments. Men often joined a regiment or a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are the military units that were formed in or had many men from Sullivan County.

Confederate Soldiers

 * 1st Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Carter's) - CSA - Company M.
 * 2nd Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Ashby's) - CSA
 * 3rd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company K.
 * 3rd Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry (Lillard's) - CSA - Company K.
 * 4th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Murray's) - CSA - Company C.
 * 5th Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry (McClellan's) - CSA - Company F.
 * 8th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Smith's) - CSA - Company B.
 * 19th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Companies C and G.
 * 26th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (3rd East Tennessee Volunteers) - CSA - Company K.
 * 60th Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry (Crawford's) (79th Infantry) - CSA - Company E and G.
 * 61st Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry (Pitts') (81st Infantry) - CSA - Companies E, K and 2nd H.
 * 63rd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (Fain's) (74th Infantry) - CSA

Additional sources for Civil War soldiers from Sullivan County:

 * Worsham, William J. Old Nineteenth Tennessee regiment, C.S.A. June, 1861-April, l865. Knoxville, Tennessee: Press of Paragon Printing Co., 1902. Free digital copy.
 * Tennessee 63rd Infantry, (accessed 22 Oct 2011).
 * USGenWeb Archives, Sullivan County Tennessee Archives, (accessed 1 Feb 2012). Civil War Records.
 * Tennessee State Library and Archives, Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications : Sullivan County, (accessed 1 Feb 2012). 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), (accessed 1 Feb 2012). Online at Internet Archive. Sullivan County, page 377-378.
 * TNGenWeb, Sullivan County and the Civil War, (accessed 1 Feb 2012).
 * CWSAC, Battle Summaries, Blountsville, (accessed 1 Feb 2012). Located in Sullivan County.

The Battle of Blountville took place in Sullivan County on 22 September 1863. The result was a Union victory. Learn more at American Civil War.com.

Newspapers
Many Tennessee newspapers are filmed and available at 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 Sullivan County click on the following cities or towns:


 * Blountville
 * Bluff City
 * Bristol
 * Kingsport
 * Union

Occupations

 * Miller, Alan N. East Tennessee's Forgotten Children: Apprentices from 1778 to 1911. Baltimore, Md.: Printed for Clearfield Company, Inc., by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2000. . Digital version at World Vital Records ($). Purchase at Genealogical.com. [Includes Sullivan 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
 * Genealogical articles with abstracts of records of Sullivan 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 US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a.]
 * East Tennessee Roots
 * Genealogical articles with abstracts of Sullivan County, Tennessee records have been published in East Tennessee Roots (10 vols.). A subject index to these articles is available online. Surname indexes to Volumes 9 and 10 are also available online. The Family History Library has collected most issues of East Tennessee Roots US/CAN Book 976.8 D25e].
 * Holston Pastfinder
 * Sullivan County Historical and Genealogical Society Journal
 * Previously known as the Sullivan County Historical and Genealogical Society Newsletter, this journal has been in print since 1997. For more information, visit the society's website. The Family History Library has collected most issues US/CAN Book 976.896 D25s].
 * Sullivan County Historical Society Newsletter
 * The Family History Library has volumes 1 - 87 (1977 - 1993) with the exception of no. 5, 25, 40, 41, 46, 47, and 51. US/CAN 976.896 B2n] Indexed in PERiodical Source Index (PERSI) For additional information see the Sullivan County Historical and Genealogical Society.
 * Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin
 * Genealogical articles with abstracts of Sullivan County, Tennessee records have been published in the Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin (39+ vols., 1972-present), the journal of the Watauga Association of Genealogists. The organization has posted tables of contents for most volumes on their website. Back issues are available for purchase.The Family History Library has a complete collection US/CAN Books 976.897 B2w], including Margaret W. Hougland and Betty Jane Hylton's Bulletin Subject Index: The First Thirty Years, 1972-2001 (Johnson City, Tenn.: Watauga Association of Genealogists, 2002)  US/CAN Book 976.897 B2w index 1972-2001].

The original Sullivan County Will Books are held at the County Courthouse. The earliest records have been lost. TSLA microfilmed Will Books 1-2 (1838-1915) in the 1970s. FHL copies: US/CAN Film 972700].


 * Wills, 1830-1915 (3 vols.)
 * Insolvent estate records, 1881-1942
 * Inventories, 1864-1902 (4 vols.)
 * Settlements, 1878-1901 (5 vols.)

