- County
Offices with Records of Genealogical
Interest
- Washington County Courthouse
Clerk of Courts
- PO Box 218
- Jonesborough, TN 37659-0218
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- Washington County Courthouse, Downtown Center
- 101 East Market St.
Johnson City, TN 37604
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- County Court Clerk
- (423) 753-1621 (Jonesborough)
(423) 461-1455 (Downtown Center, Johnson City)
(Marriage,wills, probate records)
- Register of Deeds
- (Land deeds and deeds of trust)
(423) 753-1644 (Jonesborough)
Chancery Court Clerk, (423) 753-1631
Circuit Court Clerk, (423) 753-1613
Trustee, (423) 753-1601
Hours: Eastern Time Zone Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.;
closed Saturday
- County Public Records
Commission
- Chair: Stewart Cannon, Jr.
Downtown Centre Courthouse
101 E. Market Street
Johnson City, TN 37604
Washington County Court Records
- Scope and Content
The Washington County Court Records contains administrative
records of the county government: court dockets, minutes and
registers; legal documents, correspondence and exhibits pertaining
to cases in superior, circuit, chancery and county courts as well
as those under individual justices of the peace. Although this
collection does not contain a complete set of dockets for the
various courts, additional volumes are available at the Washington
County courthouse in Jonesboro. Records of the supreme court of
errors and appeals were removed and accessioned as a separate
group.
The court records span from 1780 to 1960 but the largest volumes
of documents are in two periods: 1800-1860 and 1870-1930. The
group contains some records of the State of Franklin and the Civil
War period; however, there records are in smaller numbers and are
likely incomplete. Few records are included after the 1930s.
The records reflect the operation and activities of the courts,
county government, local individuals and area businesses. Chancery
court records provide useful information on the settlement of
estates and the study of family history. The county court records
give some insight into how the county government operated in
caring for the poor, supervising the schools and county offices,
and maintaining public properties.
The records are located in the Archives of Appalachia, East
Tennessee State University, Sherrod Library, 1st floor.
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- Click for a detailed list of
records
- Vital
Records
Marriage and wills are in the County Court Clerks offices.
Washington County Courthouse, PO Box 219, Jonesborough, TN
37659-0129 and Washington County Courthouse at Johnson City,
101 E Market Street, Johnson City, Tennesssee 37604. Marriages
-- four locations must be checked: Circuit Court Clerk Office
in Jonesborough and Johnson City; Chancery Court Clerk Office
in Jonesborough, and Johnson City. Divorce records are found in
the minutes of the Quarterly Court. Cost: $5.00 with SASE (4
1/8 x 9 1/2 in.)
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- BIRTH RECORDS
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- There are no birth records for Washington County, TN prior
to 1914.
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- For 1914 to present records write to:
- Division of Vital Records
- State Department of Public Health
- Cordell Hull Bldg.
- Nashville, TN 37247-0350
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- DEATH RECORDS
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- There are no death records prior to 1908 in Washington
County, TN.
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- For 1908-1942 records write to:
- Tennessee State Library & Archives
- Public Services Section
- 403 7th Ave. N
- Nashville, TN 37243-0312
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- For 1943 to present records write to:
- Division of Vital Records
- State Department of Public Health
- Cordell Hull Bldg.
- Nashville, TN 37247-0350
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- For 1908-1916 death record abstracts, see:
- Washington County, Tennessee: Death Record
Abstracts, 1908-1916 by Eddie M. Nikazy. Heritage
Books, Inc., 1994.
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- MARRIAGE RECORDS
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- Marriages are recorded in the county records from 1787 to
present.
For Pre-1945 marriage records write:
- Washington County Clerk
- P.O. Box 218
- Jonesborough, TN 37659-0218
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- For 1780-1870 records:
- Washington County, Tennessee, Marriages:
1780-1870 by Goldene Fillers Burgner, Southern
Historical Press, Inc., Easley, S.C. , 1985.
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- For 1846- records:
- The Bulletin, Watauga Association of
Genealogists, PO Box 117, Johnson City, TN 37605-0117;
selected issues, 1972-to date
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- Microfilmed marriage
records
- Available from the Tennessee State Library and Archives.
- Marriage Bonds & License Books, Oct. 1886-June 1929
- Marriage Records, Sept. 1787-Jan. 1969
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-
Online
- http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnwashin/marriages/marr1787_99.htm
- http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnwashin/marriages/marr1800_09.htm
- http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnwashin/marriages/marr1892.htm
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- DIVORCE RECORDS
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- Divorces were granted by the State Legislature from 1797to
1858. District Superior Courts also granted divorces from
1799-1809. From 1809 to 1835 the County Circuit Court granted
divorces. Divorces cases were heard in County Circuit and
Chancery Courts after 1835. The records are in the Clerk of the
County Circuit Court Office.
For Pre-1945 divorce records write:
- Washington County Circuit Court Clerk
- PO Box 219
- Jonesborough, TN 37659
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- For 1945-present divorce records write:
- Division of Vital Records
- State Department of Public Health
- Cordell Hull Bldg.
- Nashville, TN 37247-0350
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- Online
- http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnwashin/divorces.htm
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- WILLS
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- Microfilmed Records
- Available from the Tennessee State Library and Archives
- Will Books, Aug. 1779-Nov. 1968
- Inventories of Estates, Feb. 1779-Dece/ 1968
Printed
The Bulletin by the Watauga Association of
Genealogists . PO Box 117, Johnson City, TN., in selected issues,
1972-to date.
Online
- http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnwashin/peoplemisc/wills.htm
- GenConnect:
http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Tn/WashingtonWill
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- Records in Print
-
Washington County, Tennessee Marriages, 1780-1870
- Goldene Fillers Burgner, c. 1985. Southern Historical Press,
Inc.
Washington County Marriages
Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin, V. 20(1),
starting with 1846 and being transcribed.
Washington County, Tennessee Wills 1777-1872
Goldene Fillers Burger, c1983. Southern Historical Press, Inc.
Tennessee Divorces, 1797-1858
taken from 750 Legislative Petitions and Acts, Gale W. Bamman and
Debbie W. Spero.
Washington County, Tennessee Death Record Abstracts,
1908-1916
Eddie M. Nikazy. Heritage Books, Inc.
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- The Johnson City Public Library has old city directories.
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