Knox County, Tennessee Genealogy
Guide to Knox County, Tennessee ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 Resources
- 2.1 Bible Records
- 2.2 Biographies
- 2.3 Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- 2.4 Cemeteries
- 2.5 Census Records
- 2.6 Church Records
- 2.7 Court Records
- 2.8 Directories
- 2.9 Emigration and Immigration
- 2.10 Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
- 2.11 Funeral Homes
- 2.12 Genealogies
- 2.13 Guardianship
- 2.14 Land and Property Records
- 2.15 Local Histories
- 2.16 Maps and Gazetteers
- 2.17 Migration
- 2.18 Military Records
- 2.19 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 2.20 Newspapers
- 2.21 Obituaries
- 2.22 Other Records
- 2.23 Periodicals
- 2.24 Probate Records
- 2.25 School Records
- 2.26 Social Security Records
- 2.27 Tax Records
- 2.28 Vital Records
- 3 Research Facilities
- 4 Societies
- 5 Websites
- 6 Research Guides
- 7 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named for the American Revolutionary War general and the first United States Secretary of War Henry Knox. The County is located in the northeast area of the state. [2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Knox County Courthouse
400 Main St.
Knoxville, TN 37902-1805
Knox County Courthouse Phone: 865-215-2390
County Clerk Phone: 865-215-2385
County Clerk and Master Phone: 865-215-2555
Circuit Court Phone: 865-215-2400
Non-current County records are housed in the Knox County Archives, which is located in the East Tennessee History Center.
County Archives has probate records from 1789, marriage, divorce, Court records from 1792, Tax records from 1806.
Register of Deeds has land records. [3]
County Pronunciation
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Knox County, Tennessee Record Dates[edit | edit source]
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.
Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
1881 | 1792 | 1881 | 1792 | 1791 | 1789 | 1810 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
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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. |
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:[8]
Cities | ||
Towns | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
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Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Additional Information
East Tennessee county. Established 1792.
The county is named for General Henry Knox (1750-1806), Revolutionary War hero, and the nation's first Secretary of War.[9]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- Turner, Francis Marion. Life of General John Sevier New York: The Neale Publishing Co., 1910. Free digital copy.
- Wright, Marcus Joseph. Some Account of the Life and Services of William Blount.... Washington,D.C.: E.J.Gray, 1884. Free digital copy.
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
- Miller, Alan N. East Tennessee's Forgotten Children: Apprentices from 1778 to 1911. Baltimore, Md.: Printed for Clearfield Company, Inc., by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2000. FHL Collection 976.8 U2m; digital version at World Vital Records ($). Purchase at Genealogical.com. Includes Knox County.
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
See Tennessee Cemeteries for more information. |
Additional Cemetery Resources
- Tennessee Cemeteries - Hometown Locator
- Robert McGinnis is recognized as the Knox County Cemetery Historian by several local organizations, such as Knox Heritage. He has published multiple volumes of cemetery transcriptions for Knox County, encompassing more than 500,000 burials. He has done extensive research and included such things as wills and obituaries in the books. In addition, he perused Knox County death certificates on microfilm to identify unmarked burials. Copies of each volume are available from Mr. McGinnis.
Census Records[edit | edit source]
Historical populations | ||
---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± |
1800 | 12,446 | — |
1810 | 10,171 | −18.3% |
1820 | 13,034 | 28.1% |
1830 | 14,498 | 11.2% |
1840 | 15,485 | 6.8% |
1850 | 18,807 | 21.5% |
1860 | 22,813 | 21.3% |
1870 | 28,990 | 27.1% |
1880 | 39,124 | 35.0% |
1890 | 59,557 | 52.2% |
1900 | 74,302 | 24.8% |
1910 | 94,187 | 26.8% |
1920 | 112,926 | 19.9% |
1930 | 155,902 | 38.1% |
1940 | 178,468 | 14.5% |
1950 | 223,007 | 25.0% |
1960 | 250,523 | 12.3% |
1970 | 276,293 | 10.3% |
1980 | 319,694 | 15.7% |
1990 | 335,749 | 5.0% |
2000 | 382,032 | 13.8% |
2010 | 432,226 | 13.1% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 federal population censuses of Knox 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.
