Putnam County, Tennessee Genealogy

United States

Tennessee

Putnam County

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

Tennessee Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: Cookeville Organized: February 2, 1842 Parent County(s): White, Overton, Jackson, Smith, DeKalb Neighboring Counties Cumberland • DeKalb • Fentress • Jackson • Overton • Smith • White See County Maps Courthouse Location Map

County Information

Description

Putnam County was named for Israel Putnam, who was a hero in the French and Indian War and a general in the American Revolutionary War. The county is located in the north-central area of the state.

County Courthouse

Putnam County Courthouse
421 E Spring Street
Cookeville, TN 38501
County Courthouse Phone: 931-526-6321
County Clerk Phone: 931-372-8201
County Register of Deeds Phone: 931-526-7101
County Circuit Court Clerk Phone: 931-528-1508

County Clerk has birth and death 1925-1940, incomplete birth and death records 1908-1912, marriage records from 1879 and probate records from 1876.
Clerk Chancery Court has divorce and court records from 1900.
Register of Deeds has land records from 1854.
Clerk Circuit Court court records from 1900.
County Historian; Rt. 2, Box 408; Cookeville, TN has miscellaneous court records.

Putnam 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
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1908	1879	1908	1900	1854	1876	1810
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1908 (1913 missing). General compliance by 1927.

Record Loss

1860s Courthouse records were damaged in the American Civil War, 1861-1865. 1898 Fire damaged courthouse records. Lost marriage records: 1842 to 1878 Lost probate records: 1842 to 1875 For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see: Burned Counties. By Michael John Neill at 24-7 Family History Circle. When the Records are Gone. By Arlene Eakle at Arlene Eakle's Tennessee Blog. Burned Counties Research in the FamilySearch Research Wiki. List of counties in the United States with Record Loss

Boundary Changes

1842--Putnam County was established 2 February 1842 from White, Overton, Jackson, Smith and DeKalb Counties. Early records may be found under White, Overton, Jackson, Smith and DeKalb Counties. County seat: Cookeville Tennessee Individual County Chronologies - Newberry Library list of all boundary changes by county Tennessee Historical Borders - Map at Newberry Library Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; Also at: mapofus.org - animated maps illustrating Tennessee county 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:

Cities
Algood	Cookeville
Towns
Baxter	Monterey
Unincorporated communities
Bangham Bloomington Springs Boma Brotherton Mountain Buffalo Valley Cane Creek Cedar Hill Ditty	Double Springs Dry Valley Gentry Paragon Phifer Mountain Pippin Post Oak	Post Oak Estates Silver Point Winona Roberts Switch Rocky Point Mountain Twin Oak West Gate

History Timeline

Israel Putnam

Additional Information
Middle Tennessee county.

The county is named after Revolutionary War Major General Israel Putnam (1718-1790).

Resources

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Putnam County, Tennessee online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Findagrave.com TNGenWeb TNGenWeb Archives Tombstone Project TNGenWeb Cemeteries BillionGraves
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	FamilySearch Library WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the County	Findagrave.com Gravestones FamilySearch Places
See Tennessee Cemeteries for more information.

 

Additional Cemetery Resources

• Tennessee Cemeteries - Hometown Locator
• TNGenes.net has 180+ cemeteries photographed.

Census Records

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1860	8,558	—
1870	8,698	1.6%
1880	11,501	32.2%
1890	13,683	19.0%
1900	16,890	23.4%
1910	20,023	18.5%
1920	22,231	11.0%
1930	23,759	6.9%
1940	26,250	10.5%
1950	29,869	13.8%
1960	29,236	−2.1%
1970	35,487	21.4%
1980	47,690	34.4%
1990	51,373	7.7%
2000	62,315	21.3%
2010	72,321	16.1%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

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

1810-1891

• Tennessee, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1810-1891 at Ancestry — index $

1860

• McComb, Joyce B. The First Putnam County, Tennessee, United States Census, 1860. Lexington, South Carolina J.B. McComb, 1989. FS Catalog 976.867 X2m 1860

1870

• McGee, Norman T. 1870 United States Census of Putnam County, Tennessee. Arrington, Tennessee Lilac Hill Pub., 1989. FS Catalog 976.867 X2m 1870

1880

• McGee, Norman T. 1880 United States Census of Putnam County, Tennessee. Arrington, Tennessee Lilac Hill Pub., 1989. FS Catalog 976.867 X2m 1880
• Sistler, Byron H. and Barbara Sistler. 1880 Census, Putnam County, Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: B. Sistler and Associates, 1991. FS Catalog 976.867 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. 5 1891. Putnam 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.

