African-American Genealogy
Archives and Libraries
Audrey Pack Memorial Library - Spring City
Bryan College Library - Dayton, TN
Clyde W. Roddy Public Library - Dayton, TN
FamilySearch Catalog - Rhea County, Tennessee
Tennessee Secretary of State - Rhea County, Tennessee
TNGenWeb Project - Rhea County Societies & Libraries
USGenWeb Archives - Rhea County, Tennessee
Bryan College Library - Dayton, TN
Clyde W. Roddy Public Library - Dayton, TN
FamilySearch Catalog - Rhea County, Tennessee
Tennessee Secretary of State - Rhea County, Tennessee
TNGenWeb Project - Rhea County Societies & Libraries
USGenWeb Archives - Rhea County, Tennessee
Bibliography
East Tennessee Roots Historical - Genealogical/Historical Magazine
Tennessee Secretary of State - Bibliography of Tennessee Local History Sources > Rhea County
TNGenWeb Project - Rhea County, Tennessee
TNGenWeb Project - Titles in County: Rhea, Tennessee
Tennessee Secretary of State - Bibliography of Tennessee Local History Sources > Rhea County
TNGenWeb Project - Rhea County, Tennessee
TNGenWeb Project - Titles in County: Rhea, Tennessee
Biographies
Genealogy Trails History Group - Rhea County, Tennessee
TNGenWeb Project - Caldwell, James Reid
TNGenWeb Project - Goodspeed Biographies of Rhea County
TNGenWeb Project - Rhea County Biography
TNGenWeb Project - Caldwell, James Reid
TNGenWeb Project - Goodspeed Biographies of Rhea County
TNGenWeb Project - Rhea County Biography
Cemeteries
ePodunk - Rhea County, Tennessee
Find A Grave - Rhea County, Tennessee
Genealogy Trails History Group - Rhea County, Tennessee
The Political Graveyard - Rhea County, Tennessee
TNGenWeb Project - Individual Cemetery Listings
TNGenWeb Project - Map of Rhea County Cemeteries
USGenWeb Archives - Rhea County, Tennessee
USGenWeb Tombstone Project - Rhea County, Tennessee
Find A Grave - Rhea County, Tennessee
Genealogy Trails History Group - Rhea County, Tennessee
The Political Graveyard - Rhea County, Tennessee
TNGenWeb Project - Individual Cemetery Listings
TNGenWeb Project - Map of Rhea County Cemeteries
USGenWeb Archives - Rhea County, Tennessee
USGenWeb Tombstone Project - Rhea County, Tennessee
Census Records
Census Finder - Tennessee Census Records
Census Tools - Electronic Census Spreadsheet
FamilySearch.org - 1860 United States Census
FamilySearch.org - 1870 United States Census
FamilySearch.org - 1880 United States Census
FamilySearch.org - 1900 United States Census
FamilySearch.org - 1910 United States Census
FamilySearch.org - 1920 United States Census
FamilySearch.org - 1930 United States Census
FamilySearch.org - 1940 United States Census
TNGenWeb Project - Information Provided on Each Census Year Schedule
USGenWeb Archives - Rhea County, Tennessee
Census Tools - Electronic Census Spreadsheet
FamilySearch.org - 1860 United States Census
FamilySearch.org - 1870 United States Census
FamilySearch.org - 1880 United States Census
FamilySearch.org - 1900 United States Census
FamilySearch.org - 1910 United States Census
FamilySearch.org - 1920 United States Census
FamilySearch.org - 1930 United States Census
FamilySearch.org - 1940 United States Census
TNGenWeb Project - Information Provided on Each Census Year Schedule
USGenWeb Archives - Rhea County, Tennessee
Church Records
TNGenWeb Project - Financial Records of the Old Friendship Church
TNGenWeb Project - History of the Old Friendship Church
TNGenWeb Project - Minutes of the Hiwassee United Baptist Church Association
TNGenWeb Project - Origin of Old Friendship Church
USGenWeb Archives - Rhea County, Tennessee
TNGenWeb Project - History of the Old Friendship Church
