Jefferson County, Tennessee Genealogy

United States   Tennessee    Jefferson County East Tennessee county established in 1792. From 1784 to 1788, this land was claimed by the abortive, and short-lived State of Franklin.







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

County Courthouse


Jefferson County Courthouse 204 West Main St. Dandridge, TN 37725 Phone: 1-865-397-2935

Jefferson County Clerk Marriage and Probate records 214 W. Main St. P.O. Box 710 Dandridge, TN 37725 Phone: 1-865-397-2935

Jefferson County Register of Deeds Land records P.O. Box 58 Dandridge, TN 37725 Phone: 1-865-397-2918

Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk Court records 765 Justice Center Drive P.O. Box 671 Dandridge, TN 37725 Phone: 1-865-397-2786

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

History


Jefferson County was named after Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) who became President in 1797.

The land of Jefferson County was first organized by the State of Franklin in March 1786 from part of Greene County under the name Caswell County. However, the Franklin statehood effort faded by 1789. Caswell county existed only briefly, its legality is questionable, and little trace remains.

The records of lost Caswell County are now found at ???

In 1789 North Carolina ceded its westernmost counties to the United States which used them to form the Southwest Territory. North Carolina and the Southwest Territory did not recognize Franklin's Caswell County or Sevier County. In 1792 the Southwest Territory using land from its Greene and Hawkins counties erected a new county on much of the old Caswell County land, and named it Jefferson County. Sevier County was reconsistuted in 1794 by the Southwest Territory from part of Jefferson County.

In 1796 all these lands became part of the new State of Tennessee. In 1797 Tennessee divided off Cocke County from the southeast part of Jefferson County. In 1870 Tennessee used part of Jefferson County to form part of Hamblen County.

Parent County
1792--Jefferson County was created 11 June 1792 from Greene and Hawkins Counties. County seat: Dandridge

County Pronunciation

 * 1) Hear it spoken (female)
 * 2) Hear it spoken (male)

Boundary Changes
"Rotating Formation Tennessee County Boundary Maps" (1777-1985) may be viewed for free at the My Tennessee Genealogy website. They rely on AniMap 3.0 software.

Record Loss

 * Lost censuses: 1800, 1810, 1820, 1820 Manufactures, 1890
 * County records are complete.

Getting Started
Use the free Search for Surnames at Mountain Press's website to quickly search a variety of published Jefferson County biography, cemetery, church, court, guardianship, probate, and tax records. To determine which books are being searched, or to search each publication's index individually, click here. You are now equipped with a checklist of books to pull off the shelves at a genealogy library, or a wish list for your personal book collection.

Research Guides

 * Genealogical "Fact Sheets" About Tennessee Counties: Jefferson County, courtesy: TSLA. (Identifies published county histories, published local records, census records, newspapers and local records on microfilm, and select manuscripts.)
 * McNamara, Billie R. Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Knoxville, Tenn.: B.R. McNamara, 1996. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8924 D27m.

African American
United States African Americans Tennessee African Americans

Bibles

 * Caldwell Family Bible Records, 1764-1886, Typed transcript, microfilmed 1963. FHL US/CAN Film 317309.

Cemeteries
Tennessee cemetery records often identify birth, death, relationship, and military information, as well as religious affiliation. The definitive collection of cemetery transcriptions for Jefferson County is the three-volume set, Stories in Stone. Volumes I and II, compiled by Cherel Henderson and David Templin, are out-of-print. Volume III, compiled by the Jefferson County Genealogical Society, is available from JCGS (see Societies and Libraries). FHL has all three volumes: FHL US/CAN Book 976.8924 V3t. The Tennessee Cemeteries page provides explanations of the following online resources:

Additional published Jefferson County cemetery records:

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

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

1830


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

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, Jefferson County on page 153.]

