Greene County, Tennessee Genealogy

United States   Tennessee    Greene County







East Tennessee county established in 1783. From 1784 to 1788, this land was claimed by the abortive, short-lived State of Franklin.

County Courthouse
Greene County Courthouse 101 South Main Street Greeneville, Tennessee 37743 Phone: 423-798-1708

Greene County Clerk Marriage and Probate records 204 North Cutler Street, Suite 200 Greeneville, TN 37745 Phone: 423-798-1708

Greene County Register of Deeds Land records 204 North Cutler Street, Suite 215 Greeneville, TN 37745 Phone: 423-798-1726

Greene County Clerk and Master Court records 101 South Main Street Greeneville, TN 37743 Phone: 423-798-1742

Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am - 4:30 pm

History


The county is named after Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene (1742-1786).

Greene County was created in 1783 by the North Carolina legislature from Washington County. In 1784 Greene 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. The request was denied and hope for Franklin statehood faded by 1789. In 1789, when North Carolina was admitted to the United States, she ceded her westernmost counties including Greene County to the United States. The United States turned these counties into the Southwest Territory. In 1792 the Southwest Territory created Jefferson County partly out of Greene County. 1796 all the land in these Southwest Territory counties became part of the new State of Tennessee.

Parent County
1783--Greene County was created 18 April 1783 from Washington County. County seat: Greeneville

Record Loss

 * Lost censuses: 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1890
 * Many pre-1800 marriage bonds and licenses are lost; only a faction of those issued in 1815 survive
 * Lost probate: 1783 to 1800

Research Guides

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

Biographies

 * Crockett, David. Col. Crockett's Exploits and Adventures in Texas. (New York : Wm. H. Graham, Tribune Buildings, 1848. Free digital copy.

Cemeteries

 * Find A Grave can be searched by the name of a person or family to find where a person is buried. Usually gives birth and death dates often with a picture of the tombstone. May give obituaries, names of family members and links to their information in Find A Grave.


 * Find A Grave also gives a list of cemeteries in Greene County linking to the information about the people buried there,


 * Greene County, TN Cemetery Records, part of the TNGenWeb Cemetery Database, lists many cemeteries in the county, often with indexes and transcripts of the burials.


 * Greene County, Tennessee, USGenWeb Tombstone Transcription Project lists many cemeteries in the county and has transcripts of the tombstones arranged by cemetery.


 * Greene County cemetery information with transcriptions on TNGenweb Project


 * The Family History Library Catalog lists some records of cemeteries in Greene county. Some of the books or others may be on Google Books or available at public libraries.


 * For a list of known cemeteries in Greene County go to ePodunk.com

Census
1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 federal population censuses of Greene 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, these indexes are often transcribed more accurately than those available online.

1790 - Lost, only statistics survive, but substitutes are available, see Taxation and:


 * 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. FHL 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. FHL US/CAN Films 1728882 Item 4 and 1683130 Item 3.

1800 - Lost

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. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 X2s 1810.

1820 - Lost

1830


 * Sistler, Byron H. 1830 Census, East Tennessee. Evanston, Ill.: n.p., 1969. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 X2p 1830.

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. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 X2r v. 7 1891. [Greene 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. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 X2s 1890.

Church

 * Greene County Bank. Faith of Our Fathers. Greeneville, Tenn.: n.p., n.d. FHL US/CAN Large Q Book 976.891 K2f. [Includes photographs of 21 Greene County churches with short histories.]

Quaker


 * Records of Births, Deaths and Marriages from Monthly Meeting of Friends, New Hope, Green County, Tennessee: Notes of Mildred S. Grimsley in Possession of the Las Vegas Nevada Family History Center. Las Vegas, Nev.: Las Vegas Nevada Family History Center, 1989. FHL US/CAN Film 1597620 Item 15.

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


 * Greene County History Book Committee. Historic Greene County, Tennessee and Its People 1783-1992. Waynesville, N.C.: Don Mills, 1992. FHL US/CAN Book 976.891 H2g and Index: FHL US/CAN Book 976.891 H2g index.
 * Hensley, Benny E. Beneath the Oaks at the Foot of Meadow Creek Mountain, Oak Hill, Parrottsville, TN. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8895 D2h.
 * McAmis, Edward Crawford. Tennessee's First Settlers &amp; Soldiers. St. Leonard, Md.: E.C. McAmis, 2000. FHL US/CAN Book 976.891 H2m.

