FamilySearch Wiki

Rowan County, North Carolina Genealogy

(Redirected from Rowan County, North Carolina)


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

County Facts
County seat: Salisbury
Organized: 1753
Parent County(s): Anson[1]
Neighboring Counties
Cabarrus • Davidson • Davie • Iredell • Montgomery • Stanly
See County Maps
Courthouse
NorthCarolinaRowanCourthouse.jpg
Location Map
Nc-rowan.png

County Information

Description

Rowan County is located in the central portion of North Carolina and was named for Matthew Rowan, Governor of North Carolina at the time.[2]

County Courthouse

Rowan County Courthouse
202 N Main Street
PO Box 2568
Salisbury, NC 28144-4346
Phone: 704-636-3102
Rowan County Website

Register of Deeds has birth, marriage death and land records.
Clerk Superior Court has divorce records from 1881, probate and court records.[3]

Rowan 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[4]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1913 1753 1913 1753 1753 1743 1784
*Statewide registration for births and deaths started in 1913. General compliance by 1920.

Record Loss

1865 Some of the records were destroyed during the Civil War.

For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:

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:[6]

Cities
Towns
Unincorporated communities
Census-designated places
Townships


History Timeline

Resources

Bible Records

Biographies

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

  • Brumfield, Lewis Shore. "The Clingman Store Ledgers," [1818-1822] Rowan County Register, Vol. 7, No. 2 (May 1992):1509-1516. Available at FS Library.
  • Smith, John H. "Unidentified Merchant's Ledger 1837-1846 North Carolina State Archives," Rowan County Register, Vol. 11, No. 3 (Aug. 1993):2548-2552. Available at FS Library.

Occupations

  • "Clerk of Court," Rowan County Register, Vol. 4, No. 3 (Aug. 1989):889. Available at FS Library.
  • "Clerks of Court in Rowan County, 1753-1795" Rowan County Register, Vol. 15, No. 4 (Nov. 2000):3535-3542. Available at FS Library.
  • Craig, James H. "The Arts and Crafts in North Carolina: Rowan County Court Records," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 2, No. 2 (June 1988):33-36; Vol. 2, No. 3 (Sep. 1988):66-69. Available at FS Library. Apprenticeship records 1770s-1810s.
  • Linn, Jo White. "Rowan County Apprentice Bonds 1777-1850," Rowan County Register, Vol. 12, No. 3 (Aug. 1997):2811-2818; Vol. 14, No. 1 (Feb. 1999):3169-3179; Vol. 14, No. 4 (Nov. 1999):3316-3325; Vol. 15, No. 1 (Feb. 2000):3385-3394. Available at FS Library.
  • "Return of Strays," Rowan County Register, Vol. 9, No. 1 (Feb. 1994):1936. Available at FS Library.
  • Thorp, Daniel B. "Doing Business in the Backcountry: Retail Trade in Colonial Rowan County, North Carolina," The William and Mary Quarterly, Third Series, Vol. 48, No. 3 (Jul., 1991), pp. 387-408. Available at JSTOR ($).
  • Thorp, Daniel B. "Taverns and Tavern Culture on the Southern Colonial Frontier: Rowan County, North Carolina, 1753-1776," The Journal of Southern History, Vol. 62, No. 4 (Nov., 1996), pp. 661-688. Available at JSTOR ($).

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Rowan County, North Carolina online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
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 ($)
  • "Cemetery Record," Rowan County Register, Vol. 16, No. 4 (Nov. 2001):3749. Available at FS Library. [Discusses a gravemarker from Salem United Methodist Church, Cincinnati, Ohio, surname: Hill, date of death: 1867, which identifies the person's 1791 birthplace as Rowan County, North Carolina.]
  • "Cemetery Records - Lowerstone Church," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 2, No. 3 (Sep. 1988):58-65. Available at FS Library.
  • "Rowan County Cemeteries: The Crystal Spring Cemetery," Rowan County Register, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Feb. 1988):522. Available at FS Library.
  • "Salisbury National Cemetery - Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Mar. 1989):53-55. Available at FS Library.
  • Sell, Kenneth D. "Preliminary Checklist of Rowan County Churches and Cemeteries," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Summer 1987):4-11; Vol. 1, Nos. 3-4 (Fall and Winter 1987):26-30; Vol. 2, No. 1 (Spring 1988):20-23; Vol. 2, No. 2 (Jun. 1988):45-48; Vol. 2, No. 3 (Sep. 1988):87-91; Vol. 2, No. 4 (Dec. 1988):128-129; Vol. 3, No. 1 (Mar. 1989):37; Vol. 3, No. 2 (Mar. 1989):73-74. Available at FS Library.
  • "Small Cemeteries in Western Rowan, Christ Episcopal," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 3, No. 4 (Dec. 1989):124-127. Available at FS Library.

Census Records

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1790 15,972 —
1800 20,060 25.6%
1810 21,543 7.4%
1820 26,009 20.7%
1830 20,786 −20.1%
1840 12,109 −41.7%
1850 13,870 14.5%
1860 14,589 5.2%
1870 16,810 15.2%
1880 19,965 18.8%
1890 24,123 20.8%
1900 31,066 28.8%
1910 37,521 20.8%
1920 44,062 17.4%
1930 56,665 28.6%
1940 69,206 22.1%
1950 75,410 9.0%
1960 82,817 9.8%
1970 90,035 8.7%
1980 99,186 10.2%
1990 110,605 11.5%
2000 130,340 17.8%
2010 138,446 6.2%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".


  • 1790-1900 "Population of Rowan County, North Carolina 1790-1900," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 1, Nos. 3-4 (Fall and Winter 1987):9. Available at FS Library.
  • 1800 Linn, Jo White. "1800 Census of Salisbury, North Carolina," Rowan County Register, Vol. 9, No. 2 (May 1994):2019-2022. Available at FS Library.
  • 1820 "1820 Census of Rowan County Digest of Manufactures," Rowan County Register, Vol. 9, No. 1 (Feb. 1994):1937-1958. Available at FS Library.
  • 1850 Belk, Steven. "The 1850 Mortality Schedule," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 2, No. 3 (Sep. 1988):71-76. Available at FS Library.
  • 1860 Beck, Patricia B. "1860 Mortality Schedule," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 2, No. 4 (Dec. 1988):111-114; Vol. 3, No. 1 (Mar. 1989):18-20. Available at FS Library.
  • 1865 Linn, Jo White. "Citizens of Salisbury in 1865," Rowan County Register, Vol. 15, No. 4 (Nov. 2000):3547-3550. Available at FS Library.
  • 1870 "1870 Census, Rowan County, North Carolina," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Spring 1988):10-19; Vol. 2, No. 2 (Jun. 1988):49-54; Vol. 2, No. 3 (Sep. 1988):77-85; Vol. 2, No. 4 (Dec. 1988):115-126; Vol. 3, No. 1 (Mar. 1989):29-36; Vol. 3, No. 2 (Mar. 1989):62-69; Vol. 3, No. 3 (Sep. 1989):89-94; Vol. 3, No. 4 (Dec. 1989):142-147. Available at FS Library.