1850


 * Underwood, Burl H. Population Schedule of the United States Census of 1850 for Jefferson County, Tennessee. Knoxville, Tenn.: B.H. Underwood, 1977. FHL US/CAN Film 1036807 Item 5.
 * Underwood, Burl H. Population Schedule of the United States Census of 1850 for Jefferson County, Tennessee. 1977; reprint, Jefferson City, Tenn.: Jefferson County Genealogical Society, 1996. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8924 X2p 1850.

1880


 * Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. 1880 Census Jefferson County, Tennessee. Nashville, Tenn.: B. Sistler &amp; Associates, 1994. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8924 X2s 1880.

DNA
DNA has been collected from men claiming descent from the following Jefferson 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

Donald Raymond Heiss compiled Family Names Index from the Family Files and Special Books, Dandridge Library, Jefferson County, TN (Dandridge, Tenn.: D.R. Heiss, 2005) FHL US/CAN Book 976.8924 A3ha. Compare: Donald Raymond Heiss's Genealogical Holdings of Jefferson County Archives, Dandridge, TN: Surname (Jefferson City, Tenn.: D.R. Heiss, 2003) FHL US/CAN Book 976.8924 A3h. These publication explains what family history resources are available in that facility.

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. (NOTE: The surname for the first card in a sequence is listed on the site. Search through the cards for your ancestor's surname.)

As of August 2010, a query for persons born in Jefferson, Tennessee at World Connect, results in more than 80,000 entries.


 * 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.]
 * The Genealogical Society of Jefferson County, Tennessee. Families of Jefferson County, Tennessee, 200 Years. n.p.: Genealogical Society of Jefferson County, Tennessee, 1992. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8924 D2f.
 * Jefferson County Genealogical Society. Heritage Book Committee. Jefferson County, Tennessee Families and History, 1792-1996. Jefferson City, Tenn.: Jefferson County Genealogical Society (Tennessee), 1996. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8924 D2j.

