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Rhea County, Tennessee Genealogy

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

County Facts
County seat: Dayton
Organized: November 30, 1807
Parent County(s): Roane[1]
Neighboring Counties
Bledsoe • Cumberland • Hamilton • Meigs • Roane
See County Maps
Courthouse
Rhea County Courthouse.JPG
Location Map
Location of Rhea County.PNG

County Information

Description

Rhea County was named for the Tennessee politician and Revolutionary War veteran John Rhea. The county is located in the east-central area of the state.[2]

County Courthouse

Rhea County Courthouse
1475 Market Street
Dayton, TN 37321
County Courthouse Phone: 423-775-7808
County Clerk Phone: 423-775-7808
County Register of Deeds Phone: 423-775-7841

County Clerk has marriage records from 1808.
Register of Deeds has land records.[3]

Rhea 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
1908 1808 1908 1815 1808 1825 1810
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1908 (1913 missing). General compliance by 1927.

Record Loss

1869 and 1927 Fires damaged courthouse records.[5]

  • Lost censuses: 1810, 1820
  • Lost probate records: 1808 to 1825

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
Historic communities


History Timeline

Additional Information
East Tennessee county.

The county is named after U.S. Congressman John Rhea (1753-1832) from Tennessee.[8]

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 Rhea County.

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Rhea 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.

 

Additional Cemetery Resources

Census Records

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1810 2,504 —
1820 4,215 68.3%
1830 8,186 94.2%
1840 3,985 −51.3%
1850 4,415 10.8%
1860 4,991 13.0%
1870 5,538 11.0%
1880 7,073 27.7%
1890 12,647 78.8%
1900 14,318 13.2%
1910 15,410 7.6%
1920 13,812 −10.4%
1930 13,871 0.4%
1940 16,353 17.9%
1950 16,041 −1.9%
1960 15,863 −1.1%
1970 17,202 8.4%
1980 24,235 40.9%
1990 24,344 0.4%
2000 28,400 16.7%
2010 31,809 12.0%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

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

1810-1891

1810 Lost, but a substitute is available:

  • Sherrill, Charles A. The Reconstructed 1810 Census of Tennessee: 33,000 Long-lost Records from Tax Lists, Court Minutes, Church Records, Wills, Deeds and Other Sources. Mt. Juliet, Tenn.: C.A. Sherrill, 2001. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 X2s 1810.

1820 Lost[9]

1820 Manufactures

The original manufactures schedules for the Eastern and Western Districts of Tennessee are kept at NARA, Washington, D.C. FS Library copies: FS Library US/CAN Films 1024517-1024518.

  • 1820 Census of Manufactures: Rhea County, East Tennessee Roots, Vol. 6, No. 1 ():37. For availability, see Rhea.

1830

1840

1840 Revolutionary War Pensioners

1850

1850 Agricultural Census

1860

1870

1870 Agricultural Census

  • Broyles, Bettye J. Rhea County: 1850, 1870, and 1880 Agricultural Production Census. n.p.: Rhea County Historical and Genealogical Society, 1999. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.883 X2b.

1880

1880 Agricultural Census

  • Broyles, Bettye J. Rhea County: 1850, 1870, and 1880 Agricultural Production Census. n.p.: Rhea County Historical and Genealogical Society, 1999. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.883 X2b.

1891 Male Voters

1900

1920

  • Tallent, Seth, Henrietta Tallent and Rhea County Historical and Genealogical Society. Rhea County, Tennessee, 1920 Census. Spring City, Tenn.: Rhea County Historical and Genealogical Society, 1995. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8834 X2t.

Church Records

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Church records include baptisms, marriages and burials, as well as information about family members and clues about family migration.For additional information about church records, religions, and religious archives in Tennessee, see Tennessee Church Records.

  • Rhea County Church Records
- FamilySearch Catalog - Rhea County Church Records
  • Church histories tell when a church started in the area, who the early members were, give data about church leaders, etc.
- FamilySearch Catalog - Rhea County Church History
  • If the records you need are not through the FamilySearch Library, contact the church(es) in the area where your ancestor lived.Two sites that give information about churches in Rhea County are:
- List of Rhea County churches with addresses and phone numbers (Yellowbook)
- List of Rhea County churches (TN HomeTownLocator)

Baptist

  • 1807-1937 - Salem Baptist Church Records. Dayton, 1807-1937. Manuscript. TSLA Reel #465.
  • 1807-1900 - Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Vital Statistics from 19th Century Tennessee Church Records. Nashville: Sitler and Associates, 1979. vol. 2 FS Catalog 976.8 K29s Index to original Salem Baptist Church Records. Dayton, 1807-1937.

