Greene County Genealogy Sources
Greene County was established on March 18, 1879 from Wayne County and named for Nathanael Greene, a Continental Army major general in the American Revolution. The county seat is Snow Hill. Greene County has a complex formation history. The area was previously part of Glasgow County, which existed briefly from 1799 to 1800 before being dissolved. Genealogy records in Greene County begin in the 1870s, with some older records inherited from Wayne County. Researchers should account for these boundary changes when tracing families through the eastern North Carolina coastal plain.
Greene County Quick Facts
Greene County Register of Deeds
The Greene County Register of Deeds is located at 229 King Street in Snow Hill. This office maintains birth and death certificates from 1913, marriage records from 1875, and land deeds from 1879. Staff can search records and provide copies for a fee. The office serves as the central repository for genealogy records in the county.
Greene County is a small, agricultural county on the coastal plain of eastern North Carolina. The Register of Deeds holds deed books, marriage registers, and vital records indexes. Because the county was formed relatively late, some records for the area before 1879 are found in Wayne County. Marriage records predate the county's founding by four years, starting in 1875, because the area had its own record-keeping before full county status was granted.
| Office |
Greene County Register of Deeds 229 King Street Snow Hill, NC 28580 |
|---|---|
| Website | greenecountync.gov/register-of-deeds |
Glasgow County Connection
The area that is now Greene County was once part of Glasgow County, a short-lived county that existed from 1799 to 1800. Glasgow County was dissolved after just one year, and its territory reverted to Wayne County. Any records created during that brief period may be in the Wayne County files or at the North Carolina State Archives.
This unusual history matters for genealogy research because records from the Glasgow County period can be hard to find. They may be filed under Glasgow, Wayne, or even Greene County depending on when they were transferred and how they were cataloged. Researchers looking for families in the Snow Hill area during 1799 and 1800 should check all three county names in the State Archives catalog. The brief existence of Glasgow County is a footnote in North Carolina history, but it can cause confusion for genealogists who do not know to look for it.
Greene County Marriage Records
Marriage records in Greene County begin in 1875. The earliest entries record marriages that took place in the Snow Hill area before the county was officially created. These records name both parties and the date of the ceremony. Later marriage licenses include ages, birthplaces, and parents' names.
For marriages before 1875, researchers should consult Wayne County marriage records. Wayne County was the parent county, and all marriages in the area were recorded there until Greene County began its own books. Copies of Greene County marriage records can be obtained from the Register of Deeds in Snow Hill or through the North Carolina Vital Records office for statewide indexes.
Note: Some Greene County marriage records from the 1870s and 1880s may show wear. The Register of Deeds can help locate entries even when indexes are difficult to read.
Wills and Probate Records
Greene County probate records begin in 1879. Wills from 1868 to 1962 have been preserved. The gap between 1868 and the county's 1879 formation reflects records that were transferred from Wayne County or created in anticipation of the new county. These wills name heirs, describe property, and appoint executors. They are essential for establishing family relationships in Greene County.
Estate inventories and sale records list the personal property of the deceased. In an agricultural county like Greene, these documents often catalog farm equipment, livestock, crops, and household goods. The names of buyers at estate sales are recorded, revealing neighbors and relatives who participated in the auction. Guardianship records name minor children and their appointed guardians, which can fill in family details when no will exists. The Clerk of Superior Court in Snow Hill holds the original probate files.
Greene County Land Records
Land records in Greene County start in 1879. The deed books record the sale, transfer, and mortgage of land within the county. Each deed identifies the parties, describes the property, and states the consideration paid. These records are fundamental to placing families in specific locations within Greene County.
Before 1879, land records for the Greene County area are in Wayne County. The transition of records between the two counties means that some early deeds reference landmarks and neighbors that appear in both county's books. Researchers tracing land ownership across the county split should check both sets of records at the respective courthouses. North Carolina land grants for the area are held at the State Archives in Raleigh and can be searched online through the state's grant database.
- Deed books from 1879 at the Register of Deeds
- Wayne County deed books for pre-1879 transactions
- State land grants at the North Carolina Archives
- Plats and surveys in the deed records
Court and Census Records
Court records in Greene County begin in 1879. The Superior Court handled civil and criminal cases from the county's creation. Court minutes, case files, and dockets name individuals and document disputes over property, debt, family matters, and criminal charges. These records are held by the Clerk of Superior Court in Snow Hill.
Federal census records for Greene County begin with the 1880 census, the first taken after the county was formed. Earlier census returns for the area are found under Wayne County. The 1880 census is especially useful because it lists the birthplace of each person and both parents, helping researchers trace families back another generation. The NCGenWeb Greene County page provides links to census transcriptions and other genealogy resources.
Research Tips
Greene County was carved from Wayne County in 1879. All records before that year are in Wayne County. The short-lived Glasgow County adds a layer of complexity for the period from 1799 to 1800. Researchers should check Wayne, Glasgow, and Greene County names when searching archival catalogs.
The agricultural nature of Greene County means that farm-related records can supplement the standard genealogy sources. Agricultural census schedules from 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 list farmers by name along with their acreage, crop production, and livestock holdings. These records paint a detailed picture of daily life. Cemetery surveys for Greene County burial grounds have been compiled by volunteers and are available through NCGenWeb. Church records from Baptist and Primitive Baptist congregations in the county also document births, marriages, and deaths.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Greene County. Wayne County is the parent county and holds records predating Greene County's 1879 formation.