Chatham
The county was formed in 1771 from Orange County. It was named, like Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1758, for William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, who served as British Prime Minister from 1766 to 1768 and opposed harsh colonial policies.
In 1907 parts of Chatham County and Moore County were combined to form Lee County. The award winning PBS Documentary Family Name notes Chatham County as the place the relationship between the African-American and European-American branches of the Alston family originated. George Moses Horton, Historic Poet Laureate of Chatham County, North Carolina (1797?-1883) lived most of his life in Chatham County and is among the few slaves to have published material while still a slave.
Source Wikipedia
The Cape Fear river begins in Chatham County where the Haw and Deep River’s join. This is below B. Everett Jordan Lake which is used for flood control and as a reservoir. It is controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers. It’s also part of the Jordan Lake State Recreation Area. The county is in North Carolina Slate Belt and the groundwater is full of minerals for which a resort near Mt. Vernon Springs gained renown in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The resort is gone, but the springs are owned by a local Church. Chatham county is also home to the only workable coal deposits in the state of North Carolina.
The county seat of Chatham County is Pittsboro. Chatham County contains the following townships: Albright, Baldwin, Bear Creek, Cape Fear, Center, Gulf, Hadley, Haw River, Hickory Mountain, Matthews, New Hope, Oakland, and Williams.
Sites of interest in Chatham County are the Carnivore Preservation Trust, Chatham County Historical Museuem, Jordan Lake Educational State Forest, the North Carolina Railroad Museum and the Fearrington Village and House.
Chatham County NCGenweb Site
Chatham County NCGenweb Archives (Digital Library)
Chatham County Historical Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 913
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Chatham County Courthouse
PO Box 87
County Courthouse
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Chatham County Public Libraries
The Wren Memorial Library
500 N. 2nd Avenue
Siler City, NC 27344
Census
1790 Federal Census – Hillsborough District – transcription
1800 Federal Census transcription – part 1 of 3
1800 Federal Census transcription – part 2 of 3
1800 Federal Census transcription – part 3 of 3
1820 Federal Census Index – by last name only
1820 Federal Census transcription Directory opens to listing of text files 1820cena.txt through 1820cend.txt
1830 Federal Census Index – by last name only
1840 Federal Census Index – by last name only
1850 Federal Census Index – by last name only
1850 Federal Census and Index transcribed Directory opens to listing of text files for index *(idx .txt) and text files by page number (pg .txt)
1850 Federal Census Transcription – Lower regiment
1850 Federal Census Transcription – Lower regiment – Free blacks
1850 Federal Census Transcription – Upper Regiment
1850 Federal Census Transcription – Upper Regiment – Free Blacks
Cemeteries
USGS listing of Cemeteries of Chatham County
Query Forums
Chatham County, NC Query Forum
Latest North Carolina Genealogy Query posts for Chatham County from the Forum:
North Carolina Genealogy Forum: Forum: Chatham County NC Genealogy Queries – Recent Topics
I have a Barnabas Thomas, born in N.C. c.1785, possibly in Chatham County. Seek any information about siblings, parents. Thank you.
Pat Chandler on “James Emerson”
Researching James Emerson m. Margaret Moore d.1786 in Chatham Co. NC. Does anyone know the names of his children.
Ann on “Obediah William Leonard b abt 1775″
I am researching Obediah William Leonard Sr b abt 1775 in N C m Sarah Williams abt 1795. I have the son of Obediah William and Sarah as Obediah Jr. b 1795 and Thomas b abt 1780 in Grayson Co Virginia. Obediah Sr. d abt 1870 in Sebastain Co. Ark. Can anyone tell me who was Obediah William’s his first wife?
Chatham County, NC at Genforum
Cities and towns of Chatham County:
Bear Creek
Bennett
Bonlee
Bynum
Fearrington Village
Goldston
Gulf
Harpers Crossroads
Moncure
Pittsboro (County Seat)
Siler City
Silk Hope
News related to Chatham County, NC
“chatham county” nc – Google News
Edwards’ lover goes public â maybe more than she wanted – MiamiHerald.com
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Edwards' lover goes public â maybe more than she wanted
MiamiHerald.com A Chatham County judge ruled Friday that former Edwards aide Andrew Young was not in contempt of court for statements about the tape, which he'd obtained. … |
What’s to know about GRITS! – MyNC.com
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What's to know about GRITS!
MyNC.com By ameliorate, User Submitted, 23 hours, 26 minutes ago On Saturday, May 15th, Junior Chef through Chatham County Center-NC Cooperative Extension will … |
Ground Breaks on North Raleigh Green Home Tour Home – Carolina Newswire (press release)
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Ground Breaks on North Raleigh Green Home Tour Home
Carolina Newswire (press release) Another green Stanton Home in Chatham County's Horizon community near Chapel Hill will also be featured in the 5th Annual Green Home Tour. … |
Young to turn over copies of sex tapes – abc11.com
 CBS News |
Young to turn over copies of sex tapes
abc11.com Former aide to John Edwards, Andrew Young, left waits at the Chatham County courtroom in Pittsboro, NC, Friday, Feb. 5, 2010 for a hearing over over a … Ex-Edwards aide narrowly avoids trip to jail Andrew Young Fails to Hand Over Rielle Hunter Sex Tape; Jailed For Contempt in … Ex Edwards aide avoids jail again in sex tape flap |
Snow delays schools, leaves some slippery roads – WRAL.com
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Snow delays schools, leaves some slippery roads
WRAL.com Lee and Chatham county schools were closed Wednesday. Wake County public schools also will released one hour early Wednesday afternoon so teachers can … |
Young, wife ordered jail over Edwards tape – UPI.com
 Boston Globe |
Young, wife ordered jail over Edwards tape
UPI.com Chatham County Superior Court Judge Abraham Penn Jones held Young and his wife, Cheri, in contempt Tuesday and ordered them jailed up to 75 days, … Judge threatens jail time for ex-Edwards aide Judge considers sending ex-Edwards aide to jail |
