Writing for Records from the NC State Archives

Many original county records have been deposited at the State Archives in Raleigh. Counties were encouraged to send records no longer used on a day-to-day basis and many of them did so.

The staff will answer one specific question about one individual by searching these records.

If you are a resident of North Carolina, you may email your question to: archives@ncsl.dcr.state.nc.us, however their replies will be sent by US Mail. You may also fax your request to: (919)733-1354.

If you prefer, you may mail your inquiry to:

North Carolina State Archives
109 East Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27601-2807

Out-of-state researchers will need to enclose a $20.00 search and handling fee for each request. The fee should be sent with your request, along with a legal-sized SASE.

Listed below are the Cumberland County Records held by the NC State Archives. This listing comes from the following publication and is used with permission:
     Guide to Research Materials in the North Carolina State Archives, Section B: County Records, (1979, rpt. Raleigh: NC Div. of Archives and History, 1990), pp. 78-79.

ORIGINAL RECORDS:

BONDS
Apprentice Bonds, 1812-1909, 1 volume 2 fibredex boxes.
Bastardy Bonds, 1760-1910; 1 volume, 1 fibredex box
Constables' Bonds, 1779-1883, 1920; 1 fibredex box
Officials' Bonds, 1777-1954; 3 fibredex boxes

COURT RECORDS
County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions:
Minutes, 1755-1868 (not inclusive)
Allowance Docket, 1797-1836; 1 volume
Appeal Dockets, 1791-1834; 4 volumes
Appearance Dockets, 1789-1868; 8 volumes
Execution Dockets, 1785-1868; 15 volumes
Judgment Docket, 1823-1825; 1 volume
Recognizance Docket, 1789-1806; 1 volume
State Dockets, 1821-1844; 2 volumes
Trial, Reference, and New Action Dockets, 1774-1867 (not inclusive); 11 volumes
Superior Court:
Minutes, 1806-1818, 1831-1913: 22 volumes
Argument Dockets, 1807-1816; 1 volume
Equity Minutes, 1830-1868; 4 volumes
Equity Execution Docket, 1824-1840; 1 volume
Equity Trial Dockets, 1840-1868; 2 volumes
Execution Docket, 1818-1868; 7 volumes
Recognizance and State Dockets, 1828-1842; 1 volume
Civil Action Papers, No Date, 1759-1946; 4 fibredex boxes
Civil Action Papers Concerning Land, 1857-1945 (broken series) 1 fibredex box Criminal Action Papers, No Date, 1772, 1773, 1795-1796, 1803, 1852-1927
     (broken series); 3 fibredex boxes
Miscellaneous Court Papers, 1766-1837; with Miscellaneous Records
State Dockets, 1816-1828, 1843-1847; 2 volumes
Trial Docket, 1869-1888 (includes Trial Docket, County Court, 1867-1868); 1 vol.
Circuit Criminal Court
Minutes, 1897-1901; 1 volume

ELECTION RECORDS
Record of Elections, 1900-1921; 2 volumes
Returns, 1793-1925; 4 fibredex boxes

ESTATES RECORDS
Accounts of Sales, 1825-1828; 1 volume
Record of Accounts, 1868-1900 3 volumes
Administrators' Accounts, 1830-1868; 5 volumes
Administrators' Bonds, 1769-1906 (not inclusive) 4 volumes, 12 MSS boxes
Record of Assignments, 1854-1912; 1 volume, 1 MS box
Estates Papers, 1759-1930; 79 fibredex boxes
Division of Estates, 1818-1860; 1 volume
Clerk's Record of Estates, 1898-1908; 1 volume
Appointments of Executors, 1868-1906; 1 volume
Guardians' Records, 1795-1916; 10 fibredex boxes
Record of Settlements, 1865-1916; 2 volumes

LAND RECORDS
Deeds, 1787-1956; 20 fibredex boxes
Deeds of Trust, 1837, 1852, 1903-1956; 1 fibredex box
Index to Deeds, 1752-1856; 2 volumes
Mortgage Deeds, 1894-1947 (broken series) 1 fibredex box
Miscellaneous Land Records (Courses-Surveys) 1784-1955; 1 fibredex box

MARRIAGE, DIVORCE, AND VITAL STATISTICS
Marriage Bonds, 1800-1868; 27 MSS boxes
Marriage Registers, 1851-1941; 8 volumes

MILITARY AND PENSION RECORDS
Pension Record (Confederates) 1894-1914; 1 volume

MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS
Alien Registration, 1927-1942 (not inclusive); 1 volume
Applications for Naturalization, 1894-1904; 1 volume
Assignments, 1854-1912; 1 MS box
Coroners' Inquests, 1791-1909; 1 fibredex box
Lists of Jurors, 1833-1912; 1 MS box
Minutes, Cumberland Agricultural Society, 1826; 1 volume
Miscellaneous Records, 1758-1965; 7 fibredex boxes
Orders and Decrees, 1869-1913; 9 volumes
Assignees, Receivers, and Trustees, 1839-1926; 3 fibredex boxes

OFFICIALS, COUNTY
Clerks' Fee Book, 1827-1855; 1 volume
Correspondence of Clerk of Court, 1858-1919; 1 MS box
Sheriffs' Returns for Execution, 1821-1832; 1 volume

ROADS AND BRIDGES
Road Dockets, Appointments of Overseers, 1825-1855; 2 volumes
Road Overseers, 1863-1909; 1 MS box

TAX AND FISCAL RECORDS
Ledger, County Trustee, 1845-1855; 1 volume
Levies, 1833-1835; 1 volume
Lists of Taxables, 1777-1884 (not inclusive) 8 volumes, 1 MS box

WILLS
Wills, 1757-1955; 37 fibredex boxes
Cross Index to Wills, 1796-1933; 1 volume