McNairy County, Tennessee Genealogy

Guide to McNairy County, Tennessee ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

Description
McNairy County was named Judge John McNairy and is located in the southwestern area of the state.

County Courthouse
McNairy County Courthouse 170 Court Ave. Selmer, TN 38375 County Courthouse Phone: 731-645-3511 County Clerk Phone: 731-645-3511 Clerk Circuit Court Phone: 731-645-1015 Register of Deeds Phone: 731-645-3656 County Archives Phone: 731-645-7095

County Clerk has marriage records from 1861, some birth, death, and funeral records Clerk of Circuit Court has divorce records Register of Deeds has land records

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

History Timeline
Additional Information West Tennessee county. Established 1823.

The county is named after "John McNairy, judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Tennessee."

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

 * West Tennessee's Forgotten Children: Apprentices from 1821 to 1889. 2006. By Alan N. Miller. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield Company. . Online at MyHeritage ($). Includes McNairy County.

Cemeteries
Additional Cemetery Resources
 * Tennessee Cemeteries - Hometown Locator

Census Records
1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 federal population censuses of McNairy 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 McNairy, TN census assignments, including links to transcribed files. The USGenWeb Census Project®.

1810-1891


 * Tennessee, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1810-1891 at Ancestry $

1830


 * Brown, Albert 1830 and 1840 census index for McNairy Co., Tennessee Bethel Springs, Tennessee Albert Brown, c1998

1840


 * Brown, Albert 1830 and 1840 census index for McNairy Co., Tennessee Bethel Springs, Tennessee Albert Brown, c1998

1840 Pensioners


 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshals of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing, 1967. . Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Tennessee, Western District, McNairy County on page 159.

1850


 * Index to the 1850 McNairy County, Tennessee census

1860


 * Index to the 1860 federal census of McNairy Co., Tennessee

1870


 * McNairy County Genealogical Society (Selmer, Tennessee) McNairy County, Tennessee, 1870 census Selmer, Tennessee McNairy County Genealogical Society, 1992

1880


 * Sistler, Samuel D. 1880 census McNairy County, Tennessee Nashville, Tennessee: B. Sistler and Associates, 2002
 * Brown, Albert McNairy Co., TN, 1880 census: McNairy County Tennessee record Bethel Springs, Tennessee: A. Brown, 1995

1890


 * Brown, Albert McNairy County, Tennessee, research records the 1890 tax record of McNairy county Bethel Springs, Tennessee: A. Brown, c1994 (Contents: Index to Confederate Veterans pension application, index of widows who applied for Confederate pensions, index to B.G. Brazeltons, 1885 history of Hardin County, Tennessee and funeral records of McNaire County, Tennesse, 1947-1957.)

1891 Male Voters


 * 1891 Tennessee Enumeration of Male Voters 1891 at Ancestry ($)

1900


 * McNairy County Genealogical Society (Selmer, Tennessee) McNairy County, Tennessee, 1900 census Selmer, Tennessee: McNairy County Genealogical Society, c1992

1910


 * Brown, Albert McNairy County, Tennessee research record 1910 census and index Bethel Springs, Tennessee A. Brown, c1994

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records
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 TSLA has created an index to names that appear in these acts covering the years 1796 to 1850. Online searchable index at TSLA.

Genealogies

 * Auten - Langston, Kathryn. Auten News. [Newsletter] Lavon, Texas: K. Langston, 1997-2002..
 * Ballard - Miller, Lynne D. Texas Ballards. Lincolnton, North Carolina: L.D. Miller, 2000. ; digital version at.
 * Birchett - See Combs.
 * Brooks - Brooks, Moses Edward. Descendants of James Brooks. Unknown: unknown, 1974. Available at Heritage Quest Online ($).
 * Cain - Truett, Earl A. William Hardin Cain, His Descendants and the Founders of Northwest Lafayette County, Mississippi. 2 vols. Oxford, Miss.: E.A. Truett, 1978-1980. ff.
 * Combs - Cooke, Katherine Joss. The House that Grew. Alexandria, Va.: K.J. Cooke, 1988..
 * Dawson - Ebrom, Janet Dawson and Gregory Alan Dawson. Dawson -- Deaton, Pioneers to Texas. San Antonio, Texas: Dawson Books, 1989..
 * Deaton - Wilson, Larry M. Genealogy of the Family of Deaton. Kansas City, Missouri: L. Wilson, 1993. ; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * Donnell - Frame, Peggy Campbell. The Albert Franklin Donnell Family. Aztec, N.M.: P.C. Frame, 2005. ; digital version at BYU Family History Archives..
 * Ellis - Family Records of the Ellis and Leonard Families. MSS., microfilmed in 1965;.
 * Harris - Crockett, Barbara Jean Harris. Barbara's Book: A Compilation of Harris History. Fenton, Michigan: B.J.H. Crockett, 1981..
 * Harris - Gohr, Glenn W. James David Harris: His Kith and His Kin: A Compilation of Harris History. Springfield, Missouri: G.W. Gohr, 1990..
 * Hightower - Hales, Samuel Dale. A History of Some English Speaking People Called Hales, Hendricks, Hightower and Hearne Who Lived in the South and in Texas, 1634-1934. Shawnee Mission, Kansas: S.D. Hales, 1975..
 * Hurst - Branch, Virginia. The Hurst Nation: A Family History. 2 vols. Paragould, Ark.: V. Branch, 1987-1991. ff.
 * Richards - Richards, James P. Richards Family Genealogical Records, 1743-1978. Typescript,.
 * Wharton - Wharton, Richard. Richard Wharton papers, 1863-1906. Book contributor: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A diary, letters and other writings including his service in the Confederate Army, letters relating to family matters, a genealogy of the Wharton family, poems and speeches. Free digital copy.

