New Hanover County, North Carolina Genealogy

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

Description
New Hanover County is located in the southeastern portion of North Carolina and was named in honor of England's King George I of the House of Hanover.

County Courthouse
New Hanover County Courthouse 3rd Princess Street, Rm 103 Wilmington, NC 28401-4090 Phone: 910-341-7125 New Hanover County Website Register of Deeds has birth, marriage, death and land records. Clerk Superior Court has divorce, probate and court 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:

Bible Records

 * Bible Records at North Carolina Digital Archives - index and image
 * New Hanover County, NC Bibles at USGenWeb Archives

Biographies

 * [Lewis] Lewis, J.D. My Neck of the Woods: The Lewis Families of Southeastern North Carolina and Northeastern South Carolina. Little River, S.C.: J.D. Lewis, 2002.

Cemeteries

 * 1852-2005    at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images Also at: Ancestry ($)
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Church Records

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

Baptist
 * Black River. Established by 1758.

Church of England
 * St. James's Parish, Wilmington, N.C. Established 1729. Official website. Church records from 1737 to 1892 have been published. Baptisms 1754-1880 (Batch ) and Marriages 1811-1892 (Batch ) are included in the International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
 * St. Philip's Parish. Established by 1741.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Ward and Branch Records


 * Wilmington

Methodist List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * St. Stephen A.M.E. Church, Wilmington, N.C. Formed 1865. Served the African American community.
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1737-1868 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1758-1975 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1843-1863 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1843-1868 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1843-1939 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1860-1868 (*); Court of Equity at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1869-1943 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1877-1937 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * New Hanover County Court Minutes, Vol. 1. 1958. By Walker, Alexander McDonald. New Hanover County, North Carolina : New Hanover County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * New Hanover County Court Minutes 1738-1769; v. 1. 1958. By Walker, Alexander McDonald. New Hanover County, North Carolina : New Hanover County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * New Hanover County Court Minutes, Vol. 2 1959. By Walker, Alexander McDonald. New Hanover County, North Carolina : New Hanover County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * New Hanover County Court Minutes 1738-1769; v. 2. 1959. By Walker, Alexander McDonald. New Hanover County, North Carolina : New Hanover County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * New Hanover County Court Minutes, Vol. 3. 1960. By Walker, Alexander McDonald. New Hanover County, North Carolina : New Hanover County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * New Hanover County Court Minutes 1738-1769; v. 3. 1960. By Walker, Alexander McDonald. New Hanover County, North Carolina : New Hanover County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * New Hanover County Court Minutes, Vol. 4. 1962. By Walker, Alexander McDonald. New Hanover County, North Carolina : New Hanover County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.

Directories

 * 1922 Hill Directory Co.'s Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina, City Directory, 1922 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)

Emigration and Immigration
Wilmington has been a port since colonial times.
 * 1908-1958  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and image

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
 * Pine Forest Cemetery is a historical African American burial ground dating back to 1860 and the final resting place of many notable citizens. It is located on 15 acres in the city of Wilmington at the north end of 16th Street and Rankin. The Wilmington Journal published an article (May 2012) on the history of the cemetery with contact information for donations towards the preservation and upkeep of the cemetery. Search known burials and contribute information at Find A Grave. Learn more about Pine Forest Cemeteryfrom the Folk Art Society of America.

Funeral Homes

 * Adkins-Drain Funeral Service in Wilmington.
 * Andrews Mortuary and Crematory in Wilmington.
 * Atlantic Cremation Service in Wilmington.
 * Coastal Cremations and Funeral Care in Wilmington.
 * Coble Funeral and Cremation Service in Wilmington.
 * Davis Funeral Home in Wilmington.
 * John H. Shaw’s Son Funeral Home in Wilmington.
 * Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home in Wilmington.
 * Tranquility Cremation By Aquamation in Wilmington.
 * Wilmington Funeral Chapel in Wilmington.

