Chowan County, North Carolina Genealogy

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

Description
Chowan County is located in the Eastern portion of North Carolina and was originally called Shaftesbury Precinct of Albemarle County. It was renamed Chowan Precinct around 1681 for the Chowan River, itself named for the Chowanoac Indians who inhabited the region.

County Courthouse
Chowan County Courthouse 101 S Broad St Edenton, NC 27932 Phone: 252-482-3062 Chowan County Website Register of Deeds has marriage and land records Clerk Superior Court has 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:

History Timeline
Chowan was formed in 1670 as a precinct in Albemarle County. It was named in honor of the Indian tribe Chowan, which lived in the northeastern part of the Colony. It is in the northeastern section of the State and is bounded by Albemarle Sound, Chowan River, and Bertie, Hertford, Gates and Perquimans counties. The present land area is 172.64 square miles and the 2000 population was 14,150. In 1720, Edenton, which was named in honor of Governor Charles Eden, was established. In 1722 it was designated and has continued to be the county seat.

Bible Records

 * Bible Records at North Carolina Digital Archives - index and images
 * Bush Family Bible at USGenWeb Archives
 * Chowan and Perquimans County Bible Records at WorldCat
 * Chowan County Bible Records at NCGenWeb
 * Noah White Bible at USGenWeb Archives

Biographies

 * Chowan Co., NC Index to Biographies
 * Biography of James Iredell, Sr.

Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Business Directories &amp; Year Books


 * 1872 Chowan Co., NC Business Directory
 * 1903 Chowan Co., NC Business Directory
 * 1904 Chowan Co., NC Business Directory
 * 1905 Chowan Co., NC Business Directory
 * 1910 Chowan Co., NC Business Directory
 * 1911 Chowan Co., NC Business Directory
 * 1912 Chowan Co., NC Business Directory
 * 1913 Chowan Co., NC Business Directory
 * 1914 Chowan Co., NC Business Directory
 * 1915 Chowan Co., NC Business Directory
 * 1916 Chowan Co., NC Business Directory
 * Index to Chowan Co., NC Year Books

Cemeteries

 * Chowan Co., NC Cemetery Survey
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images Also at: Ancestry ($)

Census Records

 * 1787 Census for Chowan Co., NC
 * 1790 Census for Chowan Co., NC
 * Free Men Heads of Household for 1790, 1800, &amp; 1820

Church Records

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

Baptist


 * Ballard's Bridge Established 1781.
 * Yoppim River Established by 1775.

Church of England


 * Chowan Parish, aka St. Paul's Church, Edenton, N.C. Established 1701. Current church built 1737-1774. Hathaway's history (1900) is online.
 * East Parish
 * Northeast Parish
 * South Parish Established 1722.
 * Southwest Parish Established by 1721.

Online records:


 * St. Paul's Episcopal Church
 * St Paul's Episcopal Church Minutes-1

Vestry minutes have been published twice:

Cain, Robert J., ed. The Church of England in North Carolina: Documents, 1699-1741 Raleigh, N.C.: Division of Archives and History, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, 1999, Vestry Minutes, St. Paul's Parish, 1701-1741, pp. 431-494. .


 * Fouts, Raymond Parker. The Vestry Minutes of St. Paul's Parish, Chowan County, North Carolina, 1701-1776. Second Edition Cocoa, Fla., 1998. 1983 edition:.

List of Churches and Church Parishes


 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1687-1783 (*); General Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1706-1762 (*); General Court and Court of Admiralty at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1719-1922 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1722-1747 (*); General Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1722-1906 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images


 * 1724-1746 (*); General Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1724-1866 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1726 (*); General Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1729-1746 (*); General Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1730-1868 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images


 * 1730-1868 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1735-1832 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1754-1860 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1755-1910 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1756-1808 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images


 * 1764-1805 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1765-1787 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1767-1775 (*); Orphans' Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1770-1887 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1782-1868 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images


 * 1797-1804 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1788-1808 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1816-1841 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1831-1909 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1844-1850 (*); State Archives at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1859-1937 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images


 * 1868-1899 (*); Board of County Commissioners at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1868-1966 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1871-1884 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1872-1966 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images


