GATES COUNTY, NC HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Gates County, North Carolina: A Genealogical Overview

Nestled in the northeastern corner of North Carolina’s Coastal Plain, Gates County is a region defined by its rich soil, dense forests, and deep historical roots in the colonial Albemarle Sound area. Formed during the American Revolution, its character has remained profoundly rural and agricultural for its entire history. The county’s development is uniquely tied to the Great Dismal Swamp, which forms its eastern border and has shaped its economy and culture. For genealogists, research in Gates County involves tracing families back through its three parent counties into the earliest days of the Carolina colony.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Gates County was created from three established colonial counties, making it essential for researchers to identify the correct parent county for pre-Revolutionary War era ancestors.

  • 1779: County Formed: Gates County was established by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1779, during the midst of the Revolutionary War.
  • Parent Counties: It was created from portions of three existing counties: Hertford County, Chowan County, and Perquimans County. To conduct research prior to 1779, a genealogist must first determine which of these three parent counties their ancestor’s land was located in.
  • Subsequent Formations: The county’s boundaries have remained relatively stable since its creation.
  • Name Origin: The county was named in honor of General Horatio Gates, a prominent general in the Continental Army. At the time of the county’s formation, Gates was celebrated as the “Hero of Saratoga” for his decisive victory over the British in 1777.
  • County Seat History: The first courts were held at a site known as Gates Court House. The town was later incorporated and officially named Gatesville, and it has served continuously as the county seat.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The land was originally inhabited by the Chowanoke people, an Algonquian-speaking tribe that was one of the largest and most powerful in the region during the early colonial period.
  • Colonial Settlement: English colonists began settling the area in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, migrating south from Virginia and east from the more settled parts of the Albemarle region. These early settlers established farms and plantations, growing tobacco, corn, and cotton. The economy was heavily reliant on agriculture and the harvesting of naval stores and timber, especially cypress and cedar from the swamps. The institution of slavery played a major role in the county’s economy, and the area also had a significant and well-documented population of free people of color from the colonial era onward.
  • Key Historical Events:
    • The Great Dismal Swamp: The history of Gates County is inseparable from the Great Dismal Swamp. Efforts to drain and develop the swamp for agriculture and timber began in the 18th century, with figures like George Washington being involved in survey work. The Dismal Swamp Canal, which borders the county, was a major engineering feat of the early republic.
    • Revolutionary and Civil Wars: While no major battles were fought in Gates County, its citizens contributed to both the Patriot cause in the Revolution and the Confederacy in the Civil War. Its proximity to Union-occupied areas in Virginia and the North Carolina sounds created tensions and hardship during the Civil War.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

Records for Gates County date from its 1779 formation and are located in the county seat of Gatesville.

  • County Courthouse: The Gates County Courthouse, 200 Court Street, Gatesville, NC 27938, is the central repository for historical records.
    • Register of Deeds: This office holds all land records (deeds, mortgages) from 1779, as well as marriage licenses, and birth and death records from 1913 onward.
    • Clerk of Superior Court: This office is the repository for all court records and probate records, including wills and estate administration files, dating from the county’s formation in 1779.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in North Carolina began in 1913. Records from that point forward are available from the state Vital Records office and locally at the Register of Deeds.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage bonds from 1779 to 1868 and marriage licenses from 1868 to the present are held by the Register of Deeds. For marriages that occurred in this geographic area prior to 1779, researchers must consult the records of Hertford, Chowan, or Perquimans counties.
  • Libraries and Societies:
    • Gates County Public Library: Located in Gatesville, the library has a local history collection with resources for genealogical research.
    • Gates County Historical Society: An invaluable resource for local history, publishing historical information and maintaining collections of family papers, photographs, and other documents.
  • State Archives:
    • The State Archives of North Carolina in Raleigh holds microfilm copies of Gates County’s key record groups (deeds, wills, court minutes) and retains the original records of its parent counties.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • State of Virginia: (Cities of Suffolk and Chesapeake) (north)
    • Camden County, NC (east)
    • Pasquotank County, NC (east)
    • Perquimans County, NC (south)
    • Chowan County, NC (south)
    • Hertford County, NC (west)

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