Washington County was established in 1777 as part of North Carolina. This vast area, designated as the Washington District, stretched well beyond today’s county borders. In later years, the area became known by various names: State of Franklin, Southwest Territory, and in 1796 part of a new state named Tennessee. As the area was divided into counties, the records for that area stayed with the new county. To learn more about the formation of northeast Tennessee counties, visit our Washington County History pages. The Jonesborough Genealogical Society has compiled a list of record availability by county in northeast Tennessee with information on how to access those records:
This page is under construction. Check back for updates.
Tennessee Birth Records - The Tennessee State Library & Archives holds birth records that are older than 100 years. Birth records are confidential for 100 years under state law. Records less than 100 years old are held by the Tennessee Office of Vital Records and must be requested from that office. Tennessee began requiring birth records be kept statewide in 1908. However, the law requiring records to be kept lapsed at the end of 1912, therefore no records were kept in 1913. Statewide record keeping resumed in 1914. The larger cities in Tennessee did keep earlier birth records: Nashville (beginning in 1881); Knoxville (beginning in 1881); Chattanooga (beginning in 1879); and Memphis (beginning in 1874).
Tennessee Death Records - The Tennessee State Library & Archives holds death records that are older than 50 years. Death records are confidential for 50 years under state law. Records 50 years old or less are held by the Tennessee Office of Vital Records and must be requested from that office. Tennessee began requiring death records be kept statewide in 1908. However, the law requiring records to be kept lapsed at the end of 1912, therefore no records were kept in 1913. Statewide record keeping resumed in 1914. The larger cities in Tennessee did keep earlier death records: Nashville (beginning in 1874); Knoxville (beginning in 1881); Chattanooga (beginning in 1872); and Memphis (beginning in 1848).
The Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA) is a digital repository of the Tennessee State Library & Archives providing open access to thousands of photographs, documents, maps, postcards, film, audio and other records relating to the history and culture of Tennessee. Visit the Library & Archives Research Resources for additional help finding vital records at the state level.
*Statewide Registration for Births & Deaths began in 1911 with general compliance by 1927
Lost US Federal Census Records for Washington County, Tennessee: 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1890
Washington County TN Department of Records Management and Archives located at 103 West Main Street, Jonesborough, TN 37659. Visit their website for hours and guidelines for accessing available materials.
Chancery Court, 1773-2006 (includes case files, minute books, probate records, etc.)
Circuit Court, 1804-2009 (includes case files, minute books, etc.)
County Court, 1771-2005 (minutes, judicial records, etc.)
Wills, 1773-1992
Election records, 1832-1949
Inventories of Estates, 1778-2006
Justice of the Peace records, 1777-2002
Maps, 1828-2013 (includes digital copies and area topographic maps)
Marriages, 1781-1990
Superior Court of Law and Equity, 1784-1835 (includes case files, minute books, etc.)
Tax books & lists, 1778-2010
Washington County Public Library - Jonesborough located at 200 Sabin Drive, Jonesborough, TN 37659. Visit their website for hours.
Vertical files containing around 1,000 family files and around 600 location and subject files.
Over 2,200 books, over 1,900 genealogical journals, and several scrapbooks.
Various maps of the United States, Tennessee, this region, etc.
Photographs of local historical places, individuals, etc.
Microfilm historic newspapers, including the Herald & Tribune, which was established in 1869.
Microfilm of Washington County records and church records.
Access to genealogical web sites such as Ancestry.com, Family Search.org, and TnGenWeb.org, etc.
Johnson City Public Library - Tennessee Room located at 100 West Millard Street Johnson City, TN 37604. Visit their website for hours and guidelines for accessing available materials.
Non-circulating collection of regional history books, periodicals, and local genealogical resources
Current genealogy magazines that cover the latest in genealogical research and technology
State-of-the-art microfilm reader and editions of the Johnson City Press from 1982-2020. The microfilm reader is also available to view your own films or films from other libraries.
