Hamblen County, Tennessee Genealogy
Guide to Hamblen 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
Hamblen County was named for Hezekiah Hamblen (1775-1854), an early settler, landowner, attorney, and member of the Hawkins County Court for many years. Governor Dewitt Clinton Senter, a resident of the county, used his influence to assist in its establishment. The county is located in the northeastern area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Hamblen County Courthouse
511 W 2nd N Street
Morristown, TN 37814
County Courthouse Phone: 423-586-9112
County Clerk Phone: 423-586-1993
County Circuit Court Clerk
Hamblen County Justice Center
510 Allison St.
Morristown, TN 37814
Circuit Court Clerk Phone: 423-586-5640
Chancery Court Clerk Phone: 423-586-9112
County Clerk has marriage and probate records from 1870.
Clerk and Master has divorce records.
Clerk Circuit Court has court records.
Register of Deeds has land records.[3]
Hamblen 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 |
| 1909 | 1863 | 1909 | 1870 | 1870 | 1870 | 1810 |
Record Loss
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
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:[6]
| Cities | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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History Timeline
- 1786 The land which eventually became Hamblen County was first organized by the State of Franklin in March 1786 from parts of Greene and Sullivan counties under the name of Spencer later Hawkins County, and from part of Greene County under the name Caswell.[7] [8]
- 1786 The North Carolina legislature created a parallel county of Franklin's Spencer County and called it Hawkins County. It was known by both county names while Franklin's statehood efforts lasted up to 1788.[8] Since then the land on which the lost county of Spencer County was located has been called Hawkins.
- 1792 Southwest Territory, using land from its Greene and Hawkins counties, erected a new county named Jefferson County.[8]
- 1796 All these lands also became part of the new State of Tennessee, and Grainger County was split off from Hawkins County.
- 1870 Tennessee used parts of Hawkins, Grainger, and Jefferson counties to form Hamblen County.[9]
Additional Information
Hamblen County is named after Tennessee pioneer Hezekiah Hamblen.[10]
The land which eventually became Hamblen County was first organized by the State of Franklin in March 1786 from parts of Greene and Sullivan counties under the name of Spencer later Hawkins County, and from part of Greene County under the name Caswell.).[11], [8] However, the Franklin statehood effort faded by 1789. Spencer and Caswell counties existed only briefly, their legality is questionable, and little trace remains.
The records of lost Spencer County are now found Spencer
The records of lost Caswell County are now found Caswell
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- East Tennessee's Forgotten Children: Apprentices from 1778 to 1911. 2000. By Alan N. Miller. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield Company. FS Library US/CAN 976.8 U2m. Online at MyHeritage ($). Includes Hamblen County.
- Cheek's Cross Roads, Tennessee, store journal 1802-1807. c2001. By Ann Kicker Blomquist. Baltimore, Maryland Gateway Press. FS Catalog book 976.8923 U3b. Online at FamilySearch Digital Library.
Cemeteries
| See Tennessee Cemeteries for more information. | |
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1880 | 10,187 | — |
| 1890 | 11,418 | 12.1% |
| 1900 | 12,728 | 11.5% |
| 1910 | 13,650 | 7.2% |
| 1920 | 15,056 | 10.3% |
| 1930 | 16,616 | 10.4% |
| 1940 | 18,611 | 12.0% |
| 1950 | 23,976 | 28.8% |
| 1960 | 33,092 | 38.0% |
| 1970 | 38,696 | 16.9% |
| 1980 | 49,300 | 27.4% |
| 1990 | 50,480 | 2.4% |
| 2000 | 58,128 | 15.2% |
| 2010 | 62,544 | 7.6% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 federal population censuses of Hamblen County are available online. For tips on accessing census records online, see Tennessee Census. If you're having trouble finding your ancestors in online indexes, try checking printed indexes. Created by local experts familiar with the area's families, these indexes are often transcribed more accurately than nationwide online indexes.
See Tennessee Population Schedule Indexes: Fiche, Film, or Book for more information about statewide printed indexes.
1810-1891
1880
- Scanned census images. USGenWeb Archives
- Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. 1880 Census Hamblen County, Tennessee. Nashville, Tenn.: B. Sistler & Associates, 1993. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8923 X2s 1880.
