Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for Lauderdale County, with the office that kept each and the earliest and latest years filmed. A span can include gaps.
Land and deeds
- Survey Books · Register of Deeds1822–1954
- Deeds · Register of Deeds1835–1952
- Deed Index · Register of Deeds1836–1951
- Misc., Probate Deed · County Clerk1836–1847
- Miscellaneous, Mortgages · Register of Deeds1868–1874
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1903–1947
Wills
- County Ct. Wills (Loose Rec.) · Chancery/Circuit/County, loose papers1836–2008
- Wills · Probate Records1837–1904
- Wills, Inventory Sale Bills · Probate Records1905–1966
Estates and guardianships
- Guardian Bonds · Probate Records1846–1956
- Settlements, Adm./Guardian · Probate Records1847–1902
- Insolvent Estates · Probate Records1849–1905
- Administrator's Bonds · Probate Records1854–1913
- Guardian Letters · Probate Records1882–1885
- Insolvent Estates, Minutes · Probate Records1882–1942
- Administrator's Receipts · Probate Records1884–1896
- Insolvent Estates, Accounts · Probate Records1906–1928
- Settlements, Guardian · Probate Records1909–1963
- Settlements/Merchants Bonds · Probate Records1938–1949
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Bonds · County Clerk1838–1962
- County Ct. Marriages (Loose · Chancery/Circuit/County, loose papers1844–1934
- County Ct. Misc. Births/Deaths · Chancery/Circuit/County, loose papers1881–1882
- Vital Statistics, Birth/Deaths · County Clerk1881–1938
- Vital Statistics, Births · County Clerk1881–1882
Tax lists
- Tax Books · Trustee1843–1948
Military and pensions
- Misc., Widow's Pension · County Clerk1866–1928
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1943–1968
Court orders and minutes
- Circuit Court (Loose Records) · Chancery/Circuit/County, loose papers1827–1962
- County Court (Loose Records) · Chancery/Circuit/County, loose papers1835–1939
- Minutes · Circuit Court1836–1956
- Minutes · County Clerk1836–1953
- Chancery Court (Loose Rec.) · Chancery/Circuit/County, loose papers1844–1924
- Rec. Rule Docket · Chancery/Circuit/County, loose papers1855–1894
- Minutes · Chancery Court1856–1950
- Enrollments · Chancery Court1868–1913
- Minutes, Index · Chancery Court1871–1899
- Guradian Minutes · Probate Records1878–1903
- Rule Docket · Chancery/Circuit/County, loose papers1894–1917
- Minutes, Quarterly · County Clerk1899–1980
- Minutes · Halls, City of1901–1994
- Minutes · Ripley, City of1906–1954
- and 4 more series in the full listing
County government and the poor
- County Ct. Misc. Pauper/Coffe · Chancery/Circuit/County, loose papers1840–1930
- County Ct. Misc. Relief (food) · Chancery/Circuit/County, loose papers1848–1930
- County Ct. Misc. Apprentices · Chancery/Circuit/County, loose papers1862–1867
- County Ct. Misc. Roadwork · Chancery/Circuit/County, loose papers1882–1927
Roads
- Miscellaneous, Road Books · Register of Deeds1838–1889
Other records
- Licenses Register · Trustee1844–1860
- Co. Ct. Misc. Coroner Inquest · Chancery/Circuit/County, loose papers1845–1937
- Co. Ct. Misc. Community Epid · Chancery/Circuit/County, loose papers1884–1935
- Misc., Physicians Register · County Clerk1889
- Adm./Exc./Trustees Statements · Probate Records1911–1973
- Co. Ct. Misc. Widows/Orphans · Chancery/Circuit/County, loose papers1920–1929
- Census, Black · School Board1946–1956
- Census, White · School Board1946–1956
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
- Lauderdale 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: Lauderdale 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, Lauderdale" 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: Dyer County, Haywood County, Tipton County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Dyer County, Haywood County, Tipton County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1835, 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.