Onslow County, North Carolina Genealogy

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

Description
Onslow County is located in the eastern portion of North Carolina and was named for Arthur Onslow, Speaker of the House of Commons in the British Parliament.

County Courthouse
Onslow County Courthouse 109 Old Bridge Street, Rm 107 Jacksonville, NC 28540 Phone: 910-347-3451 Onslow County Website Register of Deeds has birth and death from 1914, marriage records from 1893, and land records from 1734. Clerk Superior Court has divorce, probate and court records from from 1915. Dept of Archives, Raleigh, NC has earlier 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

 * Onslow County

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
 * Union Chapel beginnings, the oldest church in the county.
 * Church records (USGenWeb Archives)

Baptist
 * New River. Established by 1758.

Church of England List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * St. John's Parish. Established by 1741.
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * Onslow County court information (USGenWeb Archives)

Directories

 * Onslow County business directory, area business information. (NCGenWeb)

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

 * Stroscio, Michael A. Some Onslow Families with Collateral Lines (Onslow County, North Carolina). 1976; reprint, Columbia, Md.: M.A. Stroscio, 1980.
 * Stroscio, Michael A. Some Onslow Families with Collateral Lines - Andrews, Bishop, Burnett, Ennett, Fisher, Horne, King, Lane, Lloyd, Mason, McClammy, McDaniel, Redd, Sidbury, Stockley, Stroscio, Thompson, Triscuizzi, Walker (Onslow County, North Carolina). Raleigh, N.C.: M.A. Stroscio, 1999..
 * Anderson - Wright, Carl V. The Doty/Andreson/Shepperd and Allied Families. Ganado, Texas: C.V. Wright, 1993.
 * Barber - Fountain, Alvin M. Family of Micah &amp; Elizabeth Barber Children and Grandchildren, Onslow County, North Carolina. Raleigh, N.C.: A.M. Fountain, 1975.
 * Barber - Fountain, Alvin M. The Family of Mitch Barber and His Wife. Microfilmed 1997..
 * Buford - Buford, Marcus Bainbridge. A Genealogy of the Buford Family in America, With Records of a Number of Allied Families. San Francisco, Calif., 1903. Digital version at Internet Archive
 * Bumpus - Bumpus, Carle Franklin. Bompas, Bumpass, Bump, Bumpus and Allied Families, 1621-1985-- Supplement No. 1. Lady Lake, Fla.: C.F. Bumpus, 1989-1993, 1985.
 * Clifton - Clifton, Harvey B. The Clifton Family: Descendants of William Clifton, A Revolutionary War Soldier. Daytona Beach, Fla.: H.B. Clifton, revised 1987, 1981.
 * Duffy - Badgley, Azalea Green. Duffy Family Bible Records, ca. 1808-19__. Typescript. Donated 1945.
 * Dulany - Scott, Mary Rebecca Dulany. Gone to Texas: A Compendium of the Dulany, Haddox, Heaton, Holland and Martin Families. Tomball, Texas: M.R.D. Scott, 1989.
 * Farr - Farr, Eugene. Farr and Near Farr: Descendants of Col. William Farr of Union County, South Carolina from 1735: (Allied Families: Alley, Bailey, Fowler, Garner, Glenn, Lipsey, Lowry, McDuff (McElduff), Stribling, Thomas and Many, Many Others). Chesterfield, Mo.: E. Farr, 1997.
 * Fountain - Fountain, Maxine Taylor, Marcia Taylor Fountain, and Alvin Marcus Fountain. The John R. Fountain Family of Onslow County, North Carolina: Being a Collection of Family Researches, Writings and References of Alvin Marcus Fountain and Some Sseventy Plus Other Members of the Family. Raleigh, N.C.: M.T. Fountain, 1992.
 * Foyle - Magee, Zuma Fendlason and Aletha Barker Hamiter. Foyle (Foil) Genealogy. Franlinton, La.: Z.F. Magee, 1956.
 * Hart - Peyton, Helen E. Some Early Pioneers of Western Kentucky, Their Ancestors and Descendants. Charleston, S.C.: H.E.H. Peyton, 1990.
 * Huffman - Huffman, Esker Aubrey. The Asa Huffman Family of Jasper County, Texas: A Genealogy and Family History from the Year 1371 to 2000. Costa Mesa, Calif.: E.A. Huffman, 2000.
 * King - Walton, June Roper. Kith and Kin of Willie Adam Walton and Ethel Mae King. Four Oaks, N.C.: J.R. Roper, 1991.
 * Middleton - Brown, Leslie H. "John Middleton of Hampton, Va., and Onslow County, N.C.," The American Genealogist, Vol. 55, No. 3 (Jul. 1979):161-162.
 * Morgan - Hinson, Emma Morgan. Morgan. N.C.: E.M. Hinson, 1991.
 * Overton - Powell, Durward E. John Overton of Stepney, Middlesex, England, and His Descendants. Durham, N.C.: D.E. Powell, 1998, 2000.
 * Powell - Andrea, Leonardo. Powell. MSS., Typescript, Polk County Historical Library, Bartow, Fla., 1962.
 * Prescott - Prescott, Fannie Lee, Adell Taylor Prescott and Clarence Ray Prescott. A Bicentennial Salute to the Descendants of Willoughby Prescott of Carteret County, North Carolina Born ca. 1750, Died 1829. Greenville, N.C.: A.T. Prescott, 1980.
 * Provow - Provow, Douglas W. The Provo(w) Family History. Typescript, 1972.
 * Redd - Bryner, Ellen Redd and John Hardison Redd. Biography of Lemuel Hardison Redd. MSS. Microfilmed 1974.
 * Redd - Redd, Lura. The Utah Redds and Their Progenitors. Salt Lake City, Utah: A.J. Redd, 2001. FHL Digital version
 * Reed - Phillips, Opal B. and Carrie B. Hart. George Reed Family. Typescript. Microfilmed 1986. Family Records Collection, Barrett Memorial Library, Petersburg, Ind.
 * Snead - Butler, Florence Roberta Walker. The Sneads of Accomack County Virginia, Craven, Onslow and Johnston Counties, North Carolina and Allied Families. n.p.: R.W. Butler, 2008.
 * Walton - Walton, June Roper. Kith and Kin of Willie Adam Walton and Ethel Mae King. Four Oaks, N.C.: J.R. Roper, 1991.
 * Williams - Maready, Kellon. John Williams (1745-1792), Onslow County, NC: Descendants of His Sons Hopkins Williams, (1790-1866), Stephen Decatur Williams (1775-1862), Duplin County, NC. Chinquapin, N.C.: A.K. Maready, 1997.
 * Wooton - Wooten, E.C., Jessamine Young Wooton, and Wooten and Related Families Association. Charles Wooton of Kentucky. Arlington, Va.: Wooten and Related Families Association, 1984.

