Guide to Wilson County Research Materials

WILSON COUNTY

was established in 1855 from parts of Edgecombe, Johnston, Nash and Wayne Counties. Any searches for Wilson County information prior to 1855 should include these counties.

Click on the links for the section you wish to view.

Wilson County Reference Bibliography
Look-Up Volunteers
NC State Archives Original Records
NC State Archives Microfilm Records
Booksellers
LDS Family History Centers
Links

These publications are helpful for anyone conducting research in Wilson County after 1855. If anyone has copies of any of these or others and would like to volunteer to do look-ups, or if you know of any reference materials not included here, please contact me.

• Boykin, J. Robert III. Abstracts of Wills: Wilson County, North Carolina 1855-1899. Wilson, NC. 1992.
• Boykin, J. Robert III. Marriages of Wilson County, North Carolina 1855-1899, Volume I: A-M. Wilson, NC. 1988.
• Boykin, J. Robert III. Marriages of Wilson County, North Carolina 1855-1899, Volume II: N-Z. Wilson, NC. 1988.
• Boykin, J. Robert III. Wilson County, North Carolina 1880 Census.Wilson, NC. 1984.
• History of Wilson County and Its Families. Dallas: Taylor Publishing. 1985 (out of print).
• Howell, Joan L. Wilson County, North Carolina Cemeteries Volume I. Wilson, NC: WCGS, 1993.
• Howell, Joan L. Wilson County, North Carolina Cemeteries Volume II. Wilson, NC: WCGS, 1993.
• Howell, Joan L. Wilson County, North Carolina Cemeteries Volume III. Wilson, NC: WCGS, 1995.
• Howell, Joan L. Wilson County, North Carolina Cemeteries Volume IV. Wilson, NC: WCGS, 1998.
• Howell, Joan L. Wilson County, North Carolina Federal Census of 1860. Wilson, NC: WCGS, 1993.
• Howell, Joan L. Wilson County, North Carolina Federal Census of 1870. Wilson, NC: WCGS, 1994.
• Ohno, Kate. Wilson County's Architectural Heritage. Wilson, NC. 1981.

Look-Up Volunteers

The following people have agreed to provide limited look-ups for the publications indicated. Please be reasonable when requesting this service. An example of an unreasonable request would be "Please send all information about all the Barnes's in the Wilson County 1870 Census".

Pat Land

• Wilson County, North Carolina Cemeteries - Volume I, compiled by Joan L. Howell, edited by Sue Evans Mitchell and Joan L. Howell. Wilson: WCGS.
• 1850 U.S. Census, Johnston County North Carolina, Dr. John F. Schunk, Editor. Wichita KS: S-K Publications.
• Wilson County, North Carolina Federal Census of 1860, abstracted by Joan L. Howell, Edited by Reese Ferrell and Joan L. Howell. Wilson, NC: WCGS.
• Historical Sketches of North Carolina, From 1584 to 1851,Volume I, by John H. Wheeler. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Grambo and Co., 1851.
• History of North Carolina, Volumes I-VI, by special Staff of Writers. Chicago and New York: Lewis Publishing Company, 1919.

Al Bass

• Wilson County, North Carolina Federal Census of 1860, by Joan L. Howell. Wilson, NC: WCGS, 1993.
• Wilson County, North Carolina Federal Census of 1870, by Joan L. Howell. Wilson, NC: WCGS, 1994.
• Black Creek: The First 100 Years. Ayden, NC: Free Will Baptist Press.
• Corbett's The Formation of the North Carolina Counties.
• The North Carolina Gazetteer: A Dictionary of Tar Heel Places, by William Powell. Chapel Hill: UNC Press, 1968.
• NC Biographical Dictionary: Volumes I-IV, by William Powell. Chapel Hill: UNC Press.
• Bass Family History, by Ivan Bass. Strasburg, VA: Shenandoah Publishing House. Reprinted by Higginson Book Co. of Salem, MA.
• Descendants of Deacon Samuel & Ann Bass, by Bass & Walton. Freeport IL: Wagner Printing Co.
• The Bass Family of Black Creek, by Al Bass.

