White County, Tennessee Genealogy

United States

Tennessee

White County

Guide to White 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: Sparta Organized: September 11, 1806 Parent County(s): Smith Neighboring Counties Cumberland • DeKalb • Putnam • Van Buren • Warren See County Maps Courthouse Location Map

County Information

Description

White County was named for John White (1751-1846), a Revolutionary War soldier, surveyor, and frontiersman who was the first known white settler of the area. The county is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse

White County Courthouse
1 East Brockman Way
Sparta,TN 38583
County Courthouse Phone: 931-836-3205
County Clerk Phone: 931-836-3712

County Clerk has marriage records from 1838 with a few from 1809, probate and land records from 1806.

White 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
1881	1838	1881	1806	1806	1806	1810
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1908 (1913 missing). General compliance by 1927.

Record Loss

Lost census: 1810 Marriage records: Records start in 1809, but are incomplete. Probate records: Records start in 1806, but are incomplete. 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

1806--White County was established 11 September 1806 from Smith County. Early records may be found under Smith County. County seat: Sparta 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

Bakers Crossroads	Doyle	Macedonia	Shady Grove
Bethesda	Drop (hist.)	Methodist (hist.)	Sparta
Black Oak	Eastland	Mobra	Spring Hill
Board Valley	Elijah (hist.)	Mount Pisgah	Stringtown
Bon Air	Fanchers Mills	Old Zion	Taylors
Cassville	Findlay	Oliveville (hist.)	Walling
Center Point	Foot (hist.)	Peeled Chestnut	Yankeetown
Clarktown	Grace (hist.)	Perilla (hist.)	Yateston
Clifty	Gum Spring	Pollard (hist.)	Young (hist.)
Darkey Springs	Heads (hist.)	Quebeck
De Rossett	Joppa	Ravenscroft
Dodson	Lost Creek	River Hill

History Timeline

Additional Information
Middle Tennessee county.

The county is named after "John White, Revolutionary War soldier and the first European-American settler in the county."

Resources

Biographies

• All of the family biographies from the History of White County, Tennessee (1887) by Goodspeed Publishing Co., are availableonline at My Genealogy Hound.

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 White County.

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of White 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 TNGravestones FamilySearch Places
See Tennessee Cemeteries for more information.

 

Additional Cemetery Resources

• Tennessee Cemeteries - Hometown Locator

Census Records

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1810	4,028	—
1820	8,701	116.0%
1830	9,967	14.6%
1840	10,747	7.8%
1850	11,444	6.5%
1860	9,381	−18.0%
1870	9,375	−0.1%
1880	11,176	19.2%
1890	12,348	10.5%
1900	14,157	14.7%
1910	15,420	8.9%
1920	15,701	1.8%
1930	15,543	−1.0%
1940	15,983	2.8%
1950	16,204	1.4%
1960	15,577	−3.9%
1970	17,088	9.7%
1980	19,567	14.5%
1990	20,090	2.7%
2000	23,102	15.0%
Source: "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau.

1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 federal population censuses of White 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 White County, Tennessee census assignments, including links to transcribed files and scanned images of census microfilm. The USGenWeb Census Project^®.

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 Catalog book 976.8 X2s 1810.

1810-1891

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

1820

• Bentley, Elizabeth P. Index to the 1820 Census of Tennessee. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1981. FS Catalog 976.8 X22b 1820. Online at Ancestry ($).
• Waldrep, G.C. "'Free Colored' Heads of Household in the 1820 Tennessee Census," online at Free African Americans. Includes African Americans in this county.

1820 Manufactures

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

• National Archives. Indexes to Manufactures Census of 1820. 1920; reprint, Knightstown, Ind.: Bookmark, 1977. FS Library US/CAN Book 973 X2m 1820. Covers this county.

1870

• McComb, Joyce B. White County, Tennessee, 1870 Federal Census. Lexington, South Carolina: J.B. McComb, 1990. FS Catalog 976.866 X2m 1870

1880

• Sistler, Barbara and Byron H. Sistler. 1880 Census White County, Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee: B. Sistler and Associates, 1999. FS Catalog 976.866 X2s 1880

1891 Male Voters

• 1891 Tennessee Enumeration of Male Voters 1891 at Ancestry $

1920

• Young, Denise, ed. White County, Tennessee Census, 1920 (database on-line). Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2000. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
• White County, Tennessee Census, 1920 at Ancestry $

Church Records

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places
  

• 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.

