Status of Courthouse Records in North Carolina

Many records are destroyed by fires in the courthouses and/or other unknown causes.

The "Guide to Research Materials In The North Carolina State Archives" gives all the known information about the courthouse records. What is listed here is from this book and later sources, with supplemental information from “Story of the Counties of North Carolina with other data”, by noted historian, Fred A. Olds.

The most recent 2009 Version can be purchased from the NC Historical Publications Shop.

Counties listed in red had no damage or known missing. The Federal Courthouses are at the end of the list with links to photographs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alamance - (Established in 1849 from Orange Co.)

Alexander - (Est. in 1847 from Caldwell, Iredell & Wilkes Co.'s) Federal troops burned many court records in 1865

Alleghany - (Est.1859 from Ashe Co.) Fire in 1932 destroyed a few permanent records

Anson - (Est.1750 from Bladen Co. ) Fire in 1868 destroyed all records except original wills, will books in the Clerks office and deed books in Registrar’s office. Most all court records destroyed, some remaining are fire damaged

Ashe - (Est. in 1799 from Wilkes County) Fire in 1865 destroyed many court records

Beaufort - (Est. in 1705 as Pamptecough Precinct of Bath Co.) Some records lost during Civil War, including some 100 deeds, will books incomplete, and gaps in court records.

Bertie - (Est. in 1722 from Chowan Precinct. as a precinct of Albemarle Co.) There are wide gaps in the early will records.

Bladen - (Est. in 1734 from New Hanover/Bath Prec.) Fires in 1800 & 1893 destroyed most of the court records and several land records

Brunswick - (Est. in 1764 from Bladen & New Hanover Co.'s) Federal Troops destroyed many court records in 1865)

Buncombe - (Est. in 1791 from Burke and Rutherford Co.'s) Fires in 1830 & 1865 destroyed many court records

Burke - (Est. in 1777 from Rowan Co.) Federal Troops destroyed many court records and most land records in 1865

Bute - (Est. in 1764 from Granville Co.) Divided into Franklin & Warren Co.'s in 1779, most records are housed in Warren County, but there are a few that may be found among Franklin Co. records.

Cabarrus - (Est. in 1792 from Mecklenburg Co.) Fire of 1876 destroyed a few court records

Caldwell - (Est. in 1841 from Burke & Wilkes Co.'s)

Camden - Est. in 1777 from Pasquotank Co.) Many records missing; some said to be from a storage room fire, no date given. First surviving Will Book is dated 1815; Superior Court books begin 1869

Carteret - (Est. in 1722 from Craven Precinct as a precinct. of Bath Co.)

Caswell - (Est. in 1777 from Orange Co.) Some records said to be destroyed by militia troops during Reconstruction- (1865+)

Catawba - (Est. in 1832 from Lincoln Co.) Many court records missing; reason unknown

Chatham - (Est. in 1771 from Orange Co.) Many court records missing; reason unknown; Fire in Mar. of 2010 no records destroyed

Cherokee - (Est. in 1839 from Macon Co.) Many records destroyed by fires of 1865 (Federal Troops) 1895 & 1926. 

Chowan - (Est. by 1670 as a Prec. of Albemarle Co.) Many records said destroyed by acting clerk of court in 1848. First surviving will book begins in 1760, Court dockets begin 1757, county court minutes begin 1762, Superior court begin 1768.

Clay - (Est. in 1861 from Cherokee Co.) Fire (not in the courthouse?) destroyed all records of the county in 1870

Cleveland - (Est.1841 from Lincoln & Rutherford Co.'s)

Columbus - (Est. 1808 from Bladen & Brunswick Co.'s). No fires, but all Marriage bonds are lost.

Craven - (Est. 1705 as Archdale Precinct of Bath Co.) Records destroyed by Indians in 1712. First surviving deed book begin in 1739.

Cumberland - (Est. 1754 from Bladen Co.)