1891 Male Voters

• 1891 Tennessee Enumeration of Male Voters 1891 at Ancestry — index $

1900

• Clark, Fred L. The United States Twelfth Census of Putnam County, Tennessee, 1900. Quebeck, Tennessee F.L. Clark, 1994. FS Catalog 976.867 X28v 1900

1910

• Wilkerson, Azilee, Fred L. Clark, ed. The United States thirteenth Census of Putnam County, Tennessee, 1910. Quebeck, Tennessee F.L. Clark, 1992. FS Catalog 976.867 X2w 1910

Church Records

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places
  

Baptist

• Grime, John Harvey. History of Middle Tennessee Baptists: With Special Reference to Salem, New Salem, Enon and Wiseman Associations. Nashville, Tennessee: Baptist and Reflector, 1902.Includes names changes for places in Middle Tennessee. Free digital copy.

Presbyterian

• 1873-1886 - First Presbyterian Church, Cookeville, Baptism Index 1873-1886. Batch C711201 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.

Directories

• 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary

Funeral Homes

Crest Lawn Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Cookeville Cumberland Family Services in Cookeville D.M. Goff Funeral Home, Inc. in Monterey Dyer Chapel of Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home in Cookeville Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home in Baxter Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home in Cookeville Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home in Monterey Presley Funeral Home in Cookeville Whitson Funeral Home in Baxter Whitson Funeral Home in Cookeville

Genealogies

• The Upper Cumberland Genealogical Association, Inc. has uploaded a free "Index to the Charles Leonard Collection" on their website. It contains "a name index to family research files at the Putnam County Library in Cookeville TN."

Bibliography

• Dyer - Preator, Richard E. The Descendants of James Dyer and Jane Finn of Jackson Co. Tennessee. Salem, Mass.: Higginson, 1998. FS Library FAM HIST Book 929.273 D988p.
• Maxwell - Maxwell, Harry L. Descendants of Samuel Maxwell of Putnam County and Jackson County, TN. Cookeville, Tenn.: H.L. Maxwell, [199-?]. FS Library FAM HIST Book 929.273 M451mh.

Land and Property Records

Online Land Indexes and Records

• Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• Maps of Tennessee (1777-1985)
• FamilySearch Places: Cities and Towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

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

• 1835 Pension Roll
• 1852 Rejected or Suspended Pensions

War of 1812

• Embry, Hermione D. "War of 1812 - Tennessee Pensioners on List - January 2, 1883," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 8, No. 2 (Apr. 1961):49-52. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a v. 8 (1961); digital version at Ansearchin' News. Includes Putnam County pensioners (p. 50).

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 — index (free)
• 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
• 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 Putnam 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 Putnam County:

Confederate Soldiers

• 8th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company G.
• 13th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Gore's) - CSA - Company C.
• 16th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company F.
• 17th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company R.
• 22nd Battalion, Tennessee Infantry (Murray's) - CSA - Company H.
• 25th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Companies F, I and K.
• 28th Consolidated Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Companies D and H.
• 28th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (2nd Tennessee Mountain Volunteers) - CSA - Companies E and I.
• 84th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company D.

Additional sources for Civil War soldiers from Putnam County:

• Head, Thomas A. Campaigns and battles of the Sixteenth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers, in the war between the states, with incidental sketches of the part performed by other Tennessee troops in the same war.1861-1865. Nashville, Tennessee: Cumberland Presbyterian Publishing House, 1885. Free digital copy.
• USGenWeb Archives, Putnam County Tennessee Archives. Civil War Records.
• Tennessee State Library and Archives, Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications: Putnam 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. Putnam County, page 369.
• Civil War Soldiers From Putnam County. Compiled by Maurine Ensor Patton & Christine Spivey Jones.

