According to the Tennessee State Library and Archives web page regarding Washington Co., TN, "There was a fire at the Washington County courthouse in 1839".

I live in Sullivan County and have done research at the Jonesborough Courthouse in Washington County for several years. I visit the courthouse sometimes two or three times a week, so I know what I'm talking about. Most of the courthouse records are intact, including deeds, marriages, Quarterly court minutes, guardianship records, and wills, as well as many other records. Some of these even date back to the late 1700's. Donna Cox Briggs