Bradley County, Tennessee Genealogy

United States

Tennessee

Bradley County

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

Tennessee Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: Cleveland Organized: February 10, 1836 Parent County(s): Cherokee Indian Lands Neighboring Counties Catoosa (GA)  • Hamilton  • Meigs  • McMinn  • Murray (GA)  • Polk  • Whitfield (GA) See County Maps Courthouse Location Map Adoption Adopt-a-wiki page This page adopted by: TNGenWeb Project who welcome you to contribute. Adopt a page today

County Information

Description

The County was named for Colonel Edward Bradley who served in the War of 1812. The County is located in the southeast central area of the state.

County Courthouse

Bradley County Courthouse
155 Ocoee St.
Cleveland, TN 37311
Bradley County Website Phone: 423-728-7205
County Clerk Phone: 423-728-7205
Chancery Clerk and Master Phone: 423-728-7205
Register of Deeds Phone: 423-728-7240
County Clerk of Circuit Court Phone: 423-728-7214 or 423-728-7048

County Clerk has marriage records from 1864.
Clerk and Master has probate records from 1864.
Register of Deeds has land and military discharge records from 1864.
Circuit and Session Court has divorce and court records from 1864.
Cleveland Public Library has early court records, census, probate, marriage and death records.

County Pronunciation Hear it spoken (female) Hear it spoken (male)

Bradley County, Tennessee Record Dates

Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1908	1864	1908	1864	1864	1864	1810
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1914. General compliance by 1927.

Record Loss

Bradley County has lost: Early will books and some early deeds Antebellum marriage records 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.

Boundary Changes

1836--Bradley County was created 10 February 1836 from Cherokee Indian Lands. County seat: Cleveland 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

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:

Cities
Cleveland	Charleston
Unincorporated communities
Coalhill Georgetown Hopewell Estates	McDonald Misty Ridge Prospect	Tasso Waterville
Census-designated places
East Cleveland Hopewell	South Cleveland	Wildwood Lake

Neighboring Counties

• Catoosa County, Georgia
• Hamilton
• Meigs
• McMinn
• Murray County, Georgia
• Polk
• Whitfield County, Georgia

Resources

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

• 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 US/CAN 976.8 U2m. Digital version at World Vital Records ($). Purchase at Genealogical.com. Includes Bradley County.

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Bradley County, Tennessee online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Findagrave.com TNGenWeb TNGenWeb Archives Tombstone Project TNGenWeb Cemeteries Billiongraves.com
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	Family History Library WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the County	Findagrave.com Gravestones
See Tennessee Cemeteries for more information.

 

• Ross, Ernest Lafayette Historical Cemetery Records of Bradley County, Tennessee c1973 FHL US/CAN 976.887 V3r Free lookups available!

Census Records

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1840	7,385	—
1850	12,259	66.0%
1860	11,701	−4.6%
1870	11,652	−0.4%
1880	12,124	4.1%
1890	13,607	12.2%
1900	15,759	15.8%
1910	16,336	3.7%
1920	18,652	14.2%
1930	22,870	22.6%
1940	28,498	24.6%
1950	32,338	13.5%
1960	38,324	18.5%
1970	50,686	32.3%
1980	67,547	33.3%
1990	73,712	9.1%
2000	87,966	19.3%
2010	98,963	12.5%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

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

• 1810-1891 Tennessee, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1810-1891 - Ancestry ($)
• 1891 Tennessee Enumeration of Male Voters 1891 at Ancestry $

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 US/CAN Book 973 X2pc 1840; FHL US/CAN Film 2321. 1841 edition digitized by the U.S. Census Bureau and Google books et. al. See Tennessee, Eastern District, Bradley County on page 152.

1850

• Campbell, Ellen Ann Westerberg. Bradley County, Tennessee: 1850 Federal Census. Cleveland, Tenn.: E.A.W. Campbell, 1973. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8873 X2c 1850.
• S-K Publications. "Bradley County, TN - Census-1850 Census Index," available online through USGenWeb Archives.

1860

• Snell, William R. and Bradley County Historical Society. 1860 Federal Census, Bradley County, Tennessee. Cleveland, Tenn.: W.R. Snell, 1983. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8873 X22s 1860.

1870

• Lee College History students and Cleveland Public Library staff and volunteers. Bradley County, Tennessee, 1870 Census Index. Cleveland, Tenn.: Lee College, 1987. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8873 X2b index.

