Chatham County Genealogy
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
Daniel Murphree is my fifth great grandfather, there is a question whether he is born in Bertie County or Ireland, I do beleive he died in Chatham County. Anyone researching this family ( who later moved to South Carolina, I would like to hear from you. Betty
Daniel Murphree is my fifth great grandfather, there is a question whether he is born in Bertie County or Ireland, I do beleive he died in Chatham County. Anyone researching this family ( who later moved to South Carolina, I would like to hear from you. Betty
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
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Chatham County seeks applicants for green building & sustainable energy board
Chatham Journal Weekly Pittsboro, NC – Chatham County seeks applicants to fill a vacancy on its Green Building and Sustainable Energy (GBASE) Advisory Board. … |
Chatham public meeting on Western Wake wastewater discharge scheduled – Chatham Journal Weekly
 Chatham Journal Weekly |
Chatham public meeting on Western Wake wastewater discharge scheduled
Chatham Journal Weekly Moncure, NC – Chatham County invites residents to a community meeting on Wednesday, September 8, at 7 pm at the Moncure Fire Station to learn more about a … |
Meet your local Chatham County candidates – Chatham Journal Weekly
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Meet your local Chatham County candidates
Chatham Journal Weekly Pittsboro, NC – As Election Day approaches, we will be inundated with news about the candidates running for office in North Carolina. … |
17th Annual Taste of Chatham benefits Council on Aging – Chatham Journal Weekly
 Chatham Journal Weekly |
17th Annual Taste of Chatham benefits Council on Aging
Chatham Journal Weekly Pittsboro, NC – The Chatham County Council on Aging invites you to enjoy an evening of fine food, beverages, silent auction and entertainment at its 17th … |
Suspect charged in 2009 vehicle fatality, Savannah-Chatham police say – Savannah Morning News
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Suspect charged in 2009 vehicle fatality, Savannah-Chatham police say
Savannah Morning News As of Tuesday afternoon, Ricky Brown remained at the Chatham County jail on charges of homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence, serious injury by … |
Hurricane Earl strengthens to Category 4 storm – Savannah Morning News
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Hurricane Earl strengthens to Category 4 storm
Savannah Morning News But there's still a remote chance it could hit Chatham County, Foster said. "This is for residents a wake up call to make sure you have a plan in place. … |
