Forsyth County Genealogy
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The county was formed in 1849 from Stokes County. It was named for Colonel Benjamin Forsyth, who was killed in the War of 1812 during the battle of Odelltown, Canada. The county seat is Winston-Salem. Portions of Forsyth County are in the Yadkin Valley Wine Region (Yadkin County AVA).
Forsyth County was originally settled in 1753 by Moravians. Bishop August Gottlieb Spangenberg had acquired a 100,000 acre tract from Lord Granville. The settlement was called Wachovia. This name came from the Austrian estate of Austrian estate of Count Nicholas Lewis von Zinzendorf. He had been an early defender of the Moravians. Settlements were established at Bethabara and Bethania and then Salem (1766) which was the principal settlement in Wachovia.
When the county was formed, the town of Winston was named as the county seat just 1 mile north of the Salem.
One of the great attractions of modern day Forsyth County is Old Salem Museums and Gardens. From their website: “Old Salem Museums & Gardens is America’s most comprehensive history attraction. Our four museums – the Historic Town of Salem, the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA), the Old Salem Children’s Museum, and the Old Salem Toy Museum – engage visitors in an educational and memorable historical experience about those who lived and worked in the early South.”
Also from their website: “Old Salem Museums & Gardens is a unique community of original museum buildings, authentic craftsmen practicing their trade, fascinating collections of rare antiques, and one-of-a-kind retail shopping opportunities.
The stories and activities experienced by visitors in the museums convey a much larger aspect of early America than just the Moravians who settled in Salem, NC. The experiences are a reflection on evolving economy and diversity of lifestyles that made up the early South. Early Southerners struggled with common principles such as freedom, faith, tradition, government, segregation, and war – many of the same issues that remain relevant in today’s world.”
Rootsweb Forsyth Co., NC Resource page
Forsyth County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 5715
Winston-Salem, NC 27113-5715
Forsyth County Courthouse
201 N. Chestnut 5th floor
Winston Salem, NC 27101
Census
1850 Federal Census Index by last name only
1850 Federal Census Transcription Heads of household
Cemeteries
USGS listing of cemeteries in Forsyth County
Forsyth County Cemetery Census
Query Forums
Forsyth County, NC Query Forum
Latest North Carolina Genealogy Query posts for Forsyth County from the Forum:
North Carolina Genealogy Forum: Forum: Forsyth County NC Genealogy Queries – Recent Topics
focusoninfinity on “Seek Unmarked Grave of Pvt. James Landreth Malcolm, CSA…”
…musician, died Nov. 8, 1895, age 79, likely buried near marked Old Salem grave of son-in-law, Sgt. James Anderson Woollen, CSA musician, died June 9, 1905. Seek grave of Pvt. Malcolm’s wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Page Malcolm, died 3-31-1892, age 69.
Sgt. Woollen and wife, Mrs. Susan Caroline Malcolm Woollen, are both in the 1890′s book, “Lee Family of Virginia” by Edmund Jennings Lee. Seek Sgt. Woollen’s and Pvt. Malcolm’s Forsyth Confederate Veterans Camp records.
Beamisskitty@wmconnect.com on “Ancestors”
I am looking for anything on James Asa Adams married Jennie Cook, (Edward)Chesley Adams married Louisa Ledbetter, and Rosa Stout. James Acey Adams and Cora Holt.
Forsyth County, NC at Genforum
Cities and towns of Forsyth County:
Ardmore
Belews Creek
Bethania
Clemmons
Dosier
Eller
Gumtree
Guthrie
Hanes
Kernersville
Lewisville
Matthewstown
Mount Tabor
Muddy Creek
NC Baptist Hospital
North
Oldtown
Peace Haven Estates
Pfafftown
Rural Hall
Sedges Garden
Seward
Stanleyville
Talleys Crossing
Tobaccoville
Union Cross
Vienna
Walkertown
Waughtown
West Bend
Winston Salem (County Seat)
News related to Forsyth County, NC
“forsyth county” nc – Google News
NC Sex Offender Map App Now Available – My Fox 8
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NC Sex Offender Map App Now Available
My Fox 8 If you're ever wondering how close sex offenders might be anywhere you go in North Carolina, you can now use a smartphone app. State Attorney General Roy Cooper unveiled the "North Carolina Sex Offender Registry" app at the Forsyth County Sheriff's … |
Forsyth officials start mental-health court – Winston-Salem Journal
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Forsyth officials start mental-health court
Winston-Salem Journal In doing so, Forsyth County is joining a growing number of court systems in North Carolina and around the country in starting mental-health courts to help those struggling with mental illness and who don't belong in jail. "If one were to observe almost … |
Latest North Carolina news, sports, business and entertainment – WBTV
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Latest North Carolina news, sports, business and entertainment
WBTV She is being held without bond in the Forsyth County jail. It couldn't be determined immediately whether Renegar had an attorney. RALEIGH, NC (AP) – North Carolina governor candidate Bob Etheridge says he supports a temporary sales tax increase for … |
Forsyth Co. Commissioners to Lead Non-sectarian Prayers at Meetings – My Fox 8
 WLOS |
Forsyth Co. Commissioners to Lead Non-sectarian Prayers at Meetings
My Fox 8 Prayer is coming back to meetings of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, although there will be no mention of Jesus. At the same time, the American Civil Liberties Union is trying to stop prayers before sessions of the North Carolina General … ACLU warns NC Legislature to end its 'sectarian' prayers ACLU Challenges Prayer in NC Legislature ACLU opposes prayers in General Assembly that it says favor Christianity |
Board takes nonsectarian route – Winston-Salem Journal
 WFMY News 2 |
Board takes nonsectarian route
Winston-Salem Journal … Prayer is coming back to meetings of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, although there will be no mention of Jesus. At the same time, the American Civil Liberties Union is trying to stop prayers before sessions of the North Carolina General … ACLU warns about prayers in legislature ACLU warns on prayers at NC legislature meetings NC House GOP leaders respond to ACLU on prayers at legislature, saying group … |
NC woman charged in wheelchair-bound man’s death – BlueRidgeNow.com
 WFMY News 2 |
NC woman charged in wheelchair-bound man's death
BlueRidgeNow.com … but a nurse notified police when he failed to answer the door. Police broke into Hart's home and found his body inside. On Monday, detectives arrested 19-year-old Madyson Michelle Renegar. She is being held without bond in the Forsyth County jail. Triad woman charged with first-degree murder in death of wheelchair-bound man … Teen Faces First-Degree Murder Charge In Shooting Death |
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