Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for Humphreys 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 Deeds1810–1940
- Deeds · Register of Deeds1810–1995
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1880–1993
- Misc., Abstract of Conveyance · County Clerk1899
- Misc., Probate of Deeds · Register of Deeds1909–1916
- Deeds c · Register of Deeds1924–1969
- Deed Index Direct · Register of Deeds1940–1994
- Deed Index Reverse · Register of Deeds1940–1994
- Trust Deed Index · Register of Deeds1942–1993
- Trust Deed Index Direct · Register of Deeds1951–1978
- Trust Deed Index Reverse · Register of Deeds1951–1985
- Cemetery Deeds · Waverly, City of1952–1969
- Trust Deed Index Dir./Rev · Register of Deeds1963–1964
- Trust Deeds c · Register of Deeds1964–1968
Wills
- Wills · Probate Records1837–1994
Estates and guardianships
- Settlements, Guardian · Probate Records1856–1993
- Settlements, Administrators · Probate Records1868–1994
- Estates, Claims Against · Probate Records1870–1961
- Estates, Insolvent · Probate Records1873–1962
- Bonds, Administrators · Probate Records1882–1988
- Bonds, Guardian · Probate Records1886–1993
- Misc., Tax Sales · County Clerk1898–1915
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriages · County Clerk1864–1993
- Vital Statistics · County Clerk1908–1912
- Vital Statistics (Births) · County Clerk1925–1939
- Vital Statistics (Deaths) · County Clerk1925–1935
Tax lists
- Tax Books · Trustee1883–1993
- Misc., Delinquent Poll Tax · County Clerk1933–1934
- Miscellaneous, Poll Tax · Register of Deeds1936
- Delinquent Tax · Chancery Court1947–1976
Military and pensions
- WWI Veterans Data List · Register of Deeds1917
- Military Discharges c · Register of Deeds1919–1964
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1964–1994
Court orders and minutes
- Misc., Revenue Docket · Register of Deeds1832–1866
- Revenue Docket · Trustee1832–1886
- Minutes · County Clerk1842–1995
- Minutes · Chancery Court1898–1995
- Minutes · Circuit Court1898–1995
- Minutes · McEwen, City of1907–1995
- Minutes · Waverly, City of1922–1995
- Minutes · School Board1930–1995
- Minutes · New Johnsonville, City of1949–1995
- Minutes, Chambers · Chancery Court1953–1974
- Minutes · Probate Records1982–1994
County government and the poor
- Misc., Magistrate's Bonds · County Clerk1912–1972
Schools
- Scholastic Record · School Board1885–1897
- School Superintendent Reports · School Board1891–1900
- School Pro Rata · School Board1906–1915
Other records
- Ordinances · Waverly, City of1899–1935
- Letters, Admin. and Exec · Probate Records1907–1956
- Misc., Juvenile Records · County Clerk1941–1964
- Miscellaneous, Cemetery Book · Register of Deeds1955–1970
- Release Books · Register of Deeds1955–1988
- Release Books c · Register of Deeds1967–1995
- Greenbelt · Register of Deeds1984–1996
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
- Humphreys 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: Humphreys 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, Humphreys" 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: Stewart County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Stewart County
Later formed partly from Humphreys County: Benton County, Houston County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1809, 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.