• MyHeritage Wiki
  • How-to guides
  • Research strategies
  • North Carolina family history records
    • Main contributor: Thomas MacEntee
    North Carolina postcard
    North Carolina postcard

    North Carolina is a state with a storied past, marked by the cultural influences of Indigenous communities, early European settlers, and waves of migration that shaped its diverse population. Its pivotal role in American history—from the establishment of the first English colony at Roanoke Island to key battles during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars—has left behind a rich repository of genealogical records. Whether you are tracing your family lines through distant ancestors or verifying a newly uncovered family story, understanding the variety of records available and the best strategies for utilizing them is crucial.

    Research your ancestors on MyHeritage

    Understand the HistoryUnderstand the History

    • Research Early Inhabitants: Begin by studying the Indigenous peoples who lived in the region before European contact, such as the Cherokee, Lumbee, and other communities. Their presence may appear in county histories or specialized Native American record collections.
    • Examine Colonial and Statehood Eras: Investigate how the region transitioned from a proprietary colony to a royal colony, and eventually became a state in 1789. Each shift in governance altered how records were kept and stored.
    • Identify Major Historical Events: Pinpoint significant events—like the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and industrial expansions—that may have impacted your ancestors’ movements or property ownership. Reference timelines from state archives or history textbooks to contextualize where your ancestors may have been during pivotal moments.

    Understand the Geography and JurisdictionUnderstand the Geography and Jurisdiction

    • Study Regional Divisions: North Carolina is commonly divided into three regions—Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain. Understanding this topographical breakdown can provide clues about farming communities, travel routes, and settlement patterns.
    • Explore County Systems and Governance: Each North Carolina county typically maintains its own set of legal and property records. Familiarize yourself with how county-level jurisdiction evolved, as boundary changes or county splits can change where records are stored.

    State BoundariesState Boundaries

    • Investigate Colonial Borders: From its early days, North Carolina’s borders with Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee shifted at various times. If your ancestors lived near a boundary, you may need to search records in adjacent states.
    • Check Historical Maps: Consult historical maps (available in libraries, state archives, and online) to see the precise lines at different points in history. This will help you determine whether your ancestor’s land was ever under another state’s jurisdiction.

    County BoundariesCounty Boundaries

    Today, North Carolina comprises 100 counties; however, six historical counties (Albemarle, Bath, Bute, Dobbs, Glasgow, and Tryon) no longer exist. In 1790, Tennessee County (originally part of Davidson County) and Washington County were ceded to the United States and became part of the Southwest Territory, which later became the state of Tennessee.

    • Trace Formation Dates: Counties were formed (or their boundaries changed) at different times. Use resources like the “Atlas of Historical County Boundaries” to track boundary changes.
    • Look for “Mother Counties”: Some counties were carved out of older “mother counties.” For instance, Rowan County once encompassed a vast region of the state. If you cannot find records in your ancestor’s known county, look to the parent county.

    MigrationMigration

    • Identify Common Migration Routes: Major migration routes, such as the Great Wagon Road and the Great Valley Road, funneled settlers into North Carolina from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Tracing these paths can reveal the journey your ancestors took.
    • Explore Migration Waves: Different ethnic and religious groups—Germans, Scots-Irish, Quakers, and Africans—moved into North Carolina at distinct times. Understanding these waves can guide your search to specific local records, church archives, or settlement communities.

    Vital Records – Birth, Death, and MarriageVital Records – Birth, Death, and Marriage

    Before 1913, no births were recorded by the county or state (exceptions being the cities of Raleigh (births begin 1890) and Wilmington (births begin 1904)). Before 1913, no deaths were recorded by the county or state.

    Marriage documentation prior to 1668 is scarce in North Carolina. Historically, individuals wishing to marry published three banns or obtained a license; the groom then posted a $50 bond in the bride’s county of residence. For marriages before 1851, church registers are the best source, although church recording ceased in 1868 when county registers of deeds assumed responsibility. Enslaved people could legally marry, though some received Cohabitation Certificates in 1886. Researchers should consult each county’s “Marriages” section on the State Archives website for more detailed information.

    • Locate County Registers: North Carolina counties began officially recording births and deaths at different times, generally after 1913. For earlier periods, look for church records, family bibles, or newspaper announcements.
    • Marriage Records and Bonds: North Carolina required marriage bonds before 1868. These can be found in county courthouses or microfilmed at the North Carolina State Archives. More recent marriage licenses will also be held at the county level.
    • Online Databases: Popular genealogy websites (such as FamilySearch, Ancestry, and North Carolina-specific digital archives) often have digitized versions of birth, death, and marriage records.

    Census Records – Federal and StateCensus Records – Federal and State

    Researching census records in North Carolina can be challenging due to incomplete or fragmented collections. Federal Census records from 1900 through 1940 are the most complete, but earlier enumerations may contain gaps. Supplementary schedules—such as Industry and Agriculture (1850–1880), Slave (1850–1860), and Mortality (1850–1880)—can provide additional insights and fill in missing information.

