Decatur County, Tennessee Genealogy: Difference between revisions
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Guide to '''Decatur County, Tennessee ancestry, | Guide to '''Decatur County, Tennessee ancestry, family history and genealogy''' birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records. | ||
<div id="fsButtons"><span class="online_records_button">[[Tennessee Online Genealogy Records]]</span></div><br> | |||
{{Infobox U.S. County | |||
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| county = Decatur County | |||
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| | | founded title=Founded: | ||
| | | founded year=1845 | ||
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| | | seat= [[Decaturville, Tennessee|Decaturville]] | ||
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| | | web = http://decaturcountytn.org/ | ||
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==== Description ==== | |||
The County was named for Stephen Decatur, Jr., who gained national recognition in the First Barbary War, the Second Barbary War, and the War of 1812 by his leadership and achievements at sea. The County is located in the west central area of the state. | |||
<ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Decatur, Tennessee" in ''https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decatur_County,_Tennessee'' accessed 18 Dec 2018 </ref> | |||
=== | === Decatur County, Tennessee Record Dates=== | ||
{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" | |||
{| cellspacing=" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| bgcolor="#e4d8e5" align="center" colspan="7" | <center>'''Known Beginning Dates for | | bgcolor="#e4d8e5" align="center" colspan="7" | <center>'''Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records'''<ref>''Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America'', 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Decatur County, Tennessee. Page 638-645 {{WorldCat|50140092|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}; {{FHL|1049485|item|disp=FHL Book 973 D27e 2002}}; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 637-640.</ref></center> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| width="14.2%" bgcolor="#e4d8e5" align="center" | '''[[Decatur County, Tennessee Genealogy#Birth|Birth*]]''' | | width="14.2%" bgcolor="#e4d8e5" align="center" | '''[[Decatur County, Tennessee Genealogy#Birth|Birth*]]''' | ||
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| width="14.2%" align="center" |1810 | | width="14.2%" align="center" |1810 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| colspan="7"| <center> | | colspan="7"| <center>Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1914. General compliance by 1927.</center> | ||
|} | |} | ||
=== | == Decatur County Tennessee Courthouse == | ||
{| | |||
{{TNDecaturcourthouse}} | |||
'''1869''' and '''1927''' Courthouse burned and many records were damaged.<ref name="TSLA">[http://sos.tn.gov/products/tsla/lost-records-courthouse-fires-and-disasters-tennessee Lost Records: Courthouse Fires and Disasters in Tennessee] in ''Tennessee State Library and Archives'' in ''Tennessee Secretary of State'' (accessed 31 March 2014).</ref> | [http://decaturcountytn.org/ Decatur County Courthouse]<br> PO Box 488; <br>Decaturville, TN 38329-0488<br> Phone: 731.852.3417 <br><br>County Clerk has marriage records from 1869.<br>Register of Deeds has land records. <ref name="HBG">''Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America'', 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Decatur County, Tennessee page 639, {{WorldCat|50140092|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}; {{FHL|1049485|item|disp=FHL Book 973 D27e 2002}}.</ref> | ||
:*Marriages lost 1845 to 1869 | |||
:*Probate lost 1845 to 1869 | |||
:*Nearly all records, except deeds, lost in 1869 fire.<ref name="null">Robert M. McBride, ''[http://www.worldcat.org/title/tennessee-county-data-for-historical-and-genealogical-research/oclc Tennessee County Data]'' (Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee States Library and Archives, 1966), 20.</ref> | '''Decatur County Courthouse<br>'''P.O. Box 488<br>Decaturville, TN 38329-0488<br>Phone: 1-731-852-3417 | ||
[http://decaturcountytn.org/ '''Decatur County Clerk''']<br>Marriage records<br>Phone: 1-731-852-3417 | |||
[http://decaturcountytn.org/ '''Decatur County Register of Deeds''']<br>Land records<br>Phone: 1-731-852-3712 | |||
[http://decaturcountytn.org/ '''Circuit Court Clerk''']<br>Court records<br>Phone: 1-731-852-3125 | |||
'''Hours''':<br>Mon.-Tues. and Thurs.-Fri.8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.<br>Wed. and Sat. 8 a.m.-noon | |||
== Decatur County Tennessee History == | |||
{{StephenDecatur}} | |||
West Tennessee county. | |||
The county is named after U.S. naval officer [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Decatur Stephen Decatur] (1779-1820).<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Tennessee_county_name_etymologies "List of counties in Tennessee"], Wikipedia.</ref> | |||
==== Parent County ==== | |||
'''1845--'''Decatur County was created November 1845 from [[Perry County, Tennessee|Perry]] County. <br>'''County seat:''' Decaturville <ref>''The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed''. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002), 639. ({{FHL|1049485|item|disp=FHL Book 973 D27e 2002}}). [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50140092 WorldCat entry].</ref> | |||
==== County Pronunciation ==== | |||
#[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TNDecaturWeller.ogg Hear it spoken]<ref>Voice of Lynnae Weller, Kingsport, Tenn. (2010).</ref> (female) | |||
#[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TNDecatur.ogg Hear it spoken]<ref>Voice of Louise Lynch, Archivist, Williamson County, Tennessee Archives (2010).</ref> (female) | |||
==== Boundary Changes ==== | |||
[For animated maps illustrating Tennessee county boundary changes, [http://www.mapofus.org/tennessee/ "Rotating Formation Tennessee County Boundary Maps"] (1777-1985) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website. | |||
==== Record Loss ==== | |||
{{Fire}}'''1869''' and '''1927''' Courthouse burned and many records were damaged.<ref name="TSLA">[http://sos.tn.gov/products/tsla/lost-records-courthouse-fires-and-disasters-tennessee Lost Records: Courthouse Fires and Disasters in Tennessee] in ''Tennessee State Library and Archives'' in ''Tennessee Secretary of State'' (accessed 31 March 2014).</ref><br><br> | |||
:*Marriages lost 1845 to 1869 | |||
:*Probate lost 1845 to 1869 | |||
:*Nearly all records, except deeds, lost in 1869 fire.<ref name="null">Robert M. McBride, ''[http://www.worldcat.org/title/tennessee-county-data-for-historical-and-genealogical-research/oclc Tennessee County Data]'' (Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee States Library and Archives, 1966), 20.</ref> | |||
{{Fire+}} | {{Fire+}} | ||
== Decatur County Tennessee Places / Localities == | |||
=== | ==== Populated Places ==== | ||
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit [https://tennessee.hometownlocator.com/counties/cities,cfips,039,c,decatur.cfm HomeTown Locator]. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:<ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Decatur County, Tennessee," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decatur_County%2C_Tennessee#Communities, accessed 12 November 2019.</ref> | For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit [https://tennessee.hometownlocator.com/counties/cities,cfips,039,c,decatur.cfm HomeTown Locator]. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:<ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Decatur County, Tennessee," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decatur_County%2C_Tennessee#Communities, accessed 12 November 2019.</ref> | ||
