Belknap County, New Hampshire

Societies and Family History Resources ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣ County Genealogy Links

Belknap County was founded on December 22, 1840 from Strafford County. The county was named in honor of Jeremy Belknap (1744-1798), early New Hampshire historian..

The Belknap County Seat is located in Laconia (Court was held within the town of Meredith, at a village known as Meredith Bridge on the Winnipesaukee River. In 1855, the town of Laconia was separated from Meredith.) and the county government website is http://www.belknapcounty.org

Areas adjacent to Belknap County are Grafton County, Merrimack County, Carroll County, Strafford County.

Cities and towns (date formed) situated in Belknap County are Alton (1796), Barnstead (1727), Belmont (1859), Center Harbor (1797), Gilford (1812), Gilmanton (1727), Laconia (1855), Meredith (1746), New Hampton (1765), Sanbornton (1748), Tilton (1869)

Belknap County does have Federal Census Schedules to help in researching your family tree. United states federal Population Schedules exist for 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.

Belknap Co. Mortality Schedules is available for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Belknap Co. Industry and Agriculture Schedules can be acquired for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Belknap Co. Union Veterans Schedules can be acquired for 1890. There is free down-loadable and printable census forms to help with your research.

Belknap County Society and Family History Resources

A list of Belknap County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives.

https://www.archives.gov/research/census
• New Hampshire State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
• Alton Historical Society,  PO Box 536, Alton , NH  03809-0536
• Barnstead Historical Society, c/o 201 Tom Berry Rd , Center Barnstead , NH  03225-3445
• Belknap Mill Society ,The Mill Plaza , 25 Beacon St E , Laconia , NH  03246-3459; Phone: 603-524-8813
• Belmont Historical Society, 180 Dutile Rd , Belmont , NH  03220-3519
• Center Harbor Historical Society, PO Box 98, Center Harbor, NH 03226; Phone: 603-279-1236
• Gilmanton Historical Society,   PO Box 236 , Gilmanton , NH  03237-0236
• Harold S. Gilman Museum, PO Box 659 , Alton , NH  03809-0659; Phone: 603-875-0201
• Laconia Historical & Museum Society,PO Box 1126 , Laconia , NH  03247-1126; Phone: 603-527-1278
• Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society,PO Box 5386 , Weirs Beach , NH  03247-5386; Phone: 603-366-5950
• Lakes Region Heritage Roundtable, PO Box 1492 , Center Harbor , NH  03226-1492
• Meredith Historical Society, 45 Main Street, Meredith, NH 03253; Phone: (603) 279-1190
• New Hampton Historical Society,PO Box 422 , New Hampton , NH  03256-0422; Phone: 603-279-0379
• Sanbornton Historical Document Foundation,   PO Box 178 , Sanbornton , NH  03269-0178
• Sanbornton Historical Society,PO Box 204 , Sanbornton , NH  03269-0204; Phone: 603-286-7227
• Thompson-Ames Historical Society,PO Box 7404 , Gilford , NH  03247-7404; Phone: 603-527-9009
• Belknap County, New Hampshire Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
• Belknap County, New Hampshire Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
• USGenWeb Archives for Belknap County (usgwarchives.net)

Belknap County Courthouse and Government Records

Genealogist frequently forget about the great importance of Belknap County court, probate, and land documents as a resource of ancestry and genealogy information. Hidden away in New Hampshire courthouses and archives just about everywhere tend to be the hopes and dreams and worries of the many New Hampshire citizens.

The odds are excellent that your particular forefathers have left a in-depth record of at least some elements of their lives in the Belknap County court records. Even if your ancestors and forefathers is not mentioned in a Court case, give some thought to all of the other methods which often can have lead to him or her appearing in court records.

Please speak to the clerk’s dept to verify hours, mailing address, fees and other facts in advance of visiting or inquiring about information because of occasionally changing contact details. The Department Offices DO NOT DO RESEARCH. The records are available to interested parties, barring confidential issues. Many workers will assist people in finding the materials, but it is up to the person to complete the research.

The following facts indicates whatever birth, death, marriage, property, wills, and courtroom records are typically in Belknap County. The years indicated below are considered the first noted records data in this county. County courthouse has copies of Strafford County deeds covering land that became part of Belknap after formation in 1840.

• Belknap County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
  • Address: 64 Court Street, Laconia, NH 03246
• Belknap County Clerk of Superior Court has Court Records from 1841
• Belknap County Clerk of Probate Court has Probate Records from 1841
• Belknap County Register of Deeds has Land Records from 1841
• Belknap County Town Clerks has copies of vital records (birth, marriage, divorce and death records) from 1841.
• New Hampshire Office of Vital Records has copies of birth, marriage, divorce and death records. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in New Hampshire for current fees and application process. Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. Please be advised that in most cases you will receive your records more quickly from the City and Town locations than from the State Office
  • Ordering Vital Records – You can also order Order Electronically Online or You can download an application for New Hampshire Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Application to mail.

