North Carolina Davidson County Vital Records - FamilySearch Historical Records



This wiki article describes a collection that is available for free online at FamilySearch Record Search – Pilot Site. To access the collection, see North Carolina, Davidson County Vital Records, 1867-1984

Collection Time Period
This collection includes records for the years 1869-2005.

Collection History
The Vital Records Section of the Department of Public Health is responsible for maintaining and issuing certified copies of vital records, including birth, marriage and death certificates for births, marriages and deaths that occurred in North Carolina. They officially began recording birth and death events in March 1913. Birth records were usually filled out by a midwife, doctor or other attendant. Death certificates were usually filled out by a mortician or medical professional. Marriage records were usually filled out by the person performing the marriage. Each official filled in the information concerning the event and obtained personal information on the deceased from an informant, usually a relative. That information was submitted to the county, who sent a copy to the state. Delayed birth records were required in the absence of a certificate of birth. They include affidavits and other supporting information from persons testifying to the birth. Marriages were not often recorded until after 1868 when the Register of Deeds for each county began to issue marriage licenses. The State of North Carolina began statewide registration in 1913 and achieved compliance by 1920.

Why This Collection Was Created
The state required counties to begin recording vital records in compliance with state law to document the births and deaths and to better serve public health needs. Death certificates were also used in connection with the probate of wills and the administration of estates.

Collection Reliability
Birth, death and marriage records are the most reliable sources of vital information. Information pertaining to the event is reliable. Other information is dependent upon the reliability of the informant.

Collection Description
North Carolina birth, marriage and death records are recorded on a printed form which were filled in by hand or typed. Delayed birth certificates may also include handwritten supporting documents. The marriage records are arranged by year and then by the the groom's surname. The "Indexed Register of Marriages" is arranged first by the first letter of the groom's surname and then by the date of the marriage. Note that the first four pages here are special lists: "Marriage License out of State (White)" and "Marriage License out of State (Colored)"--the main index begins with image 5. The death records are arranged by year, then by township, and then chronologically by the date of the event.

Collection Content
The key genealogical facts found in most birth certificates are:


 * Name of the child
 * Sex; whether a twin, triplet or other, race and marital status of parents
 * Date and time of birth
 * Birthplace
 * Names and sometimes ages of parents, often with maiden surname of the mother
 * Parent’s residences, races, birthplaces, occupations and sometimes educational attainments
 * Sometimes the number of children born to the mother, and the number of surviving children
 * Attending physician or midwife and time of birth

The key genealogical facts found in most delayed certificates of birth are:


 * Name of child at birth
 * Date and location of birth
 * Birth attendant
 * Names of parents of the child, often with maiden surname of the mother
 * Parent’s residences, races, birthplaces and occupations
 * Abstract of supporting evidence of birth
 * Name of register of deeds

The key genealogical facts found in most marriage records are:


 * Names of the groom and bride, including the maiden name of the bride
 * Race and sometimes ages of the groom and bride
 * Date and place of marriage
 * Residences of bride and groom
 * Names of parents of the bride and groom, often with maiden surname of the mother
 * Parent’s residences, races, birthplaces and occupations
 * Names of witnesses and the officiator

The key genealogical facts found in most death certificates are:


 * Name of the deceased


 * Sex, race, marital status and age of the deceased
 * Dates of death and burial
 * Birth date and birthplace of the deceased
 * City, county, and state of death
 * Name and location of the cemetery where buried
 * Frequently, the country or state and sometimes the town and county of birth for the deceased
 * Names of parents, often with maiden surname of the mother
 * Name of the informant, who is often a child or other family member
 * Residence or address of the deceased, if foreign-born
 * Whether the deceased was single, married, widowed, or divorced at the time of death
 * Occupation of the deceased

How To Use The Collection
Birth, death and marriage records are the best source of vital information. Use information about the family at time of birth, marriage or death to find other records about the family. You may be able to use the parents’ names to search for more information about them and earlier generations. The certificates contain other clues for further research. Delayed births may give information about other family members.

Related Article
North Carolina Vital Records