Wayne County, Tennessee Genealogy

United States

Tennessee

Wayne County

Guide to Wayne 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: Waynesboro Organized: November 24, 1817 Parent County(s): Hickman, Humphreys Neighboring Counties Decatur  • Hardin  • Lauderdale (AL)  • Lawrence  • Lewis  • Perry 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 General "Mad Anthony" Wayne. The County is located in the south-central area of the state.

County Courthouse

Wayne County Courthouse
200 Court Square
Waynesboro, TN 38485
County Courthouse Phone: 931-722-5517

Wayne County Clerk
Marriage and probate records
100 Court Circle
P.O. Box 367
Waynesboro, TN 38485
County Clerk Phone: 931-722-5544
County Register of Deeds Phone: 931-722-5518

County Clerk has marriage records from 1857 and probate records from 1848.
Register of Deeds has land records.

County Pronunciation

Hear it spoken (female) Hear it spoken (male)

Wayne 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
1881	1857	1881	1837	1820	1848	1810
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1914. General compliance by 1927.

Record Loss

1973 Fire damaged courthouse records. Lost marriage records: 1817 to 1856 Lost probate records: 1817 to 1847 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

1817--Wayne County was established 24 November 1817 from Hickman and Humphreys Counties. Early records may be found under Hickman and Humphreys Counties. County seat: Waynesboro 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
Clifton Collinwood	Iron City	Waynesboro
Unincorporated communities
Ashland Beech Creek Bethlehem Cantrell Clifton Junction Cromwell Crossroads Crossroads Cypress Inn Dogwood Heights Fairwiew Flat Gap Forrest Hills Geneva	Highland (North) Highland (South) Holly Creek Holt Houston Leatherwood Little Hope Longview Subdivision Lower Holly Creek Lutts Martin Mills McGlamery's Stand Moccasin	Mooney Mount Hope Ovilla Piney Grove Ransom Stand Shawnette Southgate Stout Threet Topsy Upper Holly Creek Whitten's Stand Woodlawn

History Timeline

General "Mad" Anthony Wayne (1745-1796)

Additional Information
Middle Tennessee county.

The county is named after Revolutionary War General "Mad" Anthony Wayne (1745-1796).

Resources

Bible Records

• Family Bible Records - Wayne County, Tennessee. Paducah, Ky.:Turner's Publishing Co. Purchase at Google Books website.

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

• Miller, Alan N. Middle Tennessee's Forgotten Children: Apprentices from 1784 to 1902. Baltimore, Md.: Printed for Clearfield Company, Inc., by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2004. FHL US/CAN 976.8 U2ma. Purchase at Genealogical.com. Includes Wayne County.
• Moore, Gerald K. Business Licenses, 1879-1890, Wayne County, Tennessee [S.I.]:G.K. Moore, (200-?). FHL book 976.839 U3. Digital version available at FamilySearch Digital Library.

Cemeteries

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

 

Additional Cemetery Resources

• Tennessee Cemeteries - Hometown Locator

Census Records

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1820	2,459	—
1830	6,013	144.5%
1840	7,705	28.1%
1850	8,170	6.0%
1860	9,115	11.6%
1870	10,209	12.0%
1880	11,301	10.7%
1890	11,471	1.5%
1900	12,936	12.8%
1910	12,062	−6.8%
1920	12,877	6.8%
1930	12,134	−5.8%
1940	13,638	12.4%
1950	13,864	1.7%
1960	11,908	−14.1%
1970	12,365	3.8%
1980	13,946	12.8%
1990	13,935	−0.1%
2000	16,842	20.9%
Source: "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau.

1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 federal population censuses of Wayne County are available online. For tips on accessing census records online, see Tennessee Census. 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 Wayne County, Tennessee census assignments, including links to transcribed files. The USGenWeb Census Project^®.

1810-1891

• Tennessee, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1810-1891 at Ancestry $

1820

• Bentley, Elizabeth P. Index to the 1820 Census of Tennessee. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1981. FHL 976.8 X22b 1820
• Byler, Edgar D. Wayne County, Tennessee, Census Records. Collinwood, Tennessee: Byler Press, 1975 FHL 976.839 X2p Vol. 1.
• Lauderdale County Library. Vertical files, Census records. Salt Lake City, Utah Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1978. FHL 1034009 Item 2.

1830

• Byler, Edgar D. Wayne County, Tennessee, Census Records. Collinwood, Tennessee: Byler Press, 1975. FHL 976.839 X2p Vol. 1.

