Rutherford County, Tennessee Genealogy

United States   Tennessee    Rutherford County





Middle Tennessee county. Established 1803.

County Courthouse
Rutherford County Courthouse 319 N. Maple Street Murfreesboro, TN 37130 Phone: 615-898-7800

Rutherford County Clerk Marriage and probate records 319 N. Maple Street, Suite 121 Murfreesboro, TN 37130 Phone: 615-898-7800

Rutherford County Register of Deeds Land records 319 N. Maple Street, Room 133 P.O. Box 5050 Murfreesboro, TN 37133 Phone: 615-898-7870

Rutherford County Circuit Court Clerk Court records 20 N. Public Square, Judicial Building Murfreesboro, TN 37130 Phone: 615-217-7119

Hours: Monday - Thursday 8 am - 4 pm Friday 8 am - 5 pm

History
The county is named after "Griffin Rutherford, chairman of the legislature of the Southwest Territory."

Parent County
1803--Rutherford County was established 25 October 1803 from Davidson County. Early records may be found under Davidson County. County seat: Murfreesboro

Record Loss
1832--Tornado damaged records

County records are complete.

Research Guides

 * Genealogical "Fact Sheets" About Tennessee Counties: Rutherford 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.)

Census
1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 federal population schedules of Rutherford 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.

1810


 * Houston, Martha Lou. Tennessee Census Records, No. 1, Rutherford County 1810. Washington, D.C., 1933. Digital version available at BYU Family History Archives.
 * Presley, Mrs. Leister E. Rutherford County, Tennessee Population Schedules of the United States census, 1810 : Head of Household Only. Typscript, 19--?.
 * 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


 * Bentley, Elizabeth P. Index to the 1820 Census of Tennessee. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1981.
 * Presley, Mrs. Leister E. Rutherford County, Tennessee Population Schedules of the United States census, 1820. Typscript, 19--?.

1840


 * Rutherford County Historical Society. The 1840 census of Rutherford County, Tennessee. Murfreesboro, Tennessee : Rutherford County Historical Society, 1974.

1850


 * Porch, Deane. 1850 census of Rutherford County, Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee : Deane Porch, 1967.

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. [Rutherford County is included in Vol. 2.]

1880


 * Sistler, Byron H. and Barbara Sistler. 1880 Census Rutherford County, Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: B. Sistler and Associates, 1998.

1920


 * Young, Denise, ed.. Rutherford County, Tennessee Census, 1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 1999.Available at Ancestry ($).

Church

 * Grime, John Harvey. History of Middle Tennessee Baptists: With Special Reference to Salem, New Salem, Enon and Wiseman Associations. Nashville, Tennessee: Baptist and Reflector, 1902. Includes names changes for places in Middle Tennessee. Free digital copy.

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


 * Rutherford County, Tennessee: History &amp; Families. Paducah, Ky.: Turner Pub. Co., 2002..