1880

• Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. 1880 Census - Tennessee: Transcription for Bradley County. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 198-?. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8873 X2s.

1900

• Cleveland Public Library. Bradley County, Tennessee 1900 Census Index. Cleveland, Tenn.: Cleveland Public Library, 1989. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8873 X22c 1900 index.

1920

• Cross, Nancy, Brenda Davis and Edna Wiefering. 1920 Bradley County, Tennessee, Census Index. Cleveland, Tenn.: Cleveland Public Library, 1999. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8873 X28c 1920. (Typo on FamilySearch Catalog reads Cenus Index.)

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.

• Bradley County Church Records

- FamilySearch Catalog - Bradley County Church Records

• Church histories tell when a church started in the area, who the early members were, give data about church leaders, etc.

- FamilySearch Catalog - Bradley County Church History

• If the records you need are not through the Family History Library, contact the church(es) in the area where your ancestor lived.Two sites that give information about churches in Bradley County are:

- List of Bradley County churches with addresses and phone numbers (Yellowbook)

- List of Bradley County churches (TN HomeTownLocator)

Episcopal

• 1867-1888 - St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Cleveland, Baptism Index 1867-1888 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C710111
• 1867-1908 - St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Cleveland, Marriage Index 1867-1908 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M710111

Methodist Episcopal

• 1881-1885 - Methodist Episcopal Church South, Cleveland, Baptism Index 1881-1885. Batch C710101 at FamilySearch
• 1880-1895 - Methodist Episcopal Church South, Cleveland, Marriage Index 1880-1895. Batch M710101 at FamilySearch

Presbyterian

Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Cleveland

• 1817-1922 - Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Cleveland, Baptism Index 1817-1922 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C710121
• 1838-1929 - Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Cleveland, Marriage Index 1838-1929 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M710121

Flint Spring Presbyterian Church

• 1866-1885 - Flint Spring Presbyterian Church Baptism Index 1866-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C710081
• 1850-1895 - Flint Spring Presbyterian Church Marriage Index 1850-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M710081
• In 1936, a helpful guide to early Bradley County church records 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 Bradley county are listed.

Court Records

• Wallace, Alexander; Herriford, Paul; Sherrill, Charles A. Circuit Court Abstracts 1836-1860 Cleveland, Tennessee Cleveland Public Library (Tennessee), 1988 FHL US/CAN 976.8873 P28 Free lookups available!

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.

Genealogies

General

As of August 2010, a query for persons born in Bradley, Tennessee at World Connect, results in more than 20,000 entries.

• Bradley County Heritage Book Committee. The Heritage of Bradley County, Tennessee, 1836-1998. Cleveland, Tennessee? Bradley County Heritage Book Committee, c1998 ; Waynesville, North Carolina: Don Mills (Salem, West Virginia Walsowrth Pub. Co.). FHL US/CAN Book 976.8873 H2t.
• Manly, Elizabeth Cate. Chatata Valley Families and Their Neighbors. Tennessee: n.p., 198-. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8873 D2m.
• Wooten, John Morgan. Brief Sketch of Pioneer Families of Bradley County, Tennessee. Chattanooga, Tenn.: n.p., 1934-1936. FHL US/CAN Film 966946 Item 5. Includes families of Callaway, Clingen, Craigmiles, Day, Donohoo, Edwards, Gaut, Goodner, Hambright, Hughes, Jones, Julian, Lusk, Lea, McCarty, Parks, Still, Waterhouse, Weatherly, Ramsey, Shugart.

