Edgecombe County Colonial Genealogy
Edgecombe County is one of the oldest counties in North Carolina. It was formed in 1741 from Bertie County and named for Baron Richard Edgecombe. The county seat is Tarboro. Records here reach deep into the colonial period. Land deeds date to 1732. Probate records go back to 1730. Marriage records begin in 1760. These early documents make Edgecombe County a vital resource for tracing families in the Tar River region. No known courthouse disasters have struck this county, so the record set is remarkably complete for its age.
Edgecombe County Quick Facts
Edgecombe County Register of Deeds
The Edgecombe County Register of Deeds is located at 201 St. Andrew Street in Tarboro. The office maintains land records, marriage licenses, and birth and death certificates. Birth and death records begin in 1914. Marriage records start in 1760. Land records date to 1732, which is nine years before the county was even formed. These early land records were originally part of Bertie County and were transferred when Edgecombe was created.
The Register of Deeds provides an online search tool for land documents. You can search by name, date, or document type. This tool covers recent records and some older ones. For the full range of historical records, a visit to the courthouse or the State Archives is the best approach.
| Office |
Edgecombe County Register of Deeds 201 St. Andrew Street Tarboro, NC 27886 Phone: (252) 641-7924 |
|---|---|
| Courthouse |
301 Saint Andrews Street PO Box 386 Tarboro, NC 27886 |
| Website | edgecombecounty.gov/Register-of-Deeds |
Edgecombe County Boundary Changes
Understanding boundary changes is critical for Edgecombe County research. The county has lost land to four other counties over the years. In 1746, part of Edgecombe went to Granville County. In 1758, a large portion was carved off to create Halifax County. In 1777, Nash County was formed from Edgecombe. And in 1855, Wilson County took another piece.
These changes mean that families who stayed in the same place may appear in different county records over time. A farm on the eastern edge of old Edgecombe might show up in Edgecombe records before 1758 and in Halifax records after that date. The same is true for Nash and Wilson. If you lose track of a family in Edgecombe, check the records of all four daughter counties.
Note: Land records prior to 1759 that relate to the area that became Halifax County are now held in Halifax County. If your ancestor lived in the northern part of old Edgecombe, start your search there.
Edgecombe County Land Records
Land records in Edgecombe County begin in 1732. This is among the earliest dates for any county in the state. The records include deeds, grants, and indentures. They name buyers, sellers, and often describe the land by metes and bounds. Neighboring landowners are frequently named in these descriptions. This makes land records a powerful tool for placing families in relation to each other.
The North Carolina State Archives holds Edgecombe County deed books from 1732 to 1934 on microfilm. These can be viewed at the archives in Raleigh or ordered through interlibrary loan. The State Archives guide for Edgecombe County lists all available record groups and their date ranges.
The Register of Deeds also offers an online search for land documents. You can look up records by name, date, or instrument type. This tool is useful for recent records and some older ones that have been indexed. For the earliest deeds, microfilm at the State Archives is the most complete source.
Court records date to 1744. These include civil suits, criminal cases, and other proceedings. Court minutes often name individuals and describe disputes over land, debt, and family matters. They are an underused source in genealogy.
Edgecombe County Probate Records
Probate records in Edgecombe County reach back to 1730. This is 11 years before the county was formed. The earliest records were inherited from Bertie County. They include wills, estate inventories, and accounts of sale. Will books cover 1720 to 1960. Estate papers span 1663 to 1978. These dates reflect the full range of materials at the State Archives, not just what is in the courthouse.
Wills are among the most useful records for genealogy. A will names heirs, describes property, and sometimes reveals family relationships that appear nowhere else. An estate inventory lists personal belongings, livestock, tools, and sometimes enslaved persons. These inventories paint a vivid picture of how an ancestor lived.
The FamilySearch catalog for Edgecombe County lists microfilm and digital records that can be accessed at FamilySearch centers around the world. This includes will books, estate papers, and guardian records.
Note: Estate records from 1730 to 1961 are at the State Archives. These include loose papers that are not in the bound will books. Loose papers often contain letters, receipts, and other documents that add depth to a family story.
Edgecombe County Vital Records
Birth and death records in Edgecombe County begin in 1914. The state required registration starting in 1913, but Edgecombe County began a year later. For vital events before 1914, researchers must rely on other sources. Church records, family Bibles, and cemetery inscriptions can fill the gap. Newspaper obituaries are also helpful. The NCGenWeb project for Edgecombe County at ncgenweb.us/edgecombe may have transcribed records and volunteer contacts.
Marriage records go back to 1760. Early marriage bonds name the groom, the bride, and a bondsman. The bondsman was usually a relative or close friend. These bonds can reveal family ties that are not apparent from other sources. Marriage licenses replaced bonds in the late 1800s.
Statewide vital records can be ordered from the North Carolina Office of Vital Records at vitalrecords.nc.gov. The state holds birth and death records from 1913 and marriage records from 1962 for all counties.
State Archives Holdings for Edgecombe County
The North Carolina State Archives holds a deep collection of Edgecombe County records. Deed books from 1732 to 1934 are on microfilm. Estate records span 1730 to 1961 and include both bound volumes and loose papers. Will books cover 1720 to 1960. Court records begin in 1744.
The archives also hold tax lists, road records, and apprentice bonds. Tax lists are useful for tracking men in years between censuses. Road records name the men who worked on public roads. Apprentice bonds name orphaned children and their masters, which can help identify families that fell apart after a parent died.
- Deed books 1732 to 1934 on microfilm
- Estate records 1730 to 1961, bound and loose
- Will books 1720 to 1960
- Court records from 1744
Visit the State Archives Edgecombe County guide for a full list of holdings. The guide describes each record group and tells you how to access it. Some records are on microfilm. Others are in the original volumes. A few have been digitized and are available online.
Tips for Edgecombe County Research
The age and depth of Edgecombe County records make this a rewarding place to research. But the boundary changes add a layer of challenge. Here are some tips to keep in mind.
Know the dates. If your ancestor appears in Edgecombe before 1758 but vanishes after that, check Halifax County. The same logic applies to Nash County after 1777 and Wilson County after 1855. The family may not have moved at all. The county line moved instead.
Use probate records early. Wills and estate papers in Edgecombe go back to the 1720s. These are some of the oldest records in the state. A single will can name a spouse, children, and grandchildren. It can also reveal the family's economic standing and social ties.
Cross-reference land and probate. If a man sold land in 1750 and his estate was settled in 1755, the two records together can reveal his heirs and neighbors. Neighbors in land deeds often turn out to be relatives. This is especially true in rural areas where families lived close together for generations.
Do not ignore court records. Civil suits over debt, land disputes, and guardianship matters all name individuals and describe relationships. These records start in 1744 and run through the present day. They are available at the courthouse and at the State Archives.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Edgecombe County or were formed from it. Check Halifax, Nash, and Wilson Counties for records of families that once lived in old Edgecombe territory.