Buncombe County, North Carolina Genealogy

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

Description
Buncombe County is located in the Western portion of North Carolina and was named for Edward Buncombe, a Revolutionary War colonel.

County Courthouse
Buncombe County Courthouse 69 Court Plaza Run 110 Asheville, NC 28801-3519 Buncombe County Website Reg of Deeds has b, m, d. bur &amp; land records Clk Sup Ct has div &amp; pro rec from 1832 &amp; Ct Rec

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 images
 * Buncombe County, North Carolina Family Bibles and Family Records at Genealogy Trails
 * Family Bible Records at Old Buncombe County Genealogical Society

Cemeteries

 * at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images  Also at: Ancestry ($)
 * Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery, Black Mountain

Church Records

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

Baptist List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * French Broad River, near Mills River, N.C. Organized before 1792. Later located in Henderson.
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1776-1949 (*); Superior Court and Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1786-1946 (*); Clerk of the Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1792-1834 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1798-1964 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1812-1925 (*); Superior Court and Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1880-1948 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1935-1962 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * (*); State Archives at FamilySearch Catalog — images


 * Adoptions Orders and Degrees, 1935-1962, Buncombe County, North Carolina; v. 01. By Buncombe County, North Carolina Superior Court. Buncombe County, North Carolina : Buncombe County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Adoptions, Orders and Degrees, 1935-1962, Buncombe County, North Carolina; v. 02. By Buncombe County, North Carolina Superior Court. Buncombe County, North Carolina : Buncombe County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Buncombe County, North Carolina, Court Minutes, 1793 : [A Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions], The Ridge Runners : A Magazine of Migration - v. 7 (1976). 1976. By Yates, William Allen. Rifle, Colorado : Yates, William Allen. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Buncombe County, North Carolina : Court Minutes, 1794-1795, The Ridge Runners : A Magazine of Migration - v. 9, no. 1 (Aug. 1977). 1977. By Yates, William Allen. Murray, Utah : Yates, William Allen. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Buncombe County, North Carolina : Court Minutes, 1795-1796, The Ridge Runners : A Magazine of Migration - v. 11 (1978). 1978. By Yates, William Allen. Murray, Utah : Yates Publishing Company. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Buncombe County, North Carolina : Second and Third Terms of Court, 1792, The Ridge Runners : A Magazine of Migration - v. 5 (May 1976). 1976. By Yates, William Allen. Rifle, Colorado : Yates, William Allen. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Court Minutes, 1880-1909; Court Minutes Civil, 1909-1948; and Court Minutes Criminal, 1889-1897, 1900-1945, Buncombe County, North Carolina; Criminal Book 17 1933-1945. By Buncombe County, North Carolina Superior Court. Buncombe County, North Carolina : Buncombe County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Court Minutes, 1880-1909; Court Minutes Civil, 1909-1948; and Court Minutes Criminal, 1889-1897, 1900-1945, Buncombe County, North Carolina; Criminal Book 20 1933-1945. By Buncombe County, North Carolina Superior Court. Buncombe County, North Carolina : Buncombe County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Court Minutes, 1880-1909; Court Minutes Civil, 1909-1948; and Court Minutes Criminal, 1889-1897, 1900-1945, Buncombe County, North Carolina; v. WW. By Buncombe County, North Carolina Superior Court. Buncombe County, North Carolina : Buncombe County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Court Minutes, 1880-1909; Court Minutes Civil, 1909-1948; and Court Minutes Criminal, 1889-1897, 1900-1945, Buncombe County, North Carolina; v. XX. By Buncombe County, North Carolina Superior Court. Buncombe County, North Carolina : Buncombe County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Court Minutes, 1880-1909; Court Minutes Civil, 1909-1948; and Court Minutes Criminal, 1889-1897, 1900-1945, Buncombe County, North Carolina; v. YY. By Buncombe County, North Carolina Superior Court. Buncombe County, North Carolina : Buncombe County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Court Minutes, 1880-1909; Court Minutes Civil, 1909-1948; and Court Minutes Criminal, 1889-1897, 1900-1945, Buncombe County, North Carolina; v. ZZ. By Buncombe County, North Carolina Superior Court. Buncombe County, North Carolina : Buncombe County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Special Proceedings, 1798-1812, 1854-1953, and Cross-Index, 1854-1964, Buncombe County, North Carolina; v. 41. By Buncombe County, North Carolina Superior Court. Buncombe County, North Carolina : Buncombe County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Special Proceedings, 1798-1812, 1854-1953, and Cross-Index, 1854-1964, Buncombe County, North Carolina; v. 47. By Buncombe County, North Carolina Superior Court. Buncombe County, North Carolina : Buncombe County, North Carolina. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.

