Knowing what county records are available is very important for systematic research. The NC Archives publishes several guides to their holdings, including the Guide to Research Materials In the North Carolina State Archives: County Records (PDF version) version), revised 2002, available online as a free download. Below is a listing from the book of the archival holdings for Wake County.

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Wake County Records at the North Carolina Archives

[Reproduced courtesy of the North Carolina Division of Archives and History.]

Wake County was established in 1771 from Cumberland, Johnston and Orange counties. A few early court records are missing; reason unknown. Several deed books were destroyed in a register's office fire in 1832.

Original Records

   BONDS
      Apprentice Bonds and Records, 1770-1903, 1 Fibredex box
      Bastardy Bonds and Records, 1772, 1937, 2 volumes, 2 Fibredex boxes
      Constables' Bonds, 1787, 1867; 1 Fibredex box
      Officials' Bonds, 1878-1898; 2 volumes

   CENSUS RECORDS (County Copy)
      Census; 1880; 6 volumes

   COURT RECORDS
      County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions
         Minutes, 1777-1868; 24 volumes
         Appearance Dockets, 1783-1818, 1838-1868; 6 volumes
         Execution Dockets, 1772-1830, 1840-1868; 13 volumes
         Levy Dockets, 1805-1819; 2 volumes
         Recognizance Docket, 1820-1837; 1 volume
         Reference Docket, 1799-1832; 1 volume
         Scire Facias Docket, 1799-1813; 1 volume
         State Dockets, 1795-1868; 7 volumes
         Trial Dockets, 1778-1868; 9 volumes

      Superior Court
         Minutes, 1818-1928; 48 volumes
         Minutes (Rough), 1858-1866, 1915-1930; 10 volumes
         Equity Minutes, 1818-1836, 1851-1868; 2 volumes
         Equity Appearance Dockets, 1818-1868; 3 volumes
         Equity Execution Dockets, 1820-1868; 2 volumes
         Equity Trial Dockets, 1818-1866; 3 volumes
         Appearance Dockets, 1835-1869; 2 volumes
         Execution Dockets, 1808-1871; 6 volumes
         State Dockets, 1814-1868; 4 volumes
         Criminal Issues Dockets, 1869-1915; 16 volumes
         Summons Dockets, 1868-1913, 7 volumes
         Trial, Appearance and Reference Dockets, 1814-1824; 2 volumes
         Trial and Reference Dockets, 1825-1863; 3 volumes
         Trial Docket, 1864-1868; 1 volume
         Civil Issues Docket, 1868-1886; 1 volume
         Clerk's Record of Fines and Penalties, 1879-1898; 1 volume
         Clerk's Fee Book, 1889-1912; 1 volume
         Costs Dockets (Criminal, 1839-1844, 1902-1903; 3 volumes
         Special Civil Order Docket, 1884; 1 volume
         Tax Judgment Dockets, 1878-1887; 2 volumes
         Civil Action Papers, 1770-1942; 92 Fibredex boxes
         Civil Action Papers Concerning Land, 1773-1947; 55 Fibredex boxes
         Criminal Action Papers, 1771-1946; 3 Fibredex Boxes

      Criminal Court
         Minutes, 1877-1879; 2 volumes
         Criminal Issues Docket, 1877-1879; 1 volume
         Judgment Docket, 1877-1879; 1 volume

   ELECTION RECORDS
      Record of Elections, 1896-1920, 1928; 4 volumes
      Election Records, 1790-1938; 5 Fibredex boxes
      Voter Register Book, 1904-1906; 1 volume

   ESTATES RECORDS
      Records of Accounts, 1868-1916, 8 volumes
      Administrators' Bonds, 1868-1892; 3 volumes
      Record of Appointment of Administrators and Executors, 1858-1891; 3 volumes
      Appointment of Administrators, Executors, Guardians and Masters, 1868-1893;
         2 volumes
      Record of Administrators, Executors and Guardians, 1892-1914; 5 volumes
      Index to Executors and Administrators, 1858-1934; 2 volumes
      Index to Administrators' and Guardians' Accounts, no date; 1 volume
      Widow's Year's Support, 1878-1912; 1 volume
      Estates Records, 1771-1952, 1962, 1968; 383 Fibredex boxes
      Guardians' Records, 1772-1948; 44 Fibredex boxes
      Guardians' Accounts, 1878-1913; 5 volumes
      Guardians' Bonds, 1868-1892; 3 volumes
      Guardians' Bonds and Appointments, 1892-1910; 2 volumes
      Guardians' Dockets, 1817-1818, 1822-1828; 2 volumes
      Index to Guardians, 1858-1934; 1 volume
      Record of Amounts Paid for Indigent Orphans, 1899-1918, 1921-1935; 2 volumes
      Clerks' Receiver Accounts, 1913, 1917-1918; 1 volume
      Inventories and Accounts of Sale, 1878-1913; 5 volumes
      Record of Settlements, 1868-1918; 10 volumes

