Grafton County, New Hampshire Genealogy

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

Description
Grafton County is located in the west central region of the state. The county was named for named for Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton, who had been a supporter of American causes in Parliament, and who was serving as British Prime Minister at the time.

County Courthouse
Grafton County Courthouse 3855 Dartmouth College Hwy N. Haverhill, NH 03774 Phone: 603-787-6941 or 1-855-212-1234 Grafton County Website

Town Clerks have birth, marriage and death records. Clerk of the Circuit Court has divorce and court records. Probate Judge has probate records. Register of Deeds has land records.

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:

Cemeteries

 * 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
 * 1859-1964 at FamilySearch Catalog(*)
 * 1774-1775, 1782-1913 at FamilySearch Catalog(*)
 * 1840-1867, 1876-1881 at FamilySearch Catalog(*)
 * 1773-1774, 1782-1820, 1840-1859 at FamilySearch Catalog(*)
 * 1774-1821, 1836-1837 at FamilySearch Catalog(*)
 * 1881-1918 at FamilySearch Catalog(*)

Directories

 * 1709-1886 Gazetteer of Grafton County, New Hampshire, 1709-1886 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)

Genealogies
Genealogy - Town Histories often have Genealogical Sections For many Grafton County towns someone has published a town history that includes a good deal of genealogical information. The FamilySearch Library has these books for the following towns: Bethlehem, Bristol, Canaan, Enfield, Haverhill, Hebron, Lebanon, Lisbon, Littleton, Lyme, Monroe, Orford, Piermont, Plymouth, Warren, and Wentworth. For Hanover the Familiy History Library has a genealogical collection on fifteen rolls of microfilm.

Check the FamilySearch Catalog to see if the book listed above is available online. If it is not available online, you may be available to view the book on microfilm through a Family History Center.


 * 1768-1821 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1773-1902 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1783-1915 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Local Histories

 * 1768-1821 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Local history books are available for many towns in Grafton County. The FamilySearch Library has history books for the following towns: Bethlehem, Bristol, Canaan, Haverhill, Hebron, Lebanon, Lisbon, Littleton, Lyme, Monroe, Orford, Piermont, Plymouth, Rumney, Warren, and Wentworth. Most of these books have genealogical information. For Hanover the FamilySearch Library has a microfilmed genealogical collection on fifteen reels of microfilm. See the Family HIstory Library Catalog, and go to the Place search. Type in the name of the town or city, and also New Hampshire. You will see a list of sources. Click on the one for Genealogy or History. Many libraries with large genealogical collections will very likely have the books listed, and perhaps books for other Grafton County towns. A good online source for town histories can be found at the Grafton County page of the New Hampshire Genealogy and History website. The New Hampshire State Library in 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.
 * Named for Augustus Henry FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton, KG, PC (28 September 1735 – 14 March 1811), styled Earl of Euston between 1747 and 1757, was a British Whig statesman of the Georgian era. He was one of a handful of dukes who served as Prime Minister. He was a son of Lord Augustus FitzRoy and Elizabeth Cosby, daughter of Colonel William Cosby, who served as a colonial Governor of New York.
 * For an online history of this county go to the Internet site of New Hampshire Genealogy and History. At that site you can also select a town, and read online a history of the town. Using the Shift key then the F3 key you can do a word search.
 * For many Grafton County towns someone has published a town history that includes a good deal of genealogical information. The FamilySearch Library has these books for the following towns: Bethlehem, Bristol, Canaan, Enfield, Haverhill, Hebron, Lebanon, Lisbon, Littleton, Lyme, Monroe, Orford, Piermont, Plymouth, Warren, and Wentworth. For Hanover the Familiy History Library has a genealogical collection on fifteen rolls of microfilm.
 * Inventory of the county archives of New Hampshire, no. 5, Grafton County. Prepared by the New Hampshire Historical Records Survey Project, Division of Professional and Service Projects, Work Projects Administration, 1940. Online at:FamilySearch Digital Library

Maps and Gazetteers
The Town and City Atlas of the State of New Hampshire published in 1892 has maps for almost every city, town, and village in New Hampshire, and gives the name of the person who lived in the home in 1892. This atlas is available at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City (FS Library Folio book 974.2 E3).
 * Hamilton Child's Gazetteer of Grafton County, New Hampshire, published in 1886, is found at Archive.org. You can type in a surname, or a place name, and search the gazetteer.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
 * 1709-1886 Gazetteer of Grafton County, New Hampshire, 1709-1886 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)

Military Records
Revolutionary War

The most complete listing of New Hampshire Revolutionary War soldiers is found in volumes 14-17 of the New Hampshire State Papers. You can go to google.com, and look for New Hampshire State Papers with the link to ancestry.com. There you will find a name index to volumes 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.


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

War of 1812 See Potter's book above for information on the War of 1812.

