Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for DeKalb County, with the office that kept each and the earliest and latest years filmed. A span can include gaps.
Land and deeds
- Deed Index · Register of Deeds1838–1966
- Deeds · Register of Deeds1838–1968
- Entry Books · Register of Deeds1838–1905
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1869–1969
- Land Sales, Record · County Clerk1878–1921
- Trust Deed Index · Register of Deeds1926–1978
- Deeds c · Register of Deeds1968–1989
- Trust Deeds c · Register of Deeds1969–1989
- Deed, General Index · Register of Deeds1979–1987
- Deed, General Index Direct · Register of Deeds1988–1994
- Deed, General Index Reverse · Register of Deeds1988–1994
Wills
- Wills · Probate Records1838–1993
Estates and guardianships
- Settlement, Administrators · Probate Records1846–1987
- Estates, Insolvent · Probate Records1856–1946
- Bonds, Administrators · Probate Records1860–1969
- Settlement, Guardian · Probate Records1871–1994
- Bonds, Guardian · Probate Records1874–1969
- Inventories, Administrators · Probate Records1885–1983
- Letters, Administrators · Probate Records1888–1914
- Inventories, Guardian · Probate Records1889–1960
- Inventory · Probate Records1983–1995
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriages · County Clerk1848–1991
Tax lists
- Tax Books · Trustee1857–1991
Military and pensions
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1919–1995
Court orders and minutes
- Minutes · County Clerk1842–1981
- Minutes · Chancery Court1844–1994
- Enrollments · Chancery Court1845–1936
- Minutes, Quarterly · County Clerk1849–1995
- Minutes · Circuit Court1860–1995
- Minutes · School Board1915–1995
- Minutes · Smithville, City of1919–1992
- Minutes, Road · County Clerk1919–1932
- Minutes · Dowelltown, City of1953–1995
- Minutes, Chamber · Chancery Court1955–1994
- Minutes · Alexandria, City of1956–1992
- Minutes · Liberty, City of1970–1995
Other records
- Register, Professional · County Clerk1889–1946
- Leases, Oil and Gas · Register of Deeds1896–1904
- Ordinances · Smithville, City of1974–1994
- Resolutions · Smithville, City of1974–1994
- Miscellaneous · Register of Deeds1977–1987
- Greenbelt · Register of Deeds1983–1990
- Record Books c · Register of Deeds1989–1995
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 DeKalb 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: DeKalb 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, DeKalb" 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: Cannon County, Warren County, White County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Cannon County, Warren County, White County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1838, 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.