Anson County, North Carolina Genealogy

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

Description
Anson County is located in the Southern portion of North Carolina and shares a border with South Carolina. It was named for George Anson, 1st Baron Anson, a British Admiral, who circumnavigated the globe from 1740 to 1744, and later became First Lord of the Admiralty.

County Courthouse
Anson County Courthouse N Green Street P O Box 352 Wadesboro, NC 28170 Phone: 704-994-3201 Anson County Website Death &amp; Register of Deeds has birth records from 1913 marriage records from 1869 and land records Clerk Superior Court has divorce from 1868 Probate records from 1750 &amp; court records from 1770

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
The county was formed in 1749 from Bladen County. It was named for George Anson, Baron Anson, a British admiral, who circumnavigated the globe from 1740 to 1744, and later became First Lord of the Admiralty. Like its parent county, Anson County was originally a vast territory with indefinite northern and western boundaries. Reductions in its extent began in 1753, when the northern part of it became Rowan County. In 1762 the western part of Anson County became Mecklenburg County. In 1779 the northern part of what remained of Anson County became Montgomery County, and the part east of the Pee Dee River became Richmond County. Finally, in 1842 the western part of Anson County was combined with the southeastern part of Mecklenburg County to become Union County. Anson County was named in honor of British Admiral Lord George Anson, a First Lord of the Admiralty. He commanded the vessel which brought Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Germany, to her future husband King George III. Germans to the area around Anson County, as did many settlers from the British Isles, Africa, and Moravia. In 1750 Anson County was formed from Bladen County. At that time, it reached all the way to the Mississippi River. Although it has been cut in physical size five times since then, the people of that county have enabled its presence to reach beyond the Mississippi to the far corners of the world.

Bible Records

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

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
 * Anson County Churches

Baptist


 * Beaverdam. Constituted 1790.
 * Cartledge Creek aka Dockery's Meeting House, near Rockingham, N.C. Organized about 1774. Currently located in Richmond.
 * Fork of Little River. Church built 1758. Later located in Montgomery.
 * Hitchcock. Constituted 1772. Edwards published a membership list dated 1772 in Materials Towards a History of the Baptists... (1772), 128. Later located in Richmond.
 * Pee Dee River. Constituted 1785.
 * Rocky River, Burnsville, N.C. Began before 1772.

Church of England


 * St. George's Parish. Established 1749.

List of Churches and Church Parishes


 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1759-1960 (*); State Archives at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1771-1868 (*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1847-1868 (*); Court of Equity at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1849-1962 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1864-1910 (*); Superior and Justice's Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1868-1927 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1868-1956 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1868-1962 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1888-1962 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1889-1895 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1899-1968 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * Anson County, North Carolina Abstracts of Early Records. 1950. By McBee, May Wilson. Anson County, North Carolina : Anson County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.

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

Funeral Homes

 * Monroe Mortuary Services in Polkton.
 * Smith’s Funeral Home in Wadesboro.

Genealogies

 * Anson County Heritage, North Carolina, 1995. Wadesboro, N.C.: Don Mills &amp; Anson County Heritage Book Committee, 1995..

