Chatham County, North Carolina Genealogy
Guide to Chatham County, North Carolina ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 Resources
- 2.1 Bible Records
- 2.2 Biographies
- 2.3 Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- 2.4 Cemeteries
- 2.5 Census Records
- 2.6 Church Records
- 2.7 Court Records
- 2.8 Directories
- 2.9 Emigration and Immigration
- 2.10 Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
- 2.11 Funeral Homes
- 2.12 Genealogies
- 2.13 Guardianship
- 2.14 Land and Property Records
- 2.15 Local Histories
- 2.16 Maps and Gazetteers
- 2.17 Migration
- 2.18 Military Records
- 2.19 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 2.20 Newspapers
- 2.21 Obituaries
- 2.22 Other Records
- 2.23 Periodicals
- 2.24 Probate Records
- 2.25 School Records
- 2.26 Social Security Records
- 2.27 Tax Records
- 2.28 Vital Records
- 2.29 Voter Registration
- 3 Research Facilities
- 4 Societies
- 5 Websites
- 6 Research Guides
- 7 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
Chatham County is located in the central portion of North Carolina and was named for William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, who defended American rights in the British Parliament.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Chatham County Courthouse
12 East Road
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Phone: 919-542-3240
Chatham County Website
Register of Deeds has birth and death records from 1913, marriage and land records from 1771.
Clerk of Superior Court has divorce records from 1913, probate records from 1771 and court records from 1869.[3]
Chatham County, North Carolina Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
1913 | 1771 | 1913 | 1869 | 1771 | 1771 | 1784 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
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Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
In 1897 Chatham lost a portion of the NW boundary to Alamance Co., from a survey to establish a previously de facto boundary. In 1907 Chatham lost a portion of the SE boundary to form the newly established Lee Co. For animated maps illustrating North Carolina county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation North Carolina County Boundary Maps" (1664-1965) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website. |
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
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:[6]
Towns | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
Census-designated places | ||
Townships | ||
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History Timeline[edit | edit source]
The bill for establishing Chatham County was introduced in the Colonial Assembly, held at New Berne, December 5, 1770. But the bill was not ratified until January 26, 1771 and became effective the first day of April in 1771. The county was named for the first Earl of Chatham - William Pitt, 1708-1778. According to history, the Earl of Chatham was a true believer in the right of America and defended these rights in the British Parliament. Perhaps that zeal of patriotism transmitted itself to the inhabitants of Chatham County, because the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions struck the customary extolling of the King and his titles, in 1773, long before the first shot rang out in New England. Even though Chatham was a Crown Province of North Carolina until statehood was established on July 4, 1776. The county seat of Pittsboro was named for William Pitt, the younger, who was the youngest prime minister of Great Britain. He was 24 years of age, at the time.
Chatham was created from Orange County whose area was ten times what it is now. Because of political factions and difficulty in holding court and recording documents, the distance being so great, the counties of Guilford, Wake and Surry were created at the same time as Chatham. As a deterrent to the meeting and assembly of these factions and to facilitate the governing of them. Chatham is in the center of the state, in the hilly, timber covered section of the state. The counties that are neighbors are: Almance, Durham, Harnett, Lee, Moore, Orange, Randolph and Wake.
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
- Nathaniel J. Alston Bible
- William Brantley Family Bible
- Solomon Bunting Family Bible
- Foushee Family Bible
- Dr. Abner Holton Family Bible
- Alexander Leander & Fannie M. Harper Phillips Family Bible
- James Martin & Rachel Heding Bible
- Abraham Rencher Family Bible
- Thomas Roe Family Bible
- John Rowe Family Bible
- William Searcy Bible
- Nathan Alexander Stedman Family Bible
- Utley Family Bible
- Julia Emma Utley Family Bible
- John Wesley & Ora Lee (Marks) Utley Family Bible (1)
- John Wesley & Ora Lee (Marks) Utley Family Bible (2)
- John White Family Bible
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- Chatham County Families
- Letters: William Crutchfield to Wm. P. Pickard
- Paris T. Utley Letters
- Aaron Harlan Biography
- James Fauntleroy Taylor, 1791-1828
- Isham Sims Upchurch, 1909
- Deacon White
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
Historical populations | ||
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Census | Pop. | %± |
1790 | 9,161 | — |
1800 | 11,861 | 29.5% |
1810 | 12,977 | 9.4% |
1820 | 12,661 | −2.4% |
1830 | 15,405 | 21.7% |
1840 | 16,242 | 5.4% |
1850 | 18,449 | 13.6% |
1860 | 19,101 | 3.5% |
1870 | 19,723 | 3.3% |
1880 | 23,453 | 18.9% |
1890 | 25,413 | 8.4% |
1900 | 23,912 | −5.9% |
1910 | 22,635 | −5.3% |
1920 | 23,814 | 5.2% |
1930 | 24,177 | 1.5% |
1940 | 24,726 | 2.3% |
1950 | 25,392 | 2.7% |
1960 | 26,785 | 5.5% |
1970 | 29,554 | 10.3% |
1980 | 33,415 | 13.1% |
1990 | 38,759 | 16.0% |
2000 | 49,329 | 27.3% |
2010 | 63,505 | 28.7% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
Church Records[edit | edit source]
- 1700-1970 - North Carolina, Church Records, 1700-1970 at FamilySearch — index
- List of Chatham County Churches
Baptist
- Bear Creek Constituted 1786.[7]
- Collin's Mount Founded before 1773.[7]
- Deep River Founded before 1773.[7]
- Haw River Church built 1769.[7]
- Rocky River, near Siler City, N.C. Organized about 1757.[7][8] Formerly located in Orange.
