Washington County, Tennessee Genealogy

United States   Tennessee    Washington County







East Tennessee county established in 1777. From 1784 to 1788, this land was claimed by the abortive, short-lived State of Franklin.

County Courthouse
Washington County Courthouse 100 East Main Street Jonesborough, TN 37659 Phone: 423-753-1621

Washington County Clerk Marriage and probate records Birth records 1908-1912 and 1925-1938 100 East Main Street P.O. Box 219 Jonesborough, TN 37659 Phone: 423-753-4716

Washington County Register of Deeds Land records 100 East Main Street Jonesborough, TN 37659 Phone: 423-753-1644

Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm

History


The county was named after George Washington (1732-1799) who became the First President of the United States in 1789.

In 1776 settlers in what would eventually become Tennessee successfully petitioned North Carolina to recognize the Washington District. The District included all of modern Tennessee except two small settlements (North-of-Holston, Fincastle County, and Pendleton, Washington County) in the far northeast that were considered part of Virginia at the time. Washington County was created in 1777 by North Carolina as the western county of North Carolina from the Washington District.

In August 1784 delegates from Washington and two other western North Carolina counties which had split off from Washington (all now in Tennessee), declared their Independence from North Carolina because of perceived neglect, and misuse by North Carolina’s legislature. By May 1785 they had petitioned to be admitted to the United States as the new State of Franklin. The Franklin statehood request was denied. By 1789 the hopes for a State of Franklin faded. North Carolina refused to recognize several counties created by Franklin out of Washington County.

North Carolina became a state in 1789 and ceded her westernmost counties to the United States. The ceded counties, including most of Washington County, became the Southwest Territory.

In 1792 North Carolina divided Washington County and annexed land that would later become Alleghany, Ashe, and Watauga counties in North Carolina to Wilkes County, North Carolina. In 1796 the remainder of Washington County and the rest of the Southwest Territory became the new State of Tennessee.

Parent County
1777--Washington County was created 15 November 1777 from Washington district. County seat: Jonesborough

Record Loss
1839--Fire damaged records


 * The three earliest federal censuses (1800, 1810, and 1820) do not survive.

Research Guides

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

Biographies

 * Biographical Sketches Washington County (transcribed by Louise M. Jackson from Goodspeed's History of Tennessee County Histories Nashville, Tenn., 1886-1887), available online, courtesy: David Donahue Memorial: Tennessee Records Repository.

Census
1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 federal population censuses of Washington 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, these indexes are often more accurate than those available online.

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.

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. [Washington 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.

Court
Superior Court


 * Rogers, Pauline and WPA. Washington County, Tennessee, Superior Court Minutes 1791-1804. Nashville, Tenn.: Byron Sistler &amp; Associates, 1999. FHL US/CAN Book 976.897 P2r.

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


 * Goodspeed's History of Tennessee Containing Historical and Biographical Sketches of Thirty East Tennessee Counties: Anderson, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hawkins, James, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Loudon, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Polk, Rhea, Roane, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, Union, Washington. Nashville, Tenn.: Goodspeed Pub. Co., 1887. 1972 reprint: FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 H2h v. 2 1972.

