Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for Dickson 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 Deeds1801–1969
- Deed Index · Register of Deeds1804–1912
- Entry Books · Register of Deeds1824–1962
- Trust Deed Index · Register of Deeds1875–1989
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1875–1970
- Probate Deeds · Probate Records1894–1938
- Miscellaneous, Plats · Register of Deeds1899–1977
- Deed Index (Direct) · Register of Deeds1912–1973
- Deed Index (Reverse) · Register of Deeds1912–1973
- Deeds and Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1970–1977
- Deed and Trust Deed Index · Register of Deeds1973–1996
- Deeds and Trust Deeds c · Register of Deeds1977–1997
Wills
- Original Wills · County Clerk, loose papers1800–1950
- Wills · Probate Records1803–1996
Estates and guardianships
- Estate Settlements · County Clerk, loose papers1800–1895
- Guardian Settlements · County Clerk, loose papers1800–1898
- Settlements, Administrators · Probate Records1823–1995
- Settlements, Guardian · Probate Records1842–1993
- Probate, Settlements · Chancery Court1856–1862
- Estates, Insolvent · Probate Records1859–1906
- Estates, Settlements · Probate Records1869–1896
- Tax Sales · County Clerk1897–1920
- Bonds, Guardian · Probate Records1900–1989
- Bonds, Administrators · Probate Records1910–1991
- Estates, Inventories · Probate Records1975–1996
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriages · County Clerk1817–1995
- Marriages, (Loose Records) · County Clerk1817–1859
- Marriages, Miscellaneous · County Clerk, loose papers1837–1943
- Divorces, Alpha. by Plaintiff · County Clerk, loose papers1849–1932
- Marriage Index on B-484 · County Clerk, loose papers1859
- Marriage Index · County Clerk, loose papers1859–1950
- Marriages, Alpha. by Groom · County Clerk, loose papers1859–1950
- Court Ordered Birth Records · County Clerk, loose papers1870–1945
- Vital Statistics · County Clerk1908–1930
- Death Records · County Clerk, loose papers1930–1939
Tax lists
- Tax Books · Trustee1831–2008
Military and pensions
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1920–1987
Court orders and minutes
- Minutes · County Clerk1804–1996
- Minutes · Circuit Court1810–1996
- Minutes · Chancery Court1836–1996
- Enrollments · Chancery Court1871–1877
- Miscellaneous, Road Minutes · Register of Deeds1889–1891
- Minutes · Dickson, City of1899–1985
- Minutes, Equalization Board · County Clerk1900–1934
- Minutes · School Board1907–1997
- Minutes, Quarterly · County Clerk1936–1996
- Minutes · Burns, City of1953–1995
- Minutes · Charlotte, City of1955–1996
- Minutes · Vanleer, City of1961–1986
- Minutes · White Bluff, City of1963–1995
County government and the poor
- Bonds, Conservators · Probate Records1958–1989
Other records
- Pro. Registers, Physicians · County Clerk1855–1950
- TN Cavalry · Circuit Court1865
- Trustee's Book · Trustee1868–1875
- Census · County Clerk, loose papers1880
- Pro. Registers, Dentist · County Clerk1891–1945
- Merchants License · County Clerk1898–1916
- Census · School Board1902–1907
- P. R. Nurses and Veterinarians · County Clerk1907–1915
- Ordinances · Dickson, City of1909–1973
- Leases, Oil and Gas · Register of Deeds1918–1977
- Ordinances · White Bluff, City of1946–1995
- Miscellaneous Records · Register of Deeds1965–1970
- Release Index · Register of Deeds1970–1996
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
- Dickson 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: Dickson 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, Dickson" 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: Montgomery County, Robertson County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Montgomery County, Robertson County
Later formed partly from Dickson County: Hickman County, Houston County, Maury County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1803, 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.