Brenda Baldwin

• Wilson County, North Carolina Federal Census of 1860, by Joan L. Howell. Wilson, NC: WCGS, 1993.
• Wilson County, North Carolina Federal Census of 1870, by Joan L. Howell. Wilson, NC: WCGS, 1994.
• Howell, Joan L. Wilson County, North Carolina Cemeteries Volume I. Wilson, NC: WCGS, 1993.
• Howell, Joan L. Wilson County, North Carolina Cemeteries Volume II. Wilson, NC: WCGS, 1993.
• History of Wilson County and Its Families. Dallas: Taylor Publishing. 1985 (out of print).
• They Moved Away -- North Carolinians Who Went To Other States: from the files of Hugh B. Johnston, Jr. Wilson, NC: WCGS.
• Nash County, North Carolina Federal Census of 1860.
• Nash County, North Carolina Federal Census of 1870.
• Nash County Marriage Records 1777-1868, by Timothy Rackley.
• Nash County Deeds Volume 1: 1778-1804, by Timothy Rackley.
• Nash County Court Minutes Volume III: 1798-1800, by Timothy Rackley.
• Nash County Court Minutes Volume IV: 1801-1804, by Timothy Rackley.
• Nash County Court Minutes Volume V: 1804-1807, by Timothy Rackley.
• Nash County Court MInutes Volume VI: 1807-1811, by Timothy Rackley.
• The Williamson Family of North Carolina: A Copy of the Original Working Papers As Recorded by Hugh B. Johnston, Jr. June 1997.

Other Volunteer Links

• Genealogy Helplist
• U. S. Census Look-Ups
• NC Genealogy Helplist
• Lookups from Privately Owned Publications
• Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness
• Books We Own (Genealogy)

NC State Archives
ORIGINAL RECORDS

A few early court records are missing; reason unknown.

BONDS

• Apprentice Bonds, 1869-1919; 2 volumes.
• Bastardy Bonds and Records, 1855-1908; 3 Fibredex boxes.
• Constables' Bonds, 1857-1868; 1 volume.
• Officials' Bonds and Records, 1855-1958; 1 Fibredex box.
• Register of Officials' Bonds, 1868-1922; 1 volume.

COURT RECORDS

• County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions
  • Minutes, 1855-1868; 1 volume.
  • Execution Dockets, 1855-1868; 3 volumes.
  • State Docket, 1855-1868; 1 volume.
  • Trial and Appearance Docket, 1855-1867; 1 volume.
• Superior Court
  • Minutes, 1855-1914; 9 volumes.
  • Equity Minutes, 1855-1866; 2 volumes.
  • Equity Trial Docket, 1861-1868; 1 volume.
  • Trial and Appearance Docket, 1855-1868; 1 volume.
  • Civil Action Papers, 1850-1922; 64 Fibredex boxes.
  • Civil Action Papers Concerning Land, 1854-1916; 5 Fibredex boxes.
  • Criminal Action Papers, 1855-1919; 52 Fibredex boxes.
• Inferior Court
  • Minutes, 1877-1885; 1 volume.
• Circuit Criminal Court/Eastern District Criminal Court
  • Minutes, 1897-1901; 1 volume.

ELECTION RECORDS

• Record of Elections, 1878-1936; 4 volumes.

ESTATES RECORDS

• Record of Accounts, 1868-1968; 24 volumes.
• Record of Accounts (Branch Banking and Trust Co.), 1933-1968; 12 volumes.
• Administrators' Bonds, 1882-1896; 3 volumes.
• Record of Land Divisions, Dowers and Widows' Year's Support, 1855-1868, 1879, 1914 -1915; 1 volume.
• Index to Dowers and Land Partitions and Sales, [1855-1937]; 1 volume.
• Estates Records, 1854-1959; 65 Fibredex boxes.
• Guardians' Records, 1855-1915; 19 Fibredex boxes.
• Guardians' Accounts, 1855-1868; 1 volume.
• Guardians' Bonds, 1869-1939; 5 volumes.
• Inventories and Accounts of Sale, 1855-1868; 3 volumes.
• Record of Settlements, 1868-1968; 18 volumes.
• Record of Settlements (Branch Banking and Trust Co.), 1936-1968; 2 volumes.
• Cross Index to Administrators, Executors and Guardians, 1897-1925; 1 volume.