TNGenWeb Project - Minutes of the Hiwassee United Baptist Church Association
TNGenWeb Project - Origin of Old Friendship Church
USGenWeb Archives - Rhea County, Tennessee
Court Records
FamilySearch.org - Rhea County Probate Court Books
Rhea County Clerk of Circuit Court - Dayton, TN
TNGenWeb Project - 1807 Rhea County, TN Private Acts
TNGenWeb Project - 1809 Rhea County, TN Private Acts
TNGenWeb Project - 1811 Rhea County, TN Private Acts
TNGenWeb Project - 1813 Rhea County, TN Private Acts
TNGenWeb Project - 1815 Rhea County, TN Private Acts
TNGenWeb Project - 1817 Rhea County, TN Private Acts
TNGenWeb Project - 1819 Rhea County, TN Private Acts
TNGenWeb Project - 1820-21 Rhea County, TN Private Acts
TNGenWeb Project - 1825-1826 Rhea County, TN Private Acts
TNGenWeb Project - 1828-29 Rhea County, TN Private Acts
TNGenWeb Project - Tennessee Law, the Early Days
USGenWeb Archives - Rhea County, Tennessee
Rhea County Clerk of Circuit Court - Dayton, TN
TNGenWeb Project - 1807 Rhea County, TN Private Acts
TNGenWeb Project - 1809 Rhea County, TN Private Acts
TNGenWeb Project - 1811 Rhea County, TN Private Acts
TNGenWeb Project - 1813 Rhea County, TN Private Acts
TNGenWeb Project - 1815 Rhea County, TN Private Acts
TNGenWeb Project - 1817 Rhea County, TN Private Acts
TNGenWeb Project - 1819 Rhea County, TN Private Acts
TNGenWeb Project - 1820-21 Rhea County, TN Private Acts
TNGenWeb Project - 1825-1826 Rhea County, TN Private Acts
TNGenWeb Project - 1828-29 Rhea County, TN Private Acts
TNGenWeb Project - Tennessee Law, the Early Days
USGenWeb Archives - Rhea County, Tennessee
Estate Records
TNGenWeb Project - Will of John Able
TNGenWeb Project - Will of John Hill
TNGenWeb Project - Will of John Hood
TNGenWeb Project - Will of Joseph Love
TNGenWeb Project - Will of John Hill
TNGenWeb Project - Will of John Hood
TNGenWeb Project - Will of Joseph Love
Family Trees
TNGenWeb Project - DNA Projects Links
RootsWeb - Colbaugh/Kalbach Family Research
RootsWeb - Holloway Family
RootsWeb - Leuty Family
TNGenWeb Project - They Went That a Way
TNGenWeb Project - Rhea County Lookups
TNGenWeb Project - Rhea County Surnames
TNGenWeb Project - Rhea County Surname Index
TNGenWeb Project - USGenWeb Lineage Researcher Page
RootsWeb - Colbaugh/Kalbach Family Research
RootsWeb - Holloway Family
RootsWeb - Leuty Family
TNGenWeb Project - They Went That a Way
TNGenWeb Project - Rhea County Lookups
TNGenWeb Project - Rhea County Surnames
TNGenWeb Project - Rhea County Surname Index
TNGenWeb Project - USGenWeb Lineage Researcher Page
General Resources
Census Tools - Electronic Census Spreadsheets
FamilySearch Wiki - Rhea County, Tennessee
Rhea County Executive - Dayton, TN
RootsWeb - The Association for Gravestone Studies
RootsWeb - Create a timeline of History
RootsWeb - Deciphering Old Handwriting
RootWebs - Epidemics in the United States
RootsWeb - Historical Collections of Tennessee
RootsWeb - Search the DAR Library Catalog
Yesterday's Perry Co. - Introduction to the Resources of Tennessee
FamilySearch Wiki - Rhea County, Tennessee
Rhea County Executive - Dayton, TN
RootsWeb - The Association for Gravestone Studies
RootsWeb - Create a timeline of History
RootsWeb - Deciphering Old Handwriting
RootWebs - Epidemics in the United States
RootsWeb - Historical Collections of Tennessee
RootsWeb - Search the DAR Library Catalog
Yesterday's Perry Co. - Introduction to the Resources of Tennessee
History
Genealogy Trails History Group - Rhea County, Tennessee
RootsWeb - Tennessee Timeline
Tennessee Encyclopedia - Rhea County, Tennessee
TNGenWeb Project - Account Ledger of Asa Newport, Blacksmith
TNGenWeb Project - Chronology of Rhea County
