Johnson County, Tennessee Genealogy

United States   Tennessee    Johnson County

East Tennessee county established in 1836. Originally part of the pioneer Watauga Settlements, from 1784 to 1788, this land was claimed by the abortive, short-lived State of Franklin.





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

County Courthouse


Johnson County Courthouse 222 Main St. Mountain City, TN 37683 Phone 423-727-7853


 * County Clerk has marriage and probate records Phone: 1-423-727-9633
 * Register of Deeds has land records Phone: 1-423-727-7841
 * Circuit Court Clerk has court records Phone: 1-423-727-9012

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 8:30 a.m.-Noon

History


The county is named after "Thomas Johnson an early settler of Carter County along the Doe River."

Johnson County was created in 1836 from part of Carter County. However, the land on which Johnson County was located was also part of older Washington County, North Carolina, and Wayne (old) County in the State of Franklin. Wayne (old) County was created as part of the abortive, short-lived State of Franklin in March 1786. It was created out of northeastern Washington County (organized by North Carolina in 1777). It was named for "Mad" Anthony Wayne of the American War for Independence. The Franklin statehood effort collapsed by 1789. This county existed only briefly, its legality is questionable, and little trace remains.

The records of Wayne (old) County are now found at ???

In 1796 the first county created by the new State of Tennessee was the reconstituted Wayne (old) County, only under the name of Carter County. In 1836 the northeast part of Carter County was divided off as Johnson County. The land on which the lost county of Wayne (old) was located is now part of Johnson and Carter counties in Tennessee.

Parent County
1836--Johnson County was created 2 January 1836 from Carter County. County seat: Mountain City

Record Loss

 * Lack of marriage records: 1836 to 1837

Getting Started
Use the free Search for Surnames at Mountain Press's website to quickly search a variety of published Johnson County Bible, biography, cemetery, marriage, probate, and tax list records. To see 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: Johnson 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 Tennessee Cemeteries page provides explanations of the following online resources:

Published Johnson County cemetery records:


 * Carrier, Jeffrey L. Upon a Lonely Hill. The Cemeteries of Johnson County, Tennessee. Elizabethton TN: PDQ Printers, 1985. [Many Johnson County cemeteries; indexed]

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

1840


 * Wilson, Walter W. Johnson County, Tennessee, Census Records 1840-1850. Santa Fe, N.M.: Sleeping Fox Enterprises, 1974. FHL US/CAN Book 976.899 X2p.

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, Johnson County on page 153.]

1850


 * Scanned census images [In the USGenWeb Archives]
 * Wilson, Walter W. Johnson County, Tennessee, Census Records 1840-1850. Santa Fe, N.M.: Sleeping Fox Enterprises, 1974. FHL US/CAN Book 976.899 X2p.

1860


 * Scanned census images [In the USGenWeb Archives]

1870


 * Scanned census images [In the USGenWeb Archives]
 * Gentry, Thomas W. Johnson County, Tennessee: 1870 Census. Mountain City, Tenn.: Thomas W. Gentry, 1982. FHL US/CAN Book 976.899 X2g 1870.

1880


 * Scanned census images [In the USGenWeb Archives]
 * Gentry, Thomas W. and Bettye G. Morley. Johnson County, Tennessee: 1880 Census. Mountain City, Tenn.: T.W. Gentry, 1982. FHL US/CAN Book 976.899 X2g 1880.
 * Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. 1880 Census Johnson County, Tennessee. Nashville, Tenn.: B. Sistler &amp; Associates, 1994. FHL US/CAN Book 976.899 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. 7 1891. [Johnson County is included in Vol. 7.]
 * 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.

1900


 * Scanned census images [In the USGenWeb Archives]
 * Gentry, Thomas W. Johnson County, Tennessee 1900 Census. Johnson City, Tenn.: Overmountain Press, 1984, 1995. FHL US/CAN Book 976.899 X2g 1900.

1910


 * Scanned census images [In the USGenWeb Archives]
 * Gentry, Thomas W. Johnson County, Tennessee 1910 Census. Johnson City, Tenn.: Overmountain Press, 1986, 1995. FHL US/CAN Book 976.899 X2g 1910.

