Sevier County, Tennessee Genealogy

United States   Tennessee    Sevier County

East Tennessee county in the Great Smoky Mountains region. Established 1794. From 1784 to 1788, this land was claimed by the abortive, and short-lived State of Franklin.





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

County Courthouse
Sevier County Courthouse 125 Court Ave. Sevierville, TN 37862 Phone: 1-865-453-4654

Sevier County Clerk Marriage and probate records 125 Court Ave., Suite 202E Sevierville, TN 37862 Phone: 1-865-453-5502

Sevier County Register of Deeds Land records 125 Court Ave., Suite 209W Sevierville, TN 37862 Phone: 1-865-453-2758

Sevier County Circuit Court Clerk Court records 125 Court Ave., Room 204E Sevierville, TN 37862 Phone: 1-865-774-3693

Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Fri. 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

History


Sevier County is named after Revolutionary War General Gov. John Sevier (1745-1815).

North Carolina first organized the land that would eventually become Sevier County as part of Washington District in 1776, then as part of Washington County in 1777, and then as part of Greene County in 1783.

In August 1784 delegates of three western North Carolina counties, Washington, Sullivan, and Greene (all now in Tennessee), declared their Independence from North Carolina because of perceived neglect, and misuse by North Carolina’s legislature. By May 1785 they had petitioned to be admitted to the United States as the new State of Franklin. The Franklin statehood request was denied. In March 1786 the Franklin legislature created several new counties including Sevier (all in present-day Tennessee). By 1789 Franklin's hopes of statehood had faded.

However, in 1789 North Carolina ratified the Constitution, was admitted the union, and ceded her westermost counties to the United States. The United States used them to form the Southwest Territory. The new counties created by the Franklin government were not recognized by North Carolina, the Southwest Territory, or by Tennessee. When they were reconstituted, no mention was made of their Franklin predecessor county governments. The Southwest Territory reconstituted Sevier County in 1794 from part of Jefferson County.

In 1796 the land of all these counties became part of the new State of Tennessee.

Parent County
1794--Sevier County was established 28 September 1794 from Jefferson County. Early records may be found under Jefferson County. County seat: Sevierville

County Pronunciation


Did we get the accent right? If not, contact Nathan W. Murphy, [mailto:murphynw@familysearch.org murphynw@familysearch.org].

Record Loss
1856--Fire damaged records


 * Lost censuses: 1800, 1810, 1820, 1890
 * Lost marriage records: 1794 to 1855
 * Lost probate records: 1794 to 1848

The Foxes published a book that attempts "to help compensate for the loss of the records in the courthouse":


 * Fox, George and Juanita Fox. Sevier County, Tennessee Pre-1856 Courthouse Fire Records. n.p.: G.&amp;J. Fox, 2009. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8893 D2f.

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

Populated Places

 * Wear, Jerry L., Mary Alice Teague and Lynn Alexander. Lost Communities of Sevier County, Tennessee: Greenbrier. Coshocton, Ohio: School Annual Pub., 1985. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 A1 no. 131.
 * Wear, Jerry L. Sugarlands: A Lost Community of Sevier County. Coshocton, Ohio: School Annual Pub., 1986. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 A1 no. 130.

Research Guides

 * Genealogical "Fact Sheets" About Tennessee Counties: Sevier 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

Cemeteries
Tennessee cemetery records often identify birth, death, relationship, and military information, as well as religious affiliation.

The Smoky Mountain Historical Society published records of more than 350 Sevier County cemeteries in the following book:


 * In the Shadow of the Smokies: Sevier County, Tennessee Cemeteries. Sevierville, Tenn.: Smoky Mountain Historical Society, 1984. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8893 V3i. A free surname index is available online. Purchase the book and its supplement at Smoky Mountain Historical Society Data.

The Tennessee Cemeteries page provides explanations of the following online resources:

Census
1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 federal population schedules of Sevier 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.

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. FHL 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: FHL US/CAN Films 1024517-1024518.

