Rutherford County, Tennessee Genealogy

United States

Tennessee

Rutherford County

Guide to Rutherford County, Tennessee ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Tennessee Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: Murfreesboro Organized: October 25, 1803 Parent County(s): Davidson Neighboring Counties Bedford  • Cannon  • Coffee  • Davidson  • Marshall  • Williamson  • Wilson See County Maps Courthouse Location Map Adoption Adopt-a-wiki page This page adopted by: TNGenWeb Project who welcome you to contribute. Adopt a page today

County Information

Description

Rutherford County was named for Griffith Rutherford (1721-1805). The county is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse

Rutherford County Courthouse
319 N. Maple St.
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
County Courthouse Phone: 615-898-7800 -7799
County Clerk Phone: 615-898-7800
County Register of Deeds Phone: 615-898-7870
County Circuit Court Clerk Phone: 615-217-7119

County Clerk has marriage and probate records from 1804.
Register of Deeds has land records.

Rutherford County, Tennessee Record Dates

Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1881	1804	1881	1804	1804	1804	1810
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1914. General compliance by 1927.

Record Loss

1832 Tornado damaged courthouse records, but county records are reported as complete.

Boundary Changes

1803--Rutherford County was established 25 October 1803 from Davidson County. Early records may be found under Davidson County. County seat: Murfreesboro For animated maps illustrating Tennessee county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Tennessee County Boundary Maps" (1777-1985) may be viewed at the MapofUS.org website.

Populated Places

For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Cities
Eagleville	La Vergne	Murfreesboro
Towns
Smyrna
Unincorporated communities
Allisona Almaville Bethel Big Springs Blackman Booth Springs Compton Dilton Donnell's Chapel Floraton Florence	Fosterville Hall's Hill Henderson Hoover's Gap Jefferson Lascassas Link Macon Midland Milton Overall	Powell's Chapel Readyville Rock Dale Rocky Fork Rucker Sharpesville Shiloh Valley View Versailles Windrow
Census-designated places
Christiana	Rockvale	Walterhill

History Timeline

Additional Information
Middle Tennessee county.

The county is named after "Griffin Rutherford, chairman of the legislature of the Southwest Territory."

Resources

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

• Middle Tennessee's Forgotten Children: Apprentices from 1784 to 1902. 2004. By Alan N. Miller. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield Company. FHL US/CAN 976.8 U2ma. Includes Rutherford County.

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Rutherford County, Tennessee online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Findagrave.com TNGenWeb TNGenWeb Archives Tombstone Project TNGenWeb Cemeteries Billion Graves
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	Family History Library WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the County	Findagrave.com TNGravestones FamilySearch Places
See Tennessee Cemeteries for more information.

 

Additional Cemetery Resources

• Tennessee Cemeteries - Hometown Locator

Census Records

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1810	10,265	—
1820	19,552	90.5%
1830	26,134	33.7%
1840	24,280	−7.1%
1850	29,122	19.9%
1860	27,918	−4.1%
1870	33,289	19.2%
1880	36,741	10.4%
1890	35,097	−4.5%
1900	33,543	−4.4%
1910	33,199	−1.0%
1920	33,059	−0.4%
1930	32,286	−2.3%
1940	33,604	4.1%
1950	40,696	21.1%
1960	52,368	28.7%
1970	59,428	13.5%
1980	84,058	41.4%
1990	118,570	41.1%
2000	182,023	53.5%
Source: "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau.

1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 federal population schedules of Rutherford 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 Rutherford County,TN census assignments, including links to transcribed files. The USGenWeb Census Project^®.

1810

Rutherford County is one of the only Tennessee counties with a surviving 1810 census; however, even this county's census schedule is incomplete. A substitute is available, see Rutherford.

• Houston, Martha Lou. Tennessee Census Records, No. 1, Rutherford County 1810. Washington, D.C., 1933. Digital version available at FamilySearch Digital Library.
• Presley, Mrs. Leister E. Rutherford County, Tennessee Population Schedules of the United States census, 1810: Head of Household Only. Typscript, 19--?. FHL 976.857 X2p 1810
• 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.

