Carroll County, New Hampshire Genealogy

Guide to Carroll County, New Hampshire ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

Description
Carroll County is located in the east central region of the state. The county was named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, who had died in 1832, the last surviving signer of the United States Declaration of Independence.

County Courthouse
Carroll County Courthouse 96 Water Village Rd. Ossipee, NH 03864 Phone: 855-212-1234 Carroll County Website

Town Clerks have birth, marriage, death and burial records. The Clerk of the Court has divorce and court records from 1859. Register of Deeds has land records from 1840. Probate Judge has probate records since 1840 and are at the County Courthouse. Court records are at the North Circuit Court.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Towns Organized Before 1800:  Albany 1766 Brookfield 1794 Chatham 1767 Conway 1765 Eaton 1766 Effingham 1788 Moultonborough 1777 Ossipee 1785 Sandwich 1768 Tamworth 1766 Tuftonborough 1795 Wakefield 1774 Wolfeborough 1770

History Timeline



 * The county was named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton (September 19, 1737 – November 14, 1832) who was a delegate to the Continental Congress and later United States Senator for Maryland. He was the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was the longest lived signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Continental Congress. He lived to age 95.

Biographies
For the northern part of Carroll County there is a two-volume set with a great deal of biographical and family history information: Gideon Tibbetts Ridlon, Sr., Saco Valley Settlements and Families, published in 1841, and republished in 1984 (FS Library book 974 H2rg 1984; films 202,845 vol. 1; 202,846 vol. 2; fiche 6051275. Many Family History Centers have the fiche.The books can be seen online if you are at the FamilySearch Library or at a Family History Center.

Cemeteries

 * Fryeburg, Maine Cemetery Records and other Fryeburg genealogy sources
 * Conway Public Library

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
 * at FamilySearch Catalog(*)
 * 1861-1876 and 1876-1901: Supreme Court, 1861-1876 and 1876-1901
 * 1874-1876: Circuit Court 1874-1876
 * 1901-1916: Superior Court 1901-1916
 * 1861-1916: Court Judgements 1861-1916
 * 1859-1897 and 1897-1928: The records include plaintiff and defendant indexes for 1859-1897, and 1897-1928.

Directories
City directories were printed for some towns and cities in Carroll County. For example, ancestry.com has a Conway 1905 city directory. This was very much like a census. Contact the local historical society or the New Hampshire State Historical Society in Concord, New Hampshire to find out about available directories.

Genealogies
Genealogy - Town Histories often have Genealogical Sections For the northern part of Carroll County there is a two-volume set with a great deal of biographical and family history information: Gideon Tibbetts Ridlon, Sr., Saco Valley Settlements and Families, See the Biography section above.

For Carroll County the FamilySearch Library has genealogical books or manuscripts for the following towns:

Conway - There is an alphabetical genealogical collection on six microfilms.

Eaton - There is the Keith Henney Family Records Card File, 1760-1947 on one film.

Tamworth - A collection is available on one microfilm with forms sent out by the town clerk to be completed by families.

Tuftonboro - A history book was written by John William Hayley in 1923. It has 111 pages. It has historical information but does not have a genealogical section. The FamilySearch Library has the book. It is not on film.

Wakefield - There is a film with various records compiled about 1949 by members of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

NOTE: For most of the towns in Carroll County, the birth records to 1900, and marriage and death records to 1947, are on microfilms or in book form available through the FamilySearch Library. These include Albany, Bartlett, Brookfield, Chatham, Conway, Eaton, Effingham, Freedom, Hart's Location, Jackson, Madison, Moultonboroough, Ossipee, Tamworth, Tuftonboro, Wakefield, and Wolfeboro.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1841-1901 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1841-1909 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Local Histories

 * prepared by the Historical Records Survey, Division of Women's and Professional Projects, Works Progress Administration. Inventory of the county archives of New Hampshire, no. 2, Carroll County (Ossipee) Manchester, New Hampshire : Historical Records Survey (New Hampshire), 1939