The Heritage Alliance of Northeast Tennessee & Southwest Virginia is located at 212 East Sabin Drive, Jonesborough, TN 37659. Visit their website for hours and guidelines for accessing available materials. The Heritage Alliance collects artifacts, documents, photographs and ephemera ranging in date from 1768 through present day. Featuring over 6000 records, their collection includes:
Extensive photographic collection spanning from 1850 through present day, including photographs from early Jonesborough photographers L. W. Keen and O. L. Hensley.
Significant 19th century Jonesborough newspapers, including most editions of the Herald & Tribune, Jonesborough’s weekly paper since 1869.
Jonesborough Sanborn Fire Maps from 1888, 1892, 1907, 1913, 1924 and 1939.
Business correspondence, ledgers and other records pertaining to Washington County and Jonesborough, Tennessee businesses.
Family correspondence and ephemera, as well as records from various Jonesborough social clubs.
Records pertaining to the creation of the Historic District and the Preservation movement in Jonesborough.
Archives of Appalachia- East Tennessee State University
Charles Sherrod Library- East Tennessee State University
Washington County TN Department of Records Management and Archives
Washington County Public Library Virtual Archive
TNGenWeb Project - Washington County
Learn more about the History of Washington County, Tennessee on the Washington County website and the Tennessee Encyclopedia.
Carter County was formed in 1796 from Washington County. The county seat is the City of Elizabethton.
There was a fire at the Carter County courthouse in 1933 and many records were damaged.
*Statewide Registration for Births & Deaths began in 1911 with general compliance by 1927
Lost US Federal Census Records for Carter County, Tennessee: 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1890
Elizabethton-Carter County Public Library, 201 North Sycamore Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643. The library houses the Archives of the City of Elizabethton. Collections include rare historical books, large collections of county and city records on microfilm, family papers, photographs, newsletters, scrapbooks, textiles, artifacts, and audio-visual recordings.
Carter County, TN Register of Deeds - Carter County Courthouse, 801 East Elk Avenue, Elizabethton, TN 37643
Carter County TN, Histories and Families - Facebook Group managed by Scott Bowers, Carter County Historian
Learn more about the History of Carter County, Tennessee on the Carter County website or the Carter County History website.
Greene County was formed in 1783 through a division from Washington County. The county seat is Greeneville.
Types of Records available:
Births* 1881-Present
Marriage 1780-Present
Deaths* 1908-Present
Court 1783-Present
Land 1785-Present
Probate 1802-Present
Census 1810-Present
*Statewide Registration for Births & Deaths began in 1911 with general compliance by 1927
Lost US Federal Census Records for Greene County, Tennessee: 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1890
Many pre-1800 marriage bonds and licenses are lost and only a fraction of those issued in 1815 survive.
Lost probate records: 1783 to 1800
T. Elmer Cox Genealogical & Historical Library - a large collection of online images and transcripts, including:
Cemeteries (click the image to access information about the cemetery and a list of recorded burials)
Land Deeds
Land Grants
Marriage Records Hint: Use [Ctrl] + F to search for names
Wills & Probate Collections (click image to see additional pages) Hint: Use [Ctrl] + F to search for names
Maps
Learn more about the History of Greene County, Tennessee on the Greene County website.
Johnson County was formed in 1836 from Carter County. The county seat is Mountain City.
*Statewide Registration for Births & Deaths began in 1911 with general compliance by 1927
Lost US Federal Census Records for Johnson County, Tennessee: 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1890
Museum of Butler TN website
Johnson County Tennessee History & Genealogy website
Tennessee Secretary of State - Genealogical Fact Sheet about Johnson County
Unicoi County was formed in 1875 from Carter and Washington counties. The county seat is Erwin.
*Statewide Registration for Births & Deaths began in 1911 with general compliance by 1927
Lost US Federal Census Records for Unicoi County, Tennessee: 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1890