Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for McNairy 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 Deeds1823–1995
- Land Grants · Register of Deeds1823–1851
- Deed Index · Register of Deeds1824–1972
- Misc., Land Sales Records · County Clerk1878–1901
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1913–1992
- Trust Deed Index · Register of Deeds1916–1972
- Deed Index Direct · Register of Deeds1972–1992
- Deed Index Reverse · Register of Deeds1972–1992
- Trust Deed Index Direct · Register of Deeds1972–1992
- Trust Deed Index Reverse · Register of Deeds1972–1992
Wills
- Index of Names in Wills · Probate Court, loose papers1857–1915
- Wills · Probate Court, loose papers1857–1915
- Wills · Probate Records1872–1992
Estates and guardianships
- Bonds, Guardian · Probate Records1861–1981
- Bonds, Administrators · Probate Records1865–1979
- Estates, Inventories · Probate Records1865–1981
- Settlements, Administrators · Probate Records1865–1982
- Estates, Administrative · Probate Records1866–1942
- Settlements, Guardian · Probate Records1866–1982
- Estates, Claims Against · Probate Records1874–1941
- Estates, Insolvent · Probate Records1878–1941
- Settlements, Estates · Probate Records1906–1957
- Probate Minutes · Probate Records1982–1990
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriages · County Clerk1861–1995
- Vital Records (Births) · County Clerk1881–1882
- Marriage Licenses · County Clerk, loose papers1896–1950
- Vital Records · County Clerk1925–1938
Tax lists
- Tax Books · Trustee1867–1988
Military and pensions
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1919–1994
Court orders and minutes
- Addendum Case: 5H-1242 · Chancery Court, loose papers1855–1915
- Rule Dockets · Chancery Court, loose papers1855–1921
- Minutes · Circuit Court1856–1994
- Minutes · County Clerk1858–1989
- Index Case: #75-130 · Chancery Court, loose papers1860–1915
- Minutes · Chancery Court1866–1994
- Loose Records Cases: #130-18 · Chancery Court, loose papers1867–1869
- Loose Records Cases: #189-21 · Chancery Court, loose papers1869–1915
- Loose Records Cases: #215-24 · Chancery Court, loose papers1869–1871
- Misc., Appropriations Docket · County Clerk1869–1904
- Rule Dockets (Special Sessions · Chancery Court, loose papers1869–1875
- Loose Records Cases: #241-27 · Chancery Court, loose papers1871–1872
- Loose Records Cases: #272-30 · Chancery Court, loose papers1872–1873
- Loose Records Cases: #305-32 · Chancery Court, loose papers1873–1874
- and 70 more series in the full listing
County government and the poor
- Adm. Bonds/Inv. & Settl. File: · Probate Court, loose papers1857–1915
- Guard. Bonds & Settl. File: · Probate Court, loose papers1857–1915
- Names in Guard. Bonds/Settl · Probate Court, loose papers1857–1915
- Apprentice Bonds with Index · Probate Court, loose papers1866–1914
Schools
- Addendum to School Registers · School Board1926–1935
- School Census · School Board1946–1956
Other records
- Addendum to Index of Names · Chancery Court, loose papers1855–1915
- Loose Rec. (Name List) · County Clerk, loose papers1855–1915
- Loose Rec. File: #100-113 · County Clerk, loose papers1855–1915
- Loose Rec. File: #113-154 · County Clerk, loose papers1855–1915
- Loose Rec. File: #155-192 · County Clerk, loose papers1855–1915
- Loose Rec. File: #193-227 · County Clerk, loose papers1855–1915
- Loose Rec. File: #228-273 · County Clerk, loose papers1855–1915
- Loose Rec. File: #274-322 · County Clerk, loose papers1855–1915
- Loose Rec. File: #323-360 · County Clerk, loose papers1855–1915
- Loose Rec. File: #361-423 · County Clerk, loose papers1855–1915
- Loose Rec. File: #423-440 · County Clerk, loose papers1855–1915
- Homestead & Dower File: · Probate Court, loose papers1857–1915
- Names in Homestead & Dower · Probate Court, loose papers1857–1915
- Loose Rec. (Misc. Files) · County Clerk, loose papers1882
- and 13 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
- McNairy 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: McNairy 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, McNairy" 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: Land not yet in any county
Later formed partly from McNairy County: Chester County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1824, 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.