Dyer County, Tennessee Genealogy
Guide to Dyer County, Tennessee ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Dyer County was named for Robert Henry Dyer (circa 1774-1826). The county is located in the northwestern area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Dyer County Courthouse
P.O. Box 1360
115 Market Street
Dyersburg, Tennessee 38025-1360
Dyer County Website Phone: 731-286-7814
County Clerk Phone: 731-286-7818
Register of Deeds Phone: 731-286-7814
County clerk has marriage and probate records from 1850, divorce and court records from 1927, and funeral records from 1914-1956.
Recorder of Deeds has land records.[3]
Dyer County, Tennessee Record Dates
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1908 | 1850 | 1881 | 1927 | 1820 | 1853 | 1810 |
Record Loss
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1864 Courthouse burned and many records were damaged.[5]
For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
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Boundary Changes
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Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[7]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
History Timeline
Additional Information
West Tennessee county.
The county is named after "Tennessee state legislator Robert Henry Dyer."[8]
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
- Family Biographies from The History of Dyer County, Tennessee (1887) published by Goodspeed are available on the My Genealogy Hound website.
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- West Tennessee's Forgotten Children: Apprentices from 1821 to 1889. 2006. By Alan N. Miller. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield Company. FS Library US/CAN 976.8 U2man. Online at MyHeritage ($). Includes Dyer County.
Cemeteries
| See Tennessee Cemeteries for more information. | |
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1830 | 1,904 | — |
| 1840 | 4,484 | 135.5% |
| 1850 | 6,361 | 41.9% |
| 1860 | 10,536 | 65.6% |
| 1870 | 13,706 | 30.1% |
| 1880 | 15,118 | 10.3% |
| 1890 | 19,878 | 31.5% |
| 1900 | 23,776 | 19.6% |
| 1910 | 27,721 | 16.6% |
| 1920 | 29,983 | 8.2% |
| 1930 | 31,405 | 4.7% |
| 1940 | 34,920 | 11.2% |
| 1950 | 33,473 | −4.1% |
| 1960 | 29,537 | −11.8% |
| 1970 | 30,427 | 3.0% |
| 1980 | 34,663 | 13.9% |
| 1990 | 34,854 | 0.6% |
| 2000 | 37,279 | 7.0% |
| 2010 | 38,335 | 2.8% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 federal population censuses of Dyer County are available online. For tips on accessing census records online, see Tennessee Census. If you're having trouble finding your ancestors in online indexes, try checking printed indexes. Created by local experts familiar with the area's families, these indexes are often transcribed more accurately than nationwide online indexes.
See Tennessee Population Schedule Indexes: Fiche, Film, or Book for more information about statewide printed indexes.
See Dyer County, TN census assignments, including links to transcribed files. The USGenWeb Census Project®
1810-1891
1840 Revolutionary War Pensioners
- A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing, 1967. FS Library US/CAN Book 973 X2pc 1840; FS Library US/CAN Film 2321. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Tennessee, Western District, Dyer County on page 158.
1850
- Carpenter, Mrs. V.K. Seventh census of the United States, 1850; Dyer County, Tennessee, population schedules Huntsville, Arkansas Century Enterprises, Genealogical SErvices, 1969 FS Library US/CAN book 976.815 X2
1860
- Felldin, Jeanne Robey and Tucker, Charlotte Magee 1860 United States census, Dyer County, Tennessee, surname index Tomball, Texas Genealogical Publications, c1976 FS Library US/CAN book 976.8 A1
1880
- Sistler, Samuel 1880 census, Dyer County, Tennessee Nashville, Tennessee Byron Sistler and Associates, 2002 FS Library US/CAN book 976.815 X2
1890 Lost, but substitutes are available:
- Reed, Sue S. Enumeration of Male Inhabitants of Twenty-one Years of Age and Upward, Citizens of Tennessee, January 1, 1891, as Provided for by an Act of General Assembly of Tennessee, Passed January 15, 1891, and Approved January 22, 1891. 8 vols. Houston, Texas: S.S. Reed, 1989. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 X2r v. 3 1891. Dyer County is included in Vol. 3.
- Sistler, Byron H. and Barbara Sistler. 1890 Civil War Veterans Census, Tennessee. Evanston, Ill.: Byron Sister and Associates, 1978. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 X2s 1890.