Court Records

• 1809-1975 Tennessee, White County Records, 1809-1975 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection. This is a collection of records from White County including marriages, 1950-1975; chancery court records 1825-1937, and circuit court records, 1809-1900. The county court records include primarily probate records. The chancery and circuit court records include disputed estate and property records, some wills, and divorces.

• Free online index to the court records transcribed by the WPA. The court records that are included are:

• County Court Minute Book 1806-1811
• County Court Minute Book 1812-1814
• County Court Minute Book, Parts 1 & II 1814-1817
• Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions, Minutes 1817-1819
• Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions, Minutes 1819-1820
• Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions, Minutes 1820
• Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions, Minutes, Vol. 6, Part I 1820-1823
• Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions, Minutes, Parts I, II & III 1824-1827
• Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions, Minutes, Parts I & II 1835-1841
  

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

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

African American

• Waldrep, G.C. "'Free Colored' Heads of Household in the 1820 Tennessee Census." Online at Free African Americans. Includes African Americans in this county.

Funeral Homes

Final Care Cremation Services in Sparta Hunter Funeral Home, Inc. in Sparta Oak Lawn Funeral Home in Sparta Thurman Funeral Home in Sparta

Genealogies

• Heritage of White County, 1806-1999. (Sparta, Tenn.): White County History Book Committee, 1999. FS Catalog 976.866 H2h