 * Abstract of Court Records, Beginning in 1670 : Compiled from the Records in the Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court of Chowan County, at Edenton N.C.; The North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register - v. 1, no. 1 (Jan. 1900). 1900. By Hathaway, James Robert Bent. Chowan County, North Carolina : Chowan County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Chowan Precinct Court, 1711 : (Original Recorded in Book W. no. 1, pages 107 and 108, Register of Deeds Office of Chowan County at Edenton, N. C.); The North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register - v. 3, no. 3 (July 1903). 1903. By Hathaway, James Robert Bent. Chowan County, North Carolina : Chowan County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Copy of an Oath with Signatures, Required of All Persons upon Qualification to Office : [Executed Prior to 1716]; The North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register - v. 1, no. 2 (Apr. 1900). 1900. By Hathaway, James Robert Bent. Chowan County, North Carolina : Chowan County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Miscellaneous Items from Court Records of Chowan Precinct at Edenton, N.C.; The North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register - v. 1, no. 3 (Jul. 1900). 1900. By Hathaway, James Robert Bent. Chowan County, North Carolina : Chowan County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Miscellaneous Items : (from Records of Albemarle County and Chowan County at Edenton, N.C.); The North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register - v. 2, no. 2 (Apr. 1901). 1901. By Hathaway, James Robert Bent. Chowan County, North Carolina : Chowan County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Status of Courthouse Records in North Carolina at NCGenWeb
 * 1714-1719, The earliest Chowan Precinct court records are contained in Deed Book B-1, Court Records, January Court 1714/15 through July Court 1719. These records are abstracted in Margaret M. Hofmann's Chowan Precinct, North Carolina, 1696 to 1723, Genealogical Abstracts of Deed Books (Roanoke News Co.: Weldon, NC, 1972).


 * The Everard Riot in Edenton 1728; The North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register - v. 1, no. 3 (Jul. 1900). 1900. By Hathaway, James Robert Bent. Chowan County, North Carolina : Chowan County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * The Oath of Allegiance in 1777 : [Chowan County Court, North Carolina]; The North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register - v. 2, no. 2 (Apr. 1901). 1901. By Hathaway, James Robert Bent. Chowan County, North Carolina : Chowan County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.

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
 * Harriett Jacobs, fugitive slave

American Indians


 * North Carolina Indian Tribes
 * The Carolina Algonkians

Funeral Homes

 * Miller Funeral Home and Crematory in Edenton.

Genealogies

 * de Clugny Coddington, John Insley. "The Marquis de Clugny at Edenton, North Carolina, 1795-1798," The American Genealogist, Vol. 42, No. 3 (Jul. 1966):144-148. ; online at New England Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
 * Jones Jones, L.H. Captain Roger Jones of London and Virginia, Some of His Antecedents and Descendants: With Appreciative Notice of Other Families, viz.: Bathurst, Belford, Browning, Carter, Catesby, Cocke, Graham, Fauntleroy, Hickman, Hoskins, Latanes, Lewis, Meriwether, Skelton, Walker, Waring, Woodford, and Others: Notes. Albany, N.Y.: J. Munsell's Sons, 1891. ; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library; Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * Mansfield - Dail, Louise Jordan and Doris Jordan McGue. Mansfields of Chowan and Perquimans Counties, North Carolina: and Allied Lines of Caruthers, Floyd and Williams 2004..

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

Local Histories

 * Early Names, Boundaries &amp; Religion
 * The Signers of the Resolution of the Edenton Tea Party
 * History of North Carolina's Parishes

Maps and Gazetteers

 * NC State Map with clickable counties
 * Chowan Co., NC Township Map
 * Formation of NC in Maps
 * 1730 Herman Moll Map
 * Edward Mosley Map
 * 1744 Map of Lord Carteret's Land Grant
 * 1775 Henry Mouzon, Jr. Map
 * 1808 Price-Strothers Map
 * Civil War Maps
 * 1895 NC State Map
 * 1936 Chowan Co., NC Map
 * Animated Atlas
 * 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

War of 1812 
 * 1812 NC Muster Rolls

Civil War 
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch.org - 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


 * - 1st Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, usually known as the Bethel Regiment.
 * - 1st Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
 * - 11th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
 * - 11th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company F
 * - 1st Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company A
 * - 3rd Battalion, North Carolina Light Artillery, Company B
 * - Third Battalion NC Light Artillery; Company B from Chowan Co., NC

Civil War Battles  The following Civil War battle was fought in Chowan County:
 * May 5, 1864 - Albemarle Sound.
 * Battles of the American Civil War maps - filter by state or by battle name.

World War I 
 * 1907-1933 - Veterans Administration Pension Payment Cards 1907-1933
 * 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
 * WWII Honor List of Dead or Missing from Chowan Co., NC

Newspapers

 * North Carolina Newspapers at DigitalNC
 * Chronicling America (Chowan Co., NC)
 * North Carolina Newspaper Digitization Project, North Carolina State Archives.Search full text historical newspapers published in Edenton.
 * UNC Southern Historical Collection

Other Records
County Records


 * 1833-1970 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images. (incomplete)

