Grainger County, Tennessee Genealogy

United States   Tennessee    Grainger County





East Tennessee county. Established 1796. From 1784 to 1788, this land belonged to the abortive, and short-lived State of Franklin.

County Courthouse
Grainger County Courthouse Highway 11 West Rutledge, Tennessee 37861 Phone: (965) 828-3511

Grainger County Clerk Marriage records P.O. Box 116 Rutledge, TN 37861 Phone: 865-828-3511

Grainger County Registrar of Deeds Land records P.O. Box 174 Rutledge, TN 37861 Phone: 865-828-3523

Grainger Circuit Court Clerk Court records P.O. Box 157 Rutledge, TN 37861 Phone: 865-828-3605

Hours: Mon.-Tues. and Thurs.-Fri. 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Wed. and Sat. 8:30 am - noon

History
The county is named after "Mary Grainger Blount, wife of William Blount and 'first lady' of the Southwest Territory, which later became Tennessee."

Parent County
1796--Grainger County was created 22 April 1796 from Knox and Hawkins Counties. County seat: Rutledge

Record Loss
1946 -- Courthouse burned and many records were damaged.


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

For further information on researching in burned counties, see the following:


 * Burned Counties Research in FamilySearch Wiki
 * Michael John Neill, Burned Counties in Family History Circle

Research Guides

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

Cemeteries
For a list of known cemeteries in Grainger County, click here.

Census
1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 federal population censuses of Grainger 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


 * Creekmore, Pollyanna. Grainger County, Tennessee, Federal Census of 1810, Population Schedule (Third Census) and County Tax Lists for 1810. Knoxville, Tenn.: Lawson McGhee Library, 1956. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8932 X2g. [Also indexed in Sherrill, see next entry.]
 * 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

Church
Baptist


 * DeBord, George Mitchell, Linda DeBord Bishop and Hallie Garner. Personal Records of a Minister: Rev. George Mitchell DeBoard, Grainger County, Tennessee; Includes Many People from Hancock, Hawkins and Hamblen Counties, Tennessee. Dallas, Texas: H. P. Garner, [2001?]. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8932 K2d.

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


 * Wilson, Marshall A. Families of Norris Reservoir Area. Clinton, Tennessee: Pellissippi Genealogical and Historical Society, 1986. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8935 D2w.


 * Norris Dam on the Clinch River in Eastern Tennessee was a project of the Tennessee Valley Authority in the 1930s. Nearly 3,000 families, totalling almost 14,000 persons, were required to vacate land that was to be inundated by the resulting reservoir. In connection with the removal of families and gravesites, Mr. Wilson, a TVA official, collected historical and genealogical information about Norris Valley residents; he presents information about 75 of those families, along with a brief chronology of the area. Each family record begins with the name of a father and the name of that man's father, con- tinuing through other ancestors of the direct male line back to the earliest one known. Families represented by ten or more male heads of household include Agee, Carden, Hatmaker, Irwin, Longmire, Miller, Rice, and Sharp.