Land and Property Records

 * 1823-1838; 1838-1845; 1861-1865; 1866-1868; 1868-1869 SourtheasternGenealogy.com Images of Deeds ($)
 * McNairy County Register of Deeds has Land Records from 1823 and is located at the Courthouse, Selmer, Tennessee 38375-2194; Telephone: (731) 645-5446.Land and property records include transfer of real estate or personal property, mortgages, leases, surveys, and entries.
 * The FamilySearch Library has microfilm copies of deeds 1823-1903 with indexes 1835-1901; land grants 1823-1961.

Local Histories
. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Wright, Marcus Joseph. Reminiscences of the Early Settlement and Early Settlers of McNairy County, Tennessee. Washington, D.C.: Commercial Pub. Co., 1882. Available at

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Tennessee (1777-1985)
 * FamilySearch Places: Cities and Towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
Revolutionary War The following McNairy County Revolutionary War records are available online through TNGenWeb:


 * 1835 Pension Roll
 * 1852 Rejected or Suspended Pensions

Additional resources include:


 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshals of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing, 1967. . Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Tennessee, Western District, McNairy County on page 159.
 * 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. Includes veterans from this county; Tennessee section begins on page 381.

War of 1812
 * Embry, Hermione D. "War of 1812 - Tennessee Pensioners on List - January 2, 1883," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 8, No. 1 (Jan. 1961):20-23. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a v. 8 (1961); digital version at journal website. Includes McNairy County pensioners (pp. 20-21).

Civil War

Online Records
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1861-1865 - U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry
 * 1861-1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry
 * 1861-1865 U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 at Ancestry
 * 1891-1965 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System

Confederate Soldiers


 * 13th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company F.
 * 18th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Newsom's) - CSA - Companies E, F, and H.
 * 21st Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Wilson's) - CSA - Company F.
 * 27th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company B.
 * 31st Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (A. H. Bradford's) - CSA - Companies B, C, and G.
 * 154th Senior Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (1st Tennessee Volunteers) - CSA

Union Soldiers


 * 6th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry - Companies A, B, C, D, E, and F.

Additional sources for Civil War soldiers from McNairy County:


 * USGenWeb Archives, McNairy County Tennessee Archives. Civil War Records.
 * Tennessee State Library and Archives, Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications: McNairy County. 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). McNairy County, page 360-361.
 * TNGenWeb, McNairy County Military Records.
 * McNairy County Civil War Units.

Civil War Battle The following Civil War Battles were fought in McNairy County.
 * April 29-June 10, 1862 - Corinth.
 * October 5, 1862 - Hatchie's Bridge, also known as Davis Bridge and Matamora.
 * Battles of the American Civil War maps - filter by state or by battle name.

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 McNairy County click on the following towns:


 * Adamsville
 * Falcon
 * Purdy
 * Selmer


 * 1794-1851 - Lucas, Silas Emmett. Marriages from Early Tennessee Newspapers 1794-1851. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1978..
 * 1847 - 1851 - 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. 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. (Largely Methodist?)

Prisons

 * 1831-1850 Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1831-1850 at Tennessee State Library and Archives
 * 1851-1870 Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1851-1870 at Tennessee State Library and Archives

Periodicals

 * Ansearchin' News: Quarterly magazine of the Tennessee Genealogical Society. For a keyword search, go to the county index. Read previous issues on their website;
 * Back Trackers:Publication of the McNairy County Genealogical Society, Selmer, Tenn. The FamilySearch Library has Vols. 1-4 (1991-1994):.
 * Family Findings: Quarterly of the Mid-West Tennessee Genealogical Society. For tables of contents and online access to issues, see TNGenWeb Project. Also try this specialized Google search..
 * Volumes 1-10 (1969-1978)
 * Volumes 11-20 (1979-1988)
 * Volumes 21-24 (1989-1992)
 * Volumes 32-35 (2000-2003)


 * McNairy County History and Genealogy Newsletter:The FamilySearch Library has volume 12 no. 3 and 4
 * West Tennessee Historical Society Papers: Occasional publication of the West Tennessee Historical Society. . To view Table of Contents and complete articles from 1947 - 2005 see Shelby County Register of Deeds

Probate Records
The County Court has responsibility for the probate records of McNairy County. Many records are held by the McNairy County Archives.