   LAND RECORDS
      Deeds, 1774-1940; 2 Fibredex boxes
      Deeds of Trust, 1824-1940; 1 Fibredex box
      Mortgage Deeds, 1859-1935; 2 Fibredex Boxes
      Ejectments,1789-1937; 2 Fibredex boxes
      Land Division, 1820-1854, 1871-1937; 1 volume, 1 Fibredex box
      Land Entries, 1778-1846; 1 volume
      Attachment, Executions, Levies and Liens on land, 1806, 1814, 1841-1942;
         7 Fibredex boxes
      Index to Liens and Mortgages, 1934; 1 volume
      Condemnation Proceedings for Land, 1891-1940; 3 Fibredex boxes
      Miscellaneous Land Records, 1800-1939; 1 Fibredex box
      Probate Court Dockets, 1878-1883; 3 volumes
      Index to Probate Court Docket, 1878-1880; 1 volume

   MARRIAGE, DIVORCE AND VITAL STATISTICS
      Marriage Bonds, 1790-1865; 58 manuscript boxes
      Record of Marriages, 1851-1857, 1862-1866, 1 volume
      Marriage Registers, 1868-1901; 3 volumes
      Record of Cohabitation, 1866; 1 volume
      Divorce Records, 1831-1952; 56 Fibredex boxes
      Register of Births, 1925-1938; 1 volume
      Registers of Deaths, 1887-1937; 4 volumes
      Death Certificates, 1900-1909; 9 volumes

   MILITARY AND PENSION RECORDS
      Roster of Wake County Confederate Soldiers Association, 1886-1914; 1 volume

   MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS
      Alien Registration, 1927, 1940; 1 volume
      Naturalization Records, 1821-1908, 1837; 1 Fibredex box
      Commissions from Governors to hold Court, 1929, 1938-1940; 1 Fibredex box
      County Accounts, 1890-1894; 1 volume
      General County Accounts, 1911-1915; 2 volumes
      County Home Accounts, 1911-1915; 1 volume
      Fraternal Organizations, 1895-1940; 3 Fibredex boxes
      Homestead and Personal Property Exemptions, 1869-1945; 1 volume,
      9 Fibredex boxes
      Insolvent Debtors, 1800-1868; 3 Fibredex boxes
      Grand Jury Reports, 1826-1949; 1 Fibredex box
      Lists of Jurors, 1893-1929; 2 volumes
      Lists of Empanelled Jurors, 1895-1911; 2 volumes
      Jury Tickets, 1927-1931, 1939; 5 volumes
      Registry of Licenses to Trades, 1876-1877; 1 volume
      Architects' Certificates of Registration, 1915-1967, 2 volumes
      Chiropractors' Certificates of Registration, 1917-1956; 1 volume
      Dentists' Certificates of Registration, 1947-1960; 1 volume
      Nurses' Certificates of Registration, 1946-1953; 1 volume
      Opticians' Certificates of Registration, 1952-1966; 2 volumes
      Optometrists' Certificates of Registration, 1950-1965; 1 volume
      Osteopaths' Certificates of Registration, 1931-1947, 1 volume
      Physicians' and Surgeons' Certificates of Registration, 1939-1967; 5 volumes
      Clerk's Minute Dockets (Special Proceedings), 1921-1940, 1966-1968; 6 volumes
      Orders and Decrees, 1875-1916; 18 volumes
      Special Proceedings Dockets, 1870-1889; 2 volumes
      Miscellaneous Records, 1772-1952; 6 Fibredex boxes
      Personal Accounts, 1770-1913; 3 Fibredex boxes
      Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph Co Rate Hearings, 1932-1934;
         2 Fibredex boxes
      Minutes, Board of Directors of County Workhouse, 1866-1874; 1 volume
      Records of Assignees, Receivers and Trustees, 1867-1969; 43 Fibredex boxes
      Record of Assignments, 1894-1921; 3 volumes
      Receivers' Accounts, 1895-1918; 1 volume

   OFFICIALS, COUNTY
      Minutes, Board of County Commissioners, 1869-1910; 6 volumes

   ROADS AND BRIDGES
      Road Records, 1800-1938; 2 Fibredex boxes
     Railroad Records, 12837-1940; 34 Fibredex boxes

   SCHOOL RECORDS
      Minutes, County Board of Education, 1872-1885; 1 volume
      School Census, Raleigh Township, 1897-1910; 7 volumes
      School Records, 1856-1939; 4 Fibredex boxes

   TAX AND FISCAL RECORDS
      Tax Lists, 1781-1867; 11 volumes, 2 Fibredex boxes
      Tax Records, 1870-1939; 4 Fibredex boxes
      Lists of Persons Paying Poll Taxes, 1904-1917; 6 volumes
      Record of Federal Direct Taxes Collected, 1865; 1 volume

   WILLS
      Record of Wills, Inventories and Estates, 1771-1782; 1 volume
      Wills, 1771-1966; 119 Fibredex boxes
      Cross Index to Wills, 1774-1935; 2 volumes
      General Index to Wills, 1771-1952; 2 volumes

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Microfilmed Records

   CORPORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS
      Record of Corporations, 1883-1913; 1 reel

   COURT RECORDS
      County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions
         Minutes, 1771-1868, 10 reels