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=== | ==== Neighboring Counties ==== | ||
*[[Benton County, Tennessee|Benton]] | |||
*[[Carroll County, Tennessee|Carroll]] | |||
*[[Hardin County, Tennessee|Hardin]] | |||
*[[Henderson County, Tennessee|Henderson]] | |||
*[[Perry County, Tennessee|Perry]] | |||
*[[Wayne County, Tennessee|Wayne ]]<br><br><br> | |||
== Decatur County Tennessee Genealogy Resources == | |||
==== Getting Started ==== | |||
Use the free [http://www.mountainpress.com/ '''Search for Surnames'''] at Mountain Press's website to quickly search a variety of published Decatur County biography and cemetery records. To determine which books are being searched, or to search each publication's index individually, click [http://www.mountainpress.com/books/tn/d2h.html#decatur here]. You are now equipped with a checklist of books to pull off the shelves at a genealogy library, or a wish list for your personal book collection. | |||
=== | ==== Research Guides ==== | ||
*[http://www.tn.gov/tsla/history/county/factdecatur.htm Genealogical "Fact Sheets" About Tennessee Counties: Decatur County], courtesy: [http://www.tennessee.gov/tsla/ TSLA]. (Identifies published county histories, published local records, census records, newspapers and local records on microfilm, and select manuscripts.) | |||
=== | ==== African American ==== | ||
''[[African American Research|United States African Americans]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[African-American Resources for Tennessee|Tennessee African Americans]]'' | |||
=== Cemeteries === | ==== Cemeteries ==== | ||
{| | {| width="80%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="2" border="1" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | width="30%" bgcolor="#E0E0E0" align="center" | '''Tombstone Transcriptions Online''' | ||
| width="30%" bgcolor="#E0E0E0" align="center" | '''Tombstone Transcriptions in Print''' | |||
| width="30%" bgcolor="#E0E0E0" align="center" | '''List of Cemeteries in the county''' | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial Findagrave.com] | ||
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0 | | bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=su%3ACemetery+Decatur+Tennessee&qt=advanced&dblist=638 WorldCat] | ||
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery-browse/USA/Tennessee/Decatur-County?id=county_2444 Findagrave.com] | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [http://tngenweb.org/decatur/records/ TNGenWeb] | ||
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | | bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | | ||
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [https://billiongraves.com/search/cemetery BillionGraves] | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [http://usgwarchives.net/tn/decatur/cemetery.html TNGenWeb Archives] | ||
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | | bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | | ||
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [http://www.linkpendium.com/decatur-tn-genealogy/cem/ Linkpendium] | |||
|- | |- | ||
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | | bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [http://www.usgwtombstones.org/tennessee/decatur.html Tombstone Project] | ||
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | | |||
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [http://tennesseegravestones.org/cemeteries.php?selected_cid=21 Gravestones] | |||
|- | |||
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [http://www.tngenweb.org/cemeteries/#!co=decatur TNGenWeb Cemeteries] | |||
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | | |||
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | | |||
|- | |||
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [https://billiongraves.com/search# BillionGraves] | |||
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | | |||
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | | |||
|- | |||
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" colspan="3" | See [[Tennessee Cemeteries|Tennessee Cemeteries]] for more information. | |||
|} | |} | ||
==== Census ==== | |||
1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 federal population censuses of Decatur County are available online. For tips on accessing census records online, see [[Tennessee Census|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. | 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 federal population censuses of Decatur County are available online. For tips on accessing census records online, see [[Tennessee Census|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 [[Tennessee Population Schedule Indexes: Fiche, Film, or Book]] for more information about statewide printed indexes. | ||
See [http://www.us-census.org/states/tennessee/d-tn.htm#Decatur Decatur County, TN census assignments], including links to transcribed files. [http://www.us-census.org/ The USGenWeb Census Project<sup>®</sup>] | See [http://www.us-census.org/states/tennessee/d-tn.htm#Decatur Decatur County, TN census assignments], including links to transcribed files. [http://www.us-census.org/ The USGenWeb Census Project<sup>®</sup>] | ||
= | ==== Church ==== | ||
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|Tennessee Church Records]]. | 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|Tennessee Church Records]]. | ||
*Decatur County Church Records | *Decatur County Church Records | ||
:- FamilySearch Catalog - {{ | :- FamilySearch Catalog - {{FHL|524631|subject-id|disp=Decatur County Church Records}} | ||
*Church histories tell when a church started in the area, who the early members were, give data about church leaders, etc. | *Church histories tell when a church started in the area, who the early members were, give data about church leaders, etc. | ||
*If the records you need are not found in the Family History Library collection, contact the church(es) in the area where your ancestor lived. Two sites that give information about churches in Bedford County are: | |||
:- [http://www.yellowbook.com/yellow-pages/?what=churches&where=Decatur+county%2C+TN List of Decatur County churches] with addresses and phone numbers (Yellowbook)<br> | |||
:- [http://tennessee.hometownlocator.com/features/cultural,class,church,scfips,47039.cfm List of Decatur County churches] (TN HomeTownLocator) | |||
= | *In 1936, a helpful guide to early Decatur County church records ([http://www.worldcat.org/title/guide-to-church-vital-statistics-in-tennessee/oclc/1829968referer=brief_results Guide to Church Vital Statistics in Tennessee], also {{FHL|976.8 K23w|book}}) was published by the Works Project Administration. Use this guide to locate which church records exist and where they were housed in 1936. The Tennessee State Library and Archives has filmed some of these records. To locate which records are available at the TSLA, go to the appropriate [http://www.tn.gov/tsla/history/county/factcounty.htm#D "county fact sheet"] on the TSLA Web site and scroll down to "selected manuscript material". All filmed church records at the TSLA for Decatur County are listed. Many of these filmed records are also available at the Family History Library. | ||
{{ | |||
==== Court ==== | |||
=== | ==== Genealogies ==== | ||
=== | |||
More than a dozen genealogies have been published about Decatur County, Tennessee families. For more information visit [[Decatur County, Tennessee Compiled Genealogies]]. | More than a dozen genealogies have been published about Decatur County, Tennessee families. For more information visit [[Decatur County, Tennessee Compiled Genealogies]]. | ||
