Chatham County, North Carolina Genealogy
Guide to Chatham County, North Carolina ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
Chatham County, North Carolina | |||||||||
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![]() Location in the state of North Carolina | |||||||||
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Founded | 1770 | ||||||||
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County Seat | Pittsboro | ||||||||
Courthouse | |||||||||
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Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 History
- 3 Places/Localities
- 4 Resources
- 5 Societies and Libraries
- 6 Websites
- 7 References
County Information
Description
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[1].
County Courthouse
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Chatham County Courthouse
12 East Road
Pittsboro, NC 27312
919-542-3240
Court has divorce records from 1913
Probate Records from 1771 & court records from 1869[2]
Register of Deeds
PO Box 756
Pittsboro, NC 27252
Telephone: 919-542-8235
Fax: 919-542-8235
Website
Clerk of Superior Court
PO Box 369
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Telephone: (919) 545-3500
History
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 deterent 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.
Parent County
1770--Chatham County was created 5 December 1770 from Orange County. County seat: Pittsboro [3]
Boundary Changes
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.
Record Loss
Many court records missing, including:
- The court minutes and other court records from the time of ratification of the bill to establish the county, in April of 1771 to 1774, there are no pleas and quarter session minutes.
- There is a gap of about 5 years between 1800 to 1805 in these minutes.
Places/Localities
Populated Places - Population as of the 2000 census
Incorporated Cities:
- Fearrington - population: 903
- Goldston - population: 319
- Pittsboro - County Seat- population 2, 226. It is located 34 mi. SE of the state capitol, Raleigh.
- Siler City - population: 8,747
Unincorporated Cities:
- Bear Creek
- Bennett
- Bonlee
- Brickhaven
- Bynum
- Carbonton
- Corinth
- Crutchfield Crossroads
- Gulf
- Haywood
- Moncure
- Silk Hope
- Wilsonville
Neighboring Counties
Resources
Cemeteries
Tombstone Transcriptions Online | Tombstone Transcriptions in Print | List of Cemeteries in the county |
Findagrave.com | Family History Library | Findagrave.com |
NCGenWeb | WorldCat | Billion Graves |
NCGenWeb Archives | ||
Tombstone Project | ||
North Carolina Cemeteries | ||
Internment | ||
Billion Graves | ||
See North Carolina Cemeteries for more information. |
- North Carolina, Historical Records Survey, Cemetery Inscription Card Index at FamilySearch — index and images
Census
For tips on accessing Chatham County, North Carolina Genealogy census records online, see: North Carolina Census.
Church
Baptist
- Bear Creek. Constituted 1786.[4]
- Collin's Mount. Founded before 1773.[4]
- Deep River. Founded before 1773.[4]
- Haw River. Church built 1769.[4]
- Rocky River, near Siler City, N.C. Organized about 1757.[4][5] Formerly located in Orange County.
- Tick Creek. Founded before 1773.[4]
County Records
- 1833-1970 - North Carolina, County Records, 1833-1970 at FamilySearch — index and images
Court
Chatham County Courthouse
Clerk of Superior Court
(Wills & Estates)
ADDRESS: P.O. Box, 369, (12 East St.)
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Phone No. (919) 542-3240
Certified copies of documents are $2.00 for the first page,
.25 for additional pages.
Uncertified copies are $1.00 for the first page and
.25 for additional pages.
The following links will take you to an index or transcribed court records for the years as indicated:
- 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
Other Court Records:
- Apprenticeship Bonds 1784-1837
- Orphan Bonds 1774-1800
- Guardian Accounts 1800-1830
- Guardian Accounts 1828-1842
- Bastardy Bonds 1775-1799
- Bastardy Bonds 1871-1879
Land
The Register of Deeds Office maintains the following records for public inspection and retrieval:
- 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 leaseholdings.
* 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.
Courthouse Annex - Register of Deeds
P.O. Box 756,
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Ph. No. (919) 542-8235
Chatham County deed records are indexed and copies of the actual documents are available online starting from 1771.
Access to Chatham County Deeds Online Search
Local Histories
- Chatham County Families
- Chatham County Migrations
- 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
- 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
Maps
- 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.
Military
Revolutionary War
- 1779 - 1782 - North Carolina Revolutionary Pay Vouchers 1779-1782 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 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
Online Records
- 1861 - 1865 - North Carolina, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch.org — index and images
- 1861 - 1865 - North Carolina, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch.org — index and images
- 1861 - 1865 - U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
- 1861 - 1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
- 1885 - 1953 - North Carolina, Confederate Soldiers and Widows Pension Applications, 1885-1953 at FamilySearch — index and images
- Civil War: Cedar Fork Rifles
Regiments. Service men in Chatham County, North Carolina Genealogy 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, North Carolina Genealogy:
- -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
- 1917 - 1919 - North Carolina, World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch — index and images
World War II
- 1940 - 1948 - North Carolina, Discharge and Statement of Service Records, 1940-1948 at FamilySearch — index and images
Newspapers
- Transcribed Chatham Co. Newspaper Archives 1847-1887
- Transcribed Chatham Co., Newspaper Archives 1888
- The Raleigh Register October 22 - 29, 1799
- North Carolina Newspaper Project - from the State Library
- North Carolina Newspaper Digitization Project
Probate
Online Probate Records
- 1660 - 1790 - North Carolina Will Abstracts 1660-1790 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
- 1663 - 1979 - North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1665 - 1998 - North Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
- 1735 - 1970 - North Carolina Probate Records 1735-1970 at FamilySearch.org — images
- 1760 - 1800 - North Carolina Will Abstracts 1760-1800 at Ancestry.com — index and images.
