Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for Lawrence County, with the office that kept each and the earliest and latest years filmed. A span can include gaps.
Land and deeds
- Deeds · Register of Deeds1819–1998
- Deed Index Direct & Reverse · Register of Deeds1820–1996
- Entry Takers Books · Register of Deeds1820–1849
- Survey Books · Register of Deeds1820–1826
- Surveyor's Books · Register of Deeds1820–1929
- Entry Books · Register of Deeds1849–1920
- Probate Deeds · Probate Records1854–1901
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1868–1998
- Trust Deed Index Dir. & Rev · Register of Deeds1908–1996
- Deed Index Direct · Register of Deeds1991–1993
- Deed Index Reverse · Register of Deeds1991–1993
Wills
- Wills · Probate Records1829–1996
Estates and guardianships
- Probate Loose Records · Probate Records1820–1879
- Bonds, Administrators · Probate Records1861–1996
- Minutes, Guardian · Probate Records1873–1901
- Estates, Claims Against · Probate Records1874–1903
- Estates, Insolvent · Probate Records1874–1987
- Settlements, Admin. & Guard · Probate Records1874–1880
- Settlements · Probate Records1880–1921
- Settlements, Guardian · Probate Records1915–1995
- Settlements, Administrators · Probate Records1916–1996
- Inventories · Probate Records1960–1982
- Bonds, Executors · Probate Records1970–1995
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Bonds Loose Rec · County Clerk1818–1909
- Marriages · County Clerk1838–1996
- Marriages, Index to · County Clerk1838–1923
- Vital Statistics · County Clerk1908–1910
Tax lists
- Tax Books · Trustee1868–1993
- Tax Books Box 1 · Trustee1903–1972
Military and pensions
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1919–1997
Court orders and minutes
- Minutes · County Clerk1818–1997
- Minutes · Circuit Court1826–1956
- Minutes · Chancery Court1840–1997
- Enrollments · Chancery Court1854–1925
- Minutes · Lawrenceburg, City of1895–1997
- Minutes, Quarterly · County Clerk1911–1997
- Minutes · School Board1927–1997
- Minutes, Civil · Circuit Court1947–1997
- Minutes · Loretto, City of1950–1997
- Minutes, Criminal · Circuit Court1956–1997
- Minutes · St. Joseph, City of1960–1996
- Minutes · Iron City, City of1962–1997
- Minutes · Ethridge, City of1973–1997
County government and the poor
- Bonds and Letters, Exec · Probate Records1898–1962
- Bonds and Letters, Admin · Probate Records1939–1955
- Bonds and Letters, Guard · Probate Records1939–1963
Other records
- Loose Records · Chancery Court1840–1899
- Loose B 39, F 10-B 42, F 210 B/F · Probate Records1880–1889
- Loose B 42, F 220-B 45, F 110 B/F · Probate Records1880–1889
- Loose B 46, F 10-B 48, F 50 B/F · Probate Records1880–1889
- Loose B 49, F 10-B 50A B/F · Probate Records1880–1889
- Loose Index, B 35-B 38, F 240 B/F · Probate Records1880–1889
- Ordinances · Lawrenceburg, City of1901–1997
- Census Records · School Board1946–1956
- Greenbelt · Register of Deeds1982–1992
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
- Lawrence 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: Lawrence 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, Lawrence" 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: Hickman County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Hickman County
Later formed partly from Lawrence County: Lewis County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1817, 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.