Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for Anderson County, with the office that kept each and the earliest and latest years filmed. A span can include gaps.
Land and deeds
- Deeds · Register of Deeds1802–1991
- Deeds, Index to · Register of Deeds1802–1906
- Misc., Deeds of Conveyance · County Clerk1856–1871
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1882–1993
- Deeds, Index to (Direct) · Register of Deeds1906–1989
- Deeds, Index to (Reverse) · Register of Deeds1906–1989
- Trust Deeds, Index to · Register of Deeds1923–1954
- Trust Deed, Index to (Direct) * · Register of Deeds1955–1989
- Trust Deed, Index to (Reverse) * · Register of Deeds1955–1989
- Trust Deeds * · Register of Deeds1955–1957
Wills
- Wills · Probate Records1830–1974
- Wills 28th District · Probate Records1974–1984
- Wills 7th District · Probate Records1984–2001
Estates and guardianships
- Inventories of Estates · Probate Records1842–1875
- Settlements · Probate Records1859–1911
- Bonds, Administrator's · Probate Records1872–1886
- Bonds, Executor's · Probate Records1872–1887
- Bonds, Guardian and Admin · Probate Records1887–1902
- Bonds, Guardian · Probate Records1889–1923
- Settlements, Guardian · Probate Records1904–1974
- Settlements, Administrator's · Probate Records1911–1988
- Bonds & Letters, Executor's · Probate Records1915–1980
- Bonds & Letters, Guardian · Probate Records1918–1980
- Minutes, Equity Division · Chancery Court1965–1974
- Minutes, Law Division · Chancery Court1965–1974
- Probate Minutes 28th District · Probate Records1974–1993
- Settlements, Exec. 28th District · Probate Records1974–1990
- and 5 more series in the full listing
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriages · County Clerk1838–2001
- Marriages, Index to · County Clerk1838–1987
- Marriages, Colored · County Clerk1866–1879
- Vital Statistics, Births/Deaths · County Clerk1881–1912
- Marriages, Bonds refilm · County Clerk1890–1919
- Marriages, Bonds · County Clerk1890–1958
- Divorces · Circuit Court1947–1951
Tax lists
- Tax Books · Trustee1838–1948
- Tax Books (Misc., Railroad) · Trustee1859–1862
- Tax Books (Misc., Road) · Trustee1881–1889
Military and pensions
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1919–1955
Court orders and minutes
- Minutes · County Clerk1811–1900
- Minutes · Chancery Court1836–1974
- Minutes · Circuit Court1844–1893
- Loose, Chancery - Circuit · Probate Records1874–1878
- Loose, Chancery - County · Probate Records1877–1881
- Minutes · Clinton, City of1890–1964
- Loose, Chancery · Probate Records1891–1894
- Minutes, Criminal · Circuit Court1891–2995
- Loose, Circuit - Chancery · Probate Records1892–1894
- Minutes, Civil · Circuit Court1893–2000
- Minutes, Quorum · County Clerk1900–1974
- Minutes, Quarterly · County Clerk1926–1996
- Minutes · School Board1931–1978
- Minutes · Norris, City of1949–1986
- and 3 more series in the full listing
County government and the poor
- Miscellaneous - County · Probate Records1859–1865
- Bonds and Letters, Admin · Probate Records1894–1981
- Bonds & Letters, Conservator's · Probate Records1974–1980
Other records
- Loose, Circuit · Probate Records1895
- Loose Records, Box 1-Box 1 · Probate Records1900–1909
- Loose Records, Box 1-Box 2 · Probate Records1900–1909
- Loose Records, Box 2-Box 3 · Probate Records1900–1909
- Loose Records, Box 3-Box 4 · Probate Records1900–1909
- Loose Records, Box 4-Box 5 · Probate Records1900–1919
- Loose, Circuit - State · Probate Records1900–1904
- Loose Records, Box 11-Box 12 · Probate Records1910–1919
- Loose Records, Box 12 · Probate Records1910–1919
- Loose Records, Box 20-Box 22 · Probate Records1910–1919
- Loose Records, Box 22-Box 24 · Probate Records1910–1919
- Loose Records, Box 24-Box 26 · Probate Records1910–1929
- Loose Records, Box 5-Box 7 · Probate Records1910–1919
- Loose Records, Box 7-Box 8 · Probate Records1910–1919
- and 10 more series in the full listing
Open TSLA's full microfilm listing (PDF)
Source: Tennessee State Library and Archives, county records microfilm listing. Some record titles reflect the segregated record-keeping of their time. Statewide birth and death registration began in 1914, after a brief statewide attempt in 1908–1912.
Where to find the records
- Anderson County official website
Hours, addresses and phone numbers for the register of deeds, the county clerk and the chancery and circuit court clerks, and any online record search the county offers.
- The register of deeds
Deeds, mortgages and other land records, usually from the county's beginning.
- The county clerk
Marriage licenses and bonds and the county court's minutes. For most of the 1800s the county court also handled wills, estates and guardians.
- The chancery and circuit court clerks
Lawsuits, including the chancery suits families used to divide land and settle estates.
- TSLA: Anderson County records on microfilm (PDF)free
Every filmed volume with its years and roll number, by office.
- Tennessee State Library and Archivesfree
The state archives in Nashville, with microfilm of county records from every county.
- FamilySearch Catalogfree
Search by place for "Tennessee, Anderson" to find filmed and digitized records, many viewable free online with a FamilySearch account.
Offices change their hours and access rules; call before you visit.
Boundaries and parent counties
Formed from: Grainger County, Knox County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Grainger County, Knox County
Later formed partly from Anderson County: Campbell County, Morgan County, Scott County, Union County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1801, search the parent county. The Atlas of Historical County Boundaries shows each boundary change.
Research tip
Tennessee's county court minutes record estate settlements, guardians, road orders and much more. When a will is missing, look there and in the chancery court, where families often went to divide land.