Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for Henry County, with the office that kept each and the earliest and latest years filmed. A span can include gaps.
Land and deeds
- Entry Books · Register of Deeds1820–1886
- Deed Index · Register of Deeds1822–1971
- Deeds c · Register of Deeds1822–1986
- Deeds · Register of Deeds1831–1968
- Miscellaneous, Survey Book · Register of Deeds1831–1905
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1872–1968
- Deed Index Direct · Register of Deeds1883–1948
- Deed Index Reverse · Register of Deeds1883–1948
- Trust Deed Index · Register of Deeds1906–1968
- Miscellaneous, Plat Book · Register of Deeds1956–1968
- Trust Deed Index Direct · Register of Deeds1958–1967
- Trust Deed Index Reverse · Register of Deeds1958–1967
- Trust Deeds c · Register of Deeds1968–1986
- Deed Index c · Register of Deeds1971–1984
Wills
- Wills · Probate Records1822–1987
Estates and guardianships
- Estates & Settl., Box 1-Box 2 · Probate Court1821–1899
- Estates & Settl., Box 2-Box 3 · Probate Court1821–1899
- Estates & Settl., Box 3-Box 4 · Probate Court1821–1899
- Estates & Settl., Box 4-Box 5 · Probate Court1821–1899
- Estates & Settl., Box 5-Box 6 · Probate Court1821–1899
- Estates & Settl., Box 6 · Probate Court1821–1899
- Estates & Settl., Box 7 · Probate Court1821–1899
- Estates & Settl., Box 7-Box 8 · Probate Court1821–1899
- Estates & Settl., Box 8-Box 9 · Probate Court1821–1899
- Estates & Settl., Box 9-Box 10 · Probate Court1821–1899
- Estates & Settl., Index-Box 1 · Probate Court1821–1899
- Estates & Settlements, Index · Probate Court1821–1899
- Settlements, Admin. and Exec · Probate Records1839–1987
- Bonds, Administrators · Probate Records1856–1989
- and 5 more series in the full listing
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Index · County Clerk1838–1911
- Marriage, Licenses · County Clerk1838–1929
- Marriages (Loose Records) · County Clerk1838–1950
- Marriages · County Clerk1868–1987
- Vital Statistics · County Clerk1881–1939
- VS Births (Loose Records) · County Clerk1914–1936
- VS Deaths (Loose Records) · County Clerk1925–1939
Tax lists
- Tax Books · Trustee1827–1987
Military and pensions
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1864–1968
- Military Discharges c · Register of Deeds1971–1978
Court orders and minutes
- Minutes · County Clerk1824–1968
- Minutes · Circuit Court1834–1968
- Enrollments · Chancery Court1835–1934
- Minutes · Chancery Court1846–1986
- Minutes · Paris, City of1882–1970
- Minutes · School Board1907–1988
- Minutes, Quarterly · County Clerk1908–1986
- Minutes · Puryear, City of1927–1985
- Minutes · Cottage Grove, City of1930–1988
- Minutes, Civil · Circuit Court1967–1986
- Minutes · Probate Records1968–1987
- Minutes, Criminal · Circuit Court1970–1986
County government and the poor
- Bonds, Guard. (Loose Records) · Probate Records1880–1891
- Bonds and Letters, Admin · Probate Records1899–1987
- Bonds and Letters, Conservator · Probate Records1957–1989
Roads
- Misc., Road Books · County Clerk1829–1927
- Miscellaneous, Road Book · Register of Deeds1936–1967
Other records
- Box 1-Box 2 · Circuit Court1816–1826
- Index · Circuit Court1818–1849
- Miscellaneous Records · Circuit Court1821–1899
- Box 2-Box 3 · Circuit Court1826–1831
- Box 3-Box 5 · Circuit Court1831–1835
- Box 5-Box 6 · Circuit Court1835–1838
- Box 6-Box 8 · Circuit Court1838–1839
- Box 8-Box 9 · Circuit Court1839–1844
- Farmer Family Bible Records · Circuit Court1842–1937
- Loose Records · Circuit Court1843–1850
- Box 9-Box 10 · Circuit Court1844–1849
- Misc., Ranger Book · County Clerk1856–1873
- Cash Journals · Trustee1860–1968
- Misc., Physician's Register · County Clerk1889–1956
- and 3 more series in the full listing
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
- Henry 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: Henry 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, Henry" 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: Land not yet in any county
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1821, 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.