=== | ==== Land ==== | ||
Decatur County Register of Deeds has Land Records from 1846 and is located at 22 West Main Street, Decaturville, Tennessee 38329, or P.O. Box 488, Decaturville, TN 38329-0488; Telephone: 731-852-3712. Land and property records may include transfer of real estate or personal property, mortgages, leases, surveys, and entries.<br>The Family History Library has microfilmed deed records 1846-1896 with indexes to 1926 and survey books 1891-1918. | |||
==== 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 [[Tennessee State Library and Archives|TSLA]] has created an index to names that appear in these acts covering the years 1796 to 1850. To read more about this valuable resource [http://sos.tn.gov/products/tsla/acts-tennessee-1796-1850-index-names Click here]. The searchable index is available at the [http://share.tn.gov/tsla/history/misc/actsintro.htm TSLA]; another version is available at [http://worldvitalrecords.com/indexinfo.aspx?ix=usa_tn_acts World Vital Records]. | ||
=== Local Histories === | ==== Local Histories ==== | ||
=== Maps | ==== Maps ==== | ||
{{TN Neighboring Counties Intro|county={{TN Decatur County}}}} | {{TN Neighboring Counties Intro|county={{TN Decatur County}}}} | ||
*[http://www.mapofus.org/tennessee/ Maps of Tennessee (1777-1985)] | *[http://www.mapofus.org/tennessee/ Maps of Tennessee (1777-1985)] | ||
=== | ==== Military ==== | ||
=====War of 1812===== | |||
*Embry, Hermione D. "War of 1812 - Tennessee Pensioners on List - January 2, 1883," ''Ansearchin' News'', Vol. 7, No. 2 (Apr. 1960):40-45. {{FHL|44514|title-id|disp=FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a v. 7 (1960)}}; digital version at [http://www.tngs.org/ansearchin/pdf/1960-2 journal website]. Includes Decatur County pensioners (p. 43). | |||
{{ | |||
=====Civil War===== | |||
'''''Civil War''''' | '''Online Records''' | ||
*'''1861 - 1865''' - {{RecordSearch|1932378|Tennessee, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865}} at [https://www.familysearch.org/search FamilySearch] — index | |||
*'''1861 - 1865''' - {{RecordSearch|1932422|Tennessee, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865}} at [https://www.familysearch.org/search FamilySearch] — index | |||
*'''1861 - 1865''' - [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2322 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865] at [http://ancesstry.com Ancestry] — index (free) | |||
*'''1861 - 1865''' - [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2344 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865] at [http://search.ancestry.com Ancestry] — index (free) | |||
*'''1891 - 1965''' - {{RecordSearch|1874474|Tennessee, Confederate Pension Applications, Soldiers and Widows, 1891-1965}} at [https://www.familysearch.org/search FamilySearch] — images | |||
*[http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/military/cwrd/main.aspx Civil War Research Database] ($) | |||
*[https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/soldiers-and-sailors-database.htmsoldiers.cfm Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System] | |||
'''''Regiments.''''' Civil War service men from Decatur County served in various regiments. Men often joined a regiment or a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are the military units that were formed in or had many men from Decatur County: | |||
<u>Confederate Soldiers </u> | |||
*[[10th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (DeMoss')|10th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (DeMoss')]] - CSA - Company C. | *[[10th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (DeMoss')|10th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (DeMoss')]] - CSA - Company C. | ||
*[[27th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry|27th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry]] - CSA - Company E. | *[[27th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry|27th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry]] - CSA - Company E. | ||
*[[31st Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (A. H. Bradford's)|31st Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (A. H. Bradford's)]] - CSA - Company H. | *[[31st Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (A. H. Bradford's)|31st Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (A. H. Bradford's)]] - CSA - Company H. | ||
*[[51st Consolidated Regiment, Tennessee Infantry|51st Consolidated Regiment, Tennessee Infantry]], Companies A and E. | *[[51st Consolidated Regiment, Tennessee Infantry|51st Consolidated Regiment, Tennessee Infantry]], Companies A and E. | ||
*[[52nd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry|52nd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry]] - CSA - Company A, D, and I. | *[[52nd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry|52nd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry]] - CSA - Company A, D, and I. | ||
*[[Cox's Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry|Cox's Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry]], Company C | *[[Cox's Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry|Cox's Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry]], Company C | ||
<u>Union Soldiers</u> | |||
*[[2nd Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry (Union)|2nd Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry]] - Companies C, D, and E. | *[[2nd Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry (Union)|2nd Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry]] - Companies C, D, and E. | ||
*[[6th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Union)|6th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry]] - Companies G and H. | *[[6th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Union)|6th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry]] - Companies G and H. | ||
<u>Additional sources for Civil War soldiers from Decatur County:</u> | |||
*Tennessee State Library and Archives, [http://tennessee.gov/tsla/history/military/pension120.htm Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications: Decatur County]. Index includes Soldier's Name, County, Pension #, Unit or widow. | |||
*United States Pension Bureau, [http://www.archive.org/stream/listpensionerso02buregoog#page/n349/mode/1up 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. Decatur County, page 331. | |||
=== Newspapers === | ==== Newspapers ==== | ||
Many Tennessee newspapers are filmed and available at the [http://sos.tn.gov/products/tsla/newspapers-microfilm-tennessee-state-library-and-archives TSLA]. Most of these newspapers may be accessed by interlibrary loan to libraries within Tennessee, although there are some newspapers which are not available in or outside of Tennessee. For further information regarding interlibrary loan policies and newspapers not available for interlibrary loan click [http://www.tn.gov/tsla/history/mailill.htm#newspapers here]. For a list of newspapers available at the archives for Decatur County click on the following cities or towns: | |||
For a list of newspapers available at the archives for Decatur County click on the following cities or towns: | |||
*[http://sos.tn.gov/products/tsla/newspapers-microfilm-tennessee-state-library-and-archives-d#Decaturville Decaturville] | *[http://sos.tn.gov/products/tsla/newspapers-microfilm-tennessee-state-library-and-archives-d#Decaturville Decaturville] | ||
*[http://sos.tn.gov/products/tsla/newspapers-microfilm-tennessee-state-library-and-archives-p#Parsons Parsons] | *[http://sos.tn.gov/products/tsla/newspapers-microfilm-tennessee-state-library-and-archives-p#Parsons Parsons] | ||
==== Obituaries ==== | |||
