Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for Claiborne 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 Deeds1801–1995
- Deeds, Index · Register of Deeds1801–1910
- Surveyors Books · Register of Deeds1824–1913
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1899–1993
- Deeds, General Index · Register of Deeds1910–1994
- Deeds, General Index (Direct) · Register of Deeds1930–1943
- Deeds, General Index (Reverse) · Register of Deeds1930–1943
Wills
- Wills and Inventories · Probate Records1812–1892
- Wills · Probate Records1848–1982
- Wills Books, etc · Probate Records1982–1992
Estates and guardianships
- Inventories · Probate Records1848–1992
- Settlements, Guardian · Probate Records1872–1881
- Settlements, Guard. Adm. & Ex · Probate Records1878–1979
- Bonds and Letters, Executors · Probate Records1879–1971
- Bonds and Letters, Guardian · Probate Records1879–1972
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriages · County Clerk1838–1995
- Marriages, (Refilmed) · County Clerk1838–1850
- Marriages, Index · County Clerk1838–1983
- Marriage Records · County Clerk1898–1937
- Marriages, Bonds · County Clerk1898–1918
- Vital Statistics · County Clerk1908–1938
Tax lists
- Tax Books · Trustee1850–1905
- Tax Duplicates · Trustee1909–1993
Military and pensions
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1919–1996
Court orders and minutes
- Minutes · County Clerk1801–1991
- Minutes, Criminal · Circuit Court1837–1994
- Minutes · Cumberland Gap City of1909–2004
- Minutes, Civil · Circuit Court1921–1994
- Minutes, Monthly · County Clerk1930–1988
- Minutes · School Board1932–1985
- Minutes · Chancery Court1934–1995
- Minutes, Chamber · Chancery Court1937–1976
- Minutes · New Tazewell City of1955–1995
- Minutes · Tazewell City of1955–1991
- Minutes · Probate Records1982–1992
- Minutes · Harrogate, City of1993–2004
County government and the poor
- Bonds and Letters, Admin · Probate Records1878–1972
- Bonds and Letters, Conservator · Probate Records1956–1971
Other records
- Physicians Records · County Clerk1889–1904
- Miscellaneous Records · Register of Deeds1921–1996
- Leases, Oil and Gas · Register of Deeds1923–1993
- Ordinances · Tazewell City of1955–1995
- Miscellaneous, Charter · Register of Deeds1974–1994
- Miscellaneous, Lease Book · Register of Deeds1974–1985
- Resolutions · County Clerk1989–1992
- Ordinances · Harrogate, City of1993–2004
- Resolutions · Harrogate, City of1993–2004
- Ordinances · Cumberland Gap City of1995–2004
- Resolutions · Cumberland Gap City of1999–2004
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
- Claiborne 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: Claiborne 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, Claiborne" 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, Hawkins County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Grainger County, Hawkins County
Later formed partly from Claiborne County: Campbell County, Hancock 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.