1891 Male Voters
- 1891 Tennessee Enumeration of Male Voters 1891 at Ancestry ($)
Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Baptist
- DeBoard, George Mitchell et al. Personal Records of a Minister: Rev. George Mitchell DeBoard, Grainger County, Tennessee; Includes Many People from Hancock, Hawkins and Hamblen Counties, Tennessee). Dallas, Texas: H.P. Garner, 2001?. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8932 K2d.
Court Records
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
- 1940-1957 Horton Funeral Home records (Morristown, Tennessee), 1940-1957(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
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Genealogies
- Flagg - Descendants of Josiah Flagg of Berkeley County, W. Va.; with Sketches of the Flagg, Keyes, Foss, Shively, Hughes, Slemons and Campbell Ancestries. Boston: Press of T.R. Marvin, 1920.Free digital copy, courtesy: Internet Archive.
- King - History of the King Family of Hamblen County, Tennessee. Typescript, TSLA, Nashville, Tenn. Microfilmed in 1939. FS Library US/CAN Film 24670 Item 4.
- Lee - Lee Family Collection, ca. 1613-1924. Typescript. FS Library US/CAN Film 1550782.
- Miller - Wine, Cecil J. The Michael Miller Family. Radford, VA: Commonwealth Press, 1964. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
The original Hamblen County Deed Books are held at the County Courthouse. In the 1970s, the TSLA microfilmed Deed Books 1-10 (1870-1891) and Indexes (1870-1952). Copies of their films are available at the FamilySearch Library: FS Library US/CAN Films 969627-969633.
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)
- FamilySearch Places: Cities and Towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
Revolutionary War
- Russellville, Brief History of Soldiers, 1776+, Tennessee Ancestors, Vol. 18, No. 2 (Aug. 2002).
War of 1812
- Embry, Hermione D. "War of 1812 - Tennessee Pensioners on List - January 2, 1883," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 7, No. 3 (Jul. 1960):65-68. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a v. 7 (1960); digital version at Ansearchin' News. Includes Hamblen County pensioners (p. 66).
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
- Civil War Research Database
- Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System
Regiments. Men in Hamblen 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 Hamblen County:
Confederate Soldiers
- 12th Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry (Day's) - CSA - Company D.
- 59th Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry (Cooke's) (Eakin's 1st Battalion) - CSA - Company I.
- 60th Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry (Crawford's) (79th Infantry) - CSA - Company H.
- 61st Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry (Pitts') (81st Infantry) - CSA - Company G.
Union Soldiers
- 8th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry - Company D.
Additional sources for Civil War soldiers from Hamblen County:
- TNGenWeb, Hamblen County Civil War Page.
- USGenWeb Archives, Hamblen County Tennessee Archives. Civil War Records.
- Tennessee State Library and Archives, Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications: Hamblen 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. Hamblen County, page 340.
- The Civil War & Morristown.
Civil War Battles
The following Civil War battle was fought in Hamblen County.[12]
- November 11-13, 1864 - Bull's Gap.
- Battles of the American Civil War maps - filter by state or by battle name.
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 Hamblen County click on the following cities or towns:
- 1847-1851 - 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. (Largely Methodist?)
- 1800s-Current Tennessee, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Obituaries
Other Records
Prisons
- 1831-1850 Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1831-1850 at Tennessee State Library and Archives
- 1851-1870 Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1851-1870 at Tennessee State Library and Archives
Private Papers
- Diary and Scrapbook of Catherine (Kate) Livingston, 1857-1868, Hamblen County, Tennessee. Typescript, Tennessee State Library, Nashville, Tenn. FS Library US/CAN Film 24670 Item 3.
Periodicals
Genealogical periodicals can contain unique sources and can be local, regional, or statewide. The following periodicals cover this county:
- Ansearchin' News: Quarterly magazine of the Tennessee Genealogical Society. Perform keyword searches and read online articles of previous issues at Ansearchin' News at Tennessee Genealogical Society. FS Library Book 976.8 B2a.
- East Tennessee Roots: Published by East Tennessee Roots The table of contents for some issues are available on their website; FS Library Book 976.8 D25e.
- A genealogical article with abstracts of Hamblen County, Tennessee records has been published in East Tennessee Roots (10 vols.). A subject index to this publication's articles is available online. Surname indexes to Volumes 9 and 10 are also available online. The FamilySearch Library has collected most issues of East Tennessee Roots FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 D25e.