- Tick Creek Founded before 1773.[7]
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
- Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions 1774-1779
- Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions Aug 1792
- Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions 1794
- Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions 1795
- Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions 1797-1800
- Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions 1805
- Apprenticeship Bonds 1784-1837
- Orphan Bonds 1774-1800
- Guardian Accounts 1800-1830
- Guardian Accounts 1828-1842
- Bastardy Bonds 1775-1799
- Bastardy Bonds 1871-1879
- Chatham County Courthouse
Clerk of Superior Court
PO Box 369
12 East Street
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Phone: 919-542-3240
Website
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
- Register of Deeds
PO Box 756
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Phone: 919-542-8235
Website
Deed records are indexed and copies of the actual documents are available online starting from 1771 Chatham County Deeds Online Search
- -All Chatham County land transactions, including any sales or exchanges of real property in the county. This includes any transactions involving parcels of land, easements, rights of way and lease holdings.
- -Security documents, such as deeds of trust, mortgages, and uniform commercial code filings.
- -Public records of notaries.
- -Records of businesses operating under assumed names.
- -Vital records, including births, deaths and marriages. The office provides certified copies of vital records to persons who are eligible under state law.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Township Map of Chatham County
- Chatham County in 1870
- Chatham County Old Trails & Creeks-1770's
- North Carolina 1779 - with waterways
- State Map Paths & Trails- 1660-1775
- Colonial Maps of the U.S.
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Revolutionary War
- 1779-1782 North Carolina Revolutionary Pay Vouchers 1779-1782 at FamilySearch
- Militia Officers of Chatham County in the Revolutionary War
- Revolutionary War Timeline
- Revolutionary War & Bible Records. Series of books with family info; online index of names included under Master Index.
War of 1812
Civil War
- 1861-1865 North Carolina, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch
- 1861-1865 North Carolina, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch
- 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 North Carolina, Confederate Soldiers and Widows Pension Applications, 1885-1953 at FamilySearch
- Civil War: Cedar Fork Rifles
Regiments. Men in Chatham County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Chatham County:
- - 6th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
- - 11th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
- - 11th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company G
- - 15th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, formerly the 5th Volunteers, Company M
- - 1st Brigade, North Carolina Reserves, Company H
- - 1st Regiment, North Carolina Junior Reserves, Company H
- - 5th Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry (63rd Regiment Volunteers), Company E
- - 5th Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry (63rd Regiment Volunteers), Company G
- - 6th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company I
- - 6th Regiment, North Carolina Senior Reserves, Company B
- - 6th Regiment, North Carolina Senior Reserves, Company E
- - 6th Regiment, North Carolina Senior Reserves, Company I
World War I
World War II
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- Transcribed Chatham Co. Newspaper Archives 1847-1887
- Transcribed Chatham Co., Newspaper Archives 1888
- The Raleigh Register October 22-29, 1799
- North Carolina Newspaper Project at NC State Library
- North Carolina Newspaper Digitization Project
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
County Records
- 1833-1970 North Carolina, County Records, 1833-1970 at FamilySearch
Voting Records
- Chatham Co. Voter Registration Books 1890-1896 at FamilySearch
- Chatham Co. Voter Registration: Canvas Book 1888-1890 at FamilySearch
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Probate Records
- 1660-1790 North Carolina Will Abstracts 1660-1790 at Ancestry $
- 1663-1964 NC Estate Records 1663-1964: Chatham County at FamilySearch
- 1663-1979 North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979 at FamilySearch
- 1665-1998 North Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998 at Ancestry $
- 1735-1970 North Carolina Probate Records 1735-1970 at FamilySearch
- 1760-1800 North Carolina Will Abstracts 1760-1800 at Ancestry $
- 1780-1931 Will Books A to I (1780-1931) at FamilySearch
- Pre-1790 Pre-1790 Chatham County, North Carolina Wills (North Carolina State Archives)
- Images of Wills and Estates 1798-1819;1818-1833; 1834-1857. North Carolina Pioneers $
Indices to Chatham County Wills and Estate Records: (NCGenWeb)
- 1782-1794 Wills & Estates 1782-1794
- 1795-1799 Wills & Estates 1795-1799
- 1798-1819 Wills & Estates 1798-1819
- 1800-1812 Index to Estates 1800-1812
- 1812-1822 Index to Estates 1812-1822
- 1818-1833 Wills & Estates 1818-1833
