Gibson County, Tennessee Genealogy

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Guide to Gibson County, Tennessee ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.


County Facts
County seat: Trenton
Organized: October 21, 1823
Parent County(s): Chickasaws land from Jackson Purchase [1]
Neighboring Counties
CarrollCrockettDyerMadisonObionWeakley
See County Maps
Courthouse
TNGibsoncourthouse.jpg
Location Map
Location of Gibson County, Tennessee.PNG

County Information

Description

Gibson County was named for John H. Gibson, a soldier of the Natchez Expedition and the Creek War. The county is located in the northwestern area of the state.[2]

County Courthouse

Gibson County Courthouse
PO Box 228
1 Court Square
Trenton, TN 38382
Gibson County Courthouse Phone: 731-855-7639, 731-855-7642
Chancery Court Clerk Phone: 731- 855-7639
Circuit Court Clerk Phone: 731-855-7615
Register of Deeds Phone: 731-855-7627
County Clerk Phone: 731-855-7642

County Clerk has marriage records from 1824 and probate records 1824-1981.
Register of Deeds has land records.[3]

Gibson 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.

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[4]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1881 1824 1909 1824 1819 1824 1810
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1908 (1913 missing). General compliance by 1927.

Record Loss

1941 There was a fire at the Gibson County courthouse in 1941, but records are complete.[5]

For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:

Boundary Changes

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

  • 1823 October 21. The Tennessee General Assembly created Gibson County out of lands ceded by the Chickasaws in the Jackson Purchase.[8] It was named in honor of John H. Gibson, who served with distinction under Andrew Jackson in the Natchez Expedition and in the Creek Wars.
  • 1819 Thomas Fite built the first cabin in Gibson County, which was then part of Carroll County. Luke Biggs, Davy Crockett, and others followed. Settlement progressed rapidly, and residents soon petitioned the general assembly for the formation of a new county, citing the difficulty of getting to the courts of Carroll County.
  • 1824 Commissioners appointed by the general assembly selected a county seat site near the center of the county where Thomas Gibson, a brother of John Gibson, operated a trading post. Initially called Gibson-Port, the name was soon changed to Trenton.
  • 1824 January. County government was organized, when the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions met at Biggs's residence. Following terms of the court met in the residence of William C. Love.
  • 1825 April. The first term of court met in a temporary courthouse made of hewn logs.

For a more extensive history see Goodspeeds History of Gibson County.

Additional Information
West Tennessee county. Established 1823.

Resources

Bible Records

Biographies

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 Gibson County.

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Gibson County, Tennessee online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
See Tennessee Cemeteries for more information.

Census Records

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1830 5,801
1840 13,689 136.0%
1850 19,548 42.8%
1860 21,777 11.4%
1870 25,666 17.9%
1880 32,685 27.3%
1890 33,859 3.6%
1900 39,408 16.4%
1910 41,630 5.6%
1920 43,388 4.2%
1930 46,528 7.2%
1940 44,835 −3.6%
1950 48,132 7.4%
1960 44,699 −7.1%
1970 47,871 7.1%
1980 49,467 3.3%
1990 46,315 −6.4%
2000 48,152 4.0%
2010 49,683 3.2%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 federal population censuses of Gibson 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 Gibson County, TN census assignments, including links to transcribed files. The USGenWeb Census Project®

1810-1891

1830

1840 Revolutionary War Pensioners

1850

  • Seventh census of the United States, 1850, Gibson County, Tennessee, population schedules Huntsville, Arkansas Century Enterprises Genealogical Services, 1970 FS Library US/CAN book 976.823 X2

1860

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. 3 1891. Gibson 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.

1891 Male Voters

Church Records

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Court Records

  • Hays, Tony Gibson County (Tennessee) records, 1824-1846 [S.I. Kitchen Table Press, 1986. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.823 P2h
  • Historical Records Survey Chancery Court minutes, 1834-1847, Gibson County, Tennessee Salt Lake City, Utah Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1939. FS Library US/CAN Film 24650
  • Historical Records Project (Tennessee) and Tennessee Circuit Court (Gibson County) Circuit Court Minutes, 1824-1832, Gibson County, Tennessee Salt Lake City, Utah Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1939. FS Library US/CAN Film 24652 item 2
  • Historical Records Survey, Gibson County, Tennessee County Court and Gibson County, Tennessee Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions County Court Minutes, 1824-1828, Gibson County, Tennessee Salt Lake City, Utah Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1942. FS Library US/CAN Film 24651 items 1-2
  • Walker, Emily B. Gibson County, Tennessee, court minutes Includes index. South Fulton, Tennessee E.B. Walker, 1987. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.823 P2w

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

Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

African Americans

Funeral Homes

Genealogies

  • Families and History of Gibson County, Tennessee to 1989. Milan, Tenn.: Lee-Davis United Daughters of the Confederacy Historical Society, 1989. FS Library Book 976.823 H2L.


