Forsyth County Genealogy
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
Commissioners Take Meeting On The Road To Commissioner In The Hospital – WFMY News 2
 Winston-Salem Journal |
Commissioners Take Meeting On The Road To Commissioner In The Hospital
WFMY News 2 Winston-Salem, NC — In a debate over how to fix an aging library system, Forsyth County Commissioners went to the hospital. For the first time, … Tie-Breaking Library Vote Held At Local Hospital Commissioners Approve Library-Bond for November Ballot Commissioners to meet at 12:30 p.m. to vote on library bonds [Winston-Salem ... |
Former Forsyth County DA To Help With Racial Justice Act - WFMY News 2
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Former Forsyth County DA To Help With Racial Justice Act
WFMY News 2 Winston-Salem, NC -- Forsyth County's retired District Attorney is helping fight motions filed under the "racial justice act." The law allows death row ... Keith to help DAs fight racial-bias claims 2 former prosecutors in NC to help fight motions filed under Racial Justice Act |
 Winston-Salem Journal |
Forsyth County to consider incentives of as much as $150000 to lure Pepsi to ...
Winston-Salem Journal The combined local offer would be matched by a $400000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund, which the governor can provide to businesses expanding or ... Local incentives offered to Pepsi would be $400K |
Early retirees to get help [Winston-Salem Journal, N.C.] – Insurance News Net (press release)
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Early retirees to get help [Winston-Salem Journal, N.C.]
Insurance News Net (press release) Three Forsyth County employers — Novant Health Inc., Wake Forest University Health Sciences and the city of Winston-Salem — qualified for the first round … |
DOT to mend gaffe on bridge – Winston-Salem Journal
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DOT to mend gaffe on bridge
Winston-Salem Journal … highway officials said, and Forsyth County's bridges appear unlikely to have incorrect clearance measurements. The NC Department of Transportation … |
One School District’s Use Of Value-Added Analysis – NPR
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One School District's Use Of Value-Added Analysis
NPR NPR's Robert Siegel talks to Donald Martin, superintendent of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School District in North Carolina, which has been using … |
