Pitt County, North Carolina Genealogy
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Guide to Pitt County, North Carolina ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
Pitt County is located in the eastern portion of North Carolina and was named for William Pitt, Earl of Chatham.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Pitt County Courthouse
100 W. Third Street
PO Box 35
Greenville, NC 27835
Phone: 252-830-4128
Pitt County Website
Register of Deeds has birth and death records from 1913, marriage records from 1866 and land records from 1762.
Clerk Superior Court has divorce, probate and court records from 1885.[3]
Pitt 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 | 1866 | 1913 | 1885 | 1762 | 1885 | 1784 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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1857 Courthouse fire destroyed most of the court records. For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
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Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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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]
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| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
| Townships | ||
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History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Pitt was formed in 1760 from Beaufort County. The act was to become effective January 1, 1761. It was named for William Pitt the Elder, who was then Secretary of State for the Southern Department and Leader of the House of Commons. William Pitt was an English statesman and orator, born in London, England. He studied at Oxford University and in 1731, Pitt joined the army. Pitt led the young "Patriot" Whigs and in 1756 became secretary of state, where he was a pro-freedom speaker in British Colonial government. Pitt County is in the eastern part of North Carolina and is surrounded by Beaufort, Craven, Edgecombe, Greene, Lenoir, Martin, and Wilson counties. Courts were first held at the home of John Hardy until a courthouse could be built. The courthouse was built on Hardy's land near Hardy's Chapel. In 1771 Martinsboro was established, and in 1774 the courthouse was moved there. In 1787 Martinsboro's name was changed to Greenville, which is still the county seat.
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
- Bible Records at North Carolina Digital Archives - index and image
- Pitt County, NC Bibles at USGenWeb Archives
- Pitt County, North Carolina Family and Bible Records at Genealogy Trails
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
- North Carolina, Historical Records Survey, Cemetery Inscription Card Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images Also at: Ancestry ($)
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1790 | 8,270 | — |
| 1800 | 9,084 | 9.8% |
| 1810 | 9,169 | 0.9% |
| 1820 | 10,001 | 9.1% |
| 1830 | 12,093 | 20.9% |
| 1840 | 11,806 | −2.4% |
| 1850 | 13,397 | 13.5% |
| 1860 | 16,080 | 20.0% |
| 1870 | 17,276 | 7.4% |
| 1880 | 21,794 | 26.2% |
| 1890 | 25,519 | 17.1% |
| 1900 | 30,889 | 21.0% |
| 1910 | 36,340 | 17.6% |
| 1920 | 45,569 | 25.4% |
| 1930 | 54,466 | 19.5% |
| 1940 | 61,244 | 12.4% |
| 1950 | 63,789 | 4.2% |
| 1960 | 69,942 | 9.6% |
| 1970 | 73,900 | 5.7% |
| 1980 | 90,146 | 22.0% |
| 1990 | 107,924 | 19.7% |
| 2000 | 133,798 | 24.0% |
| 2010 | 168,148 | 25.7% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Church Records[edit | edit source]
- 1700-1970 North Carolina, Church Records, 1700-1970 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Baptist
- Flat Swamp. Constituted 1776.[7][8]
- Immanuel. Perfect Church Record for Immanuel Baptist Church, Greenville, N.C.. at East Carolina University - Digital Collections
- Red Bank. Constituted 1758.[7][9]
- Whitfield's Meeting House. Established by 1789.[7]
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
- Pitt County Court Records
- Pitt County Supreme Court Records
- Pitt County Records (North Carolina State Archives)
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
- 1862-1870 North Carolina, Freedmen's Bureau Assistant Commissioner Records, 1862-1870 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1863-1872 North Carolina, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1863-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
- Blake Phillips Funeral Services in Greenville
- Congleton Funeral Home and Cremations in Greenville
- Don Brown and Robinson Funeral Home in Ayden
- Farmville Funeral Home in Farmville
- Heavenly Arms Family Mortuary & Cremation Services LLC in Farmville
- Mitchell’s Memorial Funeral Home in Winterville
- Next Generation Funeral Home in Greenville
- Phillips Brothers and Anderson Memorial Mortuary in Greenville
- Rivers-Morgan Funeral Homes in Greenville
- Rountree Family Mortuary & Cremation Service in Greenville
- Rouse Mortuary Service & Crematory in Greenville
- Smith Funeral Service & Crematory in Greenville
- W.E. Flanagan Memorial Funeral Home and Cremations in Greenville
- Wilkerson Funeral Home in Greenville
- Winterville Cremation & Funeral Services in Winterville
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
- Pitt County transcribed deeds (NC Archives)
- Pitt County Register of Deeds
100 West Third Street
PO Box 35
Greenville, NC 27858-1806
Phone: 252-902-1650
Website
This office records land documents including deeds, deeds of trust, subdivision maps, leases, easements, assignments, agreements, deeds of trust cancellations, corporate documents, assumed names, and files Uniform Commercial Code financing statements on personal property. This office also serves as the custodian of certificates of births and deaths occurring in the County, issues marriage licenses, and certifies birth, death, and marriage certificates in the County. Veterans' military discharge records and notary public commissions are also kept here, and this office administers the oath to all notaries public. Recording fees and fees for certificates are charged.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
