Orange County, North Carolina Genealogy

Guide to Orange County, North Carolina ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

Description
Orange County is located in the north-central portion of North Carolina and was named for William V of Orange, the infant grandson of King George III of England.

County Courthouse
Orange County Courthouse 200 S Cameron St Hillsborough, NC 27278 Phone: 919-245-2675 Orange County Website Registrar of Deeds has birth and death records from 1913, marriage and land records from 1754, divorce records from 1869, probate records from 1756 and court records from 1865.

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:

History Timeline
Orange County was created out of parts of Bladen, Granville, and Johnston counties in 1752. At that time, it comprised a large section of the middle of the North Carolina colony, extending halfway from the Virginia line to the South Carolina line. It was named for the infant William V of Orange. His mother Anne, who was a daughter of King George II of England, was the dowager princess of the Dutch Republic.

At the time that the county was formed, there were 5 Native American tribes living in the area.

As other counties were created out of parts of Orange’s territory, these counties were created wholly out of Old Orange: Chatham (1771), Caswell (1777) and Person (created out of Caswell in 1791), and Alamance (1849). Other sections of the old county were combined with parts of other counties to create: Guilford (1771), which gave birth in turn to Randolph (1779) and Rockingham (1785); Wake (1771), Durham (1881), and Lee (1907). After all of this, Orange County was just a fraction of its original size.

Bible Records

 * Bible Records at North Carolina Digital Archives - index and image
 * Orange County, NC Bibles at USGenWeb Archives
 * Orange County, North Carolina, Family Bibles and Records at Genealogy Trails History Group

Cemeteries

 * at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images Also at: Ancestry ($)

Church Records

 * 1700-1970 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Baptist


 * Rocky River, near Siler City, N.C. Organized about 1757. Now located in Chatham.
 * South Country Line or Waters of Haw River. Constituted 1783.

Church of England


 * St. Matthew's Parish. Established 1752.

Presbyterian


 * Eno. Founded in 1755.
 * Hawfields. Founded about 1755. Now located in Alamance. Official website.

List of Churches and Church Parishes


 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1752-1868 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1764-1861 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1768-1806 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1771-1807 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1772-1878 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Inferior and Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1780-1905 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1859-1938 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1867-1944 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1868-1939 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1868-1952 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1868-1955 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1878-1962 (*); Clerk of the Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1919-1953 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * Abstracts of the Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of Orange County in the Province of North Carolina, September 1752 through August 1766. By Shields, Ruth Herndon. Orange County, North Carolina : Orange County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Abstracts of the Minutes of the Inferior Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of Orange County, N.C., 1777-1788. 1966. By Redden, Alma Cornelia Cheek. Orange County, North Carolina : Orange County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * (*); State Archives at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * Orange County N. C. Abstracts of Inferior Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions 1777-1788, by Alma Cheek Redden, 1966 : [Heath family information], Heath Family Association Quarterly - v. 3, n. 4 (Aug. 1973). 1973. By Heath, Elbert M. and Heath Family Association. West Brookfield, Massachusetts: Heath Family Association. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

 * 1862-1870   at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1863-1872   at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only

Funeral Homes

 * American Cremation and Funeral Service in Durham.
 * Clements Funeral and Cremation Services. Inc. in Durham and Hillsborough.
 * Hall-Wynne Funeral Service and Crematory in Durham.
 * Holloway Memorial Funeral Home, Inc. in Durham.
 * Hudson Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Durham.
 * Jones Funeral Home, Inc. in Chapel Hill.
 * Knotts Funeral Homes in Chapel Hill.
 * McClure Funeral Service in Mebane.
 * Walker's Funeral Home in Chapel Hill, Hillsborough and Mebane.

Genealogies

 * Clendenin - White, Jo White. "Clendenin of Orange County, North Carolina: An Exercise in Southern Genealogical Problem Solving," The Genealogist, Vol. 6, No. 2 (Fall 1985):186-190.
 * Thompson - Buchanan, Jane Gray. Thomas Thompson and Ann Finney of Colonial Pennsylvania and North Carolina, Lawrence, Closs, and John Thompson. Allied Lines of Finney, McAllister, Buchanan, and Hart. Oak Ridge, Tenn.: J.G. Buchanan, 1987..

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * North Carolina Land Grants at NC Historical Records Online - index, requires free account to view images
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Local Histories

 * The Age of Orange : political and intellectual leadership in North Carolina, 1752-1861

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
Revolutionary War 
 * 1778-1833 Delamar Transcripts of Revolutionary War Petitions at North Carolina Genealogical Society - index ($)
 * 1779-1782  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Civil War 


 * 1861-1865  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1861-1865  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry
 * 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry
 * 1885 and 1901 1885 and 1901 Confederate Pension Applications at North Carolina Digital Collections - index and images
 * 1885-1953  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images


 * -1st Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, usually known as the Bethel Regiment.
 * -1st Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
 * -1st Brigade, North Carolina Reserves, Company I
 * -1st Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company D
 * -1st Regiment, North Carolina Infantry,usually known as the Bethel Regiment, Company D
 * -1st Regiment, North Carolina Junior Reserves, Company I
 * -2nd Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry, Company K
 * -3rd Battalion, North Carolina Senior Reserves, Captain Mark Durham's Company
 * -3rd Regiment, North Carolina Artillery, 2nd Company G
 * -6th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
 * -6th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company B
 * -6th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company C
 * -11th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
 * -11th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company G
 * -13th Battalion, North Carolina Infantry, Company A

