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
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
Silver Alert issued for missing Chatham man - Greensboro News Record
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Silver Alert issued for missing Chatham man
Greensboro News Record, NC - RALEIGH — The NC Center for Missing Persons has issued a Silver Alert for Dan L. Frazier, a missing man who lives in Chatham County. … Silver Alert issued for missing Chatham man Missing Chatham Co. Man Last Seen In Cary Silver Alert issued for missing Chapel Hill man |
Area schools to get Internet funds - Durham Herald Sun
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Area schools to get Internet funds
Durham Herald Sun, NC - Chatham County schools were surprised with the amount they received, $95880, which was about $35000 more than expected. "We were happily surprised to find … |
On Exhibit: Area Galleries and Museums - Winston-Salem Journal
 Winston-Salem Journal |
On Exhibit: Area Galleries and Museums
Winston-Salem Journal, NC - 31: "100 under $100," works by more than 90 Chatham County artists. Reception: Noon until 5 pm next Sunday. Free. Phone: 919-542-4144. … |
Group buying 286 acres of pines - Durham Herald Sun
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Group buying 286 acres of pines
Durham Herald Sun, NC - By Neil Offen : The Herald-Sun PITTSBORO — The Triangle Land Conservancy has purchased 286 acres in the "Forks of the River" area of Chatham County's Deep … |
John Brown, longtime NC legislator, dies at home - Wilkes Journal Patriot
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John Brown, longtime NC legislator, dies at home
Wilkes Journal Patriot, NC - by Staff Retired NC State House Representative John Walter Brown, 90, of Austin-Traphill Road, Elkin (in the Benham community), who served in the state … Former NC Rep. Brown dies at 90 |
Chatham 4-H livestock club members participate at NC state fair - Chatham Journal Weekly
 Chatham Journal Weekly |
Chatham 4-H livestock club members participate at NC state fair
Chatham Journal Weekly, NC - Pittsboro, NC - Members of the Chatham County Charging Champions 4-H Livestock Club participated in beef and dairy competitions at the North Carolina State … |
