Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for Williamson County, with the office that kept each and the earliest and latest years filmed. A span can include gaps.
Land and deeds
- Deed Index · Register of Deeds1799–1950
- Deeds · Register of Deeds1799–1972
- Land Entry Books · Register of Deeds1824–1902
- Survey Book · Register of Deeds1827–1832
- Trust Deed Index · Register of Deeds1868–1985
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1868–1972
- Misc., Land Sales Register · County Clerk1877–1900
- Plat Books · Register of Deeds1938–1966
- Deed Index (Direct) · Register of Deeds1951–1985
- Deed Index (Reverse) · Register of Deeds1951–1966
- Trust Deed Index (Dir./Rev.) · Register of Deeds1951–1966
- Trust Deed Index (Direct) · Register of Deeds1951–1985
- Deeds and Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1972–1977
Wills
- Wills · Probate Records1800–1999
Estates and guardianships
- Misc. Record, Probate · Probate, loose papers1800
- Probate/Divorce Rec. (Ab-Al) · Probate, loose papers1800–1899
- Probate/Divorce Rec. (Ad-Ez) · Probate, loose papers1800–1899
- Probate/Divorce Rec. (Al-Al) · Probate, loose papers1800–1899
- Probate/Divorce Rec. (Am-An) · Probate, loose papers1800–1899
- Probate/Divorce Rec. (An) · Probate, loose papers1800–1899
- Probate/Divorce Rec. (An-Au) · Probate, loose papers1800–1899
- Probate/Divorce Rec. (Ba) · Probate, loose papers1800–1899
- Probate/Divorce Rec. (Ba-Be) · Probate, loose papers1800–1899
- Probate/Divorce Rec. (Bat-Bea) · Probate, loose papers1800–1899
- Probate/Divorce Rec. (Bo-Bos) · Probate, loose papers1800–1899
- Probate/Divorce Rec. (Bos-Br) · Probate, loose papers1800–1899
- Probate/Divorce Rec. (Br-Bu) · Probate, loose papers1800–1899
- Probate/Divorce Rec. (Bu-Cal) · Probate, loose papers1800–1899
- and 79 more series in the full listing
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Licenses (Al-Yo) · County Clerk, loose papers1800–1809
- Marriages · County Clerk1800–2000
- Marriages, (Loose) · County Clerk1800–1850
- Marriage Lic./Bonds (A-Sw) · County Clerk, loose papers1810–1819
- Marriage Licenses (G-S) · County Clerk, loose papers1816–1939
- Marriage Lic./Bonds (A-Mc) · County Clerk, loose papers1820–1839
- Marriage Lic./Bonds (M-Z) · County Clerk, loose papers1820–1839
- Marriage Lic./Bonds (A-K) · County Clerk, loose papers1840–1850
- Marriage Lic./Bonds (K-Z) · County Clerk, loose papers1840–1850
- Marriage Lic./Bonds (A-O) · County Clerk, loose papers1850–1859
- Marriage Lic./Bonds (O-Y) · County Clerk, loose papers1850–1859
- Marriage Lic./Bonds (A-Cu) · County Clerk, loose papers1860–1869
- Marriage Lic./Bonds (Da-Mo) · County Clerk, loose papers1860–1869
- Marriage Lic./Bonds (Mo-Yo) · County Clerk, loose papers1860–1869
- and 46 more series in the full listing
Tax lists
- Misc. Rec. Apprentice/Taxes · Probate, loose papers1800–1899
- Tax Books · Trustee1800–1999
- Tax Books Utilities · Trustee1991–1999
- Tax Books A-K · Trustee1992–1997
- Tax Books K-Z · Trustee1992–1997
- Tax Books Thompson Station · Trustee1992–1999
- Tax Books Delinquent Tax · Trustee1995–1999
- Tax Books A-I · Trustee1996
- Tax Books A-H · Trustee1998
- Tax Books H-R · Trustee1998
- Tax Books R-Z · Trustee1998
Records of free Black and enslaved people
- Misc. Rec. Liquor Lic./Slaves · Probate, loose papers1800–1900
Military and pensions
- General Index to Discharges · Register of Deeds1918–1966
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1918–1966
Court orders and minutes
- Minutes · County Clerk1800–1966
- Minutes, Civil and Criminal · Circuit Court1810–1964
- Minutes, Pleas/Quart. Sessions · County Clerk1821–1927
- Minutes · Chancery Court1825–1998
- Minutes, Criminal · Circuit Court1872–1999
- Minutes · Franklin, City of1883–1999
- Minutes, Quarterly · County Clerk1900–1997
- Minutes · School Board1936–1998
- Minutes (missing) · Franklin, City of1948–1961
- Misc., Board of Health Minutes · County Clerk1954–1966
- Minutes · Fairview, City of1959–2000
- Minutes, Civil · Circuit Court1965–1999
- Minutes · Probate Records1966–1999
- Minutes · Brentwood, City of1969–2000
County government and the poor
- Report of Com. Commissioners · School Board1871–1884
- Bonds and Letters, Admin · Probate Records1888–1966
- Misc., Notry Public Bonds · County Clerk1900–1961
- Planning Commission · Brentwood, City of1969–2000
Schools
- Misc. Rec. School Census · Probate, loose papers1838–1918
Roads
- Misc., Road Books · County Clerk1834–1872
Other records
- Record Book · Chancery Court1821–1873
- Misc., Ranger Books · County Clerk1829–1869
- Misc., Freight Book · County Clerk1832–1837
- Misc., Adm. & Exc. Receipts of · Probate Records1857–1881
- Misc., Contract Book · County Clerk1865–1866
- Misc., Census · County Clerk1880
- Misc., Physician's Register · County Clerk1890–1958
- Ordinances · Franklin, City of1903–1997
- Misc., Dentist Licenses Rec · County Clerk1910–1920
- Ordinances · Fairview, City of1959–2000
- Index to Ordinances/Resolution · Brentwood, City of1969–2000
- Ordinances (1-79) · Brentwood, City of1969–1985
- Resolutions (1-43) · Brentwood, City of1969–1993
- Ordinances (1-38) · Brentwood, City of1986–1991
- and 3 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
- Williamson 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: Williamson 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, Williamson" 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 Williamson County: Bedford County, Maury County, Rutherford 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.