Chowan County Genealogy
- Formed 1670
- Parent county / earlier Albemarle (colonial)
- County seat Edenton
- Neighbors perquimans, gates, bertie, washington
Photos & maps
What’s new
- Charleston-class research hub: history essay, record matrix, towns, repositories, and local history news.
- Formation 1670 from Albemarle (colonial) — search parents for earlier events.
- Seat: Edenton · Library: Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library / Edenton.
- Method guides: Start here · Formation · Census.
In-depth topics
Towns & communities
Chowan County was formed in 1670 from Albemarle (colonial). The county seat is Edenton. Neighboring counties include perquimans, gates, bertie, washington.
This hub combines a modern research floor—record matrix, towns, repositories, news—with local history narrative. Always search parent jurisdictions for pre-formation events.
Chowan county was formed in 1670. Initially it was formed as a district within the Albemarle County. Shaftsbury Precinct was an early name of this area which supposedly covered the inhabitable areas west of the Chowan River.
The county seat of Chowan County is Edenton. Edenton has been called "The South's Prettiest Small Town" and the mothertown of North Carolina. At one time Edenton was the capital of the colony and home of the Royal Governor. There was even such a thing as the Edenton Tea Party. In 1774 some 50 of the prominent ladies of Edenton signed an agreement to boycott East India Tea. Restored original colonial homes in the historic district are said to rival or surpass that of Colonial Williamsburg. There are over 25 buildings (homes and public buildings) in the North Carolina State Historic Site.
Chowan County NCGenweb site
Chowan County NCGenweb archives
The Barker House in Edenton
Edenton site with nice story of the Edenton Tea Party
Edenton Historical Commision
P.O. Box 474
Edenton, NC 27932
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Chowan County Courthouse
PO Box 1030
County Courthouse
Edenton, NC 27932
Census
- 1790 Federal Census transcription indexed by last name
- 1790 Federal Census transcription
- 1790 Federal Census transcription
- 1800 Federal Census transcription
- 1800 Federal Census transcription
- 1850 Federal Census Index - by last name only
Tax Records
1717 Chowan Precinct Tax listing
Cemeteries
Query Forums
Cities and towns of Chowan County:
Edenton (County Seat)
Tyner
News related to Chowan County, NC
Cities and towns
History notes
Chowan County (among the oldest Albemarle jurisdictions; seat Edenton) is foundational for northeastern research. Colonial land and courts unlock families later found across the Sound. Historic Edenton interpretation and regional library networks support on-the-ground work.
Local history & events
- T&K Farms reports Chowan's first cotton blossom of 2026 - dailyadvance.com
- 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
- Construction worker falls in downtown Raleigh at NC Museum of History site - WRAL
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 1670, search parent jurisdiction: Albemarle (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 1670, search parent jurisdiction: Albemarle (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 1670, search parent jurisdiction: Albemarle (colonial). |
| Death records | partial | 1915– | Death certificates denser after statewide registration; earlier deaths via obituaries, church burial, probate, and cemeteries. Before 1670, search parent jurisdiction: Albemarle (colonial). |
| Land & deeds | good | 1670– | Deeds/ROD series typically begin near county formation; colonial grants/plats may predate the county and live at State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1670, search parent jurisdiction: Albemarle (colonial). |
| Probate & estates | good | 1670– | Wills, administrations, and equity files are core sources. Courthouse losses push research to neighbors, microfilm, and State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1670, search parent jurisdiction: Albemarle (colonial). |
| Church & parish | good | varies | Colonial Albemarle, Moravian Wachovia, and older coastal congregations can be unusually rich when they survive. |
| 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 | 1670– | Common pleas, sessions, and other court series often begin near formation; equity may be with or near probate. Before 1670, search parent jurisdiction: Albemarle (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. |
Cemeteries & burial research
- Chowan County cemeteries (Find a Grave / surveys)
Societies & repositories
Research starting points
Census
Federal census schedules are foundational for Chowan 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 Chowan 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 Chowan 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 Edenton. Confirm current Register of Deeds, Clerk of Superior Court, and library hours before visiting—offices move and digital portals change.
Public library: Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library / Edenton
If not found here, try…
- Formed 1670
- Parent / earlier jurisdiction Albemarle (colonial) — check district-era records before this county existed (districts guide).
Neighboring counties (deeds, marriages, newspapers, and kin often cross the line):