Currituck - (Est. by 1670 as a Prec. of Albemarle Co.) Many records missing; reason unknown. No records at all prior to 1735; with many after 1735 badly mixed in with deeds 1780-1804; first will book begins 1761

Dare - (Est.1870 from Currituck, Hyde & Tyrrell Co.'s)

Davie - (Est.1836 from Rowan Co.)

Davidson - (Est. in 1822 from Rowan Co.) Fire in 1866 may have destroyed some records

Dobbs - (Est. in 1758 from Johnston Co.; divided into Glasgow and Lenoir Co. in 1791) Fire in 1880 many records destroyed

Duplin - (Est. in 1750 from New Hanover Co.) Many records missing; reason unknown

Durham - (Est. 1881 from Orange & Wake Co.'s)

Edgecombe - (Est. 1741 from Bertie Co.) Land record before 1759 are with those in Halifax Co.

Forsyth - (Est. 1849 from Stokes Co.)

Franklin - (Est.1770 from Bute Co.) No courthouse fires and most records are available.  The exception is an incident which occurred as follows: On 6 December 2013, Franklin County destroyed some historical records dating back to the 1840s through incineration. The records, dating back to the 1840s, included bound volumes of deeds, liens, and chattel mortgages, Large quantities of unbound records were also destroyed. None of these materials appear to have been microfilmed or scanned prior to their being burned.

Gaston - (Est. 1846 from Lincoln Co.) Fire 1874, destroyed many records.

Gates - (Est. 1779 from Chowan, Hertford & Perquimans Co.'s)

Graham - (Est. 1872 from Cherokee Co.)

Granville - (Est. 1746 from Edgecombe Co.) Many early marriage bonds missing. Will books from 1746-1772 missing, although 71 unrecorded wills for that time period are on microfilm. Court Minutes 1746-1780 missing. Many Court Minutes from 1780-1820 are missing.

Greene -(Est. in 1791 as Glasgow Co. from Dobbs, name changed to Greene in 1799) Fire started by the sheriff in 1876 destroyed all court minutes, marriage bonds and  land records. First will book begins August 1868, deed books begin June 1875

Guilford - (Est. in 1777 from Orange & Rowan Co.'s) Fire in 1872 caused slight loss of records

Halifax - (Est. in 1758 from Edgecombe Co.) Many records missing including most original wills prior to 1850, although they are recorded in will books; early court minutes are sporadic until 1837. Loss of these County records are unknown. Note however, that Deed Books starting in 1723 for Bertie Precinct and starting from 1732 for Edgecombe Precinct are included intact with Halifax records.

Harnett - (Est. in 1855 from Cumberland Co.) Fires of 1892 & 1894 destroyed court and many land records.

Haywood- (Est. in 1808 from Buncombe Co.) Recently, some records destroyed in move to new courthouse

Henderson - (Est. 1838 from Buncombe Co.) A few equity records were destroyed by Federal raiders in 1865.

Hertford - (Est. 1759 from Chowan Co.) Fires in 1830 & 1862 destroyed majority of county records

Hoke - (Est. 1911 from Cumberland & Robeson Co.'s)

Hyde - (Est. 1705 as Wickham Precinct of Bath Co.) Name change to Hyde in 1712.

Iredell - (Est. in 1788 from Rowan Co.) Fire of 1854 destroyed many court records

Jackson - (Est. in 1851 from Haywood and Macon Co.'s) Many records missing; reason unknown

Johnston - (Est. in 1746 from Craven Co.) Many records missing; reason unknown

Jones - (Est. in 1779 from Craven Co.) Fire 1862 during Civil War battle many records destroyed

Lee - (Est. 1907 from Chatham & Moore Co.'s)

Lenoir- (Est. in 1791 from Dobbs Co.) Fires in 1878 & 1880 destroyed many court records

Lincoln - (Est. in 1779 from Tryon Co.) Many records missing; reason unknown

Macon - (Est. in 1828 from Haywood Co.) Many records missing or damaged; reason unknown; first Will Book begins in 1870; first Deed books begin in 1832

Madison - (Est. 1851 from Buncombe & Yancey Co.'s)

Martin - (Est. 1774 from Halifax & Tyrrell Co's) Fire in 1884 destroyed many court records

McDowell - (Est. 1842 from Burke & Rutherford Co.'s)

Mecklenburg - (Est. 1763 from Anson Co.)

