Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for Chester 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 Deeds1891–1992
- Deeds, Index · Register of Deeds1891–1899
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1891–1992
- Deeds, General Index · Register of Deeds1973–1994
Wills
- Wills · Probate Records1891–1990
Estates and guardianships
- Estates, Insolvents · Probate Records1891–1957
- Settlements, Guardian · Probate Records1924–1966
- Settlements, Administrators · Probate Records1934–1965
- Minutes Division 1 · Circuit Court1975–1983
- Minutes, Division 2 · Circuit Court1975–1993
- Settlements, Inventory · Probate Records1980–1994
- Minutes, Division 1 · Circuit Court1983–1993
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriages · County Clerk1891–1994
- Vital Records · County Clerk1925–1938
Tax lists
- Tax Books · Trustee1890–1993
Military and pensions
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1945–1987
Court orders and minutes
- Minutes, Civil · Circuit Court1882–1958
- Minutes · County Clerk1889–1982
- Minutes · Chancery Court1891–1994
- Minutes, Criminal · Circuit Court1895–1975
- Minutes · Henderson City of1906–1993
- Minutes, Quarterly · County Clerk1911–1992
- Minutes · School Board1937–1993
- Minutes · Enville City of1953–1994
- Minutes · Probate Records1980–1994
County government and the poor
- Bonds and Letters, Exec · Probate Records1892–1980
- Bonds and Letters, Admin · Probate Records1929–1959
Other records
- Marraiges, Loose Records · County Clerk1890–1950
- Ordinances · Henderson City of1901–1930
- Miscellaneous Records · Register of Deeds1916–1991
- Leases, Oil and Gas · Register of Deeds1921–1932
- Census · School Board1956
- Record Books · Register of Deeds1992–1994
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
- Find Chester County's official website
We haven't checked this county's website yet, so this opens a web search. Look for an address ending in .gov, then find the register of deeds, the county clerk and the chancery and circuit court clerks.
- 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: Chester 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, Chester" 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: Hardeman County, Henderson County, McNairy County, Madison County, Wisdom County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Hardeman County, Henderson County, McNairy County, Madison County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1882, 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.