1800 Lost
1810 Lost
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. FHL Collection 976.8 X2s 1810
1810-1891
1820 Lost[10]
1820 Manufactures
The original manufactures schedules for the Eastern and Western Districts of Tennessee are kept at the National Archives, Washington, D.C. FHL copies: FHL Collection 1024517-1024518
The following book is a useful aid for finding the original records. Aonline index, provided by Lineages, which cites the original document numbers, will help researchers determine if this resource can be of assistance:
- 1820 Census of Manufactures: Knox County, East Tennessee Roots, Vol. 9, No. 1 ():50. For availability, see Knox.
These records have also been abstracted:
- 1820 Census of Manufactures: Knox County, East Tennessee Roots, Vol. 9, No. 1 ():50. For availability, see Periodicals.
1830
- Sistler, Byron H. 1830 Census, East Tennessee. Evanston, Ill.: n.p., 1969. FHL Collection 976.8 X2p 1830
1840 Revolutionary War Pensioners
- A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing, 1967. FHL Collection Book 973 X2pc 1840; Film 2321]. 1841 edition digitized by Google Books. See Tennessee, Eastern District, Knox County on page 153.
1850
- United States Census 1850 for Knox County, Tennessee. Knoxville, Tenn.: East Tennessee Historical Society, 1949. FHL Collection 976.885 X2p 1850
1880
- Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. 1880 Census Knox County, Tennessee. Nashville, Tenn.: Byron Sistler & Associates, 1996. FHL Collection 976.885 X2s 1880 Another copy is available in the Census Area.
1890 Lost
Substitutes are available:
- Reed, Sue S. Enumeration of Male Inhabitants of Twenty-one Years of Age and Upward, Citizens of Tennessee, January 1, 1891, as Provided for by an Act of General Assembly of Tennessee, Passed January 15, 1891, and Approved January 22, 1891. 8 vols. Houston, Texas: S.S. Reed, 1989. FHL Collection 976.8 X2r v. 1 1891 Knox County is included in Vol. 1.
- Sistler, Byron H. and Barbara Sistler. 1890 Civil War Veterans Census, Tennessee. Evanston, Ill.: Byron Sister and Associates, 1978. FHL Collection 976.8 X2s 1890
Male Voters
- 1891 Tennessee Enumeration of Male Voters 1891 at Ancestry ($)
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Presbyterian
First Presbyterian Church, Knoxville
- 1816-1913 - First Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, Baptism Index 1816-1913. Batches C710781 and C710782 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
- 1816-1913 - First Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, Marriage Index 1816-1913. Batches M710781 and M710782 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
- 1881-1913 - First Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, Burial Index 1881-1913. Batch B395613 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
- The Centennial Anniversary of the First Presbyterian Church of Knoxville, Tennessee, and the Semi-Centennial Anniversary of the Ministry of Rev. James Park, D.D., Knoxville, Tenn., October 11, 1896. Knoxville, Tenn.: Bean, Warters & Gaut, Printers and Binders, 1897. Digital version at Google Books.
Pleasant Forest Presbyterian Church
- 1833-1885 - Pleasant Forest Presbyterian Church Baptism Index 1833-1885.[11]
Roman Catholic
- Diocese of Knoxville
805 Northshore Drive Southwest
Knoxville, TN 37919
Telephone: 865-584-3307
Fax: 865-584-7538
website
Immaculate Conception Church, Knoxville
- 1846-1870 - Immaculate Conception Church, Knoxville, Baptism Index 1846-1870. Batch C710791 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
Court Records[edit | edit source]
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. 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.
Directories[edit | edit source]
- Knoxville City Directories, 1859-present - the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection has a complete set of Knoxville City Directories. Watch this video on their collection
- Knoxville City Directory, 1926: Containing an Alphabetical List of Business Firms, Corporations Followed by Their Officers, Copartnerships Giving Names of Partners, and Private Citizens with Their Occupation, Business Connections and Home Address, a Directory of All Churches, Public and Private Schools, Benevolent, Literary, Religious and Other Societies, Banks and Trust Companies, Officers of the County and City Governments, a Street and Avenue Guide, Numerical Telephone Directory, a Buyers' Guide and a Complete Classified Business Directory. Knoxville, Tenn.: City Directory Co. of Knoxville, c1926. Digital version at Ancestry ($)
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Early migration routes to Knox County for European settlers included:
During the War of 1812, American officials reported finding a total of 33 British aliens, many of whom had families, living in Knoxville and Knox County.[12]
- Babelay, David, Charles F. Bryan Jr., Leo Schelbert, and J. Michael Clark. They Trusted and were Delivered: The French-Swiss of Knoxville, Tennessee. 2 vols. Knoxville, Tenn.: Vaud-Tennessee, 1988. FHL US/CAN Book 976.885 F2b.