Bibliography


 * [Adams] Ose, Enlow. The Family of John Washington Adams (1822-1907): and the Families of Robert Murray (1790/1800-1840/1850); Catherine Adams Stephens (ca. 1804-after 1860); Jesse Koonce (ca. 1769-ca. 1814); Nancy Brewer (ca. 1804-1850/1860); George Adams (Before 1775-1830/1840) of Rutherford and Wilson County, Tennessee. [Sacramento, Calif.]: E. Ose, 1996. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Ad18o.
 * [Austin] Steiner, Harold Austin The Levi Austin family : of North Carolina and Tennessee Las Vegas, Nevada : Haldor Company, 2004. FHL book 929.273 Au77.Digital version available at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Bingham] Bingham, Bessie Adcock The Binghams in America : a genealogical history of the Bingham family. Salt Lake City, Utah : Digitized by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 2009. Digital copy available at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Bishop] Gray, John W. The Life of Joseph Bishop, the Celebrated Old Pioneer in the First Settlements of Middle Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: s.p., 1858. Free digital copy.
 * [Bobbitt] Mount, Allen Wade. Our Bobbitt Family: genealogical and historical record of the southern branch, with the Beck, Elliott, Goodloe and Hurd families and allied lines. Prairie Village, KS: Unknown, 1972. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B630Lm; FHL US/CAN Film 1036692 Item 5; digital version at Heritage Quest Online ($).
 * [Brothers] Brothers, Elvira. The Generations of Francis Brothers (1779-1845): A History of Francis Brothers Who Settled in Rutherford County, Tennessee about 1815, and His Descendants. [Tenn.?: Ophelia B. Willard?, 1986?]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B795be.
 * [Dickson] Smith, Austin Wheeler. The Dickson-McEwen and Allied Families Genealogy. Cookeville, TN: Unknown, 1945. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D561s. Digital version available at Heritage Quest Online ($).
 * [Gambill] Brown, Louise G. and Jane C. Luna. The Descendants of Bradley Gambill. Columbia, Tenn.: P-Vine Press, 1979. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G143b.
 * [Gordon] Gordon, Thomas Gilbert. The John Hilton Gordon Family of Rutherford County, Tennessee. Tampa, Fla.: Anundsen, 1988. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G653h.
 * [Gregory] Spears, Josephine Lee Gregory. Joseph Gregory "The Centenarian" (1742-1842), Mecklenburg County, Virginia to Rutherford County, Tennessee and His Descendants. Raleigh, N.C.: J.G. Spears, 1990. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G862s.
 * [Kerby] Tayloe, Stephanie Routon. Kerby Family of Rutherford County, Tennessee: Overall and Rucker Family. Buchanan, Tenn.: S.R. Tayloe, 2003. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 K452t.
 * [McEwen] See Dickson.
 * [McFerrin] Fitzgerald, O.P. and McFerrin, John B. John B. McFerrin, a biography Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1986. FHL book 921.73 M167. Digital version available at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Miller] Webb, Thomas G. The Webb Families of Dekalb County, Tennessee, and 23 Related Families: Including Bethel, Cantrell, Colvert, Fuson, Gribble, Hicks, Jaco, Judkins, Magness, Mangum, Moser, Parker, Potter, Redmon, Snow, Turner, and Weedon Families, along with the Farmer and Foushee Families of Virginia; the Gray, George, and Sageley Families of Cannon County, Tennessee, the Nathaniel Miller Family of Rutherford County, Tennessee, and Others. Smithville, Tenn.: Bradley Printing Co., 2002. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W381wt.
 * [Pearcy] McGinnis, Rita A. A Pearcy/Piercy Family in America. Typescript, 1988.
 * [Rucker] Whitley, Edythe Johns Rucker. History of the Rucker Family and their Descendants: Sketches of Carter, Barton, Early, Johns, Lee, Martin, Pendleton, Reade, Seldon, Taliaferro, Witt and Wyatt Families. Nashville, TN: Unknown, 1927. Available at FHL US/CAN Film 1321319 Item 1; digital version at Ancestry ($); and Heritage Quest Online ($).
 * [Sanders] Sanders, Charles Robert and Robert S. Sanders. History of the Family of Dr. William Josiah and Fanny Adams Sanders of Rutherford County, Tennessee. Typescript, microfilmed in 1987. FHL US/CAN Film 1421703 Item 1.
 * [Sanders] Sanders, Robert S. Descendants of Drury Josiah Sanders and Frances Jane Stockard of Rutherford County, Tennessee. Typescript, 1993. FHL US/CAN Film 1697863 Item 13.
 * [Sanders] Sanders, Charles Robert and Robert S. Sanders. A History of the Family of Dr. William Josiah and Fanny Adams Sanders of Rutherford County, Tennessee. [Murfreesboro, Tenn.: R.S. Sanders, Jr.], 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sa56scr.
 * [Smotherman] Goodwin, Sarah Jones et al. Westbrooks-Williams and Related Smothermans of Rutherford County, Tennessee: with Histories of Midland Community, Oak Grove School, Old Leb Church. Murfreesboro, Tenn.: Rutherford County Historical Society, 1984. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W521ww.
 * [Westbrooks] Goodwin, Sarah Jones et al. Westbrooks-Williams and Related Smothermans of Rutherford County, Tennessee: with Histories of Midland Community, Oak Grove School, Old Leb Church. Murfreesboro, Tenn.: Rutherford County Historical Society, 1984. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W521ww.
 * [Williams] Goodwin, Sarah Jones et al. Westbrooks-Williams and Related Smothermans of Rutherford County, Tennessee: with Histories of Midland Community, Oak Grove School, Old Leb Church. Murfreesboro, Tenn.: Rutherford County Historical Society, 1984. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W521ww.
 * [Woodruff] Woodruff, Howard W.The Woodroof-Woodrough-Woodruff Family: of Surry, Brunswick, Greensville counties, Virginia, 1700-1825, and Some Branches Who Migrated to Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, Texas, 1820-1985. Independence, Mo.: A.L. Woodruff, 1985. Digital version at Internet Archive. [Revised and updated version of Tall Trees in the Forest (1966).]

