Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for Overton 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 Deeds1801–1995
- Deed and Trust Deed Index · Register of Deeds1806–1896
- Land Entries · Register of Deeds1835–1856
- Probate Deeds · Probate Records1867–1994
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1868–1995
- Land Grants · Register of Deeds1869–1891
- Deed Index · Register of Deeds1879–1996
Wills
- Loose Wills: Misc. Settl. Bks · County Clerk1852–1858
- Wills · Probate Records1870–1994
- Loose Wills: All-Hass · County Clerk1922–1940
- Williams, F. T. and Boswell · Misc. Loose Case Files1933
Estates and guardianships
- Estates, Inventories · Probate Records1848–1984
- Settlements · Probate Records1870–1985
- Bonds, Admin. Exec. Guardian · Probate Records1871–1886
- Estates, Insolvent (Accounts) · Probate Records1873–1941
- Estates, Insolvent (Minutes) · Probate Records1873–1948
- Bonds, Administrators · Probate Records1887–1987
- Bonds, Executors · Probate Records1887–1968
- Bonds, Guardian · Probate Records1887–1970
- Loose Estate Settl.: All-Gun · County Clerk1923–1944
- Loose Estate Settl.: Hal-Mur · County Clerk1934–1943
- Loose Estate Settl.: Ne-Za · County Clerk1934–1937
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriages · County Clerk1867–1994
- Loose Marriages · County Clerk1870–2007
- Loose Divorces: Lee-Ry · County Clerk1872–1948
- Loose Divorces: Abb-Eub · County Clerk1885–1955
- Vital Records · County Clerk1925–1938
- Loose Divorces: Fau-Led · County Clerk1937–1961
- Loose Divorces: Sm-Yo · County Clerk1950–1962
Tax lists
- Tax Books · Trustee1872–1988
Military and pensions
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1943–1978
Court orders and minutes
- Minutes · Circuit Court1815–1900
- Misc. Rule Docket · Chancery Court1832–1846
- Loose Cases: Co/Wh-We/Bar · Circuit Court1836–1867
- Minutes · County Clerk1837–1993
- Minutes · Chancery Court1846–1993
- Enrollments · Circuit Court1850–1944
- Docket Book · Chancery Court1857–1860
- Enrollments · Chancery Court1866–1935
- Loose Cases: TN/Wa-Wh/Bu · Circuit Court1868
- Miscellaneous, Claim Docket · County Clerk1870–1898
- Loose Cases: TN/Ac-Po/Sm · Circuit Court1871–1872
- Loose Cases: TN/Ab-TN/Per · Circuit Court1875–1878
- Loose Cases: TN/Bow-Ch/Eld · Circuit Court1879–1897
- Loose Cases: Abb/Bur-Bl-Ps · Circuit Court1886
- and 15 more series in the full listing
Roads
- Miscellaneous, Road Book · County Clerk1889–1899
Other records
- Miscellaneous, License Book · County Clerk1852–1856
- State vs Ferrill, J. H. Singleston · Misc. Loose Case Files1855
- Duncley · Misc. Loose Case Files1858
- Box 97, Fld. 1-Box 97, Fld. 246 · Misc. Loose Case Files1867
- Box 96, Fld. 1-Box 96, Fld. 257 · Misc. Loose Case Files1888–1959
- Leases, Oil and Gas · Register of Deeds1896–1994
- Allred, J. vs Stephens · Misc. Loose Case Files1913
- Hawkins, A. and Brown · Misc. Loose Case Files1918
- State vs Smith · Misc. Loose Case Files1920
- Grand Jury Subpoena, Crim. Ct · Misc. Loose Case Files1921
- State vs Goodpasture · Misc. Loose Case Files1921
- Loose Guard. Settl.: All-Gun · County Clerk1926–1964
- Wallace, T. vs Wallace · Misc. Loose Case Files1928
- Winningham vs Winningham · Misc. Loose Case Files1928
- and 21 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
- Overton 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: Overton 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, Overton" 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: Jackson County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Jackson County
Later formed partly from Overton County: Clay County, Fentress County, Morgan County, Pickett County, Putnam County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1806, 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.