Dear Group, I am planning to be in the Nashville and Carthage area in late Oct. I will do some research at the Archives in Nashville. I am interested in finding the probate packet for a ancestor who died ca 1807. My understanding is that not all the records are on microfilm( As in most cases, I have done extensive courthouse research in other localities) Is the early packets still in the courthouse? Are they accessible? I know years ago a researcher told me that I had to talk to the county historian. Please tell me the most efficient way to access these early records. John Sellers P. S. The ancestor did not leave a will but early deeds records mentioned an administration. The ancestor is William Sullivan who Sullivan's Bend is named for. I am also related to both Strother and Vadens, more early ancestors, done to my great grandfather who was born in 1843 , the son of Samuel T. Vaden and Permelia Strother Vaden. Sam was the son of Lodwick and Elizabeth Thompson Vaden. Permelia was the daugther of Judd Strother and Elizabeth Sullivan Strother. Who is the dau of William Sullivan SR. All residents of Smith County from about 1800 until mostly 1850's. Elizabeth Sullivan Strother died in 1872 in Smith County. John Sellers

John, I have found that most of the recoords from Smith County that still exist are on microfilm - you just have to know what to look for. Have you done a search at the Smith County website for your names? I know that there are many references to the VADEN's in the Administrator's receipt books, and I seem to remember references to the other names as well - STROTHER, SULLIVAN. There are now 4 parts of the Administrator Receipt books on the website, and the Vaden estate has been in each one. I was at the courthouse several years ago and found my ancestor's will there in the vault - BUT - I know that all the same info is on the films and they are not nearly as fragile as the original documents are. Diane in Indiana > Dear Group, I am planning to be in the Nashville and Carthage area in > late Oct. I will do some research at the Archives in Nashville. I am > interested in finding the probate packet for a ancestor who died ca 1807. > My understanding is that not all the records are on microfilm( As in most > cases, I have done extensive courthouse research in other localities) Is > the early packets still in the courthouse? Are they accessible? I know > years ago a researcher told me that I had to talk to the county historian. > Please tell me the most efficient way to access these early records. John > Sellers > > P. S. The ancestor did not leave a will but early deeds records mentioned > an administration. The ancestor is William Sullivan who Sullivan's Bend > is named for. I am also related to both Strother and Vadens, more early > ancestors, done to my great grandfather who was born in 1843 , the son of > Samuel T. Vaden and Permelia Strother Vaden. Sam was the son of Lodwick > and Elizabeth Thompson Vaden. Permelia was the daugther of Judd Strother > and Elizabeth Sullivan Strother. Who is the dau of William Sullivan SR. > All residents of Smith County from about 1800 until mostly 1850's. > Elizabeth Sullivan Strother died in 1872 in Smith County. John Sellers > > > ==== TNSMITH Mailing List ==== > Submit Your Family Pictures, Biographies, Histories > Wills, Fokelore, To The Smith Co Web Project > http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnsmith/ >