The following book is a useful aid for finding the original records. A free online index, provided by Lineages, which cites the original document numbers, 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. FHL US/CAN Book 973 X2m 1820; indexed at Lineages. [Covers this county.]

These records have also been abstracted:


 * 1820 Census of Manufactures: Sevier County, East Tennessee Roots, Vol. 5, No. 2 :84. For availability, see Periodicals.

1830


 * Fox, George and Juanita Fox. Sevier County, Tennessee: 1830-1840 Federal Censuses, 1814-1837-1838 Tax Lists. n.p.: G.&amp;J. Fox, 2004. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8893 X2f.
 * Sistler, Byron H. 1830 Census, East Tennessee. Evanston, Ill.: n.p., 1969. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 X2p 1830.

1840


 * Fox, George and Juanita Fox. Sevier County, Tennessee: 1830-1840 Federal Censuses, 1814-1837-1838 Tax Lists. n.p.: G.&amp;J. Fox, 2004. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8893 X2f.

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. 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, Sevier County on page 154.]

1850


 * Creekmore, Pollyanna and Blanche C. McMahon. Population Schedule of the United States Census of 1850, Seventh Census, for Sevier County, Tennessee. Knoxville, Tenn.: P. Creekmore, 1953. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8893 X2p 1850.

1850 Agricultural Census


 * Green, Linda L. Tennessee 1850 Agricultural Census. 2 vols. Woodbridge, Va.: L.L. Green, 2000. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 X2g v. 1 ff. [Sevier County is included in Vol. 2.]

1860


 * Greene, Elmer A. Population Schedule of the United States Census of 1860 (Eighth U.S. Census) for Sevier County, Tennessee. Kingsport, Tenn.: E.A. Greene, 1971. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8893 X2g 1860.

1880


 * Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. 1880 Census, Sevier County, Tennessee. Nashville, Tenn.: Byron Sistler &amp; Associates, 1996. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8893 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. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 X2r v. 1 1891. [Sevier County is included in Vol. 1.]
 * 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
Methodist Episcopal


 * Green, William. Life and Papers of A.L.Pl Green, D.D.. Nashville, Tennessee: Southern Methodist Pulblishing House, 1877. Free digital copy.

DNA
DNA has been collected from men claiming descent from the following Sevier County residents. Attempts have not been made to verify the lineages of those tested.

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

Gordon Aronhime (1911-1983) collected information on hundreds of Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee pioneers. His note cards, which reference more than 4,000 early settlers of the Holston-Clinch River area and East Tennessee (1770s-1790s), are held at the Library of Virginia. The cards have been digitized and made available online.


 * East Tennessee Historical Society. First Families of Tennessee: A Register of Early Settlers and Their Present-day Descendants. Knoxville, Tenn.: East Tennessee Historical Society, 2000. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 H2ff. [Identifies families that had settled in Tennessee before it achieved statehood in 1796.]
 * Karr, Beulah. The History and Folks of English Mountain: Sevier County, Tennessee. 2004. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8893 D2k.
 * Reagan, Donald B. Smoky Mountain Clans. 3 vols. Knoxville, Tenn.: D.B. Reagan, 1978-1983. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273R22b 1978. [Discusses the Bradley, Conner, Emert, Huskey, McCarter, Reagan, Shultz, Trentham, Watson, and Whaley families.]
 * Russell, Gladys Trentham. Call Me Hillbilly: A Personal Account of Growing Up in the Smokies near Gatlinburg. Alcoa, Tenn.: Russell Pub., [1988]. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8893 D2r.
 * Russell, Gladys Trentham. Smoky Mountain Family Album. Alcoa, Tenn.: Russell Pub., 1984. FHL US/CAN Book 976.889 D2r.
 * Sevier County Heritage Book Committee. Sevier County, Tennessee, and Its Heritage. [Waynesville, N.C.]: Walsworth Pub. Co., 1994. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8893 H2s.

