Unicoi County, Tennessee Genealogy

United States   Tennessee    Unicoi County





East Tennessee county established in 1875. From 1784 to 1788, this land was claimed by the abortive, short-lived State of Franklin.

County Courthouse
Unicoi County Courthouse 100 Main Street Erwin, TN 37650 Phone: 423-743-9541

Unicoi County Clerk Birth, marriage and probate records P.O. Box 340 100 Main Street, Suite 100 Erwin, TN 37650 Phone 423-743-3381

Unicoi County Register of Deeds Land records P.O. Box 305 Unicoi County Courthouse,Suite 202 Attn: Register of Deeds 100 Main Avenue Erwin, TN 37650 Phone: 423-743-6104

Unicoi County Circuit Court Clerk Court records P.O. Box 2000 Erwin, TN 37650 Phone: 423-743-3541

Hours: Monday - Friday 9 am - 5 pm Saturday 9 am - noon (County Clerk)

History


Unicoi is a Native American term for the Appalachian Mountains. It is believed to mean "white or fog-draped."

In August 1784 delegates from Washington County (including land that eventually became Unicoi County) and other western North Carolina counties which had split off from Washington County (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 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 became a state in 1789 and ceded her westernmost counties to the United States. The ceded counties, including most of Washington County (and eventually Unicoi), became the Southwest Territory. In 1796 the Southwest Territory was admitted to the United States as the new State of Tennessee.

Unicoi County was created in 1875 by Tennessee from parts of Washington and Carter counties.

Parent County
1875--Unicoi County was established 23 March 1875 from Washington and Carter Counties. Early records may be found under Washington and Carter Counties. County seat: Erwin

Research Guides

 * Genealogical "Fact Sheets" About Tennessee Counties: Unicoi County, courtesy: Tennessee State Library and Archives. (Identifies published county histories, published local records, census records, newspapers and local records on microfilm, and select manuscripts.)

Census
1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 federal population censuses of Unicoi 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.

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. [Unicoi 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.

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


 * Hensley, Benny E. Beneath the Oaks at the Foot of Meadow Creek Mountain, Oak Hill, Parrottsville, TN. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8895 D2h.

Bibliography


 * [Beckelhimer] Kerns, Gloria Lambert and Diane Sims. Beckelhimer: Family Records. FHL US/CAN Access Services Window 2243264 Item 1.
 * [Moore] Fobes, Lawrence G. Moore. 1976?. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M781f.

Land
The original Unicoi County Deed Books are held at the County Courthouse. In the 1970s, the Tennessee State Library and Archives microfilmed Deed Books 1-7 (1876-1903), Trust Deed Book 1 (1876-1899), and Index to Deeds and Mortgages (1876-1920). Copies of their films are also available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Films 972739-972744.

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 Unicoi 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 Unicoi 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 Unicoi 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.

Probate
The original Unicoi County wills are held at the County Courthouse. In the 1970s, the Tennessee State Library and Archives microfilmed wills covering the date range 1876-1947. A copy of their film is also available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Film 972738.

Taxation
The original Unicoi County Tax Books 1876-1899 are kept at the County Courthouse. In the 1970s, the Tennessee State Library and Archives microfilmed these records. A copy of their film is also available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Film 972745.

The following Unicoi 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 Unicoi County.]

Vital Records
Death

For deaths of Methodists in Unicoi County (or what later became Unicoi 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
The Unicoi County Historical Society 405 Ohio Avenue Erwin, Tennessee 37650 423-743-6307 Located at Unicoi County Public Library

Watauga Association of Genealogists Upper East Tennessee P.O. Box 117 Johnson City, Tennessee 37605-0117 Publications: The Bulletin (May and October)

East Tennessee Historical Society 601 S. Gay Street P.O. Box 1629 Knoxville, Tennessee 37901-1629 eths@east-tennessee-history.org

Web Sites

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