Wilkes County, North Carolina Genealogy

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



Description
Wilkes County was named for the English political radical John Wilkes, who lost his position as Lord Mayor of the City of London due to his support for the colonists during the American Revolution. It is located in the northwestern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Wilkes County Courthouse 500 Courthouse Drive Wilkesboro, NC 28697-2497 Phone: 336-651-7351 Wilkes County Website Register of Deeds has birth and death records from 1913, military and land records from 1778.

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
Wilkes County is located in northwestern North Carolina. The county was formed from Surry and the District of Washington (or Washington District) by a 1777 legislative act. That act took effect 15 February 1778.

The county derives its name from John Wilkes, who was an opponent of Britain's Tory party and, at one time, Lord Mayor of London. Because Wilkes had been barred from serving in Parliament because of his political stance, in spite of his having been elected to office, he was viewed as having been persecuted for the sake of freedom.

The first settler of Wilkes County is said to have been Christopher Gist, who moved into the area in 1750. Other famous residents include Daniel Boone and Revolutionary War hero Col. Benjamin Cleveland.

The first court was held at the home of John Brown. The second court was held at the "bent of the Yadkin" on 1 Jun 1778 and was moved the following day, June 2, to the Mulberry Field Meeting House. That location was chosen as the county seat on June 3.

The 2010 population of Wilkes County was 69,340. Wilkes County comprises 757.19 square miles.

Bible Records

 * Wilkes County Bibles (USGenWeb Archives)

Biographies

 * Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)

Cemeteries

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

General


 * Cemetery Index (Genealogy Trails)
 * The Political Graveyard: Wilkes County, North Carolina

Specific


 * Rock Creek Baptist Church Cemetery (New River Notes)
 * Vannoy Cemetery: Elder James Vannoy Family

Census Records

 * 1790 Census (Going Home for History)
 * 1790 Census (New River Notes)
 * 1790 Census, Wilkes County (USGenWeb Census Project)
 * 1800 Census Index (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1810 Census Index (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1820 Census (USGenWeb Census Project)
 * 1820 Census Index (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1830 Census Index (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1840 Census Index (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1840 Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1850 Census Index (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Census Mortality Schedule (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1860 Census: Wilkes County Head of Household Project (Going Home for History)
 * Census Mortality Schedule (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1870 Census images (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1880 Census (USGenWeb Census Project)
 * 1883 Census of Pensioners (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1930 Census, Wilkes County included (Internet Archive)
 * 1930 Census, Wilkes County included (Internet Archive)
 * Wilkes County Mortality Schedule 1850-1880 (NCGenWeb)

Church Records

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

Baptist

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Beaver Creek. Constituted 1779.
 * Brier Creek. Constituted 1781. Minutes (1783-1955) available on microfilm at the University of NC Davis Library (Serial 1-1281 1783-1860 and Serial 1-1281 1860-1955).
 * Fish's River. Constituted 1789.
 * Little River. Constituted 1791.
 * New River, North Fork. Constituted 1781.
 * New River, Three Forks. Constituted 1791.
 * Reddies River. Church record books (1798-1952) online.
 * Roaring River. Constituted 1779. Minutes (1785-1946) online.
 * Roaring River, South Fork. Constituted 1785.
 * Yadkin River, Head. Constituted 1779.
 * Minutes of the First Regular Annual Session of the Primitive Baptist Association, Held with New Covenant Church, Wilkes County, N.C., October 22 and 23, 1869 (New River Notes)
 * Minutes of the 41st Annual Session of the Roaring River District Primitive Baptist Association Convened with the Double Creek Church, Silkes County, N.C. Friday and Saturday October 7 and 8, 1887 (New River Notes)
 * Zion Hill Baptist Church Membership List, 1814
 * Website of Primitive Baptist Association minutes and obituaries, https://sites.google.com/view/wilkesbaptmins/home
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * Wilkes County Court (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Court records from 1781 that have not been transferred to the North Carolina State Archives are at the office of the Wilkes County Clerk of the Superior Court at the Courthouse, 500 Courthouse Dr., Wilkesboro, NC 28697, (336) 667-1201. Some records, however, have been transferred to the North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh, ND.
 * The North Carolina State Archives has the original copies of the following: Apprentice Bonds and Records, 1778-1916; Bastardy Bonds and Records, 1773-1911; Officials' Bonds and Records, 1777-1914.
 * The North Carolina State Archives has various records of the Wilkes County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions: Minutes, 1778-1868; Appearance Docket, 1840-1853; Execution Dockets, 1837-1868; State Docket, 1778-1792; Trial and Appearance Docket, 1824-1827; Trial Docket, 1837-1859; Witness Dockets, 1807-1837; and Misc. Dockets, 1778-1858.
 * The North Carolina State Archives has various records of the Wilkes County Superior Court: Minutes, 1807-1931; Equity Minutes, 1819-1860; Equity Enrolling Dockets, 1813-1857; Equity Execution Docket, 1814-1861, and Appearance Docket, 1815-1830; Appearance Docket, 1823-1846; Execution Dockets, 1807-1860; Judgment Dockets, 1868-1877; Recognizance Docket, 1812-1832; State Dockets, 1807-1822 and 1837-1866; Criminal Issues Dockets, 1873 and 1879-1884; Trial and Appearance Docket, 1807-1822; Trial Docket, 1822-1844; Witness Docket, 1824-1833; Misc. Dockets, 1807-1855; Civil Action Papers, 1771-1936 and those concerning land, 1778-1928; Criminal Action Papers, 1761 and 1778-1945.
 * Other records at the State Archives: Alien Registration records, 1940; County Accounts, 1773-1903; Insolvents' Records, 1780-1896; Record of Jurors, 1893-1906; Record of Justices of the Peace, 1877-1898; Physicians' Certificates of Registration, 1889-1988; Record of Lunacy, 1899-1937; Orders and Decrees, 1869-1935, 1938; Special Proceedings Dockets, 1880-1941; Clerk's Minute Dockets (Special Proceedings), 1884-1941; Misc. Records, 1775-1946; Record of Strays, 1822-1839.