*[http://usgwarchives.net/tn/decatur/obits.html USGenWeb Archives] | |||
==== Occupations ==== | |||
=== | *Miller, Alan N. ''West Tennessee's Forgotten Children: Apprentices from 1821 to 1889''. Baltimore, Md.: Printed for Clearfield Company, Inc., by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2006. {{FHL|1369643|title-id|disp=FHL US/CAN 976.8 U2man}}. Purchase at [http://www.genealogical.com/products/West%20Tennessees%20Forgotten%20Children%20Apprentices%201821%201889/9982.html Genealogical.com]. Includes Decatur County. | ||
{{ | |||
*[http:// | ==== Periodicals ==== | ||
Tap into the minds of local experts. Editors of genealogical periodicals publish unique sources that researchers who are new to their area would not likely discover. This type of material may be found in local, regional, or statewide genealogical society journals. The following periodicals cover this county: | |||
*'''Ansearchin' News''' | |||
:Genealogical articles with abstracts of records of Decatur County, Tennessee have been published in ''Ansearchin' News'', the quarterly magazine of the [http://www.tngs.org/ Tennessee Genealogical Society]. To view a list of these articles, visit their [http://www.tngs.org/ansearchin/ByCounty_ndx.html county index]. To read digitized versions of the first 36 years of articles (Vols. 1-36), browse their [http://www.tngs.org/ansearchin/index.html archive] or conduct a [http://www.tngs.org/search.htm surname search]. The Family History Library has a complete collection of the ''Ansearchin' News'' quarterly {{FHL|44514|title-id|disp=FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a.}} | |||
*'''Family Findings''' | |||
Genealogical articles with abstracts of Decatur County, Tennessee records have been published in ''Family Findings'', the quarterly of the [https://mwtgs.wordpress.com/ Mid-West Tennessee Genealogical Society] (42+ vols.). The Family History Library has most issues of this quarterly {{FHL|40026|title-id|disp=FHL US/CAN 976.8 B2f}}. | |||
Tables of contents for some volumes are available online, courtesy: [http://www.tngenweb.org/ TNGenWeb Project]: | |||
:*[http://www.tngenweb.org/madison/records/ff-tc1.htm Volumes 1-10 (1969-1978)] | |||
:*[http://www.tngenweb.org/madison/records/ff-tc2.htm Volumes 11-20 (1979-1988)] | |||
:*[http://www.tngenweb.org/madison/records/ff-tc3.htm Volumes 21-24 (1989-1992)] | |||
:*[http://www.tngenweb.org/madison/records/ff-tc4.htm Volumes 32-35 (2000-2003)] | |||
Many articles from this publication have been reproduced on the TNGenWeb Project website, try this [http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-us&q=site%3Awww.tngenweb.org+%22Family+Findings%22+%22Decatur+County%22&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= specialized Google search]. | |||
*'''West Tennessee Historical Society Papers''' | |||
:Family History Library has Volumes 1 - 16 and 30 {{FHL|233239|title-id|disp=FHL US/CAN Book 976.81 B5w}}. The West Tennessee Historical Society Papers are indexed in [[Periodical Source Index (PERSI)|PERiodical Source Index (PERSI)]]<br>To view Table of Contents and complete articles from 1947 - 2005 see [http://register.shelby.tn.us/wths/ Shelby County Register of Deeds] | |||
=== | ==== Prisons ==== | ||
Learn if your Decatur County, Tennessee Genealogy ancestors went to prison! | |||
*[http://sos.tn.gov/products/tsla/inmates-tennessee-state-penitentiary-1831-1850 Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1831-1850] | *[http://sos.tn.gov/products/tsla/inmates-tennessee-state-penitentiary-1831-1850 Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1831-1850] | ||
*[http://sos.tn.gov/products/tsla/inmates-tennessee-state-penitentiary-1851-1870 Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1851-1870] | *[http://sos.tn.gov/products/tsla/inmates-tennessee-state-penitentiary-1851-1870 Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1851-1870] | ||
=== | ==== Probate Records ==== | ||
The County Court has responsibility for the probate records of Decatur County. | |||
'''Online Records''' | |||
*'' | *'''1779 – 2008''' - [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9176 Tennessee Wills and Probate Records 1779-2008] at [http://search.ancestry.com/ Ancestry.com] — index and images ($) | ||
{{Tennpro}} | |||
{{ | |||
*Wills, 1869-1927 (Vol. 1) | |||
*Bonds, 1869-1975 | |||
*Bonds, Letters, 1869-1930 (3 vols.) | |||
*Insolvent estate records, 1869-1941 | |||
*Inventories, 1869-1905 | |||
*Settlements, 1869-1913 (4 vols.) | |||
==== Taxation ==== | |||
The original Decatur County Tax Books 1888-1889, 1896-1898 are kept at the County Courthouse. In the 1970s, the [[Tennessee State Library and Archives|TSLA]] microfilmed these records. FHL copies: {{FHL|231363|title-id|disp=FHL US/CAN Film 979664}}. | |||
The following Decatur County tax records have been abstracted:<ref>The Heritage Quest Online version of [http://heritagequestonline.com PERSI] aided in the compilation of this list.</ref> | |||
*'''1848''' - "1849 Land Sales Held in 3 West Tennessee Counties for Unpaid Taxes," [1848 taxpayers in Decatur, Carroll, and Henderson counties], ''Ansearchin' News,'' Vol. 44, No. 4 (Winter 1997):12. For FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see [[Decatur County, Tennessee#Periodicals|Periodicals]]. | |||
*'''1852 - 1882''' - Hill, Phyllis. "Decatur County, TN - Misc - Tax Receipts of W.G. Riggs," available [http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/decatur/taxlists/riggs007.txt online], courtesy: USGenWeb Archives. Abstracts of receipts Riggs received for paying his taxes, various years between 1852 and 1882. | |||
*'''1888''' - Hill, Phyllis. "Decatur County, TN - Land - Property Tax Records, District 12, 1888," available [http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/decatur/taxlists/ptaxrec1.txt online], courtesy: USGenWeb Archives. | |||
*'''1889''' - Hill, Phyllis. "Decatur County, TN - Land - Property Tax Records, District 12, 1889," available [http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/decatur/taxlists/ptaxrec2.txt online], courtesy: USGenWeb Archives. | |||
*'''1896''' - Hill, Phyllis. "Decatur County, TN - Land - Property Tax Records, District 12, 1896," available [http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/decatur/taxlists/ptaxrec3.txt online], courtesy: USGenWeb Archives. | |||
==== Vital Records ==== | |||
See also [http://www.genealogyinc.com/tennessee/tn-vital-records/ How to order Tennessee Vital Records] or [http://www.genealogyinc.com/ordervitalcertificate/ order electronically online]. | |||
===== Birth ===== | |||
''Book | *'''1828 - 1939''' - {{RecordSearch|1681012|Tennessee Births and Christenings '''1828-1939'''}} at [https://familysearch.org/ FamilySearch.org] — index | ||
*'''1850''' - Porch, Deane ''Decatur County, Tennessee, 1850 census'' Nashville, Tennessee: D. Porch, 1970. {{FHL|401945|title-id|disp=FHL US/CAN Book 976.832 X2}} | |||
*'''1869 - 1909''' - [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2282 Tennessee Delayed Birth Records 1869-1909] at [http://home.ancestry.com/ Ancestry.com] — index and images. ($) | |||
*'''1880''' - Sistler, Byron H. and Barbara ''1880 Census, Decatur County, Tennessee'' Nashville, Tennessee : B. Sistler and Associates, c1993. {{FHL|712432|title-id|disp=FHL US/CAN book 976.832 X2}} | |||
*'''1881 - 1903''' - Decatur County Birth Index 1881-1903 in [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/igi International Genealogical Index] at FamilySearch - free. Batch {{IGI|C710351}}.<ref>Genealogical Society of Utah, ''Parish and Vital Records List'' (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at [[Media:Igitennesseea.pdf|https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/6/60/Igitennesseea.pdf]].</ref> | |||
