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North Carolina Historical North Carolina Marriage Records

Historical marriages before January 1th century are held primarily with each county Register of Deeds where it occurred

Historical Marriage Laws Unique to North Carolina

North Carolina marriage laws have distinct quirks that affect record searches. Before 1868, the state required “bonds” rather than licenses in most counties. These bonds—signed by the groom and a surety—often listed the groom’s occupation, bond amount, and sometimes the bride’s father. In coastal counties like Carteret and New Hanover, many pre-1868 bonds are stored at the State Archives in Raleigh, not local courthouses. Another oddity: from 1851 to 1868, some counties (especially in the Piedmont, such as Guilford and Wake) required a “return” of marriage filed with the county court clerk within three months. If no return exists, the marriage may still be valid but unrecorded. Post-Reconstruction, North Carolina introduced a “marriage register” system in 1868, but rural counties like Jackson and Macon often delayed compliance into the 1870s. For early 20th-century records, note that North Carolina did not require a statewide marriage index until 1962—county clerks in places like Mecklenburg and Buncombe kept local indexes inconsistently. Also unusual: North Carolina allowed “common law marriage” until its ban in 1870, but some mountain counties (e.g., Watauga, Ashe) recognized informal unions in local church or family Bibles as legal proof.

Research Tips by Era for North Carolina Counties

For marriages before 1868, focus on county “marriage bonds” rather than licenses. In the eastern counties (e.g., Craven, Beaufort), bonds are often bundled with “estate papers” at the State Archives. Use the “NC Marriage Bonds” microfilm series at the Government & Heritage Library in Raleigh. For 1868–1910, target “marriage registers” maintained by county registers of deeds. In counties like Forsyth and Durham, these registers are digitized up to 1910 on local government websites. For 1910–1962, request “marriage licenses” directly from the county register of deeds—most counties (e.g., Cumberland, Orange) charge $10 per copy. For post-1962, use the NC Vital Records Office in Raleigh for certified copies. A local trick: in counties with fire damage (e.g., New Hanover lost records from 1865–1877 in a 1886 courthouse fire), check “reconstructed marriage records” at the State Archives. For mountain counties (e.g., Haywood, Jackson), many 1800s marriages appear only in “county court minutes” or “church records” at local historical societies. Always search by county first—statewide databases miss gaps. For 1800s Quaker marriages (common in Randolph and Chatham), check “Monthly Meeting records” at the Friends Historical Library in Greensboro.

Common Challenges with North Carolina Marriage Records

The most frequent problem: missing records from North Carolina’s “Burning Counties.” In 1865, Union troops destroyed courthouses in counties like Johnston, Harnett, and Robeson. Johnston County’s marriage bonds from 1776–1865 are 90% lost. In Robeson, only 1840–1865 bonds survive. For these counties, search “compiled marriage records” at the State Archives—volunteers reconstructed some from family Bibles and newspaper notices. Another challenge: name variations in “double-surname” families common in coastal counties (e.g., “John Thomas vs. Thomas John” in Dare and Hyde). In these areas, clerks often reversed given and surnames in 1800s registers. Also common: “illegitimate” or “informal” marriages recorded as “bonds” with no license—these appear in county “bastardy bonds” files (e.g., in Edgecombe and Nash). A third challenge: “out-of-county marriages” from North Carolina’s “marriage evasion” practice—couples from counties with strict age consent laws (e.g., Wake, Mecklenburg) often married in lenient counties like Granville or Person. Finally, “no return” records: in rural counties (e.g., Alleghany, Ashe), the groom often failed to return the marriage license to the clerk. If no record exists, check “minister’s returns” in county “minister records” at local courthouses. For 1900s records, a challenge is “delayed returns” from military marriages during WWII—many couples married in counties like Onslow (Camp Lejeune) but filed in their home county. Always check both counties. For any missing record, contact the county historical society—many (e.g., the North Carolina Historical Society in Raleigh) hold private marriage collections.

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