Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for Smith 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 Deeds1801–1986
- Misc. Land Grants · Probate1812–1858
- Entry Books · Register of Deeds1824–1890
- Miscellaneous, Survey Books · Register of Deeds1824–1917
- Deed Index · Register of Deeds1868–1984
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1877–1986
- Trust Deed Index · Register of Deeds1924–1984
- Miscellaneous, Plat Book · Register of Deeds1952–1966
Wills
- Wills · Probate Records1803–1988
- Wills, Index Loose Rec · Probate1803–1955
- Wills, Loose Records · Probate1803–1955
- Inventories and Wills · Probate Records1823–1966
Estates and guardianships
- Misc. Inventories & Estates · Probate1812–1867
- Letters, Administration · Probate Records1831–1873
- Settlements, Guardian · Probate Records1834–1986
- Guardianship Case Files, Index · Chancery Court, loose papers1838–1874
- Estates, Insolvent · Probate Records1839–1872
- Misc.Receipts, Administrators · Probate Records1854–1904
- Misc.Receipts, Guardian · Probate Records1854–1916
- Settlements, Admin. And Exec · Probate Records1856–1988
- Bonds, Administrators · Probate Records1860–1987
- Bonds, Executors · Probate Records1860–1866
- Bonds, Guardian · Probate Records1860–1988
- Minutes, Guardian · Probate Records1867–1914
- Guardianship Case Files · Chancery Court, loose papers1875–1956
- Estates, Settlements · Probate Records1890–1938
- and 1 more series in the full listing
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriages · County Clerk1838–1986
- Marriages, Index · County Clerk, loose papers1849–1950
- Marriages, Misc. Loose Rec · County Clerk, loose papers1849–1950
- Marriages, by year · County Clerk, loose papers1849–1867
- Marriages · County Clerk, loose papers1868–1941
- Vital Rec., Delayed Births · County Clerk, loose papers1890–1904
- Vital Statistics · County Clerk1908–1912
- Marriages, 1920 A-L · County Clerk, loose papers1912–1920
- Marriages, 1920 M-Z · County Clerk, loose papers1920–1929
- Marriages, 1949 missing · County Clerk, loose papers1942–1950
Tax lists
- Tax Books · Trustee1866–1983
Military and pensions
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1919–1988
Court orders and minutes
- Minutes · County Clerk1799–1985
- Minutes, Index · County Clerk1799–1835
- Minutes · Circuit Court1811–1912
- Enrollments Index · Chancery Court1825–1894
- Enrollments · Chancery Court1825–1919
- Minutes · Chancery Court1825–1987
- Enrollments · Circuit Court1828–1907
- Rule Docket · Chancery Court1841–1852
- Minutes · Carthage, City of1901–1986
- Minutes, Criminal · Circuit Court1907–1986
- Workhouse Minutes · County Clerk1908–1928
- Minutes · Gordonsville, City of1909–1987
- Minutes, Civil · Circuit Court1912–1986
- Minutes · School Broad1914–1988
- and 3 more series in the full listing
County government and the poor
- Misc., Merchant/Trippler Bond · County Clerk1872–1882
Schools
- Common School Report · School Broad1856–1876
- Scholastic Report · School Broad1856–1968
Roads
- Misc., Road Books · County Clerk1841–1893
Other records
- Loose Records File 1-30 · Chancery Court1806–1930
- Loose Records File 1005-1076 · Chancery Court1806–1930
- Loose Records File 1077-1119 · Chancery Court1806–1930
- Loose Records File 1120-1170 · Chancery Court1806–1930
- Loose Records File 1171-1203 · Chancery Court1806–1930
- Loose Records File 1204-1255 · Chancery Court1806–1930
- Loose Records File 1256-1307 · Chancery Court1806–1930
- Loose Records File 1308-1372 · Chancery Court1806–1930
- Loose Records File 1373-1422 · Chancery Court1806–1930
- Loose Records File 1423-1469 · Chancery Court1806–1930
- Loose Records File 147-175 · Chancery Court1806–1930
- Loose Records File 1470-1512 · Chancery Court1806–1930
- Loose Records File 1513-1558 · Chancery Court1806–1930
- Loose Records File 1559-1602 · Chancery Court1806–1930
- and 91 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
- Smith 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: Smith 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, Smith" 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: Sumner County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Sumner County
Later formed partly from Smith County: Cannon County, Jackson County, Macon County, Trousdale County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1799, 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.