Bibliography


 * [Barnes] See Longley.
 * [Biard] Smith, Maud Biard. The Biard Family. Paris, Texas: M.B. Smith, 1954. FHL US/CAN Film 1033942 Item 8; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Burchfield] Finks, Betty Lou. The Descendants of the Moore Family. n.p.: B.L. Finks, 1995. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M787f.
 * [Cantrell] See Longley.
 * [Cates] Dawson, Aurelia Cate. Our East Tennessee Kinsmen: Cate, Henry and related families. Seaford, DE: Unknown, 1962. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C282d; for an index see FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C282d index or FHL US/CAN Film 874417 Item 7; digital version at Heritage Quest Online ($).
 * [Chandler] Chandler, Annamae Barber, Philip A. Gowan and John R. Rossell. Discovering Chandler Lines, 1474-1996, in Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1944. Seattle, Wash.: AB Chandler, 1996. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C361ch.
 * [Curd] See Longley.
 * [Dagley] Waterfield, Marjorie Featheringill. Dagley Family Group Sheets, 1700-1900. Bowling Green, Ohio: M. Waterfield, 19--. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D133w.
 * [Gaut] McWilliam, Judly L. and Roberta B. Pierson. Jones/Gaut: James &amp; Jerusha: Arno, Wayland, Weber, Mabel. Sacramento, Calif.: J.L. McWilliams, 1987. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 J71mp.
 * [Gist] Dorsey, Jean Muir. Christopher Gist of Maryland and Some of His Descendants, 1679-1957, Chicago, IL: J.S. Swift Co., 1958. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G447; digital version at Heritage Quest Online ($).
 * [Green] Green, William. Life and Papers of A.L.P.Green, D.D.. Nashville, Tennessee: Southern Methodist Pulblishing House, 1877. Free digital copy, courtesy: Internet Archive.
 * [Hatcher] Edwards, Olga Jones. The Hatcher Papers, 1793-1898. Typescript, FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 A1 no. 504.
 * [Henry] Dawson, Aurelia Cate. Our East Tennessee Kinsmen: Cate, Henry and related families. Seaford, DE: Unknown, 1962. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C282d; for an index see FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C282d index or FHL US/CAN Film 874417 Item 7; digital version at Heritage Quest Online ($).
 * [Hurst] Littell, Noble K. The Hurst Family: from the Archives. Newsclipping from the Gazette, September 6, 1972, Morgan County Public Library, Martinsville, Ind. FHL US/CAN Film 1502553 Item 51.
 * [Jones] Jones--Sams--Scott Family Bible Records, 1833-1960, and Jones--Scott and Allied Families Records, ca. 1615-1959. Typecript, microfilmed in 1960. FHL US/CAN Film 219477 Item 14.
 * [King] King, Robert R. Wiley King and Margaret Adair King of Little Greenbrier Cove, Sevier County, Tennessee. McLean, Va.: American Society for Genealogy and Family History, 1997. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 K58kr.
 * [Langley] See Longley.
 * [Lawson] Lawson, Fred Raulston. The Lawsons of East Tennessee. Decatur, Ga.: Looking Glass Books, 1999. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L444Lf.
 * [Link] Link, Paxson. The Link Family: Antecedents and Descendants of John Jacob Link, 1417-1951. Paris, IL?: Unknown, 1951. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L648L; FHL US/CAN Film 1036535 Item 1; digital version at Ancestry ($); and Heritage Quest Online ($). For the 1988 supplement to this book see FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L648d.
 * [Locke] Broyles, Bettye J. Locke Family History: Descendants of Thomas and Susanna (Henry) Locke. Chattanooga, Tenn.: B.J. Broyles, 1995. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L795b.
 * [Longley] Matthews, Addah Longley. Genealogy, Curd-Longley, Cantrell-Barnes. North Newton, KS: Mennonite Press, 1966. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C922g; digital version at Heritage Quest Online ($).
 * [Lowe] Reed, Kenneth Charles. The Lowe Family: Ancestors and Descendants of William Albert Lowe and Fannie Harriet Turner: Ancestral Lines: Witcher, Keen, Blair, Turner and Lowe: Descendant Lines: Perry, Douglass, Lowe and Reed. 1984; reprint, Houston, Texas: K.C. Reed, 1997. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L951r.
 * [McGaughey] Sutton, Polly Rachel McGaughey. Descendants of William and Margaret McGaughey (Settled in York County, Pa. 1740). Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Quintella Printing, 1984. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M128s.
 * [McGaughey] Sutton, Polly Rachel McGaughey. Descendants of William and Margaret McGaughey - Settled in York County, Pa., 1740s: Supplement 1991. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: P.R.M. Sutton, 1991. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M128s supp. 1991.
 * [McGaughey] Sutton, Polly Rachel McGaughey. Addendum to Descendants of William and Margaret McGaughy/ey: William and Elizabeth (Lackey) McGaughy/ey Line. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: P.R.M. Sutton, [1995?]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M128s supp. 1995.