Bibliography


 * [Alexander] Peterson, Ruth S. Descendants of Captain William Alexander and Elizabeth King of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Guilford and Randolph Counties, North Carolina, Greene County, Tennessee. Detroit, Mich.: Louisa St. Clair Chapter, D.A.R., 1951-1952. FHL US/CAN Film 858657 Item 7.
 * [Alexander] Peterson, Ruth S. and Daughters of the American Revolution. Louisa St. Clair Chapter (Detroit, Mich.). Additional Descendants of the Alexanders of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Guilford and Randolph Counties, North Carolina, Greene County, Tennessee: Supplement to "Descendants of Captain William Alexander and Elizabeth King of Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, Guilford and Randolph Counties, N.C., Greene Co., Tennessee," 1952. Detroit, Mich.: Louisa St. Clair Chapter, D.A.R., 1961. FHL US/CAN Film 858657 Item 2.
 * [Austin] Austin Family Records. MSS., FHL US/CAN Film 967145 Item 5.
 * [Ayres] Ayres, Lilah Kate. Some Descendants of Samuel Oren Ayres of Virginia and Greene County, Tennessee. Midway, Tennessee: I.K. Ayres, 1991. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Ay74a; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Bailey] Wood, Eugene L. Some Descendants of Thomas Bailey and Elizabeth Weems of Greene County, Tennessee. Albuquerque, N.M.: E.L. Wood, 1981. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B155w.
 * [Bewley] Bewley, S. Jack. Descendants of George Anthony Bewley. 1982. FHL US/CAN Film 1307583 Item 10.
 * [Borders] Borders, William S. The Borders Families. Cullman, Ala.: W.S. Borders, 1989. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B644bx.
 * [Bowman] MacDonald, Helen Lay. Jacob and Elizabeth (Keller) Bowman, Their Descendants. Hayden Lake, Idaho: H.L. MacDonald &amp; G.R. Bowman, 1981. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B684m.
 * [Britton] Jobe, Sybil Shipley. From Out of the Past Rode All of These Brittons: A Genealogical History of the William Britton, Sr. Family of Greene County, TN. Neosho, Mo.: S.S. Jobe, 1986. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B778a.
 * [Burd] Burd, Maurice L. Missouri Burds. 2 vols. Jefferson City, Missouri: M.L. Burd, 1984-1997. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B893bm pt. 1 ff; digital version Part 1: BYU Family History Archives and Part 2: BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Carter] The Carters of Green County, Tennessee - Written 1893. MSS., microfilmed in 1974. FHL US/CAN Film 962629 Item 6.
 * [Carter] Carter, John Denton. The Carters of Greene County, Tennessee: An Early American Frontier Family. Biloxi, Mississippi: J.D. Carter, 1981. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C245cj.
 * [Carter] Schnegelberger, Elizabeth Carter. Family History of Levi Carter Descendants and Allied Families--- Cassel, Glendenning, Stewart, Cummins/Harvey, Clelland, Van Metre... Mound City, Mo.: E.C. Schnegelberger, 1991. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C246Lc.
 * [Clark] MacDonald, Helen Lay. The Family of Walter Clark and Elizabeth Bowman. Hayden Lake, Idaho: H.L. MacDonald, 1985. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C547mh.
 * [Cotter] Miller, Vinita Carter. Cotters, Ireland to America. Springfield, Mo.: G.B. Carter, 1984, 1990. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C827m.
 * [Creamer] Brenneman, Yvonne Neimeister. Abstracts, Revolutionary War Pension Application Files, Including Bounty Land Warrant Applications, Relating to Persons of the Surname Cramer. Typescript (carbon copy, 27 leaves) at the National Library of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Washington, D.C. FHL US/CAN Film 873029 Item 6.
 * [Crouch] Crouch, L.M. (Mrs.) Crouch Family Genealogical Data, 1787-1977. Typescript. FHL US/CAN Film 1312799 Item 51.
 * [Crowder] Crowder, Roy E. The Crowders in Moultrie County, Illinois. Microfilmed in 1967: FHL US/CAN Film 476899 Item 1.
 * [Dunn] Lansford, Delores Caylor. Dunn Family History. [Florida?]: D.C. Lansford, c1992, 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D922Ld.
