North Carolina Davidson County Vital Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of images of death records and marriage licenses recorded in Davidson County, North Carolina for the years 1867 to 2006. Some of the individual volumes include an index and there are comprehensive indexes to some of the records.

Birth, death and marriage records are the most reliable sources of vital information. Information pertaining to the event is reliable. Other information is dependent upon the reliability of the informant.

The state required counties to begin recording vital records in compliance with state law to document the births and deaths and to better serve public health needs. Death certificates were also used in connection with the probate of wills and the administration of estates.

North Carolina birth, marriage and death records are recorded on a printed form which were filled in by hand or typed. Delayed birth certificates may also include handwritten supporting documents. The marriage records are arranged by year and then by the the groom's surname. The "Indexed Register of Marriages" is arranged first by the first letter of the groom's surname and then by the date of the marriage. Note that the first four pages here are special lists: "Marriage License out of State (White)" and "Marriage License out of State (Colored)"--the main index begins with image 5. The death records are arranged by year, then by township, and then chronologically by the date of the event.

The Vital Records Section of the Department of Public Health is responsible for maintaining and issuing certified copies of vital records, including birth, marriage and death certificates for births, marriages and deaths that occurred in North Carolina. They officially began recording birth and death events in March 1913. Birth records were usually filled out by a midwife, doctor or other attendant. Death certificates were usually filled out by a mortician or medical professional. Marriage records were usually filled out by the person performing the marriage. Each official filled in the information concerning the event and obtained personal information on the deceased from an informant, usually a relative. That information was submitted to the county, who sent a copy to the state. Delayed birth records were required in the absence of a certificate of birth. They include affidavits and other supporting information from persons testifying to the birth.

Marriages were not often recorded until after 1868 when the Register of Deeds for each county began to issue marriage licenses. The State of North Carolina began statewide registration in 1913 and achieved compliance by 1920.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Birth
 * Name and sex of the child
 * Whether a twin, triplet, or other
 * Race and marital status of parents
 * Date and time of birth
 * Birthplace
 * Names and sometimes ages of parents, often with maiden surname of the mother
 * Parent’s residence, race, birthplace, occupation and sometimes educational attainments
 * Sometimes the number of children born to the mother, and the number of surviving children
 * Attending physician or midwife

Delayed birth
 * Name of child at birth
 * Date and location of birth
 * Birth attendant
 * Names of parents of the child, often with maiden surname of the mother
 * Parent’s residence, races, birthplace and occupations
 * Abstract of supporting evidence of birth
 * Name of register of deeds

Marriage
 * Names of the groom and bride, including the maiden name of the bride
 * Race and sometimes ages of the groom and bride
 * Date and place of marriage
 * Residence of bride and groom
 * Names of parents of the bride and groom, often with maiden surname of the mother
 * Parent’s residence, races, birthplaces and occupations
 * Names of witnesses and the officiator

Death
 * Name of the deceased
 * Sex, race, marital status and age of the deceased
 * Dates of death and burial
 * Birth date and birthplace of the deceased
 * City, county, and state of death
 * Name and location of the cemetery where buried
 * Frequently, the country or state and sometimes the town and county of birth for the deceased
 * Names of parents, often with maiden surname of the mother
 * Name of the informant, who is often a child or other family member
 * Residence or address of the deceased, if foreign-born
 * Whether the deceased was single, married, widowed, or divorced at the time of death
 * Occupation of the deceased

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The approximate date the event occurred
 * The place where the birth, marriage, or death occurred
 * The names of other family members and their relationships

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.

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

 * Add any new information to your records
 * If available, check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

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

 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Try searching by surname only
 * Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties

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
 * North Carolina 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.