Church Records

  • 1700-1970 North Carolina, Church Records, 1700-1970 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
  • Fries, Adelaide L. Colonial Churches of North Carolina Within the Bounds of Rowan County as Set Off in 1753. 1936. Available at FS Library.
  • Rankin, S.M., George Swelle, and Adelaide Price. Churches of the Colonial Period in Rowan County [North Carolina]. Raleigh, North Carolina: Filmed by North Carolina Department of Archives and History, 1962. Available at FS Library. [Includes Baptist, Church of England, Friends, Lutheran, Moravian, Reformed, and Presbyterian Churches.]

Baptist

  • Abbott's Creek. Formed about 1753.[7] Later located in Davidson.
  • Bear Creek. Constituted 1791.[7]
  • Dutchman's Creek. Constituted 1792.[7]
  • Forks of Yadkin River. Constituted 1793.[7]
  • Jersey Settlement. Constituted 1758.[7]
  • Timber Ridge. Constituted 1788.[7]
  • "Associational Minutes," [Yadkin Baptist Church, Patterson, N.C.] Rowan County Register, Vol. 6, No. 3 (Aug. 1991):1347-1348. Available at FS Library.
  • "Readers Write," [Describes church minutes and 1787 list of members (189 names) for Dutchman Creek Baptist Church (name changed to Eaton's Baptist Church in 1790] Rowan County Register, Vol. 1, No. 4 (Nov. 1986):198. Available at FS Library.
  • "Records of Dutchman's Creek Baptist Church in Rowan County, NC," [1770s] Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Sep. 1989):112. Available at FS Library.

Church of England
(Later Episcopal)

  • St. Luke's Parish. Established 1753.[8]
  • "St Andrews Episcopal Church - Woodleaf, Rowan Co., N.C.," [1840s] Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 2, No. 4 (Dec. 1988):100-101. Available at FS Library.

German Reformed

  • Grace or Lower Stone Church, Rockwell, N.C. Established by 1795.[9]
  • Pilgrim Church, near Lexington, N.C. Established about 1757.[10] Later located in Davidson. Baptisms from 1757-1845 are included in the International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.[11]

Lutheran

  • Organ or Zion Church, near Rockwell, N.C. Building erected 1794.[12]
  • Agner, Martha Withers. "An Overview of Union Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rowan County, North Carolina," Rowan County Register, Vol. 9, No. 1 (Feb. 1994):1929-1935. Available at FS Library.
  • "Biography of Pastor Samuel Rothrock," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Mar. 1989):13. Available at FS Library.
  • Linn, Jo White. "1775-1776 Marriages from the Diary of Johann Gottfried Arends," Rowan County Register, Vol. 3, No. 4 (Nov. 1988):675-678. Available at FS Library. [Lutheran minister.]
  • Linn, Jo White. "Records of Heidelberg Evangelical Lutheran (Old Dutchmans Creek) Church," [1780s-1860s] Rowan County Register, Vol. 4, No. 3 (Aug. 1989):861-872. Available at FS Library.
  • "Ministerial Acts - Rev Chrisenberry A Brown - Concordia Pastorate 1892-1893," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Sep. 1989):108-110. Available at FS Library.
  • Rothrock, Samuel. Diaries of Rev. Samuel Rothrock of Rowan County, [North Carolina], 1834-1863. MSS., Rowan Public Library, Salisbury, North Carolina, available at FS Library. [Includes confirmations, baptisms, and burials, 1850-1858, for Organ Lutheran Church, St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, and St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church.]

Presbyterian

  • Centre Church, Mount Mourne, N.C. Organized 1765.[13] Originally known as the Osbourne Meeting House; later located in Iredell.
  • Third Creek Church, Cleveland, N.C. Founded before 1789.[14]
  • Fourth Creek Church, Statesville, N.C. Organized about 1750.[15] Later located in Iredell.
  • Holcomb, Brent H. "Some Rowan County References from the Southern Christian Herald," Rowan County Register, Vol. 3, No. 4 (Dec. 1988):681. Available at FS Library. [Presbyterian newspaper.]
  • Linn, Jo White. "First Presbyterian Church Baptismal Records," Rowan County Register, Vol. 8, No. 3 (Aug. 1993):1815-1824. Available at FS Library.
  • Linn, Jo White. "The Petition of His Majesty's dutiful and loyal Subjects, Inhabitants of Rowan County to His Excellency Josiah Martin Esquire Governor and Commander in Chief over the Province of North Carolina 1773," [Presbyterian Petition] Rowan County Register, Vol. 10, No. 1 (Feb. 1995):2203-2205. Available at FS Library.
  • "Transcript of a Map of Fourth Creek Congregation by William Sharpe, Esq. 1773," Rowan County Register, Vol. 2, No. 2 (May 1987):340-341. Available at FS Library. [Identifies names and places of residence of many people.]


List of Churches and Church Parishes

Court Records

Directories

Emigration and Immigration

  • Gehrke, William H. "The Beginnings of the Pennsylvania-German Element in Rowan and Cabarrus Counties, North Carolina," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 58, No. 4 (1934), pp. 342-369. Available at FS Library; digital version available at JSTOR ($).
  • Immigrant Servants Database at PriceGen - 20,000+ colonial immigrants, primary focus: Chesapeake Bay colonies (Virginia and Maryland)
  • Offman, David Isaiah and Paul G. Kinney. Genealogical Records of Early German and Other Families that Settled in the Area of North Carolina, of Alamance, Chatham, Guilford, Randolph, Rowan Cos. MSS., available at FS Library.

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

African Americans

Paul Heinegg's Free African Americans of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Delaware [free online book] is a very helpful guide to free blacks in Rowan County, North Carolina before 1820. [Identifies following free African American surnames in Rowan County: Allen, Baltrip, Brandon, Carter, Chavis, Deormond (see introduction), Faggot, Ferguson, Foquett, Freeman, Grimes, Hains, Harris, Locklear, Mitchell, Stewart, Taborn, Valentine. Sources Heinegg used to identify free African Americans in Rowan County include: (1) U.S. Federal Census Records, (2) Minutes, Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions (Abstracts), 1753-1795, Vols. 1, 2. North Carolina State Archives Microfilm No. C.085.30001, and (3) MS Tax Lists. North Carolina State Archives Stack File No. CR 085.701.6.][16]Other items found on Heinegg's website include:

After the Civil War, ex-slave marriages were legalized, see:

  • Linn, Jo White. "Cohabitation Bonds in North Carolina," Rowan County Register, Vol. 13, No. 1 (Feb. 1998):2937-2938. Available at FS Library.
  • Watson, June Clodfelter. Cohabitation Bonds for Rowan County, North Carolina: Recorded in 1866. [Salisbury, North Carolina]: Genealogical Society of Rowan County (North Carolina), [1996?]. Available at FS Library.

Other records of African Americans in Rowan County include:

  • Henderson, Lisa Y. "Documents Tracing the Relationship Between John Wilson McNeely and His Slave, Lucinda," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Mar. 1989):50-52. Available at FS Library.

