Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for Benton County, with the office that kept each and the earliest and latest years filmed. A span can include gaps.
Land and deeds
- Land, Entries · Register of Deeds1820–1849
- Land, Survey/Entries · Register of Deeds1821–1849
- Deed Index · Register of Deeds1836–1989
- Deeds · Register of Deeds1836–1989
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1882–1989
- Trust Deed Index · Register of Deeds1925–1988
- Plats · Register of Deeds1942–1978
- Deed Index Direct · Register of Deeds1966–1978
- Deed Index Reverse · Register of Deeds1966–1977
- Liens · Register of Deeds1977–1987
Wills
- Wills · Probate Records1855–1988
Estates and guardianships
- Insolvent Estate · Probate Records1852–1920
- Settlements, Adm · Probate Records1860–1943
- Settlements, Guardian · Probate Records1860–1956
- Settlements, Adm. & Inv · Probate Records1900–1982
- Settlements, Guard. Index · Probate Records1982–1989
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriages · County Clerk1838–1986
- Vital Statistics Birth & Death · County Clerk1881–1882
- Vital Statistics · County Clerk1908–1912
Tax lists
- Tax Books · Trustee1836–1986
Military and pensions
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1919–1983
Court orders and minutes
- Minutes · Circuit Court1836–1986
- Minutes · County Clerk1842–1989
- Enrollments · Chancery Court1854–1903
- Minutes · Chancery Court1854–1987
- Minutes · Camden, City of1903–1986
- Minutes, Chambers · Chancery Court1920–1967
- Minutes, Quarterly · County Clerk1926–1982
- Minutes · School Board1943–1989
- Minutes & Ordinances · Big Sandy, City of1964–1985
County government and the poor
- Bonds & Letters, Ad./Ex · Probate Records1874–1967
- Bonds & Letters, Guard · Probate Records1874–1968
- Bonds & Letters, Adm · Probate Records1946–1973
Roads
- Misc. Road Records · County Clerk1889–1907
Other records
- Miscellaneous · County Clerk1836–1855
- Adm./Guard. Index · Probate Records1858–1875
- Misc. Professional Register · County Clerk1884–1953
- Ordinances/Charters · Camden, City of1899–1903
- Leases · Register of Deeds1918–1988
- Cash Journals · Trustee1943–1968
- Ordinances · Camden, City of1958–1968
- Miscellaneous · Register of Deeds1975–1988
- Releases · Register of Deeds1978–1989
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
- Benton 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: Benton 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, Benton" 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: Humphreys County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Humphreys County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1836, 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.