North Carolina Databases - Chosse a link below to learn more about the stated records. These pages describes the type of records that can be found in
North Carolina research. Or you can go to a county page to learn about more localized records
North Carolina Census, 1790-1890: This collection contains the following indexes: 1790 Federal Census Index; 1800 Federal Census Index; 1810 Federal Census Index; 1812-14 Muster Rolls; 1820 Federal Census Index; 1830 Federal Census Index; 1840 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners List; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1860 Federal Census Index; 1870 Federal Census Index; 1890 Veterans Schedule; Early Census Index.
North Carolina Wills and Inventories: This collection of wills and inventories was compiled by J. Bryan Grime in the office of the Secretary of State of North Carolina and was published in 1912. This database is not meant to be a comprehensive listing of all wills housed at the office of the Secretary of State, but as the compiler states, "In selecting the wills for printing it was intended to choose those that reflected most clearly the varied phases of domestic life of the colony."
North Carolina Will Abstracts, 1660-1790: Throughout the colonial period North Carolina was the destination of immigrants from many locations. This database is a collection of will abstracts in the state between 1660 and 1790. Each entry contains the person filing the will, county of filing, date of will and date of probate. Also provided is the entire text of the will abstract, often containing many family members including, but not limited to, spouse and children. It contains over 2800 entries and about 15,000 names. For researchers of colonial North Carolina ancestors this can be a valuable collection of records.
North Carolina Will Abstracts, 1760-1800: First settled by Virginian emigrants, North Carolina was the destination of immigrants from many locations throughout the colonial period. This database is a collection of will abstracts in the state between 1760 and 1800. Each entry contains the year of filing and name of the person filing the will. Also provided are family members mentioned in the will including, but not limited to, spouse and children. With over 10,000 entries, it contains nearly 50,000 names. For researchers of colonial North Carolina ancestors this can be a valuable collection of records.
North Carolina Birth Index, 1800-2000: This database is an index to over 7 million births occurring in North Carolina between 1913 and 2000. Delayed births are included as well and extended as early as 1800.
North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868: When planning to marry, the prospective groom took out a bond from the clerk of the court in the county where the bride had her usual residence as surety that there was no legal obstacle to the proposed marriage. On file in the North Carolina State Archives are 170,000 marriage bonds, covering the years 1741-1868. These records were abstracted by the Works Progress Administration. Most of the bonds contain the following information: groom's name, bride's name, date of bond, bondsmen, witnesses. For those with ancestors in early North Carolina, this will be a helpful database.
North Carolina Marriage Collection, 1741-2000: This database is an index to individuals who were married in various North Carolina counties between 1741 and 2000. The database is a compilation of several indexes obtained from multiple agencies, including the North Carolina State Archives and Liahona Research
North Carolina Death Collection, 1908-1996: This database is an index to deaths that occurred in North Carolina between 1908 and 1996. This index was created by two agencies. The first portion was created by Ancestry.com from microfilm copies of county death indexes obtained from the North Carolina State Archives and Records Section. Records from this portion will include an image of the corresponding microfilm record. Be sure to view this image when it is available as additional information about your relative (such as volume and page number of death certificate) may be listed on it. The second portion of this index covers the years 1968-1996 and was obtained by Ancestry.com from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. This portion of the index does not include any images.
North Carolina Revolutionary War Soldiers: From the years 1776 to 1783, approximately 36,000 men from North Carolina served in the American Revolution. This database is a roster of these individuals, which has been compiled by various sources, such as: the North Carolina Daughters of the American Revolution, U.S. War Department Report of Pensions, Pierce's Register, records of the 10 regiments, company rosters, Army Accounts, and State Records.
North Carolina Volunteers, Spanish American War: The last war in which the United States was involved before the turn of the century, the Spanish-American War, established the nation as a world power. This database is a roster of North Carolina volunteers who fought in this war. Each record provides the soldier's name, unit, rank, post office of residence, and enrollment location. Provided as an aid to the researcher, the page number refers to the original state document. It provides the names of over 3900 men.
North Carolina Maps (See Also Map Information for other States) - Excellent maps, atlases, and gazetteers for North Carolina are
readily available. The best gazetteer available for North Carolina
is William Stevens Powell, The North Carolina Gazetteer: A Dictionary
of Tar Heel Places (Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of North Carolina
Press, 1968). The Gazetteer includes historical definitions,
derivations of place-names, and exact locations. It is cross-indexed
well and gives references for the first use of place-names.
An important historical publication is Richard Edwards, ed., Statistical gazetteer of the states of Virginia and North Carolina (Richmond, Va.: Published for the Proprietor, 1856).
There are several excellent atlases and map guides available for North Carolina. James W. Clay, Douglas M. Orr, Jr., and Alfred W. Stuart, eds., North Carolina atlas: Portrait of a changing southern state. (Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of North Carolina Press, 1975), is perhaps the best atlas available. Fifteen North Carolina maps are included in William P. Cummings, North Carolina in Maps, (Raleigh, N.C.: State Department of Archives and History, 1966). See also Garland P. Stout, Historical Research Maps: North Carolina Counties, 5 vols. (Greensboro, N.C.: Garland P. Stout, 1973).
The North Carolina Department of Archives and History has revised David Leroy Corbitt, The Formation of the North Carolina Counties 1663 to 1943(1950; 2d printing, Raleigh, N.C.: State Department of Archives and History, 1969). This guide is essential for determining the historical boundaries of North Carolina's counties.
North Carolina Census Maps 1790 - 1930-
Links to rotating animated maps showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries.
County Formation Maps 1758-Present Day - Links to rotating animated maps showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries
Census Maps for all States -
Links to rotating animated maps showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries
County Maps for all States -
Links to rotating animated maps showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries and State Department of Transportation Maps
Genealogy Atlas -
Have images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897
: A Dictionary
of Tar Heel Places (Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of North Carolina
Press, 1968). The Gazetteer includes historical definitions,
derivations of place-names, and exact locations. It is cross-indexed
well and gives references for the first use of place-names.
An important historical publication is Richard Edwards, ed., 
(Richmond, Va.: Published for the Proprietor, 1856). 
. (Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of North Carolina Press, 1975), is perhaps the best atlas available. Fifteen North Carolina maps are included in William P. Cummings, 
, (Raleigh, N.C.: State Department of Archives and History, 1966). See also Garland P. Stout, Historical Research Maps: North Carolina Counties, 5 vols. (Greensboro, N.C.: Garland P. Stout, 1973).
(1950; 2d printing, Raleigh, N.C.: State Department of Archives and History, 1969). This guide is essential for determining the historical boundaries of North Carolina's counties.