Bibliography


 * [Adamson] Dixon Ben F. and Alice L. Dwelle Dixon. The Adamson Source Book, a Genealogy of the Descendants of Rachel Williams Adamson, 1776-1850 of Surry County, N.C., Jefferson County, Tenn., and Lawrence County, Ind.: with an Addendum of Miscellaneous Historical Material on the Name Adamson. 2 vols. Washington, D.C.: B.F. Dixon, 1942-1961. FHL US/CAN Fiche 6018313-6018314.
 * [Adamson] Stambaugh, Jack L. and John E. Robison. The Adamsons As We See Them. [Dallas? Texas: n.p,, 1980?]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Ad19sjL. See also FHL US/CAN Film 1033690 Item 7.
 * [Adamson] Stambaugh, John and John E. Robison. The Adamsons As We See Them. Dallas, Tex.: J. Stambaugh, 1992. FHL US/CAN Film 2055380 Item 7; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Adamson] Stambaugh, John and John E. Robison. Adamson and Related Families - Tennessee to Missouri to Kansas and Texas and Beyond. [Texas: J. Stambaugh, 2000?]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Ad19sj.
 * [Adamson] Steelman, Betty Jean Foster. Foster Family Research. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 F811sb.
 * [Allen] Gibbs, Dorothy Allen, Mildred Moore Huntsman and William C. Morcom. ABC of Our Family Tree. Vassar, Kansas: D.A. Gibbs, 1983. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 AL53gd.
 * [Bales] Steelman, Betty Jean Foster. Foster Family Research. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 F811sb.
 * [Bell] Bell, Eldon Raymond. Samuel Bell's Riddle, 1756-1982. Springdale, Ark.: E.R. Bell, 1982. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B413s.
 * [Benton] Spencer, Sharron Studebaker. The Stout - Benton Connection: With Descendants of Elizabeth "Betsey" Stout and Jesse Benton of Tennessee. Grapevine, Texas: S.S. Spencer, 2005. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 St76ss.
 * [Breeden] McMeen, Lola Frances Murphy. Breeden Book, 1700 to 1900s: Descendants of Richard Breeden and Sarah Lockhart of Jefferson County, Tennessee and Ripley Co., Indiana (Not Including Those of My Great-Grandmother Priscilla Breeden Burroughs, Seventh Child of Richard and Sarah) ... MSS., microfilmed in 1983. FHL US/CAN Fiche 6331368-6331369.
 * [Cates] Parker, Edith Cates. Tennessee Cates and Pennsylvania Parkers: These are the Families of Edith Cates Parker and Clarence Christy Parker. [Garnet, Kansas?]: E.C. Parker, [1987?]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 P223pe.
 * [Cross] Roberts, Synder E. Descendants of Brittain Cross, 1776-1825 and Their Places in Anderson County History. [Oak Ridge, Tenn.]: S. Roberts, 1986. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C884r.
 * [Ellis] Angevine, Erma Miller. Ellis, Taylor and Certain Related Families: Ancestors and Descendants of Clyde Taylor Ellis. Chevy Chase, Md.: C.T. Ellis, 1979. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 A1 no. 4874.
 * [Frank] Miller, Gladys Morrisett. Our Frank Family History. Microfilmed 1991. FHL US/CAN Film 1697435 Item 27.
 * [Gann] Gann, Rickey Leon. Some of the Descendants of William Anderson Gann and Rebecca S. Thomas of Jefferson County, Tennessee. New Castle, Indiana: R.L. Gann, 1984. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G155g.
 * [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.
 * [Gaut] Chapman, Raymond D. The Gaut Family in America: With Related Families. Thatcher, Ariz.: R. Chapman, 1999. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G238c.
 * [Gentry] Gentry Family Bible Records, 1794-1939. Microfilmed 1971. FHL US/CAN Film 850402 Item 2. [Source: Family records and Bible records / Florida Daughters of the American Revolution. leaf 49.]
 * [Giger] Schwarz, Lucille J., Edith Kaufman, and Jean Jacober. The Giger's: Early American Settlers, Early Madison County, Illinois Settlers (1809). Highland, Ill.: L.J. Schwarz, 1994. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G367s.
 * [Griffin] Kruger, Patricia C. and John Griffin. John Griffin, 1800-1887. Bryan, Texas: Collie-Cooper Enterprises, 1998. FHL FAM HIST Book 921.73 G875k.
 * [Havins] Havins-Havens Association. The History of the De[s]cendants of John and Henderson Havins. 5th ed. San Antonio, Texas: Havins-Havens Assoc., 1963. FHL US/CAN Film 1760264.
 * [Holdaway] Bentwet, Edna H. Holdaway History and Genealogy. Typescript. Microfilmed in 1977. FHL US/CAN Film 9842437 Item 2.
