Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for Sumner County, with the office that kept each and the earliest and latest years filmed. A span can include gaps.
Land and deeds
- Deeds (Loose Records) · Register of Deeds1786–1914
- Deeds Index (Loose Rec.) · Register of Deeds1786–1914
- Miscellaneous, Land Grants · Register of Deeds1786–1833
- Deed Index Direct · Register of Deeds1787–1965
- Deed Index Reverse · Register of Deeds1787–1965
- Deeds · Register of Deeds1805–1975
- Miscellaneous, Deed Book · Register of Deeds1842–1869
- Trust Deed Index A-Z · Register of Deeds1887–1947
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1887–1966
- Plats · Register of Deeds1945–1967
- Trust Deed Index Direct · Register of Deeds1948–1965
- Trust Deed Index Reverse · Register of Deeds1948–1965
Wills
- Wills (Miscellaneous Rec.) · Probate Records1789–1930
- Wills · Probate Records1789–2003
- Wills (Loose Records) · Probate Records1798–1833
Estates and guardianships
- Estates (Loose Records) · Probate Records1786–1930
- Estates Index (Loose Rec.) · Probate Records1786–1930
- Inventories and Settltments · Probate Records1808–1909
- Misc. (Bill of Sales) · County Clerk1837–1860
- Settlements, Adm. and Exc · Probate Records1852–1997
- Settlements, Guardian · Probate Records1869–1989
- Settlements · Probate Records1927–2004
- Bonds, Administrator's · Probate Records1962–1968
- Bonds, Guardian · Probate Records1989–1991
- Bonds, Probate · Probate Records1991–1996
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriages (Loose Records) · County Clerk1787–1915
- Marriages · County Clerk1787–2004
- Vital Records (Deaths) · County Clerk1881
- Marriage, Bonds · County Clerk1899–1927
- Vital Records (Births) · County Clerk1908–1912
- Marriage Index · County Clerk1992–1998
Tax lists
- Tax Books · Trustee1787–1998
- Tax Books (District 1-11) · Trustee1891
- Misc., Inheritance Tax · Probate Records1897–1916
- Tax Books (District 1-6) · Trustee1909
- Tax Books (District 7-11) · Trustee1910–1912
- Tax Books (District 12-17 · Trustee1912–1920
- Tax Books (District 1-17) · Trustee1913–1965
- Tax Books (District 1-12) · Trustee1968
- Tax Books (District 13-17 · Trustee1968
- Tax Books D 3,12,16 Inside · Trustee1968
- Tax Books (District 1-9) · Trustee1973
- Tax Books (District 10-17 · Trustee1973
- Tax Books D 3-16 Inside · Trustee1973
Military and pensions
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1920–1967
Court orders and minutes
- Minutes · County Clerk1787–1967
- Misc. Court of Pleas · Circuit Court1790–1800
- Enrollments · County Clerk1808–1810
- Minutes · Circuit Court1810–1976
- Misc. (Court Docket) · County Clerk1817–1822
- Enrollments · Chancery Court1826–1874
- Misc. (Revenue Docket) · County Clerk1828–1859
- Misc., Court of Pleas · Probate Records1832–1836
- Minutes · Chancery Court1840–2004
- Minutes · Gallatin, City of1855–1995
- Minutes, Commissions · County Clerk1867–1998
- Minutes · School Board1884–1998
- Minutes, Bill Book · School Board1923–1924
- Minutes, Quarterly · County Clerk1926–1978
- and 12 more series in the full listing
County government and the poor
- Misc., Bond Book · Probate Records1787–1835
- Bonds and Letters, Exec · Probate Records1796–1967
- Bonds and Letters, Admin · Probate Records1876–1967
- Bonds and Letters, Guardia · Probate Records1876–1989
- Bonds, Conservator's · Probate Records1956–1967
- Bonds, Admin. and Exec · Probate Records1968–1989
- Plan & Zone Commission · Gallatin, City of1968–1995
- Plan & Zone Commission · Goodlettsville, City of1976–1987
- Planning Commission · White House, City of1987–1998
Other records
- Loose Records Index · Probate Records1786–1930
- Loose Records · Probate Records1786–1930
- Misc. Census Records · County Clerk1833
- Ordinances · Portland, City of1905–1995
- Misc. (Physician's Register) · County Clerk1907
- Leases, Oil and Gas · Register of Deeds1917–1959
- Ordinances and Resolutions · Westmorland, City of1951–1994
- Ordinances · Goodlettsville, City of1958–1995
- Ordinances · Hendersonville, City of1969–1997
- Resolutions · Hendersonville, City of1969–1997
- Resolutions · Portland, City of1969–1996
- Beer Board · Goodlettsville, City of1971–1994
- Ordinances · White House, City of1971–1997
- Resolutions · White House, City of1971–1993
- and 1 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
- Sumner 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: Sumner 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, Sumner" 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: Davidson County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Davidson County
Later formed partly from Sumner County: Grainger County, Macon County, Robertson County, Smith County, Trousdale County, Wilson County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1787, 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.