Bibliography


 * [Baker] Nelson, Elmer R. The History and Descendants of (William) Martin Baker and His Wife Sarah M. Cook. Chatsworth, California: E.R. Nelson, 1999. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B171ne; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Bowen] Grady, Jamie Ault. Bowens of Virginia and Tennessee: Descendants of John Bowen and Lily McIlhaney. Knoxville, TN: Unknown, 1976. 2 volumes. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B675g; FHL US/CAN Film 896875; digital version at Heritage Quest Online ($).
 * [Cabbage] Leach, Frances B. Cabage--Cabbage File. Collection, Willard Library, Evansville, Ind.; FHL US/CAN Film 1502923 Item 14.
 * [Capps] Capps, Joyce. William Ransom Capps and Eliza Jane Jones. 2 vols. Fredonia, Texas: J. Capps, 1988?. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C174c ff.
 * [Chesney] Orcutt, Joel Thomas. Our Tennessee Chesneys: A Genealogy of the Families of John Chesney 1794-1876 Early Settler of Grainger County, Tennessee &amp; Nathaniel Richard Chesney 1796-1885 Early Settler of Knox County, Tennessee. Terlton, Oklahoma: J.T. Orcutt, 2006. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C425o.
 * [Cook] Andreasen, Marget E. Descendants of Wiley Cook. Renton, Washington: Marget E. Andreasen, 1998. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 AL 15am; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Davidson] Ford, Donald L. History of the Davidson Family. Hiawatha, Kansas: D.L. Ford, 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D281f.
 * [Dyer] Dyer, Maurice L. and Phyllis A. Dyer. The Dyer Family - Ever Westward: A Family History. 1991. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D988dm.
 * [Evans] Freitas, Thomas Melvin. Evans, Gudtner, Gardner, Wilson, Burns, Sargent, Proctor. Omaha, Nebraska: T.M. Freitas, [1985]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Ev16f.
 * [Hubbs] Hubbs, Ferol Frost. Hubbs - Frost and Allied Families. 1958. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H862hf.
 * [Hubbs] Hubbs, Joan. The Hubbs Grapevine. Newsletter. 1984-1991. FHL 929.27305 H862hj.
 * [Hume] Hume, Alvis Hall. Hume: From East Tennessee to Southern Kentucky. Utica, Ky.: McDowell Publications, 1990. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H882ha.
 * [Jackson] Jackson, Mary Ruth. David and Anney (Bowen) Jackson [and] Their Westward Journey: Some Ancestors and Descendants. Harrison, Ark.: Jackson, 1976. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 J133a.
 * [James] James, George N. and James A. Turbett. Newberry James and Descendants. [Virginia?]: G.N. James, 1989. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 J235j.
 * [Lowe] Lawson, Fred Raulston. The Lawsons of East Tennessee. Decatur, Ga.: Looking Glass Books, 1999. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L444Lf.
 * [McClain] McClain, Charles R. Clan MacLaine of Lochbuie. Ocean Shores, Washington: C.R. McClain, 1997. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M221cm.
 * [Mallicoat] Mallicoat, Wilma Faulkenberry. A Mallicoat Family Tree: Descendants of Dedmond and Levenia Thacker Mallicoat. Lee's Summit, Missouri: W.F. Mallicoat, [1998?]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M296ma.
 * [Means] Burk, Marie Walker. Ferril-Means Genealogy. Liberty, Missouri: M.W. Burk, 1964. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 F416b.
 * [Ogle] Reagan, Donald B. Smoky Mountain Clans. 3 vols. Knoxville, Tenn.: D.B. Reagan, 1978-1983. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273R22b 1978. [The Ogle family is discussed in Vol. 1.]
 * [Reece] Reece, Thomas R. Reece Genealogical Data [ca. 1709-1974]. FHL US/CAN Film 1697649 Item 13.
 * [Routh] Routh, Ross H. Stephen Routh (1797-1871) and Some Descendants: A Genealogy. El Paso, Texas: R.H. Routh, 1980. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R765sr.
 * [Routh] Ruth, Charles William. The Ruth Family. Bakersfield, Calif.: C.W. Ruth Sr., 1984. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 A1 no. 4945.
 * [Ruth] See Routh.
 * [Taylor] Blomquist, Ann K. Taylors and Tates of the South. Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 T212ba; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Thompson] Thode, Virginia Biddle. John Thompson (Born 1772, Married Valentine's Day, 1800, in Grainger Co., Tennessee), Early Settler in Vermilion County, Illinois in 1820s: His Wife, Anna Golden and Their Descendants. Tuscola, Illinois: V.B. Thode, 1983. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 T374t.
 * [Wilson] Wilson, S. Janelle, Rosie Wilson and Naomi Wilson. Genealogical Record of John Wilson Descendants, 1784-1983. Charlotte, North Carolina: S.J. Wilson, 1983. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W694w.
 * [Yaden] Yaden, Dorothy M. The Yaden Family of America. Keowa, Colorado: D.M. Yaden, [198-]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Y1y.
 * [Yadon] Windel, Betty Jo Weaver. Yadon - Pennybaker Family History. Vinita, Oklahoma: B.J.W. Windel, 1990. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Y1w.

Historic Residences

 * Roach, Thomas Edward. "Langley", Rutledge, Tennessee: A History of a Southern Mansion and Its Families. Rutledge, Tenn.: T.E. Roach, 1983. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8932/R1 H2r.

Land
The original Grainger County Deed Books are held at the Grainger County Courthouse. The Tennessee State Library and Archives microfilmed Deed Books A through 23 (1796-1890) and Indexes (1796-1912) in 1974. They also microfilmed Trust Deed Books 1 through 6 (1868-1905). Copies of their microfilms are available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Films 968596-968610.

The organization Strictly By Name provides free online indexes to early Grainger County land records. They offer a research service to photocopy and transcribe microfilm copies of the original documents for a small fee. Available indexes:


 * 1) Deed Book A: 1796-1805
 * 2) Deed Books A1-B: 1805-1811

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
Civil War


 * Carter, William Randolph. History of the First regiment of Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry in the Great war of the Rebellion, with the Armies of the Ohio and Cumberland, under Generals Morgan, Rosecrans, Thomas, Stanley and Wilson. Knoxville, Tennessee: Gaut-Ogden Co. Printers, 1902. Free digital copy. Union.

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 Grainger County.]
 * Miller, Allen N. Grainger County, Tennessee Apprenticeship Records, 1797-1873. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 1997. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8932 U2m.

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 Grainger 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 Grainger 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 Grainger 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. They also have back issues 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

Genealogical articles with abstracts of Grainger 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 Grainger 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.

Private Papers

 * DeBord, George Mitchell, Linda DeBord Bishop and Hallie Garner. Personal Records of a Minister: Rev. George Mitchell DeBoard, Grainger County, Tennessee; Includes Many People from Hancock, Hawkins and Hamblen Counties, Tennessee. Dallas, Texas: H. P. Garner, [2001?]. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8932 K2d.

