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North Carolina State
Archives
Source: http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/archives/
Physical address:
109 E. Jones St.
Raleigh, N.C. 27601
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Mail should be addressed to:
North Carolina State Archives
4614 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, N.C. 27699-4614
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Contact Information
Phone: (919) 807-7310
Fax: (919) 733-1354
Email: archives@ncmail.net
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Records created by county governments. All of
the county government records that have been processed are now
described in the MARS Online Catalog. While these descriptions do
not detail the individual files, they do replicate the card catalog
that is available in the Search
Room.
Online Resources for County Records
Original County
Estates Papers: Listings of estates papers that related to the
settlement of a person's estate. These papers are filed first by county
and then in folders arranged by name and date. These listings were
compiled by volunteers and then proofed by staff members. At this time,
the listings of names do not link to images of the actual documents.
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County Records in the
North Carolina State Archives
For information about record schedules and other
records management topics, please consult the Government Records Branch web site.
For more information about specific county
records, see the Guide to Research Materials in the North Carolina
State Archives: County Records (pdf) and the MARS Online Catalog.
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Bonds
Apprentice Bonds and Records: Includes volumes
and boxes of apprentice bonds (or indentures), arranged
chronologically. Other papers may include petitions for apprenticeship,
petitions for "freedom dues" upon the completion of an apprenticeship,
and civil and criminal actions concerning masters or wards.
Bastardy Bonds and Records: Includes volumes
and boxes of bastardy bonds, arranged chronologically. Other papers may
include presentments against and examinations of unwed mothers and
mothers-to-be, warrants to bring the putative fathers to court, and
receipts for payments made on behalf of bastard children.
Officials' Bonds and Records: Includes bonds
of various county officials, arranged alphabetically by office, then
chronologically. In some counties, there are sufficient quantities to
make up separate boxes of constables, sheriffs or clerks bonds. May
also include record or register of officials' bonds (volumes). Some
counties also include appointments, oaths, resignations, and civil and
criminal actions involving county officials; in others, these are filed
among the miscellaneous records.
Other Bonds: Includes tavern (ordinary) bonds
and miscellaneous bonds.
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Census (County Copies)
These include only the state copy and include
census years 1850, 1860, and 1870 for most counties.
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Court
Minute Docket, Court of Pleas and Quarter
Sessions:
County courts of pleas and quarter sessions evolved from
precinct courts in 1738. The courts were composed of three or more
justices of the peace and sat four times each year. The functions of
county courts may be categorized into three distinct areas - judicial,
probate and administrative - that are reflected in the minute dockets.
The courts exercised both civil and criminal jurisdiction, original and
appellate (from magistrates courts). Probate responsibilities included
acknowledgment and probate of deeds, probate of wills, appointment and
qualification of administrators, executors and guardians, binding of
apprentices, and inquisitions of lunacy. The court also served as the
governing body of the county, responsible for the appointment and
qualification of local officials, levying of local taxes, expenditure
of public funds, granting of licenses (tavern keepers, ferry operators,
and peddlers), registration of stock marks, paternity inquisitions, and
emancipation and manumission of slaves. Courts of pleas and quarter
sessions were abolished by the Constitution of 1868. The judicial
functions devolved to county superior courts and justices of the peace
courts; the probate function was vested in the clerk of superior court;
and administrative responsibilities were inherited by the newly created
boards of county commissioners. This series may include both rough and
smooth copies of the minutes.
Appeal Docket, Court of Pleas and Quarter
Sessions: Record of cases appealed to Superior Court.
Appearance Docket, Court of Pleas and Quarter
Sessions: Record of issuance of writs, summonses and subpoenas to bring
defendants and witnesses to following term of court. Also records
appearances of appeals from magistrates' courts and of proceedings by
petition (sometimes recorded in separate Petitions Docket). Columnar
arrangement shows number of case and name or initials of attorneys;
names of parties; form of action; disposition of writ; and any rule or
action taken by court at term, including confessed judgments. Prior to
1820, appearance dockets were often kept in same volume with trial
dockets (308), which see.
Execution Docket, Court of Pleas and Quarter
Sessions: Record of money due to successful litigant, fines and court
costs; the type of recovery writ issued; and the execution of writ and
satisfaction of judgment.
Recognizance Docket, Court of Pleas and Quarter
Sessions: Record of persons expected and required to appear at term in
criminal prosecutions.