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


 * 1) Deed Book A: 1804-1808
 * 2) Deed Book H: 1811-1813
 * 3) Deed Book K: 1814-1817
 * 4) Deed Book L: 1817-1819


 * Simmons, Don and Laura Willis. Rutherford County, Tennessee, Deeds, Volume 1, 1804 - 1808. Melber, KY: Simmons Hist., 1996. Available at FHL US/CAN Book 976.857 R2wi. Digital version available at World Vital Records. Available for purchase along with Rutherford County Deed Books Vol. 2-1808-1812 at Simmons Historical Publications.
 * Wray, Henry G. Rutherford County, Tennessee Deed Abstracts(1804-1813). Smyrna, Tennessee: s.p., n.d. Free digital copy.

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.

Maps

 * [1878] Map of Rutherford County, TN. Originally published 1878. Purchase at ReevesMaps.com; website includes a scaled-down version of the map.

Military
Civil War


 * Bennett, Charles Wilkes. Historical Sketches of the Ninth Michigan infantry (General Thomas' headquarters guards) with an Account of the Battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Sunday, July 13, 1862. Coldwater, Michigan: Daily Courier Print, 1913.  Free digital copy.
 * McMurray, William Joseph. History of the 20th Tennessee Regiment Volunteer Infantry, C.S.A. Nashville, Tennessee: s.p., 1904. Free digital copy.
 * Phisterer, Frederick.The Regular Brigade of the Fourteenth Army Corps, the Army of the Cumberland, in the Battle of Stone River. n.p., 1883. Free digital copy.
 * Quintard, Charles Todd. Doctor Quintard, Chaplain C.S.A. and Second Bishop of Tennessee. Sewanee, Tennessee: The University Press, 1905. Free digital copy. Chaplain of the 1st Tennessee Regiment.
 * Vance, William J. "Stone's River, the Turning-point of the Civil War. " New York: The Neale Publishing Co., 1914. Free digital copy.

Newspapers

 * Willis, Laura. Rutherford County, Tennessee Newspaper Abstracts, Volume 1, 1820 - 1867. Kentucky: Simmons Historical Publications, 2005. Digital version available at World Vital Records. Available for purchase at Simmons Historical Publications.
 * Willis, Laura. Rutherford County Newspaper Abstracts Vol. 2-1867-1906. Kentucky: Simmons Historical Publications, 2005. Digital version available at World Vital Records. Available for purchase at Simmons Historical Publications.
 * Many Tennessee newspapers are filmed and available at the Tennessee State Library and Archives. 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 Rutherford County click on the following city or town:


 * Murfreesboro
 * Smyrna

Occupations

 * Miller, Alan N. Middle Tennessee's Forgotten Children: Apprentices from 1784 to 1902. Baltimore, Md.: Printed for Clearfield Company, Inc., by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2004. FHL US/CAN 976.8 U2ma. Purchase at Genealogical.com. [Includes Rutherford 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

Several genealogical articles with abstracts of Rutherford County, Tennessee records 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.

Frow Chips

"Frow Chips, a semi-monthly newsletter, began in 1971. Only issues beginning with Volume 31, Issue 6, March/April 2002 up to the present are available for purchase" (per website). Indexed in PERiodical Source Index (PERSI).

The Middle Tennessee Journal of Genealogy and History

Genealogical articles with abstracts of records of Rutherford County, Tennessee have been published in The Middle Tennessee Journal of Genealogy and History, the quarterly of the Middle Tennessee Genealogical Society (23+ Vols.). To view a list of these articles, visit their online Index to Articles (1988-2005). Surname indexes are also available online for Vols. 2-22. The website also offers back issues for sale in paper and on CD. The Family History Library has a complete collection of this quarterly FHL US/CAN Book 976.85 D25m.

Rutherford County Historical Society Publications

"The first Rutherford County Historical Society Publication was issued June 1973. Over the years, wonderful historical articles, genealogy, legends, stories, etc. about Rutherford County have appeared in the many publication offerings of the Society. Many of these publications are still available for purchase." (per website) Alphabetical list of topicsincluded on website. Detailed listing of issues are on Rutherford County Historical Society Seriessite. The Family History Library has volumes 1 - 33 (1973 - 1989). FHL US/CAN 976.857 B2r

Prisons
Learn if your Rutherford County ancestors went to prison!