 * [Jarnagin] Clark, Glenn Susong. Jarnagin Collection and Allied Families. Indianapolis, Ind.: Clark Publications, 1977. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 J29a.
 * [Jones] Jones, William Haslet. Jones Family Records of Early Eastern Tennessee from Counties Along the Tennessee River [from Jefferson to Hamilton]. Villa Park, Ill.: W.H. Jones, 1992. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 J71jwh.
 * [Kirkpatrick] Grantham, Howard. John Hugh Kirkpatrick: Patriot and Pioneer. Houston, Texas: H. Grantham, 2002. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 K636g.
 * [Legg] Kent, Marjorie Shelton and Cornell Prickett Allred. From Across the River: A Record of the Legg, Coffman, Shelton, and Other Related Families. Athens, Ala.: M.S. Kent, 1977. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L524k.
 * [Long] Long, Wilbie R. Genealogy of the John A. and Elizabeth Troxell Long Family. Connersville, Ind.: W.R. Long, [1959]. FHL US/CAN Film 1672963 Item 12.
 * [McCarter] Reagan, Donald B. Smoky Mountain Clans. 3 vols. Knoxville, Tenn.: D.B. Reagan, 1978-1983. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273R22b 1978. [The McCarter family is discussed in Vol. 2.]
 * [McClanahan] Baker, Sibyl McClanahan. McClanahan Families from Tennessee to Missouri. 2 vols. Bedford, Texas: S.M. Baker, 1979. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M132bs ff.
 * [McClanahan] Huber-Kennedy, Marita Jean and John O'Neal Kennedy. The Descendants of William McClanahan and Sarah Cox. Independence, Missouri: M.J. Huber-Kennedy, 1995. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M132hk.
 * [McGown] Minor, Nancy McGown John McGown (1716-1796) and His Descendants. Bergheim, Texas: N.M. MInor, c2004. FHL book 929.273 M177mn. Digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [McGuire] Genealogy of Patrick McGuire and Catherine Prigmore McGuire about 1750 - about 1835. n.p.: n.p., n.d. FHL US/CAN Fiche 6010298.
 * [McKinney] Patton, Matthew T. McKinney-Howard and Related Families. n.p.: M.T. Patton, 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M215p.
 * [McSpadden] McSpadden, Anna B. Way Back When - Happenings We Remember and Genealogies. Maryville, Tenn.: A.B. McSpadden, 1980. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M249m.
 * [Manley] Ciesielski, S. Manley--Manley--Crane and Connected Families, ca. 1779-1987. Typescript. Microfilmed in 1990. FHL US/CAN Film 1674179 Item 6.
 * [Maples] Southworth, Mary Ford. A Maples Leaf. Orange, Calif.: M.F. Southworth, 1968. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M321s.
 * [Meek] Parrott, Loretta Beck. Ancestors of Virgil Howard Parrott, b. 17 Apr. 1940 Atlantic, Cass Co., Ia. Council Bluffs, Iowa: L. Parrott, 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 P249pL.
 * [Mick] Smith, Emma Louisa Layman. The Mick Family Newsletter. Waterford, Mich.: E.L. Smith, 1979-1992. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.27305 M538m.
 * [Moon] Moon, J.W. and Hall Rogers. The Moons and Kindred Families. Atlanta: Stein Printing Co., 1930. 1997 Reprint: FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M778mj.
 * [Moore] Snyder, Maud Moore. The A.A. Moore Family. [Knoxville, Tenn.]: M. Snyder, [1962?]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M781s.
 * [Moore] Cook, Melba Hill. Family and Ancestors of Enoch Ray and Melba Hill Cook. Typescript, microfilmed in 1995. FHL US/CAN Access Services Window 1698243 Item 10.
 * [Mount] Mount, Diana S. Mount: A Family History. [Henderson, Nev.]: D.S. Mount, 1994. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M863m.
 * [Mullins] Ciesielski, S. Manley--Manley--Crane and Connected Families, ca. 1779-1987. Typescript. Microfilmed in 1990. FHL US/CAN Film 1674179 Item 6.
 * [Neal] Neel, Thomas M. Neal Family, ca. 1774-1985. Typescript, Willard Library, Evansville, Ind. Microfilmed in 1987. FHL US/CAN Film 1481378 Item 15.
 * [Newman] Benson, Gracie Lee Armstrong, Alice Loraine Benson Slayden, Mildred Lindsey Strange and Susan Cantrill Christie. The Cantrell--Newman Genealogy. Bowie, Texas: Mrs. W.E. Benson &amp; Mrs. J. Slayden, [1964]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C169b.
 * [Northern] Gross, Dorothy P. Families Named Northern. 2 vols. Edmonds, Wash.: D.P. Gross, 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 N814g ff.
