Shelved in the Tennessee section under “TN Register Fis” at the Germantown Regional History and Genealogy Center are four volumes of Tennessee Tidbits, 1778-1914 compiled by Marjorie Hood Fischer. It is a fascinating collection of items (derived from county court records) showing “birth, death, marriage, divorce, guardianship, naturalization, illegitimacy, lunacy, migration, residency, relationship, adoption, disability, military service, emancipation, tribute, apprenticeship.” The author selected items that she felt would be of genealogical interest; and, in preparing Volume 1, she read “every available record left” after a courthouse fire.
These books may offer you some research “shortcuts” because the information is listed under the individual’s name in alphabetical order, citing the particular county court record in which it was found. Each volume includes records from the specific counties listed in the front of that book. But you might want to check all the volumes, not just the one listing information from your ancestor’s home county, because, in each, there are references to people from other counties.
An example of an interesting entry packed with “tidbits” of information:
“GANTT, Jesse V. – Married before 3 May 1847 to Caroline M. Basey, heir of James T. Basey, deceased, as shown when Jesse came into court and asked to be appointed guardian of Caroline (Har TN, Co Ct Min, D/254).” The parenthetical reference means this entry was from Hardin County, TN County Court Minutes Volume D, page 254.
These books may offer you some research “shortcuts” because the information is listed under the individual’s name in alphabetical order, citing the particular county court record in which it was found. Each volume includes records from the specific counties listed in the front of that book. But you might want to check all the volumes, not just the one listing information from your ancestor’s home county, because, in each, there are references to people from other counties.
An example of an interesting entry packed with “tidbits” of information:
“GANTT, Jesse V. – Married before 3 May 1847 to Caroline M. Basey, heir of James T. Basey, deceased, as shown when Jesse came into court and asked to be appointed guardian of Caroline (Har TN, Co Ct Min, D/254).” The parenthetical reference means this entry was from Hardin County, TN County Court Minutes Volume D, page 254.