1810-1891

• Tennessee, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1810-1891 at Ancestry — index $

1820

• Bentley, Elizabeth P. Index to the 1820 Census of Tennessee. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1981. FHL 976.8 X22b 1820. Online at Ancestry ($).
• Presley, Mrs. Leister E. Rutherford County, Tennessee Population Schedules of the United States census, 1820. Typscript, 19--?. FHL 976.857 X2p 1820
• Waldrep, G.C. "'Free Colored' Heads of Household in the 1820 Tennessee Census," online at Free African Americans. Includes free African Americans in this county.

1820 Manufactures

The original manufactures schedules for the Eastern and Western Districts of Tennessee are kept at the NARA, Washington, D.C. FHL copies: FHL US/CAN Films 1024517-1024518.

• National Archives. Indexes to Manufacturers Census of 1820, 1964. At various libraries (WorldCat)

1840

• Rutherford County Historical Society. The 1840 census of Rutherford County, Tennessee. Murfreesboro, Tennessee Rutherford County Historical Society, 1974. FHL 976.857 X2c

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, Middle District, Rutherford County on page 157.

1850

• Porch, Deane. 1850 census of Rutherford County, Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee Deane Porch, 1967. FHL 976.857 X2p 1850

1850 Agricultural Census

• Green, Linda L. Tennessee 1850 Agricultural Census. 2 vols. Woodbridge, Va.: L.L. Green, 2000. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 X2g v. 1 ff. Rutherford County is included in Vol. 2.

1880

• Sistler, Byron H. and Barbara Sistler. 1880 Census Rutherford County, Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: B. Sistler and Associates, 1998. FHL 976.857 X2s 1880

1891 Male Voters

• 1891 Tennessee Enumeration of Male Voters 1891 at Ancestry — index $

1920

• Young, Denise, ed.. Rutherford County, Tennessee Census, 1920 (database on-line). Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 1999. Available at Ancestry — Free/$

Church Records

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places
  

Church records include baptisms, marriages and burials, as well as information about family members and clues about family migration.For additional information about church records, religions, and religious archives in Tennessee, see Tennessee Church Records.

• Rutherford County Church Records

• FamilySearch Catalog - Rutherford County Church Records

• If the records you need are not through the Family History Library, contact the church(es) in the area where your ancestor lived.Two sites that give information about churches in Rutherford County are:

• List of Rutherford County churches with addresses and phone numbers (Yellowbook)
  
• List of Rutherford County churches (TN HomeTownLocator)

• The Historical Projects Administration published a guide in 1943 to several Rutherford County church records. FHL 24813 Use this guide to locate the following church records:

• 1858-1819 - historical sketch of Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Murfreesboro
• 1816-1916 - history of Hopewell Presbyterian (U.S.) Church
• 1823-1893 - history and register of Salem Methodist Episcopal Church, South
• 1816-1831 - sessional records of the Stones River Presbyterian Church
• 1835-1840 - records of the Young Men's Educational Society,
• 1841-1860 - church minutes of the Primitive Baptist Church Providence

Baptist

• Grime, John Harvey. History of Middle Tennessee Baptists: With Special Reference to Salem, New Salem, Enon and Wiseman Associations. Nashville, Tennessee: Baptist and Reflector, 1902.Includes names changes for places in Middle Tennessee. Free digital copy.