1840

• Byler, Edgar D. Wayne County, Tennessee, Census Records. Collinwood, Tennessee: Byler Press, 1975. FHL 976.839 X2p Vol. 1.

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, Middle District, Wayne County on page 158.

1850

• Byler, Edgar D. Wayne County, Tennessee, Census Records. Collinwood, Tennessee: Byler Press, 1975. FHL 976.839 X2p Vol. 2.
• Porch, Deane. Wayne County, Tennessee 1850 Census. Franklin, Tennessee: Louise G. Lynch, 19--?. FHL 976.839 X2p 1850

1860

• Byler, Edgar D. Wayne County, Tennessee, Census Records. Collinwood, Tennessee: Byler Press, 1975. FHL 976.839 X2p Vol. 2.
• Miller, Judy M. Slave Owners 1860 Census, Wayne County, Tennessee. S.l.: Judy M. Miller, 200-?. FHL 976.839 X2m 1860 Digital version available at
• Miller, Judy M. Slave Owners 1860 Census, Wayne County, Tennessee. S.l.: Judy M. Miller, 200-?. FHL 976.839 X2m 1860 Digital version available at FamilySearch Digital Library.

1870

• Byler, Edgar D. Wayne County, Tennessee, Census Records. Collinwood, Tennessee: Byler Press, 1975. FHL 976.839 X2p Vol. 3.

1880

• Brown, Delores R. Wayne County, Tennessee, Census Records. Collinwood, Tennessee: Byler Press, 1975. FHL 976.839 X2p Vol. 4.
• Sistler, Barbara and Byron Sistler. 1880 Census Wayne County, Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee B. Sistler & Associates, 1999. FHL 976.839 X2s 1880

1890 Lost Substitutes are available:

The 1891 registration has been published and indexed twice:

• Bridges, Alec F. Special, 1891, Tennessee Census, Wayne County: Enumeration of Male Inhabitants of Twenty-one Years of Age and Upward. Columbia, Tenn.: A.F. Bridges, 1994. FHL US/CAN Book 976.839 X2b.
• 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. 8 1891. Wayne County is included in Vol. 8.

1891 Male Voters

• 1891 Tennessee Enumeration of Male Voters 1891 at Ancestry $

There is also the 1890 Census of Civil War Veterans:

• Moore, Gerald K. 1890 census of Wayne County, Tennessee (Census Made in February, 1891) S.l.: G.K. Moore, 200-?. FHL 976.839 X2m 1891 Digital version available at FamilySearch Digital Library.
• 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.

1910

• Brown, Doris R. Wayne County, Tennessee, Census 1910. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: X-Press Graphics, 1992. FHL 976.839 X2b 1910

1920

• Brown, Doris R. Wayne County, Tennessee, Census 1920. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: X-Press Graphics, 1992. FHL 976.839 X2b 1920

1930

• Moore, Gerald K. The 1930 census of Wayne County, Tennessee [S.I.]:G.K. Moore,[200-?] FHL book 976.839 X2. Digital version available at FamilySearch Digital Library.

Court Records

• Wayne County, Tennessee, Chancery Court loose records, Iron City, Tennessee (transcribed by N.J. Berry, c1994-1997). Lawrenceburg, Tennessee: Family Tree Press. FHL US/CAN book 976.839 P2b v.1-5. 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.] 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 TSLA; another version is available at World Vital Records.

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

African Americans
Census takers found no free African Americans living in Wayne County, Tennessee in 1820.

Genealogies

DNA

• DNA has been collected from men claiming descent from the following Wayne County residents. Attempts have not been made to verify the lineages of those tested.

• Brown - Descendant of John Franklin Brown, b. abt 1830, d. aft 1920 of Wayne County, Tennessee. Y-DNA 37 Marker Test, FTDNA (Kits 79837). Genetic signature available online, genealogical description available online, courtesy: Brown/Browne/Braun DNA Study. Matches have been found.

General

• Free Surname Index and purchase details at Mountain Press website.

• As of August 2010, a query for persons born in Wayne, Tennessee at World Connect, results in more than 55,000 entries.

• Wayne County Historical Society. Wayne County, Tennessee History and Families. 2 vols. Paducah, Ky.: Turner Pub. Co., 1995. FHL Book 976.839 H2t v. 1 ff.

