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Research Assistance

Courts in Jefferson County

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Category: Courts & Councils

When Jefferson County was created, the governing body -- the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions -- was established to handle many legal matters and make decisions regarding county business, such as taxation, roads, ferries, and business licenses. Jefferson County's court records are mostly intact to the beginning, though not everything is indexed.

Local Justices of the Peace generally handled petty crimes and disputes between individuals.  Most of those records do not exist today because they were kept by the Justices in their homes.  Some records kept by Isaac Alderson, a Justice from the southwestern portion of the county, are located in the Jefferson County Museum & Archives.

Appeals and substantial matters were handled by regional Superior Courts.  Under the first Superior Courts, Jefferson County was judicially a part of the Washington District of North Carolina and the Hamilton District of the Southwest Territory.  Hamilton District records cover the period 1793-1809.  Knoxville was the seat of the Hamilton District Court.  The records of that Court are maintained by the Knox County Archives (500 W. Church Street, Knoxville, TN 37902).  Please note, however, that some Jefferson County cases may have been filed in the Washington District Court, seated in Jonesborough, rather than the Hamilton District Court in Knoxville.  Records for the Washington District Court cover the period 1785-1811 and can be found at the Archives and Special Collections of the Sherrod Library, East Tennessee State University (P. O. Box 70665, Johnson City, TN 37614).

Jefferson Countians could choose either the Washington District Court (Jonesboro) or Hamilton District Court (Knoxville).

The county's judicial system has developed over time, yet it still retains a fairly simple structure.  Charles Sherrill wrote an excellent treatise on the history of Tennessee's Court system, and it can be viewed by clicking here.

Court minutes (records) are outstanding resources for researchers.  The Tennessee State Library & Archives has an introduction to Court Minutes on its Web site. TSLA offers limited look-up services by mail. Click here for details.

Records of the Tennessee Supreme Court are archived at TSLA, which has a detailed explanation of their scope. TSLA offers limited look-up services by mail for a fee. Click here for details.

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