|
Resolution
supporting NC Archives and Internet
|
| Membership
| Application
|
| Submit an OnLine Query
preferred
| Print Form for Mail-in Query
|
| Books Published by members
| Recent Queries from members
|
| Links to Other Sources
|
| Research Guide
|
| MAP Orange County since 1752
| NC Counties Map
|
| 
Index to 1920 Federal Census of Orange County, North Carolina
Compiled for Durham-Orange Genealogical Society Members
by
Gwyneth Duncan and Milton D. Forsyth, Jr.
INTRODUCTION TO NORTH CAROLINA AND ORANGE COUNTY RESEARCH
The North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh has available virtually
all records of government agencies either on microfilm or in the original.
In fact, archival records prior to the late 1860s, except for will record
books, deed record books, and estate records (which the archives has on
microfilm), are usually only available at the archives (unless they are on
microfilm, and many are not). In fact, the archives has a great number of
original wills on file, and these are always preferable to the recorded
copy. This means that a researcher has a greater wealth of information at the
State Archives and the
State Library
than at the county seat (although as a practical matter the original
will and deed record books at the county court house may be easier to use
than the microfilm copies at the archives). There is, of course, additional
historical and genealogical material available in the archives, and a number
of other government or private collections devoted to North Carolina history
have information of genealogical value.
The major reference for North Carolina research is Helen F. M. Leary and
Maurice R. Stirewalt, eds. North Carolina Research: Genealogy and Local
History. (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Genealogical Society, 1980, [out
of print, sometimes available used]);
Second and
revised edition by Mrs. Leary, 1996). A second source is George K.
Schweitzer, North Carolina Genealogical Research, (Tennessee: Author,
1984), and although very useful as a checklist is not as detailed or extensive.
The following is a summary of printed, film, or data format genealogical
research materials relevant to Orange County from its founding in 1752 through
the 1800s, with some references to 20th century material. The list is extensive,
but we would not claim that it includes all available references, especially
journal references. We have not included family histories for families
specifically identified as living in "Orange County, N. C." Perhaps we will
make a special listing of these in the future.
 Orange County was formed from Bladen, Granville and Johnson counties, and
was itself later divided. Researchers are directed to materials for these
counties for pre-1752 material on residents of the parts that became Orange
County or to the following counties for those who became residents of one
of these counties because of the division of the original Orange County [Chatham,
Guilford, Randolph, Wake - 1770; Caswell - 1771, then Rockingham - 1785 and
Person - 1792 from Caswell; Alamance - 1849; Durham - 1881 (Click On
Map)]. For example, a family settling in Granville County in 1746 might
appear in Orange County records after 1752, then after 1771 in Caswell County
records, and after 1792 in Person County records, and never have moved! We
have included some references to Durham County, such as cemetery records,
because of their relationship to earlier times, but have not tried to list
in this summary the relatively modern Durham materials. We invite additional
references for the listing.
I am finished reading this page.
North Carolina, Federal
Census Indexes, 1790-1870 in book form; 1880, 1900, and 1920 soundex
indexes on microfilm; and the 1910 miracode index on microfilm. Some of these
are also published in complete form in compilations.
Sandra Lee Almasy, North Carolina Mortality Census 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880
- Vol 8, Alamance, Caswell, Durham, Orange, Wake Counties, (Joliet, IL:
Kensington Glen Publishing, 1994). Contains information on persons who died
from June of the preceeding year thru May of the census year.
Marian Dodson Chiarito, Alamance County, North Carolina 1850 Census, with
Ancestors and Descendants of Selected Families, (NC: M.D. Chiarito, c1987).
Alamance County was formed in 1849 from Orange County.
All-name Index to the 1920 Federal Census for Orange County, North
Carolina, by the Durham-Orange Genealogical Society. Published by enumeration
district in the quarterly, The Trading Path, Vol 5, No. 3 (Summer, 1994) through Vol 8, No. 4 (Fall, 1997).
Index to 1920 Federal Census of Orange County, North Carolina
For the years 1990 through 1996 only a surname index was provided along with the yearly publications. However, for these years a full-name index is available:
Richard D. McKee, Five Year Index to the Publications of the Durham-Orange
Genealogical Society, 1990-1994, (Durham, NC: Author, 1995). A full-name
index to the D-OGS Newsletter and Quarterly, The Trading Path, for the years 1990 through 1994.
