
NC RESOURCES
STATE QUICKLINKS
OTHER GENEALOGY RESOURCES
SPONSORS
Chowan County,
North Carolina History & Facts
County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links
Chowan County, North Carolina History
When was Chowan County, NC Created?
Chowan County was created on 1668 from Albemarle Precinct (Formed as Shaftsbury Precinct about 1681, it was renamed Chowan Precinct about 1681 and declared a Chowan County in 1739.).
What is the County Seat of Chowan County, NC?
The County Seat is located in Edenton also, the county government website is www.chowancounty-nc.gov/.
What counties are adjacent to Chowan County, NC?
Bordering Counties are Gates County, Perquimans County, Washington County, Bertie County, Hertford County.
Chowan County, NC Vital Records
Where can find Chowan County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Chowan County vital records can be found at the North Carolina Department of Health which has copies of birth records after 1913 and death records after 1930, copies of marriage since Jan 1962 and a Divorce records since 1958. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in North Carolina for current fees and application process.
Birth, death and marriage certificates also may be obtained at the Chowan County Register of Deeds (ROD) office. Divorce certificates may be obtained from the Chowan County clerk of court.
You can search online for Chowan County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or you can download an application for North Carolina Birth Certificate, Death, Divorce and Marriage Certificate Application to mail.
The North Carolina State Archives has the following vital records: Death Certificates, 1913-1975 (Statewide Index: 1913-1979); microfilmed Indexes to Births and Deaths (except Wake, Durham); Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868 (not required by law); Cohabitation Records, 1866-1867; microfilmed Marriage Registers and Indexes; microfilmed Marriage Licenses for many of the counties. See Also North Carolina Vital Records Research Guide
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979
- Chowan Co., NC GenWeb Archives Marriage Records
- Chowan County, North Carolina Marriage Project
- Chowan Co., NC GenWeb Archives Births & Deaths Records
- Social Security Death Index
- North Carolina, Birth Indexes, 1800-2000
- North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
- North Carolina Marriage Collection, 1741-2004
- North Carolina, Death Indexes, 1800-2000
- North Carolina Death Certificates, 1909-1975
- North Carolina, Death Collection, 1908-2004
Chowan County, NC Census Records
What Chowan County, NC census records are available?
County census records consists of Federal Census Schedules which can guide in looking into your family tree. Federal Population Schedules can be found for 1790-1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Chowan Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Chowan Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Chowan Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890. The Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. One can find free online and printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also North Carolina Census Records Research Guide
Chowan County, NC Courthouse and Government Records

What genealogical records can I find in the Chowan County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Chowan County court, probate, and land records data as a useful resource of ancestry and genealogy information. Buried away in North Carolina courthouses and archives everywhere are the ambitions and frustrations of countless North Carolina residents. The possibilities are excellent that your forefathers have left a comprehensive document of at least a number of facets of their lives in the Chowan County court records. Even if your forebears is not referred to in a Court case, contemplate all of the other procedures that could have lead to him or her to appear in court records. See Also North Carolina Courthouse Records Research Guide.
- Chowan County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 101 S Broad St, Edenton, NC 27932
- Phone: (252) 368-5000
- Chowan County Register of Deeds
- Phone: (252) 482-2619
- Birth Records: 1913
- Marriage Records: 1747
- Death Records: 1913
- Land Records: 1678
- Chowan County Clerk of Court
- Phone: (252) 482-2323
- Probate Records: 1694
- Court Records: 1715
- Divorce Records: call court clerk for details
- North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998
- Chowan County Tax Assessor / Collector
- Chowan County, North Carolina Cross Index to Deeds – Grantees 1696-1878 Vol B (search.ancestry.com)
- Guide to Research Materials in the North Carolina State Archives: Chowan County Records
- Chowan Co., NC GenWeb Archives Court Records
- County Records in the North Carolina State Archives
- Chowan Co., NC GenWeb Archives Wills & Estate Records
- Chowan Co., NC GenWeb Archives Deed Records
- North Carolina, County Records, 1833-1970
- BLM Land Records
Chowan County, NC Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Chowan County, NC?
A list of Chowan County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See also a list of Statewide North Carolina Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Family Research Society of Northeastern NC, P.O. Box 1425, Elizabeth City, NC 27906-1425
- North Carolina State Archives, Office of Archives and History—State Library Building; Public Services Branch, Mail Service Center 4614, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-4614 ; Phone: (919) 807-7310
- State Library of North Carolina, 109 East Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601-2807; (919) 733-7222, (919) 733-3270
- North Carolina Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 22, Greenville, NC 27835
Where can I connect with other Chowan County, NC Researchers through message boards and forums?
- https://www.archives.gov/research/census
- North Carolina Genealogy Network Community (plus.google.com)
- State of North Carolina Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Chowan County, North Carolina Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Chowan County
- Chowan County, North Carolina Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Chowan County, NC?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Chowan County. A majority of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Professional Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some require a payment. This is merely a directory that has been collected or submitted. I do not recommend or promote one genealogy site over another.
Chowan Co. NC Books, Newspapers & Publications
- North Carolina Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
- North Carolina historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
- Historical Newspapers from North Carolina (1719 – 1977) (genealogybank.com)
- Chowan County, North Carolina Books (amazon.com)
- Chowan Co., NC GenWeb Archives Obituary Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Search North Carolina Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Chowan Co. NC Church / Bible Records & Cemeteries / Graveyards
- Chowan Co., North Carolina Graves (findagrave.com)
- Chowan County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Chowan Co., NC GenWeb Archives Cemeteries & Photos (usgwarchives.net)
- Chowan Co., North Carolina Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Chowan Co., North Carolina Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Chowan Co., NC GenWeb Archives Church Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Chowan Co., NC GenWeb Archives Bible Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Chowan County, North Carolina Church Books (amazon.com)
Chowan Co. NC Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- Chowan Co., NC GenWeb Archives Biographies & Collections (usgwarchives.net)
- Nichols and Related Families (nicholsgenealogy.com)
Chowan Co. NC General and History Websites
- Chowan County, North Carolina Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Economic and social history of Chowan County, North Carolina, 1880-1915 (search.ancestry.com)
- A History of Chowan County, North Carolina (carolana.com)
- Chowan County, North Carolina Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Chowan Co. NC Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- North Carolina Digital Collections (digital.ncdcr.gov)
- Chowan County, North Carolina (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – North Carolina – Counties – Chowan (cyndislist.com)
- Chowan County North Carolina (genealogytrails.com)
- Chowan Co. NCGenweb (ncgenweb.us)
- Chowan County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Chowan County USGenWeb Archives Project (usgwarchives.net)
- Chowan Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Chowan Co. NC Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of North Carolina Links and Information
- Chowan Co. D.O.T. Map
- Map of Chowan County, NC Municipalities and Townships
- 1895 Chowan County Map (livgenmi.com)
Chowan Co. NC Military Records
- North Carolina Military Records Research Guide
- Chowan Co., NC GenWeb Archives Military Records (usgwarchives.net)
- North Carolina Military Records (Fold3.com) provides access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents of the North Carolina women and men who served. Perfect for Chowan County genealogists, researchers, historians plus much more.
Chowan Co. NC Schools & Directories
- North Carolina City Directories (search.ancestry.com)
- Directory of Scots in the Carolinas, 1680-1830 (search.ancestry.com)