Church of Christ

• 1835-1860 - Rock Spring Church of Christ Baptism Index 1835-1860 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C711251
• 1835-1860 - Rock Spring Church of Christ Records. Rutherford County, 1835-1860.TSLA Reel #170
• 1835-1860 - Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Vital Statistics from 19th Century Tennessee Church Records. Nashville: Sitler and Associates, 1979. FHL 976.8 K29s vol.1 Index to original Rock Spring Church of Christ Records. Rutherford County, 1835-1860. FHL 570844 Item 2

Presbyterian

• 1812-1967 - First Presbyterian Church Records. Murfreesboro, 1812-1967. Manuscript. TSLA Reel #502.
• 1812-1900 - Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Vital Statistics from 19th Century Tennessee Church Records. Nashville: Sitler and Associates, 1979. vol. 2 FHL 976.8 K29s Index to original First Presbyterian Church Records. Murfreesboro, 1812-1967.
• 1887-1972 - LaVergne Presbyterian Church Records. Rutherford County, 1887-1972. Manuscript. TSLA Reel #415.
• 1887-1900 - Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Vital Statistics from 19th Century Tennessee Church Records. Nashville: Sitler and Associates, 1979. vol. 2 FHL 976.8 K29s Index to original LaVergne Presbyterian Church Records. Rutherford County, 1887-1972.

Court Records

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 TSLA has created an index to names that appear in these acts covering the years 1796 to 1850. Online searchable index at TSLA.

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

African Americans

• Waldrep, G.C. "'Free Colored' Heads of Household in the 1820 Tennessee Census," available online, courtesy: Free African Americans website. [Includes free African Americans in this county.]

Genealogies

General

• As of August 2010, a query for persons born in Rutherford, Tennessee at World Connect, results in more than 45,000 entries.

• Rutherford County, Tennessee: History & Families. Paducah, Ky.: Turner Pub. Co., 2002. FHL 976.857 H2r.