*'''1908 - 1912''' - {{RecordSearch|2515873|Tennessee, Birth Records (ER Series), 1908-1912}} at [https://www.familysearch.org/search FamilySearch] — index and images | |||
===== Marriage ===== | |||
Marriages were not officially recorded in Decatur County until 1838, when a law was passed mandating the practice.<ref>Gale Williams Bamman, C.G., "Research in Tennessee," ''National Genealogical Society Quarterly,'' Vol. 81, No. 2 (June 1993):105. {{FHL|39597|title-id|disp=FHL US/CAN Book 973 B2ng v. 81 (1993)}}</ref> The following publication, based on early newspapers, helps to alleviate this genealogical obstacle: | |||
{{ | |||
= | *'''1625-1966''' - [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/united-states-marriages?state=tennessee%2ctn Tennessee, United States Marriages] at [http://findmypast.com/ FindMyPast] — index $ | ||
{{ | *'''1794 - 1851''' - Lucas, Silas Emmett. ''Marriages from Early Tennessee Newspapers 1794-1851''. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1978. {{FHL|10843|title-id|disp=FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 V2L}}. | ||
The following Tennessee marriage records have been indexed: | |||
= | *'''1780 - 2002''' - [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1169 Tennessee State Marriages 1780-2002] at [http://home.ancestry.com/ Ancestry.com] — index $ | ||
{{ | *'''1780 - 2002''' - {{RecordSearch|1936414|Tennessee State Marriage Index 1780-2002}} at [https://familysearch.org/ FamilySearch.org] — index | ||
*'''1790 - 1950''' - {{RecordSearch|1619127|Tennessee County Marriages 1790-1950}} at [https://familysearch.org/ FamilySearch.org] — index and images | |||
*'''1796 - 1950''' - {{RecordSearch|1681022|Tennessee Marriages 1796-1950}} at [https://familysearch.org/ FamilySearch.org] — index | |||
*'''1838 - 1888''' - {{RecordSearch|2559093|Tennessee Civil Marriages, 1838-1888}} at [https://www.familysearch.org/search FamilySearch] — index and images | |||
*'''1851 - 1900''' - [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4125 Tennessee Marriages 1851-1900] at [http://home.ancestry.com/ Ancestry.com]— index and images $ | |||
The following Decatur County Courthouse marriage records have been indexed: | |||
*''' | *'''1869 - 1895''' - Decatur County Marriage Index 1869-1895 in [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/igi International Genealogical Index] at FamilySearch - free.<ref>Genealogical Society of Utah, ''Parish and Vital Records List'' (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/6/60/Igitennesseea.pdf.</ref> | ||
*'''1869 - 1898''' - Historical Records Project ''Marriage records, 1869-1898, Decatur County, Tennessee'' Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1939. {{FHL|241993|title-id|disp=FHL US/CAN Film 24638 items 3-7,11}} | |||
*'''1869 - 1921, 1927-1992''' - Alexander, Fred and Margie ''Early marriage records of Decatur County, Tennessee'' Decaturville, Tennessee: F. Alexander, (1987?). {{FHL|640348|title-id|disp=FHL US/CAN Book 976.832 V2a volume 1 and 2}} This book covered all recorded marriages from 1869 to 1921. A fire on March 25, 1927 destroyed all records between March 23, 1921 and March 25, 1927. The book then begins with the records following the fire and continues through the year 1992. | |||
*'''1869 - 1921, 1927 - 1959''' - Decatur County (Tennessee) County Court Clerk ''Marriages (Decatur County, Tennessee), 1869-1921, 1927-1959'' Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee State Library and Archives and History, 197?-1988. {{FHL|231401|title-id|disp=FHL US/CAN Films 979648-650, 979652 items 1-2, 1928661-663}} | |||
*'''1869-1898''' - ''Marriage records, 1869-1898, Decatur County, Tennessee'' {{ | |||
*'''1869- | |||
*''' | |||
===== Divorce ===== | |||
In 1940 and 1941, W.P.A. workers pinpointed the location of Decatur County divorce papers in diverse manuscript collections, see: | |||
*W.P.A. ''Guide to Public Vital Statistics in Tennessee''. Nashville, Tenn.: The Tennessee Historical Records Survey, 1941. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 A3gp. | |||
===== Death ===== | |||
*'''1874 - 1955''' - {{RecordSearch|1681020|Tennessee Deaths and Burials 1874-1955}} at [https://familysearch.org/ FamilySearch.org] — index | |||
*''' | |||
= | *'''1908 - 1958''' - [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2376 Tennessee Death Records 1908 - 1958 ] at [http://home.ancestry.com/ Ancestry.com] — index and images $ | ||
*'''1914 - 1966''' - {{RecordSearch|1417505|Tennessee Deaths, 1914-1966}} at [https://familysearch.org/search FamilySearch] — index and images | |||
{{ | |||
For deaths of Methodists in Decatur County between the 1830s and the 1920s, try: | |||
* | *'''1847 - 1914''' - 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. {{FHL|789366|title-id|disp=FHL US/CAN Books 976.855/N1 V48s 1847-1851}} ff; digital versions at [http://www.tngenweb.org/records/tn_wide/obits/nca/index.html David Donahue Memorial: Tennessee Records Repository]. Website expands upon the publications and includes deaths from the 1830s, 1840s, 1910s and 1920s. | ||
== | == Decatur County Tennessee Genealogy Societies and Libraries == | ||
See also a List of [http://www.genealogyinc.com/tennessee/tn-society-archive/ Tennessee Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical & Genealogical Societies] | |||
=== | {| width="100%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="6" border="0" class="FCK__ShowTableBorders" | ||
|- | |||
| width="35%" valign="top" | [http://www.decaturcountytn.org/decatur_county_library.asp '''Decatur County Public Library'''] <br>20 W Market St <br>Decaturville, TN 38329 <br>Phone: 1-731-852-3325 <br>E-mail: [mailto:dcldsl@tds.net dcldsl@tds.net] <br>'''Hours:'''<br>Mon., Thurs., Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. <br>Tues. 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Wed. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.<br>Sat. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | |||
| valign="top" | The [http://www.decaturcountytn.org/tennessee_room.asp Tennessee Room] holds birth and marriage records, census records, cemetery records, county histories, military records, county deeds, court minutes, newspapers, etc. The director of the Library has volunteered to take pictures of headstones in Decatur county. Check out the Library's [http://www.decaturcountytn.org/decatur_county_library.asp website] for more information. | |||
|- | |||
| width="35%" valign="top" | '''Parsons Public Library''' <br>535 Tennessee Ave South <br>Parsons, TN 38363 <br>Phone: 1-731-847-6988 <br>E-mail: [mailto:parsonslib@netease.net parsonslib@netease.net] <br>'''Hours:''' <br>Mon., Thurs., Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. <br>Tues. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Wed. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. <br>Sat. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | |||
| valign="top" | <br> | |||
|- | |||
| width="35%" valign="top" | [http://www.dchs-tn.org/ '''Decatur County Historical Society''']<br>PO Box 700<br>Decaturville, TN 38329-0700. | |||
| valign="top" | | |||
|- | |||
| width="35%" valign="top" | [http://www.utm.edu/departments/special_collections/wthsc.php '''West Tennessee Heritage Study Center'''] <br>[http://www.utm.edu/departments/acadpro/library/lib_information/index.php Paul Meek Library] <br>[http://www.utm.edu/ University of Tennessee at Martin] <br>Phone: 1-731-881-7060 <br>Hours vary by semester | |||
