Beaufort County Genealogy
- Formed 1712
- Parent county / earlier Bath (colonial)
- County seat Washington
- Neighbors pitt, martin, washington, hyde, pamlico, craven
Photos & maps
What’s new
- Charleston-class research hub: history essay, record matrix, towns, repositories, and local history news.
- Formation 1712 from Bath (colonial) — search parents for earlier events.
- Seat: Washington · Library: Beaufort County Library / BHPL system.
- Method guides: Start here · Formation · Census.
In-depth topics
Towns & communities
Beaufort County was formed in 1712 from Bath (colonial). The county seat is Washington. Neighboring counties include pitt, martin, washington, hyde, pamlico, craven.
This hub combines a modern research floor—record matrix, towns, repositories, news—with local history narrative. Always search parent jurisdictions for pre-formation events.
Beaufort County was formed (renamed) in 1712 from Bath and Pamptecough counties. The county seat of Beaufort County is Washington. The correct spelling of course, is Beaufort, it is mis-spelled many ways including Beafort (sadly I had it misspelled as such here for a while.)
Washington, in Beaufort County was the first city to be named in honor of General George Washington. (1776) It had previously been known as "Forks of Tar River". It's located at the point where the Pamlico River narrows into the Tar River.
Points of interest include Historic Bath, NC's first town (and hangout of BlackBeard the Pirate.) (Edward Teach). Also, the Belhaven Memorial Museum, NC Estruarium, Goose Creek State Park, Bennett Vineyards, Aurora Fossil Museum, and the Pentago Academy historical museum are all located in Beaufort County.
This area of North Carolina has started to be known as the "inner banks".
Beaufort County Genealogical Society
Post Office Box 1089
Washington, North Carolina 27889-1089
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Beaufort County Courthouse
PO Box 1027
County Courthouse
Washington, NC 27889
Census
- 1790 Federal Census transcription (Alphabetically ordered)
- 1790 Federal Census transcription
- 1790 Federal Census transcription (web formatted)
- 1790 Federal Census transcription New Bern district
- 1800 Federal Census transcription
- 1810 Federal Census transcription
- 1820 Federal Census transcription
- 1850 Federal Census index (Last name only)
- 1850 Federal Census transcription
Tax Records
- Corn List 1715 Beaufort and Hyde precincts
- Beaufort precinct 1717 Land list
- 1755 Beaufort Tax list
- 1764 Tax list
Cemetery
Query Forums
Cities and towns of Beaufort County:
- Aurora
- Bath
- Belhaven
- Blounts Creek
- Chocowinity
- Edward
- Pantego
- Pinetown
- Wash
- Washington (County Seat)
News related to Beaufort County, NC
History notes
Beaufort County (seat: Washington) is a core research hub for families who lived, married, worshipped, or owned land in this part of the Coastal Plain region of North Carolina.
Beaufort County is part of North Carolina’s coastal plain documentary landscape—river towns, ports, agricultural belts, and free Black/plantation contexts. Formed in 1712 from Bath (colonial), early research often depends on parent counties and Albemarle or Cape Fear–era sources.
Neighboring counties—pitt,martin,washington,hyde,pamlico,craven—frequently hold the “missing” deed, marriage, or burial when households straddle lines or move a few miles for work, church, or better land. Always record the jurisdiction as named in the original, then map it onto modern county pages.
Use the panels on this hub for record availability, towns, repositories, and local history news. Pair them with the statewide Start here path and the counties & formation guide when events predate 1712.
Local history & events
- Historic Bath ‘prepares for war’ during living history program - Coastal Review
- Five coastal sites listed on National Register of Historic Places - Coastal Review
- Beaufort County Community College establishes pathway to App State University - WNCT
- Woman, 41, killed in Beaufort County hit-and-run on Price Road in Chocowinity - WCTI
- Hit-and-run fatality reported in Beaufort County - WNCT
- Man wanted for failing to report to serve sentence arrested in Beaufort County - WCTI
Research tools
Record availability matrix
| Record type | Coverage | Years (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal census | good | 1790–1950 | Federal schedules available for NC with known quirks/losses in some years. Place the household in the correct county for each decade. Before 1712, search parent jurisdiction: Bath (colonial). |
| Birth records | sparse | 1915– | Statewide birth registration is comparatively late in NC. Use delayed births, church registers, Bibles, and census for earlier generations. Before 1712, search parent jurisdiction: Bath (colonial). |
| Marriage records | partial | 1800– | County marriage records improve in the 19th–20th centuries; earlier events often appear in church books, bonds, or newspapers. Before 1712, search parent jurisdiction: Bath (colonial). |
| Death records | partial | 1915– | Death certificates denser after statewide registration; earlier deaths via obituaries, church burial, probate, and cemeteries. Before 1712, search parent jurisdiction: Bath (colonial). |
| Land & deeds | good | 1712– | Deeds/ROD series typically begin near county formation; colonial grants/plats may predate the county and live at State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1712, search parent jurisdiction: Bath (colonial). |
| Probate & estates | good | 1712– | Wills, administrations, and equity files are core sources. Courthouse losses push research to neighbors, microfilm, and State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1712, search parent jurisdiction: Bath (colonial). |
| Church & parish | partial | varies | Church coverage varies by denomination and survival; check local societies and denominational archives. |
| Newspapers | varies | varies | Title survival varies widely. Search local weeklies plus larger regional papers; use Chronicling America and the State Library of North Carolina and DigitalNC. |
| Military | good | 1775– | Revolutionary through 20th-century service may generate pensions, CMSRs, and local militia notes. Pair with county context for battles and units. |
| Cemeteries | partial | varies | Published surveys, Find a Grave, churchyards, and family plots. Unmarked burials are common—use obituaries and church books. |
| Court records | partial | 1712– | Common pleas, sessions, and other court series often begin near formation; equity may be with or near probate. Before 1712, search parent jurisdiction: Bath (colonial). |
| Tax lists | sparse | varies | Tax lists can substitute for missing census years. Coverage is uneven by locality and year; check State Archives of North Carolina and published abstracts. |
Newspapers
Cemeteries & burial research
- Beaufort County cemeteries (Find a Grave / surveys)
Societies & repositories
Research starting points
Census
Federal census schedules are foundational for Beaufort County household reconstruction. Collect every decade, note neighbors (FAN club), and track the county name as it existed that year—especially across formation and split boundaries.
Vital records
North Carolina statewide vital registration expanded in the early 20th century. For many Beaufort County families you will rely on marriage bonds, church registers, Bible records, newspapers, delayed births, and probate—not only a modern certificate.
Cemeteries (legacy notes)
Cemetery surveys for Beaufort County appear in published books, Find a Grave, USGenWeb archives, churchyards, and family plots. Absence of a stone is not absence of burial—pair markers with obituaries and church books.
Courthouse & contacts
The county seat is Washington. Confirm current Register of Deeds, Clerk of Superior Court, and library hours before visiting—offices move and digital portals change.
Public library: Beaufort County Library / BHPL system
If not found here, try…
- Formed 1712
- Parent / earlier jurisdiction Bath (colonial) — check district-era records before this county existed (districts guide).
Neighboring counties (deeds, marriages, newspapers, and kin often cross the line):