Fentress County, Tennessee Genealogy
(Redirected from Fentress County, Tennessee)
Guide to Fentress 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
Fentress County was named for James Fentress (1763-1843), who served as speaker of the statehouse and chairman of Montgomery County Court. The county is located in the north-central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Fentress County Courthouse
101 S Main Street
Jamestown, TN 38556
Fentress County Courthouse Phone: 931-879-8615
County Clerk Phone: 931-879-8014
Register of Deeds Phone: 931-879-7818
Circuit Court Clerk Phone: 931-879-7919
County clerk has marriage records from 1905
Register of deeds has land records[3]
Fentress 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 |
| 1914 | 1905 | 1914 | 1842 | 1820 | 1905 | 1810 |
Record Loss
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1905 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 | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- Tennesse Bureau of Agriculture, Statistics and Mines. Coal Mines and Mining--Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: A.B. Travel, 1883. Free digital copy.
Cemeteries
| See Tennessee Cemeteries for more information. | |
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1830 | 2,748 | — |
| 1840 | 3,550 | 29.2% |
| 1850 | 4,454 | 25.5% |
| 1860 | 5,054 | 13.5% |
| 1870 | 4,717 | −6.7% |
| 1880 | 5,941 | 25.9% |
| 1890 | 5,226 | −12.0% |
| 1900 | 6,106 | 16.8% |
| 1910 | 7,446 | 21.9% |
| 1920 | 10,435 | 40.1% |
| 1930 | 11,036 | 5.8% |
| 1940 | 14,262 | 29.2% |
| 1950 | 14,917 | 4.6% |
| 1960 | 13,288 | −10.9% |
| 1970 | 12,593 | −5.2% |
| 1980 | 14,826 | 17.7% |
| 1990 | 14,669 | −1.1% |
| 2000 | 16,625 | 13.3% |
| 2010 | 17,958 | 8.0% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 federal population censuses of Fentress 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.
1810-1891
Male Voters
- 1891 Tennessee Enumeration of Male Voters 1891 at Ancestry ($)
See Tennessee Population Schedule Indexes: Fiche, Film, or Book for more information about statewide printed indexes.
1830
- Sistler, Byron H. 1830 Census, East Tennessee. Evanston, Ill.: n.p., 1969. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 X2p 1830.
- Hatfield, Wanda S. Early Records, Fentress County, Tennessee: 1830, 1840, 1850 Census; 1833 Enumeration. Signal Mountain, Tennessee: Mountain Press, 1988. FS Catalog 976.869 X2h
1833
- Hatfield, Wanda S. Early Records, Fentress County, Tennessee: 1830, 1840, 1850 Census; 1833 Enunmeration. Signal Mountain, Tennessee: Mountain Press, 1988. FS Catalog 976.869 X2h
1840
- Hatfield, Wanda S. Early Records, Fentress County, Tennessee: 1830, 1840, 1850 Census; 1833 Enunmeration. Signal Mountain, Tennessee: Mountain Press, 1988. FS Catalog 976.869 X2h
1840 Pensioners
- A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshals of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing, 1967. FS Library US/CAN Book 973 X2pc 1840; FS Library US/CAN Film 2321. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Tennessee, Middle District, Fentress County on page 155.
1850
- Carpenter, V.K. Seventh Census of the United States, 1850, Fentress County, Tennessee. Huntsville, Arkansas: Century Enterprises, Genealogical Service, 1969. FS Catalog 976.869 X2p 1850
- Hatfield, Wanda S. Early Records, Fentress County, Tennessee: 1830, 1840, 1850 Census; 1833 Enumeration. Signal Mountain, Tennessee: Mountain Press, 1988. FS Catalog 976.869 X2h
- Peden, Eva C. 1850 Census of Fentress County, Tennessee. Glasgow, Kentucky, Gorin Genealogical Publishing, 1992. FS Catalog 976.869 X2pe 1850
- Robbins, Kathleen W. 1850 Fentress County Census. Huntsville, Tennessee: Scott County Historical Society, 19-?. FS Catalog 976.869 X2s 1850
1860
- Robbins, Kathleen W.1860 Fentress County Census. Huntsville, Tennessee: Scott County Historical Society, 198-?. FS Catalog 976.869 X2s 1860
1870
- Hatfield, Wanda S. 1870 Federal Census Fentress County, Tennessee. Pall Mall, Tennessee: W.S. Hatfield, 1992. FS Catalog 976.869 X2h 1870
1880
- Hatfield, Wanda S. 1880 Federal Census Fentress County, Tennessee. S.I.:s.n., 1986? FS Catalog 976.869 X2f
- Sistler, Byron H. and Barbara Sistler. 1880 Census Fentress County, Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: B. Sistler and Associates, 1993. FS Catalog 976.869 X22s 1880
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. 5 1891. Fentress County is included in Vol. 5.