1920


 * Scanned census images [In the USGenWeb Archives]
 * Gentry, Thomas W. Johnson County, Tennessee 1920 Census. n.p.: n.p., 200-?. FHL US/CAN Book 976.899 X2g 1920.

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


 * Scott, Samuel W. History of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, U.S.A. Philadelphia: P.W. Ziegler, 1903. Available at FHL; digital versions at Heritage Quest Online ($); and Google Books (full view). [Includes biographical sketches of some men from Johnson County].

Bibliography


 * [Barry] Neal, Carl B. The Donnelly - Barry - Butler Families and Their Kinfolks of Johnson County, Tennessee. Olympia, Wash.: Neal, 1958. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D718n.
 * [Burkett] Treadway, William Eugene. Treadway and Burket Families: A Merger of the Genealogical Histories of the Treadway and Burket Families in America, through the Documented Ancestry of Jonas Robert Treadway. Topeka, KS: Unknown, 1951. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 T71; digital version at Heritage Quest Online ($).
 * [Butler] Neal, Carl B. The Donnelly - Barry - Butler Families and Their Kinfolks of Johnson County, Tennessee. Olympia, Wash.: Neal, 1958. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D718n.
 * [Carter] Henry, John J. and Audrey Duffield Henry. A History of the Carter and Duffield Family of Carter Co. and Johnson Co. in East Tennessee: With Reference to the Virginia Carter Family and the East Tennessee Families of Taylor, Lowe and Stout. Oak Ridge, Tenn.: J.J. Henry, 2000. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C245hj.
 * [Cole] Cole, Redmond Selecman and Mary Cross Cole. The Coles of Johnson County, State of Tennessee: Being a Genealogical Sketch of the Family of Captain Jesse Cole of Shady, Tennessee, with Supplemental Data (in Part ll) Dealing with Kindred Families. Tulsa, Oklahoma: R. S. Cole, 1962. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C674cr.
 * [Donnelly] Neal, Carl B. The Donnelly - Barry - Butler Families and Their Kinfolks of Johnson County, Tennessee. Olympia, Wash.: Neal, 1958. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D718n.
 * [Duffield] Henry, John J. and Audrey Duffield Henry. A History of the Carter and Duffield Family of Carter Co. and Johnson Co. in East Tennessee: With Reference to the Virginia Carter Family and the East Tennessee Families of Taylor, Lowe and Stout. Oak Ridge, Tenn.: J.J. Henry, 2000. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C245hj.
 * [Dugger] Rowan, Frances Dugger. The Dugger Family: Johnson County, Tennessee. Johnson City, Tenn.: F.D. Rowan, 1995. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D879r.
 * [McQueen] Neal, Carl B. The McQueen Family of Johnson Co., Tenn. Olympia, Wash.: C.B. Neal, 1958?. FHL US/CAN Fiche 6019177.
 * [Rosenbaum, Rosenbalm] Canfield, Clifford R. The Rosenbaum, Rosenbalm Family of Southwest Virginia. Frankfurt, Germany: C.R. Canfield?, 1963. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R723c; digital version at Ancestry ($); and Heritage Quest Online ($).
 * [Shoun] Neal, Carl B. Leonard Shoun and His Wife, Barbara Slemp Shoun, of Johnson County, Tennessee, and Their Descendants. Olympia, Wash.: Mrs. D. L. Shultz, 1957. FHL US/CAN Film 1033959 Item 7.
 * [Stephens] Stephens, Dan V. Peter Stephens and Some of his Descendants, 1690-1935. Fremont, Neb,: Hammond &amp; Stephens Co., 1936. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 St44; digital version at Heritage Quest Online ($).
 * [Treadway] Treadway, William Eugene. Treadway and Burket Families: A Merger of the Genealogical Histories of the Treadway and Burket Families in America, through the Documented Ancestry of Jonas Robert Treadway. Topeka, KS: Unknown, 1951. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 T71; digital version at Heritage Quest Online ($).
 * [Wagner] Foy, Helen Marie Crane and Joe Wagner. David Wagner (1759-1845) of Johnson Co[unty], Tennessee. Typescript. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W125f.
 * [Wagner] Foy, Helen Marie Crane and Joe Wagner. Mathias Wagner (1765-1835) of Johnson Co[unty], Tennessee. Typescript. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W125fh.
 * [Wills] Neal, Carl B. The Wills Family of Johnson County, Tennessee. Olympia, Wash.: [J. Kvatum?], 1960. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W685a.