Belknap County Links

The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Belknap County. Most of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Commercial Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some call for a fee. This is simply a collection that has been collected or submitted. I do not recommend or promote one genealogy site above another. Feel free to furnish your own most liked Belknap County genealogy or family history affiliated sites.

Belknap Co. NH Books, Newspapers & Publications

• New Hampshire Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
• New Hampshire historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
• Historical Newspapers from New Hampshire (1756–1891) (genealogybank.com)
• Gilford Steamer (nh.gov)
• Laconia Citizen (nh.gov)
• Laconia Daily Sun (nh.gov)
• The Meredith News (nh.gov)
• Weirs Times (Weirs Beach) (nh.gov)
• Belknap County, New Hampshire Books (amazon.com)
• Search New Hampshire Obituaries Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
• Belknap County Genealogy Books (books.google.com)

Belknap Co. NH Birth, Marriage & Death Records

• New Hampshire Vital Records Research Guide
• New Hampshire, Births and Christenings Index, 1714-1904  (search.ancestry.com)
• New Hampshire, Marriage Records Index, 1637-1947  (search.ancestry.com)
• New Hampshire, Death and Burial Records Index, 1654-1949  (search.ancestry.com)
• Social Security Death Index (search.ancestry.com)

Belknap Co. NH Court, Probate Land and Tax Records

• New Hampshire Court Records Research Guide
• New Hampshire, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1636-1947 (familysearch.org)
• New Hampshire, County Probate Estate Files, 1769-1936 (familysearch.org)
• New Hampshire Probate Records, 1635-1753  (search.ancestry.com)
• New Hampshire, County Probate Records, 1660-1973 (familysearch.org)
• BLM Land Records (glorecords.blm.gov)

Belknap Co. NH Census Records

• New Hampshire Census Records Research Guide
• Belknap County, NH Census Records Links
• Belknap County, NH Census QuickFacts

Belknap Co. NH Cemeteries & Church Records

• New Hampshire Cemetery Research Guide
• Belknap Co., New Hampshire Graves (findagrave.com)
• Belknap County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
• Belknap Co., New Hampshire Cemeteries (Internment.net)
• Topographic Cemetery List and Map for Belknap County, New Hampshire
• Belknap Co., New Hampshire Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
• New Hampshire Church & Bible Research Guide
• An authentic history of the First Baptist Church of Lakeport, N.H.  (search.ancestry.com)
• Addresses and proceedings at the centennial anniversary of the Congregational Church, in Sanbornton, N.H., November 12 and 13,  (search.ancestry.com)
• Topographic Church List and Map for Belknap County, New Hampshire
• Belknap County, New Hampshire Church Books (amazon.com)

Belknap Co. NH Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

• Reminiscences of New Hampton, N.H. : also a genealogical sketch of the Kelley and Simpson families and an autobiography  (search.ancestry.com)
• New Hampshire Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)

Belknap Co. NH General and History Websites

• See Also State History for New Hampshire
• Belknap County, New Hampshire Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
• History of Merrimack and Belknap Counties, New Hampshire  (search.ancestry.com)
• Belknap County Profile (extension.unh.edu)
• History of Barnstead, from its first settlement in 1727 to 1872  (search.ancestry.com)
• Belknap County, New Hampshire Wiki (familysearch.org)
• Belknap Co. NH Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
• Family History Library (familysearch.org)
• Belknap County, New Hampshire (linkpendium.com)
• Cyndi’s List – United States – New Hampshire – Counties – Belknap (cyndislist.com)
• Belknap County New Hampshire (genealogytrails.com)
• Belknap Co. NHGenweb (rootsweb.ancestry.com)
• Belknap County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
• Belknap Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)

Belknap Co. NH Immigration & Naturalization

• See Also Statewide Immigration and Naturalization Links for New Hampshire
• New Hampshire, County Naturalization Records, 1771-2001 (familysearch.org)

Belknap Co. NH Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

• See Also Map of New Hampshire Links and Information
• 1895 Belknap County Map (livgenmi.com)

Belknap Co. NH Military Records

• New Hampshire Military Records Research Guide
• New Hampshire Military Records (fold3.com) gives access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents belonging to the New Hampshire both males and females who served. Great for Belknap County genealogists, researchers, historians and a lot more.

Belknap Co. NH Schools & Directories

• New Hampshire City Directories  (search.ancestry.com)