Meigs County, Tennessee History & Genealogy

When was Meigs County, TN Created?

Meigs County was founded on January 20, 1836 from Rhea County. This county was named in honor of Return Jonathan Meigs (1740–1823), an officer in the Continental Army who was for many years a federal Indian and military agent in Tennessee. You can read a summary narrative history of the county in The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture.

What is the County Seat of Meigs County, TN?

The County Seat of government is located in Decatur also, the county government website is www.meigscountytnchamber.org/.

What counties are adjacent to Meigs County, TN?

Bordering counties are Roane County (North), McMinn County (East), Bradley County (Southeast), Hamilton County (South) and Rhea County (West).

What cities and towns are in Meigs County, TN?

Cities and towns located in the county include Decatur, Ten Mile, Georgetown, Cottonport.

What historical and genealogical records can I find in the Meigs County Courthouse?

The following information and facts indicates whatever birth, death, marriage, land, wills, and courtroom records will be in Meigs County or in the Tennessee State Library & Archives. The dates indicated below could be the first widely known documents for this county. There were fires at the Meigs County courthouse in 1904 and 1964.

Please get in touch with the clerk's office to affirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of in some cases changing contact details. The Department Offices DO NOT DO RESEARCH. The records are accessible to interested parties, barring confidential issues. A lot of workers will guide individuals in obtaining the resources, however it's up to the individual to complete the basic research. If you need historical or genealogical research, click HERE.

• Meigs County Clerk maintains Marriage & Divorce records. It also has jurisdiction over probate cases. Wills, administrations, and all other records pertaining to probate are recorded in the respective county clerk's office. If the will or administration was contested, the records of these actions may be filed in the circuit court or chancery court.
  • Address: PO Box 218, Decatur, TN 37322
  • Phone: 423-334-5747
  • Marriage Records: 1838
  • Probate Records: 1836
• Meigs County Register of Deeds has land records beginning with county organization, land records are available from the register of deeds at the Sevier county courthouse. Land and property records include transfer of real estate or personal property, mortgages, leases, surveys, and entries.
  • Address: P.O. Box 245, Decatur, TN 37322
  • Phone: (423) 334-5228
  • Land & Deed Records: 1879
• Meigs County Clerk of Circuit Court has jurisdiction over property disputes, and circuit courts oversee criminal cases, divorces, and adoptions. Early courts included courts of common pleas and quarter sessions.
  • Address: 17214 State Hwy. 58, 2nd Floor, Decatur, TN 37322-0205
  • Phone: 423-334-5821
  • Chancery Court Minutes: 1854
  • Circuit Court Minutes: 1844
  • County Court Minutes: 1836
• Meigs County Property Assessor is responsible for the evaluation of all real property, the cadastral mapping of the county, valuation of all business personal property and maintaining ownership records. The property assessor prepares the tax rolls for the trustee and all the municipalities. Tax lists can be used to locate families, document historic properties and study community history. Early tax lists generally include all white males over 21 and indicate whether they owned land or slaves.
  • Address: P.O. Box 215, Decatur, TN 37322
  • Phone: (423) 334-5231
  • Tax Records: 1836, 1839-1863, 1872-1883, 1886, 1890, 1891, 1896-1898 (located at the Tennessee State Library and Archives)
  • Meigs County Health Department, P. O. Box 157, 389 River Road, Decatur, TN 37322-0157; (423) 334-5185 , issues birth certificates and death certificates (deaths which occurred in that county within the past three years, and a few county health departments keep death records for longer periods of time).

Where can I find Meigs County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?

Meigs County vital records can be found at the Tennessee Department of Health (VDH) Office of Vital Records which has copies of birth certificates, marriage licenses and divorce decrees. There is a fee for each copy requested, and privacy restrictions may apply for more recent records unless you are next of kin, or have authorization from an interested party or a court. Generally speaking, death certificates in Tennessee are public fifty years after the date of death, and birth certificates one hundred years after birth date. The earliest statewide birth and death records in Tennessee date from 1908, and systematic statewide vital records date from 1914.

Marriage license records are available from the county clerk who issued the marriage license. Court divorce orders may be obtained from the clerk of the court that granted the divorce.

What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Meigs County, TN?

• Meigs County Historical Society & Museum, 200 Smith Ave. Decatur, PO Box 43 Decatur, TN 37322; PHONE: 423-334-4424

Where can I find someone to do historical or genealogical research in Meigs County, TN?

Generally the staff of public offices and local libraries and historical and genealogical societies cannot undertake extensive or detailed research for individuals beyond limited index lookups, etc. Each office can advise as to their policy. Scott Searches/Historycatcher is a professional research service that offers historical and genealogical research in Bradley County. Projects can range from searching records & obtaining photocopies or digital scans of documents to more complex topical research and analysis, depending on need. Other services include an on-site photography service if you need photographs of cemetery markers, or other historically significant locations, and interviews with cooperative and knowledgable local persons, including high quality digital audio recordings, verbatim transcripts, or interview summaries.

Scott Searches/Historycatcher can also assist attorneys, estate administrators, professional genealogists, amateur family historians, reunion organizers, and individuals locate living relatives or descendants through specialized forensic genealogical services, and missing persons investigations.