  • Burress - Burress, Charles G. The Family of William Burress (ca. 1799-1850?) of Tennessee. Phoenix, Ariz.?: unknown, 1971. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry ($).
  • Jennings - Jennings, Virginia L. and Robert B. Jennings. William Crunk Jennings and Allied Families. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: V.L. Jennings, 1983. FS Library FAM HIST Book 929.273 J449j.
  • King - Hill, Ailene King and Lowrance, Juantia King Alvin King His Ancestors and Descendants 1630-1996 [1996] Available at the FamilySearch Library FamilySearch Digital Library; FS Catalog book 929.273 K58ha
  • Luckey - Luckey, Ann Colvin and Elizabeth Luckey Bennett. The Luckey Family of Tennessee: A Genealogical History of the John Henry Luckey, William Franklin Luckey and Samuel Joseph Luckey of Gibson/Madison Counties, Tennessee Their Ancestors and Descendants, 1732-1987. Cullman, Ala.: Gregath, 1987. FS Library HIST;Book 929.273 L964L.
  • Wade - Beadles, Zada Wade. The Wades: the history of a family, dealing with the kith and kin of Zachary and Mary Hatton Wade, their descendants and related lines, male and female, in Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and other states. Cairo, IL: Published for the author, Mrs. Jesse Asa Beadles, 1963. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust.

Guardianship

Land and Property Records

Gibson County Register of Deeds has Land Records from 1823 and is located at the Courthouse, Trenton, Tennessee , P.O. Box 228, Trenton, TN 38382-0228; Telephone: (731) 855-7642. Land and property records include transfer of real estate or personal property, mortgages, leases, surveys, and entries

Online Land Indexes and Records

Book Abstracts and Indexes

  • Crumpton, Barbara Gibson County, Tennessee [deed books] Duncan, Oklahoma Creative Copies, c2000. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.823 R2c v. 1-2
  • Smith, Jonathan Kennon Thompson Genealogical abstracts from early land, chancery and other records of Gibson County, Tennessee Jackson, Tennessee J.K.T. Smith, c1998 FS Library US/CAN 976.823 R28s
  • Walker, Emily B. Gibson County, Tennessee, landowners, 1877 South Fulton, Tennessee E.B. Walker, c1986 FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 A1 no.99
  • Walker, Emily B. North Carolina land grants in the Western District (Tennessee), most particularly Gibson and surrounding counties: volumes A-B, 1788-1796 E.B. Walker, 1987.

Local Histories

  • Gibson County, Past and Present. By Frederick M. Culp and Mrs. Robert E. Ross. Trenton, Tennessee : Gibson County Historical Society, Inc., 1961. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
  • Gibson County, Sesquicentennial 1823-1973 : Celebrating its 150th Anniversary. [S.l.] : Gibson County Sesquicentennial Celebration, 1973. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
  • History of Tennessee ... with an Historical and Biographical Sketch of Gibson, Obion, Weakley, Dyer and Lake Counties. Nashville, Tennessee : Goodspeed Pub. Co., 1887. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.

Maps and Gazetteers

Weakley CountyCarroll CountyMadison CountyCrockett CountyDyer CountyObion CountyTN GIBSON.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Migration

Military Records

Revolutionary War
The following Gibson County Revolutionary War records are available online through TNGenWeb:

Additional resources include:

War of 1812

Civil War

Online Records

Regiments. Men in Gibson 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 Gibson County:

Confederate Soldiers

Union Soldiers

Additional sources for Civil War soldiers from Gibson County:

World War I

  • With the Colors written in 1920 by Mrs. Gordon Brame Hargrove. It is described by Mrs. Hargrove as an "Honor Roll containing a pictorial history of Gibson County Tennessee, USA, Specially honoring Those that Served in the Great World War, 1917-1918 - 1919."In most instances it gives the name, date of birth, parents names, enlistment date, where served and muster out date of the soldiers that fought in World War I from Gibson County Tennessee.
  • General Books The Honor Roll, Gibson County, Tennessee, U.S.A., 1917-1918-1919 General Books, LLC, 2010. Online at: Internet Archive.

