CRAVEN COUNTY, NC HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Craven County, North Carolina: A Genealogical Overview

As one of North Carolina’s oldest and most historically significant counties, Craven County is a cornerstone of colonial American research. Situated on the state’s central coast, its history was shaped by its navigable rivers, its role as the colonial and first state capital, and the diverse groups who settled its lands, including Swiss, German Palatines, English, and enslaved Africans. Its county seat, New Bern, was the center of political, economic, and cultural life in North Carolina for much of the 18th century. For genealogists, Craven County is a vital parent county from which a large portion of the state’s interior was formed.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Craven County began as a colonial precinct and grew into a massive territory that mothered numerous other counties, making an understanding of its evolution crucial for tracking ancestral migration.

  • c. 1712: County Formed: Craven was officially established as a precinct around 1712. When its parent county was abolished in 1739, Craven was designated as a county.
  • Parent County: It was formed from the now-extinct Bath County. Bath was a large, early colonial district created in 1696. Research into the very earliest settlers (pre-1712) requires consulting the sparse surviving colonial records of the Province of North Carolina, as few Bath County-specific records exist.
  • Subsequent Formations: Craven originally covered a vast, undefined territory stretching westward. It is the parent or grandparent county for a significant portion of central and eastern North Carolina. Counties formed directly from its territory include:
    • Carteret County (1722)
    • Johnston County (1746)
    • Dobbs County (Extinct) (1758)
    • Jones County (1779)
    • Pamlico County (1872)
  • Name Origin: The county was named in honor of William, Lord Craven, one of the eight original Lords Proprietors of the Carolina colony.
  • County Seat History: The county seat has been New Bern since its founding. Established in 1710, New Bern quickly became the largest and most important town in the region and has remained the center of county government without interruption.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The region was the homeland of the Neusiok and Tuscarora peoples, who lived in towns along the Neuse and Trent Rivers.
  • Colonial Settlement: The county’s defining settlement event was the founding of New Bern in 1710 at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent rivers. The colony was led by Baron Christoph von Graffenried and was comprised of Swiss and displaced German Palatine immigrants. They were soon joined by English settlers from Virginia and other colonies.
  • Key Historical Events:
    • Tuscarora War (1711-1715): The fledgling settlement of New Bern was at the epicenter of this violent conflict. The town was attacked and nearly destroyed in September 1711, and many of its early settlers were killed. The war had a profound impact on the security and development of the entire colony.
    • Colonial and State Capital: New Bern’s ideal location helped it grow into North Carolina’s largest town. In 1765, Royal Governor William Tryon made it the permanent colonial capital and oversaw the construction of Tryon Palace, a grand mansion and government building. New Bern was the site of the first North Carolina Provincial Congress in 1774 and served as the first state capital until 1792.
    • The Civil War: As a strategic port, New Bern was targeted early by Union forces. It was captured in March 1862 after the Battle of New Bern and remained under Federal occupation for the remainder of the war. During this time, it became a major safe haven for thousands of escaped slaves, who established a large freedmen’s community known as James City.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

While Craven County has a long history, researchers should be aware that early records can be sparse due to the Tuscarora War and courthouse fires.

  • County Courthouse: The Craven County Courthouse, 302 Broad Street, New Bern, NC 28560, is the primary repository for county records.
    • Register of Deeds: This office holds the county’s land records from the colonial period to the present, as well as marriage, birth, and death records.
    • Clerk of Superior Court: This office maintains court dockets and is the repository for probate records, including wills and estate files, from the 1700s forward.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration began in 1913. The Craven County Register of Deeds holds local vital records from that date, with some earlier, incomplete registrations.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage bonds, dating from the 1740s, and marriage licenses are held by the Register of Deeds. These are a critical resource for pre-1850 research.
  • Libraries and Societies:
    • Craven County Public Library: The main branch in New Bern features the Kellenberger Room for Local History and Genealogy, an exceptional research center with extensive collections of books, manuscripts, maps, family histories, and microfilm of county records.
    • New Bern Historical Society: An active organization that maintains historic properties and offers resources on the history of the city and its residents.
    • Craven County Genealogical Society of North Carolina: A valuable resource for anyone researching ancestors in the area.
    • Tryon Palace: In addition to being a major historic site, the Tryon Palace research library holds valuable historical documents and materials related to the colonial era.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Beaufort County (northeast)
    • Pamlico County (east)
    • Carteret County (southeast)
    • Jones County (southwest)
    • Lenoir County (west)
    • Pitt County (northwest)

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