Civil War Online Civil War Indexes and Records FamilySearch Digital Library,
 * 1861-1866 The Revised Register of the Soldiers and Sailors of New Hampshire in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1866.
 * 1861-1865 Military record of the sons of Dartmouth in the Union Army and Navy, 1861-1865. Compiled by E. D. Redington, '61 ; rev. and edited by W. H. Hodgkins. Online at:FamilySearch Digital Library, Archive.org
 * 1861-1866 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images;  Also at: Ancestry ($)

Regiments.' Civil War service men from Grafton 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 Grafton County:
 * - 1st Regiment, New Hampshire Cavalry, Troops A, B, C, E, H, I, and L.
 * - 1st Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company I.
 * - 1st Regiment, New Hampshire Heavy Artillery, Companies H, I, L, and M.
 * - 2nd Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Companies B, G, and I.
 * - 3rd Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company E.
 * - 4th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company I.
 * - 5th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Companies A, C, E, and I.
 * - 6th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Companies A and B.
 * - 8th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company H.
 * - 9th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Companies A, B, and I.
 * - 11th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Companies B, G, and H.
 * - 12th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Companies A, C, D, E, and K.
 * - 13th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Companies A, C, and D.
 * - 14th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company H.
 * - 15th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Companies B, C, F, and H.
 * - 16th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Company A.
 * - 18th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry, Companies B, E, F, and G.
 * - New Hampshire Sharpshooters, 2nd Company F.

World War I 1917-1918 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 1942 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.)
 * 1938-1946 U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 at Ancestry ($)

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1773-1906 There is an index, on films, to the naturalizations for 1773-1906.
 * 1868-1906 Naturalization dockets 1868-1906
 * 1839-1862 Petitions for naturalization 1839-1862
 * 1906-1993 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1906-1929 Declarations of intentions 1906-1929
 * 1907-1921 Petitions and records 1907-1921

Newspapers
The New Hampshire Newspaper Project began microfilming newspapers in the early 1990's. A list of the titles filmed, the range of date of publication, and the reel number can be found at the New Hampshire State Library. Films of newspapers may be able to be borrowed on interlibrary loan through your local public library or university library.

Probate Records
Grafton County probate records began in 1773 shortly after the county was established. Records are kept at the County Courthouse at 3785 Dartmouth College Hwy., North Haverhill, NH 03774. The probate volumes, 1-114, for 1773-1933, are available on FS Library films. On films there is an index to administrators for 1773-1950.

Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1769-1800 Index to probate records from 1769-1800, Grafton County, New Hampshire on microfilm, and is available at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City.
 * 1635-1753 New Hampshire Probate Records 1635-1753 at Ancestry.com — index & images, ($)
 * 1643-1982 New Hampshire Wills and Probate Records 1643-1982 at Ancestry.com — index & images, ($)
 * 1660-1973 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1769-1800 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

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 - Grafton County - [name of town] - Town Records.

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 availabe on FS Library films. The original records are very likely still in the town offices.

If on an index card you find the abbreviation F.R., this indicates there is a record of family members. If you find M.R. on a card, this tells you there is a marriage record.

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
Fortunately, most of the New Hampshire birth records to 1915, and marriage and death records to 1947, are on the internet at familysearch.org. You can view a digital image of the actual record. 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

 * 1636-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1656-1938 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1783-1915 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * Early-1900 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1901-1915 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images

Marriage

 * 1636-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 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
 * 1783-1915 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1875-1981 Mariages du comté de Grafton sud, NH
 * 1948-1959 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images

Death

 * 1636-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1656-1938 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1783-1915 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1654-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images

FamilySearch Centers

 * Lebanon New Hampshire Family History Center
 * Montpelier Vermont Family History Center
 * South Royalton Vermont 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
Libraries There are libraries in most towns in Grafton County. They often have local history books. They may have family history books or collections. You may wish to check the internet to find their address, phone number, email address, and see what they list in the way of family history and genealogy materials. Lebanon Public Library has two branches, one in Lebanon, and the other in West Lebanon: first is the Lebanon Public Library, 9 East Park St., Lebanon, NH 03766, tel. 603-448-2459, fax 603-448-0696. This library has local histories for the region, some family genealogies, Civil War records, cemetery records, newspapers, and photographs. The other is the Kilton Library, 60 Main St., West Lebanon, NH 03784, tel. 603-298-8544. Website Dartmouth College Library is the Baker-Berry Library, 6025 Baker-Berry Library, Hanover, NH 03755, tel. 603-646-2704. The library has family history books and collections, as well as local historical maps. They do not provide a family history research service, but can answer reference type questions about their books and collections. Their internet site has information about the books and collections. Website

Societies
Grafton County Historical Societies as listed by CountyOffice.orgWebsite
 * Grafton, NH Historical Society  11 Library Rd. Grafton, NH 03240 Phone Number E-mail: [mailto:emailofsociety emailofsociety] Facebook

Websites

 * The Grafton County NHGenWeb Project, a member of The NHGenWeb Project.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Grafton County
 * Grafton 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 USGenweb Project. 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 Grafton 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 new.familysearch.org., genforum.com, or ancestry.com. You can also share your quest with the local historical society, genealogical society, or town library and ask for help. Send them a family group form and a pedigree chart.