North Carolina Research : Genealogy and Local History / Helen F. M.
Leary, ed. Raleigh : North Carolina Genealogical Society, 1996
Notes from book.
ROADS AND BRIDGES
NCs county courts of pleas and quarter sessions, and county
commissioners after 1868, were largely responsible for the creation,
upkeep, supervision, and financing of roads, bridges, ferried, ditches,
and canals until legislation in 1915. Gristmills and sawmills powered by
water or steam, and public landings and wharves were also county
responsibilities.
Road overseers were appointed annually to attend the stretches of road
on which they lived and were empowered to call on all eligible
able-bodied hands for the labor. There are six groups:
1. Petitions are the most plentiful and informative. They usually
contain signatures of neighbors and mention geographical features and
landmarks.
2. Reports of juries and commissioners charged with creating, changing
or inspection roads, etc.
3. Warrants and orders appointing road overseers, commissioners, jurors,
supervisors, builders, and keepers commonly name the persons and
describe their duties.
4. Contractors and specifications for construction or repair often give
valuable details.
5. Bills, receipts, and accounts show sums of money received or expended
and name the person involved.
6. Legal papers may include complaints against negligent overseers or
persons who damaged roads.
SCHOOL RECORDS
NCs public school system was established in 1838-39. It was abandoned
during the Civil War and Reconstruction and revived in 1868.
School records and papers include board minutes, school censuses, pupil
records, and financial and personnel records. Boards of education,
officials of individual schools, registers of deeds, and clerks of
superior court and the State Archives variously keep them.
MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS
Loyalty Oaths.
In 1865, the US government extracted a loyalty oath from many citizens
of the former Confederate States. Volumes of printed forms are preserved
in the State Archives for some few counties of North Carolina.
Marks and brands
Until the 20th century, the range was open in North Carolina. These
were publicly recorded. Before 1868, they were recorded in county court
minutes or volumes assigned to that purpose. After 1868, registers of
deeds usually placed them in Record of Marks volumes.
Record of strays (Estrays)
Persons finding stray animals reported to the county ranger or stray
master.
Professional registers
Clerks of superior court have been charged with keeping these records.
Register was first required, as follows:
Physicians and surgeons since 1889
Osteopaths 1907
Optometrists 1909
Architects 1915
Nurses 1917
Chiropractors 1917
Dentists 1887
Slave records
Certain papers, arising principally within the jurisdiction of the
lower county courts before the Civil War, are denominated by the State
Archives as Slave Records for the convenience of researchers. Types of
documents include:
Petitions concerning emancipation or manumission of slaves
Names patrols appointed to police county districts
Special court proceedings called to try slaves for crimes
Bills of sale
Agreements for hire of slaves
Bonds for the good behavior of emancipated slaves
Bonds to insure freed slaves did not become public charges.
Petitions for slaves to carry guns
Petitions for partition of slave holdings among joint owners