Voter Registration
 * 1868-1898 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1875-1910 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; random records; index and images. (incomplete); Also at: Ancestry ($)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1660-1790 North Carolina Will Abstracts 1660-1790 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1663-1789 Secretary of State Wills at North Carolina Digital Collections - index and images
 * 1663-1978 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1663-1979 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1665-1998 North Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1687-1783 (*); General Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1694-1808 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1694-1928  at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
 * 1700-1868 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1706-1762 (*); General Court and Court of Admiralty at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1707-1924 (*); Superior Court and County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1707-1976 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1720-1960 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
 * 1724-1866 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1735-1868 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1735-1868 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1735-1970 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
 * 1740-1916 (*); Superior Court and County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1745-1820 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1748-1939 (*); Superior Court and County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1756-1806 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1757-1960 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1760-1800 North Carolina Will Abstracts 1760-1800 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1760-1942 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1764-1805 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1770-1887 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1780-1830 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1782-1868 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1788 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1790 Pre-1790 Chowan County, North Carolina Genealogy Wills stored at the North Carolina State Archives are online.
 * 1797-1808 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1811-1960 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1816-1841 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1846-1968 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images. (incomplete)
 * 1859-1927 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1868-1966 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1869-1960 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1871-1884 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1871-1909 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * Abstract of Chowan Co. Wills : Originals in Office of Clerk of the Superior Court, Edenton, N.C.; The North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register - v. 2, no. 1 (Jan. 1901). 1901. By Hathaway, James Robert Bent. Edenton, North Carolina : Hathaway, James Robert Bent. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Abstract of Wills : [of Chowan County at Edenton, North Carolina]; The North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register - v. 1, no. 4 (Oct. 1900). 1900. By Hathaway, James Robert Bent. Edenton, North Carolina : Hathaway, James Robert Bent. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Abstract of Wills : Taken from the Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court of Chowan County; The North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register - v. 1, no. 1 (Jan. 1900). 1900. By Hathaway, James Robert Bent. Edenton, North Carolina : Hathaway, James Robert Bent. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Chowan Co., NC Wills and Estates
 * Chowan County Will Abstracts, 1707-1850. 1976. By The Edenton Tea Party Chapter. Edenton, North Carolina : Daughters of the American Revolution. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Division of Estates (Chowan Co., N.C.); The North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register - v. 2, no. 2 (Apr. 1901). 1901. By Hathaway, James Robert Bent. Edenton, North Carolina : Hathaway, James Robert Bent. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Website tips.

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

 * 1717-1770 - Barrett, David and Janet Searles Barrett. Chowan County North Carolina Tythables and Taxables 1717-1770: A Compilation of 121 Tax Lists and Records (Elizabeth City, North Carolina: Family Research Society of Northeastern North Carolina, 2010); FS Library Book 975.6147 R4b 1717-1770.
 * 1717 - Chowan County, North Carolina 1717 Tax List (transcript) online at Singleton Descendants of Colonial North Carolina
 * 1717 - Tax Lists, Chowan County, 1717 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1721 - Tax Lists, Chowan County, 1721 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1753 - Tax Lists, Chowan County, 1753 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1772-1779 - Barrett, David and Janet Searles Barrett. Chowan County North Carolina Tythables and Taxables 1772-1779 (Elizabeth City, North Carolina: Family Research Society of Northeastern North Carolina, 2010); FS Library Book 975.6147 R4b 1772-1779.
 * 1782-1826 - Barrett, David and Janet Searles Barrett. Chowan County North Carolina Tythables and Taxables 1782-1826 (Elizabeth City, North Carolina: Family Research Society of Northeastern North Carolina, 2010); FS Library Book 975.6147 R4b 1772-1779.
 * 1785 - Tax Lists, Chowan County, 1785 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1785 - Tax Lists, Chowan County, 1785 (images) online at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1788 - Chowan County Taxables 1788 (transcript) online at FamilySearch
 * 1800 - Chowan County Taxables 1800 (transcript) online at FamilySearch
 * 1815 - Tax Lists, Chowan County, 1815 (images) online at North Carolina Digital Collections

Vital Records

 * 1800-2000 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Birth

 * 1800-2000 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1866-1964 at FamilySearch.org  How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1913-1922 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Marriage

 * 1741-1800 - "Marriage Bonds," The North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Apr. 1900):235-255. Digital version at Internet Archive
 * 1741-2004 North Carolina, United States Marriages at Findmypast
 * 1741-2004 North Carolina Marriage Index 1741-2004 at Ancestry $
 * 1742-1868 - Chowan County Marriage Bonds 1742-1868, available to membersNorth Carolina Pioneers $
 * 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
 * 1801-1825 - "Abstract of Marriage Bonds of Chowan County," The North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 1, No. 3 (Jul. 1900):392-414. Digital version at Internet Archive
 * 1826-1838 - "Abstract of Marriage Bonds of Chowan County," The North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 1, No. 4 (Oct. 1900):558-567. Digital version at Internet Archive
 * 1851-1958 - Chowan County Marriage Index 1851-1958 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.
 * Pre-1799 - North Carolina Marriages to 1799, a database, available to members. North Carolina Pioneers $

Death

 * 1898-1994 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1906-1930 at FamilySearch.org - 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.org - 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

 * Edenton North Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Elizabeth City North Carolina FamilySearch Center


 * Currituck Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Chowan Eastern NC Digital Library Website

Societies
Family History Society of Eastern North Carolina New Bern, NC Phone: 252-349-0405 Email: [mailto:info@encfamilies.org info@encfamilies.org] Facebook Website

Websites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Treasures of North Carolina at the NC Archives
 * North Carolina Pioneers 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.