Reference Docket, Court of Pleas and Quarter
Sessions: May serve one of three purposes: 1) to track suits not
concluded on appearance docket but not yet ready to come to trial
(usage rare after 1778); or 2) to record causes referred to referee at
law returnable during term, showing decisions of referees; or 3) to
show civil cases referred to the present term for trial, in essence, a
trial docket. Usually recorded in the same volume with trial (308)
and/or appearance (303) dockets, which see.
State (or Crown) Docket, Court of Pleas and
Quarter Sessions: Criminal docket tracking appearance and trial of
state prosecutions. During the colonial period, known as Crown Docket.
Trial Docket, Court of Pleas and Quarter
Sessions: Record of civil causes expected to come to trial during term.
Brings forward information from appearance docket and also shows
pleadings of defendant, prior ruling by court, verdict, judgment, and
final orders. In most counties prior to 1820, appearance, trial and
reference dockets were maintained in one civil docket at the
convenience of the clerk. These combined dockets are generally included
in this series. With the proliferation of cases after 1820, most clerks
began keeping the various civil dockets in separate volumes.
Trial and Reference Docket, Court of Pleas and
Quarter Sessions: Generally filed under 308, which see.
Other Dockets, Court of Pleas and Quarter
Sessions: Volumes may include levy docket; costs docket; allowance
docket; clerk's account, fee, and receipt books; prosecution bond
docket; witness fee docket; writs docket; and petition docket. Several
other miscellaneous dockets peculiar to one or two counties are also
included.
Minute Docket, Superior Court: Superior courts
were established in each county in 1806, replacing the district
superior courts that had functioned since 1778. These courts were
clothed with original and appellate civil and criminal jurisdiction, as
well as actions in equity. Criminal jurisdiction extended to serious
felonies, such as murder, rape, larceny, house breaking, assault and
battery, riot, forgery and the like; civil jurisdiction extended to
suits involving $100 or more (after 1868, $200 or more). Extra-judicial
matters assigned to superior court included legitimization of bastards,
emancipation and manumission of slaves, registration of aliens, and
hearing of grand jury presentments and reports. County superior court
sat twice each year, spring and fall terms, with six judges riding
circuit. Each county had separate clerks for law and for equity. The
minute dockets record the daily transactions of the court, generally
giving judgments in civil and criminal actions. They also reflect the
internal workings of the court, recording the appointment and
qualification of clerks, the summoning and impaneling of juries, and
the hearing of grand jury reports.
Appeal Docket, Superior Court: Record of cases
appealed to the Supreme Court.
Appearance Docket, Superior Court: Record of
issuance of writs, summonses and subpoenas to bring defendants and
witnesses to following term of court. Also records appearances of
appeals from lower courts and of proceedings by petition (sometimes
recorded in separate Petitions Docket). Columnar arrangement shows
number of case and name or initials of attorneys; names of parties;
form of action; disposition of writ; and any rule or action taken by
court at term, including confessed judgments. After 1868, the functions
of the appearance docket were continued with some modifications in the
Summons Docket.
Equity Minute Docket, Superior Court of
Law and Equity: Minutes of the Superior Court of Law and Equity
(1806-1868).
Equity Enrolling Docket, Superior Court of Law
and Equity: Record of complaints, petitions and answers filed in suits
in equity.
Equity Execution Docket, Superior Court of Law
and Equity: Record of money due to successful litigant in actions at
equity, fines and court costs; the type of recovery writ issued; and
the execution of writ and satisfaction of judgment.
Equity Trial (and Appearance) Docket, Superior
Court of Law and Equity: Record of equity actions expected to come to
trial during term. Brings forward information from appearance docket
and also shows pleadings of defendant, prior ruling by court, judgment,
and final orders. May include Equity Appearance Docket in same volume
or in a separate book.
Execution Docket, Superior Court: Record of
money due to successful litigant, fines and court costs; the type of
writ issued to recover same; and the execution of writ and satisfaction
of judgment. After 1868, in most counties this information was recorded
in Judgment Dockets, although some continued to use separate Execution
Dockets.
Recognizance Docket, Superior Court: Record of
persons expected and required to appear at term in criminal
prosecutions.
Reference Docket, Superior Court: Record of
causes referred to referee at law returnable during term, showing
decisions of referees.
State Docket, Superior Court: Criminal docket
tracking appearance and trial of state prosecutions. After 1868, known
as Criminal Issues Docket.
