Sullivan County, Tennessee Genealogy

United States   Tennessee    Sullivan County

History


The county is named after New Hampshire Governor John Sullivan (1740-1795)) a Revolutionary War General.

Parent County
1779--Sullivan County was created 18 October 1779 from Washington District and territory formerly claimed by Virginia. County seat: Blountville

Record Loss
1963--Fired damaged records

Church

 * Sullivan County Historical Society. Foundations of Faith in Sullivan, 1777-1935. [Blountville, Tenn.?]: Sullivan County Historical Society, 1986. [A history of the early churches and religious organizations of Sullivan County in existence for more than fifty years.]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

LDS Ward and Branch Records


 * Kingsport

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


 * Holston Territory Genealogical Society and Sullivan County Historical and Genealogical Society. Families and History of Sullivan County, Tennessee. 2 vols. [Tennessee]: Holston Territory Genealogical Society, 1992-2006; Nashville, Tennessee: Turner Pub. Co., 2006. FHL US/CAN Book 976.896 H2h ff.

Bibliography


 * [Acuff] Reeves, LeRoy. Ancestral Sketches. Lynchburg, Va.: L. Reeves, 1951. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R259rLr.
 * [Booher] McCay, Betty L. A History and Genealogy of the Booher Family, 1747-1964: Also a Few Interesting Tales. 1965. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B644bm.
 * [Booher] Booher, Eva. The Booher Family: Talents, Traits &amp; Tales. Santa Monica, Calif.: E. Booher, 1996. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B644boe.
 * [Buchanan] Wright, Jessie May Buchanan and William Rolland Wright. The Familia Buchanan Ancestral-Desendental. Los Angeles: J.M.B. Wright and W.R. Wright, 1935. FHL US/CAN Film 386 Item 2.
 * [Cawlfield] Farris, Vera Lorene Biddle and Eloise Wolfram Cawlfield. History of Cawfield [i.e. Cawlfield], Smith, Biddle and Related Families. California?: V.S.B. Farris?, 1973?. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C257f.
 * [Coats] Parker, John M. Coats and Griffiths Family History: James Oliver "J.O." Coats (1877-1973) and Mary "May" Griffiths (1880- 1976) were Married 5 August 1899 and Lived in the Rural Area of Douglas County, Missouri for Most of Their Lives Until 1959, When They Moved a Few Miles Away to Mountain Grove, Missouri: This is a Story of Their Ancestors and Descendants ... Mission Viejo, California: J.M. Parker, 1987. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C632p.
 * [Copas] Copas, Cheryl A. From the Mouth of the Shenandoah: The William Copas Family of TN &amp; KY. Snellville, Georgia: C.A.Copas, 1998. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C79cac.
 * [Cornett] Cornett, J.D. and William Henry Young. Genealogy of William Cornett, 1761-1836. Germantown, Ohio: W.H. Young, [1991]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C815cj.
 * [Cox] Yarberry, Barbara and Joseph Derum. Cox, Edmondson, Wilson Sr. &amp; Wilson Jr. History. 1970. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W694y.
 * [Cox] Jennings, Clark W. Waves of Time: The Ancestry of Clark W. Jennings, MD. Hickory, North Carolina: C.W. Jennings, 1994. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 J441jc.
 * [Crawford] Stephens - Crawford - Hall - Doak - Biddle - Boy Family Records, ca. 1690-1930. MSS. FHL US/CAN Film 1750788 Item 7.
 * [Cross] Cross Family of Scott County, Tennessee. Typescript. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C884cr.
 * [Cross] Smith, H.H. Information Relative to Sullivan County Families, Chiefly the Crosses. MSS., Blountville, Tenn., 1935. FHL US/CAN Film 927.
 * [Crumley] Mottern, Hugh H. George Crumley Family of Sullivan County, Tennessee. Glenview, Ill.: H.H. Mottern, 1964. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C888m.
 * [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.
 * [Droke] Droke Family Association and Alfred W. Droke. Droke Family Association Report of Activities. Newsletter. Los Angeles, California: Droke Family Association, 1957-1993. FHL 929.27305 D835f.
 * [Early] Early, Cleland Edward. The Early Families of Knox and Whitley Counties, Kentucky with Allied Families. Houston, Texas: D. Armstrong Co., 1989. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Ea76ea.
 * [Easley] Reeves, LeRoy. Ancestral Sketches. Lynchburg, Va.: L. Reeves, 1951. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R259rLr.
 * [Easley] Easley, Jim. Stephen and Mary Ann (David) Easley in Sullivan County, Tennessee. Kingsport, Tennessee: s.n., 1972. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Ea76ej.
