Martin County Genealogy
- Formed 1774
- Parent county / earlier Halifax, Tyrrell
- County seat Williamston
- Neighbors bertie, washington, beaufort, pitt, edgecombe, halifax
Photos & maps
What’s new
- Charleston-class research hub: history essay, record matrix, towns, repositories, and local history news.
- Formation 1774 from Halifax, Tyrrell — search parents for earlier events.
- Seat: Williamston · Library: Martin Memorial Library / Williamston.
- Method guides: Start here · Formation · Census.
In-depth topics
Towns & communities
Martin County was formed in 1774 from Halifax, Tyrrell. The county seat is Williamston. Neighboring counties include bertie, washington, beaufort, pitt, edgecombe, halifax.
This hub combines a modern research floor—record matrix, towns, repositories, news—with local history narrative. Always search parent jurisdictions for pre-formation events.
Martin County was formed in 1774 from parts of Halifax and Tyrrell Counties. The county seat of Martin County is Williamston. The county was named for the last royal Governor of North Carolina, Josiah Martin (Governor from 1771-1775). Probably due to the popularity of Governor Alexander Martin (twice Governer 1782-1784 and 1789-1792), this namesake county was not abolished like those of his predecessors, Tryon and Dobbs.
The following townships are in Martin County: Bear Grass, Cross Roads, Goose Nest, Griffins, Hamilton, Jamesville, Poplar Point, Robersonville, Williams, and Williamston.
Overlooking the Roanoke River is the Fort Branch Civil war site, known as "the best preserved earthwork Civil War Site east of the Mississippi." The first of November is when an annual re-enactment is held. Fort Branch Civil War Site.
Martin County Historical Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 468
Williamston, NC 27892
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Census Records
1850 Federal Census Transcription - Looks partial, a few pages (as text files).
Martin County Cemeteries
Query Forums
News related to Martin County, NC
Cities and towns
History notes
Martin County (seat: Williamston) 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.
Martin County is part of North Carolina’s coastal plain documentary landscape—river towns, ports, agricultural belts, and free Black/plantation contexts. Formed in 1774 from Halifax, Tyrrell, early research often depends on parent counties and Albemarle or Cape Fear–era sources.
Neighboring counties—bertie,washington,beaufort,pitt,edgecombe,halifax—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 1774.
Local history & events
- State budget includes $25M for Martin County hospital project - dailyadvance.com
- Waldrum: State funds will build emergency hospital in Martin County - The Daily Reflector
- State charging Bertie-Martin Regional Jail to house inmates after takeover - WCTI
- Waldrum: "100 percent" confident hospital opens in Martin Co. - The Daily Reflector
- ECU Health & Martin County secure funding for health services - AOL.com
- ECU Health & Martin County secure funding for health services - WNCT
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 1774, search parent jurisdiction: Halifax, Tyrrell. |
| Birth records | sparse | 1915– | Statewide birth registration is comparatively late in NC. Use delayed births, church registers, Bibles, and census for earlier generations. Before 1774, search parent jurisdiction: Halifax, Tyrrell. |
| Marriage records | partial | 1800– | County marriage records improve in the 19th–20th centuries; earlier events often appear in church books, bonds, or newspapers. Before 1774, search parent jurisdiction: Halifax, Tyrrell. |
| Death records | partial | 1915– | Death certificates denser after statewide registration; earlier deaths via obituaries, church burial, probate, and cemeteries. Before 1774, search parent jurisdiction: Halifax, Tyrrell. |
| Land & deeds | good | 1774– | Deeds/ROD series typically begin near county formation; colonial grants/plats may predate the county and live at State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1774, search parent jurisdiction: Halifax, Tyrrell. |
| Probate & estates | good | 1774– | Wills, administrations, and equity files are core sources. Courthouse losses push research to neighbors, microfilm, and State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1774, search parent jurisdiction: Halifax, Tyrrell. |
| 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 | 1774– | Common pleas, sessions, and other court series often begin near formation; equity may be with or near probate. Before 1774, search parent jurisdiction: Halifax, Tyrrell. |
| 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
- Martin County cemeteries (Find a Grave / surveys)
Societies & repositories
Research starting points
Census
Federal census schedules are foundational for Martin 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 Martin 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 Martin 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 Williamston. Confirm current Register of Deeds, Clerk of Superior Court, and library hours before visiting—offices move and digital portals change.
Public library: Martin Memorial Library / Williamston
If not found here, try…
- Formed 1774
- Parent / earlier jurisdiction Halifax, Tyrrell — check district-era records before this county existed (districts guide).
Neighboring counties (deeds, marriages, newspapers, and kin often cross the line):