 * [Priddy] Barclay, Robert W. One Priddy Family of Texas. [Tola, Kansas]: R.W. Barclay, 1994. FHL 929.273 P932ba. Digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Rinehart] Golden, Jan Rhinehart. Philip Rinehart of Jefferson County, Tennessee (1787-1843): His Descendants and Some Collateral Lines. Ogden, Utah: J.R. Golden, 2007. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R472g.
 * [Roach] Roach, Thomas Edward. Gleanings from a Scrapbook. Rutledge, Tenn.: T.E. Roach, 1983. FHL US/CAN Book 976.89 H2r.
 * [Routh] Turpin, Tom, Earl Franklin Roberts, and Anna Roberts. The Joseph Routh Family (1747-1979). 1979. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R765t.
 * [Routh] Routh, Ross H. Our Routh Family: Descendants of Jacob Routh (1745-1827). El Paso, Texas: R.H. Routh, 1983. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R765rr.
 * [Sampson] Sampson, Edward E. The Sampson Family. Typescript, 1993. FHL US/CAN Film 1697863 Item 12.
 * [Seiber] Burris, Gloria Fay Harmon. The Descendants of Philip Seiber/Seivers/Seeber: Research Book. 4 vols. Lake City, Tenn.: G.F. Burris, 2003. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Se41b v. 1 ff.
 * [Shelly] Cornelius, Charley M. Shelly Papers of Whitley County, Kentucky. Albuquerque, New Mexico: C.M. Cornelius, 1978. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sh44.
 * [Shelly] Bowman, Anna Mae Harman. The Harman - Harmon, Shelly - Shelley Dynasty: Families of Tennessee and Kentucky; a Record of Jacob Harman Who Settled in Knox County, Kentucky Prior to 1808 and Died in Whitley County (Part of Knox County), Kentucky in 1824; and Jeremiah Shelly Who Settled in Jefferson County, Tennessee about 1790 and Died Jefferson County, Tennessee in 1803. Chesterfield, Missouri: A.M.H. Bowman, 1990. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H227b.
 * [Sherrod] Sherrod, Charles C. The Genealogy of the Henry Sherrod Family, 1788-1956. n.p.: C.C. Sherrod, 1956. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sh57sc.
 * [Skeen] Skeen, A.T. Skeen Families of Tennessee: Their Ancestors of Virginia, New York &amp; Scotland. Beverly Hills, Fla.: A.T. Skeen, 2005. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sk23sa.
 * [Smith] Little Register or Genealogy of John Reynolds, Esq. &amp; His Wife &amp; His Family: 3 miles from Bag____? on Holston River, Tennessee State, 1825. In old family records collection, ca. 1754-1966: Hawkins County, Tennessee. Microfilmed in 1970s. FHL US/CAN Film 1550780.
 * [Taylor] Armstrong, Zella. Taylor of Tennessee. Chattanooga, TN: Lookout Pub. Co., 1933. Available at FHL US/CAN Film 1036349 Item 9. Digital version available at Heritage Quest Online ($).
 * [Thomas] Copy of Summary Sheet, Thomas, John, W 876. Typescript. FHL US/CAN Film 165997. [Source: Cemetery inscriptions, church records, vital records, marriage records, wills, Revolutionary soldiers, and family Bibles / Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America. Vol. 12.]
 * [Van Hoozer] Van Hoozer, Francis Marion. The Van Hoozer Families of Yalobusha County, Mississippi, Alabama &amp; Tennessee: (Includes Vanhoozer, Van Hooser, Van Hoozier, Van Hoosier, Hoosier, and Other Spellings). Harker Heights, Texas: F.M. Van Hoozer, 1992. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 V316vh.
 * [Vance] Thornburg, Ruth Daymude. Day by Day We Advance: A Family Record of Lewis H. and Mary K. Vance Daymude. 1973. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D335t.
 * [White] Little Register or Genealogy of John Reynolds, Esq. &amp; His Wife &amp; His Family: 3 miles from Bag____? on Holston River, Tennessee State, 1825. In old family records collection, ca. 1754-1966: Hawkins County, Tennessee. Microfilmed in 1970s. FHL US/CAN Film 1550780.
 * [Williams] Bercich, Maude McCorkindale and Ethel McCorkindale. The Family History of John and Mary Williams, Quaker Pioneers of Wayne County, Indiana: With Four Generations of Their Ancestors and Four (or More) Generations Descendants. San Diego, Calif.: B. &amp; M. Dixon, 1963. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W673b.
 * [Witt] Fisher, William Scott and Julieann Witt Fisher. Tales of Witt: The Lives and Times of Our Witt Family Ancestors. Fruit Heights, Utah: W.S. Fisher, 1996. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W783f; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Witt[] Witt, Joseph, Senior, Family Genealogy and History. Typescript. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W783wj.