Bibliography

• Ball - Brown, Forrest D. and Dorothy Stivers Brown. The Ball--Stivers--McCroskey--Brown Family Lines. 2 vols. Lewisburg, Pa.: F.D. & D.S. Brown, 1976. FHL US/CAN Film 1036293 Items 8-9.
• Carson - Stork, Dorla Jane White and Edward Baker Faust. Lincoln Collen and Mary McGovern Carson and Descendants. Bakersfield, Calif.: D.J.W. Stork, 2004. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C239s; digital version at {FSbook|67965}}
• D'Armond, Deyarmon, DeArmond, d'Armand, DeArment, DeArmon, Dearmont, Deyarmond, DeArman - D'Armand, Roscoe Carlisle. DeArmond families of America. Knoxville, TN: Family Record Society, 1954. Available at FHL US/CAN Film 928601 Item 1. Digital version available at Heritage Quest Online ($).
• Day - Day, James Edward. Descendants of Christopher Day of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Los Angeles?: J.E. Day, 1958. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D33d; FHL US/CAN Film 978076; digital versions at Ancestry ($); and Heritage Quest Online ($).
• Elmore - Johnston, Leigh. The Paper Trail of the Elmore - Lawson - Pruett and Bolt - Calhoun - Johnston - Willis Families. 2 vols. Overland Park, Kansas: L. Johnston, 2003. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 EL64jL v. 1 ff.
• Gaut - McWilliam, Judy L. and Roberta B. Pierson. Jones/Gaut: James & Jerusha: Arno, Wayland, Weber, Mabel. Sacramento, Calif.: J.L. McWilliams, 1987. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 J71mp.
• Hedrick - Smith, Carol Holland Dillman. The Family of Amos Fremont Damon and Sarah Jane Hedrick Damon of Crawford, McLennan County, Texas. Boulder, Colo.: C.H. Smith, 1996. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D187s.
• Hickman - Ross, Ernest Lafayette and William C. Carter. John Andrew Hickman, John Carter, Lewis Carter: Some Ancestors and Descendants. Cleveland, Tenn.: E.L. Ross & W.C. Carter, 1979. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C245r.
• Jones - McWilliam, Judy L. and Roberta B. Pierson. Jones/Gaut: James & Jerusha: Arno, Wayland, Weber, Mabel. Sacramento, Calif.: J.L. McWilliams, 1987. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 J71mp.
• Kelley - Smith, Paul and Alba Nannie Hickman Smith. Joel Kelley, ca 1775 - ca 1862. Alpharetta, Ga.: P. Smith, 1984. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 K287sm.
• Lauderdale - Lauderdale, Charles J. The Lauderdales of Scotland and America, 1056-1936. Joplin, MO: Gahagan Print. Co., 1937. Available at FHL US/CAN Film 1307515 Item 5, digital version available at Heritage Quest Online ($).
• Loyd - Lloyd, Gary G. The Lloyd (Loyd) Families of Putnam County, Missouri. Kirksville, Mo.: G.G. Lloyd, 1996. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L775Lg.
• McAndrew - Skeen, A.T. Clan McAndrew. Winston-Salem, N.C.:A.T. Skeen, 1988. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 M118mc.
• Richmond - Travis, Vaud Ancil. The Descendants of John Richmond of Virginia: Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma & West. Southern Pines, N.C.: V.A. Travis, 2004. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R414t; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R414t supp. 1; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library
• Ross - Ross, Ernest Lafayette. History of the Ross Family in Bradley County, Cleveland, Tennessee. Cleveland, Tenn.: E.L. Ross, 19--?. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 R733reL.
• Smith - Smith, David Eugene. Pedigree, 1832-1978, of David Eugene Smith, and Smith Family Bible Records, 1832-1940. MSS., Microfilmed in 1989. FHL US/CAN Film 1320835 Item 38.
• Smith - Smith, Paul and Alba Nannie Hickman Smith. Wm. B. Smith Descendants. Alpharetta, Ga.: P. Smith, 1990 (Canton, Georgia Industrial Printing Service, Inc.). FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sm68sp.
• Stivers - Brown, Forrest D. and Dorothy Stivers Brown. The Ball--Stivers--McCroskey--Brown Family Lines. 2 vols. Lewisburg, Pa.: F.D. & D.S. Brown, 1976. FHL US/CAN Film 1036293 Items 8-9.
• Wolfe - Moore, Kenneth. Jeremiah Wolfe Family. Typescript. Microfilmed 2003. FHL US/CAN Film 1440545 Item 24.

Land and Property Records

The original Bradley County Deed Books are held at the Bradley. The TSLA microfilmed Deed Books A to L (1839 to 1891) and an index and Trust Deed Books A to M (1864 to 1902). Copies of their microfilms are also available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Films 966924-966933.

McClure, Lucille Abstracts of Ocoee District early land records - entries Signal Mountain, Tennessee Mountain Press, [1991] FHL US/CAN 976.8 R28m Free lookups available!