Male Voters
- 1891 Tennessee Enumeration of Male Voters 1891 at Ancestry ($)
Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- If the records you need are not found in the FamilySearch Library collection, contact the church(es) in the area where your ancestor lived.Two sites that give information about churches in Dyer County are:
- - List of Dyer County churches with addresses and phone numbers (Yellowbook)
- - List of Dyer County churches (TN HomeTownLocator)
- In 1936, a helpful guide to early Dyer County church records was published by the Works Project Administration. [9]Use this guide to locate which church records exist and where they were housed in 1936. The Tennessee State Library and Archives has filmed some of these records. To locate which records are available at the TSLA, go to the appropriate "county fact sheet" on the TSLA Web site and scroll down to "selected manuscript material". All filmed church records at the TSLA for Dyer County are listed. Many of these filmed records are also available at the FamilySearch Library.
- Tennessee Diaries, Memoirs and Church Records in the Manuscript Division, Tennessee State Library and Archives: Listed by County. Nashville, Tenn.: Manuscript Division, 1965. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry ($).
Court Records
Law and Legislation
- Tennessee State Library and Archives, Acts of Tennessee 1796-1850: Index to Names. January 25, 2005. In addition to creating new laws, legislative acts were often required to obtain a divorce, grant legitimacy to a child, or for appointments to or grant payments for public service. The TSLA has created an index to names that appear in these acts covering the years 1796 to 1850. Online searchable index at TSLA.
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Funeral Homes
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Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
Dyer County Register of Deeds has Land Records from 1823 and is located at Courthouse Square, P.O. Box 1360, Dyersburg, Tennessee 38025-1360; Telephone: (731) 286-7814. Land and property records include transfer of real estate or personal property, mortgages, leases, surveys, and entries
The FamilySearch Library has microfilm copies of deed books 1824-1882 with indexes 1822-1915, land survey books 1827-1860, and survey entries 1820-1911.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- Maps of Tennessee (1777-1985)
- Map of 1888 Dyer County, Tennessee with numerous small settlements. (My Genealogy Hound)
- FamilySearch Places: Cities and Towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
Revolutionary War
The following Dyer County Revolutionary War records are available online through TNGenWeb:
Additional resources include:
- A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing, 1967. FS Library US/CAN Book 973 X2pc 1840; FS Library US/CAN Film 2321. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Tennessee, Western District, Dyer County on page 158.
War of 1812
There were no War of 1812 pensioners or widows of pensioners living in Dyer County on 2 January 1883.[10]
Civil War
Online Records
- 1861-1865 Tennessee, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1865 Tennessee, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1865 - U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry
- 1861-1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry
- 1861-1865 Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 at Ancestry
- 1891-1965 Tennessee, Confederate Pension Applications, Soldiers and Widows, 1891-1965 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Regiments. Men in Dyer County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (part of a large regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Dyer County:
Confederate Soldiers
- 4th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (Neely's) - CSA - Company K.
- 12th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company A.
- 12th Consolidated Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Companies D and F.
- 13th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company K.
- 15th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Stewart's) - CSA
- 20th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Russell's) - CSA - Company D.
- 22nd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company I and K.
- 22nd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (Freeman's) - CSA - Companies I and K.
- 47th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Companies B, C, D and E.
Additional sources for Civil War soldiers from Dyer County:
- Dyer County Tennessee Military History. Links available for Confederate and Union forces, Dyer County TN Civil War Veterans Index, etc.
- Genealogy Trails, Men from Dyer County in the Civil War. Includes, name, service, date of death, place or cause of death and rank.
- Tennessee State Library and Archives, Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications: Dyer County. Includes soldier's name, county, pension #, unit or widow.
- United States Pension Bureau, List of Pensioners on the Roll January 1, 1883: Giving the Name of Each Pensioner, the Cause for ... (Washington Printing Office; 1883). Online at Internet Archive. Dyer County, page 333.
Naturalization and Citizenship
Newspapers
- Newspapers on Microfilm at the Library & Archives at TSLA; some may be accessed via interlibrary loan to libraries within Tennessee
- See Interlibrary Loan Policies for more information
- See Interlibrary Loan Policies for more information
For a list of newspapers available at the archives for Dyer County click on the following cities or towns:
For deaths of Methodists in Dyer County between the 1830s and the 1920s, try:
- Smith, Jonathan K.T. Genealogical Abstracts from Reported Deaths, the Nashville Christian Advocate. (1847-1914) 10 vols. Jackson, Tenn.: J.K.T. Smith, 1997-2003. FS Library US/CAN Books 976.855/N1 V48s 1847-1851 ff; digital versions at David Donahue Memorial: Tennessee Records Repository. Website expands upon the publications and includes deaths from the 1830s, 1840s, 1910s and 1920s.