Immigration
During the War of 1812, American officials reported finding 12 British aliens, many of whom had families, living in Jefferson County.

Land
Deeds

The original Jefferson County Deed Books are held at the County Archives. In the 1970s, TSLA microfilmed Deed Books A to 18 (1792-1889), Deed Indexes (1792-1929), and Trust Deed Books 1 to 4 (1868-1892). FHL copies: FHL US/CAN Films 968316-968334.

Local Land Entries Issued by North Carolina

The original Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, both before and after it became a part of the state of Tennessee. Years covered: 1778-1796.

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 12.14.10 (Windows Vista users may need to include a period after the last digit, for example 12.14.10.) and click Search. This is the specific MarsID for Jefferson County.
 * 4) Click on the entry that is returned: "Tennessee, Jefferson County."
 * 5) In the window that pops up, click Show List of Child Records and a list of Jefferson 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

 * Heritage Jefferson County. Restore Our County, Inc., 1976. Indexed by Billie R. McNamara, 1994. Free online index, courtesy: Jefferson County, Tennessee Genealogy &amp; History website.

Maps

 * Bauman, George A. and Patti Ann Bauman. Bicentennial Map, Jefferson County, Tennessee, 1776-1976: Compiled from Research and Data Obtained from the Old Map Section of the Tennessee State Archives Located at Nashville, Tennessee. [Tenn.: n.p.], 1976. FHL US/CAN Map Case 976.8924 E7b.
 * [1792] Reeves, Charles A. Knox &amp; Jefferson Counties [Tennessee] - Created June 11, 1792 from Greene &amp; Hawkins Counties. Published 2000. Purchase at ReevesMaps.com; website includes a scaled-down version of the map.

Military
Revolutionary War

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


 * 1835 Pension Roll
 * 1852 Rejected or Suspended Pensions
 * Select Jefferson County, Tennessee Revolutionary War Pension Applications

The 1840 Census of Pensioners has been abstracted multiple times:


 * 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, Jefferson County on page 153.]
 * Revolutionary &amp; Military Pensioners, 1840, Ansearchin' News, Vol. 26, No. 3 (Fall 1979).

Additional resources include:


 * 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.]
 * Rankin, Roy M. (compiled by) Dandridge Revolutionary War Cemetery May, 1996. Courtesy TNGenWeb

War of 1812


 * Embry, Hermione D. "War of 1812 - Tennessee Pensioners on List - January 2, 1883," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 7, No. 4 (Oct. 1960):90-93. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a v. 7 (1960); digital version at journal website. [Includes Jefferson County pensioners (pp. 90-91).]
 * Kanon, Tom, Tennessee State Library and Archives. Regimental Histories of Primary Jefferson County Units Complete document located at the TSLA web site. Courtesy: TNGenWeb
 * Select Jefferson County, Tennessee War of 1812 Service and Pension Records. Courtesy: TNGenWeb

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.

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 Jefferson County click on the following cities or towns:


 * Dandridge
 * Jefferson City

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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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.


 * Jefferson County Genealogical Society Journal


 * The Family History Library has Volume 10, no. 2- 4 (1994) FHL US/CAN Book 976.8924 B2n Index available at PERiodical Source Index (1986 - 2007) (PERSI)

Prisons
Learn if your Jefferson 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
The original Jefferson County Will Books are held at the County Archives. In the 1970s, TSLA microfilmed Will Books 1 to 10 (1792-1921) and Index to Wills and Probate (1792-1921). FHL copies: FHL US/CAN Films 968311-968315.