The following Sullivan County probate records have been abstracted and/or indexed:


 * [1830-1870] Historical Records Project (Tennessee). Will Books, 1830-1870, Sullivan County, Tennessee. Typescript, TSLA, Nashville, Tenn. US/CAN Film 24836 Item 9].
 * [1838-1861] Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Index to Tennessee Wills and Administrations 1779-1861. Nashville, Tenn. Byron Sistler &amp; Associates, Inc., 1990. FHL US/CAN 976.8 P22s]. [Includes an index to this county's wills.] Free Lookups Available!

Though the original will itself was destroyed in 1863, a copy made in 1829 survives and been published:


 * Tilton, Leroy W. "Will of Col. David Looney of Sullivan County, Tennessee," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 34, No. 1 (Mar. 1946):25-26. US/CAN Book 973 B2ng v. 34 (1946)]; free digital abstract at Early Looney in America, by Leroy W. Tilton website.

Taxation
The original Sullivan County Tax Books, 1877-1895, are held at the County Courthouse. TSLA microfilmed these records in the 1970s. FHL copies: US/CAN Film 972728-972731].

The following Sullivan County tax records, stored in various archives, have been abstracted:


 * [1796] Creekmore, Pollyanna. Early East Tennessee Taxpayers. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1980. US/CAN Book 976.8 R4cp and Silas Emmett Lucas's Revised Index  US/CAN Book 976.8 R4cp index. Includes 1796 tax list.
 * [1796-1797, 1812] Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Index to Early Tennessee Tax Lists. Evanston, Ill.: B. &amp; B. Sistler, 1977. US/CAN Book 976.8 R4s. Includes 1796-1797, and 1812 tax lists.
 * [1796-1797, 1812] Mary Barnett Curtis, Early East Tennessee Tax Lists (Fort Worth, Texas: Arrow Printing Company, 1964), US/CAN Book 976.8 R4c]. Includes 1796-1797, and 1812 tax lists.
 * [1796] Bralley, Edgar M. "1796 Sullivan County, Tennessee Tax List," available online, courtesy: TNGenWeb. Source: TSLA Microfilm Reels #8 and #12 Early Tennessee Tax Lists.


 * Muriel Clark Spoden's abstracts of the 1811 and 1812 tax lists were published in two periodicals. Some users might find the Watauga version easier to use, as the article was not serialized.


 * [1811-1812] Spoden, Muriel Clark. "Sullivan County, Tennessee Tax Lists, 1811-1812," Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Summer 1972):51-62. FHL US/CAN Book 976.897 B2w v. 1. For further access, see Periodicals. [Source: TSLA manuscript.]
 * [1811-1812] Spoden, Muriel Clark. "Sullivan County, Tennessee Tax Lists, 1811-1812," Holston Pastfinder, Vol. 15, No. 57 (Dec. 1996):38-39; Vol. 15, No. 58 (Mar. 1997):38-39; Vol. 15, No. 59 (Jun. 1997):38-39; Vol. 16, No. 60 (Sep. 1997):43-44; Vol. 16, No. 61 (Dec. 1997):40-41. US/CAN Book 975 D25hp no. 56-59 (1996-1997)]; US/CAN Book 975 D25hp v. 16 (1997-1998)]; indexed in FHL US/CAN Book 975 D25hp index v. 15-16. For further access, see Periodicals. [Source: TSLA manuscript.]
 * [1814] "Direct Federal Tax-Delinquent Property Owners Listed for 1814," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 43, No. 3(Fall 1996):115-120. For further access, see Periodicals. [Includes Sullivan County.]
 * [1837] Spoden, Muriel M.C. and Pollyanna Creekmore, "Sullivan County, TN Tax List 1837," Holston Pastfinder, Vol. 1, No. 9 (Dec. 1984):27-28; Vol. 1, No. 10 (Mar. 1985):31-34; Vol. 1, No. 11 (Jun. 1985):23-26; Vol. 1, No. 14 (Mar. 1986):35-38; Vol. 1, No. 15 (Jun. 1986):29-32; Vol. 1, No. 16 (Sep. 1986):31-34; Vol. 1, No. 17 (Dec. 1986):25-28. US/CAN Book 975 D25hp no. 6-10 (1984-1985)] ff. For further access, see Periodicals.
 * [1862] Smith, Wilma McGarry. "List of Delinquent Taxpayers from Sullivan County, Tennessee Court Minutes December, 1862," Holston Pastfinder, Vol. 15, Issue 59 (Jun. 1997):37. US/CAN Book 975 D25hp no. 56-59 (1996-1997)]; indexed in FHL US/CAN Book 975 D25hp index v. 15-16. For further access, see Periodicals. [Marked with "Gone to War" or "Dead."]

