Hertford County Genealogy Records

Hertford County holds some of the oldest genealogy records in northeastern North Carolina. Created in 1759 from portions of Bertie, Chowan, and Northampton counties, it was named for Francis Seymour Conway, Marquess of Hertford. The county seat is Winton, located along the Chowan River. Marriage records begin in 1760, land records date to 1759, and probate records also start in 1759. The county's long history along the Chowan River and its fishing industry shaped the families who settled here.

Hertford County Register of Deeds

The Hertford County Register of Deeds is the central office for vital records, marriage licenses, and land deeds. Birth and death certificates are available from 1913. Marriage records go back to 1760. Land records start in 1759, the year the county was formed. The courthouse is at 701 N. King St. in Winton. You can reach the office by phone at 252-358-7850 to ask about records or request copies.

Marriage bonds from the 1760s are among the oldest in this part of the state. They list the groom, the bride, and a bondsman who was frequently a family member. Land deeds from the same period describe property along the Chowan River and its tributaries. These early deeds use natural landmarks as boundary markers, which helps researchers place families in specific locations within Hertford County.

Hertford County Probate Records

Probate records in Hertford County start in 1759 and form one of the richest genealogy collections in northeastern North Carolina. Wills recorded between 1760 and 1964 survive in the county's records. These wills name heirs, describe property, and sometimes list enslaved people, livestock, household goods, and debts. Estate inventories taken after a person's death provide a detailed snapshot of what a family owned at a specific point in time.

Administrator bonds were filed when a person died without a will. The bond names the administrator and two sureties who guaranteed faithful management of the estate. The administrator was often the widow or an eldest son. Settlement accounts show how the estate was distributed and to whom. These documents can name every heir and the share each received, making them extremely valuable for genealogy.

Note: Wills from 1760 to 1964 are available at the courthouse or through the North Carolina State Archives.

Court Genealogy Records in Hertford

Court records in Hertford County begin in 1780. Civil case files include land disputes, debt collections, and family matters. For genealogy, the most useful court records are those involving estates, guardianships, and land divisions. Court-ordered land divisions name all heirs and describe the portions each received. These divisions can confirm family relationships and show where each family member lived.

Guardianship cases name minor children and the person appointed to manage their affairs. The guardian filed annual accounts showing how money was spent on the child's behalf. These accounts sometimes mention schooling, clothing, and medical expenses. Criminal case files may also hold genealogy clues, as witnesses and defendants are identified by name, residence, and sometimes occupation.

Chowan River Settlement Records

The Chowan River was a central feature of life in Hertford County for centuries. Families settled along its banks for fishing, farming, and river trade. The fishing industry produced records of its own, including business licenses, tax records, and property transfers for fish landings and waterfront lots. These records can connect fishing families to specific locations along the river.

Early land grants in Hertford County often describe property in relation to the Chowan River. Grants along the riverfront were among the most valuable. Researchers tracing families to the colonial period should check both the county deed books and the state land grant indexes at the North Carolina State Archives. Some of these early landowners also appear in the records of Bertie, Chowan, and Northampton counties, since Hertford was formed from all three.

Tax lists from the colonial and early national periods name heads of household and the property they owned. These lists can serve as a substitute for census records in years when no census was taken. They are particularly useful for the period between 1759 and 1790 in Hertford County.

Marriage Records in Hertford County

Marriage records starting in 1760 make Hertford County one of the best sources for early marriage research in North Carolina. Marriage bonds from the colonial period name the groom, bride, and bondsman. After 1868, marriage licenses replaced bonds and added details like ages, parents' names, and birthplaces. The Register of Deeds holds these records and can search by name.

The North Carolina Vital Records office maintains statewide marriage indexes for more recent years. For colonial-era marriages, the NCGenWeb Hertford County page may have transcriptions of early marriage bonds posted by volunteer researchers.

Online Genealogy Tools for Hertford

The NCGenWeb Hertford County page offers free genealogy resources including transcribed records, cemetery surveys, and volunteer lookups. FamilySearch has microfilmed many Hertford County records. Their online catalog lists available films for deeds, marriages, court minutes, and estate files. Census records covering Hertford County from 1790 to 1950 are available on Ancestry and FamilySearch.

Hertford County appears in federal census records from the very first count in 1790. These early census records list heads of household only, but they confirm that a family was present in the county at that time. Later census years add names of all household members, ages, occupations, birthplaces, and literacy status. Slave schedules from 1850 and 1860 list slaveholders and the enslaved people they claimed, identified by age and gender.

• FamilySearch for microfilmed county records
• Ancestry for census and military records
• NCGenWeb for free transcriptions and lookups
• State Archives for original colonial documents
• Vital Records for statewide marriage indexes

Nearby Counties

Hertford County was created from three parent counties. If your ancestors lived near the borders, records in these neighboring counties may hold key information. Check each county for overlapping time periods.