 * [McGhee] McGhee Family. Taken from Notable Southern Families. Microfilmed in 1989. FHL US/CAN Film 1638488 Item 15.
 * [Maples] Southworth, Mary Ford. A Maples Leaf. Orange, Calif.: M.F. Southworth, 1968. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M321s.
 * [Maples] Farny, Anne Marie. A Maples Leaf,: and Pedigree of Anne Marie Martin. El Monte, Calif.: A.M. Martin, 198-?. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M363mf.
 * [Massey] Goddard, Mrs. E.E. Family Reunion at the Home of Dr. John and Mrs. Massey, Atlantic City, New Jersey, September 20, 1925. 1925. FHL US/CAN Film 1036213 Item 22.
 * [Mattox] Lawson, Fred Raulston. The Lawsons of East Tennessee. Decatur, Ga.: Looking Glass Books, 1999. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L444Lf.
 * [Montgomery] Edwards, Olga Jones. The Montgomery Papers, 1817-1913. Tacoma, Wash.: O.J. Edwards, 1964. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M766e.
 * [Moore] Finks, Betty Lou. The Descendants of the Moore Family. n.p.: B.L. Finks, 1995. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M787f.
 * [Nation] Nation, Carole Clawson. James Anderson Nation and Myrtle Della Sands, Their Ancestors, Descendents &amp; Related Families. Rio Linda, Calif.: C.C. Nation, 1986. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 N213nc.
 * [Ottinger] Ottinger, Charles Love and Marie Matthews Ottinger. From Affoltern to Atlanta: The Story of One Branch of the Ottinger Family Tree. [Tenn.: C.L. Ottinger], 1992. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Ot8oc.
 * [Ownby] Park, Percival David. Ownby--Watson Family History: With Information on the Bradley, Cardwell, Wilson and Other Allied Families of Sevier County, Tennessee. Atlanta, Ga.: P.D. Park, 1983. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Ow4p.
 * [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.
 * [Porter] Barnett, Bobby D. Descendants of Mitchell Porter: Revolutionary War Soldier. [South Pasadena, Fla.]: B.D. Barnett, 2000. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 P834bb.
 * [Reagan] Shelton, Lula F. Joshua Reagan, Son of Timothy Reagan &amp; Elizabeth Trigg. Phoenix, Ariz.: L.F. Shelton, 1982. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R228s.
 * [Reagan] Reagan, Donald B. The Book of Ragan/Reagan. Knoxville, Tenn.: D.R. Reagan, 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R126rd.
 * [Reyer] Broadway, Mavene et al. Der Reiher: Journal of the Reyer Family. Ardmore, Tenn.: Reyer Family in America, 1979-1982. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R33r.
 * [Roberts] Hays, Maud Callaway. Hays Records and Roberts and Allied Families. n.p.: Hays, 1952. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H333h.
 * [Robertson] Robertson, Rhonda. William Robertson of England and His Descendants: (A Partial Genealogy). n.p.: Rhonda Robertson, 1978. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R545rr.
 * [Routh] Routh, Ross H. Stephen Routh (1797-1871) and Some Descendants: A Genealogy. El Paso, Texas: R.H. Routh, 1980. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R765sr.
 * [Shields] Shields, John Arthur. The Shields Family: Particularly the Oldest and Most Numerous Branch of that Family in Our America; an Account of the Ancestor and Descendents [sic of the Ten Brothers of Sevier County, in Tennessee (1917).] Free digital copy, courtesy: Internet Archive. Digital copy also available at BYU Family History Archives
 * [Shields] Coleman, Mary O. Derrick, Rebecca S. Hardin, and Fulton County Historical Society (Indiana). Shields Genealogy. Rochester, Ind.: Fulton County Historical Society (Indiana), 1979. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 A1 no. 2951.
 * [Shields] Shields, A. Randolph. The Descendants of Robert and Margaret Emmert Shields of Cades Cove, Tennessee. Maryville, Tenn.: A.R. Shields, 1986. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sh61sa.
 * [Shultz] Schultz, Earl K. An Early American Family. n.p.: n.p., n.d. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 A1 no. 1198.
 * [Shultz] Reagan, Donald B. Early History of Doctor Martin Shultz and Julianna Stentz. Knoxville, Tenn.: D.B. Reagan, 1989. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sh92r.
 * [Thomas] Wynn, C.B. Isaac Thomas of Sevierville, Tennessee: and a Few of His Many Descendants, with Allied Families. Gatlinburg, Tenn.: Buckhorn Press, 1980. FHL FAM HIST Book 921.73 T363w.
 * [Thomas] Lethco, Sue Eledge and Herbert E. Sharp. The William Carroll Thomas Progeny. Sevierville, Tenn.: S.E. Lethco and H.E. Sharp, 1994. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 T368L.
 * [Trentham] Trentham, Jo An. Trentham Heritage. n.p.: J. Trentham, [2007?]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 T723tj.
 * [Watson] Park, Percival David. Ownby--Watson Family History: With Information on the Bradley, Cardwell, Wilson and Other Allied Families of Sevier County, Tennessee. Atlanta, Ga.: P.D. Park, 1983. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Ow4p.
 * [Wear] Col. Samuel Wear's Bible [Records, 1780-1870]. Tacoma, Wash.: Tacoma Genealogical Society, 1963. FHL US/CAN Book 979.7 D2t.

