North Carolina, County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States

North Carolina

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North Carolina County Records, 1833-1970 CID1916185 {{{CID2}}} {{{CID3}}} {{{CID4}}} {{{CID5}}} {{{CID6}}} {{{CID7}}} {{{CID8}}} {{{CID9}}}
This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org.
North Carolina,  United States
Flag of North Carolina
Location of North Carolina
Record Description
Record Type	County Records
Collection years	1833-1970
FamilySearch Resources
North Carolina Guided Research
North Carolina Record Finder
Research Tips and Strategies
Step-by-Step Research
North Carolina Genealogy
North Carolina Land and Property
North Carolina Probate Records
North Carolina Voting Records
North Carolina Archives and Libraries
Related Websites
North Carolina Free Public Records Directory
North Carolina Genealogy Search Engines

What is in This Collection?

The collection includes the following various county records:

• Coroner's Inquests (1793-1905)
• Voter Registration Books (1888-1896)
• Wills (1821-1968)
• Guardianships (1849-1967)
• Estates (1854-1968)

Soon after they were formed, counties began recording vital records, court records, and land transactions. The records are generally well preserved. The records were made to establish legal rights and to help track the population for health and taxation purposes. Most of the records are either handwritten or handwritten on printed forms. The information is generally reliable, but depends upon the reliability of the informant. Some transcription errors may have occurred.

To Browse This Collection

You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for North Carolina County Records, 1833-1970.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

County

• Date of the event, transaction, or recording with the county
• Names of individual, witnesses, family members, sometimes neighbors
• Ages
• Relationships
• Residences
• Occupations
• Signature or mark
• Amount of any money exchanged

Collection Content

Sample Images

• 

  Coroner's Bond

• 

  Guardianship

• 

  Voter Registration

• 

  Will

Coverage Table

County	Record type	Years
Alleghany	Assignments of territory to insolvents lists	1862-1928
Alleghany	Jury lists to State vs H F Jones	1848-1913
Ashe	School census and teachers vouchers	1881-1903
Ashe	Wills	1850-1967
Beaufort	Wills	1808-1968
Buncombe	Accounts for Swannanoa Hotel to child custody	1844-1920
Buncombe	Child Custody proceedings	1892-1915
Buncombe	Child Custody to commutation of sentence	1860-1946
Buncombe	Correspondence to marriage license	1789-1936
Buncombe	Election records	1871-1900
Buncombe	Memorial for Capt ME Carter to resolution of North Fork Lumber Comp.	1786-1919
Buncombe	Schools to slave records	1815-1920
Buncombe	Tax-paid withdrawals to United States, Western District	1879-1909
Camden	Civil Actions	1816-1902
Chatham	Voter registration	1890-1896
Chatham	voter registration-canvass book	1888-1890
Chowan	Poll books	1875-1910
Chowan	Record of election	1878-1904
Chowan	Wills	1846-1968
Columbus	Civil actions	1869-1914
Columbus	Deeds	1741-1917
Columbus	Estate files	1812-1968
Columbus	List of cases	1851-1913
Cumberland	School records B-E	1819-1975
Cumberland	School records F-K	1872-1953
Cumberland	School records L-R	1874-1960
Cumberland	School records S-W	1882-1965
Cumberland	School minute books	1878-1911
Cumberland	School records, misc.	1885-1957
Currituck	Civil action about land	1858-1915
Currituck	Civil action	1781-1895
Currituck	Criminal action	1858-1902
Duplin	Widows year support	1900-1968
Durham	Widows dower and years support	1881-1944
Durham	Widows year support	1881-1927
Forsyth	Bonds	1779-1954
Forsyth	Civil Actions	1852-1909
Forsyth	Election book	1878-1912
Forsyth	Wills	1763-1968
Forsyth	Witness Fee book Superior court	1845-1850
Gaston	Estates	1839-1971
Gaston	Guardianships	1849-1967
Jackson	Civil actions	1843-1968
Lincoln	Marriage	1892-1916
Lincoln	Tax	1868-1924
Mecklenburg	Estate files	1880-1952
Mecklenburg	Guardianships	1779-1951
Mecklenburg	Wills	1855-1968
Northampton	Civil actions	1826-1958
Northampton	Coroners reports	1793-1905
Northampton	Estate records	1766-1940
Northampton	Estates	1780-1949
Northampton	Guardian	1780-1946
Northampton	Wills	1764-1968
Perquimans	Criminal action	1861-1940
Perquimans	Land sales	1869-1941
Polk	Wills	1843-1968
Randolph	Affidavit to correspondence	1781-1919
Randolph	Declaration to grand jurors	1784-1898
Randolph	Grists Mills to Justice of Peace	1780-1922
Randolph	Liquor Licenses to Hargrove	1817-1919
Randolph	Marsh, Elliott to sample forms	1785-1913
Randolph	Miscellaneous	undated
Richmond	Coroners inquests	1906-1967
Stanly	Accounts of Hearne and Davis to criminal docket	1841-1943
Stanly	Chattel mortgages to Fred Long	1844-1941
Stanly	Coroners inquests	1914-1957
Stanly	Insolvent debtors to petitions for restoration of citizenship	1842-1961
Stanly	Habeas corpus to Town of Big Lick	1843-1964
Stanly	Records of Slaves and free persons of color	1832-1868
Transylvania	Apprentice bonds to bridge records	1864-1926
Transylvania	Child custody to jury duty	1864-1926
Transylvania	Lists to special regulatons	1864-1926
Wake	Death certificates	1900-1909

How Do I Search This Collection?

Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:

• The name of your ancestor
• The type of event
• The approximate date the event occurred
• The names of of other family members and their relationships

Search the Index

Search by name on the Collection Details Page.

1. Fill in the search boxes in the Search Collection section with the information you know
2. Click Search to show possible matches

View the Images

View images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page:

1. Select the County
2. Select the Record Type, Date Range and Volume to view the images.

How Do I Analyze the Results?

Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?

When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. The information may also lead you to other records about your ancestors.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

• Use the age to calculate a birth date
• Use the names, ages and residence church and census records
• Occupations listed can lead you to other types of records such as employment or military records
• Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname. This is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

• Check for variant spellings of the surnames.
• Check for an index. There are often indexes at the beginning of each volume
• Search the indexes and records of nearby counties
• Consult the North Carolina Record Finder to find other records

Research Helps

The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of North Carolina.

• North Carolina Guided Research
• North Carolina Record Finder
• Research Tips and Strategies
• Step-by-Step Research

Citing This Collection

Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Collection Citation: The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Citing this Collection.

Record Citation: When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information.

Image Citation: When looking at an image, the citation is found on the Information tab at the bottom left of the screen.

How Can I Contribute to the FamilySearch Wiki?

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