Probate
In the 1960s, the Tennessee State Library and Archives microfilmed the original Grainger County Wills and Settlements (1839-1852). Copies of their films are also available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Films 464102-464103.

Taxation
The original Tax Lists of Grainger County, Tennessee 1797-1837 are held at the Grainger County Courthouse. They were microfilmed by the Tennessee State Library and Archives in the 1960s. A copy of this film is also available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Film 464105 Item 1.

The original Tax Duplicates Books for Grainger County, Tennessee (cover 1851-1859, 1875-1876, 1879-1882) are held at the Grainger County Courthouse. They were filmed by the Tennessee State Library and Archives in 1974. A copy of this film is also available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Film 968613.

The following Grainger County tax records have been abstracted:


 * [1797] County Inhabitants in Indian Boundary, 1797, East Tennessee Roots. Oak Ridge TN: Fall 2003. Vol. 9 Iss. 3.
 * [1799] 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 1799 tax list.]
 * [1799] Moore, Betty Givens and Betsy Foster West. "Grainger County 1799 Tax List for Gen'l Assembly," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 28, No. 2 (Summer 1981):77-78. For FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * [1799, 1803-1805, 1810, 1821] 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 1799, 1803-1805, 1810, 1821 tax list.]
 * [1799, 1803, 1805, 1821] Curtis, Mary Barnett. Early East Tennessee Tax Lists. Fort Worth, Texas: Arrow Printing Company, 1964. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 R4c. [Includes 1799, 1805, and 1821 tax lists and 1803 petition.]
 * [1799] Tax List, 1799, Hamblen Heritage. Morristown TN: Winter 2001. Vol. 16 Iss. 2.
 * [1804] "Tennessee: Grainger County - 1804 Tax List," The Mountain Empire Genealogical Quarterly, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Spring 1984):12-15. FHL US/CAN Book 975 D25m v. 3 (1984). [Taken from a 1935 W.P.A. Project Book found in the McClung Historical Collection of the Lawson McGhee Library, Knoxville, Tenn. W.P.A. cites the original manuscript as its source.]
 * [1805] West, Betsy. "List of Free Taxables, Grainger County, Tennessee 1805," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 19, No. 1 (January - March 1972):16-20. For FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * [1805] Tax List, 1805, Warren County Genealogical Association Bulletin. McMinnville TN: Winter 1992. Vol. 1 Iss. 4.
 * [1809] Tax List, 1809, Tennessee Ancestors. Knoxville TN: Dec 1988. Vol. 4 Iss. 3.
 * [1810] Creekmore, Pollyanna. Grainger County, Tennessee, Federal Census of 1810, Population Schedule (Third Census) and County Tax Lists for 1810. Knoxville, Tenn.: Lawson McGhee Library, 1956. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8932 X2g.
 * [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. [Cites WPA's Grainger County Tax List 1810 and Grainger County 1810 Tax List [fragment], Early Tax Lists microfilm reel #3; TSLA, Nashville.]
 * [1810-1812] Moore, Betty Givens and Betsy Foster West. "Grainger County Tax List - 1810, 1811, 1812," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 28, No. 2 (Summer 1981):78. For FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * [1810] Tax List, 1810, Hamblen Heritage. Morristown TN: Summer 1986. Vol. 1 Iss. 3; Fall 1986. Vol. 1 Iss. 4; Winter 1987. Vol. 2 Iss. 1; Spring 1987. Vol. 2 Iss. 2; Summer 1987. Vol. 2 Iss. 3; Fall 1987. Vol. 2 Iss. 4; Winter 1988. Vol. 3 Iss. 1; Spring 1988. Vol. 3 Iss. 2; Summer 1988. Vol. 3 Iss. 3.
 * [1810] Tax List, 1810, Tennessee Ancestors. Knoxville TN: Aug 1990. Vol. 6 Iss. 2.
 * [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 Grainger County.]
 * [1814-1815] Historical Records Project (Tennessee). Tax List, 1814-1815, Grainger County, Tennessee. Typescript, Tennessee State Library, Nashville, Tenn. FHL US/CAN Film 24657 Item 4.
 * [1815] Wayland, Ina Fields. Tax List of Grainger County, Tenn. in the Year 1815. James Taylor Adams Collection, Box 65, Cooke-Wyllie Library, Clinch Valley College, Wise, Va.; FHL US/CAN Film 1689778.
 * [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 Grainger County.]
 * [1822] Tax List, 1822, Tennessee Ancestors. Knoxville TN: Apr 1985. Vol. 1 Iss. 1; Aug 1985. Vol. 1 Iss. 2.
 * [1822] Addendum to Tax List, 1822, Tennessee Ancestors. Knoxville TN: Aug 1985. Vol. 1 Iss. 2.
 * [1836] Douthat, James L. Grainger County, Tennessee, 1836 Tennessee Civil District and Tax Lists. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 1993. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8932 R4d.

Vital Records
Death

For deaths of Methodists in Grainger 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
Grainger County Historical Society PO Box 215 Rutledge, TN, 37861 Telephone 865-828-8345 EMail: graingerhist@cs.com

Web Sites

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