Madison County, Tennessee Genealogy

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

County Facts
County seat: Jackson
Organized: November 7, 1821
Parent County(s): Chickasaw Indian Lands[1]
Neighboring Counties
Carroll  • Chester  • Crockett  • Gibson  • Hardeman  • Haywood  • Henderson
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County Information[edit | edit source]

Description[edit | edit source]

The County was named James Madison. The County is located in the west central area of the state. [2]

County Courthouse[edit | edit source]

Madison County Courthouse
100 East Main, Room 105
Jackson, TN 38301
County Courthouse Phone: 731-423-6022
County Clerk Phone: 731-423-6022
Chancery Court Phone: 731-423-6030
Register of Deeds Phone: 731-423-6089

Madison County Circuit Court Clerk
515 S. Liberty Street, Suite 200
Jackson, TN 38301
Circuit Court Clerk Phone: 731-423-6035

County Clerk has marriage records from 1823 [except 1833-1845], Probate records from 1825
Register of Deeds has land records. [3]

County Pronunciation

  1. Hear it spoken[4] (female)
  2. Hear it spoken[5] (male)

Madison 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.

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records[6]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1925 1823 1925 1821 1821 1825 1810
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1914. General compliance by 1927.

Record Loss[edit | edit source]

  • Lack of marriage records: 1821 to 1837
  • Lost probate records: 1821 to 1824

For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:

Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]

  • 1821--Madison County was created 7 November 1821 from Chickasaw Indian Lands.
  • County seat: Jackson[7]

For animated maps illustrating Tennessee county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Tennessee County Boundary Maps" (1777-1985) may be viewed 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
Unincorporated communities
Historic communities


History Timeline[edit | edit source]

Additional Information

President James Madison (1751-1836)


West Tennessee county established 1821.

The county is named after President James Madison (1751-1836).[9]

Resources[edit | edit source]

Bible Records[edit | edit source]

Biographies[edit | edit source]

Business, Commerce, and 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 Madison County.

Cemeteries[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries of Madison County, Tennessee online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
See Tennessee Cemeteries for more information.

 

Additional Cemetery Resources

Census Records[edit | edit source]

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1830 11,594 —
1840 16,530 42.6%
1850 21,470 29.9%
1860 21,535 0.3%
1870 23,480 9.0%
1880 30,874 31.5%
1890 30,497 −1.2%
1900 36,333 19.1%
1910 39,357 8.3%
1920 43,824 11.3%
1930 51,059 16.5%
1940 54,115 6.0%
1950 60,128 11.1%
1960 60,655 0.9%
1970 65,727 8.4%
1980 74,546 13.4%
1990 77,982 4.6%
2000 91,837 17.8%
2010 98,294 7.0%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

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

1810-1891

1840 Pensioners

1850

  • Carpenter, Mrs. V.K. Seventh census of the United States, 1850 Madison County, Tennessee,population schedules Huntsville, Arkansas Century Enterprises Genealogical Services, 1971 FHL US/CAN book 976.827 X2
  • Free African Americans Listed in the 1850 and 1860 Madison County,. Tennessee Free Census Schedules, available online, courtesy: Christine's Genealogy Website: Who are Your People?

1860

1870

  • Wiggins, Joy Darlene Madison County, Tennessee, 1870 census Jackson, Tennessee: Joy Darlene Wiggins, 1992
    FHL US/CAN book 976.827 X2

1880

1891 Male Voters

Church Records[edit | edit source]

Methodist

Memphis Conference United Methodist Archives
Luther L. Gobbel Library
Lambuth University
24 Corporate Blvd
Jackson, TN 38305
Telephone: 731-664-8480
Website

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]

Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]

African Americans

Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]

Genealogies[edit | edit source]

DNA

  • DNA has been collected from men claiming descent from the following Madison County residents. Attempts have not been made to verify the lineages of those tested.
  • Brown - Descendant of Milton A. Brown, m. 1866 Madison County, Tennessee. Y-DNA 25 Marker Test, FTDNA (Kit 3726). Genetic signature available online (labeled Group No. 1), genealogical description available online, courtesy: Brown/Browne/Braun DNA Study. Several matches have been found.
  • Doss - Descendant of Charles Wesley Doss (1846-1885) of Madison County, Tennessee. Y-DNA 67 Marker Test, FTDNA (Kit 40282). Genetic signature available online (labeled Jw-1), genealogical description available online, courtesy: The Doss DNA Project, World Families. Matches have been found.