- Kenneth Scott. British Aliens in the United States During the War of 1812. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979, 372-378 (see East Tennessee). FHL US/CAN 973 W4s; digital version at Ancestry ($)
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
African American
- 1878 Examiner Newspaper - one extant issue of this African-American newspaper; part of the McClung Collection
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
More than 50 genealogies have been published about Knox County, Tennessee families. For more information visit Knox County, Tennessee Compiled Genealogies.
Gordon Aronhime (1911-1983) collected information on hundreds of Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee pioneers. His note cards, which reference more than 4,000 early settlers of the Holston-Clinch River area and East Tennessee (1770s-1790s), are held at the Library of Virginia. The cards have been digitized and made available online.[13]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
Deeds
The original Knox County Deed Books are held at the County Courthouse. In 1966, TSLA microfilmed these records for the years 1791 to 1966, resulting in 1564 microfilms. FHL Collection
Local Land Entries Issued by North Carolina
The original Knox County land entries issued by North Carolina are kept at the North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh. On their website, users can bring up a list of land entries issued in Knox County, both before and after it became a part of the state of Tennessee. Years covered: 1779-1803.
Instructions:
- Follow this link to conduct a "Call Number Search" using the MARS Catalog on their site.
- Using the pull down window, change "Call Numbers starting" to "A MarsID matching."
- Type 12.14.11 (Windows Vista users may need to include a period after the last digit, for example 12.14.11.) and click Search. This is the specific MarsID for Knox County.
- Click on the entry that is returned: "Tennessee, Knox County."
- In the window that pops up, click Show List of Child Records and a list of Knox County land entries will be produced. Browse to find abstracts of the original records.[14]
N.B. You can also search by name through the Basic Search, but it lacks soundex capabilities.
1783-1843 - North Carolina and Tennessee Revolutionary War Land Warrants 1783-1843 at Ancestry -- index and images ($)
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
- Rule, William, George Frederick Mellen and John Wooldridge. Standard History of Knoxville, Tennessee: With Full Outline of the Natural Advantages, Early Settlement, Territorial Government, Indian Troubles, and General and Particular History of the City Down to the Present Time. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1900. Digital versions at Ancestry ($) and Google Books.
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- 1777-1985 - Maps of Tennessee (1777-1985)
- 1792 Reeves, Charles A. Knox & Jefferson Counties (Tennessee) - Created June 11, 1792 from Greene & Hawkins Counties. Published 2000. Purchase at ReevesMaps.com; website includes a scaled-down version of the map.
- 1871 Ruger, A. Bird's Eye View of the City of Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee. Originally published 1871. Purchase at ReevesMaps.com; website includes a scaled-down version of the map.
- 1886 Wellege, Henry. Knoxville, County Seat of Knox County, Tennessee. Originally published 1886. Purchase at ReevesMaps.com; website includes a scaled-down version of the map.
- 1888 - Knox County, Tennessee Map with numerous small settlements. (My Genealogy Hound)
- 1890 Sanborn Map. Map of Knoxville, 1890. Purchase at ReevesMaps.com; website includes a scaled-down version of the map.
- 1895 1895 Knox County, Tennessee Property Owners Map. Includes: property owners, churches, schools, roads, communities, cities, towns, and an index. Purchase at ReevesMaps.com; website includes a scaled-down version of the map.
- 1895 Ogden Brothers Map. Map of Knoxville, 1895. Purchase at ReevesMaps.com; website includes a scaled-down version of the map.
- 1917 Sanborn Map. Map of Knoxville, 1917. Purchase at ReevesMaps.com; website includes a scaled-down version of the map.