Trial Docket, Superior Court: Record of civil
causes expected to come to trial during term. Brings forward
information from appearance docket and also shows pleadings of
defendant, prior ruling by court, verdict, judgment, and final orders.
In most counties prior to 1820, appearance, trial and reference dockets
were maintained in one civil docket at the convenience of the clerk.
These combined dockets are generally included in this series. With the
proliferation of cases after 1820, most clerks began keeping the
various civil dockets in separate volumes. After 1868, this information
was recorded in civil issues dockets.
Trial and Reference Docket, Superior Court:
Generally filed with trial dockets (322), which see.
Other Dockets, Superior Court: Volumes include
costs or fee docket; motion docket; transfer docket; clerk's account,
fee or receipt books; presentment docket; and clerks' minute docket
(not special proceedings). Other titles may be peculiar to one or two
counties.
Civil Action Papers: Civil case files
from magistrates courts, Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Superior
Court, and, in some counties, other inferior courts, arranged
chronologically. In most counties, also contains executions issued
supplementary to civil judgments. Civil actions concerning land are
filed separately. Other sub-groupings may include actions concerning
county officials, the Board of County Commissioners, occupational
licensing boards, canals, mines, and timber.
Criminal Action Papers: Criminal case
files from magistrates courts, Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions,
Superior Court and, in some counties, other inferior courts, arranged
chronologically. In most counties, also includes executions issued
supplementary to criminal actions.
Miscellaneous Court Records: Includes boxes of
miscellaneous court records and dockets from both Court of Pleas and
Quarter Sessions and Superior Court.
Executions: Writs issued by magistrates and the
clerks of Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions and Superior Court for
the recovery of judgments, fines, penalties and court costs. In most
counties, these records are interfiled with the civil and criminal
action papers or in the series of attachments, executions, liens and
levies on land in the miscellaneous land records (408). They are filed
as a separate series in Hyde and Tyrrell counties.
Minute Dockets, Other Courts: Includes minute
dockets from various inferior courts which were operational at times
between the court reforms of 1868 and 1965, such as Criminal Court (in
Craven, Mecklenburg, New Hanover and Wake counties), Inferior Court
(1877-1885), Circuit Criminal Courts (reconstituted as Eastern/Western
District Criminal Courts, 1895-1901), Recorders Court (1900-1970), and
General County Court (1923-1970).
Other Dockets, Other Courts: Includes criminal
issues dockets, judgment dockets, execution docket, clerk's minute
docket, costs docket and half fee docket from various inferior courts.
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Land
Deeds: Includes record of deeds (volumes) and
original handwritten deeds left in the courthouse after being deposited
with the clerk for probate and recording. The loose deeds may be
segregated into various types, such as deeds of sale, deeds of gift,
deeds of trust, mortgage deeds, and quitclaim (or release) deeds. In
many counties, all but the deeds of sale are boxed together as
miscellaneous deeds. Deeds of sale are arranged alphabetically by the
surname of the grantee; other deeds are arranged chronologically.
(Cross) Index to Deeds: Superceded
volumes of indices, usually cross referenced to grantee and grantor.
Ejectments: Papers in ejectment suits, arranged
chronologically. Ejectment was an artificial form under common law
devised to try title to land. After 1868, when common law forms were
abolished under the new state constitution, ejectment cases were tried
as a summary proceeding (without a jury).
Land Entries: Includes land entry books and
boxes of loose entries.
Land Grants: Includes Record of Grants (volumes)
and boxes of loose grants.
Land Divisions, Partitions and Surveys: Includes volumes
and boxes concerning divisions of land between tenants in common and
the processioning of boundary lines between contentious neighbors.
Volumes may include Land Divisions, Record of Surveys, and Record of
Processions. Loose papers may include petitions for partition or sale
of land (culled from actions at equity and, after 1868, special
proceedings) and processioners' records.
Land Sales for Taxes: Includes volumes and boxes
concerning the sale of land for nonpayment of taxes. Volumes may
include Tax Levies on Land, Tax Suit Judgment Dockets, and Sheriffs'
Deed Books. Papers from tax suits that resulted in the sale of land are
arranged chronologically.
Miscellaneous Land Records: Contains records
from other series of land records of insufficient quantity to make a
full box. May also include boxes of records concerning land for which
no series number has been assigned, such as condemnation proceedings,
foreclosures, and attachments, executions, liens and levies on land,
and volumes relating to the probate of deeds. Many box and volume
titles may be peculiar to one or two counties.