Directories

 * The Wilkes County, North Carolina Directory-1883 (New River Notes)

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

Genealogies

 * Dick History of Peter and Christina Shutt Dick Family: Frederick County, Maryland, Wilkes County, North Carolina, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, Simpson County, Kentucky, Sangamon County, Illinois, Cass, County, Illinois
 * Dick Hoffman, Muriel M. History of Peter and Christina Shutt Dick Family: Frederick County, Maryland, Wilkes County, North Carolina, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, Simpson County, Kentucky, Sangamon County, Illinois, Cass, County, Illinois. Anchor, Ill.: Hoffman, 1970.
 * Owen  Owens, Charles Sterling. David Owen, Revolutionary War Soldier, and His Descendants Wilkes County, North Carolina to Rockcastle County, Kentucky. Knoxville, Tenn.: C.S. Owens, 1991.
 * Andrew Vannoy 1742-1809: Husband of Susannah Shepherd
 * Johnson Captain Samuel Johnson of Wilkes County, North Carolina: Ancestry and Descendants Weight, V.F., 1988. Google Books

Land and Property Records

 * Wilkes County has land records starting from 1777 which can be obtained from the Wilkes County Register of Deeds, 500 Courthouse Drive, Suite 1000, Wilkesboro, NC 28697, (336) 651-7351
 * The North Carolina State Archives has various land-related records pertaining to Wilkes County: Record of Deeds and Grants, 1779-1796; Record of Deeds, 1789-1851; Deeds, 1741-1944; Ejectments, 1799-1907; Land Entries, 1783-1851; List of Land Entries, 1808-1828; Record of Sale of Land for Taxes, 1870-1887; Petitions for Partition and Sale of Land, 1892-1912, 1932; Processioners' Record, 1883-1884; Misc. Land Records, 1778-1925.
 * NC Land Grants. This site sponsored by the North Carolina State Archives has thousands of high quality images of records generated during the land grant process in Wilkes County. These images include original warrant papers, orders to survey, and grant documents. There is also a resource page that explains the land grant process for North Carolina.

Local Histories

 * The Heritage of Wilkes County - Absher, Mrs. W. O., editor, The Heritage of Wilkes County, Winston-Salem, North Carolina: Wilkes Genealogical Society, Inc., 1982. Google Books
 * Wilkes County (Images of America series) - Bass, Misty, Christy Earp, and Jennifer L. Pena, Wilkes County (Images of America series), Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, 2007. Google Books
 * Wilkes County Bits and Pieces Byrd, Fay, Wilkes County Bits and Pieces, 2010. Google Books
 * Historical Sketches of Wilkes County. Wilkesboro, NC: Chronicle Job Office, 1902 - Crouch, John. Historical Sketches of Wilkes County. Wilkesboro, NC: Chronicle Job Office, 1902 - typescript edition: text in Internet Archive |text in New River Notes - later edition: text in Internet Archive
 * Early Settlers of Reddies River Gregory, Paul W., Early Settlers of Reddies River, Reddies River Valley (N.C.): Wilkes Genealogical Society, 1976. Google Books
 * The Land of Wilkes Hayes, Johnson J., The Land of Wilkes, Wilkesboro, NC: Wilkes County Historical Society, 1962. Google Books
 * Marriages of Wilkes County, North Carolina, 1778-1868 Holcomb, Brent, Marriages of Wilkes County, North Carolina, 1778-1868, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1983. Google Books
 * Sketches of Western North Carolina: Historical and Biographical Hunter, C.L., Sketches of Western North Carolina: Historical and Biographical, Raleigh, North Carolina: The Raleigh News Steam Job Print, 1877; see ch. 9: "Wilkes County:" Google Books
 * Poet's Progress Pearson, James Larkin, Poet's Progress, 1965. Reprint, Wilkesboro, NC: Wilkes Community College, 2005.Google Books
 * The Heritage of Wilkes County, North Carolina (Volume II) Simpson, Mrs. Nancy W., editor. The Heritage of Wilkes County, North Carolina (Volume II), Charlotte, North Carolina: Wilkes Genealogical Society, Inc., 1990. Google Books