- 1939 Viking Press for the WPA. A Map of Knoxville. Originally published 1939. Purchase at ReevesMaps.com; website includes a scaled-down version of the map.
- 1948 Knoxville, Tennessee. Originally published 1948. Includes streets and a few landmarks. Purchase at ReevesMaps.com; website includes a scaled-down version of the map.
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
- Fold3 is one of the greatest databases of military records (Indian Wars, Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II) for all states
Indian Wars
- Persons Killed, Wounded & Taken Prisoner, 1791, Montgomery County Genealogical Journal, Vol. 9, No. 3 (Mar. 1980).
Revolutionary War
The following Knox County Revolutionary War records are available online through TNGenWeb:
Additional resources include:
- A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing, 1967. FHL Collection Book 973 X2pc 1840; Film 2321]. 1841 edition digitized by Google Books. See Tennessee, Eastern District, Knox County on page 153.
- 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, courtesy: 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. 7, No. 4 (Oct. 1960):90-93. FHL Collection 976.8 B2a v. 7 (1960); digital version at journal website. Includes Knox County pensioners (pp. 91-92).
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
- 1861-1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry
- 1861-1865 - U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 at Ancestry
- 1891-1965 - Tennessee, Confederate Pension Applications, Soldiers and Widows, 1891-1965 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System
Regiments. Men in Knox 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 Knox County:
Confederate Soldiers
- 1st Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Carter's) - CSA - Company E.
- 2nd Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Ashby's) - CSA - Company B, D, and I.
- 3rd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company A.
- 3rd Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry (Lillard's) - CSA - Company A.
- 4th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry - CSA - Companies B and L.
- 4th Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry (Branner's) - CSA - Company C and E.
- 5th Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry (McClellan's) - CSA - Company C.
- 8th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Smith's) - CSA
- 11th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry - CSA- Company L.
- 12th Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry (Day's) - CSA - Company E.
- 19th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company E.
- 26th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (3rd East Tennessee Volunteers) - CSA - Company F.
- 28th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Hay's) - CSA
- 34th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (4th Confederate Infantry) - CSA - Company C.
- 36th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA
- 59th Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry (Cooke's) (Eakin's 1st Battalion) - CSA - Company D.
- 63rd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (Fain's) (74th Infantry) - CSA - Company D.
- Tennessee Artillery Corps (McCown's) - CSA - First, Fourteenth, and Sixteenth Companies.
Union Soldiers
- 1st Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry - Companies A and C.
- 1st Battalion, Tennessee Light Artillery - organized at Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville.
- 3rd Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry - Company A.
- 3rd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - Companies D, F, H, and I.
- 6th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - Companies A and B.
- 8th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry - Companies F and G.
- 9th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry - Companies B, K, L, and M.
Additional sources for Civil War soldiers from Knox County:
- Carter, William Randolph. History of the First regiment of Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry in the Great war of the Rebellion, with the Armies of the Ohio and Cumberland, under Generals Morgan, Rosecrans, Thomas, Stanley and Wilson. Knoxville, Tennessee: Gaut-Ogden Co. Printers, 1902. Free digital copy. Union.
- Worsham, William J. Old Nineteenth Tennessee regiment, C.S.A. June, 1861-April, l865. Knoxville, Tennessee: Press of Paragon Printing Co., 1902. Free digital copy.
- Knox County in the Civil War. The purpose of this page is to provide links to text, maps, photos, and other helpful resources for those interested in the impact of the Civil War on Knox County, Tennessee.
- Memorial to the Sultana Incident. This photos are from the Mount Olive Cemetery in Knox County, TN.
- CWSAC, Battle Summaries, Campbell's Station and Fort Sanders. Located in Knox County.
- Knoxville Civil War Roundtable.
- American Memory, Selected Photographs of the Civil War, 1861-1865.
- Tennessee State Library and Archives, Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications: Knox 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. Knox County, page 353-356.
Civil War Battles
The following Civil War battles were fought in Knox County:
- November 16, 1863 - Campbell's Station [15]]
- November 29, 1863 - Fort Sanders, also known as Fort Loudon [16]]
- Map showing Civil War battles in Tennessee.
