Hawkins County, Tennessee Genealogy

United States   Tennessee    Hawkins County







East Tennessee county established in 1786. From 1785 to 1789, this land was also claimed by the abortive, short-lived State of Franklin.

County Courthouse


Hawkins County Courthouse 100 E. Main Street Rogersville, TN 37857 Phone: 423-272-8150

Hawkins County Clerk Marriage and probate records P.O.Box 790 100 E. Main Street, Suite 204 Rogersville, TN37857 Phone: 423-272-7002

Hawkins County Register of Deeds Land records 110 E. Main Street, Room 202 Rogersville, TN 37857 Phone 423-272-8304

Hawkins County Circuit Court Clerk Court records 115 Justice Center Drive, Suite 1237 Rogersville, TN 37857 Phone: 423-272-3397

Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am - 4 pm

History


The county is named after North Carolina Senator Benjamin Hawkins (1754-1816).

The land of Hawkins County was first organized by the State of Franklin in March 1786 from parts of Sullivan and Greene counties under the name Spencer County. It seems to have included at least the present area of Hawkins County. However, the Franklin statehood effort collapsed by 1789. Spencer county existed only briefly, its legality is questionable, and little trace remains.

Later in 1786 the North Carolina legislature reconstituted a parallel-county of Franklin's Spencer County and called it Hawkins County. It was known by both county names while Frankln's statehood efforts lasted. Now the land on which the lost county of Spencer County was located is known as Hawkins County, Tennessee. By the time of the 1790 census of the Southwest Territory (proto-Tennessee), the County of Hawkins also included parts of modern Claiborne, Hancock, Union, Grainger, Hamblen, Anderson, Knox, Jefferson, Roane, and Loudon counties.

In 1796 the land of Hawkins County (formerly Spencer County) became part of the new State of Tennessee.

Parent County
1786--Hawkins County was created 18 November 1786 from parts of Sullivan County, and Greene County. County seat: Rogersville

Record Loss
1863--Fire damaged records.


 * Lost censuses: 1800, 1810, 1820, 1890
 * Marriage records suffered heavy losses

Timelines
A timeline of events in Hawkins County, Tennessee before 1790 is found on page 48, Vol 21 No 2 (Apr 2004) of Distant Crossroads, the quarterly publication of Hawkins County (TN) Genealogical and Historical Society. (FHL US/CAN Book 976.895 B2d)

Research Guides

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

Bible Records
Transcripts of various family bibles are found in scattered issues of Distant Crossroads, the quarterly publication of the Hawkins County Genealogical and Historical Society.


 * Reynolds--Smith--Sanders Family Bible Records, ca. 1789-1957 in Old Family Records Collection, ca. 1754-1966: Hawkins County, Tennessee. FHL US/CAN Film 1550780.

Cemeteries

 * Find A Grave can be searched by the name of a person or family to find where a person is buried. Usually gives birth and death dates often with a picture of the tombstone. May give obituaries, names of family members and links to their information in Find A Grave.


 * Find A Grave also gives a list of cemeteries in Hamblen County linking to the information about the people buried there,


 * Hamblen County, TN Cemetery Records, part of the TNGenWeb Cemetery Database, lists many cemeteries in the county, often with indexes and transcripts of the burials.


 * Hamblen County, Tennessee, USGenWeb Tombstone Transcription Project lists many cemeteries in the county and has transcripts of the tombstones arranged by cemetery.


 * Hamblen County cemetery information with transcriptions on TNGenweb Project


 * The Family History Library Catalog lists some records of cemeteries for Hamblen county. Some of the books or other books may be on Google Books or available at public libraries.


 * Some cemetery transcriptions for Hamblen County are on Interment.net


 * ePodunk list of Hamblen County cemeteries


 * Montgomery, Mary Alice Hurt. Cemetery Census for Hawkins County, Tennessee, Sullivan County, Tennessee and Washington County, Virginia. Kingsport, Tenn.: M.A.H. Montgomery, [2002?]. FHL US/CAN Book 976.896/K1 V3m.

