Wilson County, North Carolina Genealogy

United States

North Carolina

Wilson County

Guide to Wilson 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: Wilson Organized: February 13, 1855 Parent County(s): Edgecombe, Nash, Johnston, and Wayne Neighboring Counties Edgecombe • Greene • Johnston • Nash • Pitt • Wayne See County Maps Courthouse Location Map

County Information

Description

The county was named for Colonel Louis D. Wilson, U.S. Volunteers, who died of fever while on leave from the state senate during the Mexican–American War. It is located in the north central area of the state.

County Courthouse

Wilson County Courthouse
115 E. Nash Street
PO Box 1608
Wilson, NC 27894
Wilson County Website

Register of Deeds has birth, marriage, death and land records.
Clerk of Superior Court has divorce and court records from 1868 and probate records from 1855.

Wilson 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	1855	1913	1868	1836	1855	1784
*Statewide registration for births and deaths started in 1913. General compliance by 1920.

Record Loss

Some of the early 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

1855 Wilson County was created February 13, 1855 from Edgecombe, Nash, Johnston, and Wayne Counties. County seat: Wilson 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
Wilson
Towns
Black Creek Elm City Kenly	Lucama Saratoga Sharpsburg	Sims Stantonsburg
Unincorporated communities
Montclair	Rock Ridge
Townships
Black Creek Cross Roads Gardners Old Fields	Saratoga Springhill Stantonsburg	Taylors Toisnot Wilson

Resources

Bible Records

• Bible Records at North Carolina Digital Archives - index and image

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Wilson County, North Carolina online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Findagrave 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 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 ($)
• Wilson County Cemetery Census
• Cedar Grove Cemetery- Elm City
• Contentnea Primitive Baptist Church- Wilson
• Maplewood Cemetery - Wilson
• New Vester Cemetery- Buckhorn Crossroads
• Pleasant Grove Methodist Church - Conner
• Rest Haven Cemetery - Wilson
• Rocky Branch United Church - Buckhorn Crossroads
• Stantonsburg Town Cemetery - Stantonsburg
• Town Creek Cemetery - Elm City
• William Chapel Church - Elm City
• Find-a-Grave - Wilson County

Census Records

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1860	9,720	—
1870	12,258	26.1%
1880	16,064	31.0%
1890	18,644	16.1%
1900	23,596	26.6%
1910	28,269	19.8%
1920	36,813	30.2%
1930	44,914	22.0%
1940	50,219	11.8%
1950	54,506	8.5%
1960	57,716	5.9%
1970	57,486	−0.4%
1980	63,132	9.8%
1990	66,061	4.6%
2000	73,814	11.7%
2010	81,234	10.1%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

Church Records

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

Baptist

• Toisnot. Founded 1756. Edwards published a membership list dated 1758 in Materials Towards a History of the Baptists... (1772), 138. Originally located in Edgecombe.

First Christian

• 1963 The church bell; a history of the First Christian Church, Wilson, N. C., Creator- Charles Crossfield Ware. at East Carolina University - Digital Collections

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places
  

Court Records

• 1854-1916 North Carolina, Wilson County, Civil Action Papers, 1854-1916(*); Superior Court and Clerk of the Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1855-1864 Slave Records (Wilson County, North Carolina), 1855-1864(*); Superior Court and Court of Equity at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1855-1868 Equity Minutes, 1855-1868(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1855-1868 Minute Docket, 1855-1868(*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1855-1924 Minute Docket, 1855-1924(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1865-1919 Record of Accounts, 1865-1919(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1867-1968 Index to Court Records, 1867-1968; Court Records, 1867-1920, 1867-1968(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1868-1960 Indexes to Orders and Decrees (1897-1960), and Orders and Decrees (1868- 1960)(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1868-1960 Indexes to Special Proceedings, 1868-1960; Special Proceedings, 1868- 1923(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1869-1914 Apprentice and Indenture Bonds, 1869-1914(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1877-1885 Inferior Court Minutes Docket, 1877-1885(*); Inferior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1912-1940 Record of Executors, 1912-1940(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1913-1931 County Court General Minutes, 1913-1931(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1934-1960 Special Procceedings [Proceedings Pending, 1934-1960](*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1937-1960 Index to Former Husbands and Maiden Name of Divorced Women, 1937-1960(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1956-1960 Lunacy Docket, 1956-1960(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images

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

African American

• 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
• Black Wide Awake - Documents, transcriptions and information of historical and genealogical interest to researchers of Wilson County, North Carolina's African American community.