Bibliography

• Adams - Ose, Enlow. The Family of John Washington Adams (1822-1907): and the Families of Robert Murray (1790/1800-1840/1850); Catherine Adams Stephens (ca. 1804-after 1860); Jesse Koonce (ca. 1769-ca. 1814); Nancy Brewer (ca. 1804-1850/1860); George Adams (Before 1775-1830/1840) of Rutherford and Wilson County, Tennessee. [Sacramento, Calif.]: E. Ose, 1996. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Ad18o.
• Austin - Steiner, Harold Austin The Levi Austin family of North Carolina and Tennessee Las Vegas, Nevada Haldor Company, 2004. FHL book 929.273 Au77.Digital version available at FamilySearch Digital Library.
• Bingham - Bingham, Bessie Adcock The Binghams in America a genealogical history of the Bingham family. Salt Lake City, Utah Digitized by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 2009. Digital copy available at BYU Family History Archives FamilySearch Digital Library.
• Bishop - Gray, John W. The Life of Joseph Bishop, the Celebrated Old Pioneer in the First Settlements of Middle Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: s.p., 1858.Free digital copy.
• Bobbitt - Mount, Allen Wade. Our Bobbitt Family: genealogical and historical record of the southern branch, with the Beck, Elliott, Goodloe and Hurd families and allied lines. Prairie Village, KS: Unknown, 1972. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B630Lm; FHL US/CAN Film 1036692 Item 5; digital version at Heritage Quest Online ($).
• Brothers - Brothers, Elvira. The Generations of Francis Brothers (1779-1845): A History of Francis Brothers Who Settled in Rutherford County, Tennessee about 1815, and His Descendants. Tenn.?: Ophelia B. Willard?, 1986?. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B795be.
• Dickson - Smith, Austin Wheeler. The Dickson-McEwen and Allied Families Genealogy. Cookeville, TN: Unknown, 1945. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D561s. Digital version available at Heritage Quest Online ($).
• Gambill - Brown, Louise G. and Jane C. Luna. The Descendants of Bradley Gambill. Columbia, Tenn.: P-Vine Press, 1979. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G143b.
• Gordon - Gordon, Thomas Gilbert. The John Hilton Gordon Family of Rutherford County, Tennessee. Tampa, Fla.: Anundsen, 1988. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G653h.
• Gregory - Spears, Josephine Lee Gregory. Joseph Gregory "The Centenarian" (1742-1842), Mecklenburg County, Virginia to Rutherford County, Tennessee and His Descendants. Raleigh, N.C.: J.G. Spears, 1990. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G862s.
• Jordan - Bamman, Gale Williams. "Challenging the Obvious Conclusion: Which John J. Jordan Did Alexander Produce?" National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 82, No. 4 (December 1994):255-268. FHL Book 973 B2ng
• Kerby - Tayloe, Stephanie Routon. Kerby Family of Rutherford County, Tennessee: Overall and Rucker Family. Buchanan, Tenn.: S.R. Tayloe, 2003. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 K452t.
• McEwen - See Dickson.
• McFerrin - Fitzgerald, O.P. and McFerrin, John B. John B. McFerrin, a biography Salt Lake City, Utah Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1986. FHL book 921.73 M167. Digital version available at FamilySearch Digital Library.
• Miller - Webb, Thomas G. The Webb Families of Dekalb County, Tennessee, and 23 Related Families: Including Bethel, Cantrell, Colvert, Fuson, Gribble, Hicks, Jaco, Judkins, Magness, Mangum, Moser, Parker, Potter, Redmon, Snow, Turner, and Weedon Families, along with the Farmer and Foushee Families of Virginia; the Gray, George, and Sageley Families of Cannon County, Tennessee, the Nathaniel Miller Family of Rutherford County, Tennessee, and Others. Smithville, Tenn.: Bradley Printing Co., 2002. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W381wt.
• Pearcy - McGinnis, Rita A. A Pearcy/Piercy Family in America. Typescript, 1988. FHL 929.273 P316m
• Rucker - Whitley, Edythe Johns Rucker. History of the Rucker Family and their Descendants: Sketches of Carter, Barton, Early, Johns, Lee, Martin, Pendleton, Reade, Seldon, Taliaferro, Witt and Wyatt Families. Nashville, TN: Unknown, 1927. Available at FHL US/CAN Film 1321319 Item 1; digital version at Ancestry ($); and Heritage Quest Online ($).
• Sanders - Sanders, Charles Robert and Robert S. Sanders. History of the Family of Dr. William Josiah and Fanny Adams Sanders of Rutherford County, Tennessee. Typescript, microfilmed in 1987. FHL US/CAN Film 1421703 Item 1.
• Sanders - Sanders, Robert S. Descendants of Drury Josiah Sanders and Frances Jane Stockard of Rutherford County, Tennessee. Typescript, 1993. FHL US/CAN Film 1697863 Item 13.
• Sanders - Sanders, Charles Robert and Robert S. Sanders. A History of the Family of Dr. William Josiah and Fanny Adams Sanders of Rutherford County, Tennessee. Murfreesboro, Tenn.: R.S. Sanders, Jr., 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sa56scr.
• Smotherman - Goodwin, Sarah Jones et al. Westbrooks-Williams and Related Smothermans of Rutherford County, Tennessee: with Histories of Midland Community, Oak Grove School, Old Leb Church. Murfreesboro, Tenn.: Rutherford County Historical Society, 1984. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W521ww.
• Westbrooks - Goodwin, Sarah Jones et al. Westbrooks-Williams and Related Smothermans of Rutherford County, Tennessee: with Histories of Midland Community, Oak Grove School, Old Leb Church. Murfreesboro, Tenn.: Rutherford County Historical Society, 1984. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W521ww.
• Williams - Goodwin, Sarah Jones et al. Westbrooks-Williams and Related Smothermans of Rutherford County, Tennessee: with Histories of Midland Community, Oak Grove School, Old Leb Church. Murfreesboro, Tenn.: Rutherford County Historical Society, 1984. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W521ww.
• Woodruff - Woodruff, Howard W.The Woodroof-Woodrough-Woodruff Family: of Surry, Brunswick, Greensville counties, Virginia, 1700-1825, and Some Branches Who Migrated to Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, Texas, 1820-1985. Independence, Mo.: A.L. Woodruff, 1985. Digital version at Internet Archive. Revised and updated version of Tall Trees in the Forest (1966).