    • Federal Census (1790–1950): Start with the earliest available census and move forward. Check indexes for variations in spelling and consult both the population schedules and non-population schedules (agricultural, mortality, etc.) where available.
    • State Census Records: North Carolina conducted state censuses, though these were sporadic. Check the North Carolina State Archives and other genealogical societies for information about available state census data.
    • Use Census Clues: Federal and state censuses often provide details such as age, birthplace, occupation, property ownership, and neighbors. Neighbors can be relatives or potential in-laws.

    Immigration and Naturalization RecordsImmigration and Naturalization Records

    • Ports of Entry: While North Carolina is not traditionally known for major ports of entry, Wilmington was historically significant. Your ancestors may have arrived through Virginia or South Carolina before moving into North Carolina.
    • Check Local Courts for Naturalizations: Until 1906, naturalizations occurred in various courts. County courthouses or state archives might hold these records. After 1906, the federal government handled naturalization more centrally.
    • Passenger Lists and Ship Manifests: Online databases and national archives can provide passenger lists. Even if the port was not in North Carolina, these records can show initial arrival details before settling in the state.

    Military RecordsMilitary Records

    North Carolina’s organized militia dates back to the Colonial period, with some French and Indian War records preserved at the State Archives. While fewer Revolutionary War battles took place on North Carolina soil, many of the state’s residents fought elsewhere. States often used land as an incentive for at least two years of service, but North Carolina did not offer bounty land (Tennessee did). The Regulator Movement (1764–1771), sparked by high taxes, foreshadowed revolutionary sentiments, and numerous participants appear in early militia rosters.

    During the Civil War, North Carolina sided with the Confederacy, contributing over 125,000 troops—at least 14,000 of whom died. Like other Southern states, North Carolina provided pensions to veterans and widows, beginning in 1885 and again in 1901.

    • Revolutionary War Records: Look for pension files, muster rolls, and service records for ancestors who may have fought in local militias or with the Continental Army.
    • Civil War Enlistments: North Carolina was a Confederate state, but some men fought on the Union side. Service records, pension applications, and post-war rosters can be found at the National Archives or the North Carolina State Archives.
    • Later Conflicts: For World War I, World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam-era service members, draft registrations and service records can reveal birthdates, addresses, and family information.

    Land and Property RecordsLand and Property Records

    North Carolina’s boundary with Virginia was not fully established until 1728, leading some land grants to appear in Virginia records. Meanwhile, territory now within South Carolina appears in North Carolina documents dating as far back as 1735; the official line separating the Carolinas was finalized in 1772. The state has three major geographical regions:

    • Coastal Plain: Low, flat lands stretching to the Atlantic Ocean.
    • Piedmont: Characterized by rolling hills and valleys, bordering the Coastal Plain.
    • Appalachian Mountains: A rugged frontier region in the west.

    Originally, the Tennessee Territory was under North Carolina’s jurisdiction, attracting many settlers from Maryland and Virginia. Land was measured by the “metes and bounds” method, and North Carolina is classified as a state-land state.

    • Grant and Deed Research: Property records are usually held at the county Register of Deeds office. Check for grants from the state or the Crown (in colonial times).
    • Use Indexes: Counties often have separate indexes for grantors (sellers) and grantees (buyers). Tracing property transactions can reveal relationships and approximate dates of death.
    • Check State Land Grants: Early land distribution by the Lords Proprietors or by the state after independence may reside in the North Carolina State Archives. These documents often list the original owners of the land.

    North Carolina’s initial land grants date to 1669, and records from 1679–1729 reside at the State Archives. Headright patents continued through 1754, granting 50 acres per individual brought into the colony. Because there is no significant natural harbor along the coastline, settlers typically entered overland via the Great Wagon Road, which ran through Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley from southeastern Pennsylvania.

    Court RecordsCourt Records

    Court documents vary by county in both availability and completeness. Estate records and wills are typically found at county courthouses, though wills before 1760 are housed at the Secretary of State’s Office. During the Colonial era, some wills were proved in London’s Prerogative Court of Canterbury. Fires and other disasters have unfortunately destroyed many county-level records over time.

    • Identify Court Hierarchies: The Superior Court and District Court handle various legal matters, such as civil cases and criminal trials. Different courts maintained different sets of records.
    • Dockets and Minute Books: Court dockets may list lawsuits, guardianships, or judgments. “Minute books” document the daily proceedings, which can reveal family disputes, estate settlements, or guardianships.
    • Explore Chancery (Equity) Records: Equity courts handled cases not covered by common law. These might detail property disputes and inheritance questions that can be genealogical goldmines.

