Tennessee County and City Deaths - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
This collection contains death records that were created between 1881 and 1955

Record History
Most counties in Tennessee kept birth and death records beginning in 1908. These records were kept by the county clerks in each county and then sent to the State Board of Health. However, many deaths were not registered. There are no statewide birth or death records for 1913 because the law requiring registration expired in that year. On January 1, 1914, a new law requiring deaths to be registered was passed.

Chattanooga, Knoxville, Nashville, and Memphis kept birth and death records prior to 1908. Some counties kept records as early as 1881. State registration requirements were not comprehensively complied with until about 1927

Why This Record Was Created
The state required counties to begin recording deaths to track public health issues. They were also used with the probate of wills and the administration of estates.

Record Reliability
Information regarding the event of death is usually reliable. Other information, such as the birthplace and the parents’ names, is only as reliable as the knowledge of the informant.

Record Description
Deaths records were handwritten on pre-printed forms.

Record Content
Information contained in death certificates from different places and time periods can vary greatly. It is important to note that information in the county records after 1914 generally contains less information than the state records. For example, information about parents is not usually included in the county records, but it is in the state records. Therefore, for that time period, it is important to check the state set of records.

Death records may include the following genealogical information:


 * Name of the deceased [[Image:Tennessee_County_and_City_Death_Records_(09-0002)_DGS_004306918_02631.jpg|thumb]]
 * Date of death
 * Place of death
 * Sex
 * Color or race
 * Age
 * Usual residence of the deceased
 * Length of residence
 * Marital status
 * Place of death
 * Hospital where died
 * Cause of death
 * Place of birth
 * Date of birth
 * Name of the father
 * Birthplace of the father (state or country)
 * Maiden name of the mother
 * Birthplace of the mother (state or country)
 * Occupation
 * Military service
 * Name of the physician last in attendance
 * Place of burial
 * Date of burial
 * Name of the informant

How to Use the Record
Death certificates are the best source of death information. Information about the births of an individual and the parents could lead to further information regarding the parents. Informants could also be children or other relatives.

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Related Wiki Articles
Tennessee Vital records

Sources of This Information

 * “Tennessee Deaths, 1881-1939,” database, FamilySearch; from Tennessee County Courts. Digital images of originals stored in various county courts in the State of Tennessee.
 * “Tennessee Deaths, 1914-1955,” database, FamilySearch; from Tennessee State Library and Archives. Digital copies of originals housed at the Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.

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