Chester County, Tennessee Genealogy
Guide to Chester 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 Colonel Robert I. Chester, a quartermaster in the War of 1812, an early postmaster in Jackson, and a federal marshal. The County is located in the southwest area of the state. [2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Chester County Courthouse
P.O. Box 292
133 East Main St.
Henderson, TN 38340
County Website Phone: 731-989-2233
Clerk of Circuit Court Phone: 731-989-2454
Circuit Court Clerk Phone: 731-989-2454
Register of Deeds Phone: 731-989-4991
County Clerk Phone: 731-989-2233
Clerk Circuit Court has divorce and court records
Register of Deeds has land records. [3]
County Pronunciation
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Chester 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 |
| 1908 | 1890 | 1908 | 1882 | 1891 | 1890 | 1810 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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1910 Courthouse burned and many records were damaged.[7]
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Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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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:[9]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
| See Tennessee Cemeteries for more information. | |
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1890 | 9,069 | — |
| 1900 | 9,869 | 8.8% |
| 1910 | 9,090 | −7.9% |
| 1920 | 9,669 | 6.4% |
| 1930 | 10,603 | 9.7% |
| 1940 | 11,124 | 4.9% |
| 1950 | 11,149 | 0.2% |
| 1960 | 9,569 | −14.2% |
| 1970 | 9,927 | 3.7% |
| 1980 | 12,727 | 28.2% |
| 1990 | 12,819 | 0.7% |
| 2000 | 15,540 | 21.2% |
| 2010 | 17,131 | 10.2% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 Chester County federal population schedules 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.
1880 - See parent counties
1890 Lost
- 1890 - 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 US/CAN Book 976.8 X2r v. 7 1891. Johnson County is included in Vol. 7.
- Sistler, Byron H. and Barbara Sistler. 1890 Civil War Veterans Census, Tennessee. Evanston, Ill.: Byron Sister and Associates, 1978. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 X2s 1890.
1891 Male Voters
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
General
As of August 2010, a query for persons born in Chester, Tennessee at World Connect, results in more than 4,500 entries.
- Chester County, Tennessee, 1882-1995, History and Families. Paducah, Ky.: Turner Pub. Co., 1995. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8265 H2c. Publisher's description.
Bibliography
- Baird - See McConnell.
- Barber - See McConnell.
- Martin - See McConnell.
- McCall - See McConnell.
- McConnell - McConnell, Newton Whitfield. Genealogical History of the Families of McConnells, Martins, Barbers, Wilsons, Bairds, McCalls and Morris. Unknown: Unknown, 1913. Available at FHL US/CAN Film 1031512 Item 8; digital version available at Heritage Quest Online ($).
- Morris - See McConnell.
- Wilson - See McConnell.
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
Chester County Register of Deeds has Land Records from 1891 and is located at Courthouse, P.O. Box 205, Henderson, TN 38340-0205; Telephone: (901) 989-2233. Land and property records include transfer of real estate or personal property, mortgages, leases, surveys, and entries.
The Family History Library has Chester County deeds 1891-1899.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
War of 1812
There were no War of 1812 pensioners or widows of pensioners living in Chester County on 2 January 1883.[10]
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
- 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 Chester 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 Chester County:
Confederate Soldiers
- 13th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Company I.
- 21st Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Wilson's) - CSA - Companies C, D, F, and 2nd H.
- 51st Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA - Companies F and H.
- 55th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (Brown's) - CSA - Company E.
Additional sources for Civil War soldiers from Chester County:
- Tennessee State Library and Archives, Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications: Chester County. Index includes soldier's name, county, Pension #, Unit or widow.
- United States Pension Bureau, List of Pensioners on the Roll January 1, 1883: Giving the Name of Each Pensioner, the Cause for ... (Washington Printing Office; 1883). Online at Internet Archive. Chester County, page 325.
- Genealogy Trails, The Blue & Gray of Chester County Tennessee. Chester County was not formed until after the Civil War was over.The men who fought in the war were from surrounding counties. These are the men and/or their wives who filed for pensions.