Richard D. McKee, Index to the Publications of the Durham-Orange Genealogical Society - 1995, (Durham, NC: Author, 1996). A full-name index to the D-OGS Newsletter and Quarterly, The Trading Path, for the year 1995. The 1920 Census of Orange County, NC, is only indexed by surname.
Richard D. McKee, Index to the Publications of the Durham-Orange Genealogical Society - 1996, (Durham, NC: Author, 1997). A full-name index to the D-OGS Newsletter and Quarterly, The Trading Path, for the year 1996. The 1920 Census of Orange County, NC, is only indexed by surname.
The above are sometimes available in libraries, or may be obtained by mail from the society at a nominal cost (see the publications page). Beginning with the year 1997 a full-name index is provided with the annual publications.
Brent H. Holcomb, Marriages of Orange County, NC, 1779-1868 (Baltimore:
GPC, 1983). These are marriage bonds; regular use of marriage licenses began
in 1868. Copies of the original bonds and marriage records since 1868 are
available in the vital records section of the Orange County Register of Deeds
office. The archives also has the bonds microfilms. Additionally, researchers
will want to consult the North Carolina State Marriage Bond Index,
available on microfiche.
Ruth Herndon Shields, 202 Early Marriages Not Shown in the Orange County
Marriage Bonds, (Chapel Hill, NC: Author, 1957; usually found with Shields,
Wills, Book I [see below]), and included in the more recent editions of Holcomb.
Frances Holloway Wynne, Marriage Register, Durham County, North Carolina,
1881-1906, (Oracle Press: Author, 1983).
(-------), "Marriages in Newspapers, 1846-1866" (Orange County), The
Alamance Genealogist, 4:2 (May 1987).
Ruth Herndon Shields, Abstracts of Wills Recorded in Orange County, NC,
1752-1800 and 1800-1850 [two books], (Chapel Hill, NC: Author, 1957,
1958).
Orange Co., NC, Index to Wills and Will Record Books (microfilm).
The original indexes and will record books are in the Orange County government
offices of the Clerk of the Court. Other estate records are also available
there and on microfilm. A number of original early wills are on file at the
State Archives.
William D. Bennett, Orange County, NC Records, Vol XIII; Vol XVI: Orange
County Inventories and Accounts of Sales, 1758-1785; 1800-1808. (Raleigh,
NC: Author, 1987+). Important for finding estates and names of persons whose
names do not appear in wills and deeds of the period. The 1786-1799 accounts
were apparently lost.
 Orange County Cemetery Survey, available online at CemeteryCensus.com. Users should review the "About the Cemetery Survey" web page to understand the scope and limitations of the survey.
Webmaster's note: Also see the D-OGS Cemetery Links page.
Town of Chapel Hill, Old Chapel Hill Cemetery: Directory and Inventory,
(Chapel Hill, NC: Town of Chapel Hill, 1990). Copy in Chapel Hill Public
Library [R352.72 Old]. Information data printouts presented in various ways
to facilitate searching, i. e., By Last Name; By Lot; By Year of Birth;
Footstones; By Family; etc.
Gordon N. Ruckart, compiler/editor, Durham County, North Carolina, Church
and Family Cemetery Data to 1985, (Durham, NC: Historic Preservation
Society of Durham, 1992). A separate book contains an all-name index. Data
from this survey has been incorporated into the data file on Durham cemeteries
described below.
Durham County Cemetery Survey and City Cemetery Data, available online at CemeteryCensus.com. Users should review the "About the Cemetery Survey" web page to understand the scope and limitations of the survey.
Webmaster's note: Also see the D-OGS Cemetery Links page.
L. S. Hornaday (Mr. & Mrs.), compilers, Piedmont, NC Cemeteries, Vols
I & II, Cane Creek Friends Meeting, Alamance Co., NC, (Burlington,
NC: Authors, 1981, 1990). This large Quaker cemetery dates back to the early
settlement of Orange County.