Funeral Homes

• Barnes Funeral Home and Cremation Services, LLC in Sharpsburg.
• Carrons Funeral Home in Wilson.
• Joyner's Funeral Home and Crematory in Wilson.
• Kenly Funeral and Cremation Services in Kenly.
• Providence Funeral and Cremation Service in Wilson.
• Shingleton Funeral Home in Wilson.
• Stevens Funeral Home, LLC in Wilson.
• Thomas-Yelverton Funeral Service and Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Wilson.
• Wilson Memorial Service in Wilson.

Genealogies

Scuffalong: Lineage of Lisa Y. Henderson's ancestors, Wilson County, North Carolina

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
• Register of Deeds Online Recorder's Index Search - must make an account
• Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

Local Histories

• 1934 Facts about Wilson, North Carolina / compiled and published by the Wilson Chamber of Commerce ; Lester Rose, editorial manager. at East Carolina University - Digital Collections
• Trees of Wilson, Wilson County Genealogical Society publication

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• 1925 Color map showing areas of different types of soil in Wilson county, N.C. From Soil survey of Wilson County, North Carolina. Washington : U.S. Government Printing Office. at East Carolina University - Digital Collections
• FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

• Wilson County Recorded military discharges

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
• 1885-1953 North Carolina, Confederate Soldiers and Widows Pension Applications, 1885-1953 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1885 and 1901 1885 and 1901 Confederate Pension Applications at North Carolina Digital Collections - index & images

Regiments. Men in Wilson 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 Wilson County:

- 1st Regiment, Heavy Artillery (African Descent)

- 1st Regiment, Infantry

- 1st Regiment, Infantry (African Descent)

- 2nd Regiment, North Carolina Infantry

- 2nd Regiment Mounted Infantry

- 2nd Regiment Infantry (African Descent)

- 3rd Regiment Infantry (African Descent)

- 3rd Regiment Mounted Infantry

- 7th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry

- 4th Regiment5th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry

- 2nd Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry, Company E

- 2nd Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company B

- 2nd Regiment, North Carolina Junior Reserves, Company H

- 4th Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry (59th North Carolina State Troops), Company H

- 4th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company F

- 5th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, Company G

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 ($)

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 ($)
• 1663-1789 Secretary of State Wills at North Carolina Digital Collections - index & images
• 1663-1978 Wills and Estate Papers (Wilson County), 1663-1978(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1663-1979 North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1665-1998 North Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998 at Ancestry ($)
• 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 ($)
• 1854-1959 Wilson County, North Carolina, Estate Records, 1854-1959, Index 1854-1959, 1854-1959(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1855-1923 Record of Dowers, Divisions of Land, and Widow's Years Support, 1855-1923(*); County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions and Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1855-1960 Administrator, Executor, and Guardian Records, 1855-1960(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1855-1960 SAMPUBCO - Browsable index of testators of wills. - Free
• 1855-1960 Will Books 1 to 11 (1855-1960) at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection; images only (by County)
• 1855-1971 Index to Wills, 1855-1971; Wills, 1855-1960(*); Superior Court and County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1865-1919 Record of Accounts, 1865-1919(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1868-1924 Account Records of Estate Sales, 1868-1924(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1868-1958 Estate Settlement Records, 1868-1958(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1869-1916 Administrators Bonds, 1869-1916(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1869-1919 Guardian's Bonds, 1869-1919(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1900-1960 Indexes to Appointment of Administrators and Executors, and Guardians (1900-1960), and Cross Index to Guardians and Executors (1900-1924)(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1912-1940 Record of Executors, 1912-1940(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

School Records

• 1924 Public schools of Wilson County, North Carolina, by Charles L. Coon, superintendent of schools. Ten years, 1913-1914 to 1923-1924 : Board of Education of Wilson County. at East Carolina University - Digital Collections

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

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
• Obtain copies of Wilson County Birth, Marriage and Death records.

Birth

• 1800-2000 North Carolina Birth Index 1800-2000 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
• 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
• 1855-1933 Wilson County Marriage Index 1855-1933 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch

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 Wilson 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

• Apex North Carolina FamilySearch Center
• Durham North Carolina FamilySearch Center
• Raleigh North Carolina FamilySearch Center
• Rocky Mount North Carolina FamilySearch Center

• Johnston County Heritage Center - an affiliate library
• Wake County Public Libraries-Olivia Raney Local History Library Branch - an affiliate library

Libraries

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

Wilson County Public Library
249 Nash St N
Wilson, NC 27893
Phone: 252-237-5355
Email: publiclibrary@wilson-co.com
Facebook
Website

Societies

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

Black Wide Awake
Email: blackwideawake@gmail.com
Website

Wilson County Genealogical Society
PO Box 802
Wilson, NC 27894-0802
Facebook
Website

Websites

• USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
• 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.