Records that survive
These are the record series the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has microfilmed for Wilson 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 Deeds1793–1924
- Deeds · Register of Deeds1800–1980
- Land Entry · Register of Deeds1824–1945
- Misc., Land Entry Book · Chancery Court, loose papers1824–1844
- Misc., Surveyor's Plat Book · Chancery Court, loose papers1824–1831
- Surveyor's Book · Register of Deeds1824–1874
- Trust Deeds · Register of Deeds1829–1980
- Misc., Plat Book · Chancery Court, loose papers1836–1870
- Misc., Trust Deed Book · Chancery Court, loose papers1841–1851
- Plats · Register of Deeds1919–1972
- Deed/Trust D Index Dir./Rev · Register of Deeds1925–1959
- Deed/Trust Deed Index Dir · Register of Deeds1959–1984
- Deed/Trust Deed Index Rev · Register of Deeds1959–1984
Wills
- Wills and Inventories · Probate Records1802–1964
- Wills · County Clerk, loose papers1803–1917
- Wills, Index to · County Clerk, loose papers1803–1917
- Misc., Will Book · Chancery Court, loose papers1825–1833
- Wills · Probate Records1964–1986
Estates and guardianships
- Settlements, Guardian · Probate Records1836–1986
- Bonds, Administrator's · Probate Records1838–1965
- Settlements, Adm. and Exec · Probate Records1839–1987
- Bonds, Guardian · Probate Records1858–1980
- Estates, Insolvent · Probate Records1870–1960
- Bonds, Adm. and Executor's · Probate Records1965–1979
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriages Loose Records · County Clerk1802–1837
- Marriage Licenses & Bonds · County Clerk, loose papers1838–1953
- Marriages · County Clerk1838–1986
- Marriage Records, Misc · County Clerk, loose papers1862–1949
- Vital Statistics Births · County Clerk1908–1912
- Vital Statistics Deaths · County Clerk1908–1912
Tax lists
- Tax Books · Trustee1821–1983
Military and pensions
- Misc., Confederate Veterans · County Clerk1897–1926
- Military Discharges · Register of Deeds1919–1986
Court orders and minutes
- Minutes · County Clerk1803–1986
- Minutes · Lebanon, City of1809–1986
- Minutes · Circuit Court1810–1987
- Box 1-2, Case #1745-1844 · Chancery Court, loose papers1832–1937
- Box 10-12, Case #2392-2487 · Chancery Court, loose papers1832–1937
- Box 100-102, Case #7621-7644 · Chancery Court, loose papers1832–1937
- Box 102-104, Case #7644-7698 · Chancery Court, loose papers1832–1937
- Box 104-105, Case #7699-7762 · Chancery Court, loose papers1832–1937
- Box 106-108, Case #7763-7805 · Chancery Court, loose papers1832–1937
- Box 108-110, Case #7805-135 · Chancery Court, loose papers1832–1937
- Box 110-111, Case #135-320 · Chancery Court, loose papers1832–1937
- Box 111-112, Case #321-583 · Chancery Court, loose papers1832–1937
- Box 112-114, Case #584-3059 · Chancery Court, loose papers1832–1937
- Box 114-115, Case #3060-3112 · Chancery Court, loose papers1832–1937
- and 100 more series in the full listing
County government and the poor
- School Commission Report · School Board1838–1851
Schools
- Misc., School Census (White) · Chancery Court, loose papers1946–1948
Other records
- Box 26-55, Index to · County Clerk, loose papers1786–1962
- Master Index · County Clerk, loose papers1786–1935
- Record Books · Chancery Court, loose papers1842–1892
- Misc., Grand Jury Book · Chancery Court, loose papers1882–1888
- Ordinances · Watertown, City of1909
- Privilege Licenses · Watertown, City of1923–1934
- Misc., Census (Black/White) · Chancery Court, loose papers1946
- Box 1, Fld. 1-Box 2, Fld. 7 · County Clerk, loose papers1962
- Box 1-25, Index to · County Clerk, loose papers1962
- Box 10, Fld. 1-Box 10, Fld. 12 · County Clerk, loose papers1962
- Box 10, Fld. 13-Box 11, Fld. 7 · County Clerk, loose papers1962
- Box 11, Fld. 8-Box 12, Fld. 4 · County Clerk, loose papers1962
- Box 12, Fld. 15-Box 13, Fld. 10 · County Clerk, loose papers1962
- Box 12, Fld. 5-Box 12, Fld. 15 · County Clerk, loose papers1962
- and 96 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
- Wilson 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: Wilson 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, Wilson" 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 Wilson County: Cannon 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.