Record of Sale and Resale of Land:
Twentieth-century record of land sold under foreclosure by trustees and
mortgagees. Case papers from foreclosure actions may be filed in some
counties as civil actions concerning land (325) or as miscellaneous
land records (408).
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Estates
Record of Estates/Accounts: Prior to 1868,
volumes entitled record of estates
may include inventories, accounts and final settlements of estates, and
guardians' accounts. After 1868, the series in most counties contains
only inventories, accounts of sales and annual accounts of
administrators and executors.
Record of Sales of Estates: Record of sales by
administrators and executors of estates. Often included in record of
estates/accounts (501) or in inventories and accounts of sales (514).
Administrators' Bonds: Volumes arranged
chronologically. Loose bonds are filed in the series of Estates Records
(508). After 1919, see Appointment and Record of Administrators (504).
Appointment and Record of Administrators:
Post-1868 record of appointment and qualification of administrators of
estates. After 1919, includes oath and bond of administrators. Series
also includes volumes (1868-ca.1915) entitled Appointment of
Administrators, Executors, Guardians and Masters; in some counties,
these are entitled Record of Probate (Estates) or Minutes, Probate
Court (both in 519). May also include an index to administrators.
Appointment and Record of Executors: Post-1868
record of qualification of executors. Prior to ca. 1915, executors were
included in an omnibus volume entitled Appointment of Administrators,
Executors, Guardians and Masters, filed as 504, which see. In some
counties, see also records of probate (519).
Appointment and Record of Guardians: Post-1868
record of appointment and qualification of guardians. After 1919,
includes oath and bond of guardians. Prior to ca. 1915, guardians were
included in an omnibus volume entitled Appointment of Administrators,
Executors, Guardians and Masters; in some counties, these are entitled
Record of Probate (Estates) or Minutes, Probate Court (both in 519).
May also include an index to guardians and wards.
Record of Dowers and Widows' Year's Support:
Volumes relating to the apportionment of widows' dower rights in the
real property of her deceased husband, and the allocation of a
sufficiency of provisions to enable her to support herself and family
during the first year after his death, while the estate was being
settled. Papers concerning dower and widows' year's support are filed
in the estates records (508) under the name of the deceased husband.
Estates Records: Loose estates
papers arranged alphabetically by name of decedents. Papers may include
appointments and renunciations of executors and administrators;
administrators' and guardians' bonds; inventories; accounts of sale;
annual accounts; final settlements; civil actions and executions
involving administrators, executors and guardians; and actions in
equity or special proceedings involving property of an estate. If the
father of wards can be determined from guardians' papers, they are
filed with the estate of the deceased rather than with the guardians'
records. A list of estates records is available. At this
time, the listings of names do not link to images of the actual
documents.
Guardians' Accounts: Volumes arranged
chronologically. In most counties, these have been numbered with the
Guardians' Records (510); eventually, all will be renumbered as 509.
Guardians' Records: Loose guardians'
papers arranged alphabetically by surname of wards, and volumes of
guardians' accounts (but see 509). Papers may include appointments,
oaths and bonds of guardians; annual accounts; final settlements; civil
actions and executions involving guardians; and actions in equity or
special proceedings involving the property of a ward's estate. These
records also include indigent wards for whom the clerk of superior
court served as receiver. If the father of the wards can be determined
from the papers, they are filed with the estate of the deceased rather
than with the guardians' records.
Guardians' Bonds: Volumes arranged
chronologically. Loose bonds are filed in either the estates records
(by decedent) or the guardians' records (by ward). After 1919, see
Appointment and Record of Guardians (506).
Guardians' Dockets: Includes dockets from
Orphan's Court (days set aside in the Court of Pleas and Quarter
Sessions for the handling of matters relating to guardians and wards),
guardians' summons dockets, and guardians' scire facias dockets.
Inheritance Tax Records: Twentieth-century
record of settlement of tax assessed on estates worth more than $2000
provided to the clerk of superior court by the State Commissioner of
Revenue. Statements include names of deceased and administrator or
executor, approximate valuation of estate, and heirs or devisees. Loose
papers concerning inheritance tax are filed in the series of estates
records.
Inventories of Estates: Record of initial
inventories of estates filed by administrators and executors; before
1868, may also include accounts of sale. May be recorded in series of
record of estates/accounts (501).