World War I 
 * 1914-1918 World War I Papers at North Carolina Digital Collections - index and images
 * 1917-1919  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

World War II 
 * 1939-1945 World Ward II Papers at North Carolina Digital Collections - index and images
 * 1940-1948  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers

 * UNC Black Student Movement Newspapers (1969-1981) (NC Digital Heritage Center)
 * North Carolina Newspaper Digitization Project, North Carolina State Archives. Search full text newspapers published in Hillsboro.
 * North Carolina Newspapers at DigitalNC

Other Records
Voter Registration
 * 1868-1898 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1660-1790 North Carolina Will Abstracts 1660-1790 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1663-1789 Secretary of State Wills at North Carolina Digital Collections - index and images
 * 1663-1978 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1663-1979  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1665-1998 North Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1720-1960 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
 * 1735-1970  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
 * 1752-1795 Wills and Indentures 1752-1795 (images) at North Carolina Pioneers ($)
 * 1752-1800 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1752-1946  at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
 * 1752-1946 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions and Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1752-1962 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1753-1865 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1760-1800 North Carolina Will Abstracts 1760-1800 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1772-1806 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1776 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1782-1968 (*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1790  Pre-1790 Orange County, North Carolina Genealogy Wills (North Carolina State Archives)
 * 1800-1850 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1826-1843 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1837-1853 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1868-1954 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1869-1949 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1870-1915 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1891-1913 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1910-1951 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1912-1951 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1914-1962 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * Abstracts of Orange County NC and Hiram Wood Family Bible, The Wood--Woods Family Magazine - v. 2, no. 3. 1974. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Abstracts of Wills from Records in Office of Clerk of Superior Court for Orange County, North Carolina, at Hillsboro, North Carolina : Books A, B, C, D. By Lester, Memory Aldridge. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Abstract of Wills Recorded in Orange Co. NC 1752-1800 and 1800-1850, Gillams Galore - v. 18, issue 3. 1998.Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Abstracts of Wills Recorded in Orange County, North Carolina, 1800-1850. 1958. By Shields, Ruth Herndon. Chapel Hill, North Carolina : C. W. Shields. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Abstracts of Wills Recorded 1752 through 1800 in Orange County, North Carolina : Will books A, B and C, and 202 Early Marriages not Shown in the Orange County Marriage Bonds. 1966. By Shields, Ruth Herndon. Chapel Hill, North Carolina : C. W. Shields. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Abstracts of Wills Recorded 1752 through 1800 in Orange County, North Carolina in Will Books A B and C, Plus 20 Pages in Book D. By Shields, Ruth Herndon. Chapel Hill, North Carolina : C. W. Shields. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Orange County, N.C. Wills : Books A, B, and C. 1957. By Lestor, Memory Alldredge. Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

School Records
Yearbooks 


 * UNC-Chapel Hill: 1890-1978
 * Orange County Students at NC colleges, yearbook index (NCGenWeb)

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 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records

 * 1755 Tax Lists, Onslow County, 1755 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2 at Ancestry $
 * 1755 Tax Lists, Orange County, 1755 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1755 Tax Lists, Orange County, 1755 (images) at FamilySearch
 * 1755 1755 Tax List of Orange Co., N.C., 1st tax list (transcript) at FamilySearch
 * 1755 1755 Tax List of Orange County, North Carolina (transcript) at FamilySearch
 * 1779 Tax Lists, Orange County, 1779 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2 at Ancestry $
 * 1779 Tax Lists, Orange County, 1779 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections

Vital Records

 * 1800-2000 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Birth

 * 1800-2000  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1866-1964  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1913-1922  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Marriage

 * 1741-2004 North Carolina, United States Marriages at Findmypast
 * 1741-2004 North Carolina Marriage Index 1741-2004 at Ancestry $
 * 1759-1979  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1762-1979  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1763-1868  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Death

 * 1898-1994  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1906-1930  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images  Also at:  MyHeritage ($)
 * 1908-2004 North Carolina Death Indexes 1908-2004 at Ancestry $
 * 1909-1975 North Carolina Death Certificates 1909-1975 at Ancestry $
 * 1931-1994  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Divorce

 * 1926-1975  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1958-2004 North Carolina Divorce Index 1958-2004 at Ancestry $

FamilySearch Centers

 * Apex North Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Durham North Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Elon North Carolina FamilySearch Center


 * Wake County Public Libraries-Olivia Raney Local History Library Branch - an affiliate library

Societies
Durham-Orange Genealogical Society of North Carolina PO Box 4703 Chapel Hill, NC 27515-4703 Email: [mailto:info@dogsnc.org info@dogsnc.org] Website Historical Foundation of Hillsborough and Orange County 210 N Churton St Hillsborough, NC 27278 Phone: 919-732-2210 Email: [mailto:info@orangeNChistory.org info@orangeNChistory.org] Website

Websites

 * NCGenWeb: Orange County - part of the USGenWeb Project
 * USGenWeb Orange County Archives - many additional genealogical records of all kinds
 * – 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.