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Wilkes County Property Maps
 * Wilkes County 1895
 * NC Digital Map Collection: Wilkes County
 * Short History and Place Names for Wilkes County, NC (includes township map)
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Migration
Early migration routes to and from Wilkes County for European settlers included:


 * Catawba and Northern Trail pre-historic

Military Records

 * 1814-1927 The North Carolina State Archives has the following records pertaining to Wilkes County: Record of Pensions, no date, 1 volume; Pension Records, 1814-1927
 * Wilkes County Volunteers Participating in the Indian Removal, April 7, 1838 (New River Notes)

Revolutionary War 


 * 1779-1782  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1840 1840 Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1883 1883 Census of Pensioners (Genealogy Trails)
 * Capture and Rescue of Benjamin Cleveland (New River Notes)
 * Transcribed Revolutionary War pensions for selected individuals associated with Wilkes County, North Carolina as a place of residence or enlistment

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
 * 1885-1953  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Fort Hamby, Wilkes County, North Carolina, March-May 1865 (New River Notes)


 * - 1st Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
 * - 11th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
 * - 11th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company B
 * - 1st Battalion, North Carolina Junior Reserves, Company D
 * - 1st Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company B
 * - 2nd Regiment, North Carolina Detailed Men, Company H
 * - 5th Regiment, North Carolina Senior Reserves, Company A
 * - 5th Regiment, North Carolina Senior Reserves, Company F
 * - 5th Regiment, North Carolina Senior Reserves, Company K

World War I 
 * 1917-1919  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

World War II 
 * 1940-1948  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers

 * Marriage Announcements
 * Obituary/Death Notices (from newspapers; Genealogy Trails)
 * The Record and Thursday Printing: Wilkes County's First Worldwide Newspaper
 * North Carolina Newspapers at DigitalNC

Other Records
County Records
 * 1833-1970 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images. (incomplete)

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


 * Letters (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Photographs (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Post Offices &amp; Post Masters (Genealogy Trails)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1660-1790 North Carolina Will Abstracts 1660-1790 at Ancestry $
 * 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)
 * 1760-1800 North Carolina Will Abstracts 1760-1800 at Ancestry $
 * Pre-1790  Pre-1790 Wilkes County, North Carolina Genealogy Wills (North Carolina State Archives)
 * 1778-1963  at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
 * 1780-1948 Index to Devisors List, 1780-1948
 * Selected transcribed will records for some residents in Wilkes County (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Index to Transcribed Wills, Wilkes County (NCGenWeb)
 * The Wilkes County Clerk of the Superior Court (500 Courthouse Dr., Wilkesboro, NC 28697-2497, (336) 667-1201) has copies of wills, estate records, and records pertaining to administrations and settlements, except for those records that have transferred to the North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh.
 * The North Carolina State Archives has various probate-related records for Wilkes County: Record of Accounts, 1868-1939; Administrators' Bonds, 1890-1919; Appointment of Administrators, Executors, Guardians and Masters, 1868-1903; Appointment of Administrators, Executors, and Guardians, 1903-1915; Record of Administrators, Executors, and Guardians, 1915-1941; Record of Widows' Year's Allowance, 1871-1970; Estates Records, 1777-1945; Guardians' Records, 1780-1939; Guardians' Bonds, 1910-1921; Record of Amounts Paid to Indigent Children, 1913-1935; Record of Settlements, 1805-1834; Records of Assignees, Receivers and Trustees, 1872-1915.
 * The State Archives also has the following records for Wilkes County: Record of Wills, Bonds, Inventories and Bills of Sale, 1778-1799, 2 vols.; Wills, 1778-1948.
 * See also Abstracts of Loose Papers Filed with the Secretary of State for North Carolina - Wilkes County (ALHN) for listings of Wilkes County inventory and appraisal records

School Records

 * Annual report of the public schools of Wilkes County (Internet Archive), from about 1906-1921 (not all inclusive).
 * Wilkes County students at NC colleges, a name list of students at various NC colleges with identified hometowns in the 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 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.