Newspapers

• Extracts taken from the Putnam County Herald (19--?). FS Catalog book 976.867 B38. Digital version available at FamilySearch Digital Library
  • 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
    

For a list of newspapers available at the archives for Putnam County click on the following city or town:

• Cookeville
• Monterey

• 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 ($)

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.
• 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 Upper Cumberland Researcher: Quarterly magazine of Upper Cumberland Genealogical Association. Articles include abstracts of records of Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Van Buren, Warren, and White counties. Index of first 17 years, with county list starting on page 19. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 B2u (1975-1993) and FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 B2u (1994-present).

Probate Records

The Putnam County Court has responsibility for the probate records.

Online Probate Indexes and Records

• 1779-2008 Tennessee Wills and Probate Records 1779-2008 at Ancestry $
• 1874-1933 Putnam 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

Book Abstracts and Indexes

• Works Progress Administration. Putnam County, Tennessee, Miscellaneous Records. Nashville, Tennessee: Byron Sistler & Assoc., 1936. This indexed book includes diaries, letters, wills, indentures, and other misellaneous records from private collections. (FS Library book 976.867 P2p.)
  

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

• 1854-1855 - "Putnam County, Tennessee - Tax Book Index 1854-1855," The Upper Cumberland Researcher, Vol. 1, No. 3 ():10-. For access, see Periodicals.
• 1854-1855 - W.P.A. Putnam County, Tennessee Tax List 1854-1855. 2005 reprint, Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press. Free online surname index; purchase details.
• 1855 - Paessler, Jane Park. "Putnam County, Tennessee 1855 Tax List," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 42, No. 1 (Spring 1995):7-12; Vol. 42, No. 2 (Summer 1995):61-63. For possible FS Library and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
• 1858 Tax List, 1858, The Upper Cumberland Researcher, Vol. 24, No. 4 (Winter 1999). For access, see Periodicals.
• 1860's - "Putnam County, Tennessee - Civil War Tax List," The Upper Cumberland Researcher, Vol. 3, No. 3 ():3-. For access, see Periodicals.
• 1870-1872 - Civil District No. 16, 1870-72, The Upper Cumberland Genealogical Association Bulletin, Vol. 17, No. 3 (Fall 1992).
• 1883 - Freeman, Mitzi P. "Putnam County, TN - Tax Records-1883," (6 Districts) available online, courtesy: USGenWeb Archives.
• 1913 Road Taxpayers List, 1913, The Upper Cumberland Researcher, Vol. 23, No. 4 (Winter 1998). For access, see Periodicals.
• Delinquent Railroad Taxes, The Upper Cumberland Genealogical Association Bulletin, Vol. 11, No. 2 (Spring 1986). For access, see Periodicals.

Vital Records

• See Tennessee 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 $
• 1878-1902 - Putnam County Marriage Index 1878-1902 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.
• Extracts Taken from the Putnam County Herald. Manuscript. FS Library Book 976.867 B38b Digital copy.
• 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
• 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 Books Online

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Putnam 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

• Cookeville Tennessee FamilySearch Center
• Crossville Tennessee FamilySearch Center
• Jamestown Tennessee FamilySearch Center
• McMinneville Tennessee FamilySearch Center
• Art Circle Public Library - an affiliate library.
• Tennessee State Library and Archives - an affiliate library.

Libraries

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

Putnam County Library
50 East Broad St.
Cookeville, TN 38501
Phone: 931-526-2416
Website
The Tennessee Room houses the library's genealogy collection.

Societies

Listed below are societies in Putnam County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Tennessee Societies.

Upper Cumberland Genealogical Association, Inc.
PO Box 575
Cookeville, TN 38503-0575
Email: info@ucga.info
Website

Websites

The usage of "Mormon" and "LDS" on this page is approved according to current policy.

• Putnam County, TN Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
• Putnam County, TNGenWeb (USGenWeb)
• Rootwalker: Genealogy Pages for Northern Middle TN Free Genealogy Resources for the Region
• Putnam 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: Putnam County, courtesy: TSLA. (Identifies published county histories, published local records, census records, newspapers and local records on microfilm, and select manuscripts.)