Land and Property Records

 * Onslow County deeds (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Onslow County, North Carolina Deed Book 1779-1785 (Genealogical Forum of Oregon)

Local Histories

 * Littleton, Tucker Reed and Coastal Genealogical Society. The Tucker Littleton Notes. 10 vols. Swansboro, N.C.: Coastal Genealogical Society, 1998-2008.
 * Onslow County History Society. The Heritage of Onslow County, 1983. Winston-Salem, N.C.: Onslow County Historical Society in cooperation with Hunter Publishing Company, 1983.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Onslow County maps since 1731
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

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


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

Military Records

 * Onslow County Military (NCGenWeb)
 * Life Before Camp Lejune, area history compiled by Jane Hoveland. (NCGenWeb)

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


 * - 3rd Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
 * - 3rd Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company E
 * - 3rd Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company G
 * - 3rd Regiment, North Carolina State Troops, Company E
 * - 3rd Regiment, North Carolina State Troops, Company G
 * - 41st Regiment Volunteers - 3rd Cavalry, Company B
 * - 41st Regiment Volunteers - 3rd Cavalry, Company H
 * - 8th Battalion, North Carolina Cavalry (Partisan Rangers), 5th Company

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

 * 1799-1893 NC Marriages as reported 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. (North Carolina Digital Collections)
 * Onslow County Deaths. List of county area deaths reported in various newspapers; dates range from late 1700s to 1900s.
 * Onslow County newspaper information (NCGenWeb)
 * 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 — index and images $
 * 1663-1979  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1663-1789 Secretary of State Wills at North Carolina Digital Collections - index and images
 * 1665-1998 North Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998 at Ancestry — index and images $
 * 1720-1960 - at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
 * 1735-1970  at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
 * 1740-1760  Abstracts of Wills 1740 - 1760 Onslow County wills, includes will books A, B &amp; C (NCGenWeb)
 * 1760-1800 North Carolina Will Abstracts 1760-1800 at Ancestry.com — index and images
 * 1765-1961  at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
 * Pre-1790 Pre-1790 Onslow County Wills (North Carolina State Archives)
 * 1790 Images of Wills and Estates 1790 Onslow County wills, includes will books A, B &amp; C (NCGenWeb)

School Records

 * Onslow 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.

Tax Records

 * 1769 Tax Lists, Onslow County, 1769 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2 at Ancestry $
 * 1769 Tax Lists, Onslow County, 1769 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1769 Tax Lists, Onslow County, 1769 (images) at FamilySearch
 * 1769 Onslow County, NC - List of Taxables-1769 (transcript) at USGenWeb Archives
 * 1769 1769 Onslow County, North Carolina Tax List (transcript) at FamilySearch
 * 1770 Tax Lists, Onslow County, 1770 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2 at Ancestry $
 * 1770 Tax Lists, Onslow County, 1770 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1770 Tax Lists, Onslow County, 1770 (images) at FamilySearch
 * 1771 Tax Lists, Onslow County, 1771 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2 at Ancestry $
 * 1771 Tax Lists, Onslow County, 1771 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1781 Onslow County, NC-1781 Onslow County Tax Lists (transcript) at USGenWeb Archives
 * 1781 Onslow County, NC-1781 Tax Lists Name Index (index) at USGenWeb Archives
 * 1790 Tax Lists, Onslow County, 1790 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1792 Tax Lists, Onslow County, 1792 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1793 Tax Lists, Onslow County, 1793 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1815 Tax Lists, Onslow County, 1815 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * Undated Tax Lists, Onslow County, undated (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections

Vital Records
Uncertified copies of vital records can be ordered for a small fee from Onslow County Register of Deeds.
 * 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
 * Onslow County North Carolina Birth Records (NCGenWeb)

Marriage

 * 1741-2004 North Carolina, United States Marriages at FindMyPast
 * 1741-1867 Onslow County Marriage Bonds 1741-1867 (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 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
 * 1982-2006 Onslow County Death Index 1982-2006

Divorce

 * 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
 * Jacksonville North Carolina Family History Center

Libraries

 * Onslow County Public Library Website

Museums

 * Onslow County Museum Website

Societies

 * Onslow County Historical Society P.O. Box 5203 Jacksonville, NC 28540-5203 910/455-3893 Website

Websites

 * Onslow, NCGenWeb
 * Swansboro History - blog dedicated to Swansboro
 * – 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.