 * [Edwards] Edwards, Cyrus, Cader Edwards and Daughters of the American Colonists (Nevada). An Account of the Life and Public Services of Captain Cader Edwards: A Native of Wales and a Soldier of the American Revolution. 1962. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Ed95ec; FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 A1 no. 7910.
 * [Faust] The Faust Family in the United States. (With: First Fausts in Pennysylvania / Harry E. Faust, 1930, Bartholomew County Library, Columbus, Ind.). FHL US/CAN Film 1516446 Item 23.
 * [Feathers] Feathers, Omer C. The Descendants of John Feathers, Who Came from Ireland and Settled in Albemarle County, Virginia. Johnson City, Tenn.: O.C. Feathers, 1952. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 F313f. Revision: FHL 929.273 A1 no. 4372; FHL CD-ROM no. 5839.
 * [Ferguson] Stallard, Christine and Conley D. Stallard. The Ferguson Connection: Russell County, Virginia, 1775-1994: A Family History. [Ormond Beach, Florida]: C. Stallard, 1995. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 F381st.
 * [Fleenor] Hanson, Margery Frances Day and Richard Ewing Hanson. Receipt for an Inheritance, or, The Making of the Family: The Story of My Maternal Grandparents Jacob William Fleenor and Mary Susannah Hope, a Century of Their Ancestors, a Century of Their Descendants. Burlington, Vermont: R. Farnsworth, 1974. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 F624h.
 * [Galloway] Galloway, O.V. and Alice Andrews Churchman Webb. Dubose, Hamilton, and Related Lines [ca. 1796-1971]. MSS. FHL US/CAN Film 1008689 Item 8.
 * [Galloway] Mattson, Catherine Downey. My Downey Family: and Related Families: Aston, Evans, Galloway, Binney, Lewellen, Strait. Sedona, Arizona: C.D. Mattson, 1992. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D759mt.
 * [Giesler] Wynne, Diana Jones. Descendants of David Giesler (1816-1856) and Nancy Gross (1820-1910). 1971. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G365w.
 * [Greer] Green, Martin L. The Greer Family History. Glendale, Calif.: P.L.G. Tharp, 1978. FHL US/CAN Film 1516446 Item 25.
 * [Gross] Wynne, Diana Jones. Descendants of David Giesler (1816-1856) and Nancy Gross (1820-1910). 1971. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G365w.
 * [Hamilton] Reeves, LeRoy. Ancestral Sketches. Lynchburg, Va.: L. Reeves, 1951. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R259rLr.
 * [Hamilton] Parrish, Verle H. Hamilton Families of Eastern Kentucky: (Md., Del., W.Va., N.Car., S.Car., Tenn., Ky.). Georgetown, Ky.: V.H. Parrish, 1988. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H18p.
 * [Hedrick] Hedrick, George. An Incomplete Genealogy of the Hedricks and Related Families, from Abraham to Joanna... St. Paul, Minn.: G. Hedrick, 1990. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H369he.
 * [Hensley] Schreibman, Laura and Laura Hensley. The Hensleys of Ballplay, Monroe County, Tennessee. Hazel Park, Mich.: L. Schreibman, 199-?. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 A1 no. 6391.
 * [Keith] Keith, Edward. The Keith/Bryant Connection. 1997?. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 K269kb; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [King] King, Elijah S. The Descendants of Edward King of Sullivan County, Tennessee. Knoxville, Tenn.: Lawson McGhee Library, 1938. FHL US/CAN Film 1750734 Item 37.
 * [King] Van Reekum, Hallie Virginia King. A Partial History of Edward King, 17-- to 1790, Lancaster County, Pa. Sullivan County, with Special Reference to His Son Thomas King, 1754 to 1847, Lancaster County, Pa. - Sullivan County, Tenn., and Including Some Information About Other Branches of His Family. Washington [District of Columbia]: Filmed by Reproduction Systems at D.A.R. Library, 1971. FHL US/CAN Film 877519 Item 4.
 * [Laughlin] Early, Cleland Edward. The Early Families of Knox and Whitley Counties, Kentucky with Allied Families. Houston, Texas: D. Armstrong Co., 1989. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Ea76ea.
 * [McKaughan] Perkins, Minniebell McKaughan. Cuz's of Sorts: North American Descendants of Gaelic Clan MacEachain. [Kerrville, Texas]: M.M. Perkins, 1991. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M192pm; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [McKinley] McCampbell, Nellie Pearl, David Babelay and Marian W. McCampbell. Samuel Shannon McCampbell [and] Sarah Prudence Smith McCampbell, Ancestors and Descendants. Knoxville, Tenn.: N.P. McCampbell, 1965. FHL US/CAN Film 982117 Item 3; 1971 copy: FHL US/CAN Film 876563 Item 10.
 * [Mackey] Hoskinson, Josie Viser Henkel and Julia Ruth Bishop. Mackeys and Eberlys of Texas; and Allied Families of McIlwaine, Elgin, Harrison, Adams, Smallwood, Stone, Troope and Perry of Ky., Tenn., Md., and Va. [Norman, Oklahoma: s.n., 1965]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M199h; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Millard] Harris, C.H., H. Doyle Millard, Roy I. Millard, and John M. Millard. Samuel Millard of Sullivan County, Tennessee: His Ancestry and Descendants. Typescript, 1977. FHL US/CAN Film 1026818 Item 2.