Accounts of Indigent Orphans: Twentieth-century
record of Clerk of Superior Court in his administration of estates of
less than $300 (later $500?) which accrue to orphans without guardians.
Also includes accounts of clerk in his capacity as receiver of estates
of orphans without guardians.
Records and Accounts of Receivers and Trustees
of Estates: Includes volumes of Record of Receivers of Estates, and
Record of Inventories and Accounts of Assignees.
Record of Settlements: Volumes of settlements or
final accounts submitted by administrators and executors after the
complete distribution of the assets of an estate.
Miscellaneous Estates Records: May include
records of probate of estates, including minutes of Probate Court
(1868-1883); clerks' account and receipt books concerning estates;
volumes concerning divisions of land and slaves of estates; account
books of individual fiduciaries; and indices.
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Marriages
Marriage Bonds: Includes boxes
of marriage bonds and certificates (1741-1868), arranged alphabetically
by groom. Marriage bonds are statements of intent to marry that were
attested by the prospective groom before the clerk of court in the
bride's county of residence. Typically, one or more bondsmen signed as
security for the forfeiture of the penal sum (originally 50 pounds,
increased to 500 pounds in 1778, and to one thousand dollars in the
nineteenth century) should the marriage not occur or prove to be
illegal. Most marriage bonds give the names of the groom, bride,
bondsmen and witnesses, the county in which filed and the date. If
accompanied by a certificate of marriage, the information may also
include the date of marriage, the name of the person performing the
rites, and, towards the end of the period, the names of parents. The
more than 170,000 marriage bonds in the Archives have been abstracted.
Volumes of abstracts are available for each county from which bonds
have been received. There is also a statewide index, arranged by both
grooms and brides, available on microfiche.
Marriage Licenses: Includes boxes
of marriage licenses (1868-), arranged alphabetically by groom, and
volumes of licenses, applications for licenses, and record of licenses
issued. Licenses prior to 1868 are filed with the marriage bonds. May
also include lists of marriage bonds and licenses.
Marriage Registers: Includes record
of marriage certificates (generally 1851-1867) and marriage registers
(1867-).
Cohabitation Bonds and Records: Volumes and
boxes concerning the legal acknowledgment of preexisting "marriages" of
former slaves under statute of 1866, including cohabitation bonds and
record of cohabitation.
Divorce Records: Includes divorce actions pulled
from civil actions and arranged alphabetically, and a volume entitled
"Maiden Names of Divorced Women," beginning in 1937.
Birth, Death and Vital Records: Includes record
of births and deaths, county copies of death certificates, and indices
to vital statistics.
Miscellaneous Marriage Records:
May include indices to marriages, and miscellaneous marriage and family
records.
Disinterment/Reinterment Permits: County copies
(1953-1987) of permits to disinter bodies, transport them across county
lines, and rebury them. Only a few counties have been arranged to date.
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Tax
Lists of Taxables: Includes volumes
and boxes of tax lists, chronologically arranged.
Tax Scrolls: Volumes of tax
rolls prepared by individual list takers, from which the official tax
list is compiled.
Miscellaneous Tax Records: Volumes and boxes of
records relating to taxation. Boxes may include tax lists (if less than
a box full), civil and criminal actions concerning taxation, lists of
insolvent taxpayers, tax receipts, and merchants' purchase returns.
Volumes may include Record of Federal Direct Taxes Collected, Poll Tax
Register, Record of Assessment of Land for Taxation, and Schedule "B"
Taxes.
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Wills
Wills: Includes record of wills and original
wills arranged alphabetically by decedent. Many of the older record of
wills may also record estates matters (inventories, accounts of sale,
and final settlements) and deeds.
(Cross) Index to Wills: Superceded volumes of
indices, usually cross referenced to devisee and devisors.
Other County Records
Alien, Naturalization and Citizenship Records:
Includes volumes and boxes relating to the naturalization of
foreign-born citizens, in which the clerk of superior court acted as
federal agent. Volumes may include Declaration of Intent to Become a
Citizen, Petitions for Naturalization, and Alien Registration.
Armed Forces Discharges [none received]: Record
of discharge from military
service, voluntarily filed with the register of deeds for recording
under 1921 statute.
Assumed Business Names, Corporations and
Partnerships: Includes volumes and boxes concerning corporations and
partnerships. Volumes may include Record of Incorporation and Record of
Partnerships (or more accurately, Record of Assumed Business Names).