Methodist

  • Historical Records Project. Quarterly Conference of the Washington Circuit of the Holston Conference Methodist Church South, Rhea County, Tennessee. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1940. Manuscript. FS Catalog 24790 Item 3

Episcopal

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

Emigration and Immigration

During the War of 1812, American officials reported finding a total of 6 British aliens, many of whom had families, living in Rhea County.

  • Kenneth Scott. British Aliens in the United States During the War of 1812. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979, 372-378 (see East Tennessee). FS Library US/CAN 973 W4s; digital version at Ancestry ($)

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

Funeral Homes

Genealogies

General

Bibliography

  • Edmonds - Yadon, Laurence J. The Newton J. Edmonds Family of Rhea County, Tennessee and Greene, Laclede and Webster Counties, Missouri. Tulsa, Oklahoma: L.J. Yadon II, 1980. FS Library FAM HIST Book 929.273 Ed58y.
  • Shultz - Reagan, Donald B. Smoky Mountain Clans. 3 vols. Knoxville, Tenn.: D.B. Reagan, 1978-1983. FS Library FAM HIST Book 929.273R22b 1978. The Shultz family is discussed in Vol. 2.
  • Smith - Mayes, C. Vale. A Genealogy and History of Smith Family of Rhea Co. Tn. and Barry Co. Mo. with Their Related Families, 1772-1982. n.p.: C.V. Mayes, 198?. FS Library FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sm61m.
  • Walker - Bowman, G. Ralph. Some Descendants of Captain George Walker, 1745-1833: of Fauquier, Virginia; Burke County, North Carolina; Knox, Rhea & Bledsoe Counties, Tenn. n.p.: G.R. Bowman, 1978, 2004. FS Library FAM HIST Book 929.273 W152bg. Digital version available at FamilySearch Digital Library.
  • Wasson - Murray, J.L. Ancestry of James S. Murray of Campbell County, Tennessee and the Wasson Family of Rhea County, Tennessee. MSS., microfilmed in 1983. FS Library US/CAN Film 1033940 Item 6.
  • Young - Stein, Carl F. Some Descendents of James Pickens Young 1815: of Polk, Rhea, Hamilton, Blount, & Knox Counties, Tenn., Cherokee, & Gaston Counties, North Carolina. Family Group Sheets. FS Library US/CAN Film 2055385 Item 2.

Guardianship

Land and Property Records

In 1969, TSLA microfilmed original Rhea County Deed Books A to M (1808-1879). FS Library copies: FS Library US/CAN Films 589479-589483.

Online Land Indexes and Records

Book Abstracts and Indexes

Local Histories

Maps and Gazetteers

Cumberland CountyRoane CountyMeigs CountyHamilton CountyBledsoe CountyTN RHEA.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Migration

Military Records

Revolutionary War

Additional resources include:

  • 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. 8, No. 2 (Apr. 1961):49-52. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a v. 8 (1961); digital version at journal website. Includes Rhea County pensioners (p. 50).

Civil War

Online Records

Regiments. Men in Rhea 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 Rhea County:

Confederate Soldiers

Union Soldiers

Additional sources for Civil War soldiers from Rhea County:

Naturalization and Citizenship

Newspapers

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

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

Online Probate Indexes and Records

Book Abstracts and Indexes

  • 1808 - 1851 - Bell, Annie W.B. Rhea County, Tennessee, Wills, 1808-1851. Typescript, pre-1935. FS Library US/CAN 940062 Item 4.
  • 1810 - 1881 - Broyles, Bettye J. Rhea County, Tennessee Wills, Inventories, Estate Settlements and Guardian Reports 1810-1881. n.p.: Rhea County Historical and Genealogical Society, 1989. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8834 P2r. Free Lookups Available!
  • 1825 - 1860 - Historical Records Project (W.P.A.). Will Books, 1825-1860, Rhea County, Tennessee. Typescript, TSLA. Microfilmed in 1940. FS Library US/CAN Films 24791, 24788. Includes inventories and administrations for certain years.
  • 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.

School Records

Social Security Records

Tax Records

In 1969, the TSLA microfilmed the original Rhea County Tax Lists 1832-1834. FS Library copy: Minute Book C, FS Library US/CAN Film 1012164.