Census
1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 federal population censuses of Hawkins 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 transcribed more accurately 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. [Hawkins 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.

BAPTISTS
The memberships records for Richardson Creek Missionary Baptist Church (near Byrd Creek, Tate Cem, and Chestnut Grove) for 1847-1857, 1874-1875 are transcribed on page 52 of the Jan 1998 edition of Distant Crossroads, the quarterly publication of the Hawkins County (TN) Genealogical and Historical Society.


 * DeBoard, George Mitchell et al. 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.

METHODISTS
Carter Valley - A list of those promising to pay for the securing of ground and building of a parsonage house for the Carter Valley Circuit is found on page 75, Vol 19, No. 3 of Distant Crossroads, the quarterly publication of the Hawkins County (TN) Genealogical and Historical Society, 2002.

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


 * Hawkins County Genealogical and Historical Society. Families of Hawkins County, Tennessee. 2 vols. Rogersville, Tenn.: n.p., 1999. FHL US/CAN Book 976.895 D2h v. 1 ff.
 * Old Family Records Collection, ca. 1783-1966: Hawkins County, Tennessee. MSS., FHL US/CAN Film 1550780.
 * Trent, William S. Across the Mountain, Over on Clinch: A Folk History. Talbott, Tenn.: W.S. Trent, 2008. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 D2tw v. 1. [Includes Brown, Cole, Collins, Cope, Hardin, Martin, Stapleton, Trent and other families.]

