Granville County, North Carolina Genealogy

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

Description
Granville County is located in the central portion of North Carolina and shares a border with Virginia. It was named for John Lord Carteret, second Earl Granville, who was granted the land of the Granville District by King George II.

County Courthouse
Granville County Courthouse 101 Main Street Oxford, NC 27565-3318 Phone: 919-693-6314 Granville County Website Clerk Superior Court has divorce, probate and land records.

History Timeline
Granville County was formed in 1746 from Edgecombe County, in honor of the Earl of Granville, "the owner of the soil". As Edgecombe came out of Craven about 1733, Granville is therefore a grandson of Craven. When it was first established in 1746 Granville embraced for a period of five years, until 1751, all of present Warren, Franklin and Vance, most of Orange, including the present Person, Caswell, Orange, and Wake, Chatham, Durham, Alamance, a part of Guilford and perhaps all of Rockingham, a vast territory, of which one William Person was the first Sheriff. After 1751 Orange County and Granville dominated this wide Virginia line area until Wake and Chatham were formed around 1770, for the evident purpose of forestalling the restless and embryonic "regulator" element, who were becoming enraged over the aggravating fees and burden levied by the prosperous "office holders" of the two large domains. In 1764, Bute County was established out of the territory now embraced by Warren and Franklin Counties, and thus Granville's size was again appreciably reduced. From 1764 until 1851, a period of eighty-seven (87) years, Granville County included its present boundaries plus most of present Vance Co.The first officers of the County were Wm. Person, 1st Sheriff; Robert Foster, Clerk; Robert Jones, Jr., King's Attorney; Wm. Eaton, William Person, James Payne, Edw'd Jones, Edw'd Martin, John Wade, Lemuel Lanier, Gideon Macon, John Brantly, West Harris, Lemuel Henderson, and Jonathan White, Justices of the Peace. According to the earliest records of North Carolina, the area that became Granville was first settled around 1715, at which time most of the Native American Indians migrated to other locations leaving it ripe for new settlements. Among the first settlements in Granville were those along the northern border on Nutbush and Grassy Creek, and on Tar River.

The courthouse was located in what is now Warren County, seven miles above Gaston, on Rocky Creek, near Boiling Spring. Bute county was formed from Granville in 1764, which was, in 1779, divided into Warren and Franklin, and the name of Bute was obliterated from the list of counties in North Carolina. Granville being reduced in 1764 to its present dimensions, the place for holding its courts was removed some two miles above the town of Henderson, at the mouth of Mr. Brodie's lane, on the road leading to Oxford, where one or two terms of the court were held, when it was removed to Harrisburg, and after holding one court, it was removed to Oxford about 1769.

Bible Records

 * Bible Records at North Carolina Digital Archives - index and images
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Cemeteries

 * at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images Also at: Ancestry ($)
 * Good Hope Baptist Church - Youngsville, NC
 * Shiloh Cemetery

Church Records

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

Baptist
 * Flat River. Meeting held by 1773.
 * Grassy Creek. Established by 1757. "A History of Grassy Creek Baptist Church" online at Internet Archive
 * Tab's Creek. Constituted 1775.
 * Tar River. Church built 1765. Edwards published a list of early members in Materials Towards a History of the Baptists... (1772), 139.
 * "History of the Baptists in North Carolina", by David Benedict (1779-1874), Colonial &amp; State Records, Documenting the American South
 * "History of the Presbyterians in North Carolina", by Wm. Henry Foote (1794-1869), Colonial &amp; State Records, Documenting the American South