Mitchell - (Est. in 1861 from Burke, Caldwell, McDowell, Watauga & Yancey) Records believed destroyed during 1907 move

Montgomery - (Est. 1779 from Anson Co.) Fire in 1835 destroyed many records

Moore - (Est. 1784 from Cumberland Co.) Fire of 1889 destroyed most land records and many court records

Nash - (Est. 1777 from Edgecombe Co.)

New Hanover - (Est. in 1729 from Carteret/Bath Prec.) Some fires during the years have destroyed a few records.

Northampton - (Est. in 1741 from Bertie Co.) Few records missing; reason unknown

Onslow - (Est. 1734 from New Hanover Prec./Bath Co.) Storms of 1752 & 1786 destroyed many records

Orange - (Est. 1752 from Bladen, Granville & Johnston Co.'s) Many records missing; reason unknown

Pamlico - (Est. 1872 from Beaufort & Craven Co.'s)

Pasquotank - (Est. 1670 as Prec. of Albemarle Co.) Many records missing; reason unknown

Pender - (Est. 1875 from New Hanover Co.)

Perquimans - (Est. by 1670 as Prec. of Albemarle Co.) A few records missing; reason unknown

Person - (Est. 1791 from Caswell Co.) Numerous wills are missing, reason unknown

Pitt - (Est. 1760 from Beaufort Co.) Fire of 1857 destroyed most court records

Polk - (Est. 1847 from Henderson & Rutherford Co.'s) Act repealed in 1848. Reestablished in 1855

Randolph - (Est. 1779 from Guilford Co.) Many court records missing; reason unknown

Richmond - (Est. 1779 from Anson Co.) A few court records missing; reason unknown

Robeson -(Est. 1787 from Bladen Co.) Many court records missing; reason unknown

Rockingham - (Est. 1785 from Guilford Co.) A few court records missing; reason unknown

Rowan - (Est. in 1753 from Anson Co.) A few records destroyed by Federal Troops in 1865

Rutherford - (Est. 1779 from Tryon Co.) Fire of 1907 destroyed many court records

Sampson - (Est. 1784 from Duplin Co.) Early court records missing caused by Fed. sympathizers in 1865 & fire in 1921

Scotland - (Est. 1899 from Richmond Co.)

Stanly - (Est. 1841 from Montgomery Co.) A few early court records missing; reason unknown

Stokes - (Est. 1789 from Surry Co.) A few court records missing; reason unknown

Surry - (Est. 1770 from Rowan Co.)

Swain - (Est. in 1871 from Macon & Jackson Co.'s) Fire 1879 destroyed many records

Transylvania - (Est. 1861 from Henderson & Jackson Co.'s)

Tryon - (Est. 1768 from Mecklenburg Co.) Divided into Lincoln & Rutherford Co.'s in 1779

Tyrrell - (Est. in 1729 from Bertie, Chowan, Currituck and Pasquotank Prec's. as Prec. of Albemarle Co.) A few early records missing

Union -  (Est. 1842 from Anson & Mecklenburg) A few court records missing; reason unknown

Vance - (Est. 1881 from Franklin, Granville & Warren Co.'s)

Wake - (Est. 1771 from Cumberland, Johnston & Orange Co.'s) A few early records missing including 14 boxes of deeds from the Deeds Register office from fire set in 1832