Stokes, Durwood T., Tombstone Inscriptions (Recorded from private or abandoned
cemeteries in Alamance and Orange Counties, North Carolina), (Graham,
NC: Author, 1979). A typescript photocopy.
Kara Graham and Sophie S. Martin, Alamance County, North Carolina Cemetery
Records of Cross Roads Church, Stoney Creek Church, Union Ridge Church.
(Chapel Hill, NC: Authors, 1974).
Some cemetery surveys for Alamance County have been published in The Alamance
Genealogist, the quarterly of the Alamance County Genealogical Society,
which is not widely available.
Ruth Herndon Shields, Abstracts of the Minutes of the Court of Pleas and
Quarter Sessions of Orange County, NC, Sept 1752-Aug 1766, (Chapel Hill,
NC: Author, 1965).
Alma Cheek Redden, Abstracts of the Minutes of the Inferior Court of Pleas
and Quarter Sessions of Orange County, NC, 1777-1788, and February 1787 through
November 1795, [two books] (Hillsborough, NC: Author, 1966, 1970). The
second book is located in the local area only at the Genealogical Services
Section of the North Carolina State Library.The first book has been republished
as "Orange County, N. C. Abstracts of..." by Southern Historical Press,
Inc., Greenville, SC (275 W. Broad St.), 1991. [Note: The later work is
considered less well done than the earlier one, so reference to the original
in addition to reviewing the transcription is recommended. Indeed, it is
always best to look at the original if possible, using the transcriptions
as a guide].
Weynette Parks Haun, Orange County, NC Court Minutes, 1752-1761 [Book
I] and 1762-1766 [Book II], (Durham, NC: Author, 1991, 1992). These report
more detail on court cases than Shields, but no obvious new names.
Weynette Parks Haun, Hillsborough District, NC Superior Court Minutes,
1768-1791 [Book I], (Durham, NC: Author, 1993). This abstract attempts
to partially fill in the missing period in the Orange County Pleas &
QS Court minutes (Aug 1766-May 1777), but the matters before this court were
of a different or more serious nature. The District covered the then counties
of Caswell, Chatham, Granville, Randolph, Wake, and Orange.
Grace H. Wright, "Equity Bond Docket, 1789-1817, Hillsborough District
and Orange County, N. C.," North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal
[hereafter NCGSJ], 18:1 (Feb 92), p. 23; 18:2 (May 92), p. 111; 19:1 (Feb
93), p. 29; 20:1 (Feb 94), p. 49; 20:4 (Nov 94), p. 277; 21:2 (May 95), p.
160.
Pat Shaw Bailey, Land Grant Records of North Carolina, Vol I, Orange County,
1752-1885, (Graham, NC: Pic by Pat Publications, 1990).
Margaret M. Hoffman, The Granville District of North Carolina, 1748-1763,
Abstracts of Land Grants, Volume Two: Granville, Halifax, Hyde, Johnston,
Northampton, Orange, Tyrrell, (Weldon, NC: Roanoke News Co., 1987).
Eve B. Weeks (transcriber), Register of Orange County, NC Deeds, 1752-1768,
and 1793, (Danielsville, GA: Mary B. Warren, 1984). A register kept by
the court clerk of names of persons named in registered deeds - grantors,
grantees and witnesses - valuable for the 1752-1768 period for which virtually
all the old deed books are lost.
William D. Bennett, Orange County, NC
Records, Vols. I-XIX. (Raleigh, NC: Author, 1987+). These books are
completely cross-indexed as to names and places and include:
V Granville Grants & Surveys, 1751-1760
VI Granville Grants & Surveys, 1761-1763
I Granville Proprietary Land Office, Loose Papers
VII Granville Proprietary Land Office, Miscellaneous Papers
IX Orange County State Land Grants, Numbers 1-500
X Orange County State Land Grants, Numbers 501-1000
II Orange County Deed Books 1 & 2 (surv. deeds 1752-81 & 1782-85)
III Orange County Deed Book 3 (1784-88; surv. deeds 1768-72)
IV Orange County Deed Book 4 (1786-93)
VIII Orange County Deed Book 5 (1793-97)
XI Orange County Deed Books 6 & 7 (1797-99)
XII Orange County Deed Books 8 & 9 (1799-1802)
XIV Orange County Deed Books 10 & 11 (1801-1805)
XV Orange County Deed Book 12 (1805-1807)
XVII Orange County Deed Book 13 (1807-1811)
XVIII Orange County Deed Book 14 (1811-1815)
XIX Orange County Deed Books 15 & 16 (1815-1818)
Albert Bruce Pruitt, Abstracts of Land Entries: Orange County, N. C.,
1778-1795, (Rocky Mount, NC: Author, 1990).
