Henry County, Tennessee Genealogy

United States

Tennessee

Henry County

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

Tennessee Online Genealogy Records

Henry County, Tennessee
Map
Location in the state of Tennessee
Location of Tennessee in the U.S.
Facts
Founded:	November 7, 1821
County Seat	Paris
Courthouse
Website: henrycountytn.org
Adopt-a-wiki page This page adopted by: TNGenWeb Project who welcome you to contribute. Adopt a page today

Description

The County was named for the Virginia orator Patrick Henry. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

Henry County, Tennessee Record Dates

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1881	1835	1881	1824	1820	1822	1810
Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1914. General compliance by 1927.

County Courthouse

Henry County Courthouse
100 W Washington Street
Paris, TN 38242-0024
Phone: 731.642.2412

Register of Deeds has land records
County Clerk has birth, marriage, death and probate records.
Clerk Circuit Court has court records.

Henry County Courthouse, Paris, Tenn. Courtesy: Collection: County Court Houses, Flickr by Jimmy Emerson. Used by permission.

Henry County Courthouse
P.O. Box 7
101 West Washington St.
Paris, TN 38242
Phone: 1-731-642-2412

Henry County Clerk
Birth, Marriage, Death and probate records
101 W. Washington St.
P.O. Box 24
Paris, TN 38242
Phone: 1-731-642-2412

Henry County Register of Deeds
Land records
213 W. Washington St., 2nd floor
P.O. Box 44
Paris, TN 38242
Phone: 1-731-642-4081

Henry County Circuit Court Clerk
P.O. Box 429
Paris, TN 38242
Phone: 1-731-642-0461

Hours:
Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

History

West Tennessee county on the Tennessee River. Established 1821.

The county is named after Virginia Governor Patrick Henry (1736-1799).

Parent County

1821--Henry County was created 7 November 1821 from Chickasaw Indian Lands.
County seat: Paris

County Pronunciation

1. Hear it spoken (female)
2. Hear it spoken (male)

Boundary Changes

For animated maps illustrating Tennessee county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Tennessee County Boundary Maps" (1777-1985) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss

• Lack of marriage records: 1821 to 1837

For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:

• Burned Counties. By Michael John Neill. Online at: Family History Circle.
• When the Records are Gone. By Arlene Eakle. Online at: Tennessee Genealogy Blog.
• Burned Counties Research in the FamilySearch Research Wiki.

Places/Localities

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
McKenzie	Paris	Puryear
Towns
Cottage Grove	Henry
Unincorporated communities
Buchanan Como Mansfield Midway (North)	Midway (South) Nobles Old Springville	Spring Creek Springville Whitlock

Neighboring Counties

Benton Calloway County, Kentucky

Carroll Graves County, Kentucky

Stewart Weakley

Resources

Getting Started

Use the free Search for Surnames at Mountain Press's website to quickly search a variety of published Henry County biography, cemetery, and tax records. To determine which books are being searched, or to search each publication's index individually, click here. You are now equipped with a checklist of books to pull off the shelves at a genealogy library, or a wish list for your personal book collection.

Research Guides

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

African American

United States African Americans Tennessee African Americans

Cemeteries

Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Tombstone Transcriptions in Print	List of Cemeteries in the county
Findagrave.com	Family History Library	Findagrave.com
TNGenWeb	WorldCat	BillionGraves
TNGenWeb Archives		Linkpendium
Tombstone Project		Gravestones
Henry County, TNGenWeb Cemeteries		Interment
BillionGraves
See Tennessee Cemeteries for more information.

Additional Cemetery Resources

• Tennessee Cemeteries - Hometown Locator
• Reed, Sue. "Compendium of Henry County Cemeteries," available online, courtesy: Danville Crossing.