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 Chester County click on the following city:
- Henderson
- 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.
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
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.
- Family Findings: Quarterly of the Mid-West Tennessee Genealogical Society. For tables of contents and online access to issues, see TNGenWeb Project. Also try this specialized Google search. FHL US/CAN 976.8 B2f.
- West Tennessee Historical Society Papers: Family History Library has Volumes 1-16 and 30 FHL US/CAN Book 976.81 B5w. The West Tennessee Historical Society Papers are indexed in PERiodical Source Index (PERSI). To view Table of Contents and complete articles from 1947 - 2005 see Shelby County Register of Deeds
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
The County Court has responsibility for Chester County probate records.
Online Records
- 1779-2008 Tennessee Wills and Probate Records 1779-2008 at Ancestry ($)
- 1891-1938 - Chester 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
School Records[edit | edit source]
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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
The original Chester County Tax Books 1890-1894 are kept at the County Courthouse. In the 1970s, the TSLA microfilmed these records. FHL copy: FHL US/CAN Film 979721.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1828-1939 - Tennessee Births and Christenings 1828-1939 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1869-1909 - Tennessee Delayed Birth Records 1869-1909 at Ancestry ($)
- 1908-1912 - Tennessee, Birth Records (ER Series), 1908-1912 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
Marriage[edit | edit source]
Online Indexes and Record
- 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 Index may not be complete for all counties.- 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 ($)
- 1891-1895 - Chester County Marriage Index 1891-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. [11]
- 1980-2014 - Marriage Records Index 1980-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index
Death[edit | edit source]
For deaths of Methodists in Chester County (or what later became Chester County) between the 1830s and the 1920s, try:
- 1874-1955 - Tennessee Deaths and Burials 1874-1955 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1908-1933 - Tennessee Deaths, 1908 - 1933 at MyHeritage ($) — index
- 1908-1958 - Tennessee Death Records 1908 - 1958 at Ancestry ($)
- 1908-1912 - Tennessee Death Records 1908-1912 at Tennessee State Library & Archives - index
- 1914-1933 - Tennessee Death Records 1914-1933 at Tennessee State Library & Archives - index
- 1914-1966 - Tennessee Deaths, 1914-1966 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1949-2014 - Death Records Index 1949-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index
Divorce[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; FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 A3gp - Inventory stating where divorce records are housed.
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Chester 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 Chester County. For state-wide library facilities, see Tennessee Archives and Libraries.
Chester County Library
1012 E Main St
Henderson, TN 38340
731-989-4673
E-mail: chester_library@bellsouth.net
Website
- The Chester County Library contains a Genealogy Room.
- The Chester County Library contains a Genealogy Room.
West Tennessee Heritage Study Center
Paul Meek Library
University of Tennessee at Martin
731-881-7060
Website
- The Heritage Study Center holds a variety of genealogical resources including materials relating to counties in Tennessee:
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Chester County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Tennessee Societies.
Chester County Historical Society
P.O. Box 721
Henderson, TN 38340
Facebook
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]
- Chester County, TN Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- Chester County, TNGenWeb (USGenWeb)
- Tennessee's Yesterday
- Chester County Tennessee, Genealogy, History and Information (RootsWeb)
- 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: Chester County, courtesy: TSLA. (Identifies published county histories, published local records, census records, newspapers and local records on microfilm, and select manuscripts.)
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, "Chester, Tennessee" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_County,_Tennessee accessed 17 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.
- ↑ Lost Records: Courthouse Fires and Disasters in Tennessee in Tennessee State Library and Archives in Tennessee Secretary of State (accessed 13 March 2016).
- ↑ 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, "Chester County, Tennessee," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_County,_Tennessee, accessed 10 November 2019.
- ↑ Hermione D. Embry, "War of 1812 - Tennessee Pensioners on List - January 2, 1883," Ansearchin' News, Vol. 7, No. 2 (Apr. 1960):40-45. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a v. 7 (1960); digital version at journal website. (For discussion of Chester County, see page 40.)
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/6/60/Igitennesseea.pdf.
