Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for Obion County, with the office that kept each and the earliest and latest years filmed. A span can include gaps.
Land and deeds
- Misc., Surveyors Book · Register of Deeds1820–1860
- Deed Index, Direct · Register of Deeds1824–1884
- Deeds and Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1824–1900
- Misc., Entry and Surveys · Register of Deeds1836–1904
- Misc., Survey Grants · Register of Deeds1847–1880
- Misc., Land Surveys · Register of Deeds1858–1884
- Deed Index, Reverse · Register of Deeds1884–1904
- Trust Deed Index, Direct · Register of Deeds1895–1902
- Trust Deed Index, Reverse · Register of Deeds1895–1902
- Deeds · Register of Deeds1900–1952
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1900–1950
- Trust Deed Index, Bargainee · Register of Deeds1902–1950
- Trust Deed Index, Bargainor · Register of Deeds1902–1950
- Deed Index, Direct/Reverse · Register of Deeds1904–1972
- and 2 more series in the full listing
Wills
- Wills, Inventories & Settlement · Probate Records1834–1924
- Wills · Probate Records1924–1963
Estates and guardianships
- Bonds, Administrator's · Probate Records1854–1859
- Bonds & Settlements, Executor · Probate Records1856–1859
- Bonds and Estates, Admin · Probate Records1859–1861
- Insolvent Estates · Probate Records1860–1941
- Bonds and Letters, Executor's · Probate Records1861–1965
- Bonds and Letters, Guardian · Probate Records1861–1959
- Inventories of Estates · Probate Records1870–1938
- Probate Records · Probate Records1870–1900
- Probate Records, Index · Probate Records1870–1900
- Guardian Minutes · Probate Records1878–1893
Marriages, births and deaths
- Comprehensive Index, Divorce · Circuit Court1823–1950
- Marriages · County Clerk1838–1952
- Marriages, Colored · County Clerk1866–1876
- Vital Statistics · County Clerk1881
- Chancery Ct. Rec., Vital Rec · Chancery Court1900
- Vital Records, Births · County Clerk1925–1938
- Marriage Licenses, Index · County Court1931–1938
- Marriage Licenses · County Court1938–1951
- Divorce Records · Circuit Court1940–1950
- Divorce Records, Index · Circuit Court1940–1950
Tax lists
- Tax Books · Trustee1855–1933
- Chancery Ct. Rec., Taxes · Chancery Court1856–1919
Military and pensions
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1920–1968
- Military Discharges, Index · Register of Deeds1920–1968
Court orders and minutes
- Minutes · County Clerk1824–1953
- Enrollments · Circuit Court1827–1969
- Minutes · Circuit Court1829–1952
- Chancery Court Records · Chancery Court1850–1929
- Chancery Ct. Rec., Index · Chancery Court1850–1929
- Chancery Index, see roll 1547 · Chancery Court1850
- Box 42, Criminal Cases · Circuit Court1851–1875
- Box 42, Index, Crim. Cases · Circuit Court1851–1875
- Box 43, Criminal Cases · Circuit Court1851–1875
- Minutes · Chancery Court1854–1951
- Chancery Ct. Rec., Business · Chancery Court1856–1919
- Chancery Ct. Rec., Misc. Paper · Chancery Court1858–1916
- Box 17, Civil Cases · Circuit Court1869–1885
- Box 18, Civil Cases · Circuit Court1869–1885
- and 18 more series in the full listing
County government and the poor
- Bonds and Letters, Admin · Probate Records1861–1951
- Misc., County Ranger's Report · County Clerk1868–1891
Other records
- * Master Index · Circuit Court1823–1885
- * Master Index, Box 1, Index · Circuit Court1823–1850
- Box 1 · Circuit Court1823–1850
- Box 2 thru Box 3, Index · Circuit Court1823–1850
- Box 2, Index · Circuit Court1823–1850
- Box 22 thru Box 23, Index · Circuit Court1823–1885
- Box 22 · Circuit Court1823–1885
- Box 22, Index · Circuit Court1823–1885
- Box 23 continue · Circuit Court1823–1885
- Box 24 continued · Circuit Court1823–1885
- Box 24 · Circuit Court1823–1885
- Box 24, Index · Circuit Court1823–1885
- Box 3 thru Box 4, Index · Circuit Court1823–1850
- Box 3 · Circuit Court1823–1850
- and 129 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
- Obion 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: Obion 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, Obion" 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 Obion County: Lake County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1823, 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.