Minutes of the Board of County Commissioners:
Minutes of the board of county commissioners, the county administrative
body after 1868.
Minutes of County Board of Education: Minutes of
the county boards of education (1868-) and their predecessors, the
boards of superintendents of common schools.
Minutes of County Board of Health: Minutes of
the county boards of health, created by statute in 1893.
Marks, Brands and Strays: Includes volumes
relating to the registration of marks and brands on livestock, and to
the recovery of lost animals.
County Accounts and Claims: Includes volumes of
county accounts and boxes of accounts and claims against the county for
services rendered. Volumes may include County Claims Allowed;
Settlement of County Accounts with the Committee of Finance (or County
Trustee); Minutes of the Committee of Finance; Treasurer's Account
Book; and Record of Official Reports, a compilation of financial
reports from the sheriff, treasurer, clerk of superior court, and
register of deeds to the board of county commissioners (1875-). Boxes
of claims against the county are arranged chronologically.
County Boundaries: Records concerning boundary
agreements between two or more counties.
Election
Records: Includes volumes and boxes of election returns, arranged
chronologically. Other volumes may include Permanent Registration of
Voters (grandfather clause registrations, 1902-1908), poll books, and
minutes of the county board of elections. Boxes may also include civil
and criminal actions concerning elections.
Coroners'
Records: Records of coroners' inquests, arranged chronologically. May
also include record of coroners (volumes).
Insolvent
Debtors and Homestead and Personal Property Exemptions: Includes boxes
of records relating to insolvent debtors (1773-1868) and homestead and
personal property exemptions (1868-). Records include applications of
debtors, oaths, notices to creditors, property schedules of insolvents,
and reports of committees to lay off homesteads exempted from forced
sales. May also include volumes of homestead returns.
Jury Lists
and Tickets: Includes volumes and boxes of jury lists and tickets,
arranged chronologically.
Journals and
Ledgers of County Officials: Includes account books of county
officials, except those of clerks of court (filed under 310 or 324),
county treasurer (910), county trustee (910), and committee of finance
(910)
Records of
Magistrates and Justices of the Peace: Includes volumes and boxes of
records concerning the appointment, election, qualification and
resignation of justices of the peace. Volumes may include the minutes
of the Board of Magistrates, record of magistrates (1893-), and record
of oaths.
Merchant and
Professional Licenses and Registration Books: Includes registry of
licenses to trades, a listing of merchants and other tradesmen subject
to a license tax (Schedule "B"), and stub books of professional
licenses for doctors, dentists, nurses, optometrists, chiropractors and
architects.
Lunacy
Records: Records of lunacy inquisitions, arranged chronologically.
Papers may include appointment of guardians to oversee the property of
the unfit. After 1899, the clerk was required to keep lunacy matters in
a distinct volume, entitled Record of Inquisition of Lunacy or simply
Lunacy Docket. From 1868 to 1899, lunacy proceedings were recorded in
the Orders and Decrees (922), which see.
Military
Records: Includes volumes and boxes of records
relating to military service and militia activities. Volumes may
include record of courts martial, minutes of Confederate veterans
associations, and rosters of soldiers from a county in the Civil War or
World War I.Oaths: Includes volumes of loyalty oaths of ex-Confederates
and oaths of county officials.
Orders and
Decrees and Special Proceedings: Includes volumes created in the
hearing of special proceedings before the clerk: special proceedings
(summons) docket, clerk's minute docket, orders and decrees, and
(cross) indices. In all but three counties, the special proceedings
case files were appraised and distributed among other series,
especially estates and guardians' records, land divisions, partitions
and surveys, miscellaneous land records and miscellaneous records. In
Forsyth, Gaston and Sampson, the files were kept in their original
sequence and are included in this series.
Pension
Records: Includes volumes and papers concerning the issuance of
pensions for Confederate service. The clerk of superior court served as
chairman of the county pension board and maintained the records of
application and examination of prospective pensioners, and of payment
and receipt of pensions.
Personal
Accounts: Includes boxes of personal and merchants' accounts, arranged
chronologically. The majority of these records were probably submitted
in court as evidence in civil actions for debt, but became separated
from the case files in the appraisal process.
Road
Records: Includes volumes and boxes of records concerning appointment
of road overseers, reports on condition of roads, and petitions for new
roads. Boxes may also include criminal actions concerning negligence of
overseers and claims against the county for services on the roads.
