Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for Hawkins County, with the office that kept each and the earliest and latest years filmed. A span can include gaps.
Land and deeds
- Land Grants · Register Of Deeds1782–1819
- Deed Index · Register of Deeds1787–1995
- Deeds · Register of Deeds1787–1995
- Entry Books · Register of Deeds1824–1902
- Survey Books · Register of Deeds1824–1868
- Trust Deed Index · Register of Deeds1875–1995
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1875–1995
- Miscellaneous, Lien Books · Register of Deeds1941–1994
Wills
- Court Case Files: Wills · County Court, loose papers1779–1975
- Court Case Files: Wills, Index · County Court, loose papers1779–1975
- Wills · Probate Records1797–1995
Estates and guardianships
- Court Case Files: Estates · County Court, loose papers1788–1930
- Settlements, Administrators · Probate Records1865–1873
- Settlements, Adm. and Guard · Probate Records1874–1986
- Estates, Insolvents · Probate Records1875–1972
- Bonds, Administrators · Probate Records1879–1962
- Bonds, Guardian · Probate Records1879–1965
- Bonds, Executors · Probate Records1880–1958
- Inventories · Probate Records1948–1994
- Settlements · Probate Records1982–1995
Marriages, births and deaths
- Court Case Files: Marriages · County Court, loose papers1789–1964
- Marriages, Loose Records · County Clerk1789–1823
- Marriages · County Clerk1820–1994
- Vital Records · County Clerk1925–1938
Tax lists
- Tax Assessments · County Clerk, loose papers1865–1929
- Tax Books · Trustee1877–1992
- Tax Cards District 1, 2 · Trustee1962–1976
- Tax Cards District 2, 3 · Trustee1962–1976
- Tax Cards District 4 · Trustee1962–1976
- Tax Cards District 4, 5 · Trustee1962–1976
- Tax Cards District 6, 7 · Trustee1962–1976
- Tax Cards District 7 · Trustee1962–1976
- Tax Cards District 8, 9 · Trustee1962–1976
Military and pensions
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1920–1978
Court orders and minutes
- Court Case Files: (Misc.) · County Court, loose papers1788–1930
- Court Case Files: Index · County Court, loose papers1788–1930
- Court Case Files: · County Court, loose papers1788–1930
- Civil Court Cases · Circuit Court, loose papers1795–1930
- Civil Court Cases, Index · Circuit Court, loose papers1795–1930
- Court Case Files: Index · Chancery Court, loose papers1795–1930
- Court Case Files: Misc., Index · Chancery Court, loose papers1795–1930
- Court Case Files: · Chancery Court, loose papers1795–1950
- Criminal Court Cases: State vs · Circuit Court, loose papers1795–1930
- Court Case Files: Index Misc · Chancery Court, loose papers1804–1950
- Court Case Files: Misc · Chancery Court, loose papers1804–1950
- Minutes · Circuit Court1810–1900
- Criminal Ct. Grand Jury Cases: · Circuit Court, loose papers1812–1930
- Minutes · Chancery Court1825–1995
- and 18 more series in the full listing
County government and the poor
- Rebel Claims · Circuit Court, loose papers1868
- Bonds · Probate Records1982–1989
Other records
- Criminal Ct. Grand Jury Folder · Circuit Court, loose papers1812–1930
- Civil War Bounties · Circuit Court, loose papers1867
- Physician's Register · County Clerk1895–1970
- Miscellaneous Records · Register of Deeds1921–1968
- Release Books · Register of Deeds1945–1995
- Misc., Financing Statements · Register of Deeds1964–1978
- Misc., Notice of Completion · Register of Deeds1977–1993
- Miscellaneous, Charters · Register of Deeds1978–1990
- Leases, Oil and Gas · Register of Deeds1979–1993
- Ordinanaces · Surgoinsville, City of1990–1995
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
- Hawkins 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: Hawkins 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, Hawkins" 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: Greene County, Sullivan County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Greene County, Sullivan County
Later formed partly from Hawkins County: Claiborne County, Grainger County, Hancock County, Jefferson County, Knox County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1787, 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.