Northampton County Genealogy
- Formed 1741
- Parent county / earlier Bertie
- County seat Jackson
- Neighbors hertford, gates, halifax, bertie, warren
Photos & maps
What’s new
- Charleston-class research hub: history essay, record matrix, towns, repositories, and local history news.
- Formation 1741 from Bertie — search parents for earlier events.
- Seat: Jackson · Library: Northampton Memorial Library.
- Method guides: Start here · Formation · Census.
In-depth topics
Northampton County was formed in 1741 from Bertie. The county seat is Jackson. Neighboring counties include hertford, gates, halifax, bertie, warren.
This hub combines a modern research floor—record matrix, towns, repositories, news—with local history narrative. Always search parent jurisdictions for pre-formation events.
Northampton County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 22,086. Its county seat is Jackson.
Northampton County is part of the Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, Micropolitan Statistical Area.
The county was formed in 1741 from Bertie County. It was named for James Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton.
In 1759 parts of Northampton County, Bertie County, and Chowan County were combined to form Hertford County.
The county is divided into nine townships: Conway, Gaston, Jackson, Lasker, Pleasant Hill, Rich Square, Seaboard, Severn and Woodland.
Source: Wikipedia.
Northampton County Genealogy Resources
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Northampton County Government
Official Site for Northampton County
Register of Deeds
Thomas Bragg Street
Jasper Eley Annex Building
PO Box 128
Jackson, NC 27845
Phone: (252)534-2511
Fax: (252)534-1580
Albemarle Regional Library - Serving Northampton, Gates, Hertford and Bertie Counties
Northampton County Memorial Library
207 West Jefferson Street; PO Box 427
Jackson, North Carolina 27845
Census
- 1850 Federal Census Index - (Broken into 9 text files)
- 1850 Federal Census Transcription - Partial (Looks like about 8 pages transcribed)
Cemeteries
- USGS listing of cemeteries in Northampton County
- Cemetery Transcriptions
- Northampton County Cemetery Census
Cities and Towns of Northampton County
- * Conway
- * Garysburg
- * Gaston
- * Jackson
- * Lasker
- * Rich Square
- * Seaboard
- * Severn
- * Woodland
- Jackson (County Seat)
- Garysburg
- Gaston
- Seaboard
- Conway
- Rich Square
- Woodland
Query Forums
News related to Northampton County, NC
History notes
Northampton County (seat: Jackson) 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.
Northampton County is part of North Carolina’s coastal plain documentary landscape—river towns, ports, agricultural belts, and free Black/plantation contexts. Formed in 1741 from Bertie, early research often depends on parent counties and Albemarle or Cape Fear–era sources.
Neighboring counties—hertford,gates,halifax,bertie,warren—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 1741.
Local history & events
- Northampton Felon Sentenced to 35 Years in Federal Prison for Gas Station Robbery Spree - Department of Justice (.gov)
- Northampton Sheriff and former deputy face lawsuit - Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald
- Crime Roundup: Northampton County Sheriff’s Office - rrdailyherald.com
- Jury Convicts Northampton Felon of Robbing 4 Gas Stations in Pitt and Martin Counties - Department of Justice (.gov)
- Trailblazer’s family celebrates historical marker memorializing civil rights ruling | News - dailyadvance.com
- Rural Health Group marks 50th anniversary with vision for future - rrdailyherald.com
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 1741, search parent jurisdiction: Bertie. |
| Birth records | sparse | 1915– | Statewide birth registration is comparatively late in NC. Use delayed births, church registers, Bibles, and census for earlier generations. Before 1741, search parent jurisdiction: Bertie. |
| Marriage records | partial | 1800– | County marriage records improve in the 19th–20th centuries; earlier events often appear in church books, bonds, or newspapers. Before 1741, search parent jurisdiction: Bertie. |
| Death records | partial | 1915– | Death certificates denser after statewide registration; earlier deaths via obituaries, church burial, probate, and cemeteries. Before 1741, search parent jurisdiction: Bertie. |
| Land & deeds | good | 1741– | Deeds/ROD series typically begin near county formation; colonial grants/plats may predate the county and live at State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1741, search parent jurisdiction: Bertie. |
| Probate & estates | good | 1741– | Wills, administrations, and equity files are core sources. Courthouse losses push research to neighbors, microfilm, and State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1741, search parent jurisdiction: Bertie. |
| 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 | 1741– | Common pleas, sessions, and other court series often begin near formation; equity may be with or near probate. Before 1741, search parent jurisdiction: Bertie. |
| 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
- Northampton County cemeteries (Find a Grave / surveys)
Societies & repositories
Research starting points
Census
Federal census schedules are foundational for Northampton 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 Northampton 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 Northampton 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 Jackson. Confirm current Register of Deeds, Clerk of Superior Court, and library hours before visiting—offices move and digital portals change.
Public library: Northampton Memorial Library