| valign="top" | The Heritage Study Center holds a variety of genealogical resources including materials relating to the following counties in Tennessee: [[Benton County, Tennessee|Benton]], [[Carroll County, Tennessee|Carroll]], [[Chester County, Tennessee|Chester]], [[Crockett County, Tennessee|Crockett]], [[Decatur County, Tennessee|Decatur]], [[Dyer County, Tennessee|Dyer]], [[Fayette County, Tennessee|Fayette]], [[Gibson County, Tennessee|Gibson]], [[Hardin County, Tennessee|Hardin]], [[Haywood County, Tennessee|Haywood]], [[Henderson County, Tennessee|Henderson]], [[Henry County, Tennessee|Henry]], [[Houston County, Tennessee|Houston]], [[Humphreys County, Tennessee|Humphreys]], [[Lake County, Tennessee|Lake]], [[Lauderdale County, Tennessee|Lauderdale]], [[Madison County, Tennessee|Madison]], [[McNairy County, Tennessee|McNairy]], [[Obion County, Tennessee|Obion]], [[Perry County, Tennessee|Perry]], [[Shelby County, Tennessee|Shelby]], [[Stewart County, Tennessee|Stewart]], [[Tipton County, Tennessee|Tipton]], [[Wayne County, Tennessee|Wayne]], [[Weakley County, Tennessee|Weakley]] and [[Carlisle County, Kentucky Genealogy|Carlisle]], [[Fulton County, Kentucky Genealogy|Fulton]], and [[Hickman County, Kentucky Genealogy|Hickman]] counties in Kentucky. | |||
|- | |||
| width="35%" valign="top" | [https://wths-tn.org/ '''West Tennessee Historical Society''']<br>P.O. Box 111046<br>Memphis, TN 38111<br>Phone: 1-901-475-6608<br>E-mail: [mailto:efrank@memphis.edu efrank@memphis.edu] | |||
| valign="top" | | |||
|} | |||
== | ==== Family History Centers<br> ==== | ||
{{Family History Centers Intro}} | |||
*[[Introduction to Family History Centers]] | |||
*[ | |||
== | == Decatur County Tennessee Genealogy Websites == | ||
{{Wikipedia|Decatur County, Tennessee}} | |||
== | *[http://www.decaturcountytn.info The Decatur County Obituary Project] | ||
*[http://www.anrdoezrs.net/qh105mu2-u1HKJNRJOIHJJPJMKJK?sid=familysearchwikiBoards&url=http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.northam.usa.states.tennessee.counties.decatur/mb.ashx Decatur County, TN Family History and Genealogy Message Board] (Ancestry) | |||
*[http://www.linkpendium.com/genealogy/USA/TN/Decatur/ Decatur County, TN Genealogy and Family History] (Linkpendium) | |||
*[http://www.tngenweb.org/decatur/ Decatur County, TNGenWeb] (USGenWeb) | |||
*[https://wths-tn.org/ Decatur County Archives], USGenWeb Archives | |||
*{{FHL|Tennessee Decatur|subject|disp=FamilySearch Catalog}} (FamilySearch) — The catalog is genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) This catalog is different than the indexed Historical Records. | |||
*[http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/index/usa/TN/decatur.html Mailing List: TNDECATU-L (Decatur County, Tennessee List)] (RootsWeb) | |||
*[http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/index/usa/TN/misc.html#WEST-TNCHAT Mailing List: WEST-TNCHAT-L (West Tennessee Chat List)] (RootsWeb) | |||
*[http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/index/usa/TN/misc.html#WESTTN Mailing List: WESTTN-L (West Tennessee List)] (RootsWeb) | |||
*[http://www.tnyesterday.com Yesterday's Tennessee] | |||
{{-}} | == Decatur County Tennessee Genealogy References == | ||
<references />{{Tennessee|Tennessee}} </div> | |||
{{-}} | |||
[[Category:Decatur_County,_Tennessee]] [[Category:Tennessee_Counties]] | |||
[[Category: | |||
Revision as of 22:22, 19 March 2020
Guide to Decatur County, Tennessee ancestry, family history and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
| Decatur County, Tennessee | |
| Map | |
| |
 Location in the state of Tennessee | |
 Location of Tennessee in the U.S. | |
| Facts | |
| Founded: | 1845 |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Decaturville |
| Courthouse | |
| Website: decaturcountytn.org | |
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named for Stephen Decatur, Jr., who gained national recognition in the First Barbary War, the Second Barbary War, and the War of 1812 by his leadership and achievements at sea. The County is located in the west central area of the state. [1]
Decatur County, Tennessee Record Dates[edit | edit source]
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1881 | 1869 | 1908 | 1860 | 1846 | 1869 | 1810 |
Decatur County Tennessee Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Decatur County Courthouse, Decaturville, Tenn. Courtesy: Collection: County Court Houses, Flickr by Jimmy Emerson. Used by permission.
Decatur County Courthouse
PO Box 488;
Decaturville, TN 38329-0488
Phone: 731.852.3417
County Clerk has marriage records from 1869.
Register of Deeds has land records. [3]
Decatur County Courthouse
P.O. Box 488
Decaturville, TN 38329-0488
Phone: 1-731-852-3417
Decatur County Clerk
Marriage records
Phone: 1-731-852-3417
Decatur County Register of Deeds
Land records
Phone: 1-731-852-3712
Circuit Court Clerk
Court records
Phone: 1-731-852-3125
Hours:
Mon.-Tues. and Thurs.-Fri.8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Wed. and Sat. 8 a.m.-noon
Decatur County Tennessee History[edit | edit source]
West Tennessee county.
The county is named after U.S. naval officer Stephen Decatur (1779-1820).[4]
Parent County[edit | edit source]
1845--Decatur County was created November 1845 from Perry County.
County seat: Decaturville [5]
County Pronunciation[edit | edit source]
- Hear it spoken[6] (female)
- Hear it spoken[7] (female)
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
[For animated maps illustrating Tennessee county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Tennessee County Boundary Maps" (1777-1985) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
1869 and 1927 Courthouse burned and many records were damaged.[8]
- Marriages lost 1845 to 1869
- Probate lost 1845 to 1869
- Nearly all records, except deeds, lost in 1869 fire.[9]
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
Decatur County Tennessee Places / Localities[edit | edit source]
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
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:[10]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
Neighboring Counties[edit | edit source]
Decatur County Tennessee Genealogy Resources[edit | edit source]
Getting Started[edit | edit source]
Use the free Search for Surnames at Mountain Press's website to quickly search a variety of published Decatur County biography and cemetery records. To determine which books are being searched, or to search each publication's index individually, click here. You are now equipped with a checklist of books to pull off the shelves at a genealogy library, or a wish list for your personal book collection.
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
- Genealogical "Fact Sheets" About Tennessee Counties: Decatur County, courtesy: TSLA. (Identifies published county histories, published local records, census records, newspapers and local records on microfilm, and select manuscripts.)
African American[edit | edit source]
United States African Americans 
Tennessee African Americans
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
| Tombstone Transcriptions Online | Tombstone Transcriptions in Print | List of Cemeteries in the county |
| Findagrave.com | WorldCat | Findagrave.com |
| TNGenWeb | BillionGraves | |
| TNGenWeb Archives | Linkpendium | |
| Tombstone Project | Gravestones | |
| TNGenWeb Cemeteries | ||
| BillionGraves | ||
| See Tennessee Cemeteries for more information. | ||
Census[edit | edit source]
1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 federal population censuses of Decatur 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 Decatur County, TN census assignments, including links to transcribed files. The USGenWeb Census Project®
Church[edit | edit source]
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.
- Decatur County Church Records
- - FamilySearch Catalog - Decatur County Church Records
- Church histories tell when a church started in the area, who the early members were, give data about church leaders, etc.