 * [Dyche] Cunningham, Mary Jo. Dyche Trails and Tales with Histories of the O'Malley, Curtis, and Still Families. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D983c.
 * [Ellenburg] Sauls, Blanche Ellenburg and Diana Smith Chesser. An Ellenburg Family History. [Tennessee]: D.S. Chesser, 1988. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 EL54s.
 * [Ellis] Scott, Betty Ellis. The Ancestors and Descendants of John Charles Ellis and Alcinda B. Glaze: A Genealogical Study. Gig Harbor, Washington: B.E. Scott, 1996. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 EL59sb.
 * [Frazier] Nelson, Virginia Knight. Samuel Frazier, a Whig of 1776, One of the Framers of Tennessee's Constitution, 1796, First State Senator from Greene County, Tennessee, 1796-1801, His Wife, Rebecca Julian, and Their Descendants. Knoxville, Tenn.: Nelson, 1978. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 F869n.
 * [Frazier] Myrick, Kent Davis. Descendants of John C. Frazier of Greene County, Tennessee. Phoenix: K.D. Myrick, 1991. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 F869m.
 * [Gable] Mueting, Elizabeth Weddle. Descendants of Barnabas (1770) &amp; Elizabeth (1780) (Cohen) Gable. 1984. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G113m.
 * [Goforth] Andreasen, Marget E. Descendants of William K. Goforth. Renton, Wash.: Marget E. Andreasen, 1998. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 AL 15am; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Gragg] Gragg, H.L. and Bernice Gragg. Descendants of Malcom Thomas Alexander Gragg. Urich, Missouri: H.L. &amp; B. Gragg, 1985? FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G759g.
 * [Hallmark] Wilson, Barnett. The Wilson, Hallmark, Hendricks, Hewitt Families. [Fort Payne, Ala.]: B.F. Wilson, [19--]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W691wbf.
 * [Hampton] Mellen, Diana L. Yesterday: The Hampton, McCracken, Longwith, Mabry &amp; Wells Families. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, 1991. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H189hm.
 * [Harpine] Harpine, Jacob William. Philip Harpine and Catherine, and Their Descendants. Staunton, VA: McClure Print Co., 1952. Available at FHL US/CAN Fiche 6047350; digital version at Heritage Quest Online ($).
 * [Havins] Havins-Havens Association. The History of the De[s]cendants of John and Mary Henderson Havins. 5th ed. San Antonio, Tex.: Havins-Havens Assoc., 1963. FHL US/CAN Film 1760264.
 * [Henderson] Harper, Norma Hiser. Hidden Hendersons of Greene and Cocke Counties, Tennessee. Nashville, Tenn.: Harper, 1979. FHL US/CAN Film 795931 Item 13.
 * [Henegar] Allen, Lucie H. A Sketch of the Life of Henry Benton Henegar and His Wife Margaret Lea Henegar: Their Antecedents and Posterity. Dayton, Tenn.: L. Allen, 1931. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H386a.
 * [Hixson] Anonymous. Hixson oe [sic] Tennessee. Chattanooga, TN: Lookout Pub. Co., 1940. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H642h; digital version at Ancestry ($); and Heritage Quest Online ($).
 * [Holt] Click, Lillie Duckworth. Some Ancestors and Descendants of Della Holt and George Edward Duckworth. [Burleson, Tex.]: L.D. Click, 1994. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H742L.
 * [Hubbs] Hart, Ruth Gibbs and Karen L. Cooper. Descendants of John Hubbs 1763-1991, and Allied Families: Terrells, Grants, Floyds, Mackey and Warfields. Evansville, Ind.: Evansville Bindery, 1991. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H862hrg.
 * [Johnson] Whitt, J.B. and Aileen M. Whitt. Whitt-Johnson Family History: Ancestors and Descendants of Estill V. Whitt &amp; Sara Ann Johnson Whitt: With Related Families, Bailey, Barker, Bishop, Blevins, Boggs, Copenhaver, Harkrader, Holbrook, Ison, Leedy, Lester, Lyon/s, Nickell, Perry, Pride, Rader, Redwine, Repa. New Richmond, Ohio: J.B. Whitt, 1988. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W617wb.
 * [Kennedy] Webb, Margaret Vance. Daniel Kennedy of Greene County, Tennessee, 1750-1802: 'Father of Greene County, Tennessee', Ancestry and Descendants. Knoxville, Tenn.: M.V. Webb, 1992. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 K38w.
