Lewis County, Tennessee Genealogy
Guide to Lewis 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
Lewis County was named for explorer Meriwether Lewis, who died and was buried at Grinder's Stand near Hohenwald in 1809. The county is located in the south-central area of the state. [2]
County Courthouse
Lewis County Courthouse
110 N Park Street
Hohenwald, TN 38462
Lewis County Courthouse Phone: 931-796-3734
Lewis County Clerk Phone: 931-796-2200
Lewis County Clerk & Master Phone: 931-796-3734
Lewis Circuit Court Clerk Phone: 931-796-3724
County Clerk has marriage records from 1881, Probate and court records
Clerk Circuit Court has divorce records
Register of Deeds has land records. [3]
Lewis 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 | 1847 | 1908 | 1844 | 1827 | 1846 | 1810 |
Record Loss
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:[6]
| Cities | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline
Additional Information
Middle Tennessee county. Established 1843.
The county is named after Explorer Meriwether Lewis (1774-1809).[7]
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- Middle Tennessee's Forgotten Children: Apprentices from 1784 to 1902. 2004. By Alan N. Miller. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield Company. FS Library US/CAN 976.8 U2ma. Includes Lewis County.
Cemeteries
| See Tennessee Cemeteries for more information. | |
Additional Cemetery Resources
- Tennessee Cemeteries - Hometown Locator
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1850 | 4,438 | — |
| 1860 | 2,241 | −49.5% |
| 1870 | 1,986 | −11.4% |
| 1880 | 2,181 | 9.8% |
| 1890 | 2,555 | 17.1% |
| 1900 | 4,455 | 74.4% |
| 1910 | 6,033 | 35.4% |
| 1920 | 5,707 | −5.4% |
| 1930 | 5,258 | −7.9% |
| 1940 | 5,849 | 11.2% |
| 1950 | 6,078 | 3.9% |
| 1960 | 6,269 | 3.1% |
| 1970 | 6,761 | 7.8% |
| 1980 | 9,700 | 43.5% |
| 1990 | 9,247 | −4.7% |
| 2000 | 11,367 | 22.9% |
| 2010 | 12,161 | 7.0% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 federal population censuses of Lewis 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 Lewis County, TN census assignments, including links to transcribed files. The USGenWeb Census Project®
1810-1891
1850
- Lightfoot, Marise P. and Evelyn B. Shackelford. Maury County Neighbors Records of Giles, Lewis and Marshall Counties, Tennessee.Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee s.n., 1967. FS Catalog 976.8 V22Ls
1880
- Sistler, Byron. 1880 Census Lewis County, Tennessee.Nashville, Tennessee Byron Sistler & Associates, 1998. FS Catalog 976.8432 X2s 1880
1890 Lost
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. 8 1891. Lewis County is included in Vol. 8.
- 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
- 1891 Tennessee Enumeration of Male Voters 1891 at Ancestry ($)
Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Church of Christ
- 1871-1894 - Union Church of Christ Baptism Index 1871-1894. Batch C710801 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
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
As of August 2010, a query for persons born in Lewis (County), Tennessee at World Connect, results in more than 7,000 entries.
- Lewis County Historical Society. History and Families, Lewis County, Tennessee. Paducah, Ky.: Turner Pub. Co., 1995. FS Library Book 976.8432 H2L.
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
- Lewis County Register of Deeds has Land Records from 1844 and is located at the county Courthouse, 110 N Park St., Hohenwald, TN 38462; Telephone: (931) 796-2200. Land and property records include transfer of real estate or personal property, mortgages, leases, surveys, and entries.
- The FamilySearch Library has microfilm copies of deeds 1844-1905 with indexes 1844-1926; land entries and surveys 1827-1883.
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
War of 1812
- Embry, Hermione D. "War of 1812 - Tennessee Pensioners on List - January 2, 1883," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 7, No. 4 (Oct. 1960):90-93. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a v. 7 (1960); digital version at Ansearchin' News. Includes Lewis County pensioners (p. 93).
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 U.S., 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
- Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System
Regiments. Men in Lewis 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 Lewis County:
Confederate Soldiers
- 3rd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (Clack's) - CSA - Company K.
- 19th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Biffle's) - CSA - Company H.
- 48th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (Voorhies') - CSA - Company C.
Additional sources for Civil War soldiers from Lewis County:
- Lewis County, Tennessee 1890 Civil War Veterans Census. All spelling is recorded as it was written, contributed by: Reita Jones Burress 2004.