Census

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1830	12,249	—
1840	14,906	21.7%
1850	18,233	22.3%
1860	19,133	4.9%
1870	20,380	6.5%
1880	22,142	8.6%
1890	21,070	−4.8%
1900	24,208	14.9%
1910	25,434	5.1%
1920	27,151	6.8%
1930	26,432	−2.6%
1940	25,877	−2.1%
1950	23,828	−7.9%
1960	22,275	−6.5%
1970	23,749	6.6%
1980	28,656	20.7%
1990	27,888	−2.7%
2000	31,115	11.6%
2010	32,330	3.9%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 federal population censuses of Henry 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 Henry County, TN census assignments, including links to transcribed files. The USGenWeb Census Project®

1810 - 1891

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

1820

• McNutt, Gwyn Bellamy 1820, pre-Henry county area (Stewart county, Tennessee, census) Paris, Tennessee : G.B. McNutt, c1989 FHL US/CAN book 976.832 X2

1830

• McNutt, Gwyn Bellamy 1830 census, Henry county, Tennessee (Stewart county, Tennessee, census) Paris, Tennessee : G.B. McNutt, c1989 FHL US/CAN book 976.834 X2

1840

• McNutt, Gwyn Bellamy 1840 census, Henry county, Tennessee (Stewart county, Tennessee, census) Paris, Tennessee : G.B. McNutt, c1989 FHL US/CAN book 976.834 X2

1840 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, Western District, Henry County on page 159.

1850

• Gossum, Mary Louise and Simmons, Don Henry County, Tennessee, census of 1850 Melber, Kentucky : Simmons Historical Pub., 1994 FHL US/CAN book 976.834 X2
• Cooper, Gloria and Family History Center (Paris, Tennessee) Everyname index to the 1850 census of Henry County, Tennessee Paris, Tennessee : The Center, 2001? FHL US/CAN book 976.834 X22

1860

• Brink, Elizabeth and Family History Center (Paris, Tennessee) 1860 everyname census index, Henry County, Tennessee Paris, Tennessee : The Center, 2001? FHL US/CAN book 976.834 X22

1870

• Brink, Elizabeth and Family History Center (Paris, Tennessee) 1870 everyname census index, Henry County, Tennessee Paris, Tennessee : The Center, 2001? FHL US/CAN book 976.834 X22

1880

• Sistler, Byron H. and Barbara 1880 census Henry County, Tennessee Nashville, Tennesse : B. Sistler and Associates, 2001 FHL US/CAN book 976.834 X2
• McNutt, Gwyn Bellamy 1840, pre-Henry county area (Stewart county, Tennessee, census) Paris, Tennessee : G.B. McNutt, c1989 FHL US/CAN book 976.834 X2
• Brink, Elizabeth and Family History Center (Paris, Tennessee) 1880 everyname census index, Henry County, Tennessee Paris, Tennessee : The Center, 2001? FHL US/CAN book 976.834 X22

1890 Lost A 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. 2 1891. Henry County is included in Vol. 2.
• 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.

1891 Male Voters

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

1900

• McNutt, Gwyn Bellamy 1900 census index, Henry County, Tennessee Paris, Tennessee : G.B. McNutt, c1989
  FHL US/CAN book 976.834 X2
• Cooper, Gloria and Family History Center (Paris, Tennessee) 1900 everyname census index, Henry County, Tennessee Paris, Tennessee : Family History Center, 1999 FHL US/CAN book 976.834 X22

1910

• Dunlap, Linda S. Index to the 1910 census of Henry County, Tennessee S.I.: L. Dunlap, (1997?) FHL US/CAN book 976.834 X22

1920

• Cooper, Gloria and Family History Center (Paris, Tennessee) 1920 everyname census index, Henry County, Tennessee Paris, Tennessee : Family History Center, (1999) FHL US/CAN book 976.834 X22

1930

• Dunlap, Linda S. Every-name index to the 1930 census of Henry County, Tennessee (200?) FHL US/CAN book 976.834 X22

Church

Church of Christ

• 1845 - 1885 - Blood River Church of Christ, Buchanan, Baptism Index 1845-1885. Batch C710611 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.</ref>

Court

Family Histories

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

As of August 2010, a query for persons born in Henry, Tennessee at World Connect, results in more than 35,000 entries.

Bibliography

The usage of "Mormon" and "LDS" on this page is approved according to current policy.