Tax Records

 * 1778-1850 (gaps) Tax lists, no date, 1778-1779, 1784-1785, 1795, 1797, 1800, 1805, 1809, 1814, 1823, 1829, 1831, 1834, 1837-1838, 1841-1848, 1850 (images) online at FamilySearch
 * 1781-1850 (gaps) Tax records, no dates, 1781, 1784-1790, 1792, 1801, 1811, 1820, 1826, 1834-1835, 1837, 1839, 1847, 1850 (images) online at FamilySearch
 * 1782 Tax Lists, Wilkes County, 1782 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry $
 * 1782 Tax Lists, Wilkes County, 1782 (images) online at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1782 1782 Wilkes County Tax List (transcript) online at FamilySearch
 * 1784 Tax Lists, Wilkes County, 1784 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry $
 * 1784 Tax Lists, Wilkes County, 1784 (images) online at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1787 1787 Tax List (transcript) online at New River Notes
 * 1787-1790 Absher, Mrs. W.O., Ruth P. Gregory, and Paul W. Gregory, Wilkes County, North Carolina Taxables (1787, 1788, 1789, 1790) Vol. 3. North Wilkesboro, NC: The Wilkes Genealogical Society, 1975: (transcript) online at Internet Archive
 * 1797 1797 Tax List (transcript) online at New River Notes

Vital Records

 * 1800-2000 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Wilkes County Register of Deeds has copies of birth, marriage, and death records. Contact the office for details: 500 Courthouse Drive, Suite 1000, Wilkesboro, NC 28697, (336) 651-7351

Birth

 * 1800-2000  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1866-1964  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1871-1883 Wilkes County, North Carolina Bastardy Bonds 1871-1883 (Going Home for History)
 * 1913-1922  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Birth Records from WWI Registration Cards, Wilkes County (NCGenWeb)

Marriage

 * 1741-2004 North Carolina, United States Marriages at FindMyPast
 * 1741-2004 North Carolina Marriage Index 1741-2004 at Ancestry $
 * 1741-2011 North Carolina Marriage Records 1741-2011 - images 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
 * 1788-1912 The North Carolina State Archives has the following Wilkes County records: Marriage Bonds, 1778-1868; Marriage and Family Records, 1788-1912; Divorce Records, 1820-1912
 * Marriages, Wilkes County Database (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Marriage Index (Genealogy Trails)
 * Marriages from Wilkes Bible Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Original Wilkes County Marriage Bonds and Licenses (NCGenWeb)
 * Wilkes County Marriage Bonds (NCGenWeb)

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
 * 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
 * Death Index (Genealogy Trails)
 * Wilkes County Executions (NCGenWeb)

Divorce

 * 1788-1912 The North Carolina State Archives has the following Wilkes County records: Marriage Bonds, 1778-1868; Marriage and Family Records, 1788-1912; Divorce Records, 1820-1912
 * 1820-1899 Wilkes Co., NC Divorces, 1820-1899 (Genealogy Forum)
 * 1820-1899 Wilkes Co., NC Divorces, 1820-1899 (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1926-1975  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1958-2004 North Carolina Divorce Index 1958-2004 at Ancestry $

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers
 * North Wilkesboro North Carolina Family History Center

Libraries

 * Wilkes County Public Libraries Website

Societies

 * Wilkes County Genealogical Society PO Box 1629 North Wilkesboro, NC 28659-1629

Websites
(Note: The following are in alphabetical order.)


 * Appalachian American Genealogy (includes Wilkes County)
 * Ashe County, NC ALHN Homepage (includes extensive Wilkes County materials; American Local History Network; seems to be a Wilkes Co. page that is mislabeled as an Ashe Co. page)
 * Genealogy Research (ExploreWilkes.com)
 * Genealogy Resources (for Wilkes County) (Wilkesboro Tourism Development Authority)
 * Going Home for History: Wilkes County, North Carolina
 * Wilkes County Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Wilkes County Genealogy Queries (Cousin Connect)
 * Wilkes County History and Genealogy (Melungeon Studies)
 * Wilkes Co., NC (RootsWeb)
 * Wilkes Co., NC Club (GenCircles)
 * Wilkes County, NC GenWeb
 * Wilkes County, NC U.S. GenWeb Archives
 * Wilkes County, North Carolina (Genealogy Trails History Group)
 * Wilkes County, North Carolina (New River Notes)
 * Wilkes County, North Carolina (official government site)
 * – 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.