Land and Property Records

Online Records and Indexes

• 1804-1808 Deed Book A: 1804-1808 Strictly By Name - Index only
• 1811-1813 Deed Book H: 1811-1813 Strictly By Name - Index only
• 1814-1817 Deed Book K: 1814-1817 Strictly By Name - Index only
• 1817-1819 Deed Book L: 1817-1819 Strictly By Name - Index only

Book Abstracts and Indexes

• 1804-1810 Rutherford, County, Tennessee deed abstracts : vol. 1, 1804-1810. Available at FamilySearch Digital Library; Internet Archive.

Local Histories

• Nance, R F, and John W. Nance. The History of Versailles, Tenth District, and Its People. Murfreesboro, Tenn. P.O. Box 906, Murfreesboro 37130: Rutherford County Historical Society, 1983. Available online
• Some of the Earliest People in Rutherford County by Date of Their Birth Prior to 1800. Online at: Rutherford TN History.

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• Maps of Tennessee (1777-1985)
• 1878 Map of Rutherford County, TN. Originally published 1878. ReevesMaps.com includes a scaled-down version of the map.
• FamilySearch Places: Cities and Towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

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

• 1835 Pension Roll
• 1852 Rejected or Suspended Pensions

Additional resources include:

• 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, Middle District, Rutherford County on page 157.
• 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.

War of 1812

• Embry, Hermione D. "War of 1812 - Tennessee Pensioners on List - January 2, 1883," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 8, No. 2 (Apr. 1961):49-52. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a v. 8 (1961); digital version at journal website. Includes Rutherford County pensioners (p. 51-52).

Civil War

Online Records

• 1861-1865 - Tennessee, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• 1861-1865 - Tennessee, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• 1861-1865 - U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
• 1861-1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
• 1861-1865 - U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 at Ancestry
• 1891-1965 - Tennessee, Confederate Pension Applications, Soldiers and Widows, 1891-1965 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System

Regiments. Men in Rutherford County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (part of a large regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Rutherford County:

Confederate Soldiers

• 1st Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry (McNairy's) - CSA - Company E.
• 1st Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (Field's) - CSA - Company I.
• 1st/27th Consolidated Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company I.
• 2nd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Companies A and F.
• 2nd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (Robison's) (Walker Legion) - CSA
• 2nd Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (Woodward's) - CSA - Company D.
  
• 4th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry- CSA - Company G.
• 4th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (McLemore's) - CSA
• 8th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Smith's) - CSA - Company G.
• 9th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Ward's) - CSA - Company K.
• 12th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry- CSA - Company F.
• 18th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Companies C, D, F, and H.
• 20th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company E.
• 21st Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Carter's) - CSA - Companies A, D, and I.
• 23rd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (Martin's) - CSA - Company F.
• 24th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company A.
• 44th Consolidated Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company G.
• 44th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company G.
• 45th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Companies C,D, E, I, and K.
• 55th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (McKoin's) - CSA - George W. Bounds, unlettered company
• Douglas' Battalion, Tennessee Partisan Rangers- CSA - Nathan W. Carter's company and John Lytle's company.

Union Soldiers

• 4th Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry - Company C.

Additional sources for Civil War soldiers from Rutherford County:

• Bennett, Charles Wilkes. Historical Sketches of the Ninth Michigan infantry (General Thomas' headquarters guards) with an Account of the Battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Sunday, July 13, 1862. Coldwater, Michigan: Daily Courier Print, 1913. Free digital copy.
• McMurray, William Joseph. History of the 20th Tennessee Regiment Volunteer Infantry, C.S.A. Nashville, Tennessee: s.p., 1904. Free digital copy.
• Phisterer, Frederick.The Regular Brigade of the Fourteenth Army Corps, the Army of the Cumberland, in the Battle of Stone River. n.p., 1883. Free digital copy.
• Quintard, Charles Todd. Doctor Quintard, Chaplain C.S.A. and Second Bishop of Tennessee. Sewanee, Tennessee: The University Press, 1905. Free digital copy. Chaplain of the 1st Tennessee Regiment.
• Vance, William J. "Stone's River, the Turning-point of the Civil War. " New York: The Neale Publishing Co., 1914. Free digital copy.
• Rutherford County Historical Society, The Civil War in Middle Tennessee, Vol. 37, (The Rutherford County Historical Society, 199?).Online book at Internet Archive.
• USGenWeb Archives, Rutherford County Tennessee Archives. Civil War Records.
• Tennessee State Library and Archives, Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications Rutherford County. Includes soldier's name, county, pension #, unit or widow.
• United States Pension Bureau, List of Pensioners on the Roll January 1, 1883: Giving the Name of Each Pensioner, the Cause for... (Washington Printing Office; 1883). Online at Internet Archive. Rutherford County, page 372-373.
• TNGenWeb, Rutherford County Related Civil War Information.
• CWSAC, Battle Summaries, Hoover's Gap. Located in Bedfored County and Rutherford County. Murfreesboro 1862, Murfreesboro 1864, Vaught's Hill and Stones River, located in Rutherford County.
• American Memory, Selected Civil War Photographs, 1861-1865.
• Civil War Traveler, Murfressboro and Area.

Civil War Battle
The following Civil War battles were fought in Rutherford County:

• July 13, 1862 - Murfreesboro I
• December 31, 1862 - January 2, 1863 - Stones River, also known as Murfreesboro
• March 20, 1863 - Vaught's Hill, also known as Milton
• June 24-26, 1863 - Hoover's Gap
• December 5-7, 1864 - Murfreesboro II, also known as Wilson Pike or Cedars

Map showing Civil War battles in Tennessee.

Naturalization and Citizenship

United States Passport Applications are available from 1796-1925 - indexed at Family Search

Newspapers

Many Tennessee newspapers are filmed and available at the 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 Rutherford County click on the following city or town:

• Murfreesboro
• Smyrna

Book Abstracts and Indexes

• 1820-1867 Rutherford County, Tennessee Newspaper Abstracts, Volume 1, 1820-1867 at MyHeritage ($).
• 1847 - 1851 - 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. (Largely Methodist?)

Other Records

Prisons

• 1831-1850 - Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1831-1850 at Tennessee State Library and Archives
  
• 1851-1870 - Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1851-1870 at Tennessee State Library and Archives

Periodicals

Genealogical periodicals can contain unique sources and can be local, regional, or statewide. The following periodicals cover this county:

• Ansearchin' News: Quarterly magazine of the Tennessee Genealogical Society. For a keyword search, go to the county index. Read previous issues on their website; FHL Book 976.8 B2a.
• Frow Chips: a semi-monthly newsletter
• The Middle Tennessee Journal of Genealogy and History: Quarterly magazine of the Middle Tennessee Genealogical Society. For surnames, use the volume-by-volume index, or do a keyword search of the Article Index. FHL US/CAN Book 976.85 D25m.
• Rutherford County Historical Society Publications: Rutherford County Historical Society. FHL US/CAN 976.857 B2r

Probate Records

The Rutherford County Court and Chancery Court have responsibility for probate records. Many are held by the Rutherford County Archives.

Online Records and Indexes

• 1779-2008 Tennessee Wills and Probate Records 1779-2008 at Ancestry $
• 1804-1963 Rutherford County portion of Tennessee, Probate Court Books, 1795-1927 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; handwritten indexes may be found at the front or back of some volumes.

Book Abstracts and Indexes

• Online index to Rutherford County Record Books 1803-1880. These include mostly probate information including wills, inventories of estates, estate settlements, guardianship reports, and widow allotments. However, the Record Books also contain some other court information including manumission records, apprenticeships, and trustee’s reports. Copies of the record books are available at the Rutherford County Archives orFHL film.
• 1804-1840 - Marsh, Helen C. and Timothy R. Marsh; Timothy J. Edwards, indexer. Wills and Inventories of Rutherford County, Tennessee. Greenville, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 1998. (FHL book 976.857 P2m, v. 1-2.)
  