- 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.
1900
- Hatfield, Wanda S. 1900 Federal Census of Fentress County, Tennessee. Pall Mall, Tennessee: W.S. Hatfield, 1991 FS Catalog 976.869 X2h 1900
- Minton, Vestina L.Fentress County Census, Tennessee,1900.Harrogate, Tennessee: T. and V. Minton, 1990. FS Catalog 976.869 X2m 1900
1910
- Hatfield, Wanda S. 1910 Federal Census of Fentress County, Tennessee. Signal Mountain, Tennessee: Mountain Press, 1989 FS Catalog 976.869 X2h 1910
1920
- Ramsey, Gerald R.1920 Census of Fentress County, Tennessee.Signal Mountain, Tennessee: Mountain Press, 1994. FS Catalog 976.869 X29f 1920
Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
Court records began in 1842
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
More than 15 genealogies have been published about Bledsoe County, Tennessee families. For more information visit Fentress County, Tennessee Compiled Genealogies.
This Personal Ancestral File database contains genealogies of nearly every family to live in Fentress County from its foundation. (Info file):
- York, Bruce E. Fentress County, Tennessee Genealogy Database. Gilbert, Arizona: B.E. York, 2006. FS Library CD-ROM no. 2701.
- Updated version: York's Fentress Co, TN Database.
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
Fentress County Register of Deeds has Land Records from 1820 and is located at Courthouse, Main St., Jamestown, TN 38556; (931) 879-8615. Land and property records include transfer of real estate or personal property, mortgages, leases, surveys, and entries.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
- History of Fentress County, Tennessee: The Old Home of Mark Twain's Ancestors. By Albert Ross Hogue. Nashville, Tenn.: Press of Williams Printing Co., 1916. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
Maps and Gazetteers
Click a neighboring county
for more resources
for more resources
- Maps of Tennessee (1777-1985)
- FamilySearch Places: Cities and Towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
Revolutionary War
The following Fentress 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 Marshals 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 ($). See Tennessee, Middle District, Fentress County on page 155.
- Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions. Washington, D.C., 1852. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1969, and 1991. Reprints include "an Added Index to States." Digital version at Ancestry ($). Tennessee entries abstracted online at Tennesseans in the Revolutionary War at TNGenWeb. Includes veterans from this county; Tennessee section begins on page 381.
War of 1812
- Embry, Hermione D. "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 journal website. [Includes Fentress County pensioners (p. 44)]
- Third? Regiment Tennessee Militia, Capt. Wiley Huddelston's Company at TNGenWeb. Raised from men who were from Overton, Pickett and Fentress County, Tennessee.
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
- 1891-1965 Tennessee, Confederate Pension Applications, Soldiers and Widows, 1891-1965 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- Civil War Research Database
- Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System
Regiments. Men in Fentress 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 Fentress County:
Confederate Soldiers
- 4th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Confederate)- CSA - Company I.
- 4th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Murray's) - CSA - Company F.
- 8th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Smith's) - CSA - Company I.
- 8th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company F.
Union Soldiers
- 1st Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry - Company D.
- 2nd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - Companies B and D.
- Beaty's Company, Tennessee Independent Mounted Scouts - Organized in Fentress County.
Additional sources for Civil War soldiers from Fentress County:
- Tennessee State Library and Archives, Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications: Fentress 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. Fentress County, page 333.
- 1890 Census for Pickett, Fentress, and Clay Counties. Here is a listing of all Union Civil War veterans and their wives. It lists name, rank, company, town they lived in, any ailments, and county.
- Fentress County Tennessee Civil War Heroes.
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 Fentress County click on the following cities:
- Allardt
- Jamestown
- 1794-1851 - Lucas, Silas Emmett. Marriages from Early Tennessee Newspapers 1794-1851. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1978. FS Catalog 976.8 V2L.
For deaths of Methodists in Fentress 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 ($)
Obituaries
Other Records
Prisons
- 1831-1850 Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1831-1850 at Tennessee State Library and Archives
- 1851-1870 Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1851-1870 at Tennessee State Library and Archives
Periodicals
Genealogical periodicals can contain unique sources and can be local, regional, or statewide. The following periodicals cover this county:
- Ansearchin' News: Quarterly magazine of the Tennessee Genealogical Society. Perform keyword searches and read online articles of previous issues at Ansearchin' News. FS Library Book 976.8 B2a.