Church of England List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Granville Parish. Established 1746. St. John's Church aka Nutbush Church was located in this parish. It is currently situated in Vance County.
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1746-1868 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1746-1881 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1755-1876 (*); Superior Court and County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1798-1913 (*); County Court, Clerk of County Court and Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1799-1851 (*); Court of Equity at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1807-1929 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1852-1961 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1868-1877 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1868-1913 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1868-1931 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1868-1961 (*); Superior Court HERE at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1869-1879 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * Brown vs Brady-1812 at USGWArchives
 * Court Minutes of Granville County, North Carolina, 1746-1820. 1977. By Zae Hargett Gwynn. Rocky Mount, NC : Joseph W Watson. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Hamilton vs Wright &amp; Parrish-1826 at USGWArchives
 * Horton vs Reavis -1818 at USGWArchives
 * James M. Burton vs Jesse Dickens-1819 at USGWArchives
 * Jeter &amp; Jeter vs Littleton-1819 at USGWArchives
 * John Taylor vs Mary Lanier-1819 at USGWArchives
 * Jones vs Jones -1812 at USGWArchives
 * Justices of the Peace Appointed 1778 at USGWArchives
 * Maurice Smith vs Woodson Daniel -1819 at USGWArchives
 * Patterson (Peterson) vs Cheek 1754 at USGWArchives
 * Robert W. Burton vs James Stamper-1849 at USGWArchives
 * Vass vs Hicks-1819 at USGWArchives at USGWArchives

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African-American
 * 1862-1870   at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1863-1872   at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
 * Granville County Freedmen's Marriages

Funeral Homes

 * Allen's Home of Funerals Inc. in Oxford.
 * Betts and Son Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford.
 * Eakes Funeral Home in Oxford.
 * Hall-Wynne Funeral Service and Crematory in Oxford.
 * Wright Funeral Home in Oxford.

Land and Property Records
The Register of Deeds Office exists to provide proper maintenance, storage, recording, and indexing of the County’s public records. The Department files and indexes vital records (birth, death and marriages) and issues marriage licenses. Real Estate documents (deeds, deeds of trust, plats, etc.) are recorded, indexed and scanned for permanent records. Military discharges are filed and indexed. The office provides copies of all documents when requested. Oath of office is given to notaries commissioned in the county.

Granville County Register of Deeds 101 Main Street PO Box 906 Oxford, NC 27565 Phone: 919-693-6314

Online Land Indexes and Records
 * North Carolina Land Grants at NC Historical Records Online - index, requires free account to view images
 * Granville County Deeds 1746-1751, Pt. 1
 * Granville County Deeds 1746-1751, Pt. 2
 * Collection of Bradford Family Deeds
 * Deed William Smith Boyd
 * Lloyd Deeds
 * Searcy-Searcy Deed
 * Granville County Property and Plat Search Page

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Colonial homesites in Granville County
 * North Carolina in 1779
 * Historical Map of Granville 1741-1931
 * 1868 Granville County Survey Map
 * 1880 Granville County, just before formation of Vance Co.
 * Paths and Towns of North Carolina 1779
 * North Carolina Formation of Counties
 * Early Map of North Carolina 1685
 * Historic Overlay Maps. Selected maps from NC Maps Project can be viewed layered directly on top of current road maps.
 * 1895 Granville County
 * 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
 * 1885-1953  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


 * - 8th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
 * - 12th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, 2nd Company D
 * - 12th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company B
 * - 15th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, formerly the 5th Volunteers, Company E
 * - 1st Brigade, North Carolina Reserves, Company B
 * - 1st Regiment, North Carolina Junior Reserves, Company B
 * - 3rd Battalion, North Carolina Senior Reserves, Company C
 * - 8th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company D

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

 * North Carolina Newspapers at DigitalNC
 * Granville County residents in the newspaper. Name listing of people from the county located in misc. newspaper articles; time span varies. Articles indexed in the NC People in the Papers database.
 * North Carolina Newspaper Abstracts-a Bibliography

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

Probate Records
The courthouse has copies of Wills, Estate Records, etc. starting from 1746. Contact the County Clerk's office for details and pricing.

Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1660-1790 North Carolina Will Abstracts 1660-1790 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1663-1789 Secretary of State Wills at North Carolina Digital Collections - index and images
 * 1663-1978 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1663-1979  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1665-1998 North Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998 at Ancestry ($)
 * 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)
 * 1746-1919 (*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1746-1919 Index to Loose Estate Papers of Granville Co., 1746-1919
 * 1746-1943 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions and Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1749-1771 Images of Wills and Estates (unrecorded) North Carolina Pioneers ($)
 * 1749-1771 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1749-1961 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
 * 1749-1961 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions and Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1760-1800 North Carolina Will Abstracts 1760-1800 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1772-1806 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1790 Pre-1790 Granville County, North Carolina Genealogy Wills (North Carolina State Archives)
 * 1792-1904 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions and Register of Deeds at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1852-1961 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1854-1958 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1868-1874 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1868-1891 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1868-1931 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1868-1961 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1868-1961 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1896-1968 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * Abstracts of the Wills and Estate Records of Granville County, North Carolina, 1746-1808; The Upshaw Family Journal - v. 4, no. 3 (Summer 1977). 1977. By Upshaw Family Association of America. Marietta, George : Upshaw Family Association of America. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Index to transcribed Granville County Wills
 * Index to Unpublished Wills abstracted by Z. H. Gwynn
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * North Carolina Probate Records tips

