A Bit of North Carolina History

North Carolina Research

When you begin to research your family tree, start with what you know. Begin with yourself and your parents. You might know about your grandparents, but how much can you prove. As you dig deeper and deeper into the past, you look for proof because

Genealogy without Proof is just Mythology

Where can you find the proof? Some of the documents that can be used to prove your story are: birth, death, marriage, land, probate and residence records. So, where are these records?

Time for a little history lesson

Although my family has strong deep roots in present day Franklin, Vance, Granville, Nash and Warren counties I can't assume that the records are in those counties. Understanding the history of these counties help to determine where these records are kept. 

Chowan County was created in 1670 from Shaftesbury Precinct of Albemarle County.

Chowan County was the parent county of Bertie County or Bertie Precinct in 1722.

Edgecombe County was formed in 1741 from southwest Bertie County. 

• 1746 Granville was formed from part of Edgecombe County and included present day Warren, Franklin and Vance Counties. It also included parts of Wake, Chatham, Durham and Alamance, a part of Gulford and possibly all of Rockingham
• 1758 another part of Edgecombe became Halifax County
• 1777 another part became Nash county.

Bute County was formed from a part of Granville County known as St.John's Parrish in 1764 and abolished in 1779 when it was divided into Franklin and Warren County. Most of Bute County records are kept in Warren County, but not all of them. Some are kept in Franklin County. 

In 1786 Warren County annexed part of Granville County.

In 1881 a western part of Warren County was cut off to form a part of Vance County. 

Are you confused yet? The secret is to know the time period you are researching and which counties were formed during that time. Although a family might have settled between 1764 and 1779 their paper trail begins in Bute County. After 1779 their records could be in Warren County but they were actually in Franklin County. Yep, it is confusing and can be one of the first roadblocks you hit on your search. Unfortunately you might have to look in several counties before you find the record you are looking for. 

For a wonderful interactive map of the formations of the counties in North Carolina visit:

www.mapofus.org/northcarolina/

Another wonderful resource for early North Carolina maps can be found at:

www2.lib.unc.edu/dc/ncmaps/index.html

This site is a comprehensive online collection of historic maps from the three largest map collections; North Carolina State Archives, North Carolina Collection at UNC-Chapel Hill and the Outer Banks History Center.

Here is a historical map of Granville County showing the area that made Granville, Bute, Warren, Franklin and Vance Counties.

Maps are an essential part of your passage through time.

Since Valentines Day is just around the corner, my next blog will be about some discoveries in marriage records.  See you soon!