Bibliography


 * [Acuff] McNamara, Billie R., Acuff Family Archives and Acuff-Ecoff Family Archives. Acuff Ancestors: Quarterly Journal of the Acuff Family Archives. Knoxville, Tenn.: Acuff Family Archives, 1995-[2001]. FHL 929.27305 Ac93.
 * [Arnote] Arnote, James Samuel. James Samuel Arnote, His Life: The Arnote Family or Clan. n.p.: J.S. Arnote, 1959. FHL FAM HIST Book 921.73 Ar66a.
 * [Ballard] Miller, Lynne D. Tennessee Ballards. Lincolnton, Tenn.: L.D. Miller, 2000. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B212mtn; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Barrett] Pyron, Ron. John Clinton Barrett, Tennessee Settler in the Ozarks: The Life and Times of John C. Barrett, His Family and Descendants: With Notes and Excerpts of Findings on the Families of Wm. C. Baldwin and Thomas F. Allen. Greeneville, Tenn.: R. Pyron, 1980. FHL US/CAN Film 1035924 Item 1.
 * [Barrett] Pyron, Ron. The Descendants of Thomas and Winnie Barrett: With Notes on the Origins of the Hawkins County-Tennessee Barretts, Newspapers Clippings, Selected Letters, Wills, Bible Records, and Complete Index. Greeneville, Tenn.: R. Pyron, 1981. FHL US/CAN Film 1035924 Item 2.
 * [Beal] Bounds, Eleanor Poe. Biehl/Beal--Kuefer Descendants. Effingham, Illinois: E.P. Bounds, 1997. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B362be.
 * [Bean] Garner, Hallie. The Bean Tree: Descendants of John Bean of Hawkins County, Tennessee. Dallas, Texas: Garner Services, 2009. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B375g.
 * [Beatty] Beatty, Marvin P. The Beatty Connection: A Genealogical Account of the Beattys Who Came from the Mountains of East Tennessee into the Hills of Southern Indiana. [Morris, Illinois]: M.P. Beatty, 2002. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B38bm 2002.
 * [Booker] Caldwell, Kay Tunnell. Davis S. Booker: A Confederate Soldier from the Cumberland Gap to Vicksburg, 1834-1912. Surgoinsville, Tenn.: K.T. Caldwell, 1994. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B644ck.
 * [Buren] Buren, Dorothy. The Buren Story. Colorado Springs, Colo.: D. Buren, 1961. FHL US/CAN Film 872858 Items 4-5.
 * [Byrd] Minter, Elbert J., Maxine Newton Gibson and Drinkard Funeral Home (Hartselle, Ala.). The Elbert Minter Collection. MSS., Morgan County Archives, Decatur, Ala., FHL US/CAN Film 2315236 Item 1.
 * [Caldwell] Caldwell, Kay Tunnell. The Andrew Caldwell Family of Hawkins County, Tn. Surgoinsville, Tenn.: K.T. Caldwell, 1994. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C127ck.
 * [Campbell] Campbell Family Information, ca. 1718-1915. MSS., Clan Campbell Society, Baton Rouge, La. FHL US/CAN Film 1787180 Item 13.
 * [Campbell] Derby, William B. Draft of Outline Checklist Partly Substantiating a Campbell Legend. FHL FAM HIST Large Q Book 929.273 C152d. [Research of professional genealogical firm Institute of Family Research, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah.]
 * [Cantwell] Belknap, Donald F. Cantwell Family. MSS., 1945. FHL US/CAN Film 1015845 Item 5.
 * [Charles] Smith, Sybil Roberts. The Charles Branch of My Sunshine Tree. [Grove, Oklahoma]: S.R. Smith, 1983. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C38s.
 * [Church] Murray, James Lawrence. Church - Edens Families of Hawkins and Hancock Counties, Tennessee. El Paso, Tex.: J.L. Murray, 1960. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 A1 no. 1487.
 * [Criner] The Criner Family. 199-?. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 A1 no. 7829.
 * [Crockett] Jones, Kathryn E. Crockett Cousins. Graham, Texas: K.E. Jones, 1984. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C872j and Supplement: FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C872j supp.
 * [Dodson] Lehmann, Joy Deal. The Descendants of Elijah Dodson of Yamhill County, Oregon: Six Generations of Descendants Since His Arrival in Oregon Territory in 1847. Novato, Calif.: J. Lehmann, 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D668Lj.
 * [Dyer] Dyer Family. Typescript. FHL US/CAN Film 821597 Item 2.
 * [Dykes] Rowland, Elaine. The William Dykes Family of Hawkins County, Tennessee, 1745-1985. Dallas, Texas: E. Rowland, 1985. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D991f.
 * [Edens] Murray, James Lawrence. Church - Edens Families of Hawkins and Hancock Counties, Tennessee. El Paso, Tex.: J.L. Murray, 1960. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 A1 no. 1487.
 * [Feazel] McCarley, LaJoy DeShane. George L. Feazle of Spring Valley, His Ancestors and Descendants: A Biographical &amp; Historical Genealogy. Fort Worth, Texas: J.D. McCarley, 1980. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 F314m.
 * [Feazel] Gritzbaugh, Sherry Gresham. John O. Feazel of Louisiana: His Ancestors and Descendants. Bellaire, Texas: S.G. Gritzbaugh, 199_?]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 F314g.