There are many local history books available for Carroll County, and, towns in Carroll County. See the FamilySearch Catalog and type New Hampshire, Carroll for county histories and genealogies. See New Hampshire - Carroll - [name of town] - Genealogy or History for town genealogy and history books. Following are examples: The New Hampshire State Library at Concord, New Hampshire has a vast collection of books about New Hampshire towns and counties. Check their internet catalog for a town of interest. The New Hampshire Historical Society also in Concord has a very large collection of local history books and other publications.
 * History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, hosted by New Hampshire Genealogy Trails, (accessed 20 August 2011).
 * Wiley, Benjamin G., Incidents in White Mountain history, together with many interesting anecdotes illustrating life in the backwoods, (Boston: N.Noyes; Dover, N.H., E. J. Lane; 1856).IOnline book at Internet Archives.
 * See also the Genealogy - Town Histories section above for helpful town histories.
 * New Hampshire Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Carroll County Town Descriptions from Merrill's Gazetteer of New Hampshire (1817),(accessed 20 August 2011).
 * See the Gazetteers section in the New Hampshire wiki article for information about several early New Hampshire gazetteers.
 * Map of Carroll County, New Hampshire 1861, You can purchase 1861 maps at this site. (accessed 20 August 2011).
 * Contact the local historical society or public library. They may be able to photocopy a map or a section of a map for a small fee.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
American Revolution
 * 1675-1835 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images

The most complete listing of New Hampshire Revolutionary War soldiers is found in volumes 14-17 of the New Hamsphire State Papers. You can go to google.com, and look forNew Hampshire State Papers with the link to ancestry.com. There you will find a name index to voloumes 14-17, then you can go to the needed volume and page for information on the soldier. Often the place of residence is given.

For a military history of New Hampshire, see: Potter, Chandler Eastman. The Military History of the State of New Hampshire. Concord, N.H.: McFarland and Jenks, 1866. Online at: Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). This history comprises events from the first settlements in New Hampshire to the rebellion in 1861. It includes biographical notices of many of the officers and explanatory notes.

Civil War
 * 1861-1866 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images;  Also at: Ancestry ($)
 * 1861-1866 You can go to ancestry.com and search for names in The Revised Register of the Soldiers and Sailors of New Hampshire in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1866, by Augustus D. Ayling. This book gives the age, residence, and service information about approximately 32,000 New Hampshire Civil War veterans.
 * History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, by Georgia Drew Merrill - Chapter XVII - Military Affairs in Carroll County Prior to 1860 - Soldiers in the Rebellion 1861-1865. See pages 134-185.

''Regiments.' Civil War service men from Carroll County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are many companies or regiments that were formed from men of Carroll County:
 * - 1st Regiment, New Hampshire Heavy Artillery, Company K.
 * - 2nd Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company F.
 * - 3rd Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company G.
 * - 4th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company D.
 * - 5th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company H.
 * - 6th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company D.
 * - 8th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company I.
 * - 11th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company C.
 * - 12th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Companies G and K.
 * - 13th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company A.
 * - 16th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company B.
 * - 18th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Companies A, C, and E.

World War I A very helpful source for World War I is an index at www.ancestry.com of World War I draft registration records, 1917-1918. All men between ages eighteen and forty-five were required to register. Their birth date and place, address, and sometimes the name of nearest kin, are listed on the card. Many of these men served in the war.

World War II There is an index on www.ancestry.com of the 1942 World War II draft registrations for New Hampshire, of men forty-five to sixty-five. Some of these men served in that war. The records contain name, address, birth date and place, name of kin or friend, name and address of employer, and signature. (See www.ancestry.com for further information.) The following book may be helpful:
 * 1938-1946 U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 at Ancestry ($)
 * Carroll County, New Hampshire World War II Casualties Army and Air Force, (accessed 20 August 2011).

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1906-1993 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images

Newspapers
The New Hampshire State Library, in Concord, New Hampshire, has a large collection of newspapers. Several companies are putting newspapers on the internet. They are indexed by ancestors' names. One company is genealogybank.com. They are adding newspapers regularly. They have many newspapers from New Hampshire, for example, newspapers of Concord, for 1790-1890, and some from the years 2002 to the present. You can do some searching free, and then you can purchase a subscription for a fee if you desire. Other companies include fold3.com and ancestry.com. Ancestry.com has some Portsmouth, New Hampshire newspapers. Type the name of the city and state in the Card Catalog Search.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1635-1753 New Hampshire Probate Records 1635-1753 at Ancestry.com — index & images, ($)
 * 1643-1982 New Hampshire Wills and Probate Records 1643-1982 at Ancestry.com — index & images, ($)
 * 1840-1936 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1840-1936 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1840-1870 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1840-1990 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Carroll County probate records begin with 1840 one year before the county was established from Strafford county. The Carroll County records are kept at the county courthouse at Ossipee. For probate records from the 1770s to 1840 see the records of Strafford County.

