Bertie County Genealogy
- Formed 1722
- Parent county / earlier Chowan
- County seat Windsor
- Neighbors hertford, northampton, halifax, martin, washington, chowan
Photos & maps
What’s new
- Charleston-class research hub: history essay, record matrix, towns, repositories, and local history news.
- Formation 1722 from Chowan — search parents for earlier events.
- Seat: Windsor · Library: Albemarle Regional Library — Bertie.
- Method guides: Start here · Formation · Census.
In-depth topics
Towns & communities
Bertie County was formed in 1722 from Chowan. The county seat is Windsor. Neighboring counties include hertford, northampton, halifax, martin, washington, chowan.
This hub combines a modern research floor—record matrix, towns, repositories, news—with local history narrative. Always search parent jurisdictions for pre-formation events.
The county was formed as Bertie Precinct in 1722 from the part of Chowan Precinct of Albemarle County lying west of the Chowan River. It was named for James Bertie, his brother Henry Bertie, or both, each having been one of the Lords Proprietors of Carolina.
In 1729 parts of Bertie Precinct, Chowan Precinct, Currituck Precinct, and Pasquotank Precinct of Albemarle County were combined to form Tyrrell Precinct. With the abolition of Albemarle County in 1739, all of its constituent precincts became counties. In 1741 parts of Bertie County became Edgecombe County and Northampton County. Finally, in 1759 parts of Bertie County, Chowan County, and Northampton County were combined to form Hertford County, and Bertie was reduced to its present size. Source Wikipedia
The County seat of Bertie County is Windsor. Bertie County is divided into the following townships: Colerain, Indian Woods, Merry Hill, Mitchells, Roxobel, Snake Bite, Whites, Windsor, and Woodville. It also includes the following unincorporated communities: Elm Grove, Gatlinsville, Greens Cross, Hexlena, Perrytown, Pine Ridge, Sans Souci (with Sans Souci Ferry, the county's only ferry), Spring Branch, Woodard, Baker Town, Whites Cross, Rosemead, and Todds Cross.
Attractions in Bertie County include Hope Plantation, The Freeman Hotel, Sans Souci Ferry, The Windsor Historic Walking Tour, Cashie Wetlands Walk and the Courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Hope Plantation includes the King-Bazemore House, Samuel Coxe House and Roanoke-Chowan Heritage Center.
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Bertie County Government Site
PO Box 530
County Courthouse
Windsor, NC 27983
Census
1790 Federal Census transcription
1800 Federal Census index
1800 Federal Census transcription, pg0026.txt referred to in previous index
1800 Federal Census transcription, pg0060.txt referred to in previous index
1810 Federal Census transcription
1810 Federal Census Index
1810 Federal Census Transcription pg0043.txt referred to in previous index
- 1830 Federal Census transcription
- 1840 Federal Census transcription
- 1850 Federal Census transcription Directory opens to text files named by page number
- 1860 Federal Census part 1 transcription
- 1860 Federal Census part 2 transcription
- 1860 Federal Census slave schedule transcription
- 1870 Federal Census transcription directory opens to list of text files by township
- 1900 Federal Census transcription directory opens to list of text files by township
- 1910 Federal Census transcription directory opens to list of text files by township
- 1920 Federal Census transcription directory opens to list of text files by township
Tax Records
Cemeteries
Query Forums
Cities and towns of Bertie County:
- Aulander
- Colerain
- Kelford
- Lewiston
- Lewiston Woodville
- Merry Hill
- Powellsville
- Roxobel
- Windsor (County Seat)
- Woodville
News related to Bertie County, NC
History notes
Bertie County (seat: Windsor) 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.
Bertie County is part of North Carolina’s coastal plain documentary landscape—river towns, ports, agricultural belts, and free Black/plantation contexts. Formed in 1722 from Chowan, early research often depends on parent counties and Albemarle or Cape Fear–era sources.
Neighboring counties—hertford,northampton,halifax,martin,washington,chowan—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 1722.
Local history & events
- Historic Bertie County voting rights case to receive NC highway marker - WCTI
- Bertie County Sheriff's Office launches daily wellness call program for seniors - WCTI
- Authorities Secure Bertie-Martin Jail After Inmate Takeover - asatunews.co.id
- Bertie-Martin Jail hostages released, facility cleared - dailyadvance.com
- Bertie-Martin jail takeover ends with 'minimal injuries' after dozens of NC agencies regain control - WRAL
- Incident ends at Bertie-Martin Regional Jail; investigation continues - 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 1722, search parent jurisdiction: Chowan. |
| Birth records | sparse | 1915– | Statewide birth registration is comparatively late in NC. Use delayed births, church registers, Bibles, and census for earlier generations. Before 1722, search parent jurisdiction: Chowan. |
| Marriage records | partial | 1800– | County marriage records improve in the 19th–20th centuries; earlier events often appear in church books, bonds, or newspapers. Before 1722, search parent jurisdiction: Chowan. |
| Death records | partial | 1915– | Death certificates denser after statewide registration; earlier deaths via obituaries, church burial, probate, and cemeteries. Before 1722, search parent jurisdiction: Chowan. |
| Land & deeds | good | 1722– | Deeds/ROD series typically begin near county formation; colonial grants/plats may predate the county and live at State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1722, search parent jurisdiction: Chowan. |
| Probate & estates | good | 1722– | Wills, administrations, and equity files are core sources. Courthouse losses push research to neighbors, microfilm, and State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1722, search parent jurisdiction: Chowan. |
| 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 | 1722– | Common pleas, sessions, and other court series often begin near formation; equity may be with or near probate. Before 1722, search parent jurisdiction: Chowan. |
| 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. |
Cemeteries & burial research
- Bertie County cemeteries (Find a Grave / surveys)
Societies & repositories
Research starting points
Census
Federal census schedules are foundational for Bertie 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 Bertie 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 Bertie 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 Windsor. Confirm current Register of Deeds, Clerk of Superior Court, and library hours before visiting—offices move and digital portals change.
Public library: Albemarle Regional Library — Bertie
If not found here, try…
- Formed 1722
- Parent / earlier jurisdiction Chowan — check district-era records before this county existed (districts guide).
Neighboring counties (deeds, marriages, newspapers, and kin often cross the line):