Bibliography

• Cook - See Grimes
• Creacy - Holt, Stacey E. The Creacy/Creecy Family of Wayne County, Tennessee. Collinwood, Tenn.: S.E. Holt, 1993. FHL Book 929.273 A1 no. 8024.
• Creacy - Daily-Geary, Jessica L. and James P. Geary. The Compiled Book of Creecy: Addendum 2001.Provo, Utah Geary Genealogical Services, 2001. FHL 929.273 C861d supp. Free digitized copy.
• Grimes - Grimes, Jay Cook. Grimes, Cook and Related Families of Wayne County, Tennessee: A Genealogy. Related Families, Johnson, Morris, Montague, 1800-1960. Auburn, Alabama: J.C. Grimes, 1960. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 G883gc and FHL US/CAN Film 1321218 Item 4; digital versions available at Ancestry ($); Heritage Quest Online ($); and World Vital Records ($).
• Haddock - Koontz, Dewie Lucas. The Haddock Family of Cypress Inn, Wayne Co., Tn.: and Descendants. Arlington, Texas: D. Koontz, 1989. FHL Book 929.273 H117kd.
• Hasty - Hasty, Warren H. William Jordan Hasty and descendants Minneapolis, Minnesota:W.H. Hasty,2004. FHL book 929.273 H279w. Digital version available at FamilySearch Digital Library
• Horton - Lancaster, Beverly. Some Shipman and Horton Families of Wayne County, Tennessee and Searcy County, Arkansas. Orchard Lake, Mich.: Beverly M. Lancaster, 1986. FHL Book 929.273 H789L.
• Johnson - See also Grimes
• Johnson - Massat, Theresa Fickling. History and Genealogy of John Johnson of Wayne County, Tennessee, and His Descendants, 1777-1990. n.p.: T.F. Massat, 1990?. FHL Book 929.273 J633m.
• Kyle - Raymond, Edith Madeline Replogle and German Burnett Kyle. German Burnett (G.B.) Kyle of Logan County, Arkansas and His Wayne County, Tennessee Ancestors: Duckworth, Kyle, Nesbitt, Staggs, Wilson and Their Descendants and Allied Families. Pullman, Washington: E.M.R. Raymond, 1990. FHL Book 929.273 K984r.
• Lackey - Nelson, Mary Lee Lackey. The Lackey Lines of Northern Arkansas: Their Descendants and Related Families. Independence, Missouri: M.L.L. Nelson, 1984. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L118n.
• Moore - Culver, Lillye Moore and C.W. Moore. The Moore's of Wayne County, Tennessee. n.p.: L.M. Culver, 1969?. FHL Book 929.273 M781cL.
• Morris - See Grimes
• Montague - See Grimes
• Rose - Rose, Christine. Ancestors and Descendants of Frederick Rose: of Sussex County, Virginia, Orange County, North Carolina, and Wayne and Hardin Counties, Tennessee. San Jose, Calif.: C.C. Rose, 1980. FHL Book 929.273 R72rch.
• Shipman - Lancaster, Beverly. Some Shipman and Horton Families of Wayne County, Tennessee and Searcy County, Arkansas. Orchard Lake, Mich.: Beverly M. Lancaster, 1986. FHL Book 929.273 H789L.
• Simmons - Jenkins, Jack S. William Simmons of Wayne County, Tennessee and Descendants. San Antonio, Texas: J.S. Jenkins, 1987. FHL Book 929.273 Si47j.
• Sinclair - Sinclair, Thomas Graham. The Samuel Sinclair and Hettie Jane Roach Family of Wayne County, Tennessee. Palm Desert, Calif.: T.G. Sinclair, 1996. FHL Book 929.273 Si62st.
• Whitten - Byler, Edgar D. and Rolla Whitten. The Whitten Family of Wayne County, Tennessee. Microfilmed in 1980. FHL US/CAN Film 1293983 Item 16.

Land and Property Records

• 1820-1839 - Gray, James A. Wayne County, Tennessee abstracts of deed records, 1820-1839 Hot Springs, Arkansas J.A. Gray, c1985. FHL US/CAN book 976.839 R28gFree lookups available!
• 1839-1853 - Gray, James A. Wayne County, Tennessee abstracts of deed records, 1839-1853 Hot Springs, Arkansas J.A. Gray, c1987. FHL US/CAN book 976.839 R2gFree lookups available!
• Moore, Gerald K. Landowners, Wayne County, Tennessee [S.I.]: G.K. Moore, [200-?] FHL book 976.839 R2m (1877,1886,1895,1905,1915,1925,1935,1945,1955.). Digital version available at FamilySearch Digital Library.