- If the records you need are not found in the Family History Library collection, contact the church(es) in the area where your ancestor lived. Two sites that give information about churches in Bedford County are:
- - List of Decatur County churches with addresses and phone numbers (Yellowbook)
- - List of Decatur County churches (TN HomeTownLocator)
- In 1936, a helpful guide to early Decatur County church records (Guide to Church Vital Statistics in Tennessee, also FHL 976.8 K23w) was published by the Works Project Administration. Use this guide to locate which church records exist and where they were housed in 1936. The Tennessee State Library and Archives has filmed some of these records. To locate which records are available at the TSLA, go to the appropriate "county fact sheet" on the TSLA Web site and scroll down to "selected manuscript material". All filmed church records at the TSLA for Decatur County are listed. Many of these filmed records are also available at the Family History Library.
Court[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
More than a dozen genealogies have been published about Decatur County, Tennessee families. For more information visit Decatur County, Tennessee Compiled Genealogies.
Land[edit | edit source]
Decatur County Register of Deeds has Land Records from 1846 and is located at 22 West Main Street, Decaturville, Tennessee 38329, or P.O. Box 488, Decaturville, TN 38329-0488; Telephone: 731-852-3712. Land and property records may include transfer of real estate or personal property, mortgages, leases, surveys, and entries.
The Family History Library has microfilmed deed records 1846-1896 with indexes to 1926 and survey books 1891-1918.
Law and Legislation[edit | edit source]
- 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. To read more about this valuable resource Click here. The searchable index is available at the TSLA; another version is available at World Vital Records.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Maps[edit | edit source]
Click a neighboring county
for more resources
for more resources
Military[edit | edit source]
War of 1812[edit | edit source]
- Embry, Hermione D. "War of 1812 - Tennessee Pensioners on List - January 2, 1883," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 7, No. 2 (Apr. 1960):40-45. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a v. 7 (1960); digital version at journal website. Includes Decatur County pensioners (p. 43).
Civil War[edit | edit source]
Online Records
- 1861 - 1865 - Tennessee, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
- 1861 - 1865 - Tennessee, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
- 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)
- 1891 - 1965 - Tennessee, Confederate Pension Applications, Soldiers and Widows, 1891-1965 at FamilySearch — images
- Civil War Research Database ($)
- Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System
Regiments. Civil War service men from Decatur County served in various regiments. Men often joined a regiment or a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are the military units that were formed in or had many men from Decatur County:
Confederate Soldiers
- 10th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (DeMoss') - CSA - Company C.
- 27th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company E.
- 31st Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (A. H. Bradford's) - CSA - Company H.
- 51st Consolidated Regiment, Tennessee Infantry, Companies A and E.
- 52nd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company A, D, and I.
- Cox's Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry, Company C
Union Soldiers
- 2nd Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry - Companies C, D, and E.
- 6th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry - Companies G and H.
Additional sources for Civil War soldiers from Decatur County:
- Tennessee State Library and Archives, Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications: Decatur County. Index 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. Decatur County, page 331.
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Many Tennessee newspapers are filmed and available at the TSLA. Most of these newspapers may be accessed by interlibrary loan to libraries within Tennessee, although there are some newspapers which are not available in or outside of Tennessee. For further information regarding interlibrary loan policies and newspapers not available for interlibrary loan click here. For a list of newspapers available at the archives for Decatur County click on the following cities or towns:
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Occupations[edit | edit source]
- Miller, Alan N. West Tennessee's Forgotten Children: Apprentices from 1821 to 1889. Baltimore, Md.: Printed for Clearfield Company, Inc., by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2006. FHL US/CAN 976.8 U2man. Purchase at Genealogical.com. Includes Decatur County.
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Tap into the minds of local experts. Editors of genealogical periodicals publish unique sources that researchers who are new to their area would not likely discover. This type of material may be found in local, regional, or statewide genealogical society journals. The following periodicals cover this county:
- Ansearchin' News
- Genealogical articles with abstracts of records of Decatur County, Tennessee have been published in Ansearchin' News, the quarterly magazine of the Tennessee Genealogical Society. To view a list of these articles, visit their county index. To read digitized versions of the first 36 years of articles (Vols. 1-36), browse their archive or conduct a surname search. The Family History Library has a complete collection of the Ansearchin' News quarterly FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a.
- Family Findings
Genealogical articles with abstracts of Decatur County, Tennessee records have been published in Family Findings, the quarterly of the Mid-West Tennessee Genealogical Society (42+ vols.). The Family History Library has most issues of this quarterly FHL US/CAN 976.8 B2f. Tables of contents for some volumes are available online, courtesy: TNGenWeb Project:
Many articles from this publication have been reproduced on the TNGenWeb Project website, try this specialized Google search.
- West Tennessee Historical Society Papers
- Family History Library has Volumes 1 - 16 and 30 FHL US/CAN Book 976.81 B5w. The West Tennessee Historical Society Papers are indexed in PERiodical Source Index (PERSI)
To view Table of Contents and complete articles from 1947 - 2005 see Shelby County Register of Deeds
Prisons[edit | edit source]
Learn if your Decatur County, Tennessee Genealogy ancestors went to prison!
- Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1831-1850
- Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1851-1870
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
The County Court has responsibility for the probate records of Decatur County.
Online Records
- 1779 – 2008 - Tennessee Wills and Probate Records 1779-2008 at Ancestry.com — index and images ($)
FamilySearch has placed scans of the following records online in the Tennessee, Probate Court Books, 1795-1927 collection. These are browse-only collections. Handwritten indexes may be found at the front or back of some volumes:
- Wills, 1869-1927 (Vol. 1)
- Bonds, 1869-1975
- Bonds, Letters, 1869-1930 (3 vols.)
- Insolvent estate records, 1869-1941
- Inventories, 1869-1905
- Settlements, 1869-1913 (4 vols.)
Taxation[edit | edit source]
The original Decatur County Tax Books 1888-1889, 1896-1898 are kept at the County Courthouse. In the 1970s, the TSLA microfilmed these records. FHL copies: FHL US/CAN Film 979664.
The following Decatur County tax records have been abstracted:[11]
- 1848 - "1849 Land Sales Held in 3 West Tennessee Counties for Unpaid Taxes," [1848 taxpayers in Decatur, Carroll, and Henderson counties], Ansearchin' News, Vol. 44, No. 4 (Winter 1997):12. For FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
- 1852 - 1882 - Hill, Phyllis. "Decatur County, TN - Misc - Tax Receipts of W.G. Riggs," available online, courtesy: USGenWeb Archives. Abstracts of receipts Riggs received for paying his taxes, various years between 1852 and 1882.
- 1888 - Hill, Phyllis. "Decatur County, TN - Land - Property Tax Records, District 12, 1888," available online, courtesy: USGenWeb Archives.
- 1889 - Hill, Phyllis. "Decatur County, TN - Land - Property Tax Records, District 12, 1889," available online, courtesy: USGenWeb Archives.