- Fentress County Historical Society Newsletter: Publication of the Fentress County Historical Society.
- The Middle Tennessee Journal of Genealogy and History: Quarterly magazine of the Middle Tennessee Genealogical Society. For surnames, use the volume-by-volume index, or do a keyword search of the Article Index. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.85 D25m.
- Overton County, Tennessee Kin: Publication of the Overton County Genealogical Society, covering all the area in Overton, Fentress, and Pickett County, TN along with Monterey in Putnam County, and Clinton, Wayne and Cumberland County in Kentucky. FS Library US/CAN 976.8684 B2n
- The Pellissippian: Published by the Anderson County Historical Society (formerly called, Pellissippi Genealogical and Historical Society). The table of contents for some issues are available on their website. FS Library Book 976.8 D25p.
Probate Records
The Fentress County Court has responsibility for the probate records, which began in 1905.
Online Records and Indexes
- 1779-2008 Tennessee Wills and Probate Records 1779-2008 at Ancestry ($)
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Book Abstracts and Indexes
- 1833 - Barham, Eleanor R. and Elizabeth R. Nichols. "1833 Enumeration, Fentress County, Tennessee," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 27, No. 1 (Spring 1980):9-12. For FS Library and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals. (600 names)
- 1833 York, Bruce. "1833 Fentress County Tax List," at TNGenWeb.
- 1865 Tax List, 1865, Fentress County Historical Society Newsletter. Jamestown TN: Fall 1992. Vol. 4 Iss. 3.
- 1872 Tax Books, 1872, Fentress County Historical Society Newsletter. Jamestown TN: Summer 1989. Vol. 1 Iss. 2; Fall 1989. Vol. 1 Iss. 3; Winter 1989. Vol. 1 Iss. 4; Spring 1990. Vol. 2 Iss. 1; Summer 1990. Vol. 2 Iss. 2; Fall 1990. Vol. 2 Iss. 3; Winter 1990. Vol. 2 Iss. 4; Spring 1991. Vol. 3 Iss. 1.
- 1875 Dog Tax, 1875, Fentress County Historical Society Newsletter. Jamestown TN: Spring 1992. Vol. 4 Iss. 1.
- 1892 Tax Book, 1892, Fentress County Historical Society Newsletter. Jamestown TN: Spring 1989. Vol. 1 Iss. 1.
- 1892 Delinquent Tax List, 1892, Fentress County Historical Society Newsletter. Jamestown TN: Fall 1992. Vol. 4 Iss. 3.
Vital Records
Birth
- 1828-1939 Tennessee Births and Christenings 1828-1939 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1869-1909 Tennessee Delayed Birth Records 1869-1909 at Ancestry ($)
- 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- How to Use this Collection. Covers all counties in Tennessee.
- 1796-1950 Tennessee Marriages 1796-1950 (Indexes only) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1838-1888 Tennessee Civil Marriages, 1838-1888 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1851-1900 Tennessee Marriages 1851-1900 at Ancestry ($)
- 1980-2014 Marriage Records Index 1980-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index
Death
- 1869-1909 Tennessee Delayed Birth Records 1869-1909 at Ancestry ($)
- 1874-1955 Tennessee Deaths and Burials 1874-1955 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1908-1933 Tennessee Deaths, 1908 - 1933 at MyHeritage ($) — index
- 1908-1912 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
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Fentress County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Tennessee Archives and Libraries.
Family Search 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
- Cookeville Tennessee FamilySearch Center
- Crossville Tennessee FamilySearch Center
- Jamestown Tennessee FamilySearch Center
- Art Circle Public Library - an affiliate library.
- Knox County Public Library - an affiliate library.
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Fentress County. For state-wide library facilities, see Tennessee Archives and Libraries.
Fentress County Public Library
306 South Main St.
Jamestown, TN 38556
Phone: 931-879-7512
Fax: 931-879-6984
Facebook
Website
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Fentress County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Tennessee Societies.
Fentress County Historical Society
P.O. Box 1431
Jamestown, TN 38556
Phone: 931-879-4333
Email: fentresshistory@gmail.com
Facebook
Upper Cumberland Genealogical Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 575
Cookeville, TN 38503-0575
Email: info@ucga.info
Website
Websites
- Fentress County TN Genealogy
- Fentress County, TN Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- Fentress 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: Fentress 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, "Fentress County, Tennessee" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fentress_County,_Tennessee, accessed 18 Dec 2018
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists : United States of America, 10th ed., (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002) Fentress 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, "Fentress County, Tennessee," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fentress_County,_Tennessee, accessed 13 November 2019.