 * [Flagg] Descendants of Josiah Flagg of Berkeley County, W. Va.; with sketches of the Flagg, Keyes, Foss, Shively, Hughes, Slemons and Campbell ancestries. Boston: Press of T.R. Marvin, 1920. Free digital copy.
 * [Gardner] Myers, Nella Smith. The Gardner Family of East Tennessee. Knoxville, Tenn.: N.S. Myers, 1986. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G171gmn.
 * [Gideon] Gideon, Thomas Jefferson and Gertrude Cleghorn Josserand. Chronological and Biographical History of the Gideon Family of America. Pratt, Kansas: G.C. Josserand, 1949?. FHL US/CAN Film 1783413 Item 12.
 * [Greer] Shanks, Mary Jo. The Family of Joel Stacy Greer of Hawkins County, Tennessee. n.p.: M.J. Shanks, 1996. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G859sm.
 * [Grigsby] Grigsby Family Genealogical Collection, ca. 1789-1960. MSS., FHL US/CAN Film 1550779, 1550781, 1550783.
 * [Grigsby] Grigsby Family Records. MSS., FHL US/CAN Film 972671-972675.
 * [Grigsby] Compton, William H. Descendants of Nathaniel Grigsby, 1806-1859. Knoxville, Tenn.: W. Compton, 198-. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G878c.
 * [Gulley] Shockey, Amanda Rudder Taylor. Rudder &amp; Relatives. Camden, Ohio: A.R. Shockey, 1993?. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R831saa.
 * [Hileman] Garner, Hallie. Adam Trevey Hileman Family of Hawkins County, Tennessee. Dallas, Texas: H. P. Garner, 2007. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H547g.
 * [Huffmaster] Huffmaster, James T. Huffmaster-Hoffmeister Family Records. [Galveston, Texas: Oscar Springer Print], 1922. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H872h; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Hutchisson] Hutchisson, Elmer. Family of Benjamin Hutchisson, 1765-1852. Portola Valley, Calif.: E. Hutchisson, 1976. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H97he.
 * [Jones] Cook, Margaret W. and Rosella Dykes Faulk. Daniel Jones and His Descendants. Tennessee: Hawkins County Genealogical &amp; Historical Society, 2001. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 J713c.
 * [Jones] Garner, Hallie. Keeping Up with the Joneses: The Descendants of Peter Paul Jones of Hawkins County, Tennessee. Dallas, Texas: H. P. Garner, 2009. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 J723g.
 * [Lawson] Lawson, Fred Raulston. The Lawsons of East Tennessee. Decatur, Ga.: Looking Glass Books, 1999. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L444Lf.
 * [Lee] Johnston, Weldon. Some of the Descendants of Capt. Thomas Lee of Hawkins Co., Tennessee. Loudon, Tenn.: n.p., 1972. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L515j.
 * [Livingston] Bass, Elise Livingston, Joanna Livingston Matthews and Leonard Livingston. The Livingston Cousins of Tennessee: A History of the Jacob Livingston Family, His Descendants and Their Cousins. Spartanburg, S.C.: Reprint Company Publishers, 1994. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L762be and two supplements.
 * [Long] Long--Batchelor--Purcell Families, ca. 1776-1957. MSS., FHL US/CAN Film 1435497 Item 1.
 * [Looney] Tompkins, Norma L. Looney, Hawkins County. Dallas, Tex.: N. Tompkins, 2000. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L873t.
 * [Maddox] Thompson, Paul Terry. Fathers &amp; Sons of Thomas Maddox. Stockton, Calif.: P.T. Thompson, 1987. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M264t.
 * [Mallory] Boyett, Woodrow W. Mama's Tennessee and Virginia Mallorys (with Index). Tuscaloosa, Ala.: W.W. Boyett, 1991. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B696bw supp.
 * [Manis] Spencer Owen Public Library (Spencer, Ind.). Manis--Maners Family Information. Typescript., FHL US/CAN Film 1313127 Item 24.
 * [Manis] Breazeale, E.V. and Ruth Ellen Maness. Manes, Maness, Mainess, Manis, Manus, Maners, Menees and Related Surnames: (The E. V. Breazeale Collection). FHL US/CAN Film 1307671-1307674.
 * [Manis] Breazeale, E.V. Descendants of Jacob Wilson Manes. Springfield, Mo.: E.V. Breazeale, 1977. FHL US/CAN Film 1307671.
 * [Miller] Wine, Cecil J. The Michael Miller Family. Radford, VA: Commonwealth Press, 1964. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M612w; digital version at Heritage Quest Online ($).
 * [Moneyhun] Eppard, Sarah Elizabeth. The Moneyhuns of Copper Ridge, Hawkins County, Tennessee: John and Pharaba (Sizemore) Moneyhun and Some of Their Many Descendants. Indianapolis, Ind.: S. E. Eppard, 1974. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M746e; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Mosley] McCloskey, Cheryl Moore. Descendants of William Mosley, Sr. Early Resident, Floyd County, Kentucky, via Hawkins County, Tennessee, via Rockingham County, North Carolina: Allied Families, Boggs, Bolen, Boyd, Calhoun, Castell/Steel/Steele, Gearheart/Gayhart, Hale, Hicks, Hignite, Kitchen, Moore, Scutchfield, Stephens, Thornsbury. Villa Hills, Ky.: C.M. McCloskey, 2004. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M853mc.