Birth
The original Sullivan County Birth Register (1881-1882, 1908-1912) is kept at the County Courthouse. In the 1970s, the TSLA microfilmed these records. FHL copies: US/CAN Film 972699.

Marriage
Sullivan County's early marriage records have been lost. Surviving records and bonds are kept at the County Courthouse. Volume 1 begins in 1863. They have been microfilmed twice. The second filming took place after the records were reorganized:


 * 1) Marriage Books 1 to 14 (1863-1953), Marriage Bond Books 1 to 12 (1880-1938). Microfilmed in 1970s and 1980s by the TSLA; FHL copies: US/CAN Films 972684-972686, 1928833-1928839.
 * 2) Marriage Record Documents 1863-1950; Index. Microfilmed in 1990s by Genealogical Society of Utah. The films are not numbered consecutively in the Family History Library collection; link to title page.

The marriage books found in the Sullivan County Courthouse have been abstracted multiple times. Each editor was selective in the amount of detail he or she published. As guides to lead you back to the original sources, the W.P.A., Simmons, and Hunt all cite volume and page numbers. For ease of use, the W.P.A. and Hunt's publications are superior, as they were published in bound volumes, rather than as a serial article. The following is a list of these publications:


 * [1861-1870] Historical Records Project (W.P.A.). Marriage Records, 1861-1870, Sullivan County, Tennessee. Microfilmed in 1939. US/CAN Film 24836 Item 8]. [Abstracts names of brides, grooms, officiators, dates of marriage and/or license, and citations to the original volume and page numbers.]
 * [1863-1893] Simmons, Dessie L. Marriage Books 1-2-3, Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin, Vol. 20, No. 1; Vol. 20, No. 2; Vol. 21, No. 1; Vol. 21, No. 2; Vol. 22, No. 1; Vol. 22, No. 2; Vol. 23, No. 1; Vol. 23, No. 2; Vol. 24, No. 1; Vol. 24, No. 2; Vol. 25, No. 1; Vol. 26, No. 1; Vol. 26, No. 2; Vol. 27, No. 1; Vol. 27, No. 2; Vol. 28, No. 1; Vol. 28, No. 2; Vol. 29, No. 1; Vol. 29, No. 2; Vol. 30, No. 1; Vol. 30, No. 2; Vol. 31, No. 1; Vol. 31, No. 2; Vol. 32, No. 1; Vol. 32, No. 2; Vol. 33, No. 1; Vol. 33, No. 2; Vol. 34, No. 1; Vol. 34, No. 2; Vol. 35, No. 1; Vol. 35, No. 2; Vol. 36, No. 1. For FHL availability or to order back issues, see Periodicals. [Abstracts names of brides, grooms, and officiators, dates of license and marriage, and citations to the original volume and page numbers. Includes "colored" marriages.]
 * [1863-1893] Hunt, Shelia Steele. Sullivan County, Tennessee, Marriage Records, 1863-1893. Kingsport, Tenn.: S.S. Hunt, 1997. US/CAN Book 976.896 V2h]. [Indexes marriage record books 1, 2, and 3; abstracts names of brides, grooms, dates of marriage or license, and citations to the TSLA microfilm reproductions of the original volume and page numbers.]
 * [1880-1899] Hunt, Shelia Steele. Sullivan County, Tennessee, Marriage Bonds, 1880-1899. Kingsport, Tenn.: S.S. Hunt, 1997. US/CAN Book 976.896 V2hs]. [Indexes marriage bond books 1, 2, and 3; abstracts names of brides, grooms, dates of marriage or license, and citations to the TSLA microfilm reproductions of the original volume and page numbers.]

Divorce
In 1940 and 1941, W.P.A. workers pinpointed the location of Sullivan County divorce papers in diverse County Courthouse records, see:


 * W.P.A. Guide to Public Vital Statistics in Tennessee. Nashville, Tenn.: The Tennessee Historical Records Survey, 1941. US/CAN Book 976.8 A3gp.