Directories

 * 1916 Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina, City Directory, 1916 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)
 * 1917 Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina, City Directory, 1917 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)
 * 1917 Charlotte, Buncombe County, North Carolina, City Directory, 1917 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)
 * 1918 Charlotte, Buncombe County, North Carolina, City Directory, 1918 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)
 * 1920 Charlotte, Buncombe County, North Carolina, City Directory, 1920 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)

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

 * A Simple Cremation in Candler
 * Anders-Rice Funeral Home in Asheville
 * Asheville Area Alternative Funeral and Cremation Services in Asheville
 * Asheville Mortuary Services in Asheville
 * Avery’s Memorial Chapel in Asheville
 * Groce Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Asheville
 * Hart Funeral Service in Asheville
 * Harwood Home for Funerals and Cremation Services in Black Mountain
 * Highlands Cremation and Funeral Care in Arden
 * Morris Funeral & Cremation Care in Asheville
 * Mountain View Cremation & Funeral Care in Arden
 * Penland Family Funeral Home in Swannanoa
 * Ray Funeral Service in Asheville
 * West Family Funeral Services in Weaverville
 * Western Carolina Mortuary Service LLC in Asheville

Genealogies

 * Gash Rising, Marsha Hoffman. "The Gash Family of Buncombe County, North Carolina: Who Was Ebenezer Gash of St. Clair County, Missouri?," The American Genealogist, Vol. 73, No. 2 (Apr. 1998):105-116 Digital Version

Land and Property Records
Land records in Buncombe County are searchable and the deeds are available online at the Register of Deeds Website

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 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

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.
 * - 11th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
 * - 11th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company K
 * - 14th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, formerly the 4th Volunteers, Company F :- 16th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company F
 * - 1st Battalion, North Carolina Junior Reserves. Company A
 * - 1st Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry, Company G
 * - 5th Regiment, North Carolina Senior Reserves, Company G
 * - 7th Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry, Company B
 * - 7th Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry, Company C
 * - 7th Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry, Company F
 * - 7th Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry, Company I
 * - 7th Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry, Company K

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 Newspapers at DigitalNC

Other Records
County Records
 * 1833-1970 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; random records; index and images. (incomplete); Also at: Ancestry ($)

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)
 * 1735-1970 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
 * 1760-1800 North Carolina Will Abstracts 1760-1800 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1798-1964 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1822-1964 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1831-1864 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1831-1961 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
 * 1831-1964 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1868-1964 (*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * Account Records, 1868-1964, Buncombe County, North Carolina; v. 35. North Carolina. Superior Court (Buncombe County). Buncombe County, Arkansas : Buncombe County, Arkansas. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Account Records, 1868-1964, Buncombe County, North Carolina; v. 38. North Carolina. Superior Court (Buncombe County). Buncombe County, Arkansas : Buncombe County, Arkansas. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Account Records, 1868-1964, Buncombe County, North Carolina; v. 41. North Carolina. Superior Court (Buncombe County). Buncombe County, Arkansas : Buncombe County, Arkansas. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Account Records, 1868-1964, Buncombe County, North Carolina; v. 42. North Carolina. Superior Court (Buncombe County). Buncombe County, Arkansas : Buncombe County, Arkansas. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Images of Wills & Estates, Book A 1764-1921; Book B, 1908-1924; Book C, 1924-1954. North Carolina Pioneers ($)
 * Images of Wills & Estates, Book A 1831-1866; Book B, 1869-1899; Book C, 1867-1897. North Carolina Pioneers ($)

School Records

 * Black Mountain College collection - repository of publications and records of the college. Available via the North Carolina Digital Collections website.
 * Montreat College Yearbooks: 1925-1959 -- free at the Internet Archive
 * Buncombe County students at NC colleges - 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.

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
 * 1892-1909 - Asheville, Buncombe County Birth Index 1892-1909. Batch at FamilySearch.
 * 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.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
 * 1851-1961 - Buncombe County Marriage Index 1851-1961 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch

Death

 * 1898-1909 - Asheville, Buncombe County Death Index 1898-1909. Batch at FamilySearch
 * 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 $

Family History Centers

 * Asheville North Carolina Family History Center

Societies
Old County Genealogical Society 128 Bingham Rd., Ste. 950 PO Box 2122 Asheville, NC 28802-2122 Telephone 828-253-1894 Email: [mailto:\info@obcgs.com info@obcgs.com] Website Facebook

Websites

 * Asheville and Buncombe County Weblog
 * Buncombe County NC GenWeb
 * Old Buncombe County Genealogical Society
 * – 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.