- 1896 - Hill, Phyllis. "Decatur County, TN - Land - Property Tax Records, District 12, 1896," available online, courtesy: USGenWeb Archives.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
See also How to order Tennessee Vital Records or order electronically online.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1828 - 1939 - Tennessee Births and Christenings 1828-1939 at FamilySearch.org — index
- 1850 - Porch, Deane Decatur County, Tennessee, 1850 census Nashville, Tennessee: D. Porch, 1970. FHL US/CAN Book 976.832 X2
- 1869 - 1909 - Tennessee Delayed Birth Records 1869-1909 at Ancestry.com — index and images. ($)
- 1880 - Sistler, Byron H. and Barbara 1880 Census, Decatur County, Tennessee Nashville, Tennessee : B. Sistler and Associates, c1993. FHL US/CAN book 976.832 X2
- 1881 - 1903 - Decatur County Birth Index 1881-1903 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C710351 .[12]
- 1908 - 1912 - Tennessee, Birth Records (ER Series), 1908-1912 at FamilySearch — index and images
Marriage[edit | edit source]
Marriages were not officially recorded in Decatur County until 1838, when a law was passed mandating the practice.[13] The following publication, based on early newspapers, helps to alleviate this genealogical obstacle:
- 1625-1966 - Tennessee, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
- 1794 - 1851 - Lucas, Silas Emmett. Marriages from Early Tennessee Newspapers 1794-1851. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1978. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 V2L.
The following Tennessee marriage records have been indexed:
- 1780 - 2002 - Tennessee State Marriages 1780-2002 at Ancestry.com — index $
- 1780 - 2002 - Tennessee State Marriage Index 1780-2002 at FamilySearch.org — index
- 1790 - 1950 - Tennessee County Marriages 1790-1950 at FamilySearch.org — index and images
- 1796 - 1950 - Tennessee Marriages 1796-1950 at FamilySearch.org — index
- 1838 - 1888 - Tennessee Civil Marriages, 1838-1888 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1851 - 1900 - Tennessee Marriages 1851-1900 at Ancestry.com— index and images $
The following Decatur County Courthouse marriage records have been indexed:
- 1869 - 1895 - Decatur County Marriage Index 1869-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.[14]
- 1869 - 1898 - Historical Records Project Marriage records, 1869-1898, Decatur County, Tennessee Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1939. FHL US/CAN Film 24638 items 3-7,11
- 1869 - 1921, 1927-1992 - Alexander, Fred and Margie Early marriage records of Decatur County, Tennessee Decaturville, Tennessee: F. Alexander, (1987?). FHL US/CAN Book 976.832 V2a volume 1 and 2 This book covered all recorded marriages from 1869 to 1921. A fire on March 25, 1927 destroyed all records between March 23, 1921 and March 25, 1927. The book then begins with the records following the fire and continues through the year 1992.
- 1869 - 1921, 1927 - 1959 - Decatur County (Tennessee) County Court Clerk Marriages (Decatur County, Tennessee), 1869-1921, 1927-1959 Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee State Library and Archives and History, 197?-1988. FHL US/CAN Films 979648-650, 979652 items 1-2, 1928661-663
Divorce[edit | edit source]
In 1940 and 1941, W.P.A. workers pinpointed the location of Decatur County divorce papers in diverse manuscript collections, see:
- W.P.A. Guide to Public Vital Statistics in Tennessee. Nashville, Tenn.: The Tennessee Historical Records Survey, 1941. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 A3gp.
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1874 - 1955 - Tennessee Deaths and Burials 1874-1955 at FamilySearch.org — index
- 1908 - 1958 - Tennessee Death Records 1908 - 1958 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
- 1914 - 1966 - Tennessee Deaths, 1914-1966 at FamilySearch — index and images
For deaths of Methodists in Decatur County between the 1830s and the 1920s, try:
- 1847 - 1914 - 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. FHL 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.
Decatur County Tennessee Genealogy Societies and Libraries[edit | edit source]
See also a List of Tennessee Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical & Genealogical Societies
| Decatur County Public Library 20 W Market St Decaturville, TN 38329 Phone: 1-731-852-3325 E-mail: dcldsl@tds.net Hours: Mon., Thurs., Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues. 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Wed. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. |
The Tennessee Room holds birth and marriage records, census records, cemetery records, county histories, military records, county deeds, court minutes, newspapers, etc. The director of the Library has volunteered to take pictures of headstones in Decatur county. Check out the Library's website for more information. |
| Parsons Public Library 535 Tennessee Ave South Parsons, TN 38363 Phone: 1-731-847-6988 E-mail: parsonslib@netease.net Hours: Mon., Thurs., Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Wed. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. |
|
| Decatur County Historical Society PO Box 700 Decaturville, TN 38329-0700. |
|
| West Tennessee Heritage Study Center Paul Meek Library University of Tennessee at Martin Phone: 1-731-881-7060 Hours vary by semester |
The Heritage Study Center holds a variety of genealogical resources including materials relating to the following counties in Tennessee: Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Houston, Humphreys, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Perry, Shelby, Stewart, Tipton, Wayne, Weakley and Carlisle, Fulton, and Hickman counties in Kentucky. |
| West Tennessee Historical Society P.O. Box 111046 Memphis, TN 38111 Phone: 1-901-475-6608 E-mail: efrank@memphis.edu |
Family History Centers
[edit | edit source]
Template:Family History Centers Intro
Decatur County Tennessee Genealogy Websites[edit | edit source]
- The Decatur County Obituary Project
- Decatur County, TN Family History and Genealogy Message Board (Ancestry)
- Decatur County, TN Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- Decatur County, TNGenWeb (USGenWeb)
- Decatur County Archives, USGenWeb Archives
- FamilySearch Catalog (FamilySearch) — The catalog is genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) This catalog is different than the indexed Historical Records.
- Mailing List: TNDECATU-L (Decatur County, Tennessee List) (RootsWeb)
- Mailing List: WEST-TNCHAT-L (West Tennessee Chat List) (RootsWeb)
- Mailing List: WESTTN-L (West Tennessee List) (RootsWeb)
- Yesterday's Tennessee
Decatur County Tennessee Genealogy References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Decatur, Tennessee" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decatur_County,_Tennessee accessed 18 Dec 2018
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Decatur County, Tennessee. Page 638-645 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 637-640.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Decatur County, Tennessee page 639, At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ "List of counties in Tennessee", Wikipedia.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002), 639. (FHL Book 973 D27e 2002). WorldCat entry.
- ↑ Voice of Lynnae Weller, Kingsport, Tenn. (2010).
- ↑ Voice of Louise Lynch, Archivist, Williamson County, Tennessee Archives (2010).
- ↑ Lost Records: Courthouse Fires and Disasters in Tennessee in Tennessee State Library and Archives in Tennessee Secretary of State (accessed 31 March 2014).
- ↑ Robert M. McBride, Tennessee County Data (Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee States Library and Archives, 1966), 20.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Decatur County, Tennessee," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decatur_County%2C_Tennessee#Communities, accessed 12 November 2019.
- ↑ 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/6/60/Igitennesseea.pdf.
- ↑ Gale Williams Bamman, C.G., "Research in Tennessee," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 81, No. 2 (June 1993):105. FHL US/CAN Book 973 B2ng v. 81 (1993)
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/6/60/Igitennesseea.pdf.