Bibliography


 * [Bell] Foster, Craig L. George Bell of Blount and Washington Counties, Tennessee and His Descendents Through His Two Sons, John B. and Samuel S. Bell. Layton, Utah: C.L. Foster, 1992. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B413fcL.
 * [Bell] Bell, Eldon Raymond. Bells History: Of Shenandoah Valley, VA and Knox County, TN. Springdale, Ark.: E.R. Bell, 1994. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B413ber.
 * [Billingsley] Hill, Samuel Billingsley. Billingsley. Calif.: n.p., 195-?. A portion of this was written in 1919. FHL US/CAN Film 1320843 Item 7.
 * [Blair] Webb, Margaret Vance and Blair Society for Genealogical Research. John Blair: "The Miller" of Washington County, Tennessee. Knoxville, Tenn.: Tennessee Valley Pub., 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B575wm.
 * [Campbell] Campbell Family Information, ca. 1718-1915; MSS., Clan Campbell Society, Baton Rouge, La.; FHL US/CAN Film 1787180 Item 13.
 * [Campbell] Anderson, Hazel D. and Don Warwick. The Campbell Family. 3 vols. Quail Valley, Calif.: H.D. Anderson, 1980. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C152ah ff.
 * [Carmichael] Webb, Margaret Vance. John Carmichael of Washington County, Tennessee: Ancestry &amp; Descendants. Knoxville, Tenn.: M.V. Webb, 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C212w.
 * [DeVault] DeVault, Newland. Henry and Mary Catherine DeWald (DeVault) of Manheim Township, York County, Pennsylvania, and Their Eleven Children: Many of Whom Spelled Their Names as DeVault, Especially Those Seven and Son and Daughter of an Eighth Who Settled in Washington and Sullivan Co., Tennessee; Including the Kitzmillers of Tennessee Centered Around the Area on the Watauga River Later Known as "DeVault's Ford". Banning, Calif.: DeVault, 1975. FHL US/CAN Film 1036923 Item 5.
 * [DeWoody] Leigh, Betty Jean Dewoody. The DeWoody Family History. Phoenix, Ariz.: B.J. Leigh, 1989. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D518L.
 * [Dungan] Dungan, Thomas P. Jeremiah Dungan, 1730-1813, Watauga Settler: Farmer, Miller, and Stonemason of Washington County, Tennessee. Knoxville, Tenn.: T.P. Dungan, 2005. FHL FAM HIST Book 921.73 D918d; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Fain] Axson, Agnes Perritt. Fain Families of Southwest Georgia: Descendants of Thomas Fain. Jacksonville, Fla.: Conventional Press, Inc., 1986. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 F149a.
 * [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.
 * [Gourley] Gourley, Beverly and Sam Gourley. Gourley Generations, Tenn., N.C., &amp; Ky. Cunningham, Ky.: S. &amp; B. Gourley, 1992. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G743gg.
 * [Grissom] McKinney, Irene. Wm. Grissom &amp; Dicy Arteberry, Wash. Co., Tn. to Jackson Co., Tn. to Monroe Co., Ky: and Some Dillards. Lompoc, Calif.: I. McKinney, 1986. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G889m.
 * [Hammons] Williams, Sharon Ruth Hammons. Descendants of Hammons Brothers John Milton and Elcanah C., 1820-1990. Chillicothe, Ohio: S.H. Williams, 1990. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H184w.
 * [Himes] Stafford, Carolyn Joy. The Himes Family History: The Descendants of John Himes and Catherine Giesler Himes of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and Washington County, Tennessee, 1797-1990. Brandon, Fla.: C.J. Stafford, 1990. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H572s.
 * [Longmire] Holt, Nellaray Wilma Borton. Longmire Family Records. MSS., FHL US/CAN Film 1035644 Item 15.
 * [McKillip] Headley, Katy McCaleb. MacKillop (McCaleb) Clan of Scotland and the United States. 2 vols. Chillicothe, Mo.: E.P. Ellsberry, [1964]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M124h ff.
 * [Pritchett] Kintner, Elgin P. A Family History and Tour Guide of Reuel B. Pritchett and Ella Poff: The Parents of Ethel Pritchett Kintner: A Memento on the Occasion of Ethel's Eightieth Birthday 28 Aug. 1993. Maryville, Tenn.: E.P. Kintner, 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 P939k.
 * [Pugh] Tomlinson, Kenneth C. Colonel John Tipton and Captain Jonathan Pugh of Shenandoah County, Virginia and Washington County, Tennessee: Some of Their Descendants Represented by Members of the Tipton, Pugh, Barnett and Related Families. Portland, Ore.: K.C. Tomlinson, 1924. FHL US/CAN Film 1320635 Item 93.
 * [Reagan] Reagan, Donald B. Smoky Mountain Clans. 3 vols. Knoxville, Tenn.: D.B. Reagan, 1978-1983. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273R22b 1978. [The Reagan family is discussed in Vol. 1.]
 * [Rinehart] Rinehart Family History Committee. Lewis and Elizabeth Rinehart and Descendants. Oregon: Rinehart Family History Committee, [1993?]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R472L.
 * [Saylor] Moore, Elizabeth Saylor. Descendants of John Saylor, Edward and William Carter, Maj. William Moulden. Knoxville, Tenn.: E.S. Moore, 1973. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sa99me.
 * [Sharrett] Sharrett, Stuart B. Sharrett Family,: Brief History of Bristol Tennessee-Virginia, Washington and Sullivan Country. MSS., FHL US/CAN Film 1421791 Item 3.
 * [Shields] Webb, Margaret Vance. Joseph Shields of Washington County, Tennessee. Knoxville, Tenn.: M.V. Webb, 1994. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sh61we.
 * [Tipton] Tomlinson, Kenneth C. Colonel John Tipton and Captain Jonathan Pugh of Shenandoah County, Virginia and Washington County, Tennessee: Some of Their Descendants Represented by Members of the Tipton, Pugh, Barnett and Related Families. Portland, Ore.: K.C. Tomlinson, 1924. FHL US/CAN Film 1320635 Item 93.