Local Histories

• Moore, Gerald K. Early Life in Wayne County, Tennessee. 2008. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library.
• Wayne County Historical Society (Waynesboro, Tennessee) Wayne County, Tennessee history and families Paducah, Kentucky Turner Pub. Co., c1995. FHL US/CAN book 976.839 H2t v.1-2 Free lookups available!

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• Maps of Tennessee (1777-1985)

Military Records

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

• 1835 Pension Roll
• 1852 Rejected or Suspended Pensions
• Revolutionary War Pension Abstracts and Bounty Land Warrant Applications Wayne County, Tennessee Residents

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, Middle District, Wayne County on page 158.
• 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. 8, No. 3 (Jul. 1961):95-98; Vol. 8, No. 4 (Oct. 1961):122-124. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 B2a v. 8 (1961); digital version at journal website. Includes Wayne County pensioners (p. 122).
• War of 1812 Pension Application Abstracts, Wayne County, Tennessee Residents Courtesy:TNGenWeb

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 (free)
• 1861-1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free)
• 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County:

Confederate Soldiers

• 2nd Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry (Biffle's) - CSA - Company B.
• 6th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Wheeler's) - CSA - Company G.
• 9th Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry (Gantt's) - CSA - Company F.
• 19th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Biffle's) - CSA - Company K.
• 20th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA
• 22nd Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Nixon's) - CSA
• 48th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry (Nixon's)- CSA - Company F.
• 54th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry - CSA-1st, 2nd, and 3rd Companies, and Company H.
  

Union Soldiers

• 2nd Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry - Companies A, B, C, D, and E.
• 6th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry - Companies G and H.
• 8th Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry - Company E.

Additional sources for Civil War soldiers from Wayne County:

• McMurray, William Joseph. History of the 20th Tennessee Regiment Volunteer Infantry, C.S.A. Nashville, Tennessee: s.p., 1904. Free digital copy, courtesy: Internet Archive.
• USGenWeb Archives, Wayne County Tennessee Archives. Military Records.
• Tennessee State Library and Archives, Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications: Wayne 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. Wayne County, page 385.
• TNGenWeb, The Civil War in Wayne County.

Korean War

• Wayne County Historical Society (Waynesboro, Tenn.). Korean War Veterans: Wayne County, Tennessee. Paducah, Ky.: Turner Pub. Co., 2004. FHL Book 976.839 M2k.

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 Wayne County click on the following cities:

• Clifton
• Collinwood
• Waynesboro

• 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?)

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.
• 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.

• Volumes 1-10 (1969-1978)
• Volumes 11-20 (1979-1988)
• Volumes 21-24 (1989-1992)
• Volumes 32-35 (2000-2003)

• The River Counties Quarterly: (14 vols.) edited by Jill K. Garrett. FHL US/CAN Book 976.8 B2rc.
• The Wayne County Historian: Quarterly of Wayne County Historical Society, Tennessee. FHL US/CAN 976.839 B2w

Probate Records

The Wayne County Court has responsibility for the probate records.

Online Records and Indexes

• 1779-2008 Tennessee Wills and Probate Records 1779-2008 at Ancestry $
• 1848-1968 Wayne 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.

For free lookups of Wayne County, Tennessee wills and administrations 1848-1920 click here.

Book Abstracts and Indexes

• 1848-1920 - Berry, Nell J. and June L. Scott. Wayne County, Tennessee Wills & Letters of Administration 1848-1920. Waynesboro, Tennessee: Wayne County Historical Society, 1990.
• 1848-1861 - 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 probate records.