 * [Phillips] Phillips, Helen L. and James R. Shults. Jonas Phillips and Descendants: Children of the Mountains. Cosby, Tenn.: H. Phillips, 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 P544p; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Price] Garner, Hallie. The Ancestry and Descendants of Henry Price, Jr. of Hawkins Co., Tennessee. Dallas, Texas: Garner Services, 2001. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 P931gh.
 * [Reynolds] Reynolds, John Hughes (b. 1846). Reynolds. Rome, Ga.?: J.H. Reynolds, 1900?. FHL US/CAN Film 1698017 Item 13.
 * [Riddle] Plum, Fred W. Genealogy of the Riddle Family, 1760 to 1965: 205 Years. Texas?: F.W. Plum, 1965. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R431pf.
 * [Riddle] Plum, Fred W. History &amp; Genealogy of the Riddle Family from 1760-1973, 213 Years. Mt. Pleasant, Tex.: Jack Firmin, 1973. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R431p; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Riddle] Riddle, Chauncey Cazier and Bertha Allred Riddle. Isaac Riddle and His Family. Provo, Utah: C.C. &amp; B.A. Riddle, 1990. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R431rc 1990.
 * [Riddle] Hill, Mary E. Vassel. William Riddle, 1740-1781. Provo, Utah: M.E.V. Hill, 1997. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R431hme.
 * [Riddle] Riddle, Chauncey Cazier and Bertha Allred Riddle. The Descendants of John Riddle, 1803-1887. 3 vols. Provo, Utah: C.C. Riddle, 1997-2003. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R431rcc v. 1 ff.
 * [Risner] Gausel, Kurt. The Risner Family of Eastern Kentucky. 4 vols. + index. Salyersville, Ky.: Magoffin County Historical and Genealogical Society, 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R494ri ff.
 * [Rogers] Huskey, Allan. The Joseph Rogers Papers. 2 vols. St. Louis, Missouri: A. Huskey, 1990. FHL FAM HIST Book 921.73 R632j ff.
 * [Shelton] Casey, Harold and Robert Brooks Casey. Shelton, Wininger and Pace Families. Stillwater, Oklahoma: H. Casey, 1988. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sh44c.
 * [Shultz] Reagan, Donald B. Smoky Mountain Clans. 3 vols. Knoxville, Tenn.: D.B. Reagan, 1978-1983. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273R22b 1978. [The Shultz family is discussed in Vol. 2.]
 * [Sizemore] Parrish, Verle H. Who's Who in My Sizemore Family. Georgetown, Ky.: V.H. Parrish, 1989. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Si99p.
 * [Smith] Smith, Leland L. Gone to Texas; Texas and Tennessee Smiths: and Related Breeding, Burleson, Burris, Chamblee, Fincher, Graves, Green, Grigsby, Haynes, Hill, Hobgood, Jones, King, Lewis, McMinn, Owen, Powell, Ridley, Shipman, Spears, Strickland, Taylor, and Turner Families of the South. 3 vols. Austin, Texas: Historical Pub., 1999-2000. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sm51sLL ff [FHL lacks v. 2].
 * [Spears] Spears, Helen R. Families of Samuel Spears, 1761-2001. Fountain Valley, Calif.: Joy Pub., 2002. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sp31sh.
 * [Thompson] Caldwell, Kay Tunnell. Davis S. Booker: A Confederate Soldier from the Cumberland Gap to Vicksburg, 1834-1912. Surgoinsville, Tenn.: K.T. Caldwell, 1994. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B644ck.
 * [Vaughan] Frandsen, Margaret Walter Croom and Jean Knight Whalen. The History of William Vaughan and Related Families. [Las Vegas, Nevada?]: M.A. Frandsen, 1989. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 V465f.
 * [Webb] Webb, Earl F. The Webb Genealogy: This is a Record of the Men Who were Born Webbs, as Well as the Women They Chose to Begat More Webbs; Also the Girls Who were Born Webbs and the Husbands They Married to Father the Children of the Allied Families, Who Carried On and Perpetuated the Long Line. Dayton, Ohio: E.F. Webb, 1982. FHL US/CAN Film 1033908 Item 1.
 * [Williams] Williams, Deward C. Our Yankee Kinfolk: Our Cumberland Mountain Kinfolk, Our Noble English Ancestry of Three PK's, Preacher's kids, Deward Charles Williams, Jr., Donald Eugene Williams, Betty Marie Williams Spitze. [Sesser?, Ill.: D.C. Williams, 193-?]. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W671d.
 * [Winegar] Doane, Lillian. Wineinger--Wininger--Winegar, ca. 1781-1981. MSS., FHL US/CAN Film 1443516 Item 3.
 * [Witt] Fisher, William Scott and Julieann Witt Fisher. Tales of Witt: The Lives and Times of Our Witt Family Ancestors. Fruit Heights, Utah: W.S. Fisher, 1996. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W783f; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.