TNGenWeb Project - Formation of Rhea County
TNGenWeb Project - In the Beginning
TNGenWeb Project - Pre-1796 East Tennessee
TNGenWeb Project - Pre-1796 Middle Tennessee
USGenWeb Archives - Rhea County, Tennessee
Wikipedia.org - Rhea County, Tennessee
RootsWeb - Tennessee Timeline
Tennessee Encyclopedia - Rhea County, Tennessee
TNGenWeb Project - Account Ledger of Asa Newport, Blacksmith
TNGenWeb Project - Chronology of Rhea County
TNGenWeb Project - Formation of Rhea County
TNGenWeb Project - In the Beginning
TNGenWeb Project - Pre-1796 East Tennessee
TNGenWeb Project - Pre-1796 Middle Tennessee
USGenWeb Archives - Rhea County, Tennessee
Wikipedia.org - Rhea County, Tennessee
Historical Places
National Register of Historic Places - Rhea County, Tennessee
Rhea County Executive - Rhea County Historic Sites
Wikipedia.org - National Register of Historic Places Listings in Rhea County, Tennessee
Rhea County Executive - Rhea County Historic Sites
Wikipedia.org - National Register of Historic Places Listings in Rhea County, Tennessee
Land Records
Rhea County Register of Deeds - Dayton, TN
TNGenWeb Project - Rhea County Deeds
USGenWeb Archives - Rhea County, Tennessee
TNGenWeb Project - Rhea County Deeds
USGenWeb Archives - Rhea County, Tennessee
Maps
My Genealogy Hound - Rhea County, Tennessee
TNGenWeb Project - Goodspeed’s 1886 Tennessee Map
TNGenWeb Project - Map location of Rhea County
TNGenWeb Project - Maps by Charles Reeves
TNGenWeb Project - Tennessee Census Maps
TNGenWeb Project - 1818 Tennessee Map
TNGenWeb Project - The Maps Our Ancestors Followed
TNGenWeb Project - Three Grand Divisions of Tennessee
TNGenWeb Project - 1836 Plat Map and Civil Districts
TNGenWeb Project - Rhea County Civil Districts
TNGenWeb Project - Goodspeed’s 1886 Tennessee Map
TNGenWeb Project - Map location of Rhea County
TNGenWeb Project - Maps by Charles Reeves
TNGenWeb Project - Tennessee Census Maps
TNGenWeb Project - 1818 Tennessee Map
TNGenWeb Project - The Maps Our Ancestors Followed
TNGenWeb Project - Three Grand Divisions of Tennessee
TNGenWeb Project - 1836 Plat Map and Civil Districts
TNGenWeb Project - Rhea County Civil Districts
Military Records
Genealogy Trails History Group - Rhea County, Tennessee
RootsWeb - Tennessee Civil War Sourcebook
RootsWeb - War of 1812
National Archives - WWII Army Casualties: Tennessee
TNGenWeb Project - Fort Hiwassee Roster
TNGenWeb Project - Goodspeed Regimental Sketches
TNGenWeb Project - Southern Claims Commission
TNGenWeb Project - Tennessee and the Civil War
TNGenWeb Project - Tennesseans in the Revolutionary War
TNGenWeb Project - Tennesseans in the War of 1812
TNGenWeb Project - Tennesseans in World War I
TNGenWeb Project - War Casualties of East Tennessee
USGenWeb Archives - Rhea County, Tennessee
Wikipedia.org - Tennessee in the American Civil War
RootsWeb - Tennessee Civil War Sourcebook
RootsWeb - War of 1812
National Archives - WWII Army Casualties: Tennessee
TNGenWeb Project - Fort Hiwassee Roster
TNGenWeb Project - Goodspeed Regimental Sketches
TNGenWeb Project - Southern Claims Commission
TNGenWeb Project - Tennessee and the Civil War
TNGenWeb Project - Tennesseans in the Revolutionary War
TNGenWeb Project - Tennesseans in the War of 1812
TNGenWeb Project - Tennesseans in World War I
TNGenWeb Project - War Casualties of East Tennessee
USGenWeb Archives - Rhea County, Tennessee
Wikipedia.org - Tennessee in the American Civil War
Native American Genealogy
Museum of the Cherokee Indian - Cherokee, NC
RootsWeb - 1730-1842 Southeastern Native American Documents
The Chickasaw Nation - Ada, Oklahoma
TNGenWeb Project - Cherokee By Blood