Online Records and Indexes


 * 1779-2008 Tennessee Wills and Probate Records 1779-2008 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1861-1947 McNairy County portion of  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; handwritten indexes may be found at the front or back of some volumes.

Book Abstracts and Indexes


 * 1865-1896  Brown, Albert. McNairy Co., Administrators Record Index, 1865-1896. Bethel Springs, Tennessee: A. Brown, 1994. (FS Library book 976.829 P22b.)website
 * 1858-1967  Brown, Albert. McNairy County, Tennessee Record, Will Index, 1858-1967: From Court Minute Books and Will Books. Bethel Springs, Tennessee: A. Brown, 1993. (FS Library book 976.829 P28ba.) website
 * 1872-1936  Kennedy, Nancy Wardlow. Will Book Abstracts of McNairy County, Tennessee. Selmer, Tennessee: N.W. Kennedy, (199-?). Indexed. (FS Library book 976.829 P28k.)

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records
The original McNairy County Tax Books 1867-1882 were microfilmed by TSLA. FS Library copies:.

Book Abstracts and Indexes


 * 1890 Brown, Albert. McNairy County, Tennessee, Research Records: The 1890 Tax Record of McNairy County. Bethel Springs, Tenn.: A. Brown, 1994..

Birth

 * 1828-1939 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1869-1909 Tennessee Delayed Birth Records 1869-1909 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1908-1912 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Marriage
Online indexes and Records


 * 1625-1966 Tennessee, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($)
 * 1780-2002 - Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002 Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002 ($).
 * 1780-2002 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1790-1962 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection. Covers all counties in Tennessee.
 * 1796-1950 (Indexes only) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1838-1888 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1861-1869 - Marriage records, 1861-1869, McNairy County, Tennessee. FS Library Film 24750 items 4-6. +++
 * 1861-1895 - McNairy County Marriage Index 1861-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
 * 1851-1900 Tennessee Marriages 1851-1900 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1980-2014 Marriage Records Index 1980-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index

Book Abstracts and Indexes


 * 1758-1958 - Husbands, Wives, Marriages, 1758-1958. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.829 V2b
 * 1861-1865 - Early West Tennessee Marriages. 2 vols.   Indexes names of brides, grooms, and marriage dates for this county for specified years.
 * 1911-1926 - Marriages of McNairy County, Tennessee, 1911-1926 FS Library US/CAN Book 976.829 V2m

Death

 * 1874-1955 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1908-1933 Tennessee Deaths, 1908 - 1933 at MyHeritage ($) — index
 * 1908-1958 Tennessee Death Records 1908 - 1958 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1908-1912 Tennessee Death Records 1908-1912 at Tennessee State Library & Archives - index
 * 1914-1933 Tennessee Death Records 1914-1933 at Tennessee State Library & Archives - index
 * 1914-1966 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1949-2014 Death Records Index 1949-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index

Divorce
Online Records Online Titles
 * 1796-1850 Acts of Tennessee 1796-1850 at Tennessee State Library & Archives - index
 * 1980-2014 Divorce Records Index 1980-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index
 * W.P.A. Guide to Public Vital Statistics in Tennessee. Nashville, Tenn.: The Tennessee Historical Records Survey, 1941. FamilySearch Digital Library

FamilySearch Centers

 * Frayser Tennessee FamilySearch Center
 * Jackson Tennessee FamilySearch Center
 * Memphis Tennessee FamilySearch Center
 * Memphis Tennessee Spanish FamilySearch Center
 * Bolivar-Hardeman County Public Library - an affiliate library.
 * Chester County Public Library - an affiliate library.

Libraries
Irving Meek, Jr. Public Library 204 W Main St. Adamsville, TN 38310 Phone: 731-632-3572 Email: [mailto:adamsvillelibrary@centurytel.net adamsvillelibrary@centurytel.net] Website Jack McConnico Memorial Library 225 Oak Grove Rd Selmer, TN 38375 Phone: 731-645-5571 Facebook West Tennessee Heritage Study Center Paul Meek Library 10 Wayne Fisher Dr. Martin, TN 38238 Phone: 731-881-7065 Website Houses a variety of genealogical resources including materials relating to the following counties in Tennessee: Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Houston, Humphreys, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Perry, Shelby, Stewart, Tipton, Wayne, Weakley and Carlisle (KY), Fulton (KY), and Hickman (KY) counties in Kentucky.

Websites

 * McNairy County, TNGenWeb (USGenWeb)
 * McNairy County Life and Times (Bible, birth, death, census, families, more)
 * McNairy County TN Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.

Research Guides

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