• Beasley - Lockhart, William Thomas. The Beasley Family of Benton, Henry, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys and Stewart Counties of Tennessee. Florissant, Missouri: W. Lockhart, 1985. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B38Lw.
• Clark - Gilbert, Thomas Graves. Francis Clark of Louisa County, Virginia: and His Descendants in Carroll County, Tennessee: Family Members of Michael Clark of England and Barbados and His Son Francis Clark of Louisa County, Virginia, the Migration of His Sons to Anson County, North Carolina and Descendants to Henry Weakley and Carroll Counties of Tennessee. Baltimore, Md.: Gateway Press, 2004. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C547gt.
• Freeman - McClellan, Susan Webb and Freeman, Adeline Adeline Freeman: Mormon Pioneer Bountiful, Utah : Family History Publishers, 1998 Available at the Family History Library FHL 929.273 F877 with a digital version through FamilySearch Digital Library.
• Fowler - Arthur, Glenn Dora Fowler (Mrs. James Joyce Arthur).Annals of the Fowler Family, with Branches in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, California, and Texas. Austin, Texas, published by the author, 1901. Free digital copy.
• Green - Williams, Mary Lou. Our Southern Family: The Greens, Malcolms, Thomas, Cooper, Williams and Magness Families of Kentucky and Tennessee. Warren, Mich.: M.L. Williams, 1970. FHL US/CAN Film 874443 Item 5.
• Hagler - Tayloe, Stephanie Routon. The Hagler Family of Henry Co., Tenn. Buchanan, Tenn.: S.R. Tayloe, 2002?. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H123t.
• Haymes - Tayloe, Stephanie Routon. The Family of William Henry Haymes of Henry County, Tennessee. Buchanan, Tenn.: S.R. Tayloe, 2000?. FHL US/CAN Book 929.273 H332t.
• Humphreys - Humphrey, Leonard. Humphreys of Prince George, Maryland, Caswell-Rockingham Counties, N.C., Henry County, Tennessee, Greene-Putnam-Sullivan Counties, IND, ... FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H884hL.
• Jones - Jones, Henry Earl. Henry Earl Jones. Fairhope, Ala.: H.C. Jones, 1988. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 J71je.
• McMurtry - McMurtry, Brian L. The West Tennessee McMurtry Family: A Synopsis of the Lives and Historical Background that Surrounded the McMurtry Family of Humphreys, Benton, and Henry County, TN. Newburgh, Ind.: B.L. McMurtry, 2006. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M229mb.
• Row - Information about the family of Adam Row, Family Folders, Kentucky State Archives, Frankfort, Ky.
• Sanders - Tayloe, Stephanie Routon. Sanders Family of Henry Co., Tennessee. Buchanan, Tenn.: S.R. Tayloe, 2004. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sa56ts; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library.
• Simmons - Simmons, Samuel William. Descendants of John Simmons of North Carolina, 1760. Typescript, 1979. FHL 1266737
• Wharton - Wharton, Richard. Richard Wharton Papers, 1863 - 1906. Book contributor: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A diary, letters and other writings including his service in the Confederate Army , letters relating to family matters, a genealogy of the Wharton family, poems and speeches. Free digital copy, courtesy: Internet Archive.
• Williams - Williams, E. Ray. The Williams Families of Henry County, Tennessee. Paris, TN: E.R. Williams, 1971. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W67wer; FHL US/CAN Fiche 6046888; digital version at Heritage Quest Online ($).
• Wilson - King, Stephen Lynn. William Duncan Wilson : Sgt. Co. K 46, Tenn. Inf., Confederate States Army, Sept. 15, 1841- Mar. 21, 1936. Bowling Green, Ky.: S.L. King, 1986. FHL FAM HIST Book 921.73 W699k.

Historic Residences

• Tayloe, Stephanie Routon. Old Homes of Henry County, Tennessee. 2 vols. 2004?. FHL US/CAN Book 976.834 J7t v. 1 ff.

Land

• Henry County Register of Deeds has Land Records from 1822 and is located at the Courthouse, P.O. Box 24, 100 W Washington St., Paris, TN 38242; telephone (731) 642-2412. Land and property records include transfer of real estate or personal property, mortgages, leases, surveys, and entries

• Henry County Deed Books Vol. 1-1822-1825. Simmons Historical Publications. Digital version available at World Vital Records ($).
• Henry County Deed Books Vol. 2-1825-1827. Simmons Historical Publications. Digital version available at World Vital Records ($).
• Whitley, Edythe Rucker. Tennessee Genealogical Records: Henry County "Old Time Stuff." 1968; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield Company, Inc. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1998. Digital version at Ancestry ($). Includes some early deed abstracts.
• The Family History Library has microfilmed copies of deeds 1821-1899; Land entry books 1820-1886; surveyers report books 1826-1905; and ranger books (stray livestock) 185601873.

