Craven County, North Carolina Genealogy

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

Description
Craven County is located in the eastern portion of North Carolina and was named in honor of the Earl of Craven to whom King Charles II granted tracts of land in the New World called "Carolina".

County Courthouse
Craven County Courthouse 406 Craven Street New Bern, NC 28560 Phone: 252-636-6617 Craven County Website Register of Deeds has birth and death from 1914, marriage and land records from 1700. Clerk Superior Court has divorce records from 1915. City Clerk has burial 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:

History Timeline
Craven County one of three counties (Albemarle and Clarendon being the others) set up in 1664 by the Lords Proprietors of Carolina. Its territory embraced what later became South Carolina. Craven County was established in 1705 as Archdale Precinct of Bath County, although there is evidence that an Archdale County existed as early as 1696. The name was changed to Craven County about 1712. Craven County included the Ashley River settlement known as Charles Town (Charleston, South Carolina).

Bible Records

 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * Bible Records at North Carolina Digital Archives - index and images
 * Family Bibles Collection at Craven Pamlico Regional Library

Cemeteries

 * at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images. Also at: Ancestry ($)
 * Craven County, North Carolina Cemeteries, by the Eastern NC Genealogical Society. Index to Volume 2

Census Records

 * Craven County census records (NCGenWeb)

Church Records

 * 1700-1970 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Craven County church records (USGenWeb Archives)

Baptist
 * Coor Creek Constituted 1792.
 * Goose Creek Established 1784.
 * Neuse River Established by 1784.
 * Swift Creek Established 1756. Edwards published a membership list dated 1756 in Materials Towards a History of the Baptists.. (1772), 148-149.

Church of England List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Craven Parish, New Bern, N.C. Later called Christ Church Parish Established 1715. Official Website.
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1757-1929 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions and Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1787-1868 (*); County Court and Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1801-1919 (*); Superior and District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1814-1868 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1829-1926 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images


 * 1837-1871 (*); Warden of the Poor at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1850-1867 (*); Equity Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1867-1957 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1867-1960 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1868-1910 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images


 * Craven County, NC Court Records at USGenWeb Archives

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African Americans 


 * 1862-1870   at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1863-1872   at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
 * Mobley, Joe A. James City, A Black Community in North Carolina, 1863-1900. Raleigh: North Carolina Dept. of Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and History, 1981. FS Library 975.6192/J1 H2m 
 * Craven County African American resources (Craven County Public Library)

Funeral Homes

 * Cotten Funeral Home in New Bern.
 * Cumbo's Funeral and Cremation in Havelock.
 * Gibbs Funeral Home in New Bern.
 * Neuse River Funeral Home in New Bern.
 * Oscar’s Mortuary, Inc. in New Bern.
 * Rivers-Morgan Funeral Home, Inc. in New Bern.

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
 * Deeds of Craven County (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Craven County maps. 40+ maps (North Carolina State Library)
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

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


 * Atlantic Ocean
 * King's Highway about 1704
 * Secondary Coast Road late 1730s
 * Jonesboro Road after 1769

Military Records

 * Craven County military records (USGenWeb Archives)

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
 * 1885-1953  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1885 and 1901 1885 and 1901 Confederate Pension Applications at North Carolina Digital Collections - index and images


 * - 2nd Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
 * - 5th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
 * - 1st Regiment, North Carolina Artillery 10th Regiment Volunteers-1st Artillery, Company B
 * - 1st Regiment, North Carolina Artillery 10th Regiment Volunteers-1st Artillery, Company I
 * - 2nd Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company F
 * - 2nd Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company I
 * - 2nd Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company K
 * - 3rd Regiment, North Carolina Artillery, 1st Company H
 * - 3rd Regiment, North Carolina Artillery, 1st Company K
 * - 41st Regiment Volunteers - 3rd Cavalry, Company E
 * - 5th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company D
 * - 3rd Regiment, North Carolina Artillery, Company F

Civil War Battles  The following Civil War battles were fought in Craven County:
 * March 13-15, 1863 - Fort Anderson, also known as Deep Gully.
 * March 14, 1865 - New Berne.
 * Battles of the American Civil War maps - filter by state or by battle name.

