What's New

Queries

Resources

Related Links

Neighbors

Home Page

Guide To Research Materials In the North Carolina
State Archives: County Records

Copyright ©1979 by the North Carolina Division of Archives and History. Revised 1997. Posted on the Chowan NCGenWeb website with permission. If you wish to copy this or any portion of the Guide to any book, website, or mail list, you must obtain permission from Jesse R. Lankford, Jr. at jlankford@ncsl.dcr.state.nc.us, Assistant State Archivist, phone: (919) 733-3952, fax: (919) 733-1354. [Address current as of Oct. 1, 1999]

North Carolina State Archives
Archival Services Branch
Mail Service Center 4614
Raleigh, N.C. 27699-4614

Visit the NC Archives and History website to access other county guides, as well as many other useful resources. Please do not ask them to conduct research for you.

CHOWAN COUNTY

Established by 1670 as a precinct of Albemarle County.
Many court records said to have been destroyed
by acting clerk of court in 1848.

ORIGINAL RECORDS

BONDS

Apprentice Bonds and Records, 1737-1909; 1 volume, 4 Fibredex boxes.
Bastardy Bonds and Records, 1736-1933; 1 volume, 4 Fibredex boxes.
Officials' Bonds and Records, 1737-1921; 5 Fibredex boxes.
Ordinary Bonds and Records, 1739-1867; 2 Fibredex boxes.

COURT RECORDS

County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions
Minutes, 1714-1868; 21 volumes.
Execution Dockets, 1757-1859; 11 volumes, 1 manuscript box.
Levy Docket, 1849-1850; 1 volume.
State (Crown) Dockets, 1774-1862; 4 volumes, 1 manuscript box.
Trial, Appearance and Reference Dockets, 1757-1868; 18 volumes,
2 manuscript boxes.
Clerk's Account Book, 1804-1811; 1 volume.
Clerk's Account and Receipt Book, 1840-1850; 1 volume.
Costs Dockets, 1806-1813, 1841-1850; 2 volumes.

Superior Court
Minutes, 1809-1910; 11 volumes, 1 manuscript box.
Equity Minutes, 1816-1861, 1866-1868; 2 volumes.
Equity Trial Docket, 1849-1868; 1 volume.
Execution Dockets, 1814-1868; 2 volumes.
State Docket, 1826-1868; 1 volume.
Trial, Appearance and Reference Dockets, 1807-1868; 5 volumes,

1 manuscript box.

Rough Minutes and Dockets, 1725-1867; 1 Fibredex box.
Civil Action Papers, 1730-1922; 103 Fibredex boxes.
Civil Action Papers Concerning Land, 1761-1911; 12 Fibredex boxes.
Civil Action Papers Concerning Timber, 1795-1908; 1 Fibredex box.
Criminal Action Papers, 1720-1933; 38 Fibredex boxes.

ELECTION RECORDS

Record of Elections, 1878-1912; 2 volumes.
Election Returns and Lists of Voters, 1772-1914; 2 Fibredex boxes.

ESTATES RECORDS

Record of Estates, 1811-1868; 2 volumes.
Accounts of Sale, 1779-1796, 1812-1868; 7 volumes.
Administrators' Bonds, 1867-1911; 4 volumes.
Appointment of Administrators, 1777-1784; 1 pamphlet.
Appointment of Administrators, Executors, Guardians and Masters, 1868-

1911; 1 volume.

Dowers and Widows' Year's Support, 1815-1858; 2 volumes.
Estates Records, 1728-1951; 118 Fibredex boxes.
Guardians' Records, 1741-1913; 7 Fibredex boxes.
Guardians' Accounts, 1812-1868; 3 volumes.
Guardians' Bonds, 1850-1911; 2 volumes.
Orphans' Court Docket, 1767-1775; 1 volume.
Inventories of Estates, 1811-1866; 1 volume.
Record of Inheritance Tax, 1919; 1 volume.
Record of Hiring of Slaves Belonging to Estates, 1808-1817; 1 volume.

LAND RECORDS

Record of Deeds, 1715-1758; 8 volumes.
Deeds, 1714-1900; 2 Fibredex boxes.
Miscellaneous Deeds, 1678-1893; 1 Fibredex box.
Ejectments, 1767-1879; 1 Fibredex box.
Entry Book, 1794-1801; 1 volume.
Record of Deeds Proved, 1811-1852; 1 volume.
Miscellaneous Land Records, 1708-1923; 2 Fibredex boxes.

MARRIAGE, DIVORCE AND VITAL STATISTICS

Marriage Bonds, 1747-1868; 8 Fibredex boxes.
Record of Marriage Certificates, 1851-1867; 1 volume.
Miscellaneous Marriage Records, 1754-1909; 1 Fibredex box.
Divorce Records, 1823-1909; 2 Fibredex boxes.

MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS

County Accounts, 1742-1929; 2 Fibredex boxes.
Accounts, Letters and Receipts of Edmund Hoskins, 1801-1835;

4 Fibredex boxes.
Accounts, Letters and Receipts of Elisha Norfleet, Clerk of Court of Pleas and
Quarter Sessions, 1796-1811; 1 Fibredex box.
Jury Lists, 1722-1877; 1 Fibredex box.
Record of Jury Tickets, 1873-1906; 1 volume.
Ferriage Docket, 1781-1783; 1 volume.
Insolvent Debtors, 1769-1869; 4 Fibredex boxes.
Loyalty Oath Stubs, 1865; 1 volume.
Special Proceedings, 1870-1895; 2 volumes.
Miscellaneous Accounts, 1752-1879; 1 Fibredex box.
Miscellaneous Records, 1685-1916; 20 volumes, 5 Fibredex boxes.
Personal Accounts, 1700-1895; 2 Fibredex boxes.
Promissory Notes and Receipts, 1721-1909; 1 Fibredex box.
Shipping Records, 1731-1894; 5 Fibredex boxes.
Slave Records, 1730-1869; 7 Fibredex boxes.
Record (Entry) of Strays, 1906-1919; 1 volume.
Records of Assignees, Receivers and Trustees, 1763-1918; 2 Fibredex boxes.