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. To read more about this valuable resource Click here. The searchable index is available at the TSLA; another version is available at World Vital Records.
• Whitley, Edythe Rucker. Tennessee Genealogical Records: Henry County "Old Time Stuff." 1968; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield Company, Inc. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1998. Digital version at Ancestry ($). [Includes a list of legislative petitions from residents of Henry County covering the years 1821 to 1855.]

Local Histories

• Perry, Larry T. A Pictorial History of the Old 23rd District. L.T. Perry, 198? Free lookups available!
• Henry County, Tennessee Old Time Stuff at Ancestry.com (Free/$)

Maps

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• Maps of Tennessee (1777-1985)

Military

Revolutionary War

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

• 1835 Pension Roll
• 1852 Rejected or Suspended Pensions
• Select Henry County, Tennessee Revolutionary War 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, Western District, Henry County on page 159.
• 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 ($). Tennessee entries abstracted online at Tennesseans in the Revolutionary War, courtesy: TNGenWeb. Includes veterans from this county; Tennessee section begins on page 381.
• Whitley, Edythe Rucker. Tennessee Genealogical Records: Henry County "Old Time Stuff." 1968; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield Company, Inc. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1998. Digital version at Ancestry ($). Includes 1840 Census of Revolutionary War Pensioners.

War of 1812

• Embry, Hermione D. "War of 1812 - Tennessee Pensioners on List - January 2, 1883," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 7, No. 3 (Jul. 1960):65-68. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a v. 7 (1960); digital version at journal website. [Includes Hamilton County pensioners (p. 68)]
• Whitley, Edythe Rucker. Tennessee Genealogical Records: Henry County "Old Time Stuff." 1968; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield Company, Inc. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1998. Digital version at Ancestry ($). Includes 1883 List of War of 1812 Pensioners.

Civil War

Online Records

• 1861 - 1865 - Tennessee, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
• 1861 - 1865 - Tennessee, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
• 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)
• 1891 - 1965 - Tennessee, Confederate Pension Applications, Soldiers and Widows, 1891-1965 at FamilySearch — images
• Civil War Research Database $
• Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System

Regiments. Civil War service men from ;Henry County served in various regiments. Men often joined a regiment or a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are the military units that were formed in or had many men from Henry County.

Confederate Soldiers

• 5th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Companies A, B, C, D, F, G, H, I, and K.
• 7th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Duckworth's) - CSA - Company G.
• 10th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (DeMoss') - CSA - Company I and 2nd Company K.
• 12th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry - CSA- Company H.

• 18th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Newsom's) - CSA - Company D.
• 20th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Russell's) - CSA - Companies A, B, D, and F.
• 154th Senior Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (1st Tennessee Volunteers) - CSA

Union Soldiers

• 7th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - Company A.

Additional sources for Civil War soldiers from Henry County:

• Rennolds, Edwin Hansford, A history of the Henry County commands which served in the Confederate States army, including rosters of the various companies enlisted in Henry County, Tenn. .. (Jacksonville, Florida, Sun Publishing Company, 1904). Online book at Internet Archive.
• USGenWeb Archives, Henry County Tennessee Archives. Civil War Records.
• Tennessee State Library and Archives, Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications: Henry 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. Henry County, page 347.
• TNGenWeb, Henry County Civil War Regiments.
• CWSAC, Battle Summaries, Fort Henry. Located in Stewart County and Henry County, Tennessee, and Calloway County, Kentucky.
• Henry County Civil War Monument, Paris, Tennessee.

Newspapers

Many Tennessee newspapers are filmed and available at 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 Henry County click on the following city:

• Paris

Occupations

• Miller, Alan N. West Tennessee's Forgotten Children: Apprentices from 1821 to 1889. Baltimore, Md.: Printed for Clearfield Company, Inc., by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2006. FHL US/CAN 976.8 U2man. Purchase at Genealogical.com. Includes Henry 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

Genealogical articles with abstracts of records of Henry 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.

Family Findings

Genealogical articles with abstracts of Henry County, Tennessee records have been published in Family Findings, the quarterly of the Mid-West Tennessee Genealogical Society (42+ vols.). The Family History Library has most issues of this quarterly FHL US/CAN 976.8 B2f.