• Allen - Bailey, Chris. H. Eliakim Potter's Bible. Microfilmed 1995. FS Catalog 1750789 Item 98. 1 page.
• Austin - Boyd, Larry C. and Austin Family Association of Lost Creek. Austin Family Association of Lost Creek Annual Reunion. Newsletter. McMinnville, Tenn.: Austin Family Association of Lost Creek, 1965-1991. FS Catalog 929.27305 Au76b
• Austin - Sampson, Douglas H. Some Inter-related Families of Livingston County, Missouri. Boulder, Colo.: D.H. Sampson, 1985. FS Catalog 929.273 Au76s
• Austin - Moore, Mabel Joyce Austin. John Austin, Sr. Family 1779-1999. Sparta, Tenn.: M.J.A. Moore, 1999. digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library; FS Catalog 929.273 Au76mm.
• Boyd - Boyd, R. Vernon. The Boyds of Sequatchie Valley, Tn. Typescript, microfilmed in 1993. [ https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/153365-the-boyds-of-sequatchie-valley-tn?offset=1 FamilySearch Digital Library]; FS Catalog 1750733 Item 37.
• Cameron - Cameron, James Griffith. The Story of our Cameron, Freeman, Griffith, Masterson and Allied Families in America. Bellevue, Wash.: J.G. Cameron, 1983. FS Catalog 929.273 C145cj
• Charles - Smith, Sybil Roberts. The Charles Branch of My Sunshine Tree. Grove, Okla.: S.R. Smith, 1983. FS Catalog 929.273 C38s
• Connelly - Wallace, Anita Margie Bailey. Connelly History: with Branches of Platte, McConnell, Pennington, Evans, Simpson, Gallagher. Tulsa, Oklahoma: A.M.B. Wallace, 1973. FS Catalog 929.273 B151wa
• Cope - Barry, Fredrick M. and Geneva Barry. The Family of Isaac Denton Cantrell and Sindrilla Cope. Franklin, N.C.: Genealogical Pub. Service, 1993. FS Catalog 929.273 C169bf
• Crain - Crain, Solon P. and Marguerite Starr Crain. Ten Sons of Oliver. Midland, Texas: S.P. & M.S. Crain, 1972. FS Catalog 929.273 C846cs
• Creech - Heinemann, Martha. Creeches Who were Legal Heirs of Thomas Robertson of White County, Tennessee. Typescript. Microfilmed in 2000. FS Catalog 1425281 Item 6.
• Defreese - Gart, Jeanne Brooks. John Defreese and His Descendants. Mitchellville, Md.: J.B. Gart, 2002. FS Catalog 929.273 D362g
• Derossett - Daniels, Jeanette K.B. The Derossett Family and Allied Lines. Salt Lake City, Utah?: Know Your Heritage Organization, (1990). FS Catalog 929.273 D447dj
• Dibrell - McMahan, Mary Louise and Marian Carter. Descendants of James Crockett Dibrell and Margaret Virginia Mooney Dibrell. McKinney, Texas: M.L. McMahan & M. Carter, 1998. FS Catalog 929.273 D546m
• England - Austin-Raichart, Deb and Jan Fodrocy. Descendants of Aaron England. Sparta, Tenn.: D. Austin-Raichart, (199?). FamilySearch Digital Library; FS Catalog 929.273 En34a.
• Evett - Baer, Frank L. The McNew Family of Washington Co., Va. Typescript, National Library, DAR. Microfilmed 1971. FS Catalog 874716 Item 4.
• Fergus - Fergus-O'Brien, Adele. Fergus, Loos, Snyder Histories: Photocopies of Original Publications by Other Authors. n.p.: A. Fergus-O'Brien, 1945, 1959, 1964. FS Catalog 929.273 F38fo
• Gillentine - Miller, Lynne D. Texas Ballards. Lincolnton, N.C.: L.D. Miller, 2000. FamilySearch Digital Library; FS Catalog 929.273 B212mtx.
• Glenn - Glenn, Wayne. The Glenn Family of Lancaster County, Pa., Orange County, N.C., Caswell County, N.C., Lincoln County, N.C., White County, Tenn., Marshall County, Tenn., and Christian County, Mo.: Related Families Include Ramsay, Simpson, Reynolds, Wilson, Simmons, Clark, Grigg, Phillips, Beard, Collins. Nixa, Missouri: W. Glenn, 1985. FS Catalog 929.273 G487gw.
• Goad - Worland, Wanda June Goad. Goad: Including Descendants of James Isham Goad, 1842-1989 and Related Families. Hemet, Calif.: W. Worland, 1992. FS Catalog 929.273 G534w
• Hinesly - Nicolaides, Ray. Hinesly Family History. Typescript, microfilmed 1978. FS Catalog 1036741 Item 19.
• Howard - Landis, Carolynn Butler. The Ancestors & Dependants [i.e. Descendants] of William Thomas Howard and Missouri Isabelle Hampton of Hamilton County, Illinois: and Allied Families of Brown, Burch, Buttery, Crouse, Hamilton, Harrington, Melton & Others. Fort Jones, Calif.: C.B. Landis, 1984. FS Catalog 929.273 A1 no. 4381
• Jackson - Jackson, Michael Stephen. A Jackson Family History: Putnam County, Tennessee and Beyond... Freeburg, Ill.: M.S. Jackson, 1993. FS Catalog 929.273 J132jm
• Johnson - England, Ruth Helon Johnson. Johnson and Related Families. Sparta, Tenn.: R.H.J. England, 1988. FS Catalog 929.273 J633er
• Ketcherside - Ketcherside Family Association et al. Ketcherside Newsletter. Maryville, Tenn.: N.E.K. Howard, 1990-present. FS Catalog 929.27305 K494k
• Ketcherside - Ketchersid, Burrell Monroe, Harry Lee Howard and Nancy Ellen Ketchersid Howard. Thomas Ketcherside and His Descendants, 1745-1995. Maryville, Tenn.: Ketchersid Family History Project, 1995. FS Catalog 929.273 K494k
• McGowen - Love, Terry M. The Descendants of William McGowen of Tyrrell County, North Carolina [sic]. Lakeville, Minn.: T.M. Love, 1998. FS Catalog 929.273 M177L
• McPeak - McPeak, Hugh Ray and Carroll Leroy. The William McPeak Family History [S.I.:s.n.], 1967. FamilySearch Digital Library; FS Catalog 929.273 M24.
• Martin - Boyd, Harold L. and Shirley R. Martin Boyd. Footprints to the Past: Boyd--Martin Genealogy, 1415-1993. Clay Center, Kansas: H.L. & S.M. Boyd, (1993). Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; FS Catalog 929.273 B692bh.
• Ogle - Reagan, Donald B. Smoky Mountain Clans. 3 vols. Knoxville, Tenn.: D.B. Reagan, 1978-1983. FS Catalog 929.273R22b 1978. The Ogle family is discussed in Vol. 1.
• Parker - Parker, Gladys Harris, Anna Beth Heffernan and Pearl Scott Rattan. Robert Arthur Parker, a Texas Pioneer: Ancestors, Descendants, Related Families. Irving, Texas: A. B. Heffernan, 1985. FS Catalog 929.273 P228p
• Pennington - Barnes, Josephine Auner and Irma Beghtol Kate. Genealogies of Kate--Beghtol--Vance--Boone--Pennington Families. West Des Moines, Iowa: J.A. Barnes, 1986. FS Catalog 929.273 K156b
• Pennington - Jones, Marvin T. Some Descendants of Ephraim Pennington of Rowan County, North Carolina: Including those of Pennington's Point, McDonough County, Illinois. Wyndmere, North Dakota: M.T. Jones, 1994. FS Catalog 929.273 P384j
• Plumlee - Houp, J. Randall. The Descendants of Isaac & Margaret (Bradshaw) Plumlee, White County, Tennessee. Alma, Ark.: J. Randall Houp, 1991. FS Catalog 929.273 P735h.
• Porter - Keenan, Gene and Frances. Eight Generations of Porters: from 1750 in Tennessee to 1922 in California. Sparks, Nevada: E. and F. Keenan, 1992? Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; FamilySearch Library.
• Robertson - Robertson, Frank Allen. William Crockett Robertson, Ancestors - Descendants & Related Families. Houston, Texas: F.A. Robertson, 1984. FS Catalog 929.273 R549rf
• Robertson - Heinemann, Martha. Thomas Robertson of Gum Springs, White County, Tennessee. Microfilmed in 1992. FS Catalog 1697742 Item 32.
• Robertson - Heinemann, Martha. John Robertson. Typescript. Microfilmed in 1992. FS Catalog 1697742 Item 27.
• Robertson - Heinemann, Martha. Creeches Who were Legal Heirs of Thomas Robertson of White County, Tennessee. Typescript. Microfilmed in 2000. FS Catalog 1425281 Item 6.
• Scarbrough - Scarbrough, John Frederick. The Scarbrough's and Houlette's of the Cumberlands. Murfreesboro, Tenn.: J.F. Scarbrough, (1994?). FS Catalog 929.273 Sca72sj
• Stewart - Stewart, Larimore. Dempsey Stewart of South Carolina and Tennessee. Sparta, Tenn.: L. Stewart, (198-?). FS Catalog 929.273 St49st
• Walling - Davis, Betty Smith. Our Walling Family: Texans, Tennesseans and Others. Humble, Texas: B.S. Davis, 1991. FS Catalog 929.273 W158d.
• Webb - Webb, Charles C. The Webb Family of White County, Tennessee. 195-?. FS Catalog 929.273 W381wc.
• Whitaker - Swafford, William Bryson and Jeannette Lain Swafford. The Swafford--Whitaker Connection. Fort Smith, Ark.: W.B. & J.L. Swafford, 199-. FS Catalog 929.273 Sw12sw
• Whiteley - Graves, Francis Marie. Isaac Whiteley Descendants. MSS., Carroll County Historical Society, Berryville, Ark. Microfilmed 1981. FS Catalog 1035368 Item 3

