Beaufort County Genealogy Records

Beaufort County holds some of the oldest public records in North Carolina. Created in 1705 from Bath County, this Inner Banks county has kept land records for over three hundred years. The county seat is Washington, once called Forks of the Tar River. Courthouse fires in 1785 and 1862 destroyed many early documents, but a large number of records still survive. Researchers looking for family roots in eastern North Carolina will find Beaufort County a key place to search.

Beaufort County Register of Deeds

The Register of Deeds in Beaufort County manages vital records, land documents, and other public files. This office sits at 112 W. 2nd Street in Washington. Staff can help you find marriage records going back to 1705 and land records from the same year. These are among the oldest continuous records in the entire state.

Beaufort County was named for Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort, one of the Lords Proprietors of colonial Carolina. The county formed from Bath County, which no longer exists. Bath itself was the first town in North Carolina, and its history ties closely to early Beaufort County genealogy. Many families in this region trace their lines to the first settlers of the Pamlico and Tar River areas. The Register of Deeds can assist you with deed searches, marriage license lookups, and copies of recorded documents.

You can reach the Beaufort County Register of Deeds at beaufortcountync.gov for online information about available records and hours of operation.

Beaufort County Vital Genealogy Records

Birth and death records in Beaufort County begin in 1913, the year North Carolina started statewide registration. Marriage records go back much further. The county has marriage bonds and licenses from 1705, though some early ones were lost in the courthouse fires. These marriage records are a primary source for genealogy work in Beaufort County.

The North Carolina state vital records image below shows how to order copies of birth, death, and marriage certificates through the state system. You can request records through the NC Vital Records office for births and deaths from 1913 forward.

For records before 1913, you will need to search church registers, family bibles, and other local sources. Many churches in Beaufort County kept their own birth and death records long before the state required it. The Beaufort County area had active congregations from the early 1700s.

Note: Courthouse fires in 1785 and 1862 destroyed portions of the early marriage and land records, so some gaps exist in the Beaufort County collection.

Land and Court Records in Beaufort County

Beaufort County land records date to 1705. This makes the county one of the oldest continuous record-keeping offices in North Carolina. Land deeds, grants, and plats tell the story of how families acquired and passed down property along the Tar and Pamlico rivers. Court records begin in 1712 and probate files start the same year.

Land records are vital for genealogy in this part of the state. Before civil registration of births, land transfers often provide the best evidence of family ties. A father selling land to a son, or a widow receiving her dower rights, can confirm relationships that no other record shows. The chain of title for a single piece of land can trace a family through several generations in Beaufort County.

Court records from the colonial period also hold genealogy clues. Orphan court proceedings name children and guardians. Estate inventories list property and sometimes name heirs. Criminal court records may mention family members as witnesses or sureties. All of these are available through the courthouse in Washington.

Beaufort County Genealogy Research Tips

Start your Beaufort County research with what you know. Gather names, dates, and places from family members before you visit the courthouse or search online. This saves time and helps the staff find the right records faster.

The state library image below shows resources available for beginning genealogy research in North Carolina, including tools that cover Beaufort County records.

Several online sources cover Beaufort County. DigitalNC hosts digitized newspapers from the county, including the Washington Daily News and other publications. Old newspapers are rich sources for obituaries, marriage notices, and local news that can fill gaps in official records. The NC State Archives also holds Beaufort County records including wills, deeds, and court minutes from the colonial era.

Military records tie to Beaufort County genealogy as well. Men from the county served in every conflict from the Revolutionary War forward. Muster rolls, pension applications, and service records often list home county and family details. The National Archives and the NC State Archives both hold military records for Beaufort County residents.

• Check land records from 1705 for early family connections
• Search DigitalNC for newspaper obituaries and notices
• Review court minutes from 1712 for orphan and estate cases
• Look at church records for births and deaths before 1913
• Use military pension files for family details

Note: The maritime history of the Inner Banks means some Beaufort County residents also appear in port records and ship manifests held at the National Archives.

Beaufort County Cemetery Records

Cemeteries in Beaufort County are important genealogy sources. Headstones often provide birth dates, death dates, and family relationships that appear nowhere else. Some stones list parents, spouses, or military service. The county has dozens of old burial grounds, from large town cemeteries to small family plots on former farm land.

Volunteers have transcribed many Beaufort County cemetery records over the years. These transcriptions are available through local genealogy societies and online databases. However, visiting the cemetery in person can reveal details that a transcription misses. Worn stones, footstones, and the arrangement of graves within a family plot all tell part of the story.

Church records are another strong source. Denominations such as the Episcopal Church and various Baptist congregations kept registers of baptisms, marriages, and burials in Beaufort County from the colonial period. Some of these registers have been published or microfilmed. Others remain with the individual churches.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Beaufort County. If your ancestors moved within eastern North Carolina, records in neighboring counties may hold key genealogy information. Families often crossed county lines for land, work, or marriage.