- 1800s-Current Tennessee, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Obituaries
Other Records
Prisons
- 1831-1850 Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1831-1850 at Tennessee State Library and Archives
- 1851-1870 Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1851-1870 at Tennessee State Library and Archives
Periodicals
Genealogical periodicals can contain unique sources and can be local, regional, or statewide. The following periodicals cover this county:
- Ansearchin' News: Quarterly magazine of the Tennessee Genealogical Society. Perform keyword searches and read online articles of many previous issues at Ansearchin' News. FS Library Book 976.8 B2a.
- Family Findings: Quarterly of the Mid-West Tennessee Genealogical Society. For tables of contents and online access to issues, see TNGenWeb Project. Also try this specialized Google search. FS Library US/CAN 976.8 B2f.
- West Tennessee Historical Society Papers: Occasional publication of the West Tennessee Historical Society. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.81 B5w. To view Table of Contents and complete articles from 1947 - 2005 see Shelby County Register of Deeds
Probate Records
The County Court has responsibility for Dyer County probate records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1779-2008 Tennessee Wills and Probate Records 1779-2008 at Ancestry ($)
- 1836-1905 Images of Wills 1836-1854; 1855-1905 at Southeastern Genealogy ($)
- 1853-1893 Dyer County portion of Tennessee, Probate Court Books, 1795-1927 at FamilySearch - images only; handwritten indexes may be found at the front or back of some volumes.- How to Use this Collection
- 1853-1893; 1893-1920; 1908-1912; 1920-1937 Images of Wills 1853-1893; 1893-1920; 1908-1912; 1920-1937 at Southeastern Genealogy ($)
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Book Abstracts and Indexes
- 1853-1893 - Lambert, Agnes and Mary N. Gilmore, transcribers for Works Progress Administration. Dyer County, Tennessee Wills. Nashville, Tennessee: Byron Sistler & Assoc., 1998. (FS Library book 976.815 P2L v. 1.)
- 1853-1861 - Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Index to Tennessee Wills & Administrations 1779-1861. Nashville, Tenn. Byron Sistler & Associates, Inc., 1990. FS Library US/CAN 976.8 P22s. Includes an index to this county's wills.
- USGenWeb's Dyer County page has links to several transcribed wills.
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
The original Dyer County Tax Books 1862, 1873-1884 were microfilmed by the TSLA in 1970. FS Library copy: FS Library US/CAN Film 833249.
Book Abstracts and Indexes
- 1836 - Tatum, Ausborn C. "Dyer County, Tennessee 1836 Tax List," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 29, No. 4 (Winter 1982):177-180. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a v. 29-30 (1982-1983); digital version at Ansearchin' News. For further access, see Periodicals.
- 1836 - Tax List, 1836, Tennessee Genealogy and History. Signal Mountain TN: Aug 1997. Vol. 1 Iss. 2-3.
- 1836 - Douthat, James L. 1836 Dyer County, Tennessee Civil Districts and Tax Listing. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 2003. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.815 R4d.
- 1836 - Alsup, Samuel. "1836 Tax Rolls, Dyer Co., TN," available online, courtesy: TNGenWeb.
- 1859 - Appling, Lynn Pierce. "Dyer County Tax Sales 1859," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 45, No. 1 (Spring 1998):36-38. FS Library US/CAN ;Book 976.8 B2a v. 45-46 (1998-1999). For access, see Periodicals
Vital Records
Birth
- 1869-1909 Tennessee Delayed Birth Records 1869-1909 at Ancestry ($)
- 1908-1912 Tennessee, Birth Records (ER Series), 1908-1912 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Marriage
Online Indexes and Records
- 1625-1966 Tennessee, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($)
- 1780-2002 Tennessee State Marriages 1780-2002 at Ancestry ($)
- 1780-2002 Tennessee State Marriage Index 1780-2002 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1790-1962 Tennessee County Marriages, 1790-1950 [1790-1962] - at FamilySearch. index & images. Covers all counties in Tennessee.- How to Use this Collection
- 1796-1950 Tennessee Marriages 1796-1950 (Indexes only) at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1851-1900 Tennessee Marriages 1851-1900 at Ancestry ($)
- 1860-1880 - Marriage records, 1860-1880, Dyer County, Tennessee FS Library US/CAN 24642 item 3 (click on camera)
- 1860-1895 - Dyer County Marriage Index 1860-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch[11]
- 1980-2014 Marriage Records Index 1980-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index
Book Abstracts and Indexes
- 1794-1851 - Marriages from Early Tennessee Newspapers 1794-1851. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 V2L.