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records Many town tax records have been preserved by town clerks and town tax officials. Town tax records were generally taken each year. The FamilySearch Library has many town records on microfilms. For film numbers see the FamilySearch Catalog under New Hampshire - Carroll County - [name of town] - Town Records. There is an index to the town records (which include many tax records) from the early settlement of the town to about 1850. This is the Index to Early Town Records of New Hampshire, Early to 1850 (FS Library films 14942-15052). The index cards list volume and page numbers for the town records, many of which are on FS Library microfilms. The town records are listed in the Family Hiistory Library Catalog in the manner mentioned in the paragraph above. Ancestry.com has online images of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax lists for New Hampshire and many other states for 1862-1866. Only persons who owned businesses, or valuable items such as carriages, were listed. You may wish to check ancestry.com to see if your ancestor was listed. The record gives the person's name, town of residence, business or valuable item, and amount of tax.

Town Records
Town records are an important source of family history information from the 1600s to about the 1940s. The early New Hampshire town records to about 1850 have an every-name index. The index and film numbers are listed just above in the Taxation section. Many town records are still in the town offices.

To see the types of family history information you might find in town records please go to the heading Town Records in our New Hampshire wiki article.


 * 1636-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images

Vital Records
Certified copies of of birth, death, and marriage records are available from the State Division of Vital Records Administration or from the local city and town clerk where the event took place. Original records are kept by the city or town clerk and copies are sent to the state. In 1905, when the state created the Bureau of Vital Records and Health, printed cards were distributed to the local clerks and earlier vital records were transcribed onto the cards and submitted to the state.

Birth

 * Early-1900 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1656-1938 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1901-1915 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * Births: Begins in 1880 - 2010; Courtesy of the Conway Public Library and constructed from the Annual Reports for the Town of Conway

Marriage

 * 1637-1964 New Hampshire, United States Marriages at at Findmypast — index, ($) — index $
 * 1637-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1656-1938 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1880-1991 Conway Public Library - Marriages Search Begins in 1880 (Some marriage are prior to 1880) - 1991
 * 1789-1854 Wolfeborough, New Hampshire Marriages Nov. 1789 to July 1854, (accessed 20 August 2011). From: History of Wolfeborough, New Hampshire By: Benjamin Franklin Parker; Published by the town, 1901 Surnames Starting with A to K
 * 1789-1854 Wolfeborough, New Hampshire Marriages Nov. 1789 to July 1854, (accessed 20 August 2011). From: History of Wolfeborough, New Hampshire By: Benjamin Franklin Parker; Published by the town, 1901 Surnames Starting with L to Y
 * 1948-1959 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images

Death

 * 1656-1938 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1654-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * Deaths: Begins in 1880 - 2010

Archives
Archives and Libraries A useful way to become acquainted with the types of records kept by county officials is to study the Inventory of the County Archives of New Hampshire, No. 2, Carroll County (Ossipee)'''. '''This inventory was made by the U. S. Government in 1939 (FS Library book 974.242 A3, film 982,203). Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library

Family History Centers

 * Lebanon New Hampshire Family History Center
 * Oxford Maine Family History Center
 * Portland Maine Family History Center
 * Wolfeboro New Hampshire Family History Center
 * Bath Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Meredith Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Thornton Public Library - New Hampshire - an affiliate library

Libraries
Carroll County Public Libraries, (accessed 20 August 2011).Website

Societies
Carroll County Historical Societies as listed by CountyOffice.orgWebsite

Websites

 * The Carroll County NHGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Carroll County
 * Carroll County, New Hampshire Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.

Research Guides
1. Check familysearch.org and see if your ancestor's information is listed there. 2. Check familysearch.org and see if your family's vital records of births, marriages, and deaths are listed. 3. Check familysearch.org and see if your family is listed on the U. S. census records of 1850-1940. You can also see those censuses at the Family History Center using Heritage Quest, and ancestry.com. 4. If you know the county where your ancestor lived, take a look at the free internet site www.usgenweb.com. A volunteer helper gathers information about ancestors who lived in that county. You might find biographies, cemetery records, deeds, obituaries, queries, vital records, etc. You can leave a query. 5. If you know the town where they lived, look for a town history with a genealogical section. See the section below for how to find out if there is a town history. 6. Read the wiki articles on Carroll County, and on New Hampshire, for ideas of sources. Study the Records Selection Table in the New Hampshire article. This can help you think of new sources to try. 7. Enter your ancestor's information on familysearch.org., genforum.com, or ancestry.com. You can also share your quest with the local historical society, genealogical socieety, or town library and ask for help. Send them a family group form and a pedigree chart.