LAND RECORDS

• Deeds of Sale, 1836-1962; 10 Fibredex boxes.
• Mortgage Deeds, 1855-1955; 5 Fibredex boxes.
• Deeds of Release, 1861-1962; 1 Fibredex box.
• Deeds of Trust, 1848-1961; 1 Fibredex box.
• Miscellaneous Deeds, 1850-1963; 2 Fibredex boxes.
• Miscellaneous Land Records, 1856-1962; 4 Fibredex boxes.

MARRIAGE, DIVORCE AND VITAL STATISTICS

• Indexed Registers of Marriage, 1855-1903; 2 volumes.
• Marriage Records, 1874-1957; 1 Fibredex box.
• Divorce Records, 1859-1912; 5 Fibredex boxes.
• Maiden Names of Divorced Women, 1937-1969; 1 volume.

MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS

• Alien Registration, 1924-1944; 1 volume.
• Petitions for Naturalization, 1909-1910; 1 volume.
• Homestead Records, 1867-1930; 1 Fibredex box.
• Orders and Decrees, 1868-1904; 1 volume.
• Cross Index to Special Proceedings, [ 1868-1927]; 1 volume.
• Adultery Records, 1855-1915; 2 Fibredex boxes.
• Chattel Mortgages, 1858-1889; 1 Fibredex box.
• Coroners' Reports, 1859-1915; 2 Fibredex boxes.
• Powers of Attorney, 1859-1961; 1 Fibredex box.
• Minutes, Board of Directors of Farmers' Banking and Trust Company, 1920-1927; 1 volume.
• Minutes, Tobacco Board of Trade of the City of Wilson, 1904-1922; 1 volume.
• Miscellaneous Records, 1786-1961; 3 Fibredex boxes.
• Slave Records, 1855-1864; 1 Fibredex box.
• Records of Assignees, Receivers and Trustees, 1855-1958; 8 Fibredex boxes.

OFFICIALS, COUNTY

• Officials' Oaths, 1868-1924; 1 volume.

ROADS AND BRIDGES

• Road Docket, 1855-1858; 1 volume.
• Road Orders, Board of County Commissioners, 1898-1914; 1 volume.
• Road Records, 1856-1911; 2 Fibredex boxes.

TAX AND FISCAL RECORDS

• Tax Scrolls, 1915, 1920, 1921; 3 volumes.
• Tax Records, 1858-1935; 1 Fibredex box.

WILLS

• Wills, 1840-1925; 7 Fibredex boxes.
• Cross Index to Wills, 1857-1926; 1 volume.

COURT RECORDS

• County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions
  • Minutes, 1855-1868; 1 reel.
• Superior Court
  • Minutes, 1855-1868, 1886-1908; 3 reels.

ESTATES RECORDS

• Record of Accounts, 1868-1924; 6 reels.
• Administrators' Bonds, 1869-1897, 1908-1916; 2 reels.
• Record of Administrators, Executors and Guardians, 1897-1909; 1 reel.
• Record of Administrators, 1917-1926; 2 reels.
• Record of Executors, 1912-1960; 2 reels.
• Guardians' Bonds, 1855-1885; 2 reels.
• Record of Guardians, 1908-1919; 1 reel.
• Division of Land, Record of Dowers and Widows' Year's Support, 1855-1923; 1 reel.
• Record of Settlements, 1868-1959; 3 reels.
• Index to Appointment of Administrators and Executors, 1900-1968; 1 reel.
• Cross Index to Executors and Guardians, 1908-1924; 1 reel.
• Index to Appointment of Guardians, 1900-1960; 1 reel.

LAND RECORDS

• Record of Deeds, 1855-1901; 28 reels.
• Index to Deeds and Mortgages, Grantor, 1855-1916; 1 reel.
• Index to Deeds and Mortgages, Grantee, 1855-1916; 2 reels.

MARRIAGE, DIVORCE AND VITAL STATISTICS

• Marriage Licenses, 1864-1957; 15 reels.
• Record of Marriages, 1855-1866; 1 reel. Marriage Registers, 1867-1954; 2 reels.
• Record of Cohabitation, 1866; 1 reel.
• Maiden Names of Divorced Women, 1937-1960; 1 reel.
• Index to Births, 1913-1958; 2 reels. Index to Deaths, 1913-1976; 2 reels.
• Index to Delayed Births, various years; 1 reel.