TNGenWeb Project - First People of Tennessee and the American Southeast
TNGenWeb Project - The Intruder
RootsWeb - 1730-1842 Southeastern Native American Documents
The Chickasaw Nation - Ada, Oklahoma
TNGenWeb Project - Cherokee By Blood
TNGenWeb Project - First People of Tennessee and the American Southeast
TNGenWeb Project - The Intruder
Newspapers
Genealogy Trails History Group - Rhea County, Tennessee
RootsWeb - Abstracts from Tennessee Newspaper
TNGenWeb Project - Excerpts from the 1880s from Rhea County newspapers
TNGenWeb Project - Find Old Issues of Rhea County Newspapers on Microfilm
TNGenWeb Project - Rhea County Newspapers
TNGenWeb Project - The Dayton Herald News Gazette
USGenWeb Archives - Rhea County, Tennessee
RootsWeb - Abstracts from Tennessee Newspaper
TNGenWeb Project - Excerpts from the 1880s from Rhea County newspapers
TNGenWeb Project - Find Old Issues of Rhea County Newspapers on Microfilm
TNGenWeb Project - Rhea County Newspapers
TNGenWeb Project - The Dayton Herald News Gazette
USGenWeb Archives - Rhea County, Tennessee
Obituaries
Photographs
Queries & Mailing Lists
TNGenWeb Project - Rhea County Queries
TNGenWeb Project - Pre-1796 East Tennessee
TNGenWeb Project - Pre-1796 Middle Tennessee
TNGenWeb Project - Pre-1796 East Tennessee
TNGenWeb Project - Pre-1796 Middle Tennessee
School Records
Genealogy Trails History Group - Rhea County, Tennessee
Rhea County Executive - Rhea County Higher Learning
Rhea County Executive - Rhea County Schools
Rhea County Executive - Rhea County Higher Learning
Rhea County Executive - Rhea County Schools
Societies
Chattanooga Delta Genealogical Society - Rossville, GA
East Tennessee Historical Society - Knoxville, Tennessee
Facebook - Rhea County Historical & Genealogical Society
Rhea County Museum - Dayton, Tennessee
Tennessee Society Daughters of the American Revolution - Rhea County, TN
TNGenWeb Project - Rhea County Societies & Libraries
East Tennessee Historical Society - Knoxville, Tennessee
Facebook - Rhea County Historical & Genealogical Society
Rhea County Museum - Dayton, Tennessee
Tennessee Society Daughters of the American Revolution - Rhea County, TN
TNGenWeb Project - Rhea County Societies & Libraries
Towns, Cities & Townships
City of Dayton - Dayton, Tennessee
City of Graysville - Graysville, Tennessee
Town of Spring City - Spring City, Tennessee
Wikipedia.org - Dayton, Tennessee
Wikipedia.org - Graysville, Tennessee
Wikipedia.org - Spring City, Tennessee
City of Graysville - Graysville, Tennessee
Town of Spring City - Spring City, Tennessee
Wikipedia.org - Dayton, Tennessee
Wikipedia.org - Graysville, Tennessee
Wikipedia.org - Spring City, Tennessee
Vital Records
FamilySearch.org - 1914-1966 Tennessee Deaths
FamilySearch.org - 1796-1950 Tennessee Marriages
Genealogy Trails History Group - Rhea County, TN Birth Records
Genealogy Trails History Group - Rhea County, TN Death Records
Genealogy Trails History Group - Rhea County, TN Marriage Records
Rhea County Clerk - Dayton, TN
Shelby County Register of Deeds - 1949-2014 Death Records Index
Shelby County Register of Deeds - 1980-2014 Divorce Records Index
Shelby County Register of Deeds - 1980-2014 Marriage Records Index
TNGenWeb Project - Misc. Rhea County Marriage Notices
USGenWeb Archives - Rhea County, Tennessee
VitalChek - Tennessee Vital Records
Vitalrec.com - Tennessee Vital Records
FamilySearch.org - 1796-1950 Tennessee Marriages
Genealogy Trails History Group - Rhea County, TN Birth Records
Genealogy Trails History Group - Rhea County, TN Death Records
Genealogy Trails History Group - Rhea County, TN Marriage Records
Rhea County Clerk - Dayton, TN