Tables of contents for some volumes are available online, courtesy: TNGenWeb Project:

• Volumes 1-10 (1969-1978)
• Volumes 11-20 (1979-1988)
• Volumes 21-24 (1989-1992)
• Volumes 32-35 (2000-2003)

Many articles from this publication have been reproduced on the TNGenWeb Project website, try this specialized Google search to retrieve them.

West Tennessee Historical Society Papers

Family History Library has Volumes 1 - 16 and 30 FHL US/CAN Book 976.81 B5w.
The West Tennessee Historical Society Papers are indexed in PERiodical Source Index (PERSI)
To view Table of Contents and complete articles from 1947 - 2005 see Shelby County Register of Deeds

Prisons

Learn if your Henry County, Tennessee Genealogy ancestors went to prison!

• Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1831-1850.
• Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1851-1870.

Probate Records

The County Court has responsibility for the probate records of Henry County.

Online Records

• 1779 - 2008 Tennessee Wills and Probate Records 1779-2008 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

FamilySearch has placed scans of the following records online in the Tennessee, Probate Court Books, 1795-1927 collection. These are browse-only collections. Handwritten indexes may be found at the front or back of some volumes:

• Wills index, 1822-1844
• Wills, 1822-1939 (14 vols.)
• Bonds, 1856-1968 (7 vols.)
• Guardian records, 1867-1925 (2 vols.)
• Inventories, Sales, 1886-1928 (4 vols.)
• Letters, 1882-1968 (7 vols.)
• Settlements, 1839-1938 (19 vols.)

The following Henry County probate records have been abstracted, indexed, or both:

• 1839 - 1860 - Dunlap, Linda S. The Complete Index to Henry County, Tennessee Trustees, Administrators, Executors and Guardian Bonds, 1839-1860. Paris, Tennessee: W.G. Rhea Public Library, (2003?). (FHL book 976.834 P22dL.)
  
• 1822 - 1866 - Dunlap, Linda S. The Complete Index to Henry County, Tennessee Wills and Administrations, Volumes A-H, 1822-1866. No publication information. (FHL book 976.834 P22d.)
  
• 1822 - 1988 - McNutt, Gwyn Bellamy. Henry County, Tennessee 1822-1988 Wills Index. Paris, Tennessee: G.B. McNutt, 1988. (FHL book 976.834 P22m.)
  
• 1856 - 1905 - McNutt, Gwyn Bellamy.Henry County, Tennessee, Intestate Records Index: Administrators, Executors, Guardianship Bonds. Paris, Tennessee: G.B. McNutt, 1988. (FHL book 976.834 P22mg.)
  
• 1822 - 1861 - Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Index to Tennessee Wills & Administrations 1779-1861. Nashville, Tenn. Byron Sistler & Associates, Inc., 1990. FHL US/CAN 976.8 P22s. Includes an index to this county's probate records.
• Whitley, Edythe Rucker. Tennessee Genealogical Records: Henry County "Old Time Stuff." 1968; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield Company, Inc. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1998. Digital version at Ancestry ($). Includes will indexes 1856-1863, 1879-1902, some earlier will abstracts, as well as estates, guardians, orders, etc.
• USGenWeb's Henry County page has links to some Henry County wills.
  

Simmons Historical Publications has abstracted and indexed various volumes of Henry County wills. Copies may be purchased at their webiste. The following are available online at the subscription website World Vital Records ($):

Will Book 1, 1822-1830 Will Book 3, July 1835-Mar 1838 Will Book 6, 1841-1845 Will Book 11, 1853-1855

Will Books 13, 1857-1859 Will Book 14, 1859-1860 Will Book 15, 1860-1866

Taxation

The original Henry County Tax Books 1827-1873 were microfilmed by TSLA in 1969. FHL copies: FHL US/CAN Films 1011525-1011526.

The following Henry County tax records have been abstracted:

• 1823 - Inman, W.O. "Pen Sketches" Index: Henry County, 1824 Land Sale for Taxes (Unpaid for 1823). n.p.: W.O. Inman, n.d. FHL US/CAN Book 976.834 R42i.
• 1823 - Sheriff's Sale for Taxes, March Term 1824, Henry Co., Tenn., Family Findings, Vol. 4, No. 2 (Apr. 1972). For access, see Periodicals.
• 1827 - 1835 - Historical Records Project. Tax Books, 1827-1835, Henry County, Tennessee. Typescript, Tennessee State Library, Nashville, Tenn. Microfilmed in 1943. FHL US/CAN Film 24700.
• 1827 - McNutt, Gwyn Bellamy. Henry County, Tennessee, 1827 Tax List. Paris, Tenn.: G.B. McNutt, 1988. FHL US/CAN Book 976.834 R4m 1827. 
• 1836 - Hughes, Thomas Proctor. "Henry County, Tennessee 1836 Tax Record," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 28, No. 2 (Summer 1981):59-64; Vol. 28, No. 3 (Fall 1981):135-140. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a v. 28 (1981); digital version at society's website. For further access, see Periodicals.
• 1836 - Douthat, James L. 1836 Henry County, Tennessee Civil District and Tax Lists. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 1993. FHL US/CAN Book 976.834 R4d; online: free surname index and purchase details.
• 1836 - Tax Lists, 1836, Tennessee Genealogy and History, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Apr. 1997).
• 1890 - McNutt, Gwyn Bellamy. Henry County, Tennessee, 1890 Tax List. Paris, Tenn.: G.B. McNutt, 1988. FHL US/CAN Book 976.834 R4m 1890.

Vital Records

See also How to order Tennessee Vital Records or order electronically online.

• 1764 - 2002 - W.G. Rhea Public Library. Genealogy Department. Compilation of Henry County, Tennessee Vital Records, 1764-2002. 2 vols. Paris, Tenn.: W.G. Rhea Public Library, 2002-2003. FHL US/CAN Book 976.834 V3c v. 1 ff. Information drawn from cemetery records, marriages, and funeral home records.

Birth

• 1828 - 1939 - Tennessee Births and Christenings 1828-1939 at FamilySearch.org — index

• 1869 - 1909 - Tennessee Delayed Birth Records 1869-1909 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

• 1881 - 1885 - Henry County Birth Index 1881-1885. Batch C519313 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.

• 1908 - 1912 - Tennessee, Birth Records (ER Series), 1908-1912 at FamilySearch — index and images

Marriage

Marriages were not officially recorded in Henry County until 1838, when a law was passed mandating the practice. The following publication, based on early newspapers, helps to alleviate this genealogical obstacle:

• 1625-1966 - Tennessee, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
• 1794 - 1751 - Lucas, Silas Emmett. Marriages from Early Tennessee Newspapers 1794-1851. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1978. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 V2L.

• 1780 - 2002 - Tennessee State Marriages 1780-2002 at Ancestry.com — index $

• 1780 - 2002 - Tennessee State Marriage Index 1780-2002 at FamilySearch.org— index

• 1790 - 1950 - Tennessee County Marriages 1790-1950 at FamilySearch.org — index and images

• 1796 - 1950 - Tennessee Marriages 1796-1950 at FamilySearch.org — index

• 1838 - 1888 - Tennessee Civil Marriages, 1838-1888 at FamilySearch — index and images

• 1851 - 1900 - Tennessee Marriages 1851-1900 at Ancestry.com— index and images $

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

• 1835 - 1950 - Tennessee County Court (Henry County) Marriage records, 1835-1950 Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1996. FHL US/CAN Film 2032072 item 2, 2031503 items 1 and 2, 2031557-60, 2031712-17, 2031885-90, 2032002-8, 2032069-72
• 1838 - 1915 - Henry County Marriage Index 1838-1915 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.org - free.</ref>
• 1838 - 1858 - Whitley, Edythe Rucker. Tennessee Genealogical Records: Henry County "Old Time Stuff." 1968; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield Company, Inc. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1998. Digital version at Ancestry.com ($). Includes abstracts of some marriages recorded between 1838 and 1858.
• 1838 - 1867 - Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Early West Tennessee Marriages. 2 vols. Nashville, Tenn.: B. Sistler & Associates, 1989. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 V2sb v. 1 ff. Indexes names of brides and grooms, and marriage dates for weddings in this county for the specified years.
• 1838 - 1880 - Inman, W.O. Henry County, Tennessee marriages Paris, Tennessee: Friends of the Library, Paris-Henry County Public Library, (1974 0 FHL US/CAN Book 976.834 V25h v.1-3
• 1838 - 1955 - Henry County, Tennessee Register of Deeds Marriage records, 1838-1955 Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee State Library and Archives, 1969. FHL US/CAN Film 575016-22 and 1011504-11
• 1881 - 1900 - Charles D. Robbins and Johnny D. Walker Record of marriages, Henry County, Tennessee Paris, Tennessee: C.D. Robbins, 1983. FHL US/CAN Book 976.834 V2h
• 1901 - 1920 - Elaine Graff, Linda Dunlap and W.G. Rhea Public Library (Paris, Tennessee) Henry County, Tennessee marriages Paris, Tennessee: W.G. Rhea Public Library, (2002?-2003?) FHL US/CAN Book 976.834 V2g
• June Johnson, Linda Dunlap, Charles Conger Henry County, Tennessee marriages: performed by Charles Conger S.I.: Johnson, (1997?) FHL US/CAN Book 976.834 V2j