Historic Residences

 * Jones, Robbie D. The Historic Architecture of Sevier County, Tennessee. Sevierville, Tenn.: Smoky Mountain Historical Society, 1996. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8893 J7j.

Immigration
During the War of 1812, American officials reported finding a total of 11 British aliens, many of whom had families, living in Sevier County.

Land
Deeds

Sevier County's early Deed Books do not survive. The Foxes published a substitute for lost Sevier County land records, see Record Loss. Extant Deed Books are kept at the County Courthouse. In the 1970s, TSLA microfilmed surviving Deed Books H to 3 (1845-1909), Trust Deed Book 2 (1883-1890), and an accompanying Index to both (1845-1911). FHL copies: FHL US/CAN Films 969973-969987.

Local Land Entries Issued by North Carolina

The original Sevier 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 Sevier County, both before and after its land became a part of the state of Tennessee. Year covered: 1799.

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 Sevier County.
 * 4) Click on the entry that is returned: "Tennessee, Sevier County."
 * 5) In the window that pops up, click Show List of Child Records and a list of Sevier 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.

Local Histories

 * Crozier, E.W. The White-Caps: A History of the Organization in Sevier County. Knoxville, Tenn.; Bean, Warters and Gaut, 1899

Maps

 * [1794] Reeves, Charles A. Sevier County [Tennessee] - Created September 27, 1794 from Jefferson County. Published 2000. Purchase at ReevesMaps.com; website includes a scaled-down version of the map.
 * [1926] U.S. Geological Survey. Proposed Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Originally published 1926. Purchase at ReevesMaps.com; website includes a scaled-down version of the map.
 * [1934] U.S. Park Service. Preliminary Base Map, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Originally published 1934. Purchase at ReevesMaps.com; website includes a scaled-down version of the map.