Edwin B. McDill, An Index to the Town Lots of Hillsborough, Orange County,
NC, (Greensboro, NC: Author, 1982), bound typescript, known copies in
State Archives and at Orange Co. Register of Deeds Office. Included is "A
Guide to Pages Containing Hillsborough Lot Ownership Information in the Orange
County List of Taxables, 1780-1827," by Milton D. Forsyth, Jr., 1990.
William Perry Johnson, "1755 Tax List of Orange Co., NC," The North
Carolinian, 1:4 (Dec 1955).
Jo White Linn, "1773 Debtors of Col. John McGee, Orange Co., NC,"
NCGSJ, 1:1 (Jan 1975).
William D. Bennett, "Freeholders of Orange Co., NC, 1776," NCGSJ,
10:2 (May 1984).
William Perry Johnson, "Orange County, 1779 Tax List," Journal of
North Carolina Genealogy, 15:2-3 (Summer & Fall 1969), pp. 2349-2365
and pp. 2411-2412.
Ransom McBride, "List of Taxable Property in Orange Co., NC, 1780,"
NCGSJ, 11:3 and 11:4 (Aug/Nov 1985).
T. L. C. Genealogy, Orange County, North Carolina Taxpayers, 1784-1793,
(Miami Beach, FL: T. L. C. Genealogy, 1991).
Jean Anderson, "The Federal Direct Tax of 1816 as Assessed in Orange County,
N. C.," NCGSJ, [in five parts] 5:1, 2, 3; 6:1, 2 (Feb, May, Aug 1979;
Feb, May 1980).
Ransom McBride, "Migrations as Seen in Powers of Attorney," NCGSJ,
part of a series in which Orange County is covered in the following issues:
6:3 (Aug 1980), pp. 189-194; 6:4, pp. 241-245; 7:1, pp. 25-33. From original
powers of attorney in the county records file at the NC State Archives [Stack
File C. R. 073.928.5].
Hugh Lefler and Paul Wagner, eds., Orange County, 1752-1952, (Chapel
Hill, NC: Orange Printshop, 1953). This older history usually emphasizes
the more prominent persons.
Jean Bradley Anderson, Durham County, (Durham, NC: Duke Univ. Pr.,
1990). An excellent history of the founding and development of Durham County.
Individuals mentioned are mostly those of prominence.
County Heritage Studies, various. Available for some of the counties
formerly part of Orange. Written by current descendants, they may or may
not contain valid information for early families, but may be useful as a
point of departure for research.
George P. Stout, Historical Research Maps, maps for Orange, Alamance,
and Durham Counties (Greensboro, NC: Author, 1975, rev. 1978). Indexes usually
available where maps are found. He also prepared maps for a number of other
counties.
A. B. Markham, Land Grants to Early Settlers in Old Orange County, North
Carolina, 1743-1810, Parts of Present Orange, Chatham and Durham Counties.
(Durham, NC: Author, 1973) A map with index. Some of Markham's geographical
depictions are not precise, but the plotted grant information is invaluable.
He also made one for Wake County, adjoining Durham and Chatham Counties.
A. B. Markham, "First Settlers in Old Orange (now southern Durham) County,
N. C. - 1740-1810," The North Carolinian, 1:3 (Sep 1955), 79-81.
William H. Freeman, A Revised Index to A. B. Markham's Map of Wake County
Land Grants, (Durham, NC: Author, 1985), typescript.
Ransom McBride, "Orange County District Plan, 1774," NCGSJ, 3:1 (Feb
1977), p. 50. Map with valuable resident name descriptons of the divisions.
(--------), "Orange County, N. C. in 1816 - Waterways." NCGSJ, 5:2
(May 1979).