Naturalization and Citizenship

Newspapers

For a list of newspapers available at the archives for Gibson County click on the following cities or towns:

For deaths of Methodists in Gibson County between the 1830s and the 1920s, try the following resources:

Obituaries

Other Records

Prisons

Periodicals

Genealogical periodicals can contain unique sources and can be local, regional, or statewide. The following periodicals cover this county:

Probate Records

The County Court and Probate Court have responsibility for the probate records of Gibson County.

Online Probate Indexes and Records

Book Abstracts and Indexes

  • 1825-1861 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 probate records.
  • 1824-1846 Walker, Emily B. Gibson County, Tennessee, Bond and Will Books A,B and C, 1824-1846 South Fulton, Tenn.: E.B. Walker, 1986. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 A1 no. 98

School Records

Social Security Records

Tax Records

Book Abstracts and Indexes

  • 1824-1832 Walker, Emily B. Gibson County, Tennessee, Tax Lists, with Map. 2 vols. [1824-1832] South Fulton, Tenn.: E.B. Walker, 1988. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.823 R4w ff.
  • 1830 "Gibson County, Tennessee 1830 List of Inhabitants," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 41, No. 3 (Fall 1994):99-102; Vol. 41, No. 4 (Winter 1994):169-171. For access, see Periodicals.
  • 1830 Cox, Jere and Vicki Shaffer. "1830 Sheriff's List" [2 parts], available online at USGenWeb Archives.
  • 1830 Cox, Jere and Vicki Shaffer. "1830 2nd Sheriff's List," available online at USGenWeb Archives.
  • 1833 Tucker, Rick. "1833 Gibson Co. Tax List," available online at USGenWeb Archives.
  • 1834 Tucker, Rick. "1834 Gibson Co. Tax List," available online at USGenWeb Archives.
  • 1834 Tucker, Rick. "1834 Sheriff's Tax List," available online at USGenWeb Archives.
  • 1834 Tucker, Rick. "1834 Tax Rates," available online at USGenWeb Archives.
  • 1835 Tucker, Rick. "1835 Sheriff's Tax List," available online at USGenWeb Archives.
  • 1835 Tucker, Rick. "1835 Tax List & Rates," available online at USGenWeb Archives.
  • 1836 Hollis, Jane. "Gibson County, Tennessee Tax List-1836," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 25, No. 2 (Summer 1978):65-70; Vol. 25, No. 3 (Fall 1978):124-129, 144. For FS Library and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.

Vital Records

Birth

Marriage

Online Indexes and Records

Book Abstracts and Indexes

Death

Online Records

Divorce

Online Records

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 Gibson 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

Libraries

Listed below are libraries in Gibson County. For state-wide library facilities, see Tennessee Archives and Libraries.

Gibson County Memorial Library
303 High St
Trenton, TN 38382
Phone: 731-855-1991
Website

Humboldt Public Library
115 S 16th Ave
Humboldt, TN 38343
Phone: 731-784-2383
Website
The Anne Laurie James Genealogy Room holds newspapers as well as other genealogical materials.

Mildred G. Fields Memorial Library
1075A E Van Hook St
Milan, TN 38358
Phone: 731-686-8268
Email: librarymilan@bellsouth.net
Website

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 Gibson County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Tennessee Societies.

Gibson County Tennessee Historical Society
Facebook

Websites

Research Guides

References

  1. 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.
  2. Wikipedia contributors, "Gibson, Tennessee" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson_County,_Tennessee accessed 18 Dec 2018
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Robert M. McBride, Tennessee County Data (Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee States Library and Archives, 1966), 23.
  6. 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.
  7. Wikipedia contributors, "Gibson County, Tennessee," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson_County%2C_Tennessee, accessed 14 November 2019.
  8. The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002), 639. (FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002). WorldCat entry.
  9. Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/d/d3/Igitennesseef.pdf.
  10. Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/d/d3/Igitennesseef.pdf.