Local Histories

• Hurlburt, J.S. History of the Rebellion in Bradley County, East Tennessee. Indianapolis [Downey and Brouse,printers?], 1866. Free digital copy
• Bradley County Heritage Book Committee The Heritage of Bradley County, Tennessee, 1836 -1998 Cleveland, Tennessee? Bradley County Heritage Book Committee,c1998; Waynesville, North Carolina Don Mills (Salem, West Virginia Walsowrth Pub. Co.) FHL US/CAN book 976.8873 H2t Free lookups available!
• Bradley County Historical Society (Cleveland, Tennessee) Reflections past and present a pictorial history of Bradley County Dallas, Texas Taylor Pub., c1991 FHL US/CAN 976.8873 H2 To view index click here.

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• Maps of Tennessee (1777-1985)
• Bradley County, Tennessee: Pre-Civil War Settlement Map. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 1992. FHL US/CAN Map Case 976.8873 E7b. Includes Indian settlements, mills, churches, cemeteries, schools.

Military Records

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

• 1835 Pension Roll
• 1852 Rejected or Suspended Pensions

Additional resources include:

• A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing, 1967. FHL US/CAN Book 973 X2pc 1840; FHL US/CAN Film 2321. 1841 edition digitized by the U.S. Census Bureau and Google books et. al. [See Tennessee, Eastern District, Bradley County on page 152.]
• 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 (TNGenWeb).

War of 1812

• Embry, Hermione D. "War of 1812 - Tennessee Pensioners on List - January 2, 1883," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 7, No. 1 (Jan. 1960):13-16. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a v. 7 (1960); digital version at journal website. [Includes Bradley County pensioners (p. 15).]

Civil War

• 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
• 1891-1965 - Tennessee, Confederate Pension Applications, Soldiers and Widows, 1891-1965 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
• Civil War Research Database
• Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System

Regiments. Men in Bradley 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 Bradley County:

Confederate Soldiers

• 1st Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Carter's) - CSA - Companies A and D.
• 2nd Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Ashby's) - CSA - Company A.
• 5th Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry (McClellan's) - CSA - Company A.
• 5th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (McKenzie's) - CSA
• 29th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company A.
• 36th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Companies B, C, D, E and G.
• 37th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (7th Infantry) (1st East Tennessee Rifles) - CSA - Company G.
• 43rd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (Gillespie's) (5th East Tennessee Volunteers) - CSA - Company I.
• 62nd Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry (Rowan's) (80th Infantry) - CSA - Companies A and E.
  

Union Soldiers

• 1st Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry - Companies I, K and L.
• 5th Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry - Companies A, D, E and I.
• 10th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry - Companies E, G and I.
• 10th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (Union), Companies E, G and I.
  

Additional sources for Civil War soldiers from Bradley County:

• 1831-1850 Civil War Pension Applications for Bradley County. Free Lookups Available!
• 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 at Internet Archive. Union.
• Confederate Pension Applications. Free Lookups Available!
• Hurlburt, J.S. History of the Rebellion in Bradley County, East Tennessee Bethesda, Maryland: Univeristy Publications of America, c1990 FHL US/CAN Fiche 6082656. Also available online at Internet Archive.
• Index of Union and Rebels in Bradley County Free lookups available!
• Tennesseans in the Civil War Published by the Civil War Centennial Commission, Nashville, TN, 1987. Free lookups available.
• Wiefering, Edna et al. Tennessee Union Soldiers: of Bradley, McMinn and Polk Counties Serving in the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 10th TN Cavalry 5th TN Infantry and 5th TN Mounted Infantry. Cleveland, Tenn.: Cleveland Public Library (Tennessee), 1996. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 M28tus. Confederate.
• TNGenWeb, Military Records, Bradley County, Tennessee, (accessed 30 Jan 2012). Links to Jessie Blalock's The 4th (East) Tennessee Cavalry (USA), Bradley Countians with Connections to Co. A 4th TN Cav (USA), Bradley County, TN Union Soldiers and Tennessee Colored Pension Applications for CSA Service. Civil War resources available at the Cleveland Public Library, (accessed 26 Feb 2012). These resources include Military Records of Union and Confederate Soldiers from Bradley County (microfilm) Confederate Regiments and Federal Regiments.
• USGenWeb Archives, Bradley County Tennessee Military Records. Civil War History and Pensions.
• Tennessee State Library and Archives, Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications: Bradley County, (accessed 30 Jan 2012). 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. Bradley County, page 319-321.
• Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce, Civil War Places of Interest in Bradley County. Civil War 150th Commemoration.