Bibliography


 * Burns Kelman, Helen Parker. Parkers of Anson Co., N.C. with the Burnses and Curlees. Raleigh, N.C.: H.P. Kelman, c1993, 2001..
 * Curlee Kelman, Helen Parker. Parkers of Anson Co., N.C. with the Burnses and Curlees. Raleigh, N.C.: H.P. Kelman, c1993, 2001..
 * Gulledge Wiggins, Marie Gulledge. "Anson County, North Carolina Marriages," "Anson County, North Carolina Records," and "Anson County, North Carolina Court Records," Marie G. Wiggins Genealogical Collection Including Variant Surnames. MSS. Microfilmed 1993:.
 * Hardin Craig, Marion Stark. Benjamin Hardin (IV): 1764-1848 (Revolutionary War Soldier and Pensioner) and Wife, Elizabeth Scott and Their Family Connections: A Genealogical Compilation. Little Rock, Ark.: M.S. Craig, 1991..
 * Helms Myers, Sara M. and Sallie C. Pressley. George Helms and Tilman Helms, 1720-1900: History &amp; Genealogy of the Helms Family, Pioneers of Anson &amp; Meck. Counties, North Carolina, Five Generations. Cassopolis, Mich.: S.M. Myers, 1981..
 * Huntley Redfearn, Daniel Huntley. History of the Redfearn Family. Miami, Fla.: n.p., 1942..
 * Jarman German, John L. "Finding the Father of David German of North Carolina and Shelby County, Indiana," The American Genealogist, Vol. 68, No. 2 (Apr. 1993):87-94.
 * McLendon Redfearn, Rosalind McLendon. The McLendons of Anson County. Wadesboro, N.C.: n.p., 1957..
 * Moore Austin, Nancy Jane Moore and Mary Lois Moore Yandle. The Moore Families of Anson and Union Counties, North Carolina: 1750-1986. Charlotte, N.C.: N.J.M. Austin, c1988..
 * Parker Kelman, Helen Parker. Parkers of Anson Co., N.C. with the Burnses and Curlees. Raleigh, N.C.: H.P. Kelman, c1993, 2001..
 * Preslar Dunn, Edwin C. Some Genealogical Notes on the Preslar/Presley Family of Anson Co., N.C. Albuquerque, N.M.: E.C. Dunn, 1985..
 * Presley Dunn, Edwin C. Some Genealogical Notes on the Preslar/Presley Family of Anson Co., N.C. Albuquerque, N.M.: E.C. Dunn, 1985..
 * Redfearn Redfearn, Daniel Huntley. History of Redfearn Family. Miami, Fla.: n.p., 1942..
 * Redfearn Redfearn, Daniel Huntley. History of the Redfearn Family. Miami, Fla.: Redfearn, 1954..
 * Redfearn Redfern, Michael Robert. The History of the Redfearn Family Revisited. Louisville, Colo.: M.R. Redfern, c2005..
 * Reed Craig, Marion Stark. Benjamin Hardin (IV): 1764-1848 (Revolutionary War Soldier and Pensioner) and Wife, Elizabeth Scott and Their Family Connections: A Genealogical Compilation. Little Rock, Ark.: M.S. Craig, 1991..
 * Reed Craig, Marion Stark. Joseph Reed (Died 1751) of Anson County, NC &amp; Wife, Elizabeth, Who Married James Deacon and Lived in Rowan County, NC: A Genealogical Compilation. Little Rock, Ark.: M.S. Craig, 1991..
 * Sheppard Sheppard, Thomas C. The Sheppard Family: Descendants of William Sheppard of Anson County, North Carolina. Fairmont, W.Va.: T.C. Sheppard, 1992. ; digital version at Family History Archives.
 * Taylor Taylor, James L. Stephen Taylor and Descendants, Johnston and Anson Counties, North Carolina and Westward 1750's-1996. Typescript. Microfilmed 2001: ; digital version at Family History Archives.
 * Wall Thomas, Anne Wall. The Walls of Walltown: The Known Descendants of James Wall of Anson County, North Carolina. Carrboro, N.C.: A.W. Thomas, c1969. Digital version at.
 * Wiggins Wiggins, Marie Gulledge. "Individuals found in Anson co., N.C. deeds," in Wiggins Genealogical Collection. MSS. Microfilmed 1990:.

Land and Property Records
Anson County land and deed records may be obtained through the local Register of Deeds or through the North Carolina State Archives for older records. Contact the Registry's office at the below address, and also click onto the link to get further details about the office:

Anson County Register of Deeds 101 S. Greene Street, Suite 131 Wadesboro, NC 28170 704-994-3208

Online Land Indexes and Records
 * Anson County Deeds
 * North Carolina Land Grants at NC Historical Records Online - index, requires free account to view images
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Local Histories

 * Medley, Mary L. History of Anson County, North Carolina, 1750-1976. Wadesboro, N.C.: Anson County Historical Society, 1976. History of Anson County, North Carolina, 1750-1976 at Ancestry

Maps and Gazetteers

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

Military Records

 * Anson County 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.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


 * - 14th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, formerly the 4th Volunteers, Company C
 * - 1st Brigade, North Carolina Reserves, Company I
 * - 1st Regiment, North Carolina Junior Reserves, Company I
 * - 4th Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry (59th North Carolina State Troops), Company A
 * - 6th Regiment, North Carolina Senior Reserves, Company G
 * - 6th Regiment, North Carolina Senior Reserves, Company I

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

 * Anson Record - full-text digital issues in Google News Archive; covers 1955-1981
 * Anson Record &amp; Messenger Intelligencer - full-text digital issues in Google News Archive; covers 1981-1982
 * Anson County USGenWeb Newspapers
 * North Carolina Newspapers Project -info from the State Library about what kinds of newspaper records are available on microfilm
 * North Carolina Newspapers at DigitalNC

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

Probate Records
Copies of Wills are available through the County Clerk of the Court or through the North Carolina State Archives.