- 1821-1836 Estate Records-Vol. 1, 1821-1836
- 1834-1868 Wills & Estates 1834-1857
- 1856-1868 Wills & Estates 1856-1868
- 1847-1850 Index to Estates 1847-1850
Abstracted wills: (NCGenWeb)
- Surnames A-B
- Surnames C-D
- Surnames E-F-G
- Surnames H-J-K
- Surnames L-M-N
- Surnames O-P-Q-R
- Surnames S
- Surnames T-V
- Surnames W-Y-Z
- Clerk of the Superior Court
12 East Street
PO Box 369
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Phone: 919-542-3240
Website
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index 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[edit | edit source]
- 1755 1755 Orange County Tax List (transcript) at NCGenWeb (many Chatham Co. families were included before formation of Chatham)
- 1795 1795 Chatham County Tax List (transcript) at NCGenWeb
- 1815 1815 Chatham County Tax List (transcript) at NCGenWeb
- 1815 Tax Lists, Chatham County, 1815 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
- Register of Deeds
PO Box 756
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Phone: 919-542-8235
Website
The Register of Deeds Office maintains vital records, including births, deaths and marriages. The office provides certified copies of vital records to persons who are eligible under state law.
Online Records
- 1800-2000 - North Carolina, Department of Archives and History, Index to Vital Records, 1800-2000 at FamilySearch — index and images
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1775-1800 Bastardy Bonds from Chatham County Court Minutes 1775-1800 (USGenWeb)
- 1800-2000 North Carolina Birth Index 1800-2000 at FamilySearch
- 1866-1964 North Carolina Births and Christenings 1866-1964 at FamilySearch
- 1913-1922 North Carolina, Center for Health Statistics, Vital Records Unit, County Birth Records, 1913-1922 at FamilySearch — index and images
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1741-2004 North Carolina, United States Marriages at FindMyPast
- 1741-2004 North Carolina Marriage Index 1741-2004 at Ancestry $
- 1759-1979 North Carolina Marriages 1759-1979 at FamilySearch
- 1762-1979 North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 at FamilySearch
- 1763-1868 North Carolina, Civil Marriages, 1763-1868 at FamilySearch
- 1772-1929 Chatham County Marriage Index 1772-1929 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch[9]
- Chatham County Marriage Bonds
- Chatham County Marriages
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1812-1822 Index to Estates 1812-1822
- 1898-1994 North Carolina Deaths and Burials, 1898-1994 at FamilySearch
- 1906-1930 North Carolina Deaths 1906-1930 at FamilySearch
- 1908-2004 North Carolina Death Indexes 1908-2004 at Ancestry $
- 1909-1975 North Carolina Death Certificates 1909-1975 at Ancestry $
- 1931-1994 North Carolina Deaths 1931-1994 at FamilySearch
- Chatham County Death Certificates
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1926-1975 North Carolina, County Divorce Records, 1926-1975 at FamilySearch
- 1958-2004 North Carolina Divorce Index 1958-2004 at Ancestry $
Voter Registration[edit | edit source]
- 1868-1898 - North Carolina, Voter Registration Records, 1868-1898 at FamilySearch — index and images
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Chatham County. For state-wide archival repositories, see North Carolina Archives and Libraries.
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
Local Centers and Libraries
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Chatham County. For state-wide library facilities, see North Carolina Archives and Libraries.
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Chatham County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see North Carolina Societies.
- Chatham County Historical Association, Inc.
PO Box 93
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Email: history@chathamhistory.org
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- USGenWeb Project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
- Chatham County NCGenWeb Project
- Chatham County USGenWeb Archives
- FamilySearch Catalog – 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.
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), North Carolina.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ https://www.ncpedia.org/geography/Chatham
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), North Carolina.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Chatham County, North Carolina. Page 506-514 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 505-509.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), North Carolina.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Chatham County, North Carolina," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatham_County,_North_Carolina, accessed 10 February 2020.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 George Washington Paschal, History of North Carolina Baptists, 2 vols. (1930; reprint, Gallatin, Tenn.: Church History Research and Archives, 1990), 1:230-231, 297; 2:562-563. FHL Book 975.6 K2p 1990.
- ↑ "Rocky River Church," North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program, http://www.ncmarkers.com, accessed 22 October 2012.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/4/4d/Iginorthcarolinaa.pdf.