Shelby County Register of Deeds - 1949-2014 Death Records Index
Shelby County Register of Deeds - 1980-2014 Divorce Records Index
Shelby County Register of Deeds - 1980-2014 Marriage Records Index
TNGenWeb Project - Misc. Rhea County Marriage Notices
USGenWeb Archives - Rhea County, Tennessee
VitalChek - Tennessee Vital Records
Vitalrec.com - Tennessee Vital Records
Many Tennessee family records can be found online and at various archives and libraries located throughout the state of Tennessee. Many millions of records aren't yet available online, though, and many of these are awaiting your discovery at the local level at county courthouses, historical societies, churches, county clerks' offices, cemeteries, and elsewhere in Tennessee. To find these and other records, click on the links below to find more information about the specific counties where your ancestors lived in Tennessee. You'll find information on these pages that will lead you to the specific documentation you're searching for.
It is important to keep in mind when doing research that the names and boundaries of certain counties in Tennessee have changed over the past two hundred years. Your ancestors may have lived on a certain farm in one county and when borders were redrawn records relating to your family history might have been located in another area entirely. When searching for land, court, tax, and other records it is also a good idea to search for these records in adjacent counties. Following is a complete list of Tennessee's 95 counties along with their formation dates, county seats, and names of parent counties.
It is important to keep in mind when doing research that the names and boundaries of certain counties in Tennessee have changed over the past two hundred years. Your ancestors may have lived on a certain farm in one county and when borders were redrawn records relating to your family history might have been located in another area entirely. When searching for land, court, tax, and other records it is also a good idea to search for these records in adjacent counties. Following is a complete list of Tennessee's 95 counties along with their formation dates, county seats, and names of parent counties.
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County
Anderson County Bedford County Benton County Bledsoe County Blount County Bradley County Campbell County Cannon County Carroll County Carter County Cheatham County Chester County Claiborne County Clay County Cocke County Coffee County Crockett County Cumberland County Davidson County Decatur County DeKalb County Dickson County Dyer County Fayette County Fentress County Franklin County Gibson County Giles County Grainger County Greene County Grundy County Hamblen County Hamilton County Hancock County Hardeman County Hardin County Hawkins County Haywood County Henderson County Henry County Hickman County Houston County Humphreys County Jackson County Jefferson County Johnson County Knox County Lake County Lauderdale County Lawrence County Lewis County Lincoln County Loudon County Macon County Madison County Marion County Marshall County Maury County McMinn County McNairy County Meigs County Monroe County Montgomery County Moore County Morgan County Obion County Overton County Perry County Pickett County Polk County Putnam County Rhea County Roane County Robertson County Rutherford County Scott County Sequatchie County Sevier County Shelby County Smith County Stewart County Sullivan County Tipton County Trousdale County Unicoi County Union County Van Buren County Warren County Washington County Wayne County Weakley County White County Williamson County Wilson County |
