Rockingham County, North Carolina Genealogy

United States

North Carolina

Rockingham County

Guide to Rockingham County, North Carolina ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

North Carolina Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: Wentworth Organized: 1785 Parent County(s): Guilford Neighboring Counties Alamance • Caswell • Forsyth • Guilford • Henry (VA) • Pittsylvania (VA) • Stokes See County Maps Courthouse Location Map

County Information

Description

Rockingham County is located in the north-central portion of North Carolina and shares a border with Virginia. It was named for Charles Watson-Wentworth, Second Marquis of Rockingham, the British prime minister at the time of the repeal of the Stamp Act and a supporter of American independence.

County Courthouse

Rockingham County Courthouse
371 NC 65, #212
PO Box 56
Wentworth, NC 27375
Phone: 336-342-8820
Rockingham County Website

Register of Deeds has marriage records from 1868, birth and death records from 1913.
Clerk Superior Court has probate records from 1804, marriage records 1741-1868, and copies of wills and estate records starting from 1772.

Rockingham County, North Carolina Record Dates

Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1913	1741	1913	1786	1787	1804	1784
*Statewide registration for births and deaths started in 1913. General compliance by 1920.

Record Loss

Courthouse burned 1906; some of the court records are missing. For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see: Burned Counties. By Michael John Neill at 24-7 Family History Circle. When the Records are Gone. By Arlene Eakle at Arlene Eakle's Tennessee Blog. Burned Counties Research in the FamilySearch Research Wiki. List of counties in the United States with Record Loss

Boundary Changes

1785 Rockingham was organized from Guilford County. County seat: Wentworth North Carolina Individual County Chronologies - Newberry Library list of all boundary changes by county North Carolina Historical Borders - Map at Newberry Library Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; Also at: mapofus.org - animated maps illustrating North Carolina county boundary changes

Populated Places

For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Cities
Eden	Reidsville
Towns
Madison Mayodan	Stokesdale Stoneville	Wentworth
Unincorporated communities
Bethany	Monroeton
Census-designated places
Ruffin
Townships
Huntsville Madison Mayo New Bethel	Price Reidsville Ruffin	Stoneville Wentworth Williamsburg

History Timeline

On December 29, 1785, the North Carolina General Assembly enacted legislation that created Rockingham County from the northern half of the Guilford County. The assembly chose to name the new county for Charles Watson-Wentworth, second Marquess of Rockingham (1730-1782). Rockingham was a leading Whig and was Prime Minister of Britain from 1765 to 1766 and again in 1782. His popularity in America was assured when he secured repeal of the hated Stamp Act in 1766 and led the ministry that initiated negotiations to terminate the Revolutionary War. From 1768 to 1781 he had been the leading Parliamentary opponent of both the government's American policy and the war.

Resources

Bible Records

• Bible Records at North Carolina Digital Archives - index and image
• Rockingham County, NC Bibles at USGenWeb Archives

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Rockingham County, North Carolina online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Findagrave.com NCGenWeb NCGenWeb Archives Tombstone Project North Carolina Cemeteries BillionGraves
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	FamilySearch Library WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the County	Findagrave.com BillionGraves FamilySearch Places
See North Carolina Cemeteries for more information

• North Carolina, Historical Records Survey, Cemetery Inscription Card Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images Also at: Ancestry ($)
• Rockingham County Cemeteries

Census Records

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	6,211	—
1800	8,277	33.3%
1810	10,316	24.6%
1820	11,474	11.2%
1830	12,935	12.7%
1840	13,442	3.9%
1850	14,495	7.8%
1860	16,746	15.5%
1870	15,708	−6.2%
1880	21,744	38.4%
1890	25,363	16.6%
1900	33,163	30.8%
1910	36,442	9.9%
1920	44,149	21.1%
1930	51,083	15.7%
1940	57,898	13.3%
1950	64,816	11.9%
1960	69,629	7.4%
1970	72,402	4.0%
1980	83,426	15.2%
1990	86,064	3.2%
2000	91,928	6.8%
2010	93,643	1.9%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

Church Records

• 1700-1970 North Carolina, Church Records, 1700-1970 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images

Baptist

• Haw River. Constituted 1793.
• Matrimony Creek. Constituted 1780.
• Wolf Island. Constituted 1777.

Presbyterian

• Speedwell Church, near Reidsville, N.C. Organized about 1759.