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
The organization Strictly By Name providesonline indexes to early Knoxville newspapers. They offer a record retrieval service to photocopy and transcribe microfilm copies of the original documents for a small fee. Available indexes:
Other online papers
- Knxoville Daily Chronicle, 1870-1873 -- available at ChroniclingAmerica.gov
- Knoxville Daily Chronicle, 1885-1886 -- available at Google News Archive
Many Tennessee newspapers are filmed and available at TSLA. Most of these newspapers may be accessed by interlibrary loan to libraries within Tennessee, although there are some newspaphttp://sos.tn.gov/products/tsla/newspapers-microfilm-tennessee-state-library-and-archivesers 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 Knox County click on the following cities:
Published Knox County newspaper abstracts:
- McGinnis, Robert A. Tidbits of the Past: Death Notices, Obituaries & Interesting Articles Taken from Knoxville Newspapers 1868-1885. n.p.: R.A. McGinnis, 2004. Family History Library WorldCat.
- McGinnis, Robert A. Tidbits of the Past: Death Notices, Obituaries & Interesting Articles Taken from Knoxville Newspapers 1886-1891.
- McGinnis, Robert A. Tidbits of the Past: Death Notices, Obituaries & Interesting Articles Taken from Knoxville Newspapers 1892-1895.
- To order a copy of any volume, please contact McGinnis at 1425 Glenoaks Drive, Knoxville, TN 37918, 776-2785 or email RMCG181640@aol.com
- To order a copy of any volume, please contact McGinnis at 1425 Glenoaks Drive, Knoxville, TN 37918, 776-2785 or email RMCG181640@aol.com
- 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. 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. (Largely Methodist?)
- 1878 Examiner Newspaper - one extant issue of this African-American newspaper; part of the McClung Collection
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- Obituary Index at Knox County Library (McClung Historical Collection)
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Prisons[edit | edit source]
- 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[edit | edit source]
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; FHL Book 976.8 B2a.
- East Tennessee Roots: Published by East Tennessee Roots The table of contents for some issues are available on their website; FHL Book 976.8 D25e.
- The Pellissippian: Published by the Anderson County Historical Society (formerly called, Pellissippi Genealogical and Historical Society). The table of contents for some issues are available on their website. FHL Book 976.8 D25p.
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
The Family History Library has not acquired microfilm copies of most original Knox County Will Books. When researching in that facility, it is necessary to rely upon published abstracts of the records.
Online Records and Indexes
- 1779-2008 Tennessee Wills and Probate Records 1779-2008 at Ancestry ($)
- 1792-1915 - Knox 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.
- 1792-1821 Wills, Guardianships, Accounts, Settlements Book 0: 1792-1821 Strictly By Name - Index only
- 1792-1811 Wills, Guardianships, Accounts, Settlements Book 1: 1792-1811 Strictly By Name - Index only
- 1812-1817 Wills, Guardianships, Accounts, Settlements Book 2: 1812-1817 Strictly By Name - Index only
- 1818-1924Wills, Guardianships, Accounts, Settlements Book 3: 1818-1824 Strictly By Name - Index only
Book Abstracts and Indexes
- 1792-1831 - Bell, Annie W.B. Knox County, Tennessee, Wills, 1792-1831: Estate and Guardian Book, "O" Will's, 1792-1803; Guardians, 1792-1821. Original at Court House, Knoxville, Tennessee. 1934. FHL Collection 976.885 P2b
- 1792-1803 - Historical Records Project (W.P.A.). Will Books, 1792-1803, Knox County, Tennessee. Typescript, TSLA. Microfilmed in 1941. FHL Collection 24719 Item 3
- 1792-1861 - Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Index to Tennessee Wills & Administrations 1779-1861. Nashville, Tenn. Byron Sistler & Associates, Inc., 1990. FHL Collection 976.8 P22s Includes an index to this county's probate records. Free Lookups Available!
- 1792-1824 - Knox County, Tennessee Estate Book [1792-1824]. 2 vols. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 199-?. FHL Collection 976.885 P28k
- 1792-1824 - Strictly By Name (see above).