OFFICIALS, COUNTY

Justices of the Peace Records, 1753-1920; 1 Fibredex box.

ROADS AND BRIDGES

Minutes, County Road Commissioners, 1921-1929; 1 volume.
Road Records, 1717-1912; 6 Fibredex boxes.

SCHOOL RECORDS

Common School Records, 1839-1897; 1 Fibredex box.

TAX AND FISCAL RECORDS

Taxables, 1717-1909; 2 volumes, 9 Fibredex boxes.

WILLS

Wills, 1694-1938; 24 Fibredex boxes.

MICROFILM RECORDS

BONDS

Apprentice Bonds, 1871-1909; 1 reel.
Bastardy Bonds, 1755-1878; 2 reels.
Officials' Bonds, 1690-1959; 3 reels.
Tavern Bonds, 1785-1837; 1 reel.

CORPORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS

Record of Corporations, 1888-1950; 1 reel.
Record of Partnerships, 1922-1976; 1 reel.

COURT RECORDS

County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions
Minutes, 1714-1719, 1730-1868; 11 reels.
Trial Dockets, 1788-1804; 1 reel.
Levy Docket, 1849-1850; 1 reel.
Court Letterbook, 1816-1858; 1 reel.
Orders of the Court, 1780-1830; 1 reel.
Superior Court
Minutes, 1807-1956; 6 reels.
Equity Minutes, 1807-1810, 1816-1868; 2 reels.
Index to Civil Actions, 1966-1984; 3 reels.
Index to Criminal Actions, 1966-1984; 1 reel.
Index to Judgments, 1966-1985; 1 reel.

ELECTION RECORDS

Record of Elections, 1880-1914, 1924-1958; 1 reel.

ESTATES RECORDS

Record of Accounts, 1785-1794, 1811-1958; 6 reels.
Accounts of Sale of Estates, 1779-1796, 1811-1868; 5 reels.
Administrators' Bonds, 1867-1911; 2 reels.
Record of Administrators, Executors and Guardians, 1911-1943; 1 reel.
Record of Administrators, 1919-1966; 3 reels.
Appointment of Executors, 1868-1911; 1 reel.
Record of Executors and Guardians, 1936-1966; 2 reels.
Guardians' Accounts, 1811-1868; 1 reel.
Record of Guardians, 1877-1883; 1 reel.
Guardians' Bonds, 1787, 1811-1911; 3 reels.
Orphans' Court Docket, 1767-1775; 1 reel.
Record of Widows' Year's Support, 1869-1966; 2 reels.
Inheritance Tax Records, 1914-1967; 2 reels.
Inventories of Estates, 1811-1866; 1 reel.
Record of Settlements, 1859-1969; 3 reels.
Index to Administrators, Executors and Guardians, 1811-1966; 1 reel.
Index to Estates, 1811-1966; 1 reel.

LAND RECORDS

Record of Deeds, 1715-1946; 36 reels.
Index to Deeds, Grantor, 1695-1975; 3 reels.
Index to Deeds, Grantee, 1695-1975; 3 reels.
Land Entries, 1787-1941; 1 reel.
Processioners' Record, 1756, 1795-1808; 1 reel.
Record of Deeds Proved, 1811-1852; 1 reel.
Sales and Resales of Land Under Mortgagees and Trustees, 1926-1966;
2 reels.

MARRIAGE, DIVORCE AND VITAL STATISTICS

Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868; 2 reels.
Marriage Registers, 1851-1947; 1 reel.
Record of Divorce, 1868-1960; 1 reel.
Index to Births, 1913-1993; 1 reel.
Index to Deaths, 1913-1993; 1 reel.
Index to Delayed Births, various years; 1 reel.

MILITARY AND PENSION RECORDS

Record of Armed Forces Discharges, 1942-1994; 3 reels.

MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS

Ferriage Docket, 1781-1783; 1 reel.
Registry of Licenses to Trades, 1873-1902; 1 reel.
Record of Lunacy, 1899-1966; 1 reel.
Clerk's Minute Docket, 1921-1966; 1 reel.
Orders and Decrees, 1868-1968; 2 reels.
Special Proceedings, 1868-1895, 1911-1967; Widows' Dowers and Year's
Provisions, 1859-1868; 2 reels.
Record of Petitions, 1770-1887; 3 reels.

OFFICIALS, COUNTY

Minutes, Board of County Commissioners, 1868-1899, 1942-1953; 2 reels.
Minutes of Commissioners and Magistrates, 1876-1896; 1 reel.

ROADS AND BRIDGES

Minutes, County Road Commissioners, 1921-1929; 1 reel.

SCHOOL RECORDS

Minutes, Board of Superintendents of Common Schools, 1841-1861; 1 reel.
Minutes, County Board of Education, 1885-1982; 2 reels.

TAX AND FISCAL RECORDS

Lists of Taxables, 1801-1810, 1814-1826; 1 reel.
Tax Ledger, 1865-1867; 1 reel.
Tax Scrolls, 1888-1892; 1 reel.

WILLS

Record of Wills, 1760-1966; 7 reels.
List of Wills, 1777-1784; 1 reel.
Index to Wills, Devisor, 1760-1966; 1 reel.
Index to Wills, Devisee, 1760-1966; 1 reel.