Warren - (Est. 1779 from Bute Co.) Some records missing; reason unknown; County Court Records from abt 1814 -1823 are missing.There is a loss of records for around the 1935 time period. Deed Books 15 and 16, 1799-1803, are missing from the court house and from the NC Archives. There is a notation in the Cross Index to Deeds 1764-1918 which says "Books Number 15 and 16 is supposed to have been destroyed". (According to “Story of Counties of North Carolina with other data” pg. 61, by noted historian Fred A. Olds, written ca 1920, Deed Books 14 & 15 were destroyed in a fire in the residence of a register of deeds; he probably meant 15 & 16 since Book 14 is intact)

Washington - (Est. 1799 from Tyrrell Co.) Courthouse destroyed by Federal  bombs in 1862, fire 1869 & 1881 destroyed most records

Watauga - (Est. 1849 from Ashe, Caldwell, Wilkes & Yancey Co.'s) Fire 1873 destroyed all land records & most court records

Wayne - (Est. 1779 from Dobbs Co.) A few early court records missing; reason unknown

Wilkes - (Est. 1777 from Surry Co. & the Dist. of Washington) A few early records missing; reason unknown

Wilson - (Est. 1855 from Edgecombe, Johnston, Nash & Wayne Co.'s) A few early court records missing; reason unknown

Yadkin - (Est. in 1850 from Surry Co.)

Yancey - (Est. 1833 from Buncombe & Burke Co.'s) Many early court records missing; reason unknown

 

Click title for additional information: Availability of Wills by County

Also check the Guide to Research Materials in the North Carolina State Archives ~ listed by County

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

North Carolina Federal Courthouses

History of the Federal Judiciary

Asheville, North Carolina
U.S. Court House and Post Office (1909)
Completed in 1892. Razed ca. 1930.

U.S. Post Office and Court House (1931)
Completed in 1930. Still in use.

 

Bryson City, North Carolina

Completed in 1963.  Still in use.

 

Charlotte, North Carolina
U.S. Court House and Post Office (1901)
Completed in 1891. Razed in 1913

 

U.S. Post Office and Courthouse (1934)
Completed in 1915.  Sold to the city in 2005.

 

Durham, North Carolina
U.S. Post Office (1934)
Completed in 1934.  Still in use.

 

Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Completed in 1906.  Renamed the J. Herbert W. Small Federal Building and United States Courthouse in 2009.

 

Fayetteville, North Carolina
Completed in 1966.  Fate of building unknown.

 

Greensboro, North Carolina

U.S. Court House and Post Office (1900; 1904)
Completed in 1887.  Razed ca. 1938.

Greensboro, North Carolina

Completed in 1933.  Renamed and still in use, 1988.

 

New Bern, North Carolina
Completed in 1897.  Court was abolished in 1912.  Now New Bern City Hall.

Completed in 1935. Still in use.

 

Raleigh, North Carolina
U.S. Court House and Post Office (1901; 1938)
Completed in 1879.  Still in use.

 

Rockingham, North Carolina
Completed in 1935.  Now owned by Richmond County.

 

Salisbury, North Carolina

Completed in 1911.  Court was abolished in 1912.  Now Rowan County administrative offices.

 

Statesville, North Carolina
Completed in 1891.  Court was abolished in 1912.  Now Statesville City Hall.

 

Washington, North Carolina
Completed in 1913.  Now in use as a municipal building.

 

Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Completed in 1917.  Now  the Wilkes Board of Education Building.

 

Wilmington, North Carolina

Completed in 1846.  Razed ca. 1914.

Completed in 1891.  Met here until 1919.  Fate of Building unknown.

Completed in 1919.  Still in use by the U.S. District Court

 

Wilson, North Carolina
Completed in 1928.  Now the Imagination Station Science Museum.

 

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Completed in 1907.  Now the Millennium Center.

 

From: Historic Federal Courthouses website

 

Contact: NCGenWeb State Coordinator 

© 2010 to present,  NCGenWeb Project Inc. - All Rights Reserved

Last updated:  July 12, 2022