Funeral Homes

Genealogies


A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Compiled Genealogies for Multiple Families

  • Offman, David Isaiah and Paul G. Kinney. Genealogical Records of Early German and Other Families that Settled in the Area of North Carolina, of Alamance, Chatham, Guilford, Randolph, Rowan Cos. MSS., FS Library Collection
  • Links to Rowan County Family Pages in "Rowan County North Carolina Genealogy and History USGenWeb," USGenWeb. More than 50 families are identified.
  • Stroupe, Ethel. "Jersey Settlement Origins: First Families of Jersey Settlement," Rowan County Register, Vol. 11, No. 1 (Feb. 1996):2413-2434. FS Library Collection Discusses possible New Jersey origins of many Rowan County early settlers.



Guardianship

Land and Property Records

Online Land Indexes and Records


Bounty Land Warrants

  • Linn, Jo White. "Bounty Land Warrants Recorded in Rowan County," Rowan County Register, Vol. 8, No. 3 (Aug. 1993):1834-1835. Available at FS Library.

Confiscated Property

  • Bennett, William D. "List of Rents of Confiscated Property in Rowan, 1783," Rowan County Register, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Aug. 1988):617. Available at FS Library.
  • Bennett, William D. and Jo White Linn. "North Carolina Confiscated Property, 1777-1786," Rowan County Register, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Aug. 1988):618-619. Available at FS Library.
  • "List of Men Whose Property was Threatened with Confiscation," [1782] Rowan County Register, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Aug. 1988):620. Available atFS Library.

Deeds

  • Kluttz, James W. Rowan County, North Carolina, Genealogical Abstracts of Deeds: Deed Books 15-19, 1797-1807. Reviewed in Rowan County Register, Vol. 12, No. 4 (Nov. 1997):2869-2870. Available at FS Library.
  • Linn, Jo White. "Rowan County Deeds," [Deed Book 11] Rowan County Register, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Feb. 1986):29, 30-36; Vol. 1, No. 2 (May 1986):92-97; Vol. 1, No. 3 (Aug. 1986):149-151, 155-160; Vol. 2, No. 3 (Aug. 1987):403-412; Vol. 3, No. 3 (Aug. 1988):621-632; Vol. 4, No. 3 (Aug. 1989):850-860; Vol. 5, No. 3 (Aug. 1990):1099-1111; Vol. 6, No. 3 (Aug. 1991):1337-1346; Vol. 9, No. 3 (Aug. 1994):2057-2068; Vol. 10, No. 3 (Aug. 1995):2317-2329; Vol. 11, No. 2 (May 1996):2502-2518. Available at FS Library.

Directories of Land Owners

  • Kluttz, James W. The Early Landowners of Rowan County, North Carolina. 6 vols. Landis, North Carolina: J.W. Kluttz, 1995. Available at FS Library.

Grants

  • Linn, Jo White. "Unclaimed State Land Grants in Rowan," Rowan County Register, Vol. 9, No. 2 (May 1994):2026. Available at FS Library.

Land Entries

  • Enochs, Richard A. "Rowan County Vacant Land Entries 1790-1795," Rowan County Register, Vol. 4, No. 1 (May 1989):805-814; Vol. 5, No. 2 (May 1990):1043-1052; Vol. 6, No. 2 (May 1991):1287-1292. Available at FS Library.
  • Linn, Jo White. "Rowan County Land Entries 1752/53," Rowan County Register, Vol. 1, No. 3 (Aug. 1986):141-148; Vol. 2, No. 2 (May 1987):345-348. Available at FS Library.

Squatters

  • Bennett, William Doub. "Squatters' Rights (Adverse Possession of Real Property)," Rowan County Register, Vol. 6, No. 3 (Aug. 1991):1329-1335. Available at FS Library.

Local Histories

  • Bennett, William D. "Highways & Byways: The Road from Salisbury to Salem & to Lexington," Rowan County Register, Vol. 13, No. 4 (Nov. 1998):3081-3093. Available at FS Library.
  • Julian, Wilbur C. "Rowan County and the Yadkin River," Rowan County Register, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Feb. 1999):3145-3150. Available at FS Library.
  • "Rowan County History," Rowan County Register, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Feb. 1987):3. Available at FS Library.
  • Shook, Pauline Moser and John C. Roberts. Capt. Daniel Little, Esq., and His Contemporaries: John Dunn, John Lewis Beard, Conrod Michael, Michael Brown, William Temple Coles, and Most of the Population of Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina, 1753-1792: Documented. Sandpoint, Idaho: P.M. Shook, 1994. Available at FS Library.

Maps and Gazetteers

Davie CountyDavidson CountyStanly CountyMecklenburg CountyIredell CountyCabarrus CountyNC ROWAN.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources
  • Axelson, Edith F. "Post Office Records," Rowan County Register, Vol. 5, No. 3 (Aug. 1990):1122-1127. Available at FS Library. [Includes map of Rowan County showing locations of old post offices.]
  • Brawley, James S. Bicentennial Commemorative Map of Rowan County, North Carolina, 1753-1953. Salisbury, North Carolina: J. Brawley, 1953. Available at FS Library.
  • "Downtown Salisbury, North Carolina Map," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Spring 1987):11. Available at FS Library. [Identifies old buildings, cemeteries, churches, etc.]
  • Ferguson, H.W. "Rowan County North Carolina 1780," Rowan County Register, Vol. 11, No. 1 (Feb. 1996):2440-2441. Available at FS Library. ["Compiled from USGS 1:100,000 maps Boone, Hickroy, Salisbury, & Winston Salem quandrangles. Stream names are those used by Richard A. Enochs in his book Rowan County, NC, Vacant Land Entries, 1778-1789 published in 1988."]
  • Linn, Jo White. "Sanborn City Maps," [Salisbury, 1880s-1930s] Rowan County Register, Vol. 5, No. 4 (Nov. 1990):1161-1163. Available at FS Library.
  • Linn, Jo White. "Sauthier and Kizziah Maps of Salisbury," [1770 and mid 1750s] Rowan County Register, Vol. 4, No. 2 (May 1989):815-817. Available at FS Library.
  • "Map of Rowan County," Rowan County Register, Vol. 1, No. 2 (May 1986):90-91. Available at FS Library. [Identifies rivers and creeks.]
  • "Map Showing Waterways and Boundaries of Old Rowan County," Rowan County Register, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Feb. 1986):30-31. Available at FS Library.
  • "Map Showing Proposed Bridges Across the Yadkin River to Salem and to Raleigh," [1814-1815]Rowan County Register, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Feb. 1991):1236-1237. Available at FS Library.
  • Miller, C. M., "Map of Rowan County", drawn by C. M. Miller, CE in 1903, Map, showing locations of families, churches, schools, and towns in Rowan County, North Carolina.
  • Norris, Carol. "Names Appearing on Sharpe's 1773 Map of Fourth Creek," Rowan County Register, Vol. 10, No. 1 (Feb. 1995):2201-2202. Available at FS Library.
  • Rendleman, David Atwell. "Rowan County Land Ownership Map Section #1," Rowan County Register, Vol. 5, No. 1 (Feb. 1990):996-997. Available at FS Library.
  • Rendleman, David Atwell. "Rowan County Land Ownership Map Section #2," Rowan County Register, Vol. 5, No. 2 (May 1990):1055. Available at FS Library.
  • Rendleman, David Atwell. "Rowan County Land Ownership Map Section #3," Rowan County Register, Vol. 5, No. 3 (Aug. 1990):1115. Available at FS Library.
  • "Salisbury Historic District: Showing 30 Nineteenth Century Structures," Rowan County Register, Vol. 2, No. 3 (Aug. 1987):400-401. Available at FS Library.
  • "Transcript of a Map of Fourth Creek Congregation by William Sharpe, Esq. 1773," Rowan County Register, Vol. 2, No. 2 (May 1987):340-341. Available at FS Library. [Identifies names and places of residence of many people.]
  • Trexler, N.A., Rowan County Engineer, 1930 Map of Rowan County, shows location of homeowners and renters, schools, churches, roads, postal route, and railroads.
  • FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Migration