      Superior Court
         Minutes, 1818-1871, 1881-1884; 3 reels
         Equity Minutes, 1818-1866; 1 reel

   ESTATES RECORDS
      Record of Estates, 1868-1888; 2 reels
      Record of Dowers, 1868-1953; 1 reel
      Index to Dowers, 1804-1946; 1 reel
      Inventories of Estates, 1891-1940; 3 reels
      Record of Final Settlements, 1883-1938; 7 reels
      General Index to Administrators, Executors, Guardians and Trustees, to 1941;
         1 reel
      Index to Administrators, Executors and Inventories, 1891-1959; 1 reel
      Index to Guardians, 1858-1932; 1 reel
      General Index to Minors and Decedents to 1941; 1 reel

   LAND RECORDS
      Record of Deeds, 1785-1936; 229 reels
      Index to Real Estate Conveyances, Grantor, 1785-1958; 15 reels
      Index to Real Estate Conveyances, Grantor: Firms and Corporations, 1771-1971;
         8 reels
      Index to Real Estate Conveyances, Grantee, 1785-1958; 13 reels
      Index to Real Estate Conveyances, Grantee: Firms and Corporations, 1771-1971;
         7 reels
      Record of Land Divisions, 1820-1854; 1 reel
      Record of Partition of Land, 1879-1966; 3 reels
      General Index to Divisions of Land, 1792-1940; 1 reel
      Record of Sales and Resales by Mortgagees and Trustees, 1934-1936; 1 reel

   MARRIAGE, DIVORCE AND VITAL STATISTICS
      Marriage Bonds, 1770-1869; 5 reels
      Marriage Licenses, 1851-1990; 63 reels
      Marriage Registers, 1839-1967; 18 reels
      Record of Cohabitation, 1866; 1 reel
      Maiden Names of Divorced Women, 1938-1968; 1 reel
      Death Certificates, 1900-1909; 4 reels

   MILITARY AND PENSION RECORDS
      Record of Armed Forces Discharges, 1917-1971; 17 reels
      Index to Armed Forces Discharges, various years; 1 reel

   MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS
      Orders and Decrees, 1878-1965; 22 reels
      Special Proceedings, 1879-1968; 9 reels
      Index to Special Proceedings, 1879-1968; 7 reels
      Record of Wardens of the Poor, 1846-1872; 1 reel

   OFFICIALS, COUNTY
      Minutes, Board of County Commissioners, 1868-1935; 6 reels

   SCHOOL RECORDS
      Minutes, County Board of Education, 1873-1959; 3 reels

   TAX AND FISCAL RECORDS
      Lists of Taxables, 1781-1817;1 reel
      Tax Lists, 1809-1904, 1925, 1934; 14 reels

   WILLS
      Record of Wills, Inventories and Settlements of Estates, 1771-1868; 16 reels
      Record of Wills, 1868-1966; 20 reels
      Index to Wills, Devisor, 1771-1968; 1 reel
      Index to Wills, Devisee, 1771-1967; 2 reels

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Additional Resources

• Many of the records at the NC Archives were filmed by the Genealogy Society of Utah beginning in 1941 and are held on microfilm, microfiche, and CD-ROM by the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Family History Centers throughout the United States provide access to most of the records in the Family History Library to help patrons identify their ancestors. Everyone is welcome to come to the centers and use their resources.
   

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Print Books

Every resource a researcher needs may not yet be online.  And, there are some wonderful "books" that have been written about Wake County, its history and genealogy!  These are either available at your local library or can be obtained via interlibrary loan (ILL). Please do suggest books for this list (It is a work in progress, never promises to be complete, and the focus are on books that are of general interest and not too narrowly defined!)

1. Culture Town: Life in Raleigh's African American Communities. Linda Simmons-Henry and Linda Harris Edmisten. 1993.

2. The Historic Architecture of Wake County North Carolina. By Kelly A Lally. 447 p. 1994

3. History of Wake County, Sketches of Those who have Most Influenced its Development. By Hope S. Chamberlain. 302p.  1997.

4. North Carolina's Capital, Raleigh. Elizabeth C Waugh. 1967.

5. Raleigh, City of Oaks: An Illustrated History. James Vickers and Jan-Michael Poff. 1997.

6. Raleigh, the first 200 years: A brief look at the people, places, & events in the history of Raleigh. By Metz Beal, Candy Lee. 1991

7. Raleigh: A Living History of North Carolina's Capital. By David Perkins. 1994.

8. Raleigh, A Pictorial History. Solpen, Steven. 1977.

9. Wake, Capital County of North Carolina. By Elizabeth Reid Murray. 770p. 1983

10. Wake County North Carolina Burials – Swift Creek Township.  By Cindy Foster. 2006. "The inspiration for the book came from Irene Kittinger, Wake Co. cemetery survey project coordinator.  With the help of my family and my Cary DAR chapter (Yates Mill), we resurveyed and photographed all the cemeteries in the township. There are over 1700 documented burials in 44 known cemeteries in the township. The self published book is available from Lulu.com.  The companion DVD has been published.  See: Cynthia Selensky Foster’s Publications for details." Cindy has kindly offered to to look-ups in this book.

11. to be continued .....
     

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