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

Local Histories

• The Goodspeed Histories of Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Warren and White Counties: With Biographical Sketches and Aboriginal Map of Tennessee. 1972. McMinnville, TN: B. Lomond Press. Reprint. Originally published: Nashville, TN: Goodspeed Pub. Co., 1887. Online at FamilySearch Digital Library.
• Seals, Monroe. History of White County. 1935. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.

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 White County Revolutionary War records are available online through TNGenWeb:

• 1835 Pension Roll
• 1852 Rejected or Suspended Pensions

Additional resources include:

• A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshals of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing, 1967. FS Library US/CAN Book 973 X2pc 1840; FS Library US/CAN Film 2321. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Tennessee, Middle District, White County on pages 157-158.
• 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. 3 (Jul. 1961):95-98; Vol. 8, No. 4 (Oct. 1961):122-124. FS Library US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a v. 8 (1961); digital version at journal website. Includes White County pensioners (p. 123).
  
  

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 (free)
• 1861-1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free)
• 1891-1965 Tennessee, Confederate Pension Applications, Soldiers and Widows, 1891-1965 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• 1861-1865 U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 at Ancestry
• Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System

Regiments. Men in White 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 White County:

Confederate Soldiers

• 1st Battalion, Tennessee Infantry (Colms') (20th Battalion) (Confederate) - Companies A, B, C, D, and E.
• 13th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Gore's) - CSA - Companies D, H, I, and K.
• 16th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Companies G and K.
• 22nd Battalion, Tennessee Infantry (Murray's) - CSA - Companies A and B.
• 25th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Companies A, C, E, and K.
• 28th Consolidated Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company C.
• 28th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (2nd Tennessee Mountain Volunteers) - CSA - Company K.
• 50th Consolidated Regiment, Tennessee Infantry- CSA - Companies H and K.
  