  • Dexter, Darrel. "St. Johns Lutheran Church Cemetery, Union County, Illinois," Rowan County Register, Vol. 4, No. 2 (May 1989):793-804. Available at FS Library. Many German pioneers from Rowan County, North Carolina migrated to this area.
  • Duke, Howard. "A List of Persons Migrating from North Carolina to Wayne County, Indiana, 1800-1861," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Mar. 1989):40-46; Vol. 3, No. 3 (Sep. 1989):85-88; Vol. 3, No. 4 (Dec. 1989):131-132. Available at FS Library.
  • "From Pennsylvania to Wachovia," Rowan County Register, Vol. 7, No. 1 (Feb. 1992):1470. Available at FS Library.
  • Gehrke, William H. "The Beginnings of the Pennsylvania-German Element in Rowan and Cabarrus Counties, North Carolina," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 58, No. 4 (1934), pp. 342-369. Available at FS Library; digital version available at JSTOR ($).
  • Linn, Jo White and James Alfred Locke Miller. "Implied Migrations: from Augusta County, Virginia, to Rowan County, North Carolina," Rowan County Register, Vol. 4, No. 1 (Feb. 1989):762-765. Available at FS Library.
  • Linn, Jo White. "Migration from Halifax County, NC, to Rowan County," Rowan County Register, Vol. 5, No. 3 (Aug. 1990):1115; Vol. 8, No. 3 (Aug. 1993):1814. Available at FS Library. Discusses Coltrane family.
  • Palmer, Stan. "Rowan County Natives Buried in the Old Wetaug Cemetery," [Wetaug, Illinois] Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 2, No. 2 (June 1988):39-40. Available at FS Library.
  • Condon, Sindey S. and Darrell Dexter. "Pioneer Sketches of Union County, Illinois," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Sep. 1989):88; Vol. 3, No. 4 (Dec. 1989):130. Available at FS Library. Surnames of migrants: McLain, Rendleman.
  • "Soaking the Yule Log," Rowan County Register, Vol. 12, No. 1 (Feb. 1997):2698. Available at FS Library. Migration data on the Cathey and Locke families.
  • Stroupe, Ethel. "Jersey Settlement Origins: First Families of Jersey Settlement," Rowan County Register, Vol. 11, No. 1 (Feb. 1996):2413-2434. Available at FS Library. Discusses possible New Jersey origins of many Rowan County early settlers.

Transportation

  • Bennett, William D. "Highways & Byways: The Road from Salisbury to Salem & to Lexington," Rowan County Register, Vol. 13, No. 4 (Nov. 1998):3081-3093. About overland transportation through Rowan County. Available at FS Library.
  • Julian, Wilbur C. "Rowan County and the Yadkin River," Rowan County Register, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Feb. 1999):3145-3150. About river transportation through Rowan County. Available at FS Library.

Military Records

French and Indian War

  • Linn, Jo White. "1759 Rowan County Militia List," Rowan County Register, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Feb. 1987):273-274. Available at FS Library.
  • Linn, Jo White. "1759 Rowan County Militia Lists," Rowan County Register, Vol. 7, No. 4 (Nov. 1992):1643-1644. Available at FS Library.
  • Watt, W.N. "1760 Rowan County Militia Lists," Rowan County Register, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Feb. 1987):275. Available at FS Library.

Militia

  • "Surry County Militia Officers 28 June 1774," Rowan County Register, Vol. 6, No. 3 (Aug. 1991):1359-1360. Available at FS Library.

Revolutionary War

  • "1779 Pay Roll to Goal Guards in Salisbury 20 Sept. - 5 Nov; Capt. George Laumann," Rowan County Register, Vol. 14, No. 4 (Nov. 1999):3326-3328. Available at FS Library.
  • "Address from Rowan Militia Officers for Consideration," [1778] Rowan County Register, Vol. 10, No. 3 (Aug. 1995):2299-2300. Available at FS Library.
  • Bennett, William D. "List of Rents of Confiscated Property in Rowan, 1783," Rowan County Register, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Aug. 1988):617. Available at FS Library.
  • Bennett, William D. and Jo White Linn. "North Carolina Confiscated Property, 1777-1786," Rowan County Register, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Aug. 1988):618-619. Available at FS Library
  • Brawley, James S. "The Rowan Resolves," 1774 Committee of Safety, Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina; identifies some of the signers. Rowan County Register, Vol. 3, No. 2 (May 1988):580-581. Available at FS Library.
  • Hunter, Cyrus Lee. Sketches of Western North Carolina Illustrating Principally the Revolutionary Period of Mecklenburg, Rowan, Lincoln and Adjoining Counties. Raleigh, [North Carolina] : Raleigh News Steam Job Print., 1877. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry ($).
  • Linn, Jo White. "Genealogical Gleanings From Revolutionary War Pension Applications," Rowan County Register, Vol. 8, No. 1 (Feb. 1993):1725-1730. Available at FS Library.
  • "List of Men Whose Property was Threatened with Confiscation," [1782] Rowan County Register, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Aug. 1988):620. Available at FS Library.
  • Nolan, John B. "The Revolutionary Era in Rowan County, North Carolina: From Colony to Statehood," Rowan County Register, Vol. 12, No. 4 (Nov. 1997):2837-2846. Available at FS Library.
  • "Patriots Oath of Allegiance," Salisbury Evening Post, 1 December 1976. Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Mar. 1989):55. Available at FS Library.
  • "Revolutionary War Records," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 3, No. 4 (Dec. 1989):148-149. Available at FS Library. Merrell and Merrill pensioners.
  • "Revolutionary War Sketches," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Mar. 1989):25. Available at FS Library.
  • "Rowan Records from Afar," Rowan County Register, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Aug. 1988):653. Available at FS Library. Revolutionary War Pensions of soldiers surnamed Young and Ellis who had relocated to other parts of the nation.