The organization Strictly By Name provides free online indexes to early Jefferson 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: 1792-1810
 * 2) Will Book 2: 1811-1826

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


 * [1792-1826] Douthat, James L. Jefferson County, Tennessee Will Book ... [Will Books 1 and 2 (1792-1826)]. 2 vols. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: J.L. Douthat, [198-?]. FHL US/CAN Books 976.8924 P2d ff.
 * [1792-1861] 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.] Free Lookups Available!
 * [1792-1971] Hinchey, Lura B., Pat McMurtery and Jefferson County Archives. Jefferson County, Tennessee Will Index 1792-1971. Dandridge, Tenn.: Jefferson County Archives, 1999. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8924 P22j.
 * [1804-1851] Bell, Annie W.B. Jefferson County, Tennessee Wills: pt. 1, 1804-1851; pt. 2, 1808-1848. 1935. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8924 P2b.
 * [1826-1840] Prevost, Toni Jollay. Jefferson County, Tennessee, Will Books and Sale Books [Will Books 3 and 4 (1826-1840)]. 2 vols. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 1989. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8924 P2p.

Schools &amp; Education
For information about local schools &amp; education, including student records, visit the Jefferson County, Tennessee Genealogy &amp; History site.

Taxation
The original Jefferson County Tax Books 1822-1888 are held at the County Archives. In the 1970s, TSLA microfilmed these records. FHL copies: FHL US/CAN Films 968340-968342.

The following Jefferson County tax records have been abstracted:


 * [1800] 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 1800 tax list.]
 * [1800, 1822] 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 1800, 1822 tax lists.]
 * [1800, 1822] Curtis, Mary Barnett. Early East Tennessee Tax Lists. Fort Worth, Texas: Arrow Printing Company, 1964. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 R4c. [Includes 1800 and 1822 tax lists.]
 * [1800] Jefferson County, Tennessee, 1800 Tax List. n.p.: n.p., n.d. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8924 R4j.
 * [1801] "Tax Payers, 1801," East Tennessee Historical Society Publications, Issue 28 (1956).
 * [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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County.]
 * [1822-1830] Historical Records Project. Tax List, 1822-1830, Jefferson County, Tennessee. Typescript, TSLA, Nashville, Tenn. FHL US/CAN Film 24710 Item 3.
 * [1836] Douthat, James L. Jefferson County, Tennessee, 1836 Tennessee Civil Districts and Tax List. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 1993. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8924 R4d; online: free surname index and purchase details.
 * [1836] Tax List, 1836, Jefferson County Genealogical Society Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2 (Summer 1993); Vol. 9, No. 3 (Fall 1993).
 * [1836] Paessler, Frank and Jane Paessler. "Jefferson County Map" and "Jefferson County Tax List, 1836," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 42, No. 4 (Winter 1995):156-164. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * [1859-1860] Tax List, 1859, 1860, Hamblen Heritage, Vol. 10, No. 2 (Spring 1995).
 * [1861] "Tax Delinquents, 1861," Jefferson County Genealogical Society Journal, Vol. 16, No. 3 (Fall 2000).
 * [1861] McNamara, Billie R. Jefferson County, Tennessee, List of Free White Males, January 1, 1861. Knoxville, Tenn.: B.R. McNamara, 1995. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8924 N48m.
 * [1861] "Jefferson County, TN, Free White Males in 1861," free index by Billie R. McNamara available online, courtesy: Jefferson County, Tennessee Genealogy &amp; History. [Source: record book of voters in County Courthouse.]
 * [c1861-1867] "Poll Tax Document, c. 1861-1867," Jefferson County Genealogical Society Journal, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Aug. 2005).
 * [1865] "List of Persons Not Home for Tax, 1865," Jefferson County Genealogical Society Journal, Vol. 18, No. 1 (Spring 2002).
 * [1867-1869] "Constable Report of Poll Taxpayers in Arrears, District 8, 1867, 1868, 1869," Jefferson County Genealogical Society Journal, Vol. 20, No. 1 (Apr. 2004).
 * [1878-1879] "Poll Tax Exempts, 1878-79, Minute Book 19," Jefferson County Genealogical Society Journal, Vol. 4, No. 4 (1989).
 * [1879] Released from Poll Tax, 1879, Jefferson County Genealogical Society Journal, Vol. 4, No. 2 (Jun. 1989).
 * [1885] Tax Collection Places, 1885, Jefferson County Genealogical Society Journal, Vol. 14, No. 2 (Summer 1998).