Land
The organization Strictly By Name provides free online indexes to early Washington 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:

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.

Military
Revolutionary War


 * Allen, Penelope Johnson. Tennessee Soldiers in the Revolution: A Roster of Soldiers Living During the Revolutionary War in the Counties of Washington and Sullivan. n.p.: Tennessee Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1935. FHL US/CAN Book 976.89 M23a.

Civil War


 * Worsham, William J. Old Nineteenth Tennessee regiment, C.S.A. June, 1861-April, l865. Knoxville, Tennessee: Press of Paragon Printing Co., 1902. Free digital copy.

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 Washington 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 records of Washington 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

Several genealogical articles with abstracts of Washington 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.

The Pellissippian

Several genealogical articles with abstracts of Washington County, Tennessee records were published in the The Pellissippian (25 vols., 1980-2004), the quarterly of the Pellissippi Genealogical and Historical Society. The society has posted tables of contents for all 25 volumes on their website. Back issues are available for purchase. The Family History Library has acquired the first 20 volumes FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 D25p.

Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin

Several genealogical articles with abstracts of Washington 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 Washington 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
Wills

The organization Strictly By Name provides free online indexes to early Washington 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: 1779-1858
 * 2) Will Book 2: 1858-1889

Estate Settlements


 * Shell, Vera E. and WPA. Washington County, Tennessee, Settlements of Estates [1790-1841]. Nashville, Tenn.: Byron Sistler &amp; Associates, 1999. FHL US/CAN Book 976.897 P2s.

Taxation
The original Washington County Tax Books (1778-1885) are held at the County Courthouse. The Tennessee State Library and Archives microfilmed these records in 1969. Copies of their films are also available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Films 825545-825548.

The original Washington County Record of Land Sales 1911-1914 for Delinquent Taxes were microfilmed by the Tennessee State Library and Archives in 1969. A copy of their film is also available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Film 1012303 Item 2.

The earliest Washington County tax records, through 1850, have been published and indexed:


 * [1778] Taxpayers, 1778,East Tennessee Historical Society Publications. Knoxville TN: 1962. Issues 34 and 35.
 * [1778, 1814, 1819] Mary Barnett Curtis, Early East Tennessee Tax Lists (Fort Worth, Texas: Arrow Printing Company, 1964), FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 R4c. [Includes 1778, 1814, and 1815 tax lists.]
 * [1778, 1787] 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 1778 and 1787 tax lists.]
 * [1778-1850] Rasmussen, Geoffrey D. East Tennessee Tax Records Index. [1778-1850] 3 vols. Westminster, Md.: Heritage Books, 2005. FHL US/CAN Book 976.897 R42r v. 1 ff.
 * [1778-1801] McCown, Mary Hardin, Nancy E. Jones Stickley and Inez E. Burns. Washington County, Tennessee Records, Vol. 1: Washington County Lists of Taxables, 1778-1801; Abstract of Washington County Minutes; Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, 1778-1801; Lists of Officers of Washington County, 1778-1801; Miscellaneous Records in Washington County. Johnson City, Tenn.: Mary Hardin McCown, 1964. FHL US/CAN Book 976.897 N2m.
 * [1787-1799] Tax Lists, 1787-99, Tennessee Ancestors, Vol. 17, No. 2 (Aug. 2001).
 * [1787-1790] Taxpayers, 1787-90, Tennessee Ancestors, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Aug. 1989).
 * [1788] East TN Taxpayers, 1788, Tennessee Ancestors, Vol. 5, No. 1 (Apr. 1989).
 * [1798-1852] List of Taxables, 1798-1852, Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin, Vol. 24, No. 1 (1995). For FHL access and instructions for ordering back issues, see Periodicals.
 * [1814-1819] Historical Records Project. Tax List, 1814-1819, Washington County, Tennessee. Typescript, Tennessee State Library, Nashville, Tenn.; FHL US/CAN Film 24853 Item 2.
 * [1814, 1819] 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 1814 and 1819 tax lists.]
 * [1814] Tax List, 1814, Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin, Vol. 2, No. 2 (Summer 1973). For FHL access and instructions for ordering back issues, see Periodicals.
 * [1815] Tax List, 1815, Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin, Vol. 11, No. 1 (1982). For FHL access and instructions for ordering back issues, see Periodicals.
 * [1815-1819] Washington County, Tennessee, Lists of Taxables, 1815-1819 (photocopies), in Watauga Association of Genealogists Collection, Accession No. 295, Archives of Appalachia, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tenn.
 * [1816] Tax List, 1816, Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin, Vol. 12, No. 1 (1983); Vol. 12, No. 2 (1983). For FHL access and instructions for ordering back issues, see Periodicals.
 * [1817] Tax List, 1817, Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin, Vol. 13, No. 1 (1984); Vol. 13, No. 2 (1984). For FHL access and instructions for ordering back issues, see Periodicals.
 * [1818] Tax List, 1818, Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin, Vol. 13, No. 2 (1984); Vol. 14 Iss. 1 (1985). For FHL access and instructions for ordering back issues, see Periodicals.
 * [1819] Tax List, 1819, Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin, Vol. 14, No. 2 (1985); Vol. 15, No. 1 (Spring 1986). For FHL access and instructions for ordering back issues, see Periodicals.
 * [1830] Tax List, 1830, Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Summer 1972). For FHL access and instructions for ordering back issues, see Periodicals.
 * [1831-1833] Washington County, Tennessee, Lists of Taxables, 1831-1833 (photocopies), in Watauga Association of Genealogists Collection, Accession No. 295, Archives of Appalachia, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tenn.
 * [1840] Tax List, 1840, Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin, Vol. 4, No. 1 (1975). For FHL access and instructions for ordering back issues, see Periodicals.
 * [1850] Tax List, 1850, Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin, Vol. 4, No. 2 (1975). For FHL access and instructions for ordering back issues, see Periodicals.

Vital Records
Death


 * Nikazy, Eddie M. Washington County, Tennessee, Death Record Abstracts, 1908-1916. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, 1994. FHL US/CAN Book 976.897 V28n.

For deaths of Methodists in Washington 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
Watauga Association of Genealogists P.O. Box 117 Johnson City, TN 37605-0117

Family History Centers
Johnson City/Watauga Tennessee 211 Mayflower Rd Johnson City, Washington, Tennessee, United States Telephone: 423-926-6152

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

Web Sites

 * Family History Library Catalog (FamilySearch)
 * RootsWeb Mailing List: TNWASHIN-L (Washington 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)
 * Washington County, TN Family History and Genealogy Message Board (Ancestry)
 * Washington County, TN Genealogy Forum (GenForum)
 * Washington County, TNGenWeb (USGenWeb)