• 1804-1861 - Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Index to Rutherford County, Tennessee, wills and administrations, 1804 to 1861. Nashville, Tenn. Byron Sistler & Associates, Inc., 1990. (FHL 976.8 A1 no. 118.)
  

Social Security Records

• 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.

• 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.

Tax Records

Book Abstracts and Indexes

• 1809 Rutherford Co., TN, Tax List, 1809, The Middle Tennessee Journal of Genealogy and History, Vol. 15, No. 1 (Summer 2001); Vol. 15, No. 2 (Fall 2001). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
• 1809-1813 - Rutherford County Tax Lists 1809-1813. Typescript, 1939, W.P.A. Collection, TSLA, Nashville.
• 1809-1813 - 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. Cites W.P.A.'s Rutherford County Tax Lists 1809-1813 as a source.
• 1809 Tax List, 1809, Frow Chips, Vol. 35, No. 2 (Nov. 2005).
• 1810 Taxpayers, 1810, Missed on Census, Rutherford County Historical Society Publications, Issue 4 (Fall 1974).
• 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 Rutherford 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 Rutherford County.
• 1836 Tax Record, 1836, Rutherford County Historical Society Publications, Issue 21 (Summer 1983); Issue 22 (Winter 1984); Issue 23 (Summer 1984); Issue 33 (Summer 1989).
• 1837 Tax Record, 1837, Rutherford County Historical Society Publications, Issue 22 (Winter 1984); Issue 23 (Summer 1984); Issue 33 (Summer 1989).
• 1839 Tax Records, 1839, Rutherford County Historical Society Publications, Issue 23 (Summer 1984).
• 1849 Tax List, 1849, Tennessee Researcher, Vol. 1, No. 4 (Dec. 1962).
• 1849 Tax Record, 1849, Rutherford County Historical Society Publications, Issue 22 (Winter 1984); Issue 33 (Summer 1989).
• 1871 Tax Record, 1871, Rutherford County Historical Society Publications, Issue 33 (Summer 1989).
• 1890 Tax Record, 1890, Rutherford County Historical Society Publications, Issue 33 (Summer 1989).

Vital Records

Birth

• 1828-1939 - Tennessee Births and Christenings 1828-1939 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• 1869-1909 - Tennessee Delayed Birth Records 1869-1909 at Ancestry $
• 1881-1935 - Rutherford County Birth Index 1881-1935 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C000286
• 1881-1935 - Birth Records, 1881-1935; death records 1881-1912. Nashville, Tennessee: TSLA, 1964. FHL 379665
• 1908-1912 - Tennessee, Birth Records (ER Series), 1908-1912 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Marriage

Online indexed and Records

• 1625-1966 - Tennessee, United States Marriages at Findmypast $
• 1780-2002 - Tennessee State Marriages 1780-2002 at Ancestry $
• 1780-2002 - Tennessee State Marriage Index 1780-2002 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• 1790-1962 - Tennessee County Marriages, 1790-1950 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection. Covers all counties in Tennessee.
• 1796-1950 - Tennessee Marriages 1796-1950 (Indexes only) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• 1804-1845 - Marriage Records, 1804-1845, Rutherford County, Tennessee. Typescript. FHL|24808|film Items 1-2 (Click on camera to open)
• 1804-1883 - Online Marriage index courtesy of the Rutherford County Archives and TnGenweb.
• 1804-1933 - Rutherford County Marriage Index 1804-1933 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
• 1838-1888 - Tennessee Civil Marriages, 1838-1888 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• 1851-1900 - Tennessee Marriages 1851-1900 at Ancestry $
• 1980-2014 - Marriage Records Index 1980-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index

Book Abstracts and Indexes

• 1838-1870 - 35,000 Tennessee Marriage Records and Bonds 1783-1870. 3 vols. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 V2t v. 1 ff. Includes names of brides, grooms, bondsmen, marriage bond dates, and officiators for this county for specified years.
• 1804-1864 - Early Middle Tennessee Marriages. 2 vols. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 V2sb v. 2 . Indexes names of brides, grooms, marriage dates for this county for the specified years.
• 1804-1872 - Marriages of Rutherford County, Tennessee, 1804-1872. FHL Book 976.857 V2w