Newspapers

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 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 Bradley County click on the following cities:

• Charleston
• Cleveland

Book Abstracts and Index

• Snell, William R.; Taylor, Virginia Faye; Bradley County Historical Society. Death and Marriage Notices in the Cleveland Banner (Tennessee), 1865-1883. Bradley County Historical Society: Cleveland, TN. Free digital copy available online at Internet Archive.
• 1625-1966 - Tennessee, United States Marriages at FindMyPast
• 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.
• 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.

Other Records

Prisons

• 1831-1850 Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1831-1850 at Tennessee State Library and Archives

• 1851-1870 Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary 1851-1870 at Tennessee State Library and Archives

Periodicals

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

• Ansearchin' News: Quarterly magazine of the Tennessee Genealogical Society. For a keyword search, go to the county index. Read previous issues on their website; FHL Book 976.8 B2a.

Bradley Branches

Family History Library has Volume 6, no. 2 (summer 1993). FHL US/CAN 976.8873 B2b
Bradley Branches is indexed in PERiodical Source Index (PERSI).

Chronicles of Bradley

Probate Records

Some of Bradley County's original Will Books have been destroyed. Those that survive are held at the Bradley. TSLA microfilmed Will Books 1 to 2 (1859 to 1905). FHL copies: FHL Films 464077 Item 3 and 966923 Items 2-3.

Online Records

• 1779-2008 Tennessee Wills and Probate Records 1779-2008 at Ancestry $
• 1859-1947 Bradley County portion of Tennessee, Probate Court Books, 1795-1927 at FamilySearch - images only; handwritten indexes may be found at the front or back of some volumes.- How to Use this Collection

Book Abstracts and Indexes

• 1859-1861 - Sistler, Byron and Barbara Sistler. Index to Tennessee Wills & Administrations 1779-1861. Nashville, Tenn. Byron Sistler & Associates, Inc., 1990. FHL US/CAN 976.8 P22s. Includes an index to this county's wills. Free Lookups Available!
• 1864-1883 - Fagen, Barbara Bradley County Will Book, 1864-1883, index, S.I. s.n., 198-?. FHL US/CAN book 976.8873 P2b Free lookups available!

Social Security Records

• 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.

• 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.

Tax Records

The TSLA microfilmed the original Bradley County Tax Books 1865-1890. Copies of their microfilms are also available at the Family History Library: FHL US/CAN Films 966935-966937.Free lookups available for some early east Tennessee tax records.

Book Abstracts and Indexes

• 1836 Douthat, James L. Bradley County, Tennessee, 1836 Tennessee Civil Districts and Tax Lists. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 1993. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8873 R4d 1836.Free lookups available!Purchase details.
• 1837 Snell, William R. 1837 Tax List, Bradley County, Tennessee. 1978. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8873 R4t.
• 1837-1839 - Nichols, Elizabeth Riggins. "Bradley County, Tennessee Tax Lists 1837-1838 - 1839," Vol. 33, No. 1 (Spring 1986):9-14; Vol. 33, No. 2 (Summer 1986):69-72; Vol. 33, No. 3 (Fall 1986):119-122, 126. For FHL and online access, as well as indexes, see Bradley. Free lookups available!
• 1837 Map from Tax List, 1837, Bradley Branches. Cleveland TN: Summer 1996. Vol. 9 Iss. 2.
• 1837-1839 - Tax Lists, Dist. 4 & 5, 1837-39, Polk County Historical and Genealogical Society Quarterly and Newsletter. Benton TN: May 2000. Vol. 6 Iss. 1.
• 1837 Tax List, 1837, Bradley Branches. Cleveland TN: 2001. Vol. 14 Iss. 3-4.
• 1838 Snell, William R. 1838 Tax List, Bradley County, Tennessee. 1978. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8873 R4L.
• 1839 Jones, Rena and Kent Hawkins. 1839 Tax List, Bradley County, Tennessee. 197-. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8873 R4b.
• 1849 Petition for Amendment of Revenue Law, 1849, Bradley Branches. Cleveland TN: Spring 1997. Vol. 10 Iss. 1.
• 1862 Cleveland Public Library. "1862 Assessment List: Bradley County, Tennessee," available online through TNGenWeb.
• 1890 Johnson, David S. and Patsy A. Johnson. Tax List 1890, Bradley County, Tennessee. n.p.: D.S. Johnson, 1985. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8873 R4j.
• 1890 - Tax List, 1890, Districts 1-13, Chronicles of Bradley. Cleveland TN: 1985-1987, Vols. 5-8. Free lookups available!
• 1909 Langheld, Susan. "Delinquent Tax Notices: Bradley County, Tennessee June 1909," available online through TNGenWeb. (Source: Journal & Banner, Cleveland, Tenn., May 21, 1909.)