General

  • Bonner - Bonner, Kathryn R. The Bonner Family Record: This Record is Primarily of the Bonners of Surry and Sussex Counties, Virginia, Those that Went to Wilson, Madison and Shelby Counties, Tennessee, and Those that Went on to Phillips County, Arkansas: Today the Descendants are Spread into Many States. Marianna, Ark.: K.R. Bonner, 1979. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 A1 no. 3414.
  • Byron - See Byrum.
  • Byrum - Byron, Mark Bennett. Descendants of Henry Byrom of Virginia. Waterbury, CT: Heminway Press, 1956. Available at FHL US/CAN Film 872775; digital version at Heritage Quest Online ($).
  • Derryberry - Williams, John T. The John Wesley C. Derryberry Family, ca. 1800-1973. MSS., microfilmed in 1983. FHL US/CAN Fiche 6019288.
  • Derryberry - Graziano, Eugene Edward and Freida Mullen Graziano. The Andrew Derryberry, Sr., (bef. 1780) Family Line: A Genealogy Including Individuals Related through Marriage ... Goleta, Calif.: E. & F.M. Graziano, 1999. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D448g.
  • Gibbs - Smith, Jonathan K.T. The Gibbs Place in Madison County, Tennessee. n.p.: J.K.T. Smith, 1993. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G355s.
  • Luckey - Luckey, Ann Colvin and Elizabeth Luckey Bennett. The Luckey Family of Tennessee: A Genealogical History of the John Henry Luckey, William Franklin Luckey and Samuel Joseph Luckey of Gibson/Madison Counties, Tennessee Their Ancestors and Descendants, 1732-1987. Cullman, Ala.: Gregath, 1987. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L964L.
  • Robison - Robison, Maude. Robison Family of Jackson, Madison, Tennessee. MSS., microfilmed in 2002. FHL US/CAN Fiche 6004138.
  • Watlington - Watlington, Elton A. and Janice T. Watlington. Watlingtons of West Tennessee, 1830-1997. Jackson, Tenn.: Minuteman Press, 1997. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W329w.
  • Watlington - Watlington, Janice T. and Elton A. Watlington. Watlingtons and Allied Families: Genealogical Data, 1830-1997; Madison County, Western Tennessee. Memphis, Tenn.: J.T. Watlington, 1997?. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W329w supp.
  • Young - Young, Joseph Futrell. Ancestors of Joseph Clifford Young, b. 23 June 1891, Madison County, Tennessee, d. 6 Jul 1967, Marianna, Lee, Arkansas. n.p.: J.F. Young, 1999. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Y85j.

Guardianship[edit | edit source]

Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]

  • Madison County Register of Deeds at 100 East Main St. Suite 109 Jackson, Tennessee 38301, telephone 731-423-6089, has records of deeds, trust deeds, liens, charters of incorporation, maps, plats, military discharges, and all UCC filing on personal property.
  • The Family History Library has microfilm copies of deeds 1821-1964 and trust deeds which are indexed; and land ownership map for 1877 from the Library of Congress.

Local Histories[edit | edit source]

Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]

Gibson CountyCarroll CountyHenderson CountyChester CountyHardeman CountyHaywood CountyCrockett CountyTN MADISON.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources
  • 1777-1985 - Maps of Tennessee (1777-1985)
  • 1870 Bird's Eye View of the City of Jackson, Madison County, Tennessee. Originally published 1870. Purchase at ReevesMaps.com; website includes a scaled-down version of the map.

Migration[edit | edit source]

Military Records[edit | edit source]

Revolutionary War
The following Madison County Revolutionary War records are available online through TNGenWeb:

Additional resources include:

War of 1812

  • Embry, Hermione D. "War of 1812 - Tennessee Pensioners on List - January 2, 1883," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 8, No. 1 (Jan. 1961):20-23. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a v. 8 (1961); digital version at journal website. Includes Madison County pensioners (p. 21).

Civil War

Online Records

Regiments. Men in Madison 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 Madison County:

Confederate Soldiers

Additional sources for Civil War soldiers from Madison County:

Civil War Battle
The following battle was fought in Madison County:

Map showing Civil War battles in Tennessee.

Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]

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 Madison County click on the following city:

Other places for Madison County, Tennessee newspapers:

  • Newspapers.com has the Whig & Tribune (Jackson, Tenn.) from 1872-1874.
  • 1794-1851 - Lucas, Silas Emmett. Marriages from Early Tennessee Newspapers 1794-1851. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1978. FHL 976.8 V2L.
  • 1847 - 1851 - Smith, Jonathan K.T. Genealogical Abstracts from Reported Deaths, the Nashville Christian Advocate. [1847-1914] 10 vols. [Jackson, Tenn.]: J.K.T. Smith, 1997-2003. 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?)

Obituaries[edit | edit source]

Other Records[edit | edit source]

Prisons[edit | edit source]

Periodicals[edit | edit source]

Genealogical periodicals can contain unique sources and can be local, regional, or statewide. The following periodicals cover this county:

Probate Records[edit | edit source]

The County Court and Circuit Court have responsibility for Madison County probate records.