School Records[edit | edit source]
- Knox County Schools - a flickr album of past and current Knox County schools by Cyndy Cox
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
The original Knox County Highway Tax Book, dated 1888, is kept at the County Courthouse. In 1978, GSU microfilmed this book: FHL Collection 1020331 Item 4
Online Records and Indexes
- 1783-1895 Tennessee, Early Tax List Records, 1783-1895 at Ancestry ($)
Book Abstracts and Indexes
- 1796 - West, Betsy F. "Delinquent Tax List, Knox County, Tennessee-1796," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 24, No. 3 (Fall 1977):138. For FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Knox.
- 1796, 1799, 1815 Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Index to Early Tennessee Tax Lists. Evanston, Ill.: B. & B. Sistler, 1977. FHL Collection 976.8 R4s - Includes 1796, 1799, 1815 (Knoxville only) tax lists.
- 1796, 1806, 1815 Curtis, Mary Barnett. Early East Tennessee Tax Lists. Fort Worth, Texas: Arrow Printing Company, 1964. FHL Collection 976.8 R4c - Includes 1796 list of persons not paying tax, 1815 petitions, and 1806 tax list.
- 1796 "Delinquent Tax List, 1796," East Tennessee Roots, Vol. 10, No. 1 (Summer 2005).
- 1801 "Delinquent Taxes, 1801," Jefferson County Genealogical Society Journal, Vol. 9, No. 3 (Fall 1993).
- 1804 Curtis, Mary Bennett. Knox County, Tennessee 1804 Tax List. n.p.: Arrow/Curtis Gen[e]alogical Publishing Co., 1977. FHL Collection 976.885 R4k
- 1806 Knox County, Tenn. 1806 Tax List. 197-?. FHL Collection 976.885 R4ka
- 1806 Creekmore, Pollyanna. Early East Tennessee Taxpayers. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1980. FHL Collection 976.8 R4cp and Silas Emmett Lucas's Revised Index: FHL Collection 976.8 R4cp index Includes 1806 tax list.
- 1806 Knox County 1806 Tax List, East Tennessee Roots, Vol. 3, No. 3; Vol. 3, No. 4; Vol. 4, No. 3. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Knox.
- 1812 "Tax List, 1812," Tennessee Ancestors, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Apr. 1986); Vol. 2, No. 2 (Aug. 1986); Vol. 2, No. 3 (Dec. 1986).
- 1814 - "Direct Federal Tax-Delinquent Property Owners Listed for 1814," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 43, No. 3 (Fall 1996):115-120. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Knox. Includes Knox County.
- 1817 "U.S. Holds 1817 Public Sale of Federal Tax-Delinquent Properties in Tennessee," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 43, No. 2 (Summer 1996):63-68. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Knox. Includes Knox County.
- To 1830 - "Tax Lists, Pre-1830," Tennessee Ancestors, Vol. 8, No. 2 (Aug. 1992).
- 1836 Douthat, James L. Knox County, Tennessee, 1836 Civil Districts and Tax Lists. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 1993. FHL Collection 976.885 P22d; online: index and purchase details.
- 1844-1845 - Historical Records Project. Property Tax List, 1844-1845, Knox County, Tennessee. Typescript, Tennessee State Library, Nashville, Tenn. FHL Collection 24736 Item 3
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1828-1939 - Tennessee Births and Christenings 1828-1939 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1869-1909 - Tennessee Delayed Birth Records 1869-1909 at Ancestry ($)
- 1881-1894 - Knoxville Birth Index 1881-1894 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch- free.
- 1881-1915 - Tennessee, City Birth Records 1881-1915 at Ancestry - index and images ($)
- 1908-1912 - Tennessee, Birth Records (ER Series), 1908-1912 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Marriage[edit | edit source]
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 [1790-1962] - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection. Covers all counties in Tennessee.
- 1792-1896 - Knox County Marriage Index 1792-1896 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch[17]
- 1792-1900 - Knox County, Marriage Records, 1792-1900. Digital Book
- 1796-1950 - Tennessee Marriages 1796-1950 (Indexes only) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1838-1864 - Marriage Records, 1792-1864, Knox County, Tennessee. Typescript. FHL Film 24718 Items 4-5 +++
- 1838-1888 - Tennessee Civil Marriages, 1838-1888 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1851-1900 - Tennessee Marriages 1851-1900 at Ancestry ($)
- 1980-2014 - Marriage Records Index 1980-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index
Book Abstracts and indexes
- 1792-1865 - Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Early East Tennessee Marriages. 2 vols. FHL US/CAN 976.8 V2s v. 1. Indexes names of brides, grooms, and marriage dates for weddings in this county for specified years. Free Lookups Available!
