New Bern Craven County Genealogy

Craven County is one of the oldest counties in North Carolina. It was first set up as Archdale Precinct in 1705 from Bath County. The name changed to Craven in 1712 in honor of William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven, one of the Lords Proprietors. New Bern serves as the county seat and was the first permanent capital of North Carolina. Swiss and Palatine German settlers helped shape this area. Genealogy records here reach back to the early 1700s, making it a rich source for family research in eastern North Carolina.

Craven County Register of Deeds

The Register of Deeds in New Bern is the main office for Craven County genealogy records. This office keeps marriage licenses, land deeds, and birth and death records. Staff can help you search for old documents. The office is on Broad Street in downtown New Bern.

Marriage records in Craven County start in 1741. This is among the earliest sets of marriage records in North Carolina. Land records date from 1715. Court and probate files go back to 1712, the year the county took the Craven name. Birth and death records begin in 1913, when North Carolina started its statewide vital records system. These records span more than three centuries of family life in the county.

Colonial Genealogy Records in Craven

Craven County holds some of the oldest genealogy records in North Carolina. Court records from 1712 include deed registrations, orphan court cases, and estate settlements. These files name heads of households, heirs, and witnesses. They are vital for tracing families in the colonial era.

New Bern was the seat of colonial government. Tryon Palace, built in the 1760s, served as the governor's home and the meeting place for the colonial assembly. Public records created in New Bern during this time are part of the broader North Carolina colonial archive. Many of these documents have been preserved at the North Carolina State Library in Raleigh.

Swiss colonist Christoph von Graffenried founded New Bern in 1710. Palatine German families arrived at the same time. These settlers left church records, land patents, and court filings that survive to this day. If your ancestors came from this group, Craven County records are a strong place to start.

Note: A courthouse fire in 1862 destroyed some Craven County records. Court minutes and deed books from certain periods may be missing or incomplete.

Craven County Marriage Genealogy Records

Marriage records in Craven County date from 1741. Early bonds name the groom and a bondsman, who was often a male relative of the bride. This detail helps link families. After 1868, North Carolina switched to marriage licenses. Licenses include both names, ages, birthplaces, and parents' names.

Many early Craven County marriage records have been digitized. The DigitalNC collection hosts newspapers and documents that mention marriages, deaths, and legal matters in the county. These sources add context to the official records at the Register of Deeds.

Land and Property Records

Land records in Craven County begin in 1715. Early grants placed settlers along the Neuse and Trent rivers. These grants name the person, acreage, and boundaries using natural landmarks. Deeds recorded after the grants show how land moved between families through sales and inheritance.

Chain of title work in Craven County often reveals family ties. A father might sell land to a son. A widow might deed her share to children. These patterns repeat across generations and fill gaps that census records leave open. The Register of Deeds indexes land records by grantor and grantee, so you can search by surname.

Craven County sits on low coastal land between the Neuse River and Pamlico Sound. Waterfront property was prized. Plantation records from the 1700s and 1800s may appear in deed books and estate files. These records often list acreage, crops, and the names of enslaved people, which can aid genealogy research for African American families.

Craven County Probate Genealogy

Probate records in Craven County start in 1712. Wills name heirs. Estate inventories list personal goods. Guardian bonds name minor children and their appointed guardians. These files are essential for building family trees in the colonial and early national periods.

Court records also start in 1712. Early minutes cover land disputes, debt cases, and apprenticeships. Apprenticeship records name the child, the master, and often a parent. Orphan court cases serve a similar role. Both types help trace families who left few other records.

Birth and Death Records

Statewide birth and death records in North Carolina start in 1913. Craven County records from that year forward are at the Register of Deeds or the state vital records office. For births and deaths before 1913, check church records, family Bibles, and cemetery inscriptions.

Cedar Grove Cemetery in New Bern holds the graves of many prominent colonial North Carolinians. Headstone inscriptions provide birth dates, death dates, and family connections. Cemetery records are a valuable supplement to official vital records for Craven County genealogy.

To order a birth or death record, visit the Register of Deeds in New Bern or request copies through vitalrecords.nc.gov. The state office handles mail and online requests.

Note: Birth records in North Carolina have access restrictions. Only the person named, a parent, or a legal agent can get a certified copy.

Craven County Genealogy Research Tips

Start your Craven County research at the DigitalNC portal. This site hosts digitized newspapers, photos, and documents from across the county. Local papers published notices of marriages, deaths, and land sales that name family members.

The North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh holds additional Craven County records. Tax lists from the 1700s name heads of household and can fill gaps between census years. Militia rolls and court papers not held at the county level are also stored there.

• Check both Craven and Bath County records for families before 1712
• Search Swiss and German church records for colonial-era baptisms
• Use the Cedar Grove Cemetery index for burial records
• Review Tryon Palace archives for colonial government documents
• Look at Neuse River plantation records for land and estate details

Nearby Counties

These counties border Craven County. If your ancestors lived near a county line, check records in neighboring counties as well. Boundaries shifted over time, and families had ties on both sides.