Land
TSLA microfilmed original Johnson County Deed Books 1 to 14, and 19 (1836-1891, 1897-1900) and Index to Deeds (1836-1910). FHL copies: FHL US/CAN Films 944470-944477.

The following Johnson County land records have been abstracted and/or indexed:


 * Hougland, Margaret W. Hougland's Index to Johnson County, Tennessee Deeds, 1836-1865. Baltimore, Md.: Gateway Press, 2005. FHL US/CAN Book 976.899 R22h. [Indexes Deed Books 1 to 4.]

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

 * Calhoun, Russ Sr. Lost Heritage. The People of Old Butler, Tennessee and the Watauga Valley'.Johnson City TN: Overmountain Press, 1998. [A documentation of the community, institutions and families displaced or otherwise affected by the Tennessee Valley Authority Watauga Reservoir.]


 * Johnson County Historical Society. History of Johnson County, 1986. Mountain City TN: Johnson County Historical Society, 1985.
 * Johnson County Historical Society. History of Johnson County, 2000, Vol II. Mountain City TN: Johnson County Historical Society, 2000.

Military
Revolutionary War


 * 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, Johnson County on page 153.]
 * Revolutionary and Military Pensioners, 1840, Ansearchin' News, Vol. 33, No. 2 (Summer 1986).

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 Johnson County pensioners (p. 91).]

Civil War


 * Scott, Samuel W. History of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, U.S.A. Philadelphia: P.W. Ziegler, 1903. Available at FHL; digital versions at Heritage Quest Online ($); and Google Books (full view). [Includes biographical sketches of some men from Johnson County].

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 Johnson County click on the following cities or towns:


 * Mountain City
 * Taylorsville

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 Johnson 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 Johnson 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 Johnson 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.
 * Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin
 * Genealogical articles with abstracts of Johnson County, Tennessee records have been published in the Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin (39+ vols., 1972-present), the journal of the Watauga Association of Genealogists. The organization has posted tables of contents for most volumes on their website. Back issues are available for purchase. The Family History Library has a complete collection FHL US/CAN Books 976.897 B2w, including Margaret W. Hougland and Betty Jane Hylton's Bulletin Subject Index: The First Thirty Years, 1972-2001 (Johnson City, Tenn.: Watauga Association of Genealogists, 2002) FHL US/CAN Book 976.897 B2w index 1972-2001.

Prisons
Learn if your Johnson 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 Johnson County probate records are kept at the County Courthouse. They have been microfilmed twice:


 * In 1973, TSLA microfilmed a variety of probate records covering the year range 1839 to 1937. FHL copies: FHL US/CAN Films 944462, 944469.
 * In 2000, GSU microfilmed a variety of probate records purportedly covering the year range 1800 to 1915, along with an index: FHL US/CAN Films 2137156, 2137163-2137165.

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


 * [1827-1867] Historical Records Project. Will Books, 1827-1867, Johnson County, Tennessee. Typescript, Tennessee State Library and Archives. Microfilmed in 1940. FHL US/CAN Film 24717 Item 5. [Includes administrations.]
 * [1827-1860] Douthat, James L. Johnson County, Tennessee Will Book #1, 1827-1860. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: James L. Douthat, 1982. FHL US/CAN Book 976.899 P29d.
 * [1836-1872] Garland, E.E. Will Book No. One, 1836 to 1872, Johnson County, State of Tennessee. Typescript, 1929. FHL US/CAN Film 944469 Item 4.
 * [1836-1861] 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!