Land
Deeds

The original Hawkins County Deed Books are held at the Hawkins County Courthouse. The Tennessee State Library and Archives microfilmed Deed Books 1-39 (1787-1894) and General Indexes (1787-1906) in 1974. Copies of these films are also available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Films 972798-972815.

Some of these records have been abstracted:


 * [1788-1800] Historical Records Project (Tennessee). Deed Books, 1788-1800, Hawkins County, Tennessee. Typescript, Tennessee State Library, Nashville, Tenn. FHL US/CAN Film 24686 Item 3.
 * [1788-1861] Historical Records Survey (Tennessee). General Index to Deeds, 1788-1861, Hawkins County, Tennessee. Typescript, Tennessee State Library, Nashville, Tenn. FHL US/CAN Film 24687.
 * [1801-1819] Murray, Joyce Martin. Hawkins County, Tennessee, Deed Abstracts, 1801-1819. Dallas, Texas: J.M. Murray, 1998. FHL US/CAN Book 976.895 R2m.
 * [1802-1860] Hawkins County Genealogical and Historical Society (Rogersville, Tennessee). Hawkins County Deeds 1802-1860 (Selected). n.p.: Hawkins County Genealogical &amp; Historical Society, 2008. FHL CD-ROM no. 5624.

Land Entries

The organization Strictly By Name provides free online indexes to early Hawkins 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) Entry Book A: 1824-1835
 * 2) Entry Book B: 1836-1860
 * 3) Entry Books C-D: 1830-1837, 1869-1902; Surveyors Book: 1824-1828

Land Grants

The original Hawkins County Land Grant Books are held at the Hawkins County Archival Project in Rogersville, Tenn. The Genealogical Society of Utah microfilmed Land Grant Books 1-2 (1784-1819) in 2007: FHL US/CAN Film 2421541 Items 1-2.

Billie R. McNamara abstracted, indexed, and published these records:


 * McNamara, Billie R. Hawkins County, Tennessee Land Grant Books 1 &amp; 2, 1787-1819. Knoxville, Tenn.: B.R. McNamara, 1996. FHL US/CAN Book 976.895 R29m.

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 Archiveshas 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.


 * 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

 * Gump, Lucy Kennerly and Thomas Amis. Amis Ledger: Interpretive Transcription of an East Tennessee Business Record Book. 2 vols. Johnson City, Tenn.: L.K. Gump, 1996. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 U3g v. 1 ff.
 * 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 Hawkins 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 Hawkins 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.