School Records
Yearbooks 
 * Granville County Yearbooks

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

 * 1747-1764 Granville County, North Carolina Tax Lists, 2 vols. FS Library Books 975.6535 R4r v. 1-v. 2
 * 1749 Granville County North Carolina Tax List of Jonathan White 1749 (index) at George's Genealogy Research Filing Cabinet
 * 1751 Granville County North Carolina List of Tithables (David Phillips, Constable) 1751 (index) at George's Genealogy Research Filing Cabinet
 * 1751 Granville County North Carolina Tax List on Dan River 1751 (index) at George's Genealogy Research Filing Cabinet
 * 1753 Granville County North Carolina Tax List of Robert Harris 1753 (index) at George's Genealogy Research Filing Cabinet
 * 1754 Granville County North Carolina Tax List of John Sallis 1754 (index) at George's Genealogy Research Filing Cabinet
 * 1754 Granville County North Carolina Tax List of Robert Harris 1754 (index) at George's Genealogy Research Filing Cabinet
 * 1755 Tax Lists, Granville County, 1755 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2 at Ancestry $
 * 1755 Tax Lists, Granville County, 1755 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1755 Tax Lists, Granville County, 1755 (images) at FamilySearch
 * 1755 1755 Tax Roll for Granville County (transcript) at NCGenWeb
 * 1755 Granville County, North Carolina Tax List, 1755 (transcript) at FamilySearch
 * 1755-1809 Taxables, 1755-1809 (images) at FamilySearch
 * 1760 Granville Co. NC - Tithables List - August 1760 (incomplete transcript) at USGenWeb Archives
 * 1761 Granville County North Carolina Tax List of Robert Harris 1761 (index) at George's Genealogy Research Filing Cabinet
 * 1761 Granville County North Carolina List of Ezekial Hampton 1761 (index) at George's Genealogy Research Filing Cabinet
 * 1761 Granville County, North Carolina Taxables for 'Bare' Swamp District 1761 (incomplete transcript) at USGenWeb Archives
 * 1762 Granville County North Carolina Tax List of Robert Harris 1762 (index) at George's Genealogy Research Filing Cabinet
 * 1764 Granville County North Carolina Tax List of Robert Harris 1764 (index) at George's Genealogy Research Filing Cabinet
 * 1765 Granville County North Carolina Tax List of Robert Harris 1765 (index) at George's Genealogy Research Filing Cabinet
 * 1766 Granville County North Carolina Tax List of Robert Harris 1766 (index) at George's Genealogy Research Filing Cabinet
 * 1767 Granville County North Carolina Tax List of Philip Pryor 1767 (index) at George's Genealogy Research Filing Cabinet
 * 1767-1823 (gaps) Taxables, 1767, 1774, 1791-1793, 1801-1803, 1810-1823 (images) at FamilySearch
 * 1762-1823 Tax List, 1767-1823 (images) at FamilySearch
 * 1768 Granville County North Carolina Tax List of Robert Harris 1768 incomplete (index) at George's Genealogy Research Filing Cabinet
 * 1768 Granville County North Carolina List of Taxes in Nap of Reed District July 20th 1768 (Charles Partee Constable) (index) at George's Genealogy Research Filing Cabinet
 * 1769 Tax Lists, Granville County, 1769 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2 at Ancestry $
 * 1769 Tax Lists, Granville County, 1769 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1769 Tax Lists, Granville County, 1769 (images) at FamilySearch
 * 1769 Granville County North Carolina Tax List of Sherwood Harris 1769 (index) at George's Genealogy Research Filing Cabinet
 * 1769 Tax List for 1769 in Kinfolks of Granville County, North Carolina, 1765-1825 FS Library Book 975.6535 R28g
 * 1771 Tax Lists, Granville County, 1771 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2 at Ancestry $
 * 1771 Tax Lists, Granville County, 1771 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1780 Tax Lists, Granville County, 1780 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1780-1860 Tax Lists - Free People Color from 1780 to 1860 by Jahrod Pender (transcripts) at NCGenWeb
 * 1782 Tax Lists, Granville County, 1782 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1784 Tax Lists, Granville County, 1784 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2 at Ancestry $
 * 1784 Tax Lists, Granville County, 1784 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1785 Tax Lists, Granville County, 1785 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2 at Ancestry $
 * 1785 Tax Lists, Granville County, 1785 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1788 1788 Granville County Tax List (transcript) at USGenWeb Archives
 * 1788 Granville County North Carolina List of Insolvents, Dutch and Tar River Districts 1788 (images) at George's Genealogy Research Filing Cabinet
 * 1788 Granville County, NC - Taxpayers, 1788 (transcript) at USGenWeb Archives
 * 1791 1791 Granville County Tax List (images) at FamilySearch
 * 1800 Taxables, 1800 (images) at FamilySearch
 * 1800-1842 (gaps) Taxables, 1800-1805, 1807-1810, 1814-1818, 1821-1842 (images) at FamilySearch
 * 1816 Tax Lists, Granville County, 1816 (images)  at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1825-1834, 1836-1848 Taxables, 1825-1834, 1836-1848 (images) at FamilySearch
 * 1843-1845, 1849-1850, etc. Taxables, 1843-1845, 1849-1850, etc. (images) at FamilySearch
 * 1845 1845 Voters List-Brassfield
 * 1845 1845 Voters List - Youngs Crossroads
 * 1849-1864 Taxables, 1849-1864 (images) at FamilySearch
 * Granville County North Carolina Jury or Tax List of Robert Harris Undated (index) at George's Genealogy Research Filing Cabinet
 * Granville County North Carolina Nap of Reed District Tax List Undated (index) at George's Genealogy Research Filing Cabinet
 * Emory Surnamed Tax Lists
 * Lloyd Surnamed Tax Lists