Book Abstracts and Indexes

  • 1808-1809 Tax List, 1808-9, Rhea Notes, Vol. 1, No. 3 (May 1987).
  • 1808, 1819 Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Index to Early Tennessee Tax Lists. Evanston, Ill.: B. & B. Sistler, 1977. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 R4s. Includes 1808 and 1819 tax lists.
  • 1808, 1819 Mary Barnett Curtis, Early East Tennessee Tax Lists (Fort Worth, Texas: Arrow Printing Company, 1964), FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 R4c. Includes 1808 and 1819 tax lists.
  • 1808-1850 Broyles, Bettie J. A Compendium of Rhea and Meigs Counties, Tennessee, 1808 through 1850. 1980. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.883 V2b; online: free surname index and purchase details.
  • 1808-1809 Tax List, 1808-9, Rhea Notes, Vol. 1, No. 3 (May 1987).
  • 1808 "1808 Tax Lists of Rhea County," available online, courtesy: TNGenWeb.
  • 1809 Tax List, 1809, Rhea Notes, Vol. 9, Nos. 3-4 (May 1995).
  • 1810 Tax List, 1810, Rhea Notes, Vol. 1, No. 4 (Jul. 1987).
  • 1810 Tax List, 1810, Rhea Notes, Vol. 9, Nos. 5-6 (Sep. 1995).
  • 1811 Tax List, 1811, Rhea Notes, Vol. 1, No. 5 (Sep. 1987); Vol. 1, No. 6 (Nov. 1987).
  • 1814 Tax List, 1814, Rhea Notes, Vol. 2, No. 2 (Mar. 1988).
  • 1814 "Direct Federal Tax-Delinquent Property Owners Listed for 1814," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 43, No. 3(Fall 1996):115-120. For possible FS Library and online access, as well as indexes, see Rhea. Includes Rhea County.
  • 1815 Tax List, 1815, Rhea Notes, Vol. 2, No. 3 (May 1988).
  • 1816-1817 Tax List, 1816, 1817, Rhea Notes, Vol. 2, No. 4 (Jul. 1988).
  • 1818 Tax List, 1818, Rhea Notes, Vol. 2, No. 5 (Sep. 1988).
  • 1819-1829 Broyles, Bettie J. Rhea County Tax Lists, 1819 through 1829. Chattanooga, Tenn.: B.J. Broyles, 199-?. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8834 R4bb.
  • 1823 Thornton, Mabel H. "Rhea County, Tennessee, Tax List-1823," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 11, No. 1 (Jan. 1964):9-20. For FS Library and online access, as well as indexes, see Rhea.
  • 1832-1834 Wells, Carol. Rhea County, Tennessee: Tax Lists, 1832-1834 and County Court Minutes, Colume D: 1829-1834. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, 1996. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8834 P2w.
  • 1832-1834 Wells, Carol. Tennessee. CD-ROM. FS Library Computer US/CAN Desktop CD-ROM no. 680 v. 2. Includes 1832-1834 tax lists.
  • 1833 Vincent, Don. Missouri Heartlands, Family Records. 2 vols. 1991-1993. FS Library US/CAN Book 977.8 D2vd. Includes Rhea County 1833 tax list.
  • 1836 "Rhea County, Tennessee 1836 Plat Map and Civil District Descriptions," available online, courtesy: TNGenWeb.
  • 1837 Broyles, Bettie J. Rhea County: Taxable Property and Polls for 1837. n.p.: Rhea County Historical and Genealogical Society, 1992. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8834 R4b; online: free surname index and purchase details.
  • 1850-1900 Broyles, Bettie J. Rhea County, Tennessee, Census, Marriage, and Tax Records, 1850 through 1900. 1982. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8834 X2b; online: free surname index and purchase details. Free Lookups Available!
  • 1866 Broyles, Bettie J. Rhea County, Tennessee 1866 Tax List. Spring City, Tennessee: Rhea County Historical and Genealogical Society, 1996. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8834 R4bbj; online: free surname index and purchase details.

Vital Records

Birth

Marriage

Online indexes and Records

Book Abstracts and Indexes

Death

Divorce

Online Records

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 Rhea 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 Rhea County. For state-wide library facilities, see Tennessee Archives and Libraries.

Clyde W. Roddy Library
371 First Ave.
Dayton, Tennessee 37321
Phone: 423-775-8406
Email: info@clyderoddy.org
Facebook
Website

Museums

Societies

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

Rhea County Historical & Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 31
Dayton, TN 37321
Email: rchgsarchives@gmail.com
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, "Rhea County, Tennessee" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhea_County,_Tennessee, accessed 03 Jan 2019
  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. ↑ Lost Records: Courthouse Fires and Disasters in Tennessee in Tennessee State Library and Archives in Tennessee Secretary of State (accessed 13 March 2016).
  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, "Rhea County, Tennessee," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhea_County,_Tennessee, accessed 10 December 2019.
  8. ↑ "List of counties in Tennessee," Wikipedia.
  9. ↑ Mary Barnett Curtis, Early East Tennessee Tax Lists: a compiled list of residents of the area covered in 22 east Tennessee counties for which there is [sic] no census records prior to 1830 (Fort Worth, Texas: Arrow Printing, 1964) [FS Catalog 976.8 R4c].
  10. ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at Media:Igitennesseel.pdf.
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