Taxation
The TSLA microfilmed the original Johnson County Tax Books 1836-1889. FHL copies: FHL US/CAN Films 944480-944481.

The following Johnson County tax records have been abstracted:


 * [1798] 1798 Tax List, Carter County, East Tennessee Roots, Vol. 9, No. 4. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals. [Includes digital images of the original source; includes taxpayers in what later became Johnson County.]
 * [1836] Douthat, James L. Johnson County, Tennessee, 1836 Tennessee Civil District and Tax List. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 1993. FHL US/CAN Book 976.899 R42d; online: free surname index and purchase details.
 * [1836] West, Betsy F. "Johnson County, Tennessee Tax List - 1836," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 25, No. 4 (Winter 1978):184-189. For FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * [1836-1839] Historical Records Project. Tax List, 1836-1839, Johnson County, Tennessee. Typescript, Tennessee State Library, Nashville, Tenn. FHL US/CAN Film 24717 Item 4.
 * [1836-1839] Douthat, James L. Johnson County, Tennessee Tax List 1836-1839. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press. Free online surname index; purchase details.
 * [1840] See 1888.
 * [1843] "Johnson County Land To Be Sold for Unpaid 1843 Taxes," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 49, No. 4 (Winter 2002):15. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * [1861] "Jefferson County, TN Voters List - 1861," available online, courtesy: The Original Johnson County Tennessee Genealogy Page.
 * [1888] "Johnson Co. 1888 Voters Who Voted in 1840," available online, courtesy: The Original Johnson County Tennessee Genealogy Page.
 * [1891] "Johnson Co., TN List of Voters in 1891," available online, courtesy: The Original Johnson County Tennessee Genealogy Page.
 * [1922] "1922 Voters of Shouns, Tennessee, Johnson County," available online, courtesy: The Original Johnson County Tennessee Genealogy Page.

Marriage
Marriages were not officially recorded in Johnson County until 1838, when a law was passed mandating the practice. The following publication, based on early newspapers, helps to alleviate this genealogical obstacle:


 * Lucas, Silas Emmett. Marriages from Early Tennessee Newspapers 1794-1851. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1978. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 V2L.

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


 * [1838-1880] 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!
 * [1906-1920] Moody, Gerry Dowell, compiler. Marriage Records of Johnson County, Tennessee 1906-1920. Privately published, 1989. [Indexes names of brides and grooms, and marriage dates for weddings during the specified years.]

Death

 * Nikazy, Eddie M. Abstracts of Death Records for Johnson County, Tennessee, 1908 to 1941. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, 1992. FHL US/CAN Book 976.899 V28n.
 * Nikazy, Eddie M. Johnson County, Tennessee, Death Record Abstracts, 1908-1943. Hendersonville, Tenn.: East Tennessee Books, 1998. FHL US/CAN Book 976.899 V28ne.

For deaths of Methodists in Johnson 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
Johnson County Historical Society P.O. Box 1 Mountain City, TN 37683 Phone: 1-423-727-5800

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

Johnson County Public Library 219 North Church St. P.O. Box 107 Mountain City, TN 37683 Phone: 1-423-727-6544 E-mail: licenhour1@wrlibrary.org Hours: Mon., Wed., Thurs., Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Archives of Appalachia East Tennessee State University Sherrod Library, 4th floor P.O. Box 70295 Johnson City, TN 37614 Phone: 1-423-439-4338 Hours: 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon-Fri. ETSU school holidays are observed. The Archives of Appalachia is a keeper of memories. Collect, preserve, and share the written words, sounds, and images of the people of Appalachia. House nearly 18 million manuscripts, 56,000 sound recordings, and 250,000 still and moving images.

Web Sites

 * Family History Library Catalog (FamilySearch)
 * Johnson County, TN Family History and Genealogy Message Board (Ancestry)
 * Johnson County, TN Genealogy Forum (GenForum)
 * Johnson County, TNGenWeb (USGenWeb)
 * RootsWeb Mailing List: TNJOHNSO-L (Johnson 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: UPPEREASTTN-L (Upper East Tennessee List)