- Images of Wills and Estates 1798-1819;1818-1833; 1834-1857. North Carolina Pioneers ($)
Copies of wills and estate records can be obtained from the Clerk of the Superior Court. Information on fees are available on their website:
Chatham County Courthouse Annex
12 East Street
P.O. Box 756
Pittsboro, NC 27312
(919) 542-8235
Clerk of Superior Court
The elected Chatham County Clerk of Court is David Samuel Cooper. He and some 14 staff members are responsible for all clerical and record keeping functions of the General Courts of Justice. His staff is spread throughout the courthouse annex and is organized according to their function and duties.
The Clerk's offices are open from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The telephone number is (919) 542-3240, the fax number is (919) 542-1402, and the mailing address is P.O. Box 369, Pittsboro, NC 27312.
Decedent's Estates: Periodic inventories and the accountings necessary to administer the estates of deceased persons are filed, and appropriate forms obtained, from Clerk of Court. Estate-related business is conducted and all estate-related records are maintained at the Clerk of Court's Office, 12 East Street, Pittsboro. This office is also where wills are probated. It is a good idea to contact this office before making an official visit in order to insure that all of the required documentation is available.
- Pre - 1790 - Pre-1790 Chatham County, North Carolina Genealogy Wills stored at the North Carolina State Archives are online - free. Website tips.
- 1780 - 1931 - Will Books A to I (1780-1931) have been digitized by FamilySearch - free.
The following links will take you to an Index to Chatham County Wills and Estate Records:
- 1821 - 1836 - Estate Records-Vol. 1, 1821-1836
- 1782 - 1794 - Wills & Estates 1782-1794
- 1795 - 1799 - Wills & Estates 1795-1799
- 1798 - 1819 - Wills & Estates 1798-1819
- 1818 - 1833 - Wills & Estates 1818-1833
- 1834 - 1868 - Wills & Estates 1834-1857
- 1856 - 1868 - Wills & Estates 1856-1868
- 1800 - 1812 - Index to Estates 1800-1812
- 1812 - 1822 - Index to Estates 1812-1822
- 1847 - 1850 - Index to Estates 1847-1850
The Following links will take you to a series of Wills that have been abstracted:
- 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
The Following are links to Images of Records on FamilySearch:
- 1663 - 1964 - NC Estate Records 1663-1964: Chatham County
- 1735 - 1970 - NC Probate Records 1735-1970: Chatham County
Taxation
- 1755 - 1755 Orange County Tax List (transcript) online at NCGenWeb (many Chatham Co. families were included before formation of Chatham)
- 1795 - 1795 Chatham County Tax List (transcript) online at NCGenWeb
- 1815 - 1815 Chatham County Tax List (transcript) online at NCGenWeb
- 1815 - Tax Lists, Chatham County, 1815 (images) online at North Carolina Digital Collections
Vital Records
Courthouse Annex - Register of Deeds
P.O. Box 756,
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Ph. No. (919) 542-8235
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.
Births
- 1775 - 1800 - Bastardy Bonds from Chatham County Court Minutes 1775-1800 at USGenWeb - free.
- 1800 - 2000 - North Carolina Birth Index 1800-2000 at FamilySearch.org — index
- 1866 - 1964 - North Carolina Births and Christenings 1866-1964 at FamilySearch.org — index
Marriages
- 1741 - 2004 - North Carolina, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
- 1772 - 1929 - Chatham County Marriage Index 1772-1929 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.[6]
- Chatham County Marriage Bonds
- Chatham County Marriages
- 1741 - 2004 - North Carolina Marriage Index 1741-2004 at Ancestry.com — index $
- 1759 - 1979 - North Carolina Marriages 1759-1979 at FamilySearch.org — index
- 1762 - 1979 - North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1763 - 1868 - North Carolina, Civil Marriages, 1763-1868 at FamilySearch — index and images
Deaths
- Chatham County Death Certificates
- 1898 - 1994 - North Carolina Deaths 1906-1930 at FamilySearch.org — index and images
- 1906 - 1930 - North Carolina Deaths 1906-1930 at FamilySearch.org — index and images
- 1908 - 2004 - North Carolina Death Indexes 1908-2004 at Ancestry.com — index $
- 1909 - 1975 - North Carolina Death Certificates 1909-1975 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
- 1931 - 1994 - North Carolina Deaths 1931-1994 at FamilySearch.org — index
Divorce
- 1926 - 1975 - North Carolina, County Divorce Records, 1926-1975 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1958 - 2004 - North Carolina Divorce Index 1958-2004 at Ancestry.com — index $
Voter Registration
- Chatham Co. Voter Registration Books 1890-1896 - online Collection from FamilySearch
- Chatham Co. Voter Registration: Canvas Book 1888-1890 - online Collection from FamilySearch
Societies and Libraries
Chatham County Historical Association, Inc.
PO Box 93
Pittsboro, NC 27312
E-mail:history@chathamhistory.org
Website
Chatham County Historical Association
PO Box 913
Pittsboro, NC 27312-0913
website
Family History Centers
Family history centers provide one-on-one assistance and free access to premium genealogical websites. In addition, many centers have free how-to genealogy classes. See family history center for more information. Search the online FHC directory for a nearby family history center.
Websites
- Chatham County, NC History, Records, Facts and Genealogy (Genealogy Inc)
- 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
References
- ↑ https://www.ncpedia.org/geography/Chatham
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Chatham County, North Carolina. Page 507 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 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/learn/wiki/en/images/4/4d/Iginorthcarolinaa.pdf.