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

County Courthouse
Wilkes County Court 500 Courthouse Drive Wilkesboro, NC 28697-2497 Phone: 336-651-7351 Register of Deeds has birth and death records from 1913 military and land records from 1778

Populated Places
Cities and towns


 * North Wilkesboro (incorporated 4 Mar 1891): Historic Downtown North Wilkesboro | Official town website | Wikipedia page
 * Ronda (incorporated 15 Feb 1907): Wikipedia page
 * Wilkesboro (county seat; incorporated 1889): Official town website | Wikipedia page

History Timeline
Wilkes County is located in northwestern North Carolina. The county was formed from Surry and the District of Washington (or Washington District) by a 1777 legislative act. That act took effect 15 February 1778.

The county derives its name from John Wilkes, who was an opponent of Britain's Tory party and, at one time, Lord Mayor of London. Because Wilkes had been barred from serving in Parliament because of his political stance, in spite of his having been elected to office, he was viewed as having been persecuted for the sake of freedom.

The first settler of Wilkes County is said to have been Christopher Gist, who moved into the area in 1750. Other famous residents include Daniel Boone and Revolutionary War hero Col. Benjamin Cleveland.

The first court was held at the home of John Brown. The second court was held at the "bent of the Yadkin" on 1 Jun 1778 and was moved the following day, June 2, to the Mulberry Field Meeting House. That location was chosen as the county seat on June 3.

The 2010 population of Wilkes County was 69,340. Wilkes County comprises 757.19 square miles.

Cemeteries
General
 * Cemetery Index (Genealogy Trails)
 * The Political Graveyard: Wilkes County, North Carolina
 * Wilkes County Cemeteries (ePodunk)

Specific
 * Rock Creek Baptist Church Cemetery (New River Notes)
 * Vannoy Cemetery: Elder James Vannoy Family

Census Records

 * 1800 Census Index (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1810 Census Index (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1820 Census Index (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1830 Census Index (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1840 Census Index (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1850 Census Index (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1850 Census Mortality Schedule(USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1860 Census Mortality Schedule (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1840 Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1883 Census of Pensioners (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1820 Census (USGenWeb Census Project)
 * 1880 Census (USGenWeb Census Project)
 * 1930 Census (Wilkes Co. included; Internet Archive)
 * 1930 Census (Wilkes Co. included; Internet Archive)
 * 1790 Census (Going Home for History)
 * 1860 Census: Wilkes County Head of Household Project (Going Home for History)
 * Wilkes County Mortality Schedule 1850-1880 (Wilkes County NCGenWeb)
 * 1790 Census (New River Notes)
 * 1790 Census (USGenWeb Census Project, Wilkes Co.)
 * 1870 Census images (USGenWeb Archives)

Church Records
Baptist
 * Beaver Creek. Constituted 1779.
 * Brier Creek. Constituted 1781.
 * Fish's River. Constituted 1789.
 * Little River. Constituted 1791.
 * New River, North Fork. Constituted 1781.
 * New River, Three Forks. Constituted 1791.
 * Roaring River. Constituted 1779.
 * Roaring River, South Fork. Constituted 1785.
 * Yadkin River, Head. Constituted 1779.
 * Minutes of the First Regular Annual Session of the Primitive Baptist Association, Held with New Covenant Church, Wilkes County, N.C., October 22 and 23, 1869 (New River Notes)
 * Minutes of the 41st Annual Session of the Roaring River District Primitive Baptist Association Convened with the Double Creek Church, Silkes County, N.C. Friday and Saturday October 7 and 8, 1887 (New River Notes)
 * Zion Hill Baptist Church Membership List, 1814

