Pitt County Genealogy
- Formed 1760
- Parent county / earlier Beaufort
- County seat Greenville
- Neighbors beaufort, craven, lenoir, greene, wilson, edgecombe, martin
Photos & maps
What’s new
- Charleston-class research hub: history essay, record matrix, towns, repositories, and local history news.
- Formation 1760 from Beaufort — search parents for earlier events.
- Seat: Greenville · Library: Sheppard Memorial Library / Greenville-Pitt.
- Method guides: Start here · Formation · Census.
In-depth topics
Towns & communities
Pitt County was formed in 1760 from Beaufort. The county seat is Greenville. Neighboring counties include beaufort, craven, lenoir, greene, wilson, edgecombe, martin.
This hub combines a modern research floor—record matrix, towns, repositories, news—with local history narrative. Always search parent jurisdictions for pre-formation events.
Pitt county was created in 1760 (the legislation went into effect in 1761) from Beaufort County. It was named for William Pitt the Elder, an English member of the House of Commons, orator, statesman and Secretary of State for the Southern Department.
The county seat of Pitt County is Greenville. Pitt County is divided into the following townships: Arthur, Ayden, Belvoir, Bethel, Black Jack, Carolina(Stokes), Chicod, Falkland, Farmville, Fountain, Greenville, Grifton, Grimesland, Pactolus, Simpson, Swift Creek, and Winterville.
Attractions in Pitt County include: Shiloh Farm, East Carolina Village of Yesteryear, Ledonia Wright Cultural Center, May Museum and Farmville Heritage Center.
Pitt County Genealogy Resources
Pitt County Historical Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 1554
Greenville, NC 27835-1554
Pitt County Family Researchers
P.O. Box 20339
Greenville, NC 27858-0339
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Pitt County Government
Pitt County Government - Official Site
Seppard Memorial Library
530 S. Evans St.
Greenville, NC 27858
Cities and Towns:
- * Ayden
- * Bethel
- * Falkland
- * Farmville
- * Fountain
- * Greenville
- * Grifton
- * Grimesland
- * Simpson
- * Stokes
- * Winterville
- Greenville (County Seat)
- Winterville
- Ayden
- Farmville
- Grifton
- Bethel
- Fountain
Townships:
Arthur
Ayden
Belvoir
Bethel
Black Jack
Carolina(Stokes)
Chicod
Falkland
Farmville
Fountain
Greenville
Grifton
Grimesland
Pactolus
Simpson
Swift Creek
Winterville.
Census
- 1790 Federal Census Transcription
- 1800 Federal Census Transcription (Extract - 2 pages)
- 1810 Federal Census Transcription
- 1850 Federal Census Index
Cemeteries
Query Forums
News related to Pitt County, NC
History notes
Pitt County (formed 1760; seat Greenville) is a coastal plain commercial and university hub. Agricultural families, market towns, and later East Carolina University–era growth create mixed rural/urban sources. Neighbor FAN clubs across Edgecombe, Greene, Lenoir, Beaufort, Martin, and Wilson are common.
Local history & events
- Schuyler officially withdraws candidacy, Pitt Dems are searching for replacement - The Daily Reflector
- Pitt County remains in extreme drought conditions - The Daily Reflector
- Pitt County advocate receives statewide highway safety award - WITN
- Candidate for Pitt County commissioners seat arrested on peeping charges - The Daily Reflector
- ICE says Pitt County fatal crash suspect is not person sought by agency, sheriff's office - WCTI
- Pitt County fatal crash: Driver charged with misdemeanor death - 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 1760, search parent jurisdiction: Beaufort. |
| Birth records | sparse | 1915– | Statewide birth registration is comparatively late in NC. Use delayed births, church registers, Bibles, and census for earlier generations. Before 1760, search parent jurisdiction: Beaufort. |
| Marriage records | partial | 1800– | County marriage records improve in the 19th–20th centuries; earlier events often appear in church books, bonds, or newspapers. Before 1760, search parent jurisdiction: Beaufort. |
| Death records | partial | 1915– | Death certificates denser after statewide registration; earlier deaths via obituaries, church burial, probate, and cemeteries. Before 1760, search parent jurisdiction: Beaufort. |
| Land & deeds | good | 1760– | Deeds/ROD series typically begin near county formation; colonial grants/plats may predate the county and live at State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1760, search parent jurisdiction: Beaufort. |
| Probate & estates | good | 1760– | Wills, administrations, and equity files are core sources. Courthouse losses push research to neighbors, microfilm, and State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1760, search parent jurisdiction: Beaufort. |
| 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 | 1760– | Common pleas, sessions, and other court series often begin near formation; equity may be with or near probate. Before 1760, search parent jurisdiction: Beaufort. |
| 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
- Pitt County cemeteries (Find a Grave / surveys)
Societies & repositories
Research starting points
Census
Federal census schedules are foundational for Pitt 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 Pitt 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 Pitt 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 Greenville. Confirm current Register of Deeds, Clerk of Superior Court, and library hours before visiting—offices move and digital portals change.
Public library: Sheppard Memorial Library / Greenville-Pitt