 * [Miller] Pearson, Hugh F. and Elmer F. Pearson. The Good Old Days. [Portland, Ore.]: E.F. Pearson, 1995. FHL US/CAN Film 1750861 Item 4.
 * [Mottern] Mottern, Hugh H. The John Nicholas Mottern Family of Sullivan County, Tennessee. 1999. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M858mh; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Netherland] Spoden, Muriel Millar Clark. Ancestry and Descendants of Richard Netherland, Esquire (1764-1832). Kingsport, Tennessee: M.C.C. Spoden, 1979. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 N382s.
 * [Parr] The Parr Families Pioneer Settlers in the Vicinity of Big Springs, Boone Co., Indiana. 1955. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 P246pf.
 * [Payne] Peden, Eva Coe and Martha Powell Reneau. My Payne Ancestors: Barren County. 1969?. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 P293pec.
 * [Phelps] Smith, Gordon Edward. Phelps Family History. Florence, Ala.: G.E. Smith, 1984. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 A1 no. 4577.
 * [Reeves] Reeves, LeRoy. Ancestral Sketches. Lynchburg, Va.: L. Reeves, 1951. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R259rLr.
 * [Rhea] Historical Records Survey. Division of Women's and Professional Projects (Tennessee). Tennessee, Records of Sullivan County: Rhea Papers from the Collecton of Mrs. Charles R. Hyde (Anne Bachman Hyde), of Chattanooga, Tenn. Nashville: Historical Records Survey, 1939. FHL US/CAN Film 116.
 * [Rhea] Foley, Edward F. The Descendants of Rev. Joseph Rhea of Ireland. Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1996. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R341f.
 * [Roberts] Roberts, Harry D. and Mrs. Leonard W. Stevens. Roberts Family Research. Malibu, California: H.J. Roberts, 1974. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R542a; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Robeson] Reeves, LeRoy. Ancestral Sketches. Lynchburg, Va.: L. Reeves, 1951. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R259rLr.
 * [Rutledge] Lewis, Richard Rutledge. The Rutledges of Vance, Sullivan County, Tennessee. Knoxville, Tenn.: R.R. Lewis, 1984, FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R937L.
 * [Sanders] Sanders, W.R. Genealogy of the Sanders, Alison and Collateral Families of Sullivan &amp; Washington Counties, Tennessee. Johnson City, Tenn.: W.R. Sanders, 1972. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sa56sw.
 * [Sawyers] Harris, Madison M. Family History of Col. John Sawyers and Simon Harris and Their Descendants. Knoxville, Tenn.: Knoxville Lithographing Co., 1913. FHL US/CAN Film 1421635 Item 4.
 * [Sharp] Sharp: Family Records. Original Records, Clark County Genealogical Society, Marshall, Ill.; FHL US/CAN Film 1306074 Item 6.
 * [Sharrett] Sharrett, Stuart B. Sharrett Family: Brief History of Bristol Tennessee-Virginia, Washington and Sullivan Country. MSS., FHL US/CAN Film 1421791 Item 3.
 * [Simmons] Simmons, Paul V. The Descendants of Elkano Simmons and Nancy Jane Pierce Simmons. Lakewood, Colorado: P.V. Simmons, 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Si47s.
 * [Sitzler] Sistler, Byron H. Grandfather was Always a Very Old Man: A History of the Sitzlers of East Tennessee, and Sistlers and Sitcherls, and the Gibsons and Rexers of Pope County, Illinois. Evanston, Ill.: n.p., 1971. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Si84s.
 * [Smith] Deuel, Geneve Smith. History of James Agee Smith: Featuring the Man, His Book, His Grandson. Spring Lake, Utah: G.S. Deuel, 1999. FHL FAM HIST Book 921.73 Sm61dg; digital version at BYU Family History Archives. [LDS]
 * [Thomas] Baer, Frank L. The McNew Family of Washington Co., Va. Typescript, National Library of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Washington, D.C. Microfilmed in 1971. FHL US/CAN Film 874716 Item 4.
 * [Thomas] Goodfellow, David M. Jacob Thomas, 1752-1824: A Search for the Descendents of Jacob and Louisa Thomas, Pioneers of Sullivan County, Tennessee: Research Notes and Family Group Sheets. Midland, Texas: D.M. Goodfellow, 1994. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 T361g.
 * [Vincent] Reeves, LeRoy. Ancestral Sketches. Lynchburg, Va.: L. Reeves, 1951. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R259rLr.
 * [Weaver] Gill, Paul Rogers. Weaver--Rogers Family Pedigree Chart, ca. 1700-1963. MSS., 1989. FHL US/CAN Film 1597807 Item 23.
 * [Whisnand] Curtis, Oscar F. Whisnand Research File. MSS. FHL US/CAN Film 1638490 Item 30.
 * [Woods] Willan, Florence Shank. A Family Tree (that Grew and Grew). Typescript, Morgan County Public Library, Martinsville, Ind. FHL US/CAN Film 1502551 Item 12.