 * [Kilgore] Lansford, Delores Caylor. Kilgore Family History. [Florida?]: D.C. Lansford, 1992. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 K553L.
 * [Kindel] Dalbey, Eudora M.M. Kindel. Dalbey--Kindel Family Papers, ca. 1841-1911. FHL US/CAN Film 983543 Item 3-983544 Item 1.
 * [King] King, Elijah S. The Descendants of Edward King of Sullivan County, Tennessee. Knoxville, Tenn.: Lawson McGhee Library, 1938. FHL US/CAN Film 1750734 Item 37.
 * [Kiser] Bridgforth, William Adams. The Family and Descendants of Alford Douglas Kiser. Johnson City, Tenn.: W.A. Bridgforth, 1995. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 K641b.
 * [Lawson] Lawson, Fred Raulston. The Lawsons of East Tennessee. Decatur, Ga.: Looking Glass Books, 1999. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L444Lf.
 * [Ledgerwood] Riggins, Stephen and Eithel Riggins. Country Lilacs. Toronto, Ontario: S. Riggins, 1983. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L498r.
 * [Loyd] Lloyd, Gary G. Some Early Lloyd (Loyd) Families of New Jersey, Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. Kirksville, Mo.: G.G. Lloyd, 1997. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L775LL.
 * [MacMurtrie] McMurtry, Richard K. MacMurtrie Clan Family Records, 2005 Publication. VAULT US/CAN Film 1783652 Item 3.
 * [McGill] Bates, Lucille M. Walter McGill, Preacher and Penman. San Antonio, Tex.: Naylor, 1971. FHL FAM HIST Book 921.73 M175b.
 * [McKeehan] McKeehan, Wallace C. The McKeehan Story. [Bellaire, Tex.]: W. McKeehan, [1995]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M194mw.
 * [Milligan] Brock, Charles H. Milligan Family of Greene County, Tennessee and Harrison County, Missouri. Typescript. FHL US/CAN Film 1320876 Item 12.
 * [Millsaps] Millsaps Records [ca. 1719-1864]. FHL US/CAN Film 1025326 Item 2.
 * [Ottinger] Ottinger, Charles Love and Marie Matthews Ottinger. From Affoltern to Atlanta: The Story of One Branch of the Ottinger Family Tree. Tennessee: C.L. Ottinger, 1992. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Ot8oc.
 * [Park] Patrignani, Ruth Duncan. Park Family of Greene and Cocke Counties, Tennessee. Baltimore, Md.: Gateway Press, 2000. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 P22pr.
 * [Parsons] Bishop, Rachel Parsons Flynn. The Parsons Family of Natural Bridge, Virginia. Moneta, Va.: R.P. Bishop, 1987. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 P251b.
 * [Paulsell] Paulsell, Otis D. Paulsell Family Bible Records Transcript, 1837-1970, and Paulsell Cemetery Records Transcript, 1798-1975. FHL US/CAN Film 1307616 Item 68.
 * [Pickering] Simmons, Paul V. The Pickering Descendants. Lakewood, Colo.: P.V. Simmons?, 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 P586s.
 * [Powell] Creech, Lillian Broughton, Fredwyn Creech Schwendeman and Sharon Creech Roark. Pioneer Profiles: Powell, Sargent/Sergent, Durham, Creech and Related Families of Kentucky. Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, 2005. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 P871cL.
 * [Pratt] Hurley, William Neal. Pratt Families of Virginia and Associated Families: Primarily the Descendants of Oliver Pratt, 1784-1832. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, 1996. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 P888h.
 * [Pratt] Pratt, Floyd Thomas. Henry Pratt Family of Greene County, Tennessee. Bradenton, Florida: Pratt Publications, 2003. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 P888pft.
 * [Pruitt] Prewitt, Richard A. William Pruitt, Sr &amp; Mary Martin, Their Descendants. Des Moines, [Iowa]: R.A. Prewitt, 1996. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 P952pri; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Rainey] Hoskins, Marcelle Erline Douglass. David D. Rainey: Some Family Trails. Richardson, Tex.: M.D. Hoskins, 1990. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R135h.
 * [Rankin] Nelson, Selden. Rankin Family of East Tennessee. Library of Virginia. Genealogical Notes [Collection], Box 10, Ran. FHL US/CAN Film 29887 Item 1.