Court Records

 * Court (Wilkes County records in U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Court records from 1781 that have not been transferred to the North Carolina State Archives are at the office of the Wilkes County Clerk of the Superior Court at the Courthouse, 500 Courthouse Dr., Wilkesboro, NC 28697, (336) 667-1201. Some records, however, have been transferred to the North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh, ND.
 * The North Carolina State Archives has the original copies of the following: Apprentice Bonds and Records, 1778-1916; Bastardy Bonds and Records, 1773-1911; Officials' Bonds and Records, 1777-1914.
 * The North Carolina State Archives has various records of the Wilkes County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions: Minutes, 1778-1868; Appearance Docket, 1840-1853; Execution Dockets, 1837-1868; State Docket, 1778-1792; Trial and Appearance Docket, 1824-1827; Trial Docket, 1837-1859; Witness Dockets, 1807-1837; and Misc. Dockets, 1778-1858.
 * The North Carolina State Archives has various records of the Wilkes County Superior Court: Minutes, 1807-1931; Equity Minutes, 1819-1860; Equity Enrolling Dockets, 1813-1857; Equity Execution Docket, 1814-1861, and Appearance Docket, 1815-1830; Appearance Docket, 1823-1846; Execution Dockets, 1807-1860; Judgment Dockets, 1868-1877; Recognizance Docket, 1812-1832; State Dockets, 1807-1822 and 1837-1866; Criminal Issues Dockets, 1873 and 1879-1884; Trial and Appearance Docket, 1807-1822; Trial Docket, 1822-1844; Witness Docket, 1824-1833; Misc. Dockets, 1807-1855; Civil Action Papers, 1771-1936 and those concerning land, 1778-1928; Criminal Action Papers, 1761 and 1778-1945.
 * Other records at the State Archives: Alien Registration records, 1940; County Accounts, 1773-1903; Insolvents' Records, 1780-1896; Record of Jurors, 1893-1906; Record of Justices of the Peace, 1877-1898; Physicians' Certificates of Registration, 1889-1988; Record of Lunacy, 1899-1937; Orders and Decrees, 1869-1935, 1938; Special Proceedings Dockets, 1880-1941; Clerk's Minute Dockets (Special Proceedings), 1884-1941; Misc. Records, 1775-1946; Record of Strays, 1822-1839.

Genealogies
It is anticipated that this bibliography will eventually identify all known family histories published about residents of this county. Use this list to:


 * Locate publications about direct ancestors
 * Find the most updated accounts of an ancestor's family
 * Identify publications, to quote Elizabeth Shown Mills, about an ancestor's "FAN Club" [Friends, Associates, and Neighbors]


 * History of Peter and Christina Shutt Dick Family: Frederick County, Maryland, Wilkes County, North Carolina, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, Simpson County, Kentucky, Sangamon County, Illinois, Cass, County, Illinois
 * Owens, Charles Sterling. David Owen, Revolutionary War Soldier, and His Descendants Wilkes County, North Carolina to Rockcastle County, Kentucky ''
 * Andrew Vannoy 1742-1809: Husband of Susannah Shepherd
 * Captain Samuel Johnson of Wilkes County, North Carolina: Ancestry and Descendants

Land and Property Records

 * Wilkes County has land records starting from 1777 which can be obtained from the Wilkes County Register of Deeds, 500 Courthouse Drive, Suite 1000, Wilkesboro, NC 28697, (336) 651-7351
 * The North Carolina State Archives has various land-related records pertaining to Wilkes County: Record of Deeds and Grants, 1779-1796; Record of Deeds, 1789-1851; Deeds, 1741-1944; Ejectments, 1799-1907; Land Entries, 1783-1851; List of Land Entries, 1808-1828; Record of Sale of Land for Taxes, 1870-1887; Petitions for Partition and Sale of Land, 1892-1912, 1932; Processioners' Record, 1883-1884; Misc. Land Records, 1778-1925.
 * www.nclandgrants.com/ This site sponsored by the North Carolina State Archives has thousands of high quality images of records generated during the land grant process in Wilkes County. These images include original warrant papers, orders to survey, and grant documents. There is also a resource page that explains the land grant process for North Carolina.

Local Histories

 * The Heritage of Wilkes County
 * Wilkes County (Images of America series)
 * Wilkes County Bits and Pieces
 * Historical Sketches of Wilkes County. Wilkesboro, NC: Chronicle Job Office, 1902 -
 * Early Settlers of Reddies River
 * The Land of Wilkes
 * Marriages of Wilkes County, North Carolina, 1778-1868
 * Sketches of Western North Carolina: Historical and Biographical
 * Poet's Progress
 * The Heritage of Wilkes County, North Carolina (Volume II)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Wilkes County Property Maps
 * Wilkes County 1895
 * NC Digital Map Collection: Wilkes County
 * Short History and Place Names for Wilkes County, NC (includes township map)

Migration
Early migration routes to and from Wilkes County for European settlers included:


 * Catawba and Northern Trail pre-historic

Military Records
Revolutionary War 
 * 1779-1782 - at FamilySearch
 * 1840 - 1840 Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1883 - 1883 Census of Pensioners (Genealogy Trails)
 * Capture and Rescue of Benjamin Cleveland (New River Notes)
 * Fort Hamby, Wilkes County, North Carolina, March-May 1865 (New River Notes)
 * 1814-1927 - The North Carolina State Archives has the following records pertaining to Wilkes County: Record of Pensions, no date, 1 volume; Pension Records, 1814-1927
 * Wilkes County Volunteers Participating in the Indian Removal, April 7, 1838 (New River Notes)

Revolutionary War pension applications at the National Archives for individuals associated with Wilkes County, North Carolina as a place of residence or enlistment, some of which have transcribed copies as indicated:


 * Brookshire, William - North Carolina - S6706
 * Bryan, John - Pennsylvania - W4902
 * Gordon, Richard - North Carolina - S3404
 * Hughes, Jonathan - Virginia - S9591
 * Lyon, William - North Carolina - S8875
 * McCoy, John - North Carolina - S4190
 * Parks, Samuel - North Carolina - S8937
 * Powell, William - North Carolina - W4054
 * Stoakes, John - North Carolina - W8754
 * Pension Statement of James Davis
 * Pension Application of Jasper Billings

Civil War 

Online Records
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch
 * 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 - at FamilySearch


 * - 1st Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
 * - 11th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
 * - 11th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company B
 * - 1st Battalion, North Carolina Junior Reserves, Company D
 * - 1st Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company B
 * - 2nd Regiment, North Carolina Detailed Men, Company H
 * - 5th Regiment, North Carolina Senior Reserves, Company A
 * - 5th Regiment, North Carolina Senior Reserves, Company F
 * - 5th Regiment, North Carolina Senior Reserves, Company K

World War I 
 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch

World War II 
 * 1940-1948 - at FamilySearch

Newspapers

 * Marriage Announcements
 * Obituary/Death Notices (from newspapers; Genealogy Trails)
 * The Record: Wilkes County's First Worldwide Newspaper

Other Records

 * Bibles (Wilkes County Bible records; Wilkes Co. GenWeb)
 * Biographies (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Eastern Cherokee Application: Wood, John W., res. Darby, Wilkes County, North Carolina, 24 Aug 1907 (rejected), National Archives
 * Letters (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Photographs (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Post Offices &amp; Post Masters (Genealogy Trails)
 * Short History and Place Names for Wilkes County, NC (ALHN)
 * The Wilkes County, North Carolina Directory-1883 (New River Notes)