Online Records and Indexes

Book Abstracts and Indexes

School Records[edit | edit source]

Social Security Records[edit | edit source]

Tax Records[edit | edit source]

Book Abstracts and Indexes[11]

  • 1821-1826 - Madison County, Tennessee Tax Book, Vol. I, 1821-26, Family Findings, Vol. 15, No. 4 (Oct. 1983). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
  • 1822-1832 - Historical Records Project. Tax Books, 1822-1832, Madison County, Tennessee. Typescript, Tennessee State Library, Nashville, Tenn. Microfilmed in 1939. FHL US/CAN Film 24759.
  • 1823 Tax Roll, 1823, Family Findings, Vol. 4, No. 3 (Jul. 1972). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
  • 1833 "Madison County Justices Approve Land Sale for Unpaid 1833 Taxes," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 50, No. 3 (Fall 2003):8. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
  • 1837 "Madison County Unpaid 1837 Taxes," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 46, No. 4 (Winter 1999):50. For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
  • 1854 Delinquent Railroad Taxes, 1854, Family Findings, Vol. 37, No. 4 (Oct. 2005). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
  • 1857 Tax Collector Report, 1857, Family Findings, Vol. 37, No. 3 (2005). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
  • 1865-1866 - Smith, Jonathan K.T. Persons Appearing on the Federal Direct Tax, Madison County, Tennessee, 1865-1866. 1996. FHL US/CAN Book 976.827 R4s.
  • 1866 Madison County, Tennessee Poll Tax Insolvencies for 1866, Family Findings, Vol. 32, No. 3 (July 2000). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
  • 1866 Poll Tax Insolvencies, 1866, Virginia Genealogical Society Newsletter, Vol. 26, No. 6 (Dec. 2000).
  • 1867 Delinquent Tax Payers, 1867, Family Findings, Vol. 31, No. 4 (Jan. 1999). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
  • 1870-1871 - Taxation, 1870-71, Family Findings, Vol. 31, No. 1 (Jan. 1999). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
  • 1873 Persons Asking to be Released from Poll Tax, 1873, Family Findings, Vol. 31, No. 4 (1999). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
  • 1880's - Madison County, Tennessee Courthouse Records Release of Poll Tax 1880s, Family Findings, Vol. 32, No. 2 (April 2000). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
  • 1919 Madison County, Persons Released from Paying Poll Tax in 1919, Family Findings, Vol. 34, No. 3 (July 2002). For possible FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Periodicals.
  • Smith, Jonathan K.T. Antebellum Militia, Justices and Some Early Taxpayers Madison County, Tennessee. Jackson, Tenn.: J.K.T. Smith, 1998. FHL US/CAN Book 976.827 P2sjk.

Vital Records[edit | edit source]

Birth[edit | edit source]

Marriage[edit | edit source]

Online indexes and Records

Book Abstracts and Indexes

Death[edit | edit source]

Divorce[edit | edit source]

Online Records

Online Titles

  • W.P.A. Guide to Public Vital Statistics in Tennessee. Nashville, Tenn.: The Tennessee Historical Records Survey, 1941. FamilySearch Books Online;

Research Facilities[edit | edit source]

Archives[edit | edit source]

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

Jackson-Madison County Library
433 E Lafayette St.
Jackson, TN 38301
Phone: 731-425-8600
Website

Genealogy Resources: The Tennessee Room has a variety of resources including County Records, Census Schedules, Newspapers, Death Indexes and Certificates, Maps, City Directories, Funeral Records, Photographs, etc.
Tennessee Room Hours:
Mon., Wed., Fri., Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Tues., Thurs. 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sun. 1-5 p.m.

Library North
Branch of the Jackson-Madison County Library
3189 North Highland, Units F&G
Jackson, TN 38305
Phone: 731-425-8600
Facebook

Hatchie River Regional Library
63 Executive Dr
Jackson, TN 38305
Phone: 731-668-0710
Website

West Tennessee Heritage Study Center
Paul Meek Library
University of Tennessee at Martin
Phone: 731-881-7060
Hours vary by semester
Website

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 (KY), Fulton (KY), and Hickman (KY) counties in Kentucky.

Museums[edit | edit source]

Societies[edit | edit source]

Listed below are societies in Madison County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Tennessee Societies.
Midwest Tennessee Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 343
Murray Station
Jackson, TN 38303-3343
E-mail: ssnowhiteintn@aol.com
Website

West Tennessee Historical Society
P.O. Box 111046
Memphis, TN 38111
Phone: 901-475-6608
E-mail: efrank@memphis.edu
Website

Websites[edit | edit source]

Research Guides[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Tennessee.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
  2. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Madison, Tennessee" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madison_County,_Tennessee accessed 27 Dec 2018
  3. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Tennessee.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
  4. ↑ Voice of Lynnae Weller, Kingsport, Tenn. (2010).
  5. ↑ Voice of Gene Black, FamilySearch employee, former resident of Bristol, Tenn. (2010).
  6. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Tennessee.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
  7. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Tennessee.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
  8. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Madison County, Tennessee," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madison_County,_Tennessee, accessed 2 December 2019.
  9. ↑ "List of counties in Tennessee," Wikipedia.
  10. ↑ Heritage Preservation Services, Civil War Battle Summaries by State
  11. ↑ The Heritage Quest Online version of PERSI aided in the compilation of this list.
  12. ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at Media:Igitennesseel.pdf.
  13. ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at Media:Igitennesseel.pdf.
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