 * [Reagan] Reagan, Donald B. Smoky Mountain Clans. 3 vols. Knoxville, Tenn.: D.B. Reagan, 1978-1983. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273R22b 1978. [The Reagan family is discussed in Vol. 1.]
 * [Reaves] Reaves, Timothy O. The Reaves Family Tree. Greenville, Tenn.: T.O. Reaves, 1983. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R238r.
 * [Rice] Calhoun, William Gunn. The Rice Family, 1680 to 1973: Thomas Rice, David Rice, John Holt Rice. Washington College, TN: Pioneer Printers, a Student Industry of Washington College Academy, 1973. Available at Ancestry ($); and Heritage Quest Online ($).
 * [Robertson] Keith, Arthur Leslie. Descendants of Thomas Robertson, 1744-1833. 1933. FHL US/CAN Film 1018891 Item 12.
 * [Robertson] Keith, Arthur Leslie and Nadine English Watson. English - Robertson Families in America. Laguna Park, Tex.: N.E. Watson, 1981?. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 En36k.
 * [Rudder] Shockey, Amanda Rudder Taylor. Our Rudder Family. Camden, Ohio: A. Shockey, 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R831sa.
 * [Rudder] Shockey, Amanda Rudder Taylor. Rudder &amp; Relatives. Camden, Ohio: A. Shockey, 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R831saa.
 * [Seaton] Scoudan, Fern Orr. Seaton-Roberts: A Pedigree. Cardiff by-the-Sea, Calif.: F.O. Scoudan, [2000?]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Se18sf.
 * [Shields] Webb, Margaret Vance. Joseph Shields of Washington County, Tennessee. Knoxville, Tenn.: M.V. Webb, 1994. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sh61we.
 * [Simmons] Simmons, Paul V. The Descendants of Elkano Simmons and Nancy Jane Pierce Simmons. Lakewood, Colo.: P.V. Simmons, 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Si47s.
 * [Smith] Moore, Linn Vincent and Lorene Thompson Moore. The Smith Family Newsletter (James Emerson Smith): and Adjoining Families. Newsletter. Sanger, Calif.: L.V. Moore, 1982. FHL 929.27305 Sm61s.
 * [Susong] Lamons, Margaret A. Susong Family. 1960. FHL US/CAN Film 1033836 Item 2.
 * [Susong] Carey, Henrie Polk Bowen and Hazel Harvey Caruthers. Susong Genealogy (of Virginia &amp; Tennessee). 1960 Typescript. FHL US/CAN Film 1033836 Item 2.
 * [Toole] Craig, Joe Mason and Mary Marcie Craig. John Toole, Ruth Ann Rankin, and Their Descendants. Oceanside, California: J.M. &amp; M. Craig, 1984. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 T618c; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Trimble] Elam, Lena Mae and Clint Ronald Jordan. Walter &amp; Rosannah Trimble &amp; Their Descendants. 2 vols. Lynnwood, Washington: C.R. Jordan, [1987?]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 T735e ff.
 * [Weems] Carter, John Denton. Rhoda Munsey Weems Carter, a Pioneer Methodist Mother of the Upper South. Biloxi, Miss.: J.D. Carter, 1977. FHL FAM HIST Book 921.73 C246cj.
 * [West] Lawson, Fred Raulston. The Lawsons of East Tennessee. Decatur, Ga.: Looking Glass Books, 1999. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L444Lf.
 * [Williams] King, James F. The Benjamin Williams Family of Greene County, Tennessee: A History, Compiled from Public Records, Private Papers, and Family Tradition. Gray, Tenn.: J.F. King, 1982. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W67k.
 * [Willis] Willis, David W. Henry Willis of Long Island. 4 vols. San Diego, Calif.: D.W. WIllis, 2008-2009. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W679w v. 1 ff.
 * [Wills] Neal, Carl B. The Wills Family of Johnson County, Tennessee. Olympia, Washington: [J. Kvatum?], 1960. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W685a.
 * [Woolsey] Young, Marjorie Lewis. Our Woolsey Family. Grand Prairie, Tex.: M.L. Young, 1994. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W887y.
 * [Wright] White, Richard E. Andrew Wright's Pedigree (1791-1865) Through My Grand-daughter (1977): Allied Lines -- Hunter, White, Clark, Billings, Waddle, Brooks, DeShaze, Cornwall, Kiefer, Daugherty, Dunnica, Couch, Hagan and Welty. Rawlins, Wyoming: R.E. White, 1985. FHL US/CAN Pedigree File, PEDIGREE no. 1150.