- 1796-1870 - Lucas, Silas Emmett and Ella Lee Sheffield. 35,000 Tennessee Marriage Records and Bonds 1783-1870. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 V2t
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1872-1923 - Tennessee, City Death Records 1872-1923 at Ancestry - index and images ($)
- 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
- 1914-1920 - Knox County, TN Death Records, 1914-1920
- 1921-1925 - Knox County, TN Death Records, 1921-1925
- 1949-2014 - Death Records Index 1949-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index
Divorce[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Knox County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Tennessee Archives and Libraries.
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History 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 family history center.
Local Centers and Libraries
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Knox County. For state-wide library facilities, see Tennessee Archives and Libraries.
Knox County Public Library
Lawson McGhee Library
500 W. Church Ave.
Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: 865-215-8750
Website
- The Knox County Public Library offers materials on local history, county indexes, and the online Calvin M. McClung Digital Collection.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Hoskins Library, Special Collections
1015 Volunteer Boulevard
Knoxville, TN 37996-1000
Phone: 865-974-4351
Website
Museums[edit | edit source]
East Tennessee Historical Society
601 S. Gay St.
PO Box 1629
Knoxville, TN 37901-1629
Phone: 865-215-8824
Website
- Come to explore, come to learn about the people, places, and events that have shaped our region through the award-winning exhibits housed at the Museum of East Tennessee History.
Blount Mansion
200 W. Hill AVE
PO BOX 1703
Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: 865-525-2375
Email: info@blountmansion.org
website
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Knox County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Tennessee Societies.
East Tenneessee Historical Society
601 S. Gay St.
PO Box 1629
Knoxville, TN 37901-1629
Phone: 865-215-8824
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Knox County, TNGenWeb (USGenWeb)
- Knox 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[edit | edit source]
- Genealogical "Fact Sheets" About Tennessee Counties: Knox County, courtesy: TSLA. (Identifies published county histories, published local records, census records, newspapers and local records on microfilm, and select manuscripts.)
- Lawson McGhee Library. Calvin Morgan McClung Historical Collection of Books, Pamphlets, Manuscripts, Pictures and Maps Relating to Warly Western Rravel and the History and Genealogy of Tennessee and other Southern States. Knoxville, Tennessee: Knoxville Lithographing Co., 1921. Free digital copy.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Tennessee.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Knox, Tennessee" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knox_County,_Tennessee accessed 24 Dec 2018
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Tennessee.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Voice of Lynnae Weller, Kingsport, Tenn. (2010).
- ↑ Voice of Gene Black, FamilySearch employee, former resident of Bristol, Tenn. (2010).
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Tennessee.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Tennessee.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Knox County, Tennessee," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knox_County,_Tennessee, accessed 30 November 2019.
- ↑ "Henry Knox," Wikipedia.
- ↑ Mary Barnett Curtis, Early East Tennessee Tax Lists: a compiled list of residents of the area covered in 22 east Tennessee counties for which there is (sic) no census records prior to 1830 (Fort Worth, Texas: Arrow Printing, 1964) [[FHL Book 976.8 R4c]].
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/d/d3/Igitennesseef.pdf.
- ↑ Kenneth Scott. British Aliens in the United States During the War of 1812. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979, 372-378 (see East Tennessee). FHL US/CAN 973 W4s; digital version at Ancestry ($).
- ↑ "Original Virginia Records Imaged and Indexed Online," Arlene Eakle's Virginia Genealogy Blog, 12 October 2008.
- ↑ J. Mark Lowe, "The Land Grant Processes of North Carolina and Tennessee," Lecture, Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference, Knoxville, Tenn., August 21, 2010.
- ↑ Heritage Preservation Services, Civil War Battle Summaries by State
- ↑ Heritage Preservation Services, Civil War Battle Summaries by State
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/d/d3/Igitennesseef.pdf.