Death
The original Sullivan County Deaths Register (1881-1894) is kept at the County Courthouse. In the 1970s, TSLA microfilmed these records. FHL copies: US/CAN Film 972699. The earliest death register has been abstracted:


 * Sullivan County Death Records May 1881-June 1882, Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin, Vol. 35, No. 2. For FHL availability or to order back issues, see Periodicals.

The State of Tennessee officially began recording deaths of residents of Sullivan County in 1908. The following records have been abstracted:


 * [1908-1925] Nikazy, Eddie M. Sullivan County, Tennessee, Death Records [1908-1925]. 2 vols. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, 1994. US/CAN Book 976.896 V28n ff.

For deaths of Methodists in Sullivan 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. 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.]

Societies, Libraries and Museums
Sullivan County Department of Archives and Tourism, Regional History Center Located directly beside historic Sullivan County Courthouse at Blountville P.O. Box 3179 3425 Hwy. 126, Suite 100 Blountville, TN 37617 Phone: 1-423-323-4660 E-mail: [mailto:hunt@sullivancounty.org hunt@sullivancounty.org] Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Archives houses massive historical and genealogical holdings including original county records, vital records, cemetery abstracts, genealogy library, manuscripts collection, census records, guardianship records, tax records, maps, wills, estate settlements, thousands of surname files, massive Civil War research center, Bible records, chancery records, deeds and land records, artifacts, military collection, Native American records, newspapers, photographs, and more. Facebook page Sullivan County Historical and Genealogical Society Mailing Address: P.O. Box 568, Blountville, TN 37617 Facebook page

East Tennessee Historical Society 601 S. Gay St. P.O. Box 1629 Knoxville, TN 37901-1629 Phone: 1-865-215-8824 E-mail: eths@east-tennessee-history.org

Kingsport Public Library 400 Broad St. Kingsport, TN 37660 Phone: 1-423-229-9465 Hours: Mon.-Wed. 9 a.m.-7:45 p.m. Thurs.-Sat. 9 a.m.-5:15 p.m. Sun. 2 -4:30 p.m. Library holds the Kingsport Community and Municipal Manuscript Collection which includes documents created by various departments in the Kingsport Government as well as city directories, marriage and death indexes, census, maps, newspapers from 1916 to the present and family histories.

Sullivan County Public Library 1655 Blountville Boulevard P.O. Box 510 Blountville, TN 37617 Phone: 1-423-279-2714 Hours: Wed. and Fri. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues. and Thurs. 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Genealogical resources: Vital, cemetery, census, guardian, immigration, military and Native American records as well as deeds, court minutes, obituaries, tax lists and wills. Also, several resources are available on CD-ROM. See website for further information on holdings.

Charles C. Sherrod Library, East Tennessee State University P.O. Box 70665 Johnson City, TN 37614 Phone: Information desk 1-423-439-4307 Hours vary depending on the time of year because of school sessions. See website for hours. The Sherrod Library has genealogical information concerning the East Tennessee Region.

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers
 * Kingsport Tennessee Family History Center

100 Cannongate Rd. Kingsport, TN Phone: 1-423-245-2321

This is not a mailing address. Due to limited staff, Family History Centers are unable to respond to mail inquiries.

Websites

 * (FamilySearch)
 * Mailing List: TNSULLIV-L (Sullivan County, Tennessee List)
 * Mailing List: ETN-L (East Tennessee List)
 * Mailing List: ETN-OZ-L (East Tennessee Migrants to Ozarks Region List)
 * Mailing List: FRANKLIN-STATE-L (State of Franklin 1784-1788 List)
 * Mailing List: UPPEREASTTN-L (Upper East Tennessee List)
 * Sullivan County Department of Archives and Tourism
 * Sullivan County, Tennessee (American Local History Network) Resources to help you place your ancestors within the context of their local history.
 * Sullivan County, TN Family History and Genealogy Message Board (Ancestry)
 * Sullivan County, TN Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Sullivan County, TN Genealogy Forum (GenForum)
 * Sullivan County, TNGenWeb (USGenWeb)
 * Sullivan County, TN History, Records, Facts and Genealogy (MyTennesseeGenealogy)