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

Book Abstracts and Indexes

• 1836 Tax List, 1836, Wayne County Historian, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Jun. 1992); Vol. 5, No. 3 (Sep. 1992); Vol. 5, No. 4 (Dec. 1992); Vol. 6, No. 1 (Mar. 1993).
• 1836 Murphy, Jerry W. "1836 Wayne County Tennessee Tax List," available online, courtesy: TNGenWeb. [Includes 1836 Civil District Map, and 1836 Commissioner's Report.]
• 1838 Tax List, 1838, Wayne County Historian, Vol. 6, No. 3 (Sep. 1993).
• 1838 Murphy, Jerry W. "1838 Wayne County Tennessee Tax List," available online, courtesy: TNGenWeb.
• 1866 - Byler, Edgar D. "Registered Voters in the 10th & 11th Civil Districts-1866, Wayne County, Tennessee," available online, courtesy: TNGenWeb.
• 1866 Byler, Edgar D. "1866 Commissioners' Report to Redistrict Wayne County, Tennessee," available online, courtesy: TNGenWeb.
• 1877 Moore, Gerald K. "1877 Land Owners Wayne County, Tennessee," available online, courtesy: TNGenWeb.
• 1886 Moore, Gerald K. "1886 Land Owners Wayne County, Tennessee," available online, courtesy: TNGenWeb.
• 1890 Moore, Gerald K. "1890 Tax List Wayne County, Tennessee," available online, courtesy: TNGenWeb.
• 1890 Moore, Gerald K. 1890 Taxpayers in Wayne County, Tennessee. S.l. G.K. Moore, 200-?. FHL 976.839 R4m Free online digital copy.
• 1891 Higdon, Barbara. "1891 Voter's List Wayne County, Tennessee," available online, courtesy: TNGenWeb.
• 1895 Moore, Gerald K. "1895 Land Owners Wayne County, Tennessee," available online, courtesy: TNGenWeb.
• 1905 Moore, Gerald K. "1905 Land Owners Wayne County, Tennessee," available online, courtesy: TNGenWeb.
• 1915 Moore, Gerald K. "1915 Land Owners Wayne County, Tennessee," available online, courtesy: TNGenWeb.
• 1925 Moore, Gerald K. "1925 Land Owners Wayne County, Tennessee," available online, courtesy: TNGenWeb.
• 1935 Moore, Gerald K. "1935 Land Owners Wayne County, Tennessee," available online, courtesy: TNGenWeb.
• 1945 Moore, Gerald K. "1945 Land Owners Wayne County, Tennessee," available online, courtesy: TNGenWeb.

The following article, based on Wayne County's tax records, was published in 2007:

• Tax and Assessment Statistics, 1877-1955, Wayne County Historian, Vol. 20, No. 3 (Sep. 2007).

Vital Records

Birth

• 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 $
• 1893-1912 - Wayne County Birth Index 1893-1912 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C519812
• 1908-1912 - Tennessee, Birth Records (ER Series), 1908-1912 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Marriage

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 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection. Covers all counties in Tennessee.
• 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 $
• 1857-1895 - Wayne County Marriage Index 1857-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
• 1980-2014 - Marriage Records Index 1980-2014 at Shelby County Register of Deeds - index

Book Abstracts and Indexes

• Wayne County Freedmen's Marriages From GivingBackToKin
• 1857-1871 - Early Middle Tennessee Marriages. 2 vols. FHL Book 976.8 V2sb v. 2 Indexes names of brides, grooms, marriage or marriage bond dates for this county for specified years.
• 1857-1929 - Marriage records of Wayne County, Tennessee, 1857-1929 FHL Book 976.839 V2p Free lookups available!

Death

• 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

• 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

Research Facilities

Archives

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

Wayne County Public Library
525A Old Hwy 64 East
Waynesboro, TN 38485
Phone: 931-722-5537
Facebook
Website

The Wayne County Public Library is affiliated with the library system that serves Wayne County, TN.

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 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.

Societies

Listed below are societies in Wayne County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Tennessee Societies.

Wayne County Historical Society
P.O. Box 866
Waynesboro, TN 38485-0866
Facebook
Website

Quarterly periodical: The Wayne County Historian.
The society was founded in 1970. It has programs designed around topics that relate to the history, genealogy, folklore and archaeology of the county

Middle Tennessee Genealogical Society
PO Box 330948
Nashville, TN, USA 37203-7507
Website

The society serves the 40 counties of middle Tennessee of which Wayne County is one. It publishes The Middle Tennessee Journal of Genealogy and History, a quarterly containing articles of genealogical and historical interest. Little-known Tennessee records are published and indexed, along with family genealogies, Bible records and material submitted by members. There is an alphabetical Index to articles in the Journal 1988-summer 2005

Websites

The usage of "Mormon" and "LDS" on this page is approved according to current policy.

• Wayne County, TN Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
• Wayne County, TNGenWeb (USGenWeb)
• Wayne 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

• Genealogical "Fact Sheets" About Tennessee Counties: Wayne County, courtesy: 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