Vital Records

Birth

Online Records

• 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 $
• 1908-1912 - Tennessee Birth Certificates. Free Lookups Available!

Marriage

Early Bradley County marriage records were lost in courthouse fires.

Online Indexes and Records

• 1780-2002 - Tennessee State Marriages 1780-2002 at Ancestry $
• 1780-2002 - Tennessee State Marriage Index 1780-2002 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
• 1790-1962 - Tennessee County Marriages, 1790-1950 - at FamilySearch. index and images. Covers all counties in Tennessee.- How to Use this Collection
• 1796-1950 - Tennessee Marriages 1796-1950 (Indexes only) at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
• 1838-1888 - Tennessee Civil Marriages, 1838-1888 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
• 1851-1900 - Tennessee Marriages 1851-1900 at Ancestry $
• 1864-1896 - Bradley County Marriage Index 1864-1896 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• 1980-2014 - Marriage Records Index 1980-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index

Book Abstracts and Indexes

• 1864-1887 - Manley, Elizabeth Cate Bradley County Marriage Book 1 1864-1887. Free Lookups Available!

Death

Online Records

• 1874-1955 - Tennessee Deaths and Burials 1874-1955 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
• 1908-1933 - Tennessee Deaths, 1908 - 1933 at MyHeritage ($) — index
• 1908-1954 - Tennessee Death Certificates 1908-1954. Free lookups available!
• 1908-1958 - Tennessee Death Records 1908 - 1958 at Ancestry $
• 1908-1912 - Tennessee Death Records 1908-1912 at Tennessee State Library & Archives - index
• 1914-1933 - Tennessee Death Records 1914-1933 at Tennessee State Library & Archives - index
• 1914-1966 - Tennessee Deaths, 1914-1966 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
• 1949-2014 - Death Records Index 1949-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index

Divorce

Online Records

• 1796 - 1850 - Acts of Tennessee 1796-1850 at Tennessee State Library & Archives - index
• 1980-2014 - Divorce Records Index 1980-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index

Online Titles

• W.P.A. Guide to Public Vital Statistics in Tennessee. Nashville, Tenn.: The Tennessee Historical Records Survey, 1941. FamilySearch Digital Library; FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 A3gp - Inventory stating where divorce records are housed.-

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Bradley County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Tennessee Archives and Libraries.

Family History Centers

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.

• Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator

Local Centers and Libraries

Libraries

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

Cleveland Bradley County Public Library
795 Church Street NE
Cleveland, TN 37311
Phone: 423-472-2163
Email: info@clevelandlibrary.org
website

Cleveland Bradley County Library History Branch and Archives
833 North Ocoee Street
Cleveland, TN 37311
Phone: 423-479-8367
website
Genealogy resources: Vital records, family, city and county histories, court records, local newspapers from 1854 - 1970, Civil War sources, special collections including the Mayfield Papers, James F. Corn Papers (Cherokee Indians), and the William R. Snell Papers.

Societies

Listed below are societies in Bradley County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Tennessee Societies.
Bradley County Historical Society
P. O. Box 4845
Cleveland, TN 37320-4845
Website

Bradley County Genealogical Society
P. O. Box 1384
Cleveland, TN 37364
Website

East Tennessee Historical Society
601 S. Gay St.
P.O. Box 1629
Knoxville, TN 37901-1629
Phone: 865-215-8824
E-mail: eths@east-tennessee-history.org
Website

Websites

• Bradley County, TN Family History and Genealogy Message Board (Ancestry)
• Bradley County, TN Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
• Bradley County, TNGenWeb (USGenWeb) - county website, transcriptions and resources on the local level.
• 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

Research Guides

• Genealogical "Fact Sheets" About Tennessee Counties: Bradley County at TSLA. (Identifies published county histories, published local records, census records, newspapers and local records on microfilm, and select manuscripts.)

This website requires a paid subscription for full access.

Family History Library