Vital Records
Copies of birth, death and marriage records can be obtained from the Granville County Register of Deeds 101 Main Street PO Box 906 Oxford, NC 27565 Phone: 919-693-6314 Birth &amp; death records start at 1913, marriage records started in 1758.

Online 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
 * 1870-1890 Granville County Delayed Birth Records, 1870-1890
 * 1891-1900 Granville County Delayed Birth Records, 1891-1900
 * 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 $
 * 1746-1961 Granville County Marriage Index 1746-1961 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.
 * 1759-1979  at FamilySearch.org - 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
 * Pre-1825 Granville County Marriages to 1825 (sorted by bride)
 * 1826-1847 Granville County Marriages, 1826-1857: Brides (partial)
 * 1826-1847 Granville County Marriages, 1826-1857: Grooms (partial)
 * 1867-1872 Granville County Marriage Register 1867-1872
 * Granville County Assorted Marriages

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
 * Granville County Executions

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

 * Caswell North Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Eden North Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Elon North Carolina FamilySearch Center


 * Richard H Thornton Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Granville County Public Library Richard H. Thornton Library 210 Main St Oxford, NC 27565 Phone: 919-693-1121 Email: [mailto:gcls.org@gmail.com gcls.org@gmail.com] Facebook Website
 * There are six branches in the system.

Societies
Granville County Genealogical Society 1746, Inc. PO Box 1746 Oxford, NC 27565-1746 Email [mailto:GCGS.office@gmail.com GCGS.office@gmail.com] Website Granville County Historical Society and Museum PO Box 1433 Oxford, NC 27565-1433 Phone: 919-693-9706 Email: [mailto:pam@granvillemuseumnc.org pam@granvillemuseumnc.org] Facebook Website

Websites

 * USGenWeb Project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Granville County NCGenWeb Project
 * Granville County USGenWeb Archives
 * – 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.