Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for Bradley County, with the office that kept each and the earliest and latest years filmed. A span can include gaps.
Land and deeds
- Deeds Refilm · Register of Deeds1839–1927
- Ocoee Land Grants: 2305-2918 · Register of Deeds1841
- Ocoee Land Grants: 3523-3990 · Register of Deeds1841
- Deeds · Register of Deeds1862–1998
- Trust Deeds, Index to · Register of Deeds1864–1902
- Deed, Index to · Register of Deeds1865–1953
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1902–1986
- Plats · Register of Deeds1918–1952
- Deed Records/School Property · School Board1920–1950
- Misc., Chattel Mortgages · Register of Deeds1921–1962
- Plats, General Index to · Register of Deeds1924–1985
- Trust Deeds, Index to (Bk. 4) · Register of Deeds1931
- Liens · Register of Deeds1932–1998
- Liens (missing) · Register of Deeds1966–1968
- and 2 more series in the full listing
Wills
- Wills · Probate Records1859–2001
Estates and guardianships
- Inventory of Estates · Probate Records1857–1982
- Settlements, Admin./Guardian · Probate Records1865–1953
- Bonds, Guardian · Probate Records1871–1886
- Bonds and Letters, Executor's · Probate Records1887–1982
- Bonds and Letters, Guardian · Probate Records1887–1982
- Insolvent Estates · Probate Records1889–1947
- Probate Minutes · Probate Records1892–2001
- Misc., Tax Sales · County Clerk1899–1920
- Bonds, Administrator's · Probate Records1908–1953
- Misc., Claims Against Estates · County Clerk1921–1940
- Settlements, Admin./Executors · Probate Records1953–1982
- Inventories and Settlements · Probate Records1982–1997
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriages · County Clerk1864–2000
- Vital Statistics, Births/Deaths · County Clerk1908–1912
- Deaths · County Clerk1925–1939
Tax lists
- Tax Books · Trustee1865–1948
- Misc., Inheritance Tax · County Clerk1895–1927
Military and pensions
- Misc., Military Claims · County Clerk1868
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1919–1998
Court orders and minutes
- Misc. Minutes (Sweetwater) · Cleveland, City of1830–1883
- Case/Index # 9A-294A · Chancery Court1836–1860
- Cases #102B-171B · Chancery Court1836–1860
- Cases #174B-245B · Chancery Court1836–1860
- Cases #1B-101B · Chancery Court1836–1860
- Cases #1D-37D · Chancery Court1836–1860
- Cases #247B-291B · Chancery Court1836–1860
- Cases #293B-348B · Chancery Court1836–1860
- Cases #298A-352A · Chancery Court1836–1860
- Cases #352B-384B · Chancery Court1836–1860
- Cases #353A-402A · Chancery Court1836–1860
- Cases #392C-539C · Chancery Court1836–1860
- Cases #430A-437A · Chancery Court1836–1860
- Cases #439A-493A · Chancery Court1836–1860
- and 93 more series in the full listing
County government and the poor
- Claims Against County · Trustee1836–1848
- Misc., Claims Under Act of · County Clerk1868
- Bonds and Letters, Admin's · Probate Records1887–1979
Schools
- School Census · School Board1956
Other records
- Misc. Civil Documents · Circuit Court1850–1958
- Misc. Medical Books · Cleveland, City of1855–1900
- Misc., Cash Book · County Clerk1860–1879
- Misc., Physician's Records · County Clerk1889–1906
- Centenary College Register · School Board1893–1930
- Misc. Letter Press Book · Cleveland, City of1894
- Misc. Republican Campaign · Cleveland, City of1896
- Misc. Woodman of World · Cleveland, City of1906
- Misc., Physician Certificates · County Clerk1907–1984
- Misc., Optometry Records · County Clerk1909–1925
- Naturalization Petitions · Chancery Court1909–1919
- Misc., Naturalization Papers · County Clerk1911–1917
- Misc. Federal Forms · Register of Deeds1936–1946
- Misc. National Guard · Cleveland, City of1940
- and 4 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
- Bradley 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: Bradley 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, Bradley" 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: McMinn County
Check the parent county for earlier records: McMinn County
Later formed partly from Bradley County: Polk 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.