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

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

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


 * Atlantic Ocean
 * King's Highway about 1704
 * Secondary Coast Road late 1730s
 * Fayetteville, Elizabethtown, and Wilmington Trail
 * Wilmington, Highpoint, and Northern Trail

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 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

Civil War Battles  The following Civil War battles were fought in New Hanover County:
 * December 7-27, 1864 - Fort Fisher I.
 * January 13-15, 1865 - Fort Fisher II.
 * February 12-22, 1865 - Wilmington, also known as Fort Anderson, Town Creek, Forks Road, or Sugar Loaf Hill.
 * 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

 * North Carolina Newspaper Digitization Project, North Carolina State Archives. Search full text historical newspapers published in Wilmington.
 * 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 ($)
 * 1663-1789 Secretary of State Wills at North Carolina Digital Collections - index and images
 * 1663-1978 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1663-1979  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1665-1998 North Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1720-1960 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
 * 1732-1864 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1735-1961 (*); Superior Court and County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1735-1970, at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images
 * 1738-1769 Minutes of the Pleas and Quarter Session Court 1738-42; 1759-1769 and General Index. (contains estates, inventories, wills, deeds proved, administrators appointed, orphans, etc.) North Carolina Pioneers ($)
 * 1740-1760 Abstracts of Wills 1740-1760. North Carolina Pioneers ($)
 * 1741-1942 (*); Superior and Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1746-1858 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1747-1868 Images of Wills & Estates, Book C, 1747-1858; Book D, 1858-1868. North Carolina Pioneers ($)
 * 1760-1800 North Carolina Will Abstracts 1760-1800 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1790 Pre-1790 New Hanover County, North Carolina Genealogy Wills (North Carolina State Archives)
 * 1790-1836 Images of Wills and Estates in Court of Common Pleas. North Carolina Pioneers ($)
 * 1827-1837 Images of Wills and Estates in Court of Common Pleas. North Carolina Pioneers ($)
 * 1843-1863 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1844-1946 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1868-1878 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1877-1937 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1879-1940 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1890-1910 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1904-1934 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & 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 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.

Tax Records

 * 1755 Tax Lists, New Hanover County, 1755 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry $
 * 1755 Tax Lists, New Hanover County, 1755 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1755 Tax Lists, New Hanover County, 1755 (images) at FamilySearch
 * 1755 1755 New Hanover County, North Carolina Tax List 975.6 A1 no. 260
 * 1762 Tax Lists, New Hanover County, 1762 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry $
 * 1762 Tax Lists, New Hanover County, 1762 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1762 Lists of Taxables, New Hanover County, 1762 (images) at FamilySearch
 * 1763 Tax Lists, New Hanover County, 1763 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry $
 * 1763 Tax Lists, New Hanover County, 1763 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1765 Tax Lists, New Hanover County, 1765 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry $
 * 1765 Tax Lists, New Hanover County, 1765 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1767 Tax Lists, New Hanover County, 1767 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry $
 * 1767 Tax Lists, New Hanover County, 1767 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1782 Tax Lists, New Hanover County, 1782 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1815 Tax Lists, New Hanover County, 1815 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections

Vital Records

 * 1800-2000 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Search online public record databases of the New Hanover County Register of Deeds, including birth and death certificates, and marriage records.

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
 * New Hanover County Vital Records (USGenWeb)

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

 * Florence South Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Myrtle Beach South Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Raleigh North Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Shallotte North Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Wilmington North Carolina FamilySearch Center

Libraries
Carolina Beach Branch Library 300 Cape Fear Blvd Carolina Beach, NC 28428 Phone: 910-798-6380 Facebook Myrtle Grove Branch Library 5155 S College Rd Wilmington, NC 28412 Phone: 910-452-6414 Facebook New Hanover County Public Libraries Main Library and Law Library 201 Chestnut St Wilmington, NC 28401 Phone:901-798-6301 Facebook Website New Hanover County Public Libraries Northeast Branch 1241 Military Cutoff Rd Wilmington, NC 28405 Phone: 910-798-6300 Website

Museums
African American Heritage Museum of Wilmington PO Box 968 Wilmington, NC 28402-0968 Email: [mailto:info@aahfwilmington.org info@aahfwilmington.org] Cape Fear Museum of History and Science 814 Market St Wilmington, NC 28401 Phone: 910-798-4370 Email: [mailto:info@capefearmuseum.com info@capefearmuseum.com] Facebook Website

Societies
Lower Cape Fear Historical Society Inc. 126 S Third St Wilmington, NC 28401 Phone: 910-762-0492 Email: [mailto:lcfhs@latimerhouse.org lcfhs@latimerhouse.org] Facebook Website Old New Hanover Genealogical Society Wilmington, NC 28402-2536 Email: [mailto:info@onhgs.org info@onhgs.org] Facebook

Websites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * North Carolina Pioneers $
 * – 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.