- Emily Loftin Collection
- Simpson-Bryan Collection
- Sketches of Pitt County, a brief history of the county, 1704-1910. In addition to brief history, contains sketches of prominent Pitt County men and women. (ECU Digital collection)
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
Click a neighboring county
for more resources
for more resources
- Pitt County Townships
- 1895 Pitt County
- 1770 John Collett Map
- Formation of North Carolina Counties Map
- Pitt County from NC Digital Maps Collection
- Map of Greenville, N.C., Date: June, 1933
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Revolutionary War
- 1778-1833 Delamar Transcripts of Revolutionary War Petitions at North Carolina Genealogical Society - index ($)
- 1779-1782 North Carolina Revolutionary Pay Vouchers 1779-1782 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Civil War
- 1861-1865 North Carolina, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1861-1865 North Carolina, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - 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 and 1901 1885 and 1901 Confederate Pension Applications at North Carolina Digital Collections - index and images
- 1885-1953 North Carolina, Confederate Soldiers and Widows Pension Applications, 1885-1953 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Regiments. Men in Pitt 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 Pitt County:
- - 8th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
- - 17th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry (1st Organization), Company C
- - 2nd Regiment, North Carolina Junior Reserves, Company H
- - 8th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company G
Civil War Battles
The following Civil War battle was fought in Pitt County:
- June 5, 1862 Tranter's Creek[10]
- Map showing Civil War battles in North Carolina.
World War I
- 1914-1918 World War I Papers at North Carolina Digital Collections - index and images
- 1917-1919 North Carolina, World War I Service Cards, 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 North Carolina, Discharge and Statement of Service Records, 1940-1948 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- North Carolina Newspapers at DigitalNC
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Voter Registration
- 1868-1898 North Carolina, Voter Registration Records, 1868-1898 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- Historic Places in Pitt County, included in National Register of Historical Places.
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1660-1790 North Carolina Will Abstracts 1660-1790 at Ancestry ($)
- 1663-1789 Secretary of State Wills at North Carolina Digital Collections - index and images
- 1663-1978 Probate Records of Pitt County, North Carolina, 1663-1978(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1663-1979 North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1663-1978 Probate Records of Pitt County, North Carolina, 1663-1978(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1665-1998 North Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998 at Ancestry ($)
- 1720-1960 Will Books A to F and 1 to 8 (1720-1960) at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
- 1735-1970 North Carolina Probate Records 1735-1970 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
- 1760-1800 North Carolina Will Abstracts 1760-1800 at Ancestry ($)
- 1762-1851 Miscellaneous Papers, 1762-1851(*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1779-1807 Wills and Estate Papers (New Bern District), 1779-1807(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1785-1805 Images of Wills and Settlements. North Carolina Pioneers ($)
- 1790 Pre-1790 Pitt County, North Carolina Genealogy Wills (North Carolina State Archives)
- 1858-1868 Wills and Testaments, 1858-1868(*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1858-1946 North Carolina, Pitt County, Widow's Support Records, 1858-1946(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1858-1946 Years Allowance and Dower for Widows, 1858-1946(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1858-1963 Will Books 1 to 12 (1858-1963) at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
- Pitt County transcribed wills and estate records. (USGenWeb Archives)
- 1858-1963 Wills with Index (Devisor and Devisee), 1858-1963(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1868-1963 Guardians and Administrators Accounts, Qualifications, Appointments, Executors and Settlements, 1868-1963(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- Clerk of Superior Court
Pitt County Courthouse
100 W. Third Street
PO Box 6067
Greenville, NC 27835
Phone: 252-695-7100
Website
The Clerk of Superior Court is elected for four years and must be a resident of the county in which he or she is elected. Unlike clerks of court in other states, the Clerk of Superior Court in North Carolina has numerous judicial functions.
As judge of probate, the Clerk has exclusive original jurisdiction over matters relating to the probate of wills, and the administration of estates, including appointing personal representatives, auditing their accounting, and removing them from office if necessary. The Clerk also presides over many other legal matters including adoptions, incompetency proceedings, condemnation of private lands for public use, and foreclosures. The Clerk is responsible for all clerical and record-keeping functions of the district and superior court. In addition, the Clerk receives and disburses money collected each year from court fees and fines.
