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Tennessee, Births and Christenings - FamilySearch Historical Records

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Tennessee, Births and Christenings, 1828-1939
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This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org.
Tennessee,
United States
Flag of Tennessee
Flag of Tennessee
Locator map of Tennessee
Location of Tennessee
Record Description
Record Type Marriages
Collection years 1810-1964
FamilySearch Resources
Content Resources
Related Websites
Archive
Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville


What is in This Collection?

This collection includes an index & images of selected marriages. Many of the records are for Bradley and Lincoln counties.

Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

Index and Image Visibility

FamilySearch provides images and indexes subject to contractual limitations and changes. Access to images and indexes may vary. Some collections may only have partial indexes without images. See Restrictions for Viewing Images for details.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

  • Name
  • Marriage date
  • Marriage place
  • Witnesses
  • Name of Minister
  • Residence
Tip: Many marriages recorded in the South, are separated by race in volumes, books, or registers. Be sure to check to determine if you have the right set of marriage records.

Collection Content

Coverage Table

As of 27 January, 2020, records from the following churches were included in this collection.
Church County City
Flint Spring Congregation Bradley Cleveland
St. Luke's Episcopal Church Bradley Cleveland
Methodist Episcopal South Bradley Cleveland Station
St Ann's Episcopal Davidson Nashville
McAdoo Memorial Cumberland Presbyterian Dickson Burns
Mount Pleasant Cumberland Presbyterian Church Fayette Macon
St Thomas Episcopal Fayette Somerville
First Presbyterian Knox Knoxville
First Presbyterian Knox Knoxville
St Peter's Episcopal Maury Columbia
St Paul's Lutheran Church Morgan Wartburg
Rock Spring Church of Christ Rock Spring Rutherford
Hopewell Methodist Episcopalian Stewart Indian Mound
Indian Mound Episcopal Church South Stewart Indian Mound
St Paul's Episcopal Williamson Franklin

Digital Folder Number List

This collection was published as a DGS browse collection. The list does not contain any description of the DGS folder's content. A table listing each DGS number and its contents can be found at Tennessee Church Marriages Digital Folder Number List.

How Do I Search This Collection?

Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:

  • The name of your ancestor
  • The approximate date of the marriage
  • The place where the marriage took place
  • The name of the intended spouse

Search the Index

Search by name on the Collection Details Page.
  1. Enter the information in the fields in the Search Collection section or click More Options to see additional fields
  2. Click Search to show possible matches

View the Images

To view images in this collection:
  1. Look at the Tennessee Church Marriages Digital Folder Number List article to determine the folder/film number for the images you want to see
  2. Go to the Browse Page
  3. Select the Film number to view the images
Tip: More images are available in the FamilySearch Catalog Tennessee Church Marriages, 1810-1965. Some catalog records link to multiple references. In this case, click on a reference to find a camera icon to see images.

How Do I Analyze the Results?

Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?

When you have located your ancestor’s marriage record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. The information may also lead you to other records about your ancestors.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

  • Add any new information to your records
  • Use the church marriage information to locate the original marriage certificate in the County records
  • Marriage records sometimes show witnesses or bondsmen. In some cases, witnesses or bondsmen were relatives of the bride or groom. Remember to note those individuals because they may help identify the extended family
  • Couples were usually married in the locality where one or both parties were from. Search records from that locality for other information about the family such as marriages of siblings or the bride or groom’s birth records
  • Marriage was often times both a religious and a civil contract. Search for records created by both jurisdictions because they may provide different information
  • If no age is listed try to determine the legal age of marriage for that jurisdiction. This will provide a minimum age for your ancestor at time of marriage
  • Many marriage forms state that the bride and groom were of a certain age (commonly 21 or 18 years old). This may not be your ancestor’s age but a statement that the couple is of legal age to marry
  • If the minister is named, you may be able to determine to which religion or congregation your ancestor belonged. This information can lead to more records about the family

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

  • If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they were married, then try searching the records of a nearby locality
  • If the bride and groom were from different localities try searching the records of both places for the marriage record. It was common for a couple to be married in the bride’s home town
  • Because marriage could be either a civil or religious event, try searching both church and civil records for the couple’s marriage record
  • Sometimes marriage records for a particular locality are missing. Try searching newspapers for an announcement of the marriage
  • Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor

Research Helps

The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Tennessee.

Other FamilySearch Collections

These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

FamilySearch Historical Records

FamilySearch Digital Library

Citing This Collection

Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Collection Citation:
The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Cite This Collection.
Record Citation:
When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information.
Image Citation:
When looking at an image, the citation is found on the Information tab at the bottom left of the screen.
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