Gates County Genealogy Research

Gates County was established on April 14, 1778 from parts of Chowan, Hertford, and Perquimans counties. It was named for General Horatio Gates, a hero of the Revolutionary War. The county seat is Gatesville. Gates County has never suffered a courthouse fire or major records loss, which means genealogy records here are among the most complete in northeastern North Carolina. Land records go back to 1776, and wills survive from 1762, well before the county was formally created.

Gates County Register of Deeds

The Gates County Register of Deeds is located at 202 Court Street in Gatesville. This office holds marriage records from 1779, land deeds from 1776, and vital records from 1913 onward. The staff can search indexes, pull original volumes, and prepare certified copies. Visitors should call ahead to confirm hours.

Gates County is a small, rural county in the Albemarle region. The Register of Deeds office serves as the main point of contact for genealogy researchers seeking official documents. Because the courthouse records were never destroyed, the collection is unusually deep for a county of this size. Deed books, marriage registers, and estate files span the full history of the county without interruption.

Gates County Marriage Records

Marriage records in Gates County begin in 1779. The earliest records are marriage bonds, which required a groom and a bondsman to post a guarantee before the ceremony could take place. These bonds name both the groom and the bondsman, and they sometimes include the bride's name as well. They are a primary source for tracing family relationships in the late colonial and early republic periods.

After the Civil War, Gates County began using a formal marriage register system. These registers record both parties, their ages, the date of the marriage, and the person who officiated. Some entries note the race of the couple, which is helpful for researching African American families in the Albemarle region. Copies of marriage records can be obtained from the Register of Deeds in Gatesville or through the North Carolina Vital Records office for marriages after 1962.

Researchers should also check records in Chowan, Hertford, and Perquimans counties for marriages that took place before 1778 in the area that became Gates County.

Wills and Probate Records

Gates County holds wills dating from 1762 to 1964. The earliest wills predate the formation of the county. They were recorded in the parent counties but pertain to families living in what is now Gates County. These documents name spouses, children, and sometimes grandchildren. They also describe land holdings, livestock, household items, and debts owed or owed to the estate.

Probate court records from 1780 onward include inventories, accounts of sale, and guardianship appointments. Inventories list every item in the estate with an appraised value. Sale records show who bought each item at auction. These buyers were often neighbors or relatives, making the records useful for mapping family and community networks in Gates County.

Note: Some early Gates County will books have been transcribed and published. Check the North Carolina State Archives catalog and FamilySearch for microfilmed copies.

Gates County Land Records

Land records in Gates County date from 1776. The deed books begin two years before the county was officially created. These early deeds reflect transactions in the Albemarle region among families who had settled along the rivers and swamps of northeastern North Carolina.

Deed records in Gates County are particularly valuable because the county sits near the Virginia border. Many families moved back and forth between the two states, and deeds often reference land in both Gates County and the adjacent Virginia counties of Nansemond and Isle of Wight. Tracking a family across the state line requires checking records on both sides. Gates County deeds name sellers, buyers, witnesses, and sometimes the relationship between the parties involved. Boundary descriptions reference creeks, roads, and the property of adjoining owners.

• Deed books from 1776 to present at the Register of Deeds
• North Carolina land grants at the State Archives
• Plats and surveys in the deed books
• Tax lists from the 1780s for early landowners

Court and Census Records

Court records in Gates County begin in 1780. The Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions handled civil, criminal, and administrative matters until 1868. Minutes from these sessions record apprenticeships, road appointments, tax disputes, and other actions that name individuals and place them in context. The Clerk of Superior Court in Gatesville holds the original volumes.

Federal census records for Gates County begin in 1790. Every decade from 1790 to 1940 is available for research. The 1850 census and later enumerations list each person by name, age, birthplace, and occupation. Slave schedules from 1850 and 1860 name slaveholders and count enslaved persons by age and sex. The NCGenWeb Gates County page provides links to census transcriptions and other resources.

Genealogy Research Tips

Gates County was formed from three parent counties: Chowan, Hertford, and Perquimans. Researchers must check all three when looking for pre-1778 records. Each parent county has its own set of deed, will, and court records that may contain references to families who later lived in Gates County.

The proximity to Virginia adds another layer to research. Families in the Albemarle region had strong ties to southeastern Virginia. Marriage records, land transactions, and court actions on both sides of the border can fill gaps. Virginia county records for Nansemond (now the city of Suffolk), Isle of Wight, and Southampton are worth checking for Gates County families.

Church records also play a role. Quaker meetings were active in the Albemarle region during the colonial period. Baptist and Methodist churches grew after the Revolution. Their registers of births, marriages, and deaths supplement the civil records held at the courthouse in Gatesville.

Note: Gates County is lightly populated and the courthouse keeps limited hours on some days. Always call before traveling to Gatesville for research.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Gates County. Because Gates County was carved from three neighboring counties, the records in those parent counties are especially relevant for genealogy research before 1778.