- TNGenWeb, Lewis County The Civil War Page. Confederate Roll of Honor: Lewis County, Lewis County Confederate Pension Applications, Roster of Company C, Clack's 3rd Infantry Regiment.
- Tennessee State Library and Archives, Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications: Lewis 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. Lewis County, page 357.
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 Lewis County click on the following city:
- 1794-1851 - Lucas, Silas Emmett. Marriages from Early Tennessee Newspapers 1794-1851. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1978. FS Catalog 976.8 V2L.
- 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
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.
- 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.
- The River Counties Quarterly: (14 vols.) edited by Jill K. Garrett. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 B2rc.
Probate Records
The Lewis County Court has responsibility for the probate records.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1779-2008 Tennessee Wills and Probate Records 1779-2008 at Ancestry ($)
- 1846-1936 SourtheasternGenealogy.com Images of Wills ($)
- 1846-1874 SourtheasternGenealogy.com Images of Inventories ($)
- 1846-1931 [ Lewis County] portion of Tennessee, Probate Court Books, 1795-1927 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; handwritten indexes may be found at the front or back of some volumes.
- 1875-1926 SourtheasternGenealogy.com Images of Settlements & Guardians ($)
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Book Abstracts and Indexes
- 1844-1900 Lightfoot, Marise P. and Evelyn B. Shackelford. Maury County Neighbors: Records of Giles, Lewis and Marshall Counties, Tennessee. Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee: [N.p.], 1967. Indexed. Includes these Lewis County records: cemeteries, marriages, historical sketch, abstracts of wills and settlements 1844-1900, and 1850 census. (FS Library book 976.8 V22Ls.)
- 1842-1861 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.
- 1846-1936 Coleman, Brenda Willis. Tennessee, Lewis County Court Clerk Wills, Nov 1846-1936. Atoka, Tenn.: B.W. Coleman, 199-?. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8432 P2c.
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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Book Abstracts and Indexes[8]
- 1854 Tax List, 1854, River Counties, Vol. 12, Nos. 1-4 (1983).
- 1887 Tax List, 1887, River Counties, Vol. 9, Nos. 1-4 (1980).
- 1917 Tax List, 1917, River Counties, Vol. 10, Nos. 1-4 (1981); Vol. 12, Nos. 1-4 (1983).
Vital Records
Birth
- 1828-1939 Tennessee Births and Christenings 1828-1939 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1869-1909 Tennessee Delayed Birth Records 1869-1909 at Ancestry ($)
- 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 - 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 ($)
- 1847-1895 - Lewis County Marriage Index 1847-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch[9]
- Maury County Neighbors: Records of Giles, Lewis and Marshall Counties, Tennessee. Digital copy FS Library Book 976.8 V22Ls
- 1980-2014 Marriage Records Index 1980-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index
Book Abstracts and Indexes
- 1844-1880 - Early Middle Tennessee Marriages. 2 vols. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 V2sb v. 2 ff. Indexes names of brides, grooms, and marriage dates for this county for specified years.
Death
- 1874-1955 Tennessee Deaths and Burials 1874-1955 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1908-1933 Tennessee Deaths, 1908 - 1933 at MyHeritage ($) — 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
- 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 Lewis 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
- Columbia Tennessee FamilySearch Center
- Dickson Tennessee FamilySearch Center
- Franklin Tennessee FamilySearce Center
- Brentwood Public Library - an affiliate library.
- Tennessee State Library and Archives - an affiliate library.
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Lewis County. For state-wide library facilities, see Tennessee Archives and Libraries.
Lewis County Public Library
15 Kyle Ave.
Hohenwald, TN 38462
Phone: 931-796-5365
Website
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Lewis County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Tennessee Societies.
Hohenwald/Lewis County Heritage & History Group
Hohenwald, TN
Facebook
Lewis County Historical Society
P.O. Box 703
Hohenwald, TN 38462
Phone: 931-796-3505
Facebook
Websites
- Lewis County, TNGenWeb (USGenWeb)
- Lewis County TN Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
- 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: Lewis 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, "Lewis, Tennessee" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_County,_Tennessee accessed 24 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, "Lewis County, Tennessee," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_County,_Tennessee, accessed 1 December 2019.
- ↑ "List of counties in Tennessee," Wikipedia.
- ↑ The Heritage Quest Online version of PERSI aided in the compilation of this list.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/8/88/Igitennesseel.pdf.