Death

• 1874-1955 - Tennessee Deaths and Burials 1874-1955 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• 1881-1882, 1909-1912 - Online death index courtesy of the Rutherford County Archives and TnGenweb.
• 1881-1912 - Birth Records, 1881-1935; death records 1881-1912. Nashville, Tennessee: TSLA, 1964. FHL 379665
• 1908-1933 - Tennessee Deaths, 1908 - 1933 at MyHeritage ($) — index
• 1908-1958 - Tennessee Death Records 1908 - 1958 at Ancestry $
• 1908-1912 - Tennessee Death Records 1908-1912 at Tennessee State Library & Archives - index
• 1914-1933 - Tennessee Death Records 1914-1933 at Tennessee State Library & Archives - index
• 1914-1966 - Tennessee Deaths, 1914-1966 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• 1949-2014 - Death Records Index 1949-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index

Divorce

Online Records

• 1796-1850 - Acts of Tennessee 1796-1850 at Tennessee State Library & Archives - index
• 1980-2014 - Divorce Records Index 1980-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index

Online Titles

• W.P.A. Guide to Public Vital Statistics in Tennessee. Nashville, Tenn.: The Tennessee Historical Records Survey, 1941. FamilySearch Books Online

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Rutherford County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Tennessee Archives and Libraries.

Rutherford County Archives
435 Rice St.
Murfreesboro, TN
Phone: 615-867-4609
Email: archives@rutherfordcounty.org
Website

Family History Centers

Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries

• Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
• FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
  

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

• Franklin Tennessee Family History Center
• Murfreesboro Tennessee Family History Center
• Nashville Tennessee Family History Center
• Smyrna Tennessee Family History Center
• Brentwood Public Library - an affiliate library.
• Spring Hill Public Library - an affiliate library.
• Williamson County Public Library - an affiliate library.

Libraries

Listed below are libraries in Rutherford County. For state-wide library facilities, see Tennessee Archives and Libraries.

Albert Gore Research Center
P.O. Box 193
1301 E. Main St.
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
Phone: 615-898-2632
Website
Dedicated to preserving primary sources - letters, diaries, organization records, photographs, memorabilia, oral histories, etc. - that document the history of Middle Tennessee State University and the region that it serves.

Linebaugh Public Library
105 West Vine St.
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Phone: 615-893-4131
Fax: 615-848-5038
Website
Historical research room includes cemetery records, early wills, census, local histories, vital records, donated genealogy research on local families, newspapers, court records, military records, obituary index and more.

Smyrna Public Library
400 Enon Springs Road, West
Smyrna, TN 37167
Phone: 615-459-4884
Fax: 615-459-2370
Website
Library has a small genealogy and historical collection which includes cemetery records, Sewart Air Force base collection, photographs, newspapers, court records, obituaries and more.

Societies

Listed below are societies in Rutherford County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Tennessee Societies.

Rutherford County Tennessee Historical Society
P.O. Box 906
Murfreesboro, TN 37133-0906
Phone: 615-900-4063
Email: rutherfordtnhistory@gmail.com
Website
Facebook

Websites

• Rootwalker: Genealogy Pages for Northern Middle TN Free Genealogy Resources for the Region
• Rutherford County, TN Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
• Rutherford County, TNGenWeb (USGenWeb)
• Rutherford County TN Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com))
• FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.

Research Guides

• Genealogical "Fact Sheets" About Tennessee Counties: Rutherford County, courtesy: TSLA. (Identifies published county histories, published local records, census records, newspapers and local records on microfilm, and select manuscripts.)

This website requires a paid subscription for full access.

Family History Library

FamilySearch affiliate libraries may have access to center-only databases, but do not always have all services normally provided by a family history center.