Looking for some help with probate records in Weakley County. I don't have a clear idea of what records are available in the court house. I understand that there was a fire in that court house in 1948, but I believe most probate records should still be in existence. When I spoke with a clerk at the court house, she only located one BAXTER within this time frame, though it wasn't one of my people. If I know that these people died in this location, owned significant property, and were fairly prominent individuals in the community, should I likely find probate information for them? I'm looking for probate records for: Caleb E. BAXTER, died between 1851 and 1860 W.R. ROSS, died 28 Dec 1874 Catherine ROSS, died 13 Nov 1894 J.M. BAXTER, died 11 Sep 1901 Sarah M. BAXTER, died 1916 Annie P. BAXTER, died 2 July 1900 Thanks so much! -Lindsay Price

It was not just the 1948 fire that was the problem. County officials used the fire as an opportunity to purge the loose records, which (except for marriages) are not the official account of a legal action. Jimmy Corbitt acquired boxes of the chancery and circuit court records, though he was always a little sketchy about details of how they made it into his keeping; there may have been an intermediary, we just don't know. They now reside here at UTM. Unless there was someone on hand to snap them up when the files were purged, it is sadly possible that the probate files themselves are lost to history. However, do check the chancery court records on the departmental Website, because if anyone argued with someone else over the disposition of something it would show up in chancery court. MS 004 is the one you want. http://www.utm.edu/departments/acadpro/library/departments/special_colle ctions/ms.htm Be sure to check administrator's, guardian, and executor's bonds, by the way (each of which is a separate series). Also, remember that the State Library and Archives holds master film of any record microfilmed in Tennessee, and if the state has it then the Family History Library system (the Mormons) have it as well. Film can be loaned either through public libraries or the FHL centers scattered around. The TSLA Website is a little difficult to use, but all the important data is there. http://www.tn.gov/tsla/preservation/microfilmindex.htm Richard. [email protected] + 731-881-7094 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Lindsay Price Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 12:01 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [TNWEAKLE] BAXTER & ROSS--Early probate records for Weakley County? Looking for some help with probate records in Weakley County. I don't have a clear idea of what records are available in the court house. I understand that there was a fire in that court house in 1948, but I believe most probate records should still be in existence. *snip*

There is a closet in the basement of the courthouse that has many old record books stored in no orderly fashion. I may contain some of those probate records. Joe Stout -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Richard Saunders Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 8:44 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [TNWEAKLE] BAXTER & ROSS--Early probate records for Weakley County? It was not just the 1948 fire that was the problem. County officials used the fire as an opportunity to purge the loose records, which (except for marriages) are not the official account of a legal action. Jimmy Corbitt acquired boxes of the chancery and circuit court records, though he was always a little sketchy about details of how they made it into his keeping; there may have been an intermediary, we just don't know. They now reside here at UTM. Unless there was someone on hand to snap them up when the files were purged, it is sadly possible that the probate files themselves are lost to history. However, do check the chancery court records on the departmental Website, because if anyone argued with someone else over the disposition of something it would show up in chancery court. MS 004 is the one you want. http://www.utm.edu/departments/acadpro/library/departments/special_colle ctions/ms.htm Be sure to check administrator's, guardian, and executor's bonds, by the way (each of which is a separate series). Also, remember that the State Library and Archives holds master film of any record microfilmed in Tennessee, and if the state has it then the Family History Library system (the Mormons) have it as well. Film can be loaned either through public libraries or the FHL centers scattered around. The TSLA Website is a little difficult to use, but all the important data is there. http://www.tn.gov/tsla/preservation/microfilmindex.htm Richard. [email protected] + 731-881-7094 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Lindsay Price Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 12:01 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [TNWEAKLE] BAXTER & ROSS--Early probate records for Weakley County? Looking for some help with probate records in Weakley County. I don't have a clear idea of what records are available in the court house. I understand that there was a fire in that court house in 1948, but I believe most probate records should still be in existence. *snip* ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message