Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for Lincoln County, with the office that kept each and the earliest and latest years filmed. A span can include gaps.
Land and deeds
- Deed &Trust Deed Index (A-O · Register of Deeds1810–1907
- Deed &Trust Deed Index (P-Z) · Register of Deeds1810–1907
- Deeds · Register of Deeds1810–1986
- Deeds & Land Grants Misc · Miscellaneous Books, loose papers1816–1889
- Land Surveys · Register of Deeds1824–1876
- Land Entries · Register of Deeds1855–1874
- Plats · Register of Deeds1858–1975
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1868–1989
- Deeds c · Register of Deeds1900–1961
- Deed and Trust Deed Index c · Register of Deeds1908–1950
- Deed and Trust Deed Index · Register of Deeds1951–1988
Wills
- Wills · Probate Records1809–1986
- Wills, Index · Probate Records1826–1921
- Wills c · Probate Records1896–1953
Estates and guardianships
- Estates, Inventories · Probate Records1828–1988
- Settlements, Guardian · Probate Records1836–1988
- Guardianship Papes, Misc · Miscellaneous Books, loose papers1837–1930
- Estate Case Files: Ab-As · Probate Court, loose papers1840–1920
- Estate Case Files: As-Be · Probate Court, loose papers1840–1920
- Estate Case Files: Be-Bo · Probate Court, loose papers1840–1920
- Estate Case Files: Bo-Br · Probate Court, loose papers1840–1920
- Estate Case Files: Br-By · Probate Court, loose papers1840–1920
- Estate Case Files: By-Ch · Probate Court, loose papers1840–1920
- Estate Case Files: Ch-Co · Probate Court, loose papers1840–1920
- Estate Case Files: Co-Cu · Probate Court, loose papers1840–1920
- Estate Case Files: Cu-Di · Probate Court, loose papers1840–1920
- Estate Case Files: Di-Ed · Probate Court, loose papers1840–1920
- Estate Case Files: Ed-Fr · Probate Court, loose papers1840–1920
- and 38 more series in the full listing
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Lic. & Bonds Index · County Clerk, loose papers1834–1899
- Marriages · County Clerk1838–1987
- Marriage Licenses & Bonds · County Clerk, loose papers1865–1899
- Vital Statistics, Births · County Clerk1881–1883
- Marriage Bonds · County Clerk1888–1898
- Marriage Licenses Index · County Clerk, loose papers1900–1954
- Marriage Licenses · County Clerk, loose papers1900–1954
Tax lists
- Tax Books · Trustee1829–1983
- Delinquent Tax · Chancery Court1898–1966
Military and pensions
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1921–1988
Court orders and minutes
- Minutes · County Clerk1810–1988
- Minutes · Chancery Court1838–1986
- Execution · Chancery Court1840–1847
- Minutes, Civil and Criminal · Circuit Court1849–1969
- Chancery Court Index · Chancery Court, loose papers1850–1920
- Chancery Court Records · Chancery Court, loose papers1850–1920
- Enrollments · Circuit Court1856–1877
- Minutes, Quarterly · County Clerk1864–1986
- Enrollments · County Clerk1868–1874
- Enrollments · Chancery Court1870–1894
- Minutes, Road Commission · County Clerk1871–1889
- Minutes · Fayetteville, City of1886–1987
- Incorporation Order · Petersburg, City of1901
- Court Docket · Petersburg, City of1911–1954
- and 4 more series in the full listing
County government and the poor
- Paupers Funerals, Misc · Miscellaneous Books, loose papers1860–1920
- Civil War Oats & Claims, Misc · Miscellaneous Books, loose papers1861–1865
- Bonds and Letters, Admin · Probate Records1872–1988
- Poor Farm Records, Misc · Miscellaneous Books, loose papers1874–1961
Other records
- Equity Records · Circuit Court1819–1828
- Apprentice Records, Misc · Miscellaneous Books, loose papers1866–1891
- Miscellaneous Records · Register of Deeds1900–1986
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
- Lincoln 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: Lincoln 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, Lincoln" 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: Bedford County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Bedford County
Later formed partly from Lincoln County: Marshall County, Moore County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1810, 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.