FamilySearch Wiki

North Carolina Research Tips and Strategies

Revision as of 20:27, 23 February 2025 by Batsondl (talk | contribs)

North Carolina Wiki Topics
North Carolina flag.png
Beginning Research
Record Types
North Carolina Background
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources

Purpose of Research Tips and Strategies Wiki Page

The North Carolina Research Tips and Strategies page consists of links to specific research strategies for North Carolina. It also contains general tips and other resources for finding your ancestors in this locality.

North Carolina Research Strategies

Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in North Carolina:

Finding North Carolina Birth, Marriage or Death Records

Finding North Carolina Records

North Carolina Statewide Databases

North Carolina Research Process

North Carolina Research Tips

These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in North Carolina:

Birth and Death information:

  • Statewide registration: Statewide registration of births and deaths began in 1913 and general compliance was by 1913.[1]
  • Access to records: See North Carolina Vital Records for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in North Carolina.


Substitute Records:

  • Secondary source: Substitute records are used when primary sources do not exist for an event, such as birth, marriage, and deaths. Secondary sources list information about the event but they were not recorded at the time of the event and they are not an official record of the event.
  • Accuracy: Because the information about an event in substitute records was not the official recording of the event (such as, cemetery or obituary records) inaccuracy may occur. Use other substitute records to help verify information.
  • List of substitute records: See North Carolina Substitute Records for more information.


Finding Parents:

  • Death records: In 1913, the state required recording the deceased's birth and parent information. Information was not always provided and the accuracy of the information was limited by the grieving relatives' memory.
  • Obituaries: Official obituaries can also include the names of parents and other family members. See North Carolina Newspapers and North Carolina Obituaries for more information.
  • Church records: Knowing the denomination of the church the family belonged to helps in locating information about the parents. See North Carolina Church Records for more information.


Census Records:

  • Check all census years: Always look for your ancestor in every possible census to learn more about them and their family members. See North Carolina Census Records for more information.
  • Clues to other records: There are clues in censuses regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records.
  • Finding families: Starting in 1850, all members of the household were listed in the census. By 1880, relationship to the head of household was added.

Further North Carolina Research

References

  1. ↑ North Carolina Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1988, 44-45. (Accessed 20 Feb 2025). Online at: BYU University - Provo
Retrieved from "https://integration-ru.familysearch.org/en/wiki/index.php?title=North_Carolina_Research_Tips_and_Strategies&oldid=6127182"