- Hamblen Heritage:FamilySearch Library has Volume 1 - 13 (1986 - 1998) FS Library US/CAN book 976.8923 B2h
Hamblen Heritage is indexed in PERiodical Source Index (PERSI)
Probate Records
The original Hamblen County Loose Wills are held at the County Archives. In 2007, the Genealogical Society of Utah microfilmed these records, date range: 1870 to 1974: FS Library/VAULT US/CAN Film 1669931-1669932, 1669941 Item 1.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1779-2008 Tennessee Wills and Probate Records 1779-2008 at Ancestry ($)
- 1870-1974 Hamblen County portion of Tennessee, Probate Court Books, 1795-1927 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; handwritten indexes may be found at the front or back of some volumes.
- 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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
The original Hamblen County Tax Books 1877-1889 (gaps) are held at the County Courthouse. In the 1970s, the TSLA microfilmed these records. A copy of their film is also available at the FamilySearch Library: FS Library US/CAN Film 969637.
Book Abstracts and Indexes
- 1860 Morristown Property Tax, 1860, Hamblen Heritage. Morristown TN: Spring 2000. Vol. 15 Iss. 2.
- 1890 1890 Tax Book - Hamblen County, Tennessee. Purchase through Hamblen County Archives.
- 1896 Delinquent Tax Payers Notice, 1896, Hamblen Heritage. Morristown TN: Summer 2007. Vol. 22 Iss. 3.
Vital Records
- W.P.A. Guide to Public Vital Statistics in Tennessee. Nashville, Tenn.: The Tennessee Historical Records Survey, 1941. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
Birth
- 1828-1939 Tennessee Births and Christenings 1828-1939 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1869-1909 Tennessee Delayed Birth Records 1869-1909 at Ancestry ($)
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
- 1851-1900 Tennessee Marriages 1851-1900 at Ancestry ($)
- 1871-1895 - Hamblen County Marriage Index 1871-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch[13]
- 1980-2014 Marriage Records Index 1980-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index
Death
- 1874-1955 Tennessee Deaths and Burials 1874-1955 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1902-1950 - Williams, Marguerite White and Hamblen County Genealogical Society. Death Records of Hamblen County, Tennessee, 1902-1950. Morristown, Tenn.: Hamblen County Genealogical Society, 1995. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8923 V2h.
- 1908-1952 - Tennessee Death Certificates 1908-1952 Free lookups available at TN GenWeb.
- 1908-1958 Tennessee Death Records 1908-1958 at Ancestry ($)
- 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
- 1800-1965 - Tennessee. Tennessee Divorce and Other Records, 1800-1965. Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee State Library and Archives. Available at Ancestry ($)
- 1980-2014 Divorce Records Index 1980-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Hamblen County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Tennessee Archives and Libraries.
Hamblen County Archives
511 West Second North Street
Morristown, TN 37814
Phone: 423-586-1961
Website
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
- Cumberland Gap FamilySearch Center
- Kingsport Tennessee FamilySearch Center
- Morristown Tennessee FamilySearch Center
- Sevierville Tennessee FamilySearch Center
- King Family Library - an affiliate library.
- Knox County Public Library - an affiliate library.
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Hamblen County. For state-wide library facilities, see Tennessee Archives and Libraries.
Morristown-Hamblen Public Library
417 West Main Street
Morristown, TN 37814
Phone: 423-586-6410
Website
Walters State Community College, R. Jack Fishman Library
500 S. Davy Crockett Pkwy.
Morristown, TN 37813
Phone: 423-585-6903
Website
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Hamblen County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Tennessee Societies.
Hamblen County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 1213
Morristown, TN 37816-1213
Phone: 205-305-6504
Email: earleensides@gmail.com
Website
Facebook
Websites
- Hamblen 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: Hamblen 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, "Hamblen, Tennessee" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamblen_County,_Tennessee accessed 20 Dec 2018
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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, "Hamblen County, Tennessee," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamblen_County,_Tennessee, accessed 16 November 2019.
- ↑ “State of Franklin” in The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Robert M. McBride, "Lost Counties of Tennessee," East Tennessee Historical Society's Publications 38 (1966): 4-5.
- ↑ Alice Eichholz, ed. Red Book: American State, County and Town Sources, 3rd ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 637.
- ↑ "List of counties in Tennessee," Wikipedia.
- ↑ “State of Franklin” in The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture.
- ↑ National Park Service, Civil War Battles. Filter by state or battle name.
- ↑ 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.