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

Probate
Online index to Rutherford County Record Books 1803-1880. These include mostly probate information including wills, inventories of estates, estate settlements, guardianship reports, and widow allotments. However, the Record Books also contain some other court information including manumission records, apprenticeships, and trustee’s reports. Copies of the record books are available the Rutherford County Archives or.

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


 * [1804-1861] 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 following Rutherford County tax records have been abstracted:


 * [1809] Rutherford Co., TN, Tax List, 1809, The Middle Tennessee Journal of Genealogy and History, Vol. 15, No. 1 (Summer 2001); Vol. 15, No. 2 (Fall 2001). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * [1809-1813] Rutherford County Tax Lists 1809-1813. Typescript, 1939, W.P.A. Collection, TSLA, Nashville.
 * [1809-1813] 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 W.P.A.'s Rutherford County Tax Lists 1809-1813 as a 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 Rutherford County.]
 * [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 Rutherford County.]

Vital Records
Marriage

The following Rutherford County marriage records have been abstracted and/or indexed:


 * [1804-1870] 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.]
 * [1804-1864] Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Early Middle Tennessee Marriages. 2 vols. Nashville, Tenn.: B. Sistler &amp; Associates, 1988. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 V2sb v. 2 ff. [Indexes names of brides and grooms, and marriage dates for weddings in this county for the specified years.]

Death

For deaths of Methodists in Rutherford 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
Albert Gore Research Center "The Albert Gore Research Center is dedicated to preserving primary sources -- letters, diaries, organization records, photographs, memorabilia, oral histories, and the like -- that document the history of Middle Tennessee State University and the region that it serves. The center is open to the public and welcomes all researchers to use its collections." (per website) P.O. Box 193 1301 E. Main St. Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37132 Phone: 615-898-2632 Hours: Monday - Friday 9 am - 4 pm (summer hours vary)

Rutherford County Archives "The archives are a hidden jewel for genealogists and researchers. The Rutherford County Archives is your source for local history." (per website) 435 Rice Street Murfreesboro, Tennessee Phone: 615-867-4609 Email: archives@rutherfordcounty.org Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4 pm

Rutherford County Tennessee Historical Society P.O. Box 906 Murfreesboro, TN 37133-0906 Phone: 615-849-3823 "Historical Research Room located on the second floor of Linebaugh Public Library features Rutherford County, Tennessee materials and genealogical resources." (per website)

Middle Tennessee Genealogical Society PO Box 330948 Nashville, TN, USA 37203-7507 The society serves the 40 counties of middle Tennessee of which Rutherford County is one. It publishes The Middle Tennessee Journal of Genealogy and History, a quarterly containing articles of genealogical and historical interest. Little-known Tennessee records are published and indexed, along with family genealogies, Bible records and material submitted by members. There is an alphabetical Index to articles in the Journal 1988-summer 2005

Linebaugh Public Library 105 West Vine Street Murfreesboro, TN 37130 Phone: 615-893-4131 Fax: 615-848=5038 Hours: Monday - Thursday 9 am - 9 pm Friday - Saturday 9 am - 5 pm Sunday 1 pm - 6 pm The Linebaugh library has a historical research room which includes cemetery records, early wills, census, local histories, vital records, donated genealogy research on local families, newspapers, court records, military records, obituary index and more.

Smyrna Public Library 400 Enon Springs Road, West Smyrna, TN 37167 Phone: 615-459-4884 Fax: 615-459-2370 Hours: Monday - Thursday 9 am - 8 pm Friday - Saturday 9 am - 5 pm The Syrna library has a small genealogy and historical collectionwhich includes cemetery records, Sewart Air Force base collection, photographs, newpapers, court records, obituaries and more.

Family History Centers
Murfreesboro Tennessee 902 E Clark Murfreesboro, Rutherford, Tennessee, United States Telephone: 615-893-3616

Smyrna Tennessee 316 Mayfield Dr Smyrna, Rutherford, Tennessee, United States Telephone: 615-355-9268

These are not mailing addresses. Due to limited staff, Family History Centers are unable to respond to mail inquiries.

Web Sites

 * Family History Library Catalog (FamilySearch)
 * Rootwalker: Genealogy Pages for Northern Middle TN Free Genealogy Resources for the Region
 * RootsWeb Mailing List: TN-ROOTWALKER-L (North Central Tennessee Genealogy List)
 * Rutherford County, TN Family History and Genealogy Message Board (Ancestry)
 * Rutherford County, TN Genealogy Forum (GenForum)
 * Rutherford County, TNGenWeb (USGenWeb)