There are several maps of Orange County and Durham County which date to the
1880s.
Shirley Jones Mallard,
Death and Marriage Notices of The Hillsborough
Recorder, 1820-1879 (Chapel Hill, NC: Author, 1997). An expansion
and revision of Fuller (below) that contains important information not found
in death and marriage records of the period.
Marian Camper Fuller, Marriage and Death Records from the Hillsborough
Recorder, "1820-29, 1834-58, 1860-69, 1873, 1877 - though not entirely
complete - and a few old issues." (Chapel Hill, NC: Author, 1946). Typescript.
Raymond Parker Fouts, Abstracts from Newspapers of Edenton, Fayetteville
and Hillsborough, North Carolina, 1785-1800, (Cocoa, FL: GenRec Books
[P. O. Box 9012], 1984); The Hillsborough entry from the North Carolina Gazette
is limited to the two surviving issues, 6 Oct 1785 and 16 Feb 1786, on pp.
85-87.
Shirley Mallard, Appointment of Postmasters, 1825-1929, Orange County,
N.C., (Chapel Hill, NC: Author, 1992).
Nancy L. McDonald (abstract.), Abstracts of Orange County, NC Cane Creek
Baptist Church Membership Rolls for May 31, 1829 and August 1856, (N.
P., N. D. [c. 1993], bound typescript, copy in Durham Co. Pub. Lib.). Reference
is to NC Archives microfilm roll nr. R.073.01002-3.
Mary Claire Engstrom, "Early Quakers in the Eno River Valley, ca.
1750-1847," Eno, Vol. 7, Nr. 2 [1983?/1989], pp. 1-73 (Eno is
the Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Eno River Valley
[commonly, Eno River Association], 4015 Cole Mill Road, Durham, NC 27712).
(-------), "Appointment of Justices, 1827" (Orange County), The Alamance
Genealogist, 10:2 (May 1993).
(-------), "Coroner's Inquest, 1848" (Orange County), The Alamance
Genealogist, 10:2 (May 1993).
NC Department of Cultural Resources, Guide to Research Materials in the
North Carolina State Archives, Section B: County Records, Orange County,
pp. 209-212, (Raleigh, NC: NC Div of Archives and History; 1979, 9th Rev
ed, 1984). This lists original and microfilm records by subject; microfilm
numbers are not given, but may be found in indexes at the archives. Examples
of subjects are: Bonds, Estates Records, Land Records, Roads and Bridges,
Promissory Notes, etc. Included in the original records are many materials
that have never been transcribed or microfilmed.
The only major newspaper for Orange County was published in Hillsborough
until the establishment of the Chapel Hill News in the 20th century. Information
about Orange County families is also found in the Durham newspapers published
following the establishment of that city in the 1870s. The Hillsborough
Recorder was published as a weekly in Hillsborough from 1820 until about
1879, when it moved to Durham and the title changed to the Durham
Recorder. From May 7, 1886 to February 29, 1888 it was published also
as a daily, and from 1905 to April 30, 1909 and January-October 6, 1911 as
a semi-weekly. To confuse the situation, a competing weekly, the Hillsboro
Recorder, was published in Hillsborough from August 11, 1887 to August
2, 1888 (by Parish and Strudwick). Available issues of these newspapers have
been filmed by the state archives, and are contained on 11 microfilm reels
[HiHR-1 thru -11].
Only two issues of the pre-1800 North Carolina Gazette published in
Hillsborough remain, and names from these are extracted in Raymond Parker
Fouts, above.
We would appreciate any comments you have about this research
summary. Leave e-mail comments
here!
Where would you like to go?
Go direct to the North Carolina
GenWeb Project Introductory Page for Orange County... Search for
surnames, review posted queries, and more.
Go to D-OGS North Carolina links...Our links page to
general North Carolina and related sources.
Go to D-OGS Home Page
HTML coding by Milton D. Forsyth, Jr. (with thanks to Ed Tittel and Steve
James' book, HTML For Dummies).
Text - Copyright © 1996, Durham-Orange Genealogical Society, Inc. All
Rights Reserved
This guide was last revised on 8 October 1999
Webmaster's note: This is the original note from the creation of this page in 1996.
|
