Mitchell County, North Carolina Vital Records

Birth Certificates. In North Carolina, civil registration of births began in 1913. However, some births were registered on Delayed Birth Certificates, usually years after they occurred. In Mitchell County, a few delayed birth certificates document births as early as the 1860s. Birth certificates are filed with the office of the Mitchell County Register of Deeds in Bakersville and the North Carolina Vital Records Office in Raleigh. Data from selected Delayed Birth Certificates, Books 1 and 2, are presented on this site.

Census Records. In 1870 and 1880, the Federal Census asked the month of birth of infants born within the Census Year. In 1900, the Census asked the month and year of birth of every individual. Census records are available from many sources, including the National Archives, the North Carolina State Archives, the Family History Library, some public libraries (including the Charlotte Public Library), and Ancestry.com.

Bastardy Bonds. When a child was born to an unmarried woman, the father was required to post a bastardy bond to assure that the child did not become a charge on the county. In some cases a woman refused to name the father of her child and was required to post bond herself. Bastardy bonds usually name the mother and the reputed father, but not the child. Bastardy bonds are kept at the North Carolina State Archives.

World War I Draft Registrations. Male civilians born between 1873 and 1900 were required to register for the draft in 1917 and 1918. The records of these registrations include dates of birth, and in many cases also give the place of birth. Some also give the birthplace of the registrant's father. See World War I Draft Registrations.

The marriage registers of Mitchell County contain information about marriages since the formation of the county in 1861. The registers do not give the names of the parents of the bride and groom. More complete information is found on the original licenses; however, many of the early licenses have been lost. Moreover, North Carolina did not require marriage licenses until 1868. Marriage records are maintained by the Mitchell County Register of Deeds.

Death Certificates. In North Carolina, civil registration of deaths began in 1913. Death certificates are filed with the Mitchell County Register of Deeds. Death certificates since 1930 are also filed with the North Carolina Vital Records Office. Death certificates dated 1913 through 1955 are also available from the North Carolina State Archives. The Mitchell County Death Index is partially reproduced on this site.

Census Records. From 1850 to 1900, the federal census included special Mortality Schedules with information about people who died during the year preceding the census. The mortality schedules for 1890 and 1900 have been destroyed, but researchers can still consult the mortality schedules for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880. Transcriptions of the 1870 Mortality Schedules for Mitchell County (listing ten individuals) can be viewed on this site. Microfilms of the original schedules for 1870 and 1880 can be viewed at the Charlotte Public Library and may be available from other sources.

Social Security Death Index. Lists name, date of birth, date (sometimes just month and year) of death, place of last residence, place to which the last benefit was sent, Social Security number, and the state in which the Social Security number was issued. This index is available online from various sources; including Rootsweb. See Social Security Death Index Interactive Search. More than 4,000 individuals whose last residence was in Mitchell County are listed in the SSDI.

Tennessee Death Certificates. Many Mitchell County natives died in Tennessee. Tennessee does not maintain death records at the county level. Copies of death certificates from 1908 to 1912, and from 1914 to 1952, may be obtained from the Tennessee State Library and Archives. Copies of death certificates from 1953 to the present may be obtained from the Tennessee Office of Vital Records. The Tennessee State Library and Archives maintains an online Partial Index to Tennessee Death Records, 1914-1925.