Distant Crossroads

Family History Library has Volumes 1 (1983) to present FHL US/CAN Book 976.895 B2d. Indexed in PERiodical Source Index (PERSI). For further information see Web page: http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnhcghs. For indexes for back issues of Distant Crossroads(1997 - present) click here. For index of surnames in Distant Crossroads (1998 - 2008) and index of surnames in Families of Hawkins County, Tennessee 1786 - 1999 click here.

East Tennessee Roots

Several genealogical articles with abstracts of Hawkins 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 Hawkins 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 Hawkins 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
The original Hawkins County Wills are held at the Hawkins County Archival Project in Rogersville, Tenn. In the 1970s, the Tennessee State Library and Archives microfilmed some of these records covering the years 1797-1910. A copy of their film is also available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Film 972797. In 2007, the Genealogical Society of Utah microfilmed wills (1779-1975) and an index covering the same years: FHL/VAULT US/CAN Films 1572779 Items 2-3, 1572794, 1572795, 1572805 Item 1.

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


 * 1) Will Book 1: 1797-1826
 * 2) Will Books 2-3: 1826-1921

The following Hawkins County probate records have been abstracted and/or indexed:


 * [1786-1864] Eugenia Lauderdale Messick's book Hawkins County, Tennessee Wills, 1786-1864 (FHL US/CAN Book 976.895 P2m Vol 1) contains complete TRANSCRIPTIONS of the surviving wills that were copied by the County Court Clerk sometime after the Civil War, as the original will books of Hawkins County, Tennessee were destroyed by fire in 1863. The every name index makes her book a powerful starting point in researching the wills of Hawkins County, Tennessee.
 * [1786-1851] Bell, Annie W.B. Hawkins County, Tennessee Marriages and Wills, 1786-1851. 1934. FHL US/CAN Film 896967 Item 3.
 * [1786-1886] Gardner, Carolyn S. and Sheila W. Johnston. Wills of Hawkins County, Tennessee. Rogersville, Tenn.: Hawkins County Genealogical &amp; Historical Society, 1991. FHL US/CAN Book 976.895 P2g v. 1.
 * [1797-1886] Historical Records Project (Tennessee). Will Books, 1797-1886, Hawkins County, Tennessee. Typescript, The Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tenn. FHL US/CAN Film 24689.
 * [1797-1861] Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Index to Tennessee Wills &amp; Administrations 1779-1861. Nashville, Tenn. Byron Sistler &amp; Associates, Inc., 1990. FHL US/CAN 976.8 P22s. [Includes an index to this county's wills.]
 * McGhee, Lucy Kate. Hawkins County, Tennessee, Marriages and Wills. Free digital copy, courtesy: Internet Archive.

Taxation
The original Hawkins County Tax Books (1879-1880, 1886, 1892-1893) are held at the Hawkins County Courthouse. The Tennessee State Library and Archives microfilmed these records in the 1970s. Copies of these films are also available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Film 972820-972821.