Probate Records
Online Probate Records The following are links to transcribed Records of Wills &amp; Estates for Wilkes County:
 * 1660-1790 - North Carolina Will Abstracts 1660-1790 at Ancestry $
 * 1663-1979 - at FamilySearch
 * 1665-1998 - North Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998 at Ancestry $
 * 1735-1970 - at FamilySearch
 * 1760-1800 - North Carolina Will Abstracts 1760-1800 at Ancestry $
 * 1778-1963 - have been digitized by FamilySearch
 * 1780-1948 - Index to Devisors List, 1780-1948
 * Pre-1790 - Pre-1790 Wilkes County, North Carolina Genealogy Wills stored at the North Carolina State Archives are online
 * See also Abstracts of Loose Papers Filed with the Secretary of State for North Carolina - Wilkes County (ALHN) for listings of Wilkes County inventory and appraisal records
 * The State Archives also has the following records for Wilkes County: Record of Wills, Bonds, Inventories and Bills of Sale, 1778-1799, 2 vols.; Wills, 1778-1948.
 * The North Carolina State Archives has various probate-related records for Wilkes County: Record of Accounts, 1868-1939; Administrators' Bonds, 1890-1919; Appointment of Administrators, Executors, Guardians and Masters, 1868-1903; Appointment of Administrators, Executors, and Guardians, 1903-1915; Record of Administrators, Executors, and Guardians, 1915-1941; Record of Widows' Year's Allowance, 1871-1970; Estates Records, 1777-1945; Guardians' Records, 1780-1939; Guardians' Bonds, 1910-1921; Record of Amounts Paid to Indigent Children, 1913-1935; Record of Settlements, 1805-1834; Records of Assignees, Receivers and Trustees, 1872-1915.
 * The Wilkes County Clerk of the Superior Court (500 Courthouse Dr., Wilkesboro, NC 28697-2497, (336) 667-1201) has copies of wills, estate records, and records pertaining to administrations and settlements, except for those records that have transferred to the North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh.
 * John Brown, 1812
 * Larkin Carley, 1841
 * Kinchen Cheatham, 1834
 * Elijah Church Sr., 1854
 * John Church Jr., 1870
 * Thomas Cook, 1819
 * Ephraim Cook, 1872
 * Abraham Cook, 1800
 * Caleb Dyer, 1816
 * John Ferguson Sr., 1838
 * William Gilliam Sr., 1831
 * John Greer Sr., 1782
 * Harold Hayes, 1912
 * Benjamin Isbell, 1870
 * Mary Ellen Hendren, 1944
 * Mary Polly Howard, 1836
 * Benjamin Howard, 1828
 * John Howard, 1811
 * John Grant, 1835
 * John Jarvis, 1848
 * Charles Johnson, 1816
 * Charles Johnson2, 1816
 * Jeffery Johnson, 1789
 * James M. Jarvis, 1805
 * John Isbell, 1827
 * Leander Johnson Sr., 1860
 * Moses Johnson, 1855
 * William B. Kennaday, 1860
 * Nancy Chambers, 1832
 * Elizabeth Baker, 1836
 * James Marlow, 1850
 * James Martin Marlow, 1920
 * Samuel Curtice, 1853
 * A. C. Moore, 1932
 * Starling Moore, 1836
 * James Norman, 1828
 * William Owen, 1785
 * John Parks Sr.,1793
 * Thomas Cottrel, 1825
 * Thomas Isbell, 1819
 * John Shumate, 1783
 * Henry Sims, 1904
 * Hugh Smith, 1781
 * James Spradling, 1805
 * Thomas Parks, 1791
 * Sarah Vickers, 1847
 * Ann Collins Wisdom, 1801
 * David Williams, 1855
 * William Jarvis, 1860
 * William Jarvis, 1875
 * William Sale, 1787
 * Thomas Witherspoon, 1790
 * John Witherspoon, 1778
 * Henry York, 1817
 * John S. Johnson, 1868
 * ndex to Transcribed Wills (Wilkes Co. NCGenWeb)
 * Charles Gordon Sr., 1811
 * John Coffey, 1812
 * James Denney, 1812
 * Stephen Matthews, 1812
 * Thomas Bicknell, 1781
 * William Gambill, 1779
 * William Laws, 1781
 * William Low, 1780
 * William Mallory, 1779
 * William Careley, 1796

School Records

 * Annual report of the public schools of Wilkes County - from about 1906-1921 (not all inclusive); via the Internet Archive
 * Wilkes County students at NC colleges - a name list of students at various NC colleges with identified hometowns in the county.

Tax Records

 * 1778-1850 (gaps) - Tax lists, no date, 1778-1779, 1784-1785, 1795, 1797, 1800, 1805, 1809, 1814, 1823, 1829, 1831, 1834, 1837-1838, 1841-1848, 1850 (images) online at FamilySearch
 * 1781-1850 (gaps) - Tax records, no dates, 1781, 1784-1790, 1792, 1801, 1811, 1820, 1826, 1834-1835, 1837, 1839, 1847, 1850 (images) online at FamilySearch
 * 1782 - Tax Lists, Wilkes County, 1782 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1782 - Tax Lists, Wilkes County, 1782 (images) online at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1782-1782 Wilkes County Tax List (transcript) online at FamilySearch
 * 1784 - Tax Lists, Wilkes County, 1782 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry ($)
 * 1784 - Tax Lists, Wilkes County, 1784 (images) online at North Carolina Digital Collections
 * 1787-1787 Tax List (transcript) online at New River Notes
 * 1787-1790 - Absher, Mrs. W.O., Ruth P. Gregory, and Paul W. Gregory, Wilkes County, North Carolina Taxables (1787, 1788, 1789, 1790) Vol. 3. North Wilkesboro, NC: The Wilkes Genealogical Society, 1975: (transcript) online at Internet Archive
 * 1797-1797 Tax List (transcript) online at New River Notes

Vital Records

 * Wilkes County Register of Deeds has copies of birth, marriage, and death records. Contact the office for details: 500 Courthouse Drive, Suite 1000, Wilkesboro, NC 28697, (336) 651-7351

Birth

 * 1800 - 2000 - at FamilySearch
 * 1866-1964 - at FamilySearch
 * 1871-1883 - Wilkes County, North Carolina Bastardy Bonds 1871-1883 (Going Home for History)
 * Birth Records from WWI Registration Cards (Wilkes Co. GenWeb)