Military
Revolutionary War

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


 * 1835 Pension Roll
 * 1852 Rejected or Suspended Pensions
 * Some Revolutionary, 1812, and Civil War Pensioners Connected to Sevier County

Additional resources include:


 * 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, Sevier County on page 154.]
 * 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.]
 * Revolutionary &amp; Military Pensioners, Ansearchin' News, Vol. 28, No. 1 (Spring 1981).
 * Revolutionary War Pensioners, 1818, Smoky Mountain Historical Society Newsletter, Vol. 1, No. 4 (Jan. 1974).
 * Robert Duggan Marker, d.1845, Tennessee Rifleman, Vol. 40, No. 3 (Summer 1999).
 * Robert Duggan, Sr., Marker, d.ca.1845, Smoky Mountain Historical Society Newsletter, Vol. 20, No. 2 (Summer 1999).

War of 1812


 * Embry, Hermione D. "War of 1812 - Tennessee Pensioners on List - January 2, 1883," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 8, No. 2 (Apr. 1961):49-52; Vol. 8, No. 3 (Jul. 1961):95-98. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a v. 8 (1961); digital version at journal website. [Includes Sevier County pensioners 8(2):52, 9(3):95.]
 * War of 1812 Militia Companies, Smoky Mountain Historical Society Newsletter, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Spring 1988).

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 Sevier County click on the following cities or towns:


 * Gatlinburg
 * Pigeon Forge
 * Sevierville
 * Seymour

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 Sevier 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 Sevier 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.


 * East Tennessee Roots


 * Genealogical articles with abstracts of Sevier 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.


 * Smoky Mountain Historical Society Newsletter


 * Genealogical articles with abstracts of Sevier County, Tennessee records were published in the Smoky Mountain Historical Society Newsletter (33 vols., 1977-2007), the journal of the Smoky Mountain Historical Society. Tables of contents for most issues are available online. Back issues are available for purchase. The Family History Library has acquired a complete collection FHL US/CAN Book 976.889 B2s, as well as Journal Contents and Index of Names: 1977 thru 1996 FHL US/CAN Book 976.889 B2s index.

Prisons
Learn if your Sevier County ancestors went to prison!


 * Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1831-1850, free index available online, courtesy: TSLA.
 * Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1851-1870, free index available online, courtesy: TSLA.

Probate
Early Sevier County Will Books do not survive. In the 1970s, TSLA microfilmed Will Books 1 to 2 (1849-1922). FHL copy: FHL US/CAN Film 969971. See also FHL US/CAN Film 464146 Items 1-2.

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


 * [1849-1861] 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 wills.] Free Lookups Available!

Taxation
The original Sevier County Tax Books 1864-1872 are kept at the County Courthouse. In the 1970s, TSLA microfilmed these records. FHL copy: FHL US/CAN Film 969988.

A list of Sevier County tax assessors 1912-1992 was published in Smoky Mountain Historical Society Journal and Newsletter, Vol. 26, No. 2 (Summer 2000).

The following Sevier County tax records have been abstracted and/or indexed:


 * [1799] 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 1799 tax list.]
 * [1803] Unpaid Taxes -- 1803 (Blount, Cocke, Sevier Cos.), Smoky Mountain Historical Society Newsletter, Vol. 10, No. 3 (1984). For FHL access, or to purchase back issues, see Periodicals; digital version by Duay O'Neil, at Sevier County, Tennessee, Genealogy &amp; History. [Abstract of The Knoxville Gazette, Aug. 8, 1803.]
 * [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 Sevier County.]
 * [1814, 1837-1838] Fox, George and Juanita Fox. Sevier County, Tennessee: 1830-1840 Federal Censuses, 1814-1837-1838 Tax Lists. n.p.: G.&amp;J. Fox, 2004. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8893 X2f.
 * [1817] "U.S. Holds 1817 Public Sale of Federal Tax-Delinquent Properties in Tennessee," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 43, No. 2 (Summer 1996):63-68. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals. [Includes Sevier County.]
 * [1820, 1822] Edwards, Olga Jones. The Montgomery Papers, 1817-1913. Tacoma, Washington: O.J. Edwards, 1964. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M766e. [Includes a partial transcripts of 1820 and 1822 tax lists.]
 * [1837] Linn, Beulah D. "1837 Sevier County Tax List," Smoky Mountain Historical Society Newsletter, Vol. 11, No. 4 (1985); Vol. 12, No. 1 (1986). For FHL access, or to purchase back issues, see Periodicals
 * [1864] "1864 Tax List - Partial Transcription," available online, courtesy: Sevier County, Tennessee Genealogy &amp; History.

Marriage
The original Sevier County Marriage Books are kept at the County Courthouse. Early marriage books are lost. In the 1970s and 1980s, TSLA microfilmed Marriage Books 1 to 29 (1856-1951). FHL copies: FHL US/CAN Films 969965-969970, 1928819-1928825.

The following Sevier County marriage records have been abstracted:


 * [1856-1873] Historical Records Project. Marriage Records, 1856-1873, Sevier County, Tennessee. Typescript, TSLA, microfilmed in 1940. FHL US/CAN Film 24816.
 * [1856-1873] 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.] Free Lookups Available!
 * [1920-1934] Parton, Robert J., Larry D. Fox, and Smoky Mountain Historical Society. Sevier County, Tennessee Marriage Records 1920-1934. [Sevierville, Tennessee]: Smoky Mountain Historical Society, 1998. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8893 V2p.

Death
For deaths of Methodists in Sevier 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
Smoky Mountain Historical Society PO Box 5078 Sevierville, TN 37864-5078 E-mail: smhs@SmokyKin.com

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

Sevier County Public Library System 321 Court Ave. Sevierville, TN 37862 Phone: 1-865-453-3532

King Family Library 408 High St. Sevierville, TN 37862 Hours: Mon. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Tues. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wed. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Thurs. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Sevier County History Center 321 Court Ave. Sevierville, TN 37862 Hours: Mon. 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Tues.-Fri. 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Genealogy resources include court records, land records, history and more. To see what is available at the center and online accessibility of some records click here.

Anna Porter Public Library 158 Proffitt Road, out Highway 321 at the Gatlinburg Community Center Phone: 1-865-436-5588 E-mail: kt@annaporterpl.org Hours: Mon., Tues., Wed., Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thurs. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The Anna Porter Library houses a collection of items relating to Gatlinburg, the Great Smoky Mountains and southern Appalachia. This includes oral history audio tapes recorded over 30 years ago.

Family History Centers
Sevierville Tennessee 401 Hardin Ln Sevierville, TN Phone: 1-865-428-8550

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

Web Sites

 * Family History Library Catalog (FamilySearch)
 * Mailing List: DumplinTN [very active; covers Jefferson and Sevier County]
 * Mailing List: TNSEVIER-L (Sevier 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: FRANKLIN-STATE-L (State of Franklin 1784-1788 List) (RootsWeb)
 * Mailing List: SE-TN-L (Southeast Tennessee List) (RootsWeb)
 * Mailing List: UPPEREASTTN-L (Upper East Tennessee List) (RootsWeb)
 * Sevier County, TN Family History and Genealogy Message Board (Ancestry)
 * Sevier County, TN Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Sevier County, TN Genealogy Forum (GenForum)
 * Sevier County, TNGenWeb (USGenWeb)
 * Sevier County, TN History, Records, Facts and Genealogy (MyTennesseeGenealogy)
 * Smoky Mountain Ancestral Quest Compiled Genealogies of Local Families