Land
Deeds

The Tennessee State Library and Archives microfilmed the original Greene County Deed Books 1 to 50 (1785-1887) and Indexes (1785-1931). Copies of their films are also available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Films 944411-944439.

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


 * 1) Deed Book 1: 1785-1793
 * 2) Deed Book 2: 1785-1797
 * 3) Deed Book 3: 1787-1797
 * 4) Deed Book 4: 1790-1802

Land Grants


 * Burgner, Goldene Fillers and Betty Goff Cook Cartwright. North Carolina Land Grants in Tennessee, 1778-1791. [Greenville, S.C.]: Southern Historical Press, 1981. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 R2b.
 * Burgner, Goldene Fillers. North Carolina Land Grants Recorded in Greene County, Tennessee. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1981. FHL US/CAN Book 976.891 R2b.

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.

Local Histories

 * Brandon, Connie B. Step Back in Time to Laurel Gap / Baileyton: (Late 1700s through Early 1900s) in Greene County, Tennessee. Greenville, Tenn.: C. Brandon, 2005. FHL US/CAN Book 976.891/B2 H2b.

Military
Civil War


 * Carter, William Randolph. History of the First regiment of Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry in the Great war of the Rebellion, with the Armies of the Ohio and Cumberland, under Generals Morgan, Rosecrans, Thomas, Stanley and Wilson. Knoxville, Tennessee: Gaut-Ogden Co. Printers, 1902. Free digital copy. 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. FHL US/CAN 976.8 U2m. Digital version at World Vital Records ($). Purchase at Genealogical.com. [Includes Greene 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 Greene 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 FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a.

The Blount Journal

Genealogical articles with abstracts of Greene County, Tennessee records have been published in The Blount Journal, the publication of the Blount County Genealogical and Historical Society. Began in 1985, still in print. Tables of contents are available online. Purchase back issues through the society. The Family History Library has acquired most volumes FHL US/CAN Book 976.8885 B2b.

East Tennessee Roots

Genealogical articles with abstracts of Greene 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 FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 D25e.

The Greene County Pioneer

The Greene County Pioneer. 25+ vols. Limestone, Tenn.: Greene County History and Genealogical Society, 1986-present. FHL US/CAN Books 976.891 B2g v. 1-5 ff.

The Pellissippian

Genealogical articles with abstracts of Greene County, Tennessee records were published in the The Pellissippian (25 vols., 1980-2004), the quarterly of the Pellissippi Genealogical and Historical Society. The society has posted tables of contents for all 25 volumes on their website. They also have back issues available for purchase. The Family History Library has acquired the first 20 volumes FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 D25p.

Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin

Genealogical articles with abstracts of Greene 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 FHL 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) FHL US/CAN Book 976.897 B2w index 1972-2001.

Prisons
Learn if your Greene County ancestors went to prison!


 * Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1851-1870, free index available online, courtesy: Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Private Papers

 * [Stephens] Stephens Bible. [Tex.]: Texas DAR, Genealogical Records Committee, 1998. FHL US/CAN Book 976.4253 V2b. ["This Bible was owned by A. Stephens, Jr.; S. L. Stephens in 1848; and S. S. Stephens in 1862 of Greene Co., Tennessee..."]

Probate
The Tennessee State Library and Archives microfilmed the original Greene County Will Books 1 to 5 (1828-1931). Copies of their films are also available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Films 944409-944410.

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


 * 1) Will Book 1: 1780-1828
 * 2) Will Books A-F: 1780-1883
 * 3) Will Books G-M: 1780-1883
 * 4) Will Books N-Z: 1780-1883

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


 * [1780-1883] Strictly By Name (see above).
 * [1783-1890] Burgner, Goldene Fillers. Greene County, Tennessee, Wills, 1783-1890. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1981. FHL US/CAN Book 976.891 P28b.
 * [1783-1861] Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Index to Tennessee Wills &amp; Administrations 1779-1861. Nashville, Tenn. Byron Sistler &amp; Associates, Inc., 1990. FHL US/CAN 976.8 P22s. [Includes an index to this county's probate records.]

Taxation
The original Greene County Tax Books (1809-1892) are held at the Greene County Courthouse. They were microfilmed by the Tennessee State Library and Archives in the twentieth century. Copies of their films are available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Films 94445-944452.

The original Greene County Tax Records (1828-1832) are held at the Greene County Courthouse. They were microfilmed by the Tennessee State Library and Archives in the 1960s. A copy of this film is available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Film 464112.

The following Greene County tax records have been abstracted:


 * [1783] Tax List, 1783, Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine. Washington DC: Apr 1919. Vol. 53 Iss. 4.
 * [1783, 1805] Creekmore, Pollyanna. Early East Tennessee Taxpayers. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1980. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 R4cp and Silas Emmett Lucas's Revised Index FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 R4cp index. [Includes 1783 and 1805 tax lists.]
 * [1783] Tax List, 1783, Greene County Pioneer, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Sep. 1985); Vol. 1, No. 3 (Dec. 1985).
 * [1783, 1805, 1812] Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Index to Early Tennessee Tax Lists. Evanston, Ill.: B. &amp; B. Sistler, 1977. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 R4s. [Includes 1783, 1805, 1812 tax lists.]
 * [1783] "First Tax List for Greene County, 1783," The Blount Journal, (Nov. 1988). For FHL access, or to purchase back issues, see Periodicals.
 * [1783] Tax List, 1783, A-F, Pellissippian, Vol. 9, No. 4 (Oct. 1988).
 * [1785] Tax List, 1785, Greene County Pioneer. Greeneville TN: May 1991. Vol. 7 Iss. 2.
 * [1785-1800] Tax Lists, 1785, Greene County Pioneer. Vol. 9, No. 2 (Nov. 1993), Vol. 10, No. 1 (May 1994). For FHL access, see Periodicals.
 * [1787-1792] Tax Lists, 1787-92, Greene County Pioneer, Vol. 5, No. 1 (Feb. 1989).
 * [1788] Taxable Property in State of Franklin, 1788, Genealogist's Post. Danboro PA: Jan 1965. Vol. 2 Iss. 1.
 * [1788, 1789] Clerk's Taxes, 1788, 1789, North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal. Raleigh NC: Nov 1992. Vol. 18 Iss. 4
 * [1796] Tax List, 1796, Greene County Pioneer. Greeneville TN: Jun 1987. Vol. 3 Iss. 2.
 * [1796] Taxables, 1796, Greene County Pioneer. Greeneville TN: May 1989. Vol. 5 Iss. 2.
 * [1797] Taxables, 1797, Greene County Pioneer. Greeneville TN: Aug 1989. Vol. 5 Iss. 3.
 * [1798] Taxables, 1798, Green County Pioneer, Vol. 5, No. 4 (Nov. 1989); Vol. 6, No. 1 (Feb. 1990).
 * [1799] Tax List, 1799, Greene County Pioneer, Vol. 6, No. 3 (Aug. 1990).
 * [1805] "1805 Enumeration, Greene County, Tennessee," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 28, No. 4 (Winter 1981):159-163. For FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * [1805, 1812] Curtis, Mary Barnett. Early East Tennessee Tax Lists. Fort Worth, Texas: Arrow Printing Company, 1964. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 R4c. [Includes 1805 and 1812 tax lists.]
 * [1805] Tax List, 1805, Wagoner Genealogist. Wagoner OK: Mar 1988. Vol. 8 Iss. 1.
 * [1809] Standefer, Jewel B. "Petitioners of Green County, Tennessee, Asking for Reduction in Taxes, Etc., 1809," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 11, No. 3 (July 1964):121-124. For FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * [1809-1817] Historical Records Project (Tennessee). Tax Books, 1809-1817, Greene County, Tennessee. Typescript, Nashville, Tenn. FHL US/CAN Film 24667 Item 3.
 * [1809-1817] Burgner, Goldene Fillers. Greene County Tax Digests, 1809-1817. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1986. FHL US/CAN Book 976.891 R4b.
 * [1809-1817] 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. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 X2s 1810. [Cites Burgner's tax digests as source.]
 * [1814] "Direct Federal Tax-Delinquent Property Owners Listed for 1814," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 43, No. 3 (Fall 1996):115-120. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals. [Includes Green(e) County.]
 * [1814-1816] Direct Tax, 1814-16, Greene County Pioneer. Greeneville TN: May 1996. Vol. 12 Iss. 1.
 * [1825] "Greene County Property Sold in 1825 for Unpaid Federal Taxes," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 43, No. 4 (Winter 1996):187. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * [1830] Houston, Sandra Kelton. Greene County, Tennessee Guardians and Orphans Court Records, 1783-1870 and 1830 Tax List. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1984. FHL US/CAN Book 976.891 P2h.
 * [1836] Douthat, James L. Greene County, Tennessee, 1836 Tennessee Civil District and Tax List. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 1993. FHL US/CAN Book 976.891 R4d.
 * Tax Reduction Petitioners, Ansearchin' News. Memphis TN: Jul 1964. Vol. 11 Iss. 3.

Vital Records
Marriage

The original Greene County marriage records are kept at the County Courthouse. In 1965, Soderberg provided the following description: "Few bonds exist for the earliest years and almost no licenses were returned or kept until after 1800. Some years show heavy losses. There is but one bond and twenty-six licenses for the year 1815. Bonds for the last part of the year 1818 have been misplaced since this compilation was started. These had been copied, however, and only the final rechecking was lost." Two organizations have microfilmed these records since the time of Soderberg's remarks:


 * 1) Marriages 1780-1960. Microfilmed in 1970s and 1980s by Tennessee State Library and Archives; FHL copies: FHL US/CAN Films 944386-944388, 1012445-1012448, 1928865.
 * 2) Marriage Records 1780-1981. Microfilmed between 2005 and 2008 by the Genealogical Society of Utah: FHL US/CAN Films 1148701 ff.