War of 1812

  • "Muster Rolls of Soldiers of the War of 1812," ["Third Company, detached from the third Rowan Regiment"] Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Sep. 1989):111. Available at FS Library.
  • "North Carolina Society, United States Daughters of 1812 Celebrates 75th Year," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Summer 1987):12-13. Available at FS Library.
  • "Some Rowan County War of 1812 Depositions," Rowan County Register, Vol. 14, No. 2 (May 1999):3238-3240. Available at FS Library.
  • Rowan County Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican War, Civil War records, 1781-1919 (Salt Lake City, Utah:Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 2004) FS Library Film 2180019 Item 4

War with Mexico

  • Bennett, William Doub. "Rowan County in the Mexican War or the Aborted Company A," Rowan County Register, Vol. 8, No. 3 (Aug. 1993):1825-1833. Available at FS Library.

Civil War

Regiments. Men in Rowan 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 Rowan County:

- 1st Regiment, North Carolina Artillery 10th Regiment Volunteers-1st Artillery, Company D
- 1st Regiment, North Carolina Detailed Men, Company H
- 1st Regiment, North Carolina Detailed Men, Company I
- 2nd Regiment, North Carolina Junior Reserves, Company B
- 4th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
- 4th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company B
- 4th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company K
- 4th Regiment, North Carolina Senior Reserves, Company B
- 5th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company E
- 5th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company K
- 5th Regiment, North Carolina Senior Reserves, Company E
- 5th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
- 6th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
- 6th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company G
- 7th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
- 8th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
- 8th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company K
- 10th Battalion, North Carolina Heavy Artillery, Company C


  • "Applications for Pensions for Rowan County Civil War Veterans Who Were Wounded or Pensions for the Wives of Veterans Killed in Service," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Mar. 1989):9-12; Vol. 3, No. 4 (Dec. 1989):150-152. Available at FS Library.
  • "Civil War Collection - State Archives," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 2, No. 4 (Dec. 1988):126; Vol. 3, No. 1 (Mar. 1989):47-49; Vol. 3, No. 3 (Sep. 1989):103. Available at FS Library.
  • "Claims for Bounty & Pay 1861-1865," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 2, No. 4 (Dec. 1988):103. Available at FS Library. Heirs of individuals who died in Civil War military service.
  • Cook, G.W. "The North Carolina Militia of Northwest North Carolina 1861-1865: The Rowan County Organization," Rowan County Register, Vol. 2, No. 2 (May 1987):335-339. Available at FS Library.
  • Linn, Jo White. "The Confederate Prison at Salisbury," Rowan County Register, Vol. 14, No. 4 (Nov. 1999):3310-3311. Available at FS Library.
  • Linn, Jo White. "Save Your Confederate Bonds, the South's Going to Rise Again!" Rowan County Register, Vol. 14, No. 4 (Nov. 1999):3312-3313.
  • "The Road to Richmond: Memoirs of Major Abner R. Small," Rowan County Register, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Feb. 1999):3180. Available at FS Library. Includes a Civil War description of the Confederate Prison in Salisbury.
  • Smith, John H. "Rowan County Civil War Veterans, Report of Maimed Soldiers, 1867," Rowan County Register, Vol. 11, No. 2 (May 1996):2498-2499. Available at FS Library.

World War I

World War II

Naturalization and Citizenship

  • Ball, Sandra. "Rowan County Naturalizations, August Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions," (1845) Rowan County Register, Vol. 8, No. 4 (Nov. 1993):1887. Available at FS Library.
  • Beck, Pat. "Immigration Records, Rowan County, North Carolina," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 1, Nos. 3-4 (Fall and Winter 1987):13-16. Available at FS Library. Declarations of Intention, 1909-1914.
  • Linn, Jo White. "Rowan County Naturalizations, 1753-1776," Rowan County Register, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Feb. 1986):50-52. Abstracts from Salisbury District Superior Court Minutes, 1756-1770. Available at FS Library.
  • Linn, Jo White. "Some Naturalizations in Rowan County 1792-1862," Rowan County Register, Vol. 11, No. 1 (Feb. 1996):2435-2438. Available at FS Library.
  • Rosenthal, Patricia N. "Rowan County Naturalizations 1824-1826," Rowan County Register, Vol. 8, No. 1 (Feb. 1993):1710-1712. Available at FS Library.

Newspapers

  • North Carolina Newspapers at DigitalNC
  • North Carolina Newspaper Digitization Project, North Carolina State Archives. Search full text historical newspapers published in Salisbury.
  • Holcomb, Brent H. "Some Rowan County References from the Southern Christian Herald," Rowan County Register, Vol. 3, No. 4 (Dec. 1988):681; Vol. 4, No. 1 (Feb. 1989):768. Available at FS Library.
  • Linn, Jo White. "Items from Salisbury Newspapers 1832, 1833," Special Collections, Cooper Library, Clemson University. Rowan County Register, Vol. 11, No. 3 (Aug. 1996):2533-2543. Available at FS Library.
  • Linn, Jo White. "The North-Carolina Mercury and Salisbury Advertizer," [1799-1801] Rowan County Register, Vol. 3, No. 3 (May 1988):641-646; Vol. 4, No. 1 (Feb. 1989):757-761; Vol. 5, No. 2 (May 1990):1053-1055. Available at FS Library.
  • Reynolds, Juanita. "Excerpts from The North Carolina Mercury, published in Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina by Coupee," (1799-1800) Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 2, No. 2 (June 1988):37-38. Available at FS Library.
  • 1800s-Current Nebraska, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Obituaries

Other Records

Bible Records

  • Rowan County Register: Available at FS Library. Numerous articles written about Bible records of residents of Rowan County. Surnames include: Anderson, Beeman, Bless, Braly, Brock, Brunt, Burton, Caldwell, Carswell, Caton, Cauble, Chaffin, Chambers, Coon, Correll, Dickey, Dobbin, Duckworth, Eddleman, Falls, Fesperman, File, Graham, Hall, Hurley, Inness, Johnston, Kerr, Lewis, McConnell, McKnight, Macay, Miller, Petry, Pitt, Redwine, Sheek, Smith, Snider, Swicegood, Taylor, Wellman, and Whitaker. Periodical indexed in: PERiodical Source Index (PERSI at Allen County Public Library.


Historic Residences

  • "Bed and Breakfast," [Stewart-Marsh House] Rowan County Register, Vol. 4, No. 3 (Aug. 1989):891. Available at FS Library.
  • "Bed and Breakfast," [Rowan Oak House] Rowan County Register, Vol. 4, No. 3 (Aug. 1989):891. Available at FS Library.
  • "Bed and Breakfast," [Louis H. Clement House] Rowan County Register, Vol. 4, No. 3 (Aug. 1989):891. Available at FS Library.
  • "Burning of John Houser's House in 1819," Rowan County Register, Vol. 13, No. 1 (Feb. 1998):2914. Available at FS Library.
  • Hood, Davyd Foard. The Architecture of Rowan County. 1983.

Officials

  • "Delegates to the North Carolina Constitutional Conventions--1788, 1789," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Summer 1987):14-16. Available at FS Library. [Includes delegates from this county.]

Petitions

  • Rowan County Register contains articles about numerous petitions filed in Rowan County. Available at FS Library.

Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

  • Linn, Jo White. "Loose Records of Wardens of the Poor in Rowan County 1771-1871," Rowan County Register, Vol. 13, No. 3 (Aug. 1998):3020-3025; Vol. 14, No. 3 (Aug. 1999):3265-3279. Available at FS Library.
  • Linn, Jo White. "Rowan County Apprentice Bonds 1777-1850," Rowan County Register, Vol. 12, No. 3 (Aug. 1997):2811-2818; Vol. 14, No. 1 (Feb. 1999):3169-3179; Vol. 14, No. 4 (Nov. 1999):3316-3325. Available at FS Library.

Post Office

  • Axelson, Edith F. "Post Office Records," Rowan County Register, Vol. 5, No. 3 (Aug. 1990):1122-1127. Available at FS Library. [Includes map of Rowan County showing locations of old post offices.]

Private Papers

  • "Funerals and Burials from Rev. Samuel Rothrock's Diary," (Lutheran, 1834-1883). Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 2, No. 4 (Dec. 1988):96-99; Vol. 3, No. 1 (Mar. 1989):14-17; Vol. 3, No. 2 (Mar. 1989):70-72; Vol. 3, No. 3 (Sep. 1989):99-102; Vol. 3, No. 4 (Dec. 1989):137-141. Available at FS Library.
  • Krimminger, Betty L. "Civil War Letters," Rowan County Register, Vol. 6, No. 2 (May 1991):1285-1286; Vol. 6, No. 3 (Aug. 1991):1336; Vol. 7, No. 2 (May 1992):1527-1528. Available at FS Library.
  • Linn, Jo White. "1775-1776 Marriages from the Diary of Johann Gottfried Arends," Rowan County Register, Vol. 3, No. 4 (Nov. 1988):675-678. Available at FS Library.

Voting Records

Periodicals

Probate Records

Online Probate Indexes and Records


Wills

  • Bennett, William D. "Testators & Intestates of Rowan County 1778," Rowan County Register, Vol. 7, No. 4 (Nov. 1992):1643-1644. Available at FS Library.
  • Linn, Jo White. "Annotated Unrecorded Wills of Rowan County 1805-1868," Rowan County Register, Vol. 11, No. 2 (May 1996):2473-2497. Available at FS Library.
  • Linn, Jo White. "Rowan County Wills," [Will Book G] Rowan County, Register, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Feb. 1986):5-15; Vol. 1, No. 3 (Aug. 1986):127-131; Vol. 2, No. 1 (Feb. 1987):253-256; Vol. 3, No. 2 (May 1988):555-564; Vol. 5, No. 2 (May 1990):1031-1042; Vol. 8, No. 3 (Aug. 1993):1836-1847; Vol. 10, No. 2 (May 1995):2255-2268; Vol. 12, No. 1 (Feb. 1997):2669-2682; Vol. 12, No. 3 (Aug. 1997):2797-2810; Vol. 13, No. 1 (Feb. 1998):2915-2926; Vol. 13, No. 3 (Aug. 1998):3055-3066; Vol. 14, No. 1 (Feb. 1999):3153-3168; Vol. 15, No. 1 (Feb. 2000):3399-3413; Vol. 15, No. 2 (May 2000):3455-3470; Vol. 15, No. 3 (Aug. 2000):3492-3509; Vol. 16, No. 2 (May 2001):3626-3643; Vol. 16, No. 3 (Aug. 2001):3673-3690; Vol. 16, No. 4 (Nov. 2001):3728-3743. Available at FS Library. [These abstracts contain additions and corrections to Linn's previously published abstracts of Rowan probate records, which appear in book form.]

Administrations

  • Bennett, William D. "Testators & Intestates of Rowan County 1778," Rowan County Register, Vol. 7, No. 4 (Nov. 1992):1643-1644. Available at FS Library.

Estate Divisions

  • Linn, Jo White. "Rowan County Divisions of Estates, Book A: 1807-1842," [and Book B: 1845-1848] Rowan County Register, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Feb. 1986):22-28; Vol. 1, No. 2 (May 1986):83-89; Vol. 2, No. 1 (Feb. 1987):264-272; Vol. 3, No. 1 (Feb. 1988):496-504; Vol. 4, No. 1 (Feb. 1986):736-746; Vol. 5, No. 4 (Nov. 1990):1151-1160; Vol. 6, No. 2 (May 1991):1295-1305; Vol. 6, No. 3 (Aug. 1991):1361-1371; Vol. 7, No. 2 (May 1992):1534-1545; Vol. 8, No. 2 (May 1993):1759-1770; Vol. 14, No. 2 (May 1999):3205-3218; Vol. 15, No. 1 (Feb. 2000):3370-3382; Vol. 16, No. 1 (Feb. 2001):3608-3619. Available at FS Library.

Guardian Bonds

  • "Guardian Bonds," 1780s-1860s, Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 2, No. 2 (June 1988):42-44. Available at FS Library.
  • Linn, Jo White. "Rowan County Guardian Bonds 1764-1789," Rowan County Register, Vol. 1, No. 2 (May 1986):63-71. Available at FS Library.

Inventories

  • Rosenthal, Patricia N. and Jo White Linn. "Rowan County Inventories and Sales 1785-1787," Rowan County Register, Vol. 5, No. 3 (Aug. 1990):1115. Available at FS Library.

Loose Estate Papers

  • Linn, Jo White. "Rowan County Loose Estate Papers," [1753-1850] Rowan County Register, Vol. 1, No. 2 (May 1986):98-105; Vol. 1, No. 3 (Aug. 1986):161-167; Vol. 2, No. 1 (Feb. 1987):257-263; Vol. 3, No. 2 (May 1988):582-592; Vol. 5, No. 1 (Feb. 1990):999-1009; Vol. 6, No. 1 (Feb. 1991):1223-1234; Vol. 7, No. 1 (Feb. 1992):1471-1482; Vol. 8, No. 1 (Feb. 1993):1697-1709; Vol. 10, No. 4 (Nov. 1995):2352-2364; Vol. 11, No. 3 (Aug. 1996):2553-2564; Vol. 12, No. 2 (May 1997):2743-2753; Vol. 13, No. 2 (May 1998):2973-2986; Vol. 14, No. 3 (Aug. 1999):3283-3298; Vol. 15, No. 2 (May 2000):3434-3448; Vol. 15, No. 3 (Aug. 2000):3511-3525; Vol. 16, No. 2 (May 2001):3645-3656. Available at FS Library.
  • Spencer, Betty Dan Gilliam. "Rowan County Loose Estate Papers: Brown," Rowan County Register, Vol. 9, No. 2 (May 1994):1989-2018. Available at FS Library.

School Records

  • "The Common Schools of Rowan County," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Sep. 1989):79-84; Vol. 3, No. 4 (Dec. 1989):128-130. Available at FS Library.
  • Linn, Jo White. "Some Rowan County Private Schools, 1790-1900," Rowan County Register, Vol. 10, No. 3 (Aug. 1995):2301-2308. Available at FS Library.
  • "Teachers for Schools, 1812," Rowan County Register, Vol. 14, No. 2 (May 1999):3218. Available at FS Library.