- 1860-1879 - Early West Tennessee Marriages. 2 vols. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 V2sb v. 1 ff. Indexes names of brides and grooms, and marriage dates in this county for the specified years.
Death
- Hays, Tony. West Tennessee Death Records [ca. 1823-1852]. 2 vols. n.p.: Kitchen Table Press, 1987. FS Library FAM HIST Book 976.8 V2ht v. 1-2. [Dyer County is included in Vol. 2]
- 1874-1955 Tennessee Deaths and Burials 1874-1955 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1908-1933 Tennessee Deaths, 1908 - 1933 at MyHeritage ($) — index
- 1908-1958 Tennessee Death Records 1908 - 1958 at Ancestry ($)
- 1908-1912 Tennessee Death Records 1908-1912 at Tennessee State Library & Archives - index
- 1914-1933 Tennessee Death Records 1914-1933 at Tennessee State Library & Archives - index
- 1914-1966 Tennessee Deaths, 1914-1966 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1949-2014 Death Records Index 1949-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index
Divorce
Online Records
- 1796-1850 Acts of Tennessee 1796-1850 at Tennessee State Library & Archives - index
- 1980-2014 Divorce Records Index 1980-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index
Online Titles
- W.P.A. Guide to Public Vital Statistics in Tennessee. Nashville, Tenn.: The Tennessee Historical Records Survey, 1941. FamilySearch Digital Library.
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Dyer County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Tennessee Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Jackson Tennessee FamilySearch Center
- Trenton Tennessee FamilySearch Center
- Bolivar-Hardeman County Public Library - an affiliate library.
- Chester County Public Library - an affiliate library.
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Dyer County. For state-wide library facilities, see Tennessee Archives and Libraries.
Hamilton Parks Public Library
74 Parks Plaza
Trimble, TN 38259
Phone: 731-297-3601
Email: trimblelibrary@hotmail.com
Facebook
McIver's Grant Public Library
204 N Mill Ave
Dyerburg, TN 38024
Phone: 731-285-5032
Email: library38024@yahoo.com
Facebook
Website
Newbern City Library
220 E Main St
Newbern, TN 38059
Phone: 731-627-3153
Email: newber_c@bellsouth.net
Facebook
West Tennessee Heritage Study Center
Paul Meek Library
10 Wayne Fisher Dr.
Martin, TN 38238
Phone: 731-881-7065
Website
Houses a variety of genealogical resources including materials relating to the following counties in Tennessee: Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Houston, Humphreys, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Perry, Shelby, Stewart, Tipton, Wayne, Weakley and Carlisle (KY), Fulton (KY), and Hickman (KY) counties in Kentucky.
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Dyer County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Tennessee Societies.
Dyer County Historical Society
120B McGaughey Street E.
Dyersburg, TN 38024
Phone: 731-286-7829
Facebook
Websites
- Dyer County, TN Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- Dyer County, TNGenWeb (USGenWeb)
- FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides
- Genealogical "Fact Sheets" About Tennessee Counties: Dyer County, courtesy: TSLA. (Identifies published county histories, published local records, census records, newspapers and local records on microfilm, and select manuscripts.)
References
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Tennessee.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Dyer, Tennessee" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyer_County,_Tennessee accessed 18 Dec 2018
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists : United States of America, 10th ed., (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002) Dyer County, Tennessee, p.639
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Tennessee.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Lost Records: Courthouse Fires and Disasters in Tennessee in Tennessee State Library and Archives in Tennessee Secretary of State (accessed 31 March 2014).
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Tennessee.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Dyer County, Tennessee," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyer_County%2C_Tennessee, accessed 13 November 2019.
- ↑ "List of counties in Tennessee," Wikipedia.
- ↑ WPA. Guide to Church Vital Statistics in Tennessee. Nashville: Tennessee State Planning Commission, 1942. FS Catalog 976.8 K23w
- ↑ Hermioned D. Embry, "War of 1812 - Tennessee Pensioners on List - January 2, 1883," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 7, No. 2 (Apr. 1960):40-45. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a v. 7 (1960); digital version at Ansearchin' News. Discussion about Dyer County appears on page 43.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/6/60/Igitennesseea.pdf.