Marriage
Specific Marriages
 * 1741 - 2004 - North Carolina Marriage Index 1741-2004 at Ancestry $
 * 1741 - 2004 - North Carolina, United States Marriages at FindMyPast
 * 1741 - 2011 - North Carolina Marriage Records 1741-2011 - images at Ancestry $
 * 1759-1979 - at FamilySearch
 * 1762-1979 - at FamilySearch
 * 1763-1868 - at FamilySearch
 * The North Carolina State Archives has the following Wilkes County records: Marriage Bonds, 1778-1868; Marriage and Family Records, 1788-1912; Divorce Records, 1820-1912
 * Leonidas Hayes to Agnes Rockwell, 1916 (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Marriages from Wilkes Bible Records (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Brinegar, Jacob to Tasann Johnson, 1832
 * Hayes, George to Judah Mills, 1785 (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * John W. Houpt to Margaret Correll, 1834 (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Riddle Marriages (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Benge Marriages (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Tedder Marriages (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Triplett Marriages (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Walker, James to Nancy Bradley, 1797 (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Cannon, Col. N. to Rachel S. Welborn, 1818 (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Chambers, Henry to Mary Stokes, 1813 (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Anderson-Ellis Marriages (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Chang-Eng ("the celebrated Siamese Twin") to Adelaide Yates, 1843 (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Hampton, Rev. to Neely Tidline, 1892 (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Houck, Albert F. to Margaret Horton, 1882 (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Hunt, James to Diana Martin, 1829 (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Parks, S.L. to Grace Hulbert, 1893 (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Pickens, Israel to Martha Lenoir, 1814 (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Roberson-Robertson Marriages (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Benge Marriages of Yadkin (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * Marriage Index (Genealogy Trails)
 * Original Wilkes County Marriage Bonds and Licenses (Wilkes Co. GenWeb)
 * Wilkes County Marriage Bonds (Wilkes Co. GenWeb)
 * Marriages, Wilkes County Database (Wilkes Co. USGenWeb Archives)

Death

 * 1850-1880 - Wilkes County Mortality Schedule 1850-1880 (Wilkes County NCGenWeb)
 * 1898-1994 - at FamilySearch
 * 1906-1930 - at FamilySearch
 * 1908 - 2004 - North Carolina Death Indexes 1908-2004 at Ancestry $
 * 1909-1975 - North Carolina Death Certificates 1909-1975 at Ancestry $
 * 1913-1964 - Wilkes County Death Index 1913-1964. Batch at FamilySearch
 * 1931-1994 - at FamilySearch
 * Death Index (Genealogy Trails)
 * Wilkes County Executions (Wilkes County NCGenWeb)

Divorce

 * 1788-1912 - The North Carolina State Archives has the following Wilkes County records: Marriage Bonds, 1778-1868; Marriage and Family Records, 1788-1912; Divorce Records, 1820-1912
 * 1820-1899 - Wilkes Co., NC Divorces, 1820-1899 (Genealogy Forum)
 * 1820-1899 - Wilkes Co., NC Divorces, 1820-1899 (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
 * 1926-1975 - at FamilySearch
 * 1958 - 2004 - North Carolina Divorce Index 1958-2004 at Ancestry $

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers
 * North Wilkesboro North Carolina Family History Center

Libraries

 * Wilkes County Public Libraries

Societies

 * Wilkes County Genealogical Society PO Box 1629 North Wilkesboro, NC 28659-1629 General Information Website *Old Wilkes, Inc. (preserves and promotes the history of Wilkes Co.)

Websites
(Note: The following are in alphabetical order.)
 * Appalachian American Genealogy (includes Wilkes County)
 * Ashe County, NC ALHN Homepage (includes extensive Wilkes County materials; American Local History Network; seems to be a Wilkes Co. page that is mislabeled as an Ashe Co. page)
 * Genealogy Research (ExploreWilkes.com)
 * Genealogy Resources (for Wilkes County) (Wilkesboro Tourism Development Authority)
 * Going Home for History: Wilkes County, North Carolina
 * Wilkes County Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Wilkes County Genealogy Queries (Cousin Connect)
 * Wilkes County History and Genealogy (Melungeon Studies)
 * Wilkes Co., NC (RootsWeb)
 * Wilkes Co., NC Club (GenCircles)
 * Wilkes County, NC GenWeb
 * Wilkes County, NC U.S. GenWeb Archives
 * Wilkes County, North Carolina (Genealogy Trails History Group)
 * Wilkes County, North Carolina (New River Notes)
 * Wilkes County, North Carolina (official government site)
 * – 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.