    Wills and Probate RecordsWills and Probate Records

    • Locate Wills: North Carolina wills are filed at the county level. If your ancestor left a will, it could name heirs, relatives, and even neighbors, revealing important family connections.
    • Estate Inventories and Probate Packets: When someone died without a will (intestate), courts documented how the estate was divided among heirs. These probate records can detail personal property, land, and other assets.
    • Check Multiple Repositories: Some older probate records may be archived at the North Carolina State Archives, while more recent ones remain with the county Clerk of Court.

    Church and Cemetery RecordsChurch and Cemetery Records

    In most parts of North Carolina, churches began keeping vital records well before county and state authorities did. Quaker missionaries arrived in 1672 from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia,[1] though most Quakers had departed by the Civil War. Around 1700, the Church of England was established, later becoming the Episcopalian Church following the Revolution, though no surviving records exist from the 1700s.

    Moravians from Pennsylvania settled in 1753, establishing communities on 100,000 acres; their documents are available at the Moravian Archives in Winston-Salem. For over two centuries, Baptists have formed the state’s largest denomination, with records maintained at Wake Forest University. Scots-Irish immigrants brought Presbyterian traditions, while German settlers introduced Lutheranism.

    • Identify Denominations: Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Quakers, and Moravians have deep roots in North Carolina. Each denomination kept different types of records (baptisms, marriages, memberships).
    • Contact Local Churches: If your ancestors were part of a known congregation, reach out to the current church office or a denominational archive for historical registers.
    • Cemetery Surveys and Tombstone Inscriptions: Local genealogical societies often publish cemetery surveys. Tombstone inscriptions may verify birth and death dates, and occasionally, familial relationships.

    African-American and Indigenous RecordsAfrican-American and Indigenous Records

    When investigating African-American ancestry, consult repositories such as university libraries, the National Archives, and the North Carolina Department of Archives and History for specialized research aids. Additionally, search land and property records, wills, and tax documents for references to enslaved individuals, who were sometimes listed in deeds and other transactions.

    In 1835, many Cherokees left North Carolina, the same year they were also recorded in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. Some evaded forced relocation by hiding in the mountains; their descendants are known today as the Eastern Band of Cherokee. A key source from this period is the 1835 Henderson Roll, listing 16,000 Cherokees from various southern states who were to be moved to Oklahoma.

    • Freedman’s Bureau Records: Post-Civil War Freedman’s Bureau documents can provide crucial details about formerly enslaved individuals.
    • Slave Schedules and Plantation Records: Federal Slave Schedules (1850 and 1860) and plantation records may mention enslaved ancestors. Though challenging, these records can lead to important discoveries.
    • Tribal Rolls and Enrollment Records: For Indigenous ancestors, look for tribal enrollment records and government lists such as the Eastern Cherokee rolls. The Bureau of Indian Affairs might hold additional information.

    Historical NewspapersHistorical Newspapers

    Launched in August 1751, the North Carolina Gazette was the state’s first newspaper. Many libraries maintain substantial microfilm collections of historical papers, with the most extensive holdings located at the State Archives.

    • Identify Local Publications: North Carolina has had many local newspapers over the years. Notices of births, marriages, deaths, and community events often appear in small-town papers.
    • Use Digitized Collections: Libraries, universities, and online repositories (like Chronicling America or state-specific digital newspaper platforms) may host searchable archives.
    • Check for Obituaries and Announcements: Obituaries can be especially valuable for genealogists, providing names of relatives, places of origin, and other family details.

    Local and State RepositoriesLocal and State Repositories

    • North Carolina State Archives: Their vast holdings include land grants, military records, county documents, and more. Consult their website for finding aids and catalogs.
    • State Library of North Carolina: This library features genealogical collections, county histories, newspapers, and indexes.
    • County Courthouses and Public Libraries: Local courthouses hold vital, land, and court records. Public libraries often house local history rooms with genealogical resources and indexes compiled by local historians.

    Genealogical and Historical SocietiesGenealogical and Historical Societies

    • Join Local Societies: Many counties have a historical or genealogical society where members share resources and expertise.
    • Attend Workshops or Events: Societies frequently host events, seminars, and conferences. These are excellent opportunities to learn from experts and network with fellow researchers.
    • Access Unique Collections: Societies sometimes have private or unpublished collections of family histories, cemetery inventories, or newspaper clippings not found elsewhere.

    ConclusionConclusion

    Conducting genealogy research in North Carolina can be a rewarding journey into your family’s past. By understanding the state’s evolving boundaries, delving into comprehensive record sets—from vital records and land deeds to church archives and newspapers—and tapping into local expertise, you stand to uncover the hidden narratives of your ancestors. Whether you are just starting out or you have well-established lines to further investigate, these strategies will help ensure a thorough and accurate exploration of your heritage.

    See alsoSee also

    Explore more about North Carolina family history recordsExplore more about North Carolina family history records

    References

    1. ↑ Tidbits of History: 340 Years of Quaking in the Carolinas


    Authors template (click twice to edit)
    Retrieved from ""