Union Soldiers

• 1st Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry - Company B

Additional sources for Civil War soldiers from White County:

• USGenWeb Archives, White County Tennessee Archives. Military Records.
• Tennessee State Library and Archives, Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications: White 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. White County, page 386.
• TNGenWeb, White County Civil War Units.
• Legends & Stories of White County, TN, By Coral Williams.Abstract, Contents, & Introduction. "The purpose of this study is to bring together the legends and stories of White County, Tennessee, and thus to collect and preserve the adventures and experiences of those hardy pioneers who established the country and of those brave characters who endured the fortunes of the Civil War."
• 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.

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
    

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

• Bon Air
• Doyle
• Sparta

• 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 ($)

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. For a keyword search, go to the county index. Read previous issues on their website; 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 Past Finder: Quarterly published by the White County Genealogical-Historical Society. See Table of Contents
• 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 White County Court and County Clerk have responsibility for the probate records.Many records are held by the White County Archives (click here for more information.)

Online Probate Indexes and Records

• 1779-2008 Tennessee Wills and Probate Records 1779-2008 at Ancestry ($)
• 1810-1967 White County portion of Tennessee, Probate Court Books, 1795-1927 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; handwritten indexes may be found at the front or back of some volumes.
• 1831-1841; 1841-1851; 1851-1855; 1854-1867; 1867-1882; 1882-1893 SourtheasternGenealogy.com Images of Wills & Settlements ($)
• Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

Free online index to the probate records transcribed by the WPA, created by Steve Carson, courtesy: GSC Associates Historical Records Products (the pages may load slowly). For a small fee, the company sells a set of five White County CDs, which include a digitized version of these probate records, and a variety of other local records. The probate records that are included are:

• Inventories and Will Book A 1810-1828
• Inventories and Will Book B (not complete) 1831-1840

Book Abstracts and Indexes

• 1841-1855 - Hickerson, Elma Lee. Tennessee Records of White County Wills, 1841-1855. 2 volumes. Nashville, Tennessee: Filmed by the Tennessee State Library and Archives, 1968. Volume 1 is an indexed, volume is not. (FS Library film 464153-464154 Item 1.)
  
• 1810-1861 - 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.

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 White County tax records are held at the County Courthouse. Julia Cauble Smith's "White County Tax Districts -- Overview," hosted online by TNGenWeb, will help researchers understand how the county was divided into tax districts.

Images of White County's original tax records have been reproduced multiple times:

• 1811-1815 - White County Tax Book 1811-1815. TSLA Reel #123, Nashville, Tenn.
• 1811-1839 - Haston, Wayne. Transcripts for years 1811-1839 from 1811-1876 Tax Lists: White County, Tennessee, online: Militia/Civil District for Caney Fork-Cane Creek Area 1811-1839 at danielhaston.com.
• 1811-1965 - White County Tax Books 1811-1865. FS Catalog 507969 28 microfilm reels
• 1816-1829 - White County Tax Books 1816-1829. FS Catalog 464154 Items 2-4
• 1832-1836 - White County Tax Books 1832-1836. FS Catalog 464155 Item 1
• 1955-1966- Federal tax liens for White County, Tennessee, 1955-1966. Nashville: TSLA, 1967. FS Catalog 507938 Item 2

