Craven County Obituary Records in New Bern NC
Craven County, North Carolina is home to New Bern, the state's first permanent colonial capital, and its obituary and death records reflect a community with one of the longest documented histories in the state. The Craven County Register of Deeds in New Bern maintains official death certificates from November 1913 onward, along with an online genealogy search tool that covers cemeteries, census data, death records, obituaries, and wills. For deaths before 1913, family Bibles and church records are often the primary surviving documentation. Whether you are tracing a colonial-era family or confirming a recent death, Craven County offers a layered and historically rich set of resources.
Craven County Quick Facts
Craven County Register of Deeds - Obituary and Death Records
The Craven County Register of Deeds is located at 226 Pollock Street in New Bern. This office holds official death certificates for Craven County from November 1913 onward. Under North Carolina General Statute 130A-93, death certificates are filed with the local registrar and forwarded to the state vital records system. The office can be reached by phone at (252) 636-6617.
Certified copies of Craven County death certificates cost $10 each for deaths that occurred in the county. For out-of-county deaths requested after September 2023, the fee is $24. This distinction reflects a policy change that affects researchers requesting records for deaths that occurred elsewhere but are associated with Craven County families. NCGS 130A-115 governs the filing and amendment of vital records, and Craven County follows these statewide standards.
The Craven County Register of Deeds offers an online genealogy search tool that covers cemeteries, census records, death records, obituaries, and wills. This is an unusually comprehensive online resource that gives researchers direct access to multiple types of genealogical documentation without visiting the New Bern office. The office website at cravencountync.gov provides more information about available services and how to access the online genealogy tool.
| Office |
Craven County Register of Deeds 226 Pollock Street New Bern, NC 28560 Phone: (252) 636-6617 |
|---|---|
| Death Records | From November 1913 |
| County Death Certificate Fee | $10 |
| Out-of-County Death Fee | $24 (after September 2023) |
| Online Genealogy Tool | Cemeteries, census, death records, obituaries, wills |
| Website | cravencountync.gov |
The Craven County Register of Deeds at cravencountync.gov offers an online genealogy search covering obituaries, death records, cemeteries, census data, and wills, making it one of the more comprehensive county-level resources in North Carolina.
The Craven County Register of Deeds online genealogy tool provides direct access to obituaries, death records, and cemetery records from the New Bern office.
About Craven County and New Bern's Historical Records
Craven County was formed in 1705 from Bath County, making it one of the earliest counties established in North Carolina. New Bern was founded in 1710 and served as the first permanent colonial capital of North Carolina. This history gives Craven County a documentary record that stretches back more than three centuries, making it one of the most historically significant counties in the state for genealogical research.
Deaths before 1913 in Craven County are mostly documented through family Bibles, church records, cemetery inscriptions, and probate files rather than through official death certificates. Family Bibles from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries often recorded births, marriages, and deaths for generations of a family and can be invaluable for researchers tracing colonial-era lineages. Some of these Bible records have been transcribed and deposited with genealogical societies or libraries.
New Bern's long history as a capital city and commercial center means that its newspapers, church records, and civic organization files are unusually complete for a county of its size. Researchers working on Craven County families from any period are likely to find more documentation here than in most comparable counties.
Pre-1913 Craven County Obituary Sources: Family Bibles and Church Records
For deaths in Craven County before November 1913, when official death registration began, family Bibles are among the most important surviving primary sources. Many Craven County families maintained detailed Bible records documenting births, marriages, and deaths over multiple generations. These manuscript records are scattered among descendants and institutions, but some have been transcribed and made available through genealogical societies and the North Carolina State Archives.
Church records from Craven County's historic congregations also document deaths across many generations. New Bern's churches, some of which were established in the early 1700s, kept burial records, membership rosters, and vestry minutes that sometimes note deaths among the congregation. Researchers willing to contact individual churches or their denominational archives may find records unavailable anywhere else.
Cemetery surveys are another valuable resource for pre-1913 Craven County death research. Many historical cemeteries in the county have been documented by genealogical volunteers, and their surveys are available through organizations like the North Carolina Genealogical Society and DigitalNC at digitalnc.org.
Craven County Online Obituary and Genealogy Search Tool
The Craven County Register of Deeds offers an online genealogy search tool that provides access to obituaries, death records, cemetery information, census data, and wills. This tool makes Craven County one of the few counties in North Carolina where researchers can access multiple types of genealogical records through a single county website.
The online tool is accessible through the Register of Deeds website at cravencountync.gov. It covers records across different periods and record types, making it a useful first stop for any Craven County genealogical search. Researchers who find what they need online can then order certified copies through the office as needed.
Note: The online genealogy search tool is intended for research and reference purposes. Official certified copies of death certificates must be requested directly from the Register of Deeds office for legal and estate purposes.
How to Search Craven County Obituary Records
Craven County offers more online access to obituary and death records than most North Carolina counties, thanks to its online genealogy search tool. This makes it practical to begin a search remotely before deciding whether to request official certified copies.
For deaths from November 1913 onward, official death certificates are available from the Register of Deeds at 226 Pollock Street or through the state Vital Records office. For out-of-county deaths, the $24 fee (after September 2023) applies. For deaths before 1913, the online genealogy tool may have relevant entries from wills, cemetery records, or earlier death documentation.
Key resources for Craven County obituary and death record research:
- Craven County Register of Deeds online genealogy tool for obituaries, death records, and wills
- Register of Deeds office in New Bern for 1913-present death certificates
- Family Bibles and church records for pre-1913 deaths
- Cemetery surveys and inscriptions for historical death documentation
- North Carolina State Archives for probate and court records
- DigitalNC for historical digitized newspapers from the New Bern area
Craven County's combination of official records, an online genealogy search tool, and a deep historical record base makes it one of the more productive counties in North Carolina for obituary and death research across multiple time periods.
North Carolina Vital Records and Craven County Death Certificates
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services maintains statewide death records through its Vital Records section in Raleigh. Craven County death records from 1913 onward are part of this statewide system, and certified copies can be obtained from the state as well as from the local Register of Deeds.
The state Vital Records office processes requests by mail, in person, and through authorized online vendors. Under NCGS 130A-93, both the county and state offices hold copies of death records filed since 1913. Researchers who prefer to work through the state can access the portal at vitalrecords.nc.gov. This option may be particularly useful when the Register of Deeds office fee structure does not fit a researcher's circumstances.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Craven County. Checking adjacent records may help when a death may have occurred near a county boundary or when family members lived in multiple nearby counties.