MILITARY AND PENSION RECORDS

• Record of Armed Forces Discharges, 1945-1989; 16 reels.
• Index to Armed Forces Discharges, 1945-1974; 1 reel.

MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS

• Lunacy Docket, 1956-1960; 1 reel.
• Orders and Decrees, 1868-1920; 3 reels.
• Index to Orders and Decrees, Plaintiff, 1897-1960; 2 reels
• Index to Orders and Decrees, Defendant, 1897-1960; 2 reels.
• Special Proceedings, 1868-1917, 1934-1960; 5 reels.
• Index to Special Proceedings, Plaintiff, 1868-1960; 1 reel.
• Index to Special Proceedings, Defendant, 1868-1960; 1 reel.

OFFICIALS, COUNTY

• Minutes, Board of County Commissioners, 1868-1914; 2 reels.

SCHOOL RECORDS

• Minutes, County Board of Education, 1885-1916; 1 reel.

TAX AND FISCAL RECORDS

• Tax Scrolls, 1915, 1920-1921; 1 reel.

WILLS

• Record of Wills, 1855-1960; 6 reels.
• Index to Wills, 1855-1971; 1 reel.

This information is from the "Guide to Research Materials in the North Carolina State Archives: County Records", published by the Department of Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and History, Raleigh, 1997.

List of Booksellers Specializing in Genealogy Publications

Frontier Press
21 Railroad Ave.
P. O. Box 126
Cooperstown, NY 13326
E-mail: [email protected].
Web Site: http://frontierpress.com/frontier.cgi

Genealogical and Historical Books

Books

The Church bell; a history of the First Christian Church, Wilson, N. C.
Author: Ware, Charles Crossfield, 1886-
Date: 1963

The Dealings of God with a laborer, or, The experience of Bernard Greenwood
Author: Greenwood, Bernard
Date: 1884


Facts about Wilson, North Carolina : [the city of beautiful trees]
Author: Rose, Lester
Date: 1934

A History of Atlantic Christian College, culture in coastal Carolina
Author: Ware, Charles Crossfield, 1886-
Date: 1956

Public schools of Wilson County, North Carolina
Author: Coon, Charles Lee, 1868-
Date: 1924

Soil survey of Wilson County, North Carolina, by R. C. Jurney...and W. A. Davis...
Author: Jurney, R.C. (Robert Campbell), 1887-
Date: 1929

Tributes to my father and mother and some stories of my life
Author: Battle, Jesse Mercer, 1850-
Date: 1911

LDS Family History Centers Near Wilson

Goldsboro 1000 Eleventh Street Goldsboro, Wayne County, NC Phone: (919) 731-2130	Greenville 307 Martinsborough Road Greenville, Pitt County, NC Phone: (252) 756-3370	Kinston 3006 Carey Road Kinston, Lenoir County, NC Phone: (252) 522-2116
New Bern 1207 Forest Drive New Bern, Craven County, NC Phone: (252) 638-8410	Raleigh 5060 Six Forks Road Raleigh, Wake County, NC Phone: (919) 783-7752	Rocky Mount 3224 Woodlawn Ave Rocky Mount, Edgecombe/Nash County, NC Phone: (252) 937-4086

Links

NCWILSON-L Archives Library of VA Digital Collection FamilySearch.org Cyndi's List The WWW Library Directory Eastman's Genealogy Newsletter Genealogy Home Page Internet Research Aid Genealogy Libraries On-Line 50 States Library Web Sites National Genealogical Society Library Cemetery Records On-Line Obituary Central Cemetery Junction Genealogical Terms & Vocabulary

FamilyTreeMaker Genealogy.com AmeriSpeak: Expressions of Our Ancestors Unusual Words Found in Wills Nicknames Deciphering Old Handwriting Olive Tree Genealogy Analyzing Deeds for Useful Clues How to Search Deeds Retracing the Steps of Your Ancestors Using Deed Records GenSwap Genealogy Bulletin Archives GenForum Ancestry.com

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Last updated 18.8.2003

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