Social Security Records

Tax Records

  • 1747 "Earl Granville's Quit Rents in the Rowan Area," [1747; instructions, no personal names] Rowan County Register, Vol. 3, No. 2 (May 1988):578-579. Available at FS Library.
  • 1754-1767 Linn, Jo White. "Number of Rowan County Taxables 1754-1767," Rowan County Register, Vol. 8, No. 1 (Feb. 1993):1689-1693. Available at FS Library. Details interesting statistics, but lists few personal names.
  • 1758 "1758 Rowan County Tax List," Rowan County Register, Vol. 15, No. 4 (Nov. 2000):3531-3532. Available at FS Library.
  • 1758 Tax Lists, Rowan County, 1758 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry ($)
  • 1759 Tax Lists, Rowan County, 1759 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry ($)
  • 1761 Tax Lists, Rowan County, 1761 (index) in NC Taxpayers vol. 2, online at Ancestry ($)
  • 1761 Tax Lists for 1761-1845 (transcripts) online at FamilySearch
  • 1761 Linn, Jo White and Michael Brown. "1761 Rowan County Tax Lists," Rowan County Register, Vol. 7, No. 4 (Nov. 1992):1629-1630; Vol. 9, No. 2 (May 1994):2023-2025. Available at FS Catalog 975.671 P28
  • 1769-1770 Linn, Jo White. "Undated [1769-1770] Rowan County Tax List Fragment," Rowan County Register, Vol. 13, No. 1 (Feb. 1998):2939-2946. Available at FS Library.
  • 1772 Abell, Mrs. John W. "1772 Rowan County Tax List (Partial - Davidson County Area) Taken by James Smith," Rowan County Register, Vol. 2, No. 3 (Aug. 1987):394-396. Available at FS Library.
  • 1772 "1772 Guilford County Tax List," Rowan County Register, Vol. 11, No. 2 (May 1996):2500-2501. Available at FS Library.
  • 1778 Tax Lists, 1778 (transcript) online at FamilySearch
  • 1782 "Capt. Cowan's Company Assessment to Feby 1782," Rowan County Register, Vol. 11, No. 2 (May 1996):2544-2546. Available at FS Library.
  • 1783 Bennett, William D. "List of Rents of Confiscated Property in Rowan, 1783," Rowan County Register, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Aug. 1988):617. Available at FS Library.
  • 1783-1892 Tax Records, Rowan County, 1783-1892 (images) online at FamilySearch
  • 1783-1849 Tax Records, Rowan County, 1783-1849 (images) online at FamilySearch
  • 1784 Tax Lists, 1784 (transcript, see p. 30) online at FamilySearch
  • 1784 Linn, Jo White. "Rowan County 1784 Tax List," Rowan County Register, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Feb. 1987):531-534. Available at FS Library.
  • 1787 Philbeck, Miles S. "A 1787 Rowan County Tax List," Rowan County Register, Vol. 3, No. 4 (Nov. 1988):679-681. Available at FS Library.
  • 1790 Smith, John H. "Rowan County Tax List -- Insolvents for 1790," Rowan County Register, Vol. 12, No. 1 (Feb. 1997):2688. Available at FS Library.
  • 1790 "Some 1790 Rowan County Insolvents," Rowan County Register, Vol. 15, No. 3 (Aug. 2000):3510. Available at FS Library.
  • c1794 Hollabaugh, Mary Louise, Debra A. Blake, and Jo White Linn. "Mystery (c1794) Rowan County Tax List," Rowan County Register, Vol. 11, No. 4 (Nov. 1996):2593-2596. Available at FS Library.
  • 1796 Linn, Jo White. "Capt. Andrew Bostian's Company for the Year 1796," [Land Tax, Southern Rowan County on Cold Water Creek] Rowan County Register, Vol. 4, No. 4 (Nov. 1989):917-918. Available at FS Library.
  • 1802-1804 Tax Lists, 1802-1804 (images) online at FamilySearch
  • 1807 Tax Lists, 1807 (images) online at FamilySearch
  • 1814 Taxables, 1814 (images) online at FamilySearch
  • 1815 Tax Lists, Rowan County, 1815 (images) online at North Carolina Digital Collections
  • 1815 Linn, Jo White. 1815 Rowan County, North Carolina, Tax List (Salisbury, North Carolina: J.W. Linn, 1987) FS Library Book 975.671 R49L
  • 1819 Linn, Jo White. "Missing 1819 Tax List of Capt. Swink's Company," Rowan County Register, Vol. 7, No. 1 (Feb. 1992):1450-1452. Available at FS Library.
  • 1822 Linn, Jo White. "Assessment of the Town of Salisbury for the Year 1822," Rowan County Register, Vol. 8, No. 3 (Aug. 1993):1848-1851. Available at FS Library.
  • 1823 "1823 Tax List for Salisbury," Rowan County Register, Vol. 13, No. 3 (Aug. 1998):3033-3038. Available at FS Library.
  • 1823 "1823 Town Company Rowan County Tax List Taken by Capt. Giles," Rowan County Register, Vol. 13, No. 3 (Aug. 1998):3029-3032. Available at FS Library.
  • 1823 "1823 Rowan County Tax List of Capt. Hertsell Taken by Richard ?," Rowan County Register, Vol. 11, No. 3 (Aug. 1996):2565-2568. Available at FS Library.
  • 1823 "1823 Rowan County Tax List of Capt. Willis's Company," Rowan County Register, Vol. 15, No. 1 (Feb. 2000):3395-3398. Available at FS Library.
  • 1823 "1823 Rowan County Tax List of Capt. Snider," Rowan County Register, Vol. 15, No. 3 (Aug. 2000):3480-3483. Available at FS Library.
  • 1823 "1823 Rowan County Tax List of Capt. Cavendar Taken by Joseph Hanes," Rowan County Register, Vol. 15, No. 4 (Nov. 2000):3543-3546. Available at FS Library.
  • 1823 "1823 Rowan County Tax List of Capt. Jeter's Company," Rowan County Register, Vol. 16, No. 1 (Feb. 2001):3622-3624. Available at FS Library.
  • 1823 "1823 Rowan County Tax List of Capt. Lentz's Company," Rowan County Register, Vol. 16, No. 4 (Nov. 2001):3746-3747. Available at FS Library.
  • 1826 "1826 Tax List of Capt. Cornell's Company," Rowan County Register, Vol. 12, No. 1 (Feb. 1997):2683-2687. Available at FS Library.
  • 1830 Smith, John Howard. "Rowan County 1830s Tax Lists: Sheek & Smith Papers - Duke University," Rowan County Register, Vol. 10, No. 4 (Nov. 1995):2345-2351. Available at FS Library.
  • Bennett, William D. "Taxation in Colonial North Carolina," Rowan County Register, Vol. 6, No. 4 (Nov. 1991):1389-1403. Available at FS Library.
  • Bennett, William Doub. "North Carolina Taxation During the Revolution," Rowan County Register, Vol. 7, No. 1 (Feb. 1992):1453-1458. Available at FS Library.