Divorce

In 1940 and 1941, W.P.A. workers pinpointed the location of Henry County divorce papers in diverse manuscript collections, see the following resources:

• W.P.A. Guide to Public Vital Statistics in Tennessee. Nashville, Tenn.: The Tennessee Historical Records Survey, 1941. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 A3gp.

Death

• 1823 - 1852 - Hays, Tony. West Tennessee Death Records [ca. 1823-1852]. 2 vols. n.p.: Kitchen Table Press, 1987. FHL FAM HIST Book 976.8 V2ht v. 1-2. Henry County is included in Vol. 1

• 1874 - 1955 - Tennessee Deaths and Burials 1874-1955 at FamilySearch.org — index

• 1908 - 1958 - Tennessee Death Records 1908 - 1958 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

• 1914 - 1966 - Tennessee Deaths, 1914-1966 at FamilySearch — index and images

For deaths of Methodists in Henry County between the 1830s and the 1920s, try searching in the following records:

• 1847 - 1914 - 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

See also a List of Tennessee Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical & Genealogical Societies

Henry County Genealogical Society P.O. BOX 1411 Paris, TN 38242 Phone: 1-731-644-9040
W.G. Rhea Public Library 400 W Washington St Paris, TN Phone: 1-731-642-1702 Hours: Mon., Wed., Fri., Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues. and Thurs. 9 a.m.-7 p.m.	Genealogical Resources: The W.O. Inman Room is housed in the Rhea Public Library and has a variety of resources including Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, Military Records, Divorce Records, Estate Records, Newspapers including the Paris Post-Intellegencer and TriCounty Star, Funeral Home Records, Cemetery Records, Census Records, and Land Records. For more information, see the Henry County Archive and Genealogy Library website.
West Tennessee Heritage Study Center Paul Meek Library University of Tennessee at Martin Phone: 1-731-881-7060 Hours vary by semester	The Heritage Study Center holds a variety of genealogical resources including materials relating to the following counties in Tennessee: Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Houston, Humphreys, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Perry, Shelby, Stewart, Tipton, Wayne, Weakley and Carlisle, Fulton, and Hickman counties in Kentucky.
West Tennessee Historical Society P.O. Box 111046 Memphis, TN 38111 Phone: 1-901-475-6608 E-mail: efrank@memphis.edu

Family History Centers

Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance and free access to premium genealogical websites. In addition, many centers have free how-to genealogy classes.

• For current information about a center near you, go to the Family History Center Map

• Introduction to Family History Centers
• Paris Tennessee Family History Center
  1921 Lone Oak Rd
  Paris, Henry, Tennessee, United States
  Telephone: 731-642-2285
  Hours: W 9am-2pm & 6pm-8pm; Th 9:30am-2:30pm; All other times by appt.
  

Online catalog

These are not mailing addresses. Due to limited staff, Family History Centers are unable to respond to mail inquiries.

Websites

• Henry County, TNGenWeb (USGenWeb)
• FamilySearch Catalog (FamilySearch) — The catalog is genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) This catalog is different than the indexed Historical Records.
• Henry County, Tennessee by Dan Martin. Genealogy Resources, Local History, Queries
• Henry County, TN Family History and Genealogy Message Board (Ancestry)
• RootsWeb Mailing List: TNHENRY-L (Henry County, Tennessee List)
• RootsWeb Mailing List: DanvilleCrossing-L (Tennessee River County Genealogy and History List)
• RootsWeb Mailing List: DanvilleQueries-L (Tennessee River County Genealogy and History List)
• RootsWeb Mailing List: WEST-TNCHAT (West Tennessee List)
• Henry County TN Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)

The usage of "Mormon" and "LDS" on this page is approved according to current policy.

References

Family History Library