Land
Deeds

The original Sullivan County Deed Books are held at the Sullivan County Courthouse. The Tennessee State Library and Archives microfilmed Deed Books 1-58 (1775-1894) and Indexes (1781-1930) in the 1970s. Copies of their microfilms are also available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Films 972701-972726.

The early deed books have been abstracted multiple times:


 * [1775-1836] Austin, Susan Hardin. Sullivan County, Tennessee Deeds. 11 vols. [1775-1836] n.p.: S.H. Austin, 2002-2004. FHL US/CAN Book 976.896 R2a v. 1-4 ff. Digital versions at BYU Family History Archives:

N.B. These volume numbers refer to the published abstract volumes and not to the original deed book volumes.


 * [1775-1835] Edwards, Shelby Ireson. Sullivan County, Tennessee, Deed Books: Abstracted from the Original Records. 10 vols. [1775-1835] Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 1984-1985. FHL US/CAN Books 976.896 R2e ff.
 * [1775-1815] Historical Records Project. Deeds, 1775-1815, Sullivan County, Tennessee. Typescript, Tennessee State Library, Nashville, Tenn. FHL US/CAN Film 24836 Items 1-7.
 * [1775-1789] Willis, Laura and Betty Sellers. Sullivan County, Tenn. Deeds. Mayfield, Ky.: Willis Historical, 1998. FHL US/CAN Book 976.896 R2w.

Local Histories

 * Taylor, Oliver. Historic Sullivan: A History of Sullivan County, Tennessee with Brief Biographies of the Makers of History. Bristol, Tenn.: The King Printing Co. (Le Roi Press), 1909. FHL US/CAN Book 976.896 H2t and Index: FHL US/CAN Book 976.896 H2t index; digital version at Google Books.

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.

Probate
Wills

The original Sullivan County Will Books are held at the Sullivan County Courthouse. The Tennessee State Library and Archives microfilmed Will Books 1-2 (1838-1915) in the 1970s. Copies of these films are also available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Film 972700.

Abstracts of these records include:


 * Historical Records Project (Tennessee). Will Books, 1830-1870, Sullivan County, Tennessee. Typescript, Tennessee State Library, Nashville, Tenn. FHL US/CAN Film 24836 Item 9.

Taxation
The original Sullivan County Tax Books, 1877-1895, are held at the Sullivan County Courthouse. The Tennessee State Library and Archives microfilmed these records in the 1970s. Copies of these films are available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Film 972728-972731.

Family History Centers
Kingsport Tennessee 100 Cannongate Rd Kingsport, Sullivan, Tennessee, United States Telephone: 423-245-2321

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

Web Sites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Family History Library Catalog