Vital Records

Birth

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
  • 1753-1800 "Abstract 1700s Marriage Bonds - Registrar's Office Rowan County," [1753-1800] Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 1, Nos. 3-4 (Fall and Winter 1987):5-6; Vol. 2, No. 2 (Jun. 1988):32; Vol. 2, No. 3 (Sep. 1988):70; Vol. 2, No. 4 (Dec. 1988):127; Vol. 3, No. 1 (Mar. 1989):3-6; Vol. 3, No. 2 (Mar. 1989):56-61; Vol. 3, No. 3 (Sep. 1989):95-98; Vol. 3, No. 4 (Dec. 1989):133-136. Available at FS Library.
  • 1759-1962 Rowan County Marriage Index 1759-1962 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch[17]
  • "Cowan Marriage Record from Tennessee Co., TN," Rowan County Register, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Feb. 1999):3187. Available at FS Library.
  • 1775-1776 Linn, Jo White. "1775-1776 Marriages from the Diary of Johann Gottfried Arends," Rowan County Register, Vol. 3, No. 4 (Nov. 1988):675-678. Available at FS Library.
  • 1780s-1850s "Found! Additional Rowan County Marriage Licenses," [1780s-1850s] Rowan County Register, Vol. 4, No. 1 (Feb. 1989):732-735. [Found in the private papers of Rev. Samuel Eusebius McCorkle, earliest ordained minister of Thyatira Presbyterian Church.] Available at FS Library.
  • 1851-1868 Linn, Jo White. "Rowan County Marriage Registers, 1851-1868," Rowan County Register, Vol. 2, No. 2 (May 1987):325-334; Vol. 3, No. 3 (May 1988):633-640; Vol. 9, No. 1 (Feb. 1994):1970-1975. Available at FS Library.
  • Linn, Jo White. "Willful Destruction of 475 Rowan County Marriages Licenses," Rowan County Register, Vol. 11, No. 1 (Feb. 1996):2242. Available at FS Library.

Death

Divorce

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Rowan 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

Libraries

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

Isothermal Community College Library
PO Box 804
Springdale, NC 28160-0804
Phone: 828-395-1307
Website

This library has 6 volumes of the missing court records of Rowan County that have been microfilmed. The Salisbury District, Superior Court minutes/records are on the Stanley-Yancey page. Salisbury Microfilms, unit 4, drawer 3, section D: 1756-1770 and 1782-1801 (3 volumes); 1797-1799 and 180-1809 (3 volumes)

Rowan Public Library
201 W Fisher St
Salisbury NC, 28144
Phone: 980-432-8670
Facebook
Website

There are three branches in the system.

Museums

Societies

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

Genealogical Society of Rowan County
PO Box 4305
Salisbury, NC 28145-430
Email: GSRCNC.Contact@Gmail.com
Website

Websites

  • Piedmont Trails - A personal source of materials dedicated to the history and genealogy of North Carolina and beyond. Documents of Rowan County, NC early settlers, maps and ancestor lineage.
  • 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

  • Linn, Jo White. "The McCubbins Collection: The Rowan Public Library, Salisbury, NC," Rowan County Register, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Feb. 1986):16-21. Available at FS Library. [Originally published in Heritage Quest, Sep./Oct. 1985 Issue.
  • Linn, Jo White. "Tips for Genealogists Working in North Carolina Records," Rowan County Register, Vol. 1, No. 2 (May 1986):77-82. Available at FS Library.
  • Terrell, Kay. "Edith M. Clark History Room, Rowan Public Library," Journal of the Genealogical Society of Rowan County, North Carolina, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Spring 1987):9-11. Available at FS Library.

References

  1. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), North Carolina.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  2. ↑ https://www.ncpedia.org/geography/Rowan
  3. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), North Carolina.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  4. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Rowan County, North Carolina. Page 506-514 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 505-509.
  5. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), North Carolina.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  6. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Rowan County, North Carolina," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowan_County,_North_Carolina, accessed 25 February 2020.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 George Washington Paschal, History of North Carolina Baptists, 2 vols. (1930; reprint, Gallatin, Tenn.: Church History Research and Archives, 1990), 2:567-568. FS Library Book 975.6 K2p 1990.
  8. ↑ Donna Sherron, "North Carolina Parishes," accessed 12 October 2012. Digital version at Lost Souls Genealogy; "St. Luke's Episcopal Church," North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program, http://www.ncmarkers.com, accessed 22 October 2012.
  9. ↑ "Grace or Lower Stone Church," North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program, http://www.ncmarkers.com, accessed 22 October 2012.
  10. ↑ "Pilgrim Church," North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program, http://www.ncmarkers.com, accessed 22 October 2012.
  11. ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/4/4d/Iginorthcarolinaa.pdf.
  12. ↑ "Organ or Zion Church," North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program, http://www.ncmarkers.com, accessed 22 October 2012.
  13. ↑ "Centre Church," North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program, http://www.ncmarkers.com, accessed 22 October 2012.
  14. ↑ "Third Creek Church," North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program, http://www.ncmarkers.com, accessed 22 October 2012.
  15. ↑ "Fourth Creek Church," North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program, http://www.ncmarkers.com, accessed 22 October 2012.
  16. ↑ Heinegg, Paul. "Sources: North Carolina Counties," Free African Americans of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Delaware, http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/sources.htm.
  17. ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/f/f5/Iginorthcarolinap.pdf.




v • d• e
Links to North Carolina-related articles
Topics
Counties
Alamance · Alexander · Alleghany · Anson · Ashe · Avery · Beaufort · Bertie · Bladen · Brunswick · Buncombe · Burke · Cabarrus · Caldwell · Camden · Carteret · Caswell · Catawba · Chatham · Cherokee · Chowan · Clay · Cleveland · Columbus · Craven · Cumberland · Currituck · Dare · Davidson · Davie · Duplin · Durham · Edgecombe · Forsyth · Franklin · Gaston · Gates · Graham · Granville · Greene · Guilford · Halifax · Harnett · Haywood · Henderson · Hertford · Hoke · Hyde · Iredell · Jackson · Johnston · Jones · Lee · Lenoir · Lincoln · Macon · Madison · Martin · McDowell · Mecklenburg · Mitchell · Montgomery · Moore · Nash · New Hanover · Northampton · Onslow · Orange · Pamlico · Pasquotank · Pender · Perquimans · Person · Pitt · Polk · Randolph · Richmond · Robeson · Rockingham · Rowan · Rutherford · Sampson · Scotland · Stanly · Stokes · Surry · Swain · Transylvania · Tyrrell · Union · Vance · Wake · Warren · Washington · Watauga · Wayne · Wilkes · Wilson · Yadkin · Yancey
Counties gone
to TN or VA
Extinct or
Renamed
Counties
Major
 Repositories
Library of Congress · National Archives at Atlanta · North Carolina State Archives · State Library of North Carolina · Duke University Perkins Library · Genealogical Society of Old Tyron County · McEachern Library of Local History · Olivia Raney Local History Library · Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County · Rowan Public Library · University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Libraries · Bristol Public Library · Chattanooga Public Library Downtown · Knox County Public Library · Santa Cruz Public Library Downtown
Migration
Routes
Retrieved from "https://integration-ru.familysearch.org/en/wiki/index.php?title=Rowan_County,_North_Carolina_Genealogy&oldid=6308730"