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places
  

Court Records

• 1786-1808 Minutes, 1786-1808(*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1786-1868 Minutes, 1786-1868(*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1795-1899 Records of Slaves and Free Persons of Color (Rockingham County, North Carolina), 1795-1899(*); County Clerk and Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1804-1953 North Carolina, Rockingham County, Civil Action Court Papers, 1804-1953(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1807-1965 Minutes, 1807-1965(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1819-1851 Jury Lists and Tickets (Rockingham County, North Carolina), 1819-1851(*); Superior Court Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1822-1868 Equity Minute Docket, 1822-1868(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1869-1952 Orders and Decrees in Court, , 1869-1889,1898-1952(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1869-1965 General Index to Special Proceedings, 1869-1965(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• Rockingham County, NC Court Records at USGenWeb Archives

Directories

• 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

• 1862-1870 North Carolina, Freedmen's Bureau Assistant Commissioner Records, 1862-1870 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1863-1872 North Carolina, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1863-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only

Funeral Homes

• Boone and Cooke Funeral Home and Crematory in Eden.
• Citty Funeral Home in Reidsville.
• Colonial Funeral Home in Madison.
• Fair Funeral Home in Eden.
• Forbis and Dick Funeral Service in Stokesdale.
• Galloway's Family Funeral Services in Eden.
• Johnson and Sons Funeral and Cremation Services in Reidsville.
• McLaurin Funeral Home in Reidsville.
• Perry-Spencer Funeral Home, Inc. in Eden and Madison.
• Ray Funeral Home in Madison.
• Wilkerson Funeral Home in Reidsville.

Land and Property Records

Online Land Indexes and Records

• North Carolina Land Grants at NC Historical Records Online - index, requires free account to view images
• Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• Eden-area
• Ellisboro area
• Madison
• Mayfield
• Midway area
• Reidsville area
• Stephens Crossroads
• Stoneville area
• Wentworth area
• Williamsburg area
• 1795 Carey Matthew Map
• 1796 Carey Matthew Map
• FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

Revolutionary War

• 1778-1833 Delamar Transcripts of Revolutionary War Petitions at North Carolina Genealogical Society - index ($)
• 1779-1782 North Carolina Revolutionary Pay Vouchers 1779-1782 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images

Civil War

• 1861-1865 North Carolina, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1861-1865 North Carolina, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry
• 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry
• 1885 and 1901 1885 and 1901 Confederate Pension Applications at North Carolina Digital Collections - index & images
• 1885-1953 North Carolina, Confederate Soldiers and Widows Pension Applications, 1885-1953 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images

Regiments. Men in Rockingham County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Rockingham County:

- 13th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry formerly the 3rd Volunteers., Company H

- 13th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry formerly the 3rd Volunteers., Company I

- 13th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry formerly the 3rd Volunteers., Company K

- 14th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, formerly the 4th Volunteers, Company G

- 4th Battalion, North Carolina Junior Reserves, Company D

- 5th Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry (63rd Regiment Volunteers), Company D

- 7th Regiment, North Carolina Senior Reserves, Captain George F Fisher's Company

- 7th Regiment, North Carolina Senior Reserves, Company F

World War I

• 1914-1918 World War I Papers at North Carolina Digital Collections - index & images
• 1917-1919 North Carolina, World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images

World War II

• 1939-1945 World Ward II Papers at North Carolina Digital Collections - index & images
  
  
• 1940-1948 North Carolina, Discharge and Statement of Service Records, 1940-1948 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images

Newspapers

• North Carolina Newspapers at DigitalNC
• 1800s-Current Nebraska, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Obituaries

• Rockingham County Obituaries

Other Records

Voter Registration

• 1868-1898 North Carolina, Voter Registration Records, 1868-1898 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images

