Craven County Genealogy
- Formed 1712
- Parent county / earlier Bath (colonial)
- County seat New Bern
- Neighbors carteret, jones, lenoir, pitt, beaufort, pamlico
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: New Bern · Library: Craven-Pamlico Regional Library.
- Method guides: Start here · Formation · Census.
In-depth topics
Towns & communities
Craven County was formed in 1712 from Bath (colonial). The county seat is New Bern. Neighboring counties include carteret, jones, lenoir, pitt, beaufort, pamlico.
This hub combines a modern research floor—record matrix, towns, repositories, news—with local history narrative. Always search parent jurisdictions for pre-formation events.
Craven County was created in 1705 as the Archdale Precinct of Bath County. The name was changed in 1712 in honor of one of the Lords Proprietors of the Colony, William Lord Craven. New Bern is the County seat of Craven County. New Bern was the first capital of the state of North Carolina (until 1794) after serving as capital of the colony of North Carolina. Tryon Palace was completed in New Bern in 1770 and a reconstruction is open today as a tourist attraction and historic site.
The Battle of New Bern during the Civil War took place here leading to the capture and holding of the town by Union Troops. New Bern is also the home of Pepsi Cola. It was here in the late 1800s that Caleb Bradham (a pharmacist in New Bern) invented the soft drink we know as Pepsi Cola. New Bern is at the conjunction of the Trent and Neuse Rivers.
Craven County Genealogical Society
1207 Forest Drive (Street Address)
Craven County Genealogical Society of North Carolina, Inc.
P.O. Box 1344 (Mailing)
New Bern NC 28563-1344
Eastern NC Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 395
New Bern, NC 28563
New Bern Historical Society Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 119
New Bern, NC 28536
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Craven County Courthouse
406 Craven Street
County Courthouse
New Bern, NC 28560
Craven County Register of Deeds
226 Pollock St
New Bern NC 28560
Phone: (252) 636-6617
Fax: (252) 636-1937
E-mail: regdeeds@cravencounty.com
Census
1790 Federal Census transcription - Newburn district
Tax Records
Cemeteries
Query Forums
Cities and towns of Craven County
- Bridgeton
- Cherry Point
- Cherry Point Marine Corps Airbase
- Cove City
- Dover
- Ernul
- Fort Barnwell
- Havelock
- MCAS Cherry Point
- Neuse Forest
- New Bern (County Seat)
- Trent Woods
- Vanceboro
- River Bend
News related to Craven County, NC
History notes
Craven County (colonial roots; seat New Bern) is an eastern capital-era research hub. Colonial and early state government presence, port trade, and later regional newspapers make New Bern a high-yield place name even for rural Neuse River families.
Local history & events
- Craven teen makes history: 17-year-old to earn college degree before high school diploma - WCTI
- Vanceboro couple accused in Craven County break-ins, more charges expected - WCTI
- Craven County deputies investigate theft of Flock license plate reader camera in Havelock - WCTI
- Two held in Craven County jail after July 6 fentanyl trafficking arrests in New Bern - WCTI
- Craven County deputies seek help identifying people in Havelock larceny investigation - WCTI
- Craven County names Shane Digan as new budget and strategy director - 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 | 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 | 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
- Craven County cemeteries (Find a Grave / surveys)
Societies & repositories
Research starting points
Census
Federal census schedules are foundational for Craven 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 Craven 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 Craven 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 New Bern. Confirm current Register of Deeds, Clerk of Superior Court, and library hours before visiting—offices move and digital portals change.
Public library: Craven-Pamlico Regional Library