School Records[edit | edit source]
Yearbooks
- East Carolina University - The Tecoan: 1923-1952. The Tecoan, yearbook published by the students of East Carolina Teachers College from 1923-1952.
- East Carolina University - The Buccaneer: 1953-1979. The name of the yearbook changed to The Buccaneer in 1953. The Buccaneer was published from 1953-1990, with a two year suspension from 1976-1978. Publication resumed in 2007.
- East Carolina University - The Buccaneer:1953-2015 (vol. 76) and The Tecoan: 1923-1952. (ECU Digital Collections)
- Pitt County students from NC colleges. Yearbook index. (NCGenWeb)
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]
- 1762 Tax Lists, Pitt County, 1762 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2 at Ancestry $
- 1762 Tax Lists, Pitt County, 1762 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
- 1762 List of Taxables, Pitt County for the Year 1762 (images) at FamilySearch
- 1762 Tax Lists, Pitt County, 1762 (images) at FamilySearch
- 1763 Tax Lists, Pitt County, 1763 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2 at Ancestry $
- 1763 Tax Lists, Pitt County, 1763 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
- 1764 Tax Lists, Pitt County, 1764 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2 at Ancestry $
- 1764 Tax Lists, Pitt County, 1764 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
- 1775 Tax Lists, Pitt County, 1775 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2 at Ancestry $
- 1775 Tax Lists, Pitt County, 1775 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
- 1779 Tax Lists, New Bern District, 1779 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2 at Ancestry $
- 1779 Tax Lists, New Bern District, 1779 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
- 1786 Tax Lists, Pitt County, 1786 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2 at Ancestry $
- 1786 Tax Lists, Pitt County, 1786 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
- 1786 1786 Tax List (images) at FamilySearch
- 1815 Tax Lists, Pitt County, 1815 (images) at North Carolina Digital Collections
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
- 1800-2000 North Carolina, Department of Archives and History, Index to Vital Records, 1800-2000 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1800-2000 North Carolina Birth Index 1800-2000 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1866-1964 North Carolina Births and Christenings 1866-1964 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1871-1956 Pitt County Birth Index 1871-1956. Batch C752340 at FamilySearch[11]
- 1913-1922 North Carolina, Center for Health Statistics, Vital Records Unit, County Birth Records, 1913-1922 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; 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 - How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1762-1979 North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1763-1868 North Carolina, Civil Marriages, 1763-1868 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1851-1867 Pitt County Marriage Register, 1851-1867 at East Carolina University
- 1866-1961 Pitt County Marriage Index 1866-1961 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch[12]
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1898-1994 North Carolina Deaths and Burials, 1898-1994 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1906-1930 North Carolina Deaths 1906-1930 at FamilySearch - 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 North Carolina Deaths 1931-1994 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1926-1975 North Carolina, County Divorce Records, 1926-1975 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1958-2004 North Carolina Divorce Index 1958-2004 at Ancestry $
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Pitt County. For state-wide archival repositories, see North Carolina Archives and Libraries.
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- 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 Affiliate Libraries
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Pitt County. For state-wide library facilities, see North Carolina Archives and Libraries.
East Carolina University
Joyner Library
East 5th Stree
Greenville, NC 27858-4353
Telephone 252-328-4176
Website
ECU has a large collection of Pitt County and surrounding county images, texts, and audio/video in their Digital Collection.
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Pitt County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see North Carolina Societies.
Pitt County Family Researchers
PO Box 2608
Greenville, NC 27858-0608
Website
Pitt County Historical Society, Inc.
PO Box 1554
Greenville, NC 27835-1554
Email pchs_president@outlook.com
Website
Facebook
Websites[edit | edit source]
- NCGenWeb: Pitt County
- Pitt County at Our Family Tree
- 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/Pitt
- ↑ 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), Pitt 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, "Pitt County, North Carolina," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitt_County,_North_Carolina, accessed 24 February 2020.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 George Washington Paschal, History of North Carolina Baptists, 2 vols. (1930; reprint, Gallatin, Tenn.: Church History Research and Archives, 1990), 1:488, 490. FHL Book 975.6 K2p 1990
- ↑ "Flat Swamp Church," North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program, http://www.ncmarkers.com/, accessed 22 October 2012.
- ↑ Lemuel Burkitt and Jesse Read, A Concise History of the Kehukee Baptist Association: From Its Original Rise Down to 1808 (1808), Chapter 16. Digital version at archive.org.
- ↑ Heritage Preservation Services, Civil War Battle Summaries by State, (accessed 9 August, 2012)
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/f/f5/Iginorthcarolinap.pdf.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/f/f5/Iginorthcarolinap.pdf.