Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for Jackson County, with the office that kept each and the earliest and latest years filmed. A span can include gaps.
Land and deeds
- Entry, Land · Register of Deeds1832–1901
- Harris-Holland · Chancery/Circuit Loose Records1839–1915
- Deed Index · Register of Deeds1872–1995
- Deeds · Register of Deeds1872–1995
- Trust Deed Index · Register of Deeds1872–1972
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1872–1995
- Deed Index Direct · Register of Deeds1972–1985
- Deed Index Reverse · Register of Deeds1972–1985
Wills
- Williams-Witcher · Chancery/Circuit Loose Records1839–1915
- Wills and Inventories · Probate Records1872–1951
- Wills · Probate Records1951–1991
Estates and guardianships
- Estates, Insolvent · Probate Records1872–1956
- Settlements, Guardian · Probate Records1872–1994
- Bonds, Administrators · Probate Records1878–1962
- Bonds, Guardian · Probate Records1878–1995
- Settlements, Administrators · Probate Records1924–1948
- Tax Sales · County Clerk1924–1926
- Estates, Claims · Probate Records1939–1965
- Bonds, Admin. and Executors · Probate Records1962–1988
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriages · County Clerk1870–1992
- Vital Records (Deaths) · County Clerk1909–1912
- Vital Records (Births) · County Clerk1925–1934
Tax lists
- Tax Books · Trustee1878–1992
Military and pensions
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1943–1987
Court orders and minutes
- Minutes · Chancery Court1840–1995
- Enrollments · Chancery Court1859–1948
- Minutes · Circuit Court1872–1912
- Minutes · County Clerk1872–1994
- Enrollments · County Clerk1874–1899
- Enrollments · Circuit Court1893–1928
- Minutes, Criminal · Circuit Court1907–1995
- Minutes · Gainesboro1916–1996
- Minutes · School Board1926–1995
- Minutes, Civil · Circuit Court1926–1995
- Minutes, Quarterly · County Clerk1928–1993
- Minutes, Chamber · Chancery Court1966–1990
Other records
- Abney-Allen · Chancery/Circuit Loose Records1839–1915
- Allen-Anderson · Chancery/Circuit Loose Records1839–1915
- Anderson, A.-L · Chancery/Circuit Loose Records1839–1915
- Anderson-Armstrong · Chancery/Circuit Loose Records1839–1915
- Ashurst-Barnes · Chancery/Circuit Loose Records1839–1915
- Barnett-Berry · Chancery/Circuit Loose Records1839–1915
- Berry, G.-Botts · Chancery/Circuit Loose Records1839–1915
- Botts-Brooks · Chancery/Circuit Loose Records1839–1915
- Brooks · Chancery/Circuit Loose Records1839–1915
- Brooks, R.-Bruce · Chancery/Circuit Loose Records1839–1915
- Bruce-Butler · Chancery/Circuit Loose Records1839–1915
- Butley-Campbell · Chancery/Circuit Loose Records1839–1915
- Cannon-Caner · Chancery/Circuit Loose Records1839–1915
- Carner, J.-Carner · Chancery/Circuit Loose Records1839–1915
- and 75 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
- Jackson 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: Jackson 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, Jackson" 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: Smith County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Smith County
Later formed partly from Jackson County: Clay County, Overton County, Putnam County, White County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1801, 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.