Birth
For births of illegitimate children, try:


 * McNamara, Billie R. Miscellaneous Bonds: Administration, 1806-1814, Constables, 1806-1815, Maintenance (Bastardy) 1807-1857, Indentures, 1807-1828, Jefferson County, Tennessee. Knoxville, Tenn.: B.R. McNamara, 1995. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8924 P28m.

Marriage
The original Jefferson County marriage records are kept at the County Archives. In 1982, Whitley remarked: "The WPA register was compiled from records which have since disappeared from the courthouse, so for the early period of the county's history the register offers the only evidence of marriage." Surviving records have been microfilmed:


 * Marriages 1792-1953. Microfilmed in 1970s and 1980s by TSLA; FHL copies: FHL US/CAN Films 968301-968302, 1928731-1928737.

Jefferson County's marriage records have been abstracted and/or indexed several times. The most recent work, published by the Jefferson County Archives, is a great place to start; however, it may omit records that have disappeared from the Archives since the time of the W.P.A. register's publication (1930s). To be thorough researchers should not overlook their publication (or Whitley's reprint). The following is a list of these publications:


 * [1792-1848] Bell, Annie W.B. Jefferson County, Tennessee Marriages, 1792-1848. n.p.: A.W.B. Bell, 1935. FHL US/CAN Film 908351 Item 3.
 * [1792-1870] Historical Records Project (W.P.A.). Marriage Records, 1792-1870, Jefferson County, Tennessee. Typescript, TSLA, Nashville, Tenn. Microfilmed in 1940-1941. FHL US/CAN Films 24709 Item 2, 24711 Items 3-4. [W.P.A. workers assigned each document a unique number.]
 * [1792-1836] Whitley, Edythe Johns Rucker. Marriages of Jefferson County, Tennessee, 1792-1836. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1982. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8924 V2w. [Abstracts names of brides, grooms, a date associated with the marriage, as well as W.P.A. reference numbers. Source: W.P.A. register.]
 * [1792-1870] d'Armand, Virginia Carlisle. Jefferson County, Tennessee Marriage Records, 1792-1870. Knoxville, Tenn.: V.C. d'Armand, 1983. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8924 V2d.
 * [1792-1870] 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!
 * [1792-1900] Jefferson County Archives. Jefferson County, Tennessee Marriage Records. [1792-1900] 2 vols. Dandridge, Tenn.: Jefferson County Archives, 2003. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8924 V22j 1792-1860 ff. [Abstracts names of brides, grooms, bondsmen, officiators, as well as dates of bond, license, and marriage.]

Death
For deaths of Methodists in Jefferson 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

 * Jefferson County Museum and Archives 202 West Main St. Dandridge, TN 37725 Phone: 1-865-397-4904 Located in the courthouse


 * Jefferson County Genealogical Society P. O. Box 874 Jefferson City, TN 38562


 * East Tennessee Historical Society 601 S. Gay Street P.O. Box 1629 Knoxville, Tennessee 37901-1629 Phone: 1-865-215-8824 E-mail: eths@east-tennessee-history.org'''


 * Jefferson City Public Library 1427 Russell Avenue Jefferson City, TN 37760-2527 Phone: 1-865-475-1253 Fax: 1-865-475-1253 Hours: Mon., Wed., Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues. and Thurs. 11:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Web Sites

 * Family History Library Catalog (FamilySearch)
 * Jefferson County, TN Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Jefferson County, TNGenWeb (USGenWeb)
 * Jefferson County, TN Family History and Genealogy Message Board (Ancestry)
 * Jefferson County, TN Genealogy Forum (GenForum)
 * Mailing List: DumplinTN [very active; covers primarily Jefferson and Sevier County]
 * RootsWeb Mailing List: TNJEFFER-L (Jefferson County, Tennessee List) [not very active]
 * 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: UPPEREASTTN-L (Upper East Tennessee List)