First Families of Anderson County
Membership in First Families of Anderson County is open to anyone who can document descent from an ancestor who was a resident of any part of what is now Anderson County, Tennessee prior to 1830.
ELIGIBILITY: To qualify for a First Families of Anderson County (FFAC) certificate, the applicant must directly descend from an ancestor (male or female) who settled in Anderson County, Tennessee prior to December 31, 1830. The applicant must be able to prove descent from the ancestor (male or female) by an official record or records for each generation, including proof for the applicant. Current Anderson County, Tennessee residence is not necessary.
Eligibility shall be determined by a committee appointed by the Board of Directors of the Anderson County Historical Society. The committee’s decision shall be final.
COST: A nonrefundable fee of $15 must be submitted with each application. Checks should be made payable to the Anderson County Historical Society. Applications submitted without payment will not be approved. DO NOT SEND CASH!
INSTRUCTIONS: The FFAC application consists of two pages. Page 1 asks for information about the applicant and the FFAC ancestor; page 2 is the line of descent chart. Please complete both to the best of your ability. If you have more than one FFAC line of descent, a separate application and payment is required for each one submitted. Only one ancestor will be inscribed on a certificate, except when the ancestor and spouse both are proven to qualify. A separate certificate will be issued for each approved application.
Applications and photocopied proofs, along with a $15.00 check or money order for each application should be made payable to the Anderson County Historical Society and mailed to:
First Families of Anderson County
c/o Anderson County Historical Society
P.O. Box 148
Clinton, TN 37717
Incorrect or incomplete applications will be returned for corrections and additions, and the applicant will be encouraged to resubmit. Applications submitted without payment will not be approved.
PROOFS: Applications must be based on credible genealogical research as established by the Board for Certification of Genealogists. For a list and explanation of suggested primary and secondary sources, see “Specific Sources of Proof” cited below.
If your application is based on a previously approved application (such as a parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, cousin, etc.) it is not necessary to resubmit documentation for overlapping generations. You need only send proof of descent for the generations needed to link you to the previously approved applicant. It is still necessary to fully complete the FFAC application and line of descent chart for ALL applications. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Applicants are only required to submit proof of descent for each generation and proof of residence in Anderson County, Tennessee prior to December 31, 1830. Submission of additional material is strongly encouraged, such as family group sheets; biographies; newspaper articles; photos of people, homes and tombstones, and any other material that may be of interest to future researchers.
SUBMITTED MATERIALS: All applications and documentation become the property of the Anderson County Historical Society and will be retained in the custody of the Anderson County Historical Society. Submitted applications and proofs will become a permanent part of the archives of the Anderson County Historical Society and made available to future researchers.
No original documents should be sent as they will not be returned. Send a photocopy or other facsimile of pertinent materials.
HELPFUL HINTS:
- Certified copies are not required.
- Copies of original records are encouraged but not required.
- Give exact source citations. (Examples of exact source citations for all types of media can be obtained by consulting the American Manual of Style at or Evidence Explained, by Elizabeth Shown Mills.)
- Published abstracts and transcripts are acceptable. Include a copy of the title page of the published work plus all pertinent pages proving lineage.
- You must complete the application page and line of descent chart for ALL GENERATIONS.
- A documented family history is acceptable proof for ONLY ONE generation of descent. Undocumented works are NOT acceptable.
The purpose of the required documentation is to prove relationships generation by generation. Documentation must be submitted to prove each generation of descent. Below are examples of records which MAY prove relationships.
PRIMARY SOURCES are defined as contemporary and/or government records made at the time of the event by the parties involved. These records are deemed acceptable sources in proving relationship from one generation to another and include:
- Birth records
- Death records
- Marriage records
- Census records
- Wills and estate records
- Land records and plats
- Tax records
- Military records
- Church records
- Court records
SUPPLEMENTAL OR SECONDARY SOURCES are any sources in print that are not a contemporary or government record. These records will be evaluated as documentation on a case-by-case basis. The inclusion of these records is encouraged. Photocopies of these materials will provide valuable material for future generations in using this permanent file.
1. Published family or county histories – A published family history/genealogy or county history will be accepted for proof of descent for one generation ONLY. When submitting this type of material, include a copy of the title page, photocopies of all pages showing direct lineal descent and note the location of the book (i.e., the library, archives, collection or other repository where the book is located). If the book is privately owned, give the name and address of the owner.
2. Bible records – Dated and/or undated. Include a photocopy of the title/publication page showing the publisher, the date of publication and include the actual pages of family records showing names, dates, and events. Note the location of the book and identify the current owners of the Bible.
3. Obituaries – Include the date, the name and location of the newspaper and page.
4. Newspaper clippings – Give name, page, date and location of newspaper. Clippings may include anniversaries, biographical sketches, awards, marriage notices, reminiscences, etc.
5. Published biographical histories/sketches
6. Personal papers – Unpublished written data including letters, diaries, journals, reunion records and manuscripts. Please include current owner with their address and the date papers were written when known.
7. Tombstone inscriptions – Submit photographs of the stone. Also include the name and location of the cemetery.
8. Funeral home records – Give name and address of funeral home. If submitting photocopies of published records, include a copy of the title page and location of book (i.e., library, archives, collection or repository where book was consulted.)
9. Applications and supporting documentation from lineage organizations (DAR, SOR, UDC, SCV, SAR & others) – Descents already approved by lineage organizations such as the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the Revolution, Colonial Dames, United Daughters of the Confederacy, etc., or any other that requires proof similar to FFAC documentary standards will be accepted. Submit a copy of the signed and dated approved lineage application that includes your line of descent.