Formation Date
1801 1807 1835 1807 1795 1836 1806 1836 1821 1796 1856 1879 1801 1870 1797 1836 1871 1855 1783 1845 1837 1803 1823 1824 1823 1807 1823 1809 1796 1783 1844 1870 1819 1844 1823 1819 1786 1823 1821 1821 1807 1871 1809 1801 1792 1836 1792 1870 1835 1817 1843 1809 1870 1842 1821 1817 1836 1807 1819 1823 1836 1819 1796 1871 1817 1823 1806 1819 1879 1839 1854 1807 1801 1796 1803 1849 1857 1794 1819 1799 1803 1779 1823 1870 1875 1850 1840 1807 1777 1817 1823 1806 1799 1799 |
County Seat
Clinton Shelbyville Camden Pikeville Maryville Cleveland Jacksboro Woodbury Huntingdon Elizabethton Ashland City Henderson Tazewell Celina Newport Manchester Alamo Crossville Nashville Decaturville Smithville Charlotte Dyersburg Somerville Jamestown Winchester Trenton Pulaski Rutledge Greeneville Altamont Morristown Chattanooga Sneedville Bolivar Savannah Rogersville Brownsville Lexington Paris Centerville Erin Waverly Gainesboro Dandridge Mountain City Knoxville Tiptonville Ripley Lawrenceburg Hohenwald Fayetteville Loudon Lafayette Jackson Jasper Lewisburg Columbia Athens Selmer Decatur Madisonville Clarksville Lynchburg Wartburg Union City Livingston Linden Byrdstown Benton Cookeville Dayton Kingston Springfield Murfreesboro Huntsville Dunlap Sevierville Memphis Carthage Dover Blountville Covington Hartsville Erwin Maynardville Spencer McMinnville Jonesborough Waynesboro Dresden Sparta Franklin Lebanon |
Parent County
Knox and Grainger Rutherford County Humphreys County Roane & Indian lands Knox County Indian lands Anderson & Claiborne Rutherford, Smith & Warren Indian lands Washington County Davidson, Dickson, Montgomery, & Robertson Henderson, McNairy & Madison Grainger & Hawkins Jackson & Overton Jefferson County Bedford, Warren & Franklin Haywood, Madison, Dyer & Gibson White, Bledsoe, Rhea, Morgan, Fentress & Putnam Part of North Carolina Perry County Franklin, Cannon, Jackson & White Montgomery and Robertson Indian lands Indian lands Morgan, Overton & White Rutherford & Indian lands Indian lands Indian lands Hawkins & Knox counties Washington County Coffee, Warren & Franklin Jefferson, Grainger & Greene Rhea & Indian lands Hawkins & Claiborne Hardin & Indian lands Indian Lands Sullivan County Indian lands Indian lands Indian lands Dickson County Dickson, Humphreys, Montgomery & Stewart Stewart County Smith County & Indian lands Greene & Hawkins Carter County Greene & Hawkins Obion County Haywood, Dyer & Tipton Hickman & Indian lands Hickman, Lawrence, Maury & Wayne Bedford County Roane, Monroe, Blount & McMinn Smith and Sumner counties Indian lands Indian lands Giles, Bedford, Lincoln & Maury Williamson & Indian lands Indian lands Hardin County Rhea County Indian lands Tennessee County Bedford, Lincoln & Franklin Anderson & Roane Indian lands Jackson & Indian lands Humphreys & Hickman Fentress & Overton McMinn & Bradley Fentress, Jackson, Smith, White & Overton Roane County Knox & Indian lands Tennessee & Sumner Davidson, Williamson & Wilson Anderson, Campbell, Fentress & Morgan counties Hamilton, Marion & Warren Jefferson County Chickasaw Nation lands Sumner & Indian lands Montgomery County Washington County Shelby County Wilson, Macon, Smith & Sumner counties Washington & Carter Grainger, Claiborne, Campbell, Anderson & Knox Warren & White White, Jackson, Smith & Indian lands Part of North Carolina Hickman County Indian lands Jackson & Smith Davidson County Sumner County |
USA State Resources
Follow the links below to find many other helpful resources available in the U.S. states where your ancestors lived in the past.
Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming