Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for Madison 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 Deeds1821–1964
- Deeds Vol: 22 missing · Register of Deeds1858–1866
- Trust Deeds Vol: 1-2 missing · Register of Deeds1874–1875
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1875–1964
- Trust Deeds Vol: 37 missing · Register of Deeds1894–1895
- Trust Deeds Vol: 41 missing · Register of Deeds1897–1898
- Trust Deeds Vol: 43 missing · Register of Deeds1898–1900
- Trust Deeds Vol: 52 missing · Register of Deeds1902–1910
- Trust Deeds Vol: 54 missing · Register of Deeds1903–1905
- Trust Deeds Vol: 59 missing · Register of Deeds1906
- Trust Deeds Vol: 61 missing · Register of Deeds1906–1908
- Trust Deeds Vol: 64 missing · Register of Deeds1908–1909
- Trust Deeds Vol: 66 missing · Register of Deeds1909–1917
- Trust Deeds Vol: 71 missing · Register of Deeds1910–1911
- and 10 more series in the full listing
Wills
- Wills · Probate Records1825–2003
- Wills, Cases: 1-173 · Probate Court, loose papers1827–1885
- Wills, Cases: 173-188 · Probate Court, loose papers1827–1885
- Wills, Index · Probate Records1845–1977
Estates and guardianships
- Probate Court Cases: 1049-113 · Probate Court, loose papers1827–1885
- Probate Court Cases: 1132-123 · Probate Court, loose papers1827–1885
- Probate Court Cases: 1230-132 · Probate Court, loose papers1827–1885
- Probate Court Cases: 1320-138 · Probate Court, loose papers1827–1885
- Probate Court Cases: 1386-151 · Probate Court, loose papers1827–1885
- Probate Court Cases: 1472-151 · Probate Court, loose papers1827–1885
- Probate Court Cases: 165-249 · Probate Court, loose papers1827–1885
- Probate Court Cases: 249-306 · Probate Court, loose papers1827–1885
- Probate Court Cases: 306-279 · Probate Court, loose papers1827–1885
- Probate Court Cases: 379-441 · Probate Court, loose papers1827–1885
- Probate Court Cases: 441-498 · Probate Court, loose papers1827–1885
- Probate Court Cases: 498-555 · Probate Court, loose papers1827–1885
- Probate Court Cases: 555-646 · Probate Court, loose papers1827–1885
- Probate Court Cases: 646-736 · Probate Court, loose papers1827–1885
- and 17 more series in the full listing
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriages · County Clerk1838–2002
- Marriage Licenses Index · County Clerk, loose papers1850–1950
- Marriage Licenses · County Clerk, loose papers1850–1950
- Vital Statistics · County Clerk1908–1912
- Vital Statistics, Births · County Clerk1925–1939
- Vital Statistics, Deaths · County Clerk1925–1939
Tax lists
- Tax Books · Trustee1923–2002
- Tax Books Civil District · Trustee1933
Court orders and minutes
- Execution Dockets · County Clerk1821–1888
- Minutes · County Clerk1821–1962
- Minutes, Civil/Criminal · Circuit Court1821–1906
- Execution Dockets · Circuit Court1822–1873
- Misc., Execution Dockets · Circuit Court1822–1870
- Miscellaneous, Order Books refilm · Circuit Court1828–1840
- Miscellaneous, Order Books · Circuit Court1828–1840
- Minutes · Chancery Court1846–2001
- Rule Dockets · Chancery Court1852–1963
- Minutes · Jackson, City of1858–1998
- Miscellaneous, Enrollments · Chancery Court1872–1874
- Execution Dockets, Civil · Circuit Court1876–1930
- Execution Dockets, State · Circuit Court1876–1954
- Minutes, Criminal · Circuit Court1895–1974
- and 70 more series in the full listing
County government and the poor
- Rebel Account Claims: 1-68 · Probate Court, loose papers1827–1885
Elections
- Misc., Reg. Voters, 3rd Ward · Circuit Court1915–1917
Other records
- Miscellaneous, Record Books · Circuit Court1833–1873
- Miscellaneous, Account Books · Circuit Court1843
- Partition Files: 117-144 · County Clerk, loose papers1854–1915
- Partition Files: 144-177 · County Clerk, loose papers1854–1915
- Partition Files: 177-194 · County Clerk, loose papers1854–1915
- Partition Files: 194-212 · County Clerk, loose papers1854–1915
- Partition Files: 212-238 · County Clerk, loose papers1854–1915
- Partition Files: 238-262 · County Clerk, loose papers1854–1915
- Partition Files: 262-284 · County Clerk, loose papers1854–1915
- Partition Files: 284-302 · County Clerk, loose papers1854–1915
- Partition Files: 302-326 · County Clerk, loose papers1854–1915
- Partition Files: 326-354 · County Clerk, loose papers1854–1915
- Partition Files: 354-377 · County Clerk, loose papers1854–1915
- Partition Files: 377-401 · County Clerk, loose papers1854–1915
- and 18 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
- Madison 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: Madison 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, Madison" 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: Hardin County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Hardin County
Later formed partly from Madison County: Chester County, Crockett County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1821, 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.