Records concerning bridges and railroads are also included in this
series, usually as separate sub-series. Volumes may also include
minutes of the county highway or good roads commission.
School
Records: Includes boxes and volumes of school census records, school
registers, school fund account books, vouchers of teachers, and
miscellaneous school
records.
Records of
the Wardens of the Poor: Includes volumes and boxes concerning the care
of the poor and infirm, a function of the county before assumed by the
State Board of Charities and Public Welfare in 1917. In colonial times,
care for the poor was an ecclesiastical responsibility; records from
this period may be found in vestry minutes. From 1777 to 1868,
maintenance of the unfortunate was entrusted to the Wardens of the
Poor; after 1868, the Board of County Commissioners assumed the
responsibility. Volumes may include vestry minutes, minutes and
accounts of the Wardens of the Poor, accounts and registers of the
county home, and accounts of outside poor (impoverished persons living
at home rather than in the county home).
Miscellaneous
Records:
Includes
records from other series, except land records, of
insufficient quantity to make a full box. May also include box(es) of
records for which no series number was assigned, including records of
slaves and free persons of color; bills of sale; promissory notes;
canal and drainage records; shipping and fishing records; mill records;
mining records; timber records; powers of attorney; grand jury records;
and witness tickets. Many box and volume titles may be peculiar to one
or two counties.
Records of
Assignees, Receivers and Trustees: Includes boxes of records concerning
assignees, receivers and trustees appointed to settle the financial
affairs of bankrupt individuals and businesses. In some counties, the
records are merged into one chronological series; in others, the
records of the three types of agents have been separated. Also includes
volumes of accounts of assignees, receivers and trustees.
Academic Records
Student academic and (in some cases)
financial aid records of a number of defunct proprietary,
church-supported, or other non-public schools and colleges in North
Carolina.
Related Information:
Bible Records
Copies of family information pages from
privately-held Bibles. These Bible entries are arranged alphabetically
by family surname but are seldom indexed by individual name. Family
genealogies, including those which William Perry Johnson listed in North
Carolina
Genealogy, have been transferred to the Genealogical
Services Branch, North
Carolina State Library. All bible records held by the State
Archives are now described in the Manuscript and Archives Reference System (MARS).
~~~~~~~~~~
Cemetery Records
Grave inscriptions for persons buried in
many (but not all) North Carolina cemeteries prior to 1914 are
available in an index arranged by name of decedent. This card file and
DAR compilations and the records of the North Carolina Cemetery Survey
Project are available for use in the Search Room. Those interested in
submitting cemetary information to the North Carolina Survey Project
should complete a North Carolina Cemetery Survey Form and mail it to
the North Carolina State Archives. For information about laws
protecting cemeteries, please consult the General Statutes web page (in particular Chapter
65 and Chapter 14, Section 148 and Section 149).
~~~~~~~~~~
Nearly 5,000 maps depicting North
Carolina or some portion thereof. These maps have been brought together
from various sources to create a reference collection consisting of
manuscript and published maps, as well as photographic and facsimile
copies of maps that have been made from originals located elsewhere in
the United States and abroad. Many of the maps that in the State
Archives collection are now described in the Manuscript and Archives Reference System (MARS).
~~~~~~~~~~
Records related to the military affairs
of the State of North Carolina and the military service of her citizens
dating from the 1740s to the present.
~~~~~~~~~~
Newspapers
Microfilm copies of newspapers that, for
the most part, are no longer being published. Since 1959 more than
1,000 titles have been preserved. An ongoing joint project between the
Division of Archives and History and the Division of State Library is
attempting to identify and catalog every existing newspaper published
in North Carolina. Those meeting specific criteria are being
microfilmed. Copies of film made by the North Carolina Newspaper
Project will be available for use by researchers in the Microfilm Room.
Information for titles on film is available in the Search Room or at: http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/tss/newspape.htm.
~~~~~~~~~~
Includes films, videotapes, sound
recordings, slides, posters, postcards, negatives, and photographic
prints.
~~~~~~~~~~
Records of many of the state's private,
professional, or civic organizations judged to be relevant to the
history of the state. Some of these organizations are defunct, while
others are currently active.
Related Information:
Papers of individuals important to North
Carolina's history.
Back
This page was last updated October 10,
2010.
© 1997-2010 by the Surry County
Coordinator
for the NCGenWeb Project
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