Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for McMinn 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 Deeds1820–1970
- Land Entries · Register of Deeds1820–1849
- Trust Deed Index Dir./Rev · Register of Deeds1870–1962
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1877–1970
- Deed Index Dir./Rev. A-Z · Register of Deeds1893–1962
- Deeds, School Property · Register of Deeds1922–1949
- Plat Index · Register of Deeds1927–1970
- Plats · Register of Deeds1927–1970
Wills
- Wills · Probate Records1819–1997
Estates and guardianships
- Bonds & Letters, Guardians · Probate Records1873–1969
- Settlements, Inventories · Probate Records1873–1998
- Settlements, Adm. And Exec · Probate Records1876–1969
- Settlements, Guardian · Probate Records1878–1970
- Estates, Insolvent · Probate Records1879–1965
- Estates, Claims Against · Probate Records1921–1942
- Minutes, Probate · Probate Records1965–1998
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Licenses and Index · County Clerk, loose papers1838–1877
- Marriages · County Clerk1838–1997
- Marriages, Loose Records · County Clerk1838
- Marriage Licenses · County Clerk, loose papers1878–1934
- Vital Statistics, Births/Deaths · County Clerk1908–1912
Tax lists
- Tax Books · Trustee1829–1998
- Tax Books Districts 1-17 · Trustee1872–1898
- Tax Books Districts 1-18 · Trustee1899–1908
- Tax Books Districts 1-6 · Trustee1909–1943
- Misc., Delinquent Tax Docket · Chancery Court1930–1968
- Tax Books Districts 1-3 · Trustee1953–1961
Military and pensions
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1919–1970
Court orders and minutes
- Minutes · County Clerk1819–1970
- Court Case Files #1010-1065 · Chancery Court, loose papers1840–1930
- Court Case Files #1066-1125 · Chancery Court, loose papers1840–1930
- Court Case Files #108-122 · Chancery Court, loose papers1840–1930
- Court Case Files #1126-1172 · Chancery Court, loose papers1840–1930
- Court Case Files #1173-1243 · Chancery Court, loose papers1840–1930
- Court Case Files #123-142 · Chancery Court, loose papers1840–1930
- Court Case Files #1244-1299 · Chancery Court, loose papers1840–1930
- Court Case Files #13-27 · Chancery Court, loose papers1840–1930
- Court Case Files #1300-1343 · Chancery Court, loose papers1840–1930
- Court Case Files #1344-1406 · Chancery Court, loose papers1840–1930
- Court Case Files #1407-1458 · Chancery Court, loose papers1840–1930
- Court Case Files #143-155 · Chancery Court, loose papers1840–1930
- Court Case Files #1459-1516 · Chancery Court, loose papers1840–1930
- and 112 more series in the full listing
County government and the poor
- Misc., Road Commission · County Clerk1846–1855
- Bonds, Admin. and Exec · Probate Records1874–1961
- Bonds & Letters, Conservators · Probate Records1961–1969
- Planning Commission (Min.) · Etowah, City of1974–1988
Other records
- Misc., Pro. License Register · County Clerk1855–1966
- Ordinances · Etowah, City of1909–1931
- Ordinances · Athens, City of1913–1989
- Miscellaneous Records · Register of Deeds1921–1968
- Cash Journals · Trustee1950–1970
- General Index Direct A-Z · Register of Deeds1962–1970
- General Index Reverse A-Z · Register of Deeds1962–1970
- Resolutions · Athens, City of1967–1985
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
- McMinn 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: McMinn 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, McMinn" 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: Rhea County, Roane County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Rhea County, Roane County
Later formed partly from McMinn County: Bradley County, Polk County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1819, 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.