Greene County's marriage records have been abstracted and/or indexed several times. According to editors' introductions, each publication focused specifically on Greene County followed similar abstraction guidelines, while the regional and statewide indexes abstracted fewer details. If the 1818 marriages were lost in 1965 as Soderberg reports, and never found, later publications might omit them. The following is a list of these publications and the years they cover:


 * [1780-1837] Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.). Greene County, Tennessee Marriage License &amp; Bonds, 1780-1837. 1937; reprint, Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, [199-?]. FHL US/CAN Book 976.891 V28g. [Abstracts names of brides, grooms, perhaps bondsmen, and officiators, as well as a date associated with the marriage; W.P.A. workers assigned each document a number; includes W.P.A. index.]
 * [1783-1818] Soderberg, Gertrude L. and Pollyanna Creekmore. Tennessee Marriage Records, Volume 3, Greene County, Volume 1, 1783-1818: Being Transcriptions from the Original Bonds and Licenses at the County Courthouse, Greeneville. Knoxville, Tenn.: Clinchdale Press, 1965. FHL US/CAN Books 976.891 V2s. [Abstracts names of brides, grooms, bondsmen, and officiators, dates of bond, license, and/or marriage, as well as W.P.A. reference numbers and "All information of possible genealogical value," such as distinctions for men of the same name, and signatures by marks. Source: original bonds and licenses at the courthouse.]
 * [1783-1820] Peterson, Mrs. Z.R. Greene County, Tennessee Early Marriage Bonds 1783-1820. Typescript, Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Ind., 1968. FHL US/CAN Book 976.891 V25g. [Abstracts names of brides, grooms, bondsmen, and a date associated with each marriage. Miscataloged as a cemetery record on FHLC (14 July 2010), correction requested same day.]
 * [1783-1868] Burgner, Goldene Fillers. Greene County, Tennessee Marriages, 1783-1868. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1981. FHL US/CAN Book 976.891 V2b. [Abstracts names of brides, grooms, bondsmen, and officiators, as well as dates of bond, license, and/or marriage. Source: original licenses and bonds at the courthouse.]
 * [1783-1870] Lucas, Silas Emmett and Ella Lee Sheffield. 35,000 Tennessee Marriage Records and Bonds 1783-1870. 3 vols. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1981. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 V2t v. 1 ff. [Abstracts include names of brides, grooms, bondsmen, marriage bond dates, and officiators for weddings in this county for the roughly specified years. Marriage data taken from an index card file at the Tennessee State Library and Archives. Authors do not specify whether or not the card index completely indexes this county's marriages.]
 * [1783-1868] Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Early East Tennessee Marriages. 2 vols. Nashville, Tenn.: Byron Sistler &amp; Associates, Inc., 1987. FHL US/CAN 976.8 V2s v. 1. [Indexes names of brides and grooms, and marriage dates for weddings in this county for the specified years.]

Death

For deaths of Methodists in Greene 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. FHL 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 and Libraries
Greene County Genealogical Society T. Elmer Cox Historical and Genealogical Library 229 N. Main Street Greeneville, TN 37745

East Tennessee Historical Society 601 S. Gay Street P.O. Box 1629 Knoxville, Tennessee 37901-1629 Phone: 865-215-8824 Email: eths@east-tennessee-history.org

Greeneville-Greene County Library 210 N. Main Street Greeneville, TN 37745-3816 423-638-5034 Hours: Monday and Thursday 8 am - 8 pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9 am - 5 pm

Mosheim Public Library 730 Main Street Mosheim, TN 37818-0611 Phone: 423-422-7937 Hours: Monday - Thursday 12 pm - 6 pm Friday 12 pm to 5 pm

Web Sites

 * Family History Library Catalog (FamilySearch)
 * Greene County, TN Family History and Genealogy Message Board (Ancestry)
 * Greene County, TN Genealogy Forum (GenForum)
 * Greene County, TNGenWeb (USGenWeb)
 * RootsWeb Mailing List: TNGREENE-L (Greene County, Tennessee List)
 * RootsWeb Mailing List: ETN-L (East Tennessee List)
 * RootsWeb Mailing List: ETN-OZ-L (East Tennessee Migrants to Ozarks Region List)
 * RootsWeb Mailing List: UPPEREASTTN-L (Upper East Tennessee List)