Probate Records

Online Probate Indexes and Records

• 1660-1790 North Carolina Will Abstracts 1660-1790 at Ancestry ($)
• 1663-1789 Secretary of State Wills at North Carolina Digital Collections - index & images
• 1663-1978 Wills, 1663-1978; Estate Papers, 1780-1926 (Rockingham County)(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1663-1979 North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1665-1998 North Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998 at Ancestry ($)
• 1720-1960 Will Books A to F and 1 to 8 (1720-1960) at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
• 1735-1970 North Carolina Probate Records 1735-1970 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
• 1760-1800 North Carolina Will Abstracts 1760-1800 at Ancestry ($)
• 1772-1850 Abstracts of Some Wills from Caswell and Rockingham Cos., North Carolina, 1772-1850(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1785-1965 Record of Wills, 1785-1965, with Index(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1785-1965 Will Books A to O (1785-1965) at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
• 1790 Pre-1790 Rockingham County, North Carolina Genealogy Wills (North Carolina State Archives)
• 1804-1829 Images of Wills and Estates. North Carolina Pioneers ($)
• 1804-1864 Wills, 1804-1864(*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1817-1965 Record of Settlements, 1817-1965(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1864-1965 Record of Accounts of Probate, 1868-1965; Administrators' and Guardians' Records, 1864-1965(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• Rockingham County Wills and Estates (USGenWeb Archives)
• Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

School Records

• Rockingham Community College Yearbooks: 1967-1976

Social Security Records

• 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
• 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
• 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records

• 1815 Rockingham County Tax Lists, 1815 (North Carolina Digital Collections)

Vital Records

• 1800-2000 North Carolina, Department of Archives and History, Index to Vital Records, 1800-2000 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images

Birth

• 1800-2000 North Carolina Birth Index 1800-2000 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
• 1861-1892 Dr. Simpsons Birth Books, Rockingham County, NC (NCGenWeb Project)
• 1866-1964 North Carolina Births and Christenings 1866-1964 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
• 1913-1922 North Carolina, Center for Health Statistics, Vital Records Unit, County Birth Records, 1913-1922 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images

Marriage

• 1700-Onward North Carolina Marriages at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
• 1741-2004 North Carolina, United States Marriages at Findmypast
• 1741-2004 North Carolina Marriage Index 1741-2004 at Ancestry $
• 1759-1979 North Carolina Marriages 1759-1979 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index
• 1762-1979 North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1763-1868 North Carolina, Civil Marriages, 1763-1868 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1790-1965 Rockingham County Marriage Index 1790-1965 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
• Rockingham County Marriages

Death

• 1898-1994 North Carolina Deaths and Burials, 1898-1994 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1906-1930 North Carolina Deaths 1906-1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images Also at: MyHeritage ($)
• 1908-2004 North Carolina Death Indexes 1908-2004 at Ancestry $
• 1909-1975 North Carolina Death Certificates 1909-1975 at Ancestry $
• 1931-1994 North Carolina Deaths 1931-1994 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images

Divorce

• 1926-1975 North Carolina, County Divorce Records, 1926-1975 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1958-2004 North Carolina Divorce Index 1958-2004 at Ancestry $

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Rockingham County. For state-wide archival repositories, see North Carolina Archives and Libraries.

FamilySearch Centers

FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries

• FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
• FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
  

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

• Caswell North Carolina FamilySearch Center
• Durham North Carolina FamilySearch Center
• Eden North Carolina FamilySearch Center
• Elon North Carolina FamilySearch Center
• Greensboro North Carolina FamilySearch Center
• Winston-Salem North Carolina FamilySearch Center

Libraries

Listed below are libraries in Rockingham County. For state-wide library facilities, see North Carolina Archives and Libraries.

Madison-Mayodan Public Library
611 Burton St
Madison, NC 27025
Phone: 336-548-6553
Facebook
Website

Museums

Bassett Historical Center
3964 Fairystone Park Hwy
Bassett, VA 24055
Phone: 276-629-9191
Email: bhcenter3964@gmail.com
Facebook
Website

Resource for family history research in Henry, Patrick, Floyd, Franklin and Pittsylvania counties in Virginia; the city of Martinsville, Virginia; and Rockingham, Stokes and Surry counties in North Carolina.

Museum and Archives of Rockingham County
1086 NC Hwy 65
Reidsville, NC 27320
PO Box 84
Wentworth, NC 27375-0084
Phone: 336-634-4949
Email: info@theMARConline.org
Facebook
Website

Societies

Listed below are societies in Rockingham County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see North Carolina Societies.

Genealogical Society of Rockingham and Stokes Counties
PO Box 152
Mayodan, NC 27027-0152
Facebook
Website

Websites

• USGenWeb Project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
• Rockingham County, NCGenWeb
• Rockingham County, NCGenWeb Archives
• FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.

Research Guides

• Sweeney, Alice J. "Bassett Historical Center," The Virginia Genealogical Society Newsletter, Vol. 28, No. 4 (Aug. 2002):1-3. Available at FS Library; Virginia Genealogical Society.