 * Clerk of Court-Telephone:704-694-2314

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 ($)
 * 1720-1960 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
 * 1735-1970 at FamilySearch.org  - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
 * 1738-1769 Minutes of the Pleas and Quarter Session Court 1738-1741; 1759-1769 and General Index (information about wills, inventories, sales, orphans, administrators, etc.) North Carolina Pioneers ($)
 * 1751-1962 at FamilySearch.org How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
 * 1751-1962 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1760-1800 North Carolina Will Abstracts 1760-1800 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1790 Pre-1790 Anson County, North Carolina Genealogy Wills stored at the North Carolina State Archives are online.
 * 1833-1970 North Carolina, U.S., County Records, 1833-1970 at Ancestry.com - index & images ($)
 * 1849-1962 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1869-1872 (*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1920-1962 (*); Department of Revenue at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * Anson County NC Loose Estates Index, 1663-1979
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * Anson County North Carolina Abstract of Wills, 1750-1880 : A Brief History of the Early Settlers to North Carolina. Compiled By Carpenter, Reva Nance. San Diego, California : Grasshopper Press. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Anson County Wills from the USGenWeb Archives
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * Images of Wills & Estates 1751-1779; Book A, 1801-1857; Book B, 1828-1838; Book C, 1837-1841; Book D, 1853-71; Book E, 1873-1903 North Carolina Pioneers ($)
 * North Carolina State Archives
 * Website tips.
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

School Records
Yearbooks 


 * Anson County students at NC colleges - a list via the NCGenWeb Yearbook Index

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

 * 1750 - Quit Rent 1750 (transcript) only includes two names online at USGenWeb Archives
 * 1763 - Tax Lists, Anson County, 1763 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1763 - Tax Lists, Anson County, 1763 (images) online at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1763 - Tax Lists, Anson County, 1763 (images) online at FamilySearch
 * 1815 - Tax Lists, Anson County, 1815 (images) online at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1815 - Anson-Union County, NC - Tax List, 1815 Partial (transcript) online at USGenWeb Archives
 * 1842-1849-1842, 1843, 1845, 1847, 1849 partial tax lists (transcripts) online at USGenWeb Archives

Vital Records

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


 * Anson County was formed from Bladen County around 1749. The first courthouse was located on the north bank of the Pee Dee River in an area called Mount Pleasant. In 1782, it was decided that the location of the courthouse was unsatisfactory, and a commission was formed to select a more appropriate site. The commission established the county seat in New Town, the first chartered town in Anson County.
 * The name of the town was later changed from New Town to Wadesboro. We are currently in our sixth courthouse. Through all the years, the moves and the fires, we have managed to keep all our deed records. The first deed recorded in the first book is dated March 25, 1749. Our marriage records, sadly, are a different story. Except for a few marriage bonds and a list of marriages gleaned from other sources, our early marriage records did not survive the courthouse fire of 1868. Our current marriage records start after this date. North Carolina did not require counties to maintain copies of birth and death records until late 1913, so our records for births and deaths date from October 1913 forward. Wills are kept in the office of the Clerk of Court.
 * The Anson County Register of Deeds office is located at 101 S. Greene St., Suite 131, Wadesboro, NC. Our office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. We observe legal holidays at the direction of the Board of County Commissioners. Two hour parking is available on the street. We are a small but very busy office ,and our work space is limited. We often have attorneys, paralegals, real estate agents, appraisers, genealogists, etc. using the office at the same time. We ask that each person be considerate of others working and doing research in the office, and help us provide an atmosphere in which we can all work. If you have any questions, call us at 704-994-3208. We look foward to seeing you in Anson County.
 * Anson County Registry of Deeds

Birth

 * 1800-2000 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1866-1964 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1870-1962 - Anson County Birth Index 1870-1962. Batch at FamilySearch.
 * 1870-1903 Anson County Bastardy Bonds - Betty Camin's online database covers 1870-1903
 * 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 $
 * 1749-1979 - Anson County Marriage Index 1749-1979 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
 * 1825 Anson County Marriages from the USGenWeb Archives
 * GenWed has marriages for Anson County as early as 1825. They are abstracts from various sources.

Death

 * 1833-1970 North Carolina, U.S., County Records, 1833-1970 at Ancestry.com - index & images ($)
 * 1898-1994 at FamilySearch.org  - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1906-1930 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection;index and images. Also at MyHeritage ($)
 * 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. Also at MyHeritage ($)

Divorce

 * 1926-1975 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1958-2004 North Carolina Divorce Index 1958-2004 at Ancestry $

Voter Records

 * 1833-1970 North Carolina, U.S., County Records, 1833-1970 at Ancestry.com - index & images ($)

FamilySearch Centers

 * Albemarle North Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Charlotte North Carolina South FamilySearch Center
 * Gastonia North Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * York South Carolina FamilySearch Center


 * Cabarrus County Public library - Concord Branch - an affiliate library
 * Charlotte Mecklenburg Library - an affiliate library

Societies
Anson County Historical Society 206 E Wade St Wadesboro, NC 28170-2229 Phone: 704-694-6694 Email:[mailto:ansonhistorical@windstream.net ansonhistorical@windstream.net] Facebook Website

Websites

 * NCGenWeb: Anson County genealogy resources; part of the national USGenWeb Project
 * Anson County USGenWeb Archives
 * 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.