 * [1799, 1801] 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, 1801 tax lists.]
 * [1799, 1801, 1809-1812] Curtis, Mary Barnett. Early East Tennessee Tax Lists. Fort Worth, Texas: Arrow Printing Company, 1964. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 R4c. [Includes 1799 and 1801 petitions and 1809-1812 tax lists.]
 * [1801] "Hawkins County Land Sold for 1801 Taxes," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 44, No. 4 (Winter 1997):41. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * [1809-1812] Creekmore, Pollyanna. "Early East Tennessee Taxpayers: Hawkins County Tennessee Tax Lists 1809-1812," East Tennessee Historical Society Quarterly, Vol. 32 (1960):117-131.
 * [1809-1812] 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 1809-1812 tax lists.]
 * [1809-1812] Hawkins County, Tennessee, 1809-1812 Tax List. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 A1 no. 95.
 * [1809-1812] 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 Creekmore's Early East Tennessee Taxpayers publications as a source.]
 * [1810] Tax List, Capt. Nathaniel Smith's Company, 1810, Distant Crossroads, Vol. 6, No. 3 (Oct. 1989).
 * [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 Hackins (Hawkins) County.]
 * [1816] List of Unpaid Taxes for 1816, East Tennessee Roots, Vol. 8, No. 4. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * [1822] List of Insolvencies for 1822, East Tennessee Roots, Vol. 8, No. 4. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * [1825-1826] List of Delinquent Taxes for 1825 and 1826, East Tennessee Roots, Vol. 8, No. 4. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * [1832] List of Insolvencies for 1832, East Tennessee Roots, Vol. 8, No. 4. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * [1833] Tax List for Capt. Frost Company, 1833, Distant Crossroads, Vol. 6, No. 3 (Jul. 1989).
 * [1836] Barham, Eleanor Riggins. "Hawkins County, Tennessee 1836 Tax List," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 31, No. 3 (Fall 1984):115-120; Vol. 32, No. 4 (Winter 1984):163-169. For FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
 * [1836] Douthat, James L. 1836 Hawkins County, Tennessee Civil Districts and Tax Lists. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 1994. FHL US/CAN Book 976.895 R4d.
 * [1855-1856] Revenue Docket, 1855-56, Distant Crossroads, Vol. 15, No. 2 (Apr. 1998); Vol. 15, No. 4 (Oct. 1998).
 * [1862] U.S. Direct District Tax, 1862, Distant Crossroads, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Jan. 1997); Vol. 14, No. 2 (Apr. 1997); Vol. 14, No. 3 (Jul. 1997); Vol. 14, No. 4 (Oct. 1997); Vol. 15, No. 1 (Jan. 1998); Vol. 15, No. 2 (Apr. 1998); Vol. 15, No. 3 (Jul. 1998); Vol. 15, No. 4 (Oct. 1998); Vol. 16, No. 1 (Jan. 1999); Vol. 16, No. 2 (Apr. 1999); Vol. 16, No. 3 (Jul. 1999); Vol. 17, No. 1 (Jan. 2000); Vol. 17, No. 2 (Apr. 2000); Vol. 17, No. 3 (Jul. 2000); Vol. 17, No. 4 (Oct. 2000).
 * [1868-1869] Delinquent Tax List, 1868-1869, Distant Crossroads, Vol. 3, No. 2 (Apr. 1986).
 * [1886] Tax Books, District 5, 1886, Distant Crossroads, Vol. 8, No. 1 (Jan. 1991).
 * [1899] Tax Books, 1899, Distant Crossroads, Vol. 12, No. 3 (Jul. 1995); Vol. 12, No. 4 (Oct. 1995); Vol. 13, No. 1 (Jan. 1996); Vol. 13, No. 2 (Apr. 1996); Vol. 13, No. 3 (Jul. 1996); Vol. 13, No. 4 (Oct. 1996).

Vital Records
Marriage

The following Hawkins County marriage records have been abstracted and/or indexed:


 * [1789-1865] Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Early East Tennessee Marriages. 2 vols. Nashville, Tenn.: Byron Sistler &amp; Associates, Inc., 1987. FHL US/CAN 976.8 V2s v. 1. [Indexes marriages from this county for the specified years.]
 * McGhee, Lucy Kate. Hawkins County, Tennessee, Marriages and Wills. Free digital copy, courtesy: Internet Archive.

Death

For deaths of Methodists in Hawkins 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
H. B. Stamps Library 407 East Main Street Rogersville, Tennessee 37857

A guide to the Genealogy Room at the H. B. Stamp Library is found on pages 76-77, Vol 19 No 3 (2003) of Distant Crossroads, the quarterly publication of the Hawkins County (TN) Genealogical and Historical Society.

HAWKINS COUNTY (TN) GENEALOGICAL &amp; HISTORICAL SOCIETY PO Box 429 Rogersville TN 37857-0429

Websites

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