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
The first newspaper in North Carolina was published in New Bern, N.C., by James Davis in 1751. The North Carolina State Archives has microfilmed copies of many New Bern newspapers. A list of North Carolina Newspapers, including Craven County can be found at the North Carolina Newspaper Index page of the North Carolina Newspaper Project. Craven County newspapers begin on page 37 of the index.


 * North Carolina Newspapers at DigitalNC
 * The New Bern-Craven County Public Library also has a list of many New Bern newspapers based on the above list from the North Carolina Newspaper Project. That list is available at http://newbern.cpclib.org/research/newspapers.html.
 * North Carolina Newspaper Digitization Project, North Carolina State Archives.Search full text historical newspapers published in New Bern.
 * Craven County newspapers. Listing of newspapers published in the county. (Library of Congress)


 * 1799-1893 Craven County marriages are included in Carrie Broughton's 6-volume index of the Raleigh Register &amp; State Gazette newspaper (1799-1893). Marriages are listed by year and PDF files are searchable. Available on the North Carolina Digital Collections
 * Craven County deaths. County area deaths reported in various newspapers; dates range from late 1700s to 1900s.

Obituaries

 * 1751-Present An Obituaries index for obituaries listed in New Bern newspapers from 1751 to the present (not complete) is available at the Kellenberger Room of the New Bern-Craven County Public Library.
 * Craven County transcribed obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)

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 ($)
 * 1663-1789 Secretary of State Wills at North Carolina Digital Collections - index and images
 * 1663-1978 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1663-1979  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1665-1998 North Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1700-1949 Craven County North Carolina list of will book testators SAMPUBCO
 * 1700-1970 (*); Superior Court and County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 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)
 * 1736-1865 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1736-1960  at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
 * 1737-1891 (*); Superior Court and County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1740-1870 (*); Superior Court and County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1744-1789 (*); Register of Deeds at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1746-1890 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1755-1860 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1760-1800 North Carolina Will Abstracts 1760-1800 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1779-1807 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1790 Pre-1790 Craven County, North Carolina Genealogy Wills (North Carolina State Archives)
 * 1790-1840 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1807-1960 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1808-1869 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1810-1869 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1829-1926 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1844 (*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1867-1960 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1868-1925 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1868-1947 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1868-1960 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1968-1981 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1869-1930 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1869-1940 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1919-1935 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1941-1960 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1969-1970 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * Craven County Estates, p. 7-10; Pitt County Genealogical Quarterly, v. 13. 2006. By Pitt County Genealogical Association. Pitt, North Carolina : Pitt County Genealogical Association. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Craven County Estates, p. 15-17; Pitt County Genealogical Quarterly, v. 14. 2007. By Pitt County Genealogical Association. Pitt, North Carolina : Pitt County Genealogical Association. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Craven County Estates, p. 20-23; Pitt County Genealogical Quarterly, v. 13. 2006. By Pitt County Genealogical Association. Pitt, North Carolina : Pitt County Genealogical Association. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Craven County Wills and Estate records (USGenweb Archives)
 * Craven County Wills, p. 11-14; Pitt County Genealogical Quarterly, v. 14. 2007. By Pitt County Genealogical Association. Pitt, North Carolina : Pitt County Genealogical Association. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Craven County, NC Wills, 1740-1800. By Craven County, North Carolina. Craven County, North Carolina : Craven County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * North Carolina Probate Records tips.
 * Records of Craven County, North Carolina, Volume 1. 1960. By Moore, Elizabeth. Bladensburg, Maryland : Genealogical Recorders. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