Book Abstracts and Indexes

• 1811-1815 - 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 Catalog book 976.8 X2s 1810. Cites White County Tax Book, 1811-1815 as a source.
• 1811 - Hughes, T.P.. "White County, Tennessee 1811 Tax List," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 18, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1971):106-118. For FS Library and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
• 1811-1815 - Historical Records Survey.Tax books, 1811-1815, White County, Tennessee. Nashville: TSLA, Typescript. FS Catalog 24870
• 1811, 1825 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 1811 and 1825 tax lists.)
• 1811-1826 - Select abstracts of White County, Tennessee Tax Lists 1811-1826, available under heading Tax Records at TNGenWeb. (Source: FS Library US/CAN Film 507969.)
• 1812 "White County, Tennessee: Census of Taxable Inhabitants, 1 Jan. 1812," The Upper Cumberland Researcher, Vol. 12, No. 4 ():189-. For access, see Periodicals.
• 1812 Gant, Wanda. "White County, TN 1812 Tax List," available online, courtesy: USGenWeb Archives. Source: TSLA Roll# 123 Book 1812.
• 1813 "White County Sheriff Reports Some Unpaid 1813 Taxes," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 46, No. 3 (Fall 1999):39. For possible FS Library and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
• 1813 Sheriffs Report, Unpaid Taxes, 1813, Past Finder, Vol. 6, No. 5 (Sep. 1999).
• 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 Periodicals. (Includes White County.)
• 1820-1821 - Road Docket, 1820/21, Upper Cumberland Genealogical Association Bulletin, Vol. 16, No. 4 (Winter 1991).
• 1826 "A List Containing the Names and Number of Free Male Inhabitants of the Age of Twenty-one Years and Upwards. Resident Citizens of White County, Tennessee, on the 1st Day of January 1826," The Upper Cumberland Researcher, Vol. 9, No. 2 ():42-. For access, see Periodicals.
• 1836 "White County, Tennessee Civil District Boundaries 1836," The Upper Cumberland Researcher, Vol. 9, No. 3 ():80-; Vol. 10, No. 1 ():7-. For access, see Periodicals.
• 1844 "White County, Tennessee: District 9 Taxpayers 1844," The Upper Cumberland Researcher, Vol. 12, No. 2 ():92-. For access, see Periodicals.
• 1848 "White County, Tennessee: Delinquent Taxpayers 1848," The Upper Cumberland Researcher, Vol. 13, No. 2 ():77-. For access, see Periodicals.
• 1851 "White County, Tennessee: Eligible Voters as of 1 January 1851," The Upper Cumberland Researcher, Vol. 17, No. 2 ():68-; Vol. 17, No. 3 ():101-. For access, see Periodicals.
• 1854 "White County, Tennessee: A List of Some White County, TN Voters, 1854," The Upper Cumberland Researcher, Vol. 10, No. 3 ():83-. For access, see Periodicals.
• 1860s - "White County, Tennessee: Civil War Tax List," The Upper Cumberland Researcher, Vol. 3, No. 5 ():3-. For access, see Periodicals.
• 1862 Assessments, 1862, Past Finder, Vol. 6, No. 4 (Jul. 1999).
• 1862 Persons Released from Paying Taxes, 1862, The Upper Cumberland Genealogical Association Bulletin, Vol. 12, No. 1 (Spring 1987). For access, see Periodicals.

Vital Records

• For free lookups of vital statistics 1914-1925, see White County TNGenWeb.

Birth

• 1881-1909 - White County Birth Index 1881-1909 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
• 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
• 1809-1859 - White County, Tennessee Oldest Marriage Book, 1809-1859. FS Library Book 976.866 V25m.
• 1838-1860 - Marriage Records, 1838-1860, White County, Tennessee. FS Library Film 24865 Item 1 Typescript. (click on camera to open)
• 1838-1888 Tennessee Civil Marriages, 1838-1888 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• 1838-1933 - White County Marriage Index 1838-1933 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
• 1851-1900 Tennessee Marriages 1851-1900 at Ancestry $
• 1980-2014 Marriage Records Index 1980-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index

Book Abstracts and Indexes

• 1809-1870 - Early Middle Tennessee Marriages. 2 vols. FS Library Book 976.8 V2sb v. 2 Indexes of brides, grooms, marriage or marriage bond dates for this county for specified years.
• 1859-1881 - White County Marriage Records: Part of book 1, January 11, 1859 to June 11, 1881. FS Library Book 976.866 V2w
• 1921-1957 - White County, Tennessee, Marriages March 1921-August 1957. FS Library Book 976.866 V28a

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 White 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
• McMinnville Tennessee FamilySearch Center
• Art Circle Public Library - an affiliate library.

Libraries

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

White County Public Library
11 North Church St.
Sparta, TN 38583
931-836-3613
Website
Regional history books, family history books, and White County records on microfilm.
A computer provides Internet access and the full texts of obituaries from The Expositor in recent years, with an index for each year.

Societies

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

Bon Air Mountain Historical Society
9479 Crossville Hwy
Sparta, TN 38583
Email: Admin@miningonthemountain.org
Website

White County Genealogical-Historical Society
1 E. Bockman Way, Room 304 Courthouse
Sparta, TN 38583-2035
Website

Websites

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

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