Caswell County Genealogy
- Formed 1777
- Parent county / earlier Orange
- County seat Yanceyville
- Neighbors person, orange, alamance, rockingham
Photos & maps
What’s new
- Charleston-class research hub: history essay, record matrix, towns, repositories, and local history news.
- Formation 1777 from Orange — search parents for earlier events.
- Seat: Yanceyville · Library: Caswell County Public Library.
- Method guides: Start here · Formation · Census.
In-depth topics
Towns & communities
Caswell County was formed in 1777 from Orange. The county seat is Yanceyville. Neighboring counties include person, orange, alamance, rockingham.
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 in 1777 from Orange County. It was named for Richard Caswell, Governor of North Carolina from 1776 to 1780.
In 1791 the eastern half of Caswell County became Person County. Source Wikipedia
Caswell County Historical Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 278
Yanceyville, NC 27379
VA-NC Piedmont Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 2272
Danville, VA 24541
(covers Caswell, Person, Rockingham Counties in NC and a few counties in Virginia)
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Caswell County Courthouse
PO Box 98
County Courthouse
Yanceyville, NC 27379
Census
- 1790 Federal Census transcription - Hillsborough district
- 1850 Federal Census Index - by last name only
- 1850 Federal Census Transcription with index Directory opens to listing of index files by last name and text files by page number.
Cemeteries
- USGS listing of Caswell County cemeteries
- Cemetery Transcriptions Big folder listing of many Caswell County Cemetery Transcriptions - all text files with name of cemetery.
Query Forums
Cities and towns of Caswell County:
- Blanch
- Blanche
- Estelle
- Frogsboro
- Leasburg
- Milton
- Osmond
- Pelham
- Prospect Hill
- Providence
- Yanceyville (County Seat)
News related to Caswell County, NC
History notes
Caswell County (seat: Yanceyville) is a core research hub for families who lived, married, worshipped, or owned land in this part of the Piedmont region of North Carolina.
Caswell County belongs to North Carolina’s Piedmont research zone, shaped by Great Wagon Road settlement, mill and market towns, and dense 19th–20th century paper trails. Formed in 1777 from Orange, it rewards researchers who respect parent jurisdictions and neighbor FAN clubs.
Neighboring counties—person,orange,alamance,rockingham—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 1777.
Local history & events
- Caswell History Speaks: I Shall Wear a Crown - The Caswell Messenger
- Caswell to 'return' to Kinston for Declaration reading, monument rededication - The Daily Reflector
- Historic surf rescue reenactments return to Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station in Rodanthe on Thursday - Island Free Press
- Reenactors bring Revolutionary War history to life for July Fourth weekend - Watauga Democrat
- Hickory Ridge History Museum to celebrate Independence Day with several activities - The Daily Reflector
- State History Museums, Including Kenly Site, To Standardize Hours - JoCo Report
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 1777, search parent jurisdiction: Orange. |
| Birth records | sparse | 1915– | Statewide birth registration is comparatively late in NC. Use delayed births, church registers, Bibles, and census for earlier generations. Before 1777, search parent jurisdiction: Orange. |
| Marriage records | partial | 1800– | County marriage records improve in the 19th–20th centuries; earlier events often appear in church books, bonds, or newspapers. Before 1777, search parent jurisdiction: Orange. |
| Death records | partial | 1915– | Death certificates denser after statewide registration; earlier deaths via obituaries, church burial, probate, and cemeteries. Before 1777, search parent jurisdiction: Orange. |
| Land & deeds | good | 1777– | Deeds/ROD series typically begin near county formation; colonial grants/plats may predate the county and live at State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1777, search parent jurisdiction: Orange. |
| Probate & estates | good | 1777– | Wills, administrations, and equity files are core sources. Courthouse losses push research to neighbors, microfilm, and State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1777, search parent jurisdiction: Orange. |
| 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 | 1777– | Common pleas, sessions, and other court series often begin near formation; equity may be with or near probate. Before 1777, search parent jurisdiction: Orange. |
| 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
- Caswell County cemeteries (Find a Grave / surveys)
Societies & repositories
Research starting points
Census
Federal census schedules are foundational for Caswell 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 Caswell 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 Caswell 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 Yanceyville. Confirm current Register of Deeds, Clerk of Superior Court, and library hours before visiting—offices move and digital portals change.
Public library: Caswell County Public Library
If not found here, try…
- Formed 1777
- Parent / earlier jurisdiction Orange — check district-era records before this county existed (districts guide).
Neighboring counties (deeds, marriages, newspapers, and kin often cross the line):