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

 * 1719 Tax Lists, Craven County, 1719 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry $
 * 1719 Tax Lists, Craven Precinct, 1719 (transcript) online at New Bern-Craven County Public Library
 * 1720 Tax Lists, Craven County, 1720 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry $
 * 1720 Tax Lists, Craven County, 1720 (images) online at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1720 Tax Lists, Craven County, 1720 (images) online at FamilySearch
 * 1741 Inhabitants of New Bern, 1741 (transcript) online at New Bern-Craven County Public Library
 * 1769 Tax Lists, Craven County, 1769 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry $
 * 1769 Tax Lists, Craven County, 1769 (transcript) online at New Bern-Craven County Public Library
 * 1769 Tax Lists, Craven County, 1769 (images) online at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1769 Tax Lists, Craven County, 1769 (images) online at FamilySearch
 * 1779 Tax Lists, Craven County, 1779 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry $
 * 1779 Tax Lists, Craven County, 1779 (images) online at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1779 1779 Craven County Tax List, Two Districts (transcript) online at FamilySearch
 * 1779 Tax Lists, New Bern District, 1779 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry $
 * 1779 Tax Lists, New Bern District, 1779 (images) online at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1779 Tax Lists, Craven County, 1779, Four Districts (transcript) online at USGenWeb Archives (Wayback Machine)
 * 1785 Tax Lists, Craven County, 1785 partial (transcript) online at New Bern-Craven County Public Library
 * 1815 Tax Lists, Craven County, 1815 (transcript) online at New Bern-Craven County Public Library
 * 1815 Tax Lists, Craven County, 1815 (images) online at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1816 Tax Lists, Craven County, 1816 Federal Direct Tax Delinquents (transcript) online at New Bern-Craven County Public Library
 * 1816 Tax Lists, Craven County, 1816 Federal Direct Tax Delinquents (transcript) online at USGenWeb Archives (Wayback Machine)
 * 1816-1819 New Bern, North Carolina, Taxable Property, 1816-1819 (images) online at FamilySearch

Vital Records

 * 1800-2000 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * An online index for birth and death records from 1913 is available at Register of Deeds. Uncertified copies can be ordered for a small fee. Please see Register of Deeds website for more information.

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
 * 1858-Present Marriage registers from 1858 to the present and marriage licenses from 1904 to the present are available at the  Register of Deeds Office.
 * 1892-1930 Craven County Marriage Index 1892-1930 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.
 * Craven 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   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

 * Fayetteville North Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Goldsboro North Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Harkers Island North Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Jacksonville North Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Kinston North Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Morehead City North Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * New Bern North Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Woodington North Carolina FamilySearch Center


 * Craven-Pamlico Regional Library - Havelock Branch - an affiliate library
 * Johnston County Heritage Center - an affiliate library
 * Craven-Pamlico Regional Library - Pamlico Branch - an affiliate library

Libraries
New Bern-Craven County Public Library 400 Johnson St New Bern, North Carolina Phone: 252-638-7800 Facebook Website
 * Kellenberger Room. The Kellenberger Room specializes in genealogical information.

R. C. Godwin Memorial Library Craven Community College Library 800 College Court New Bern, NC 28562 Phone: 252-638-7272 Email [mailto:library@cravencc.edu library@cravencc.edu] Facebook Website

Societies
Craven County Genealogical Society 1207 Forest Dr PO Box 1344 New Bern, NC 28563-1344 Phone: 252-638-3291 Email: [mailto:nperdue@suddenlink.net nperdue@suddenlink.net] Facebook Website Family History Society of Eastern North Carolina New Bern, NC Phone: 252-349-0405 Email: [mailto:info@encfamilies.org info@encfamilies.org] Facebook Website New Bern Historical Society 511 Broad St New Bern, NC 28560 Phone: 252-638-8558 Email: [mailto:adminoffice@newbernhistorical.org adminoffice@newbernhistorical.org] Facebook Website

Websites

 * Craven County NCGenWeb genealogy resources; part of the national USGenWeb Project.
 * – 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.