Perquimans County Obituary and Death Records
Perquimans County obituary and death records reflect one of the longest documented histories of any county in North Carolina. Formed in 1668, Perquimans is among the oldest counties in the state, and its records span from colonial-era documents through modern death certificates filed since 1913. The county seat of Hertford hosts the Register of Deeds and is home to the oldest courthouse in North Carolina still in regular use. Genealogy researchers and family historians will find Perquimans County particularly rich in historical sources for tracing deaths and obituaries in northeastern North Carolina.
Perquimans County Quick Facts
Perquimans County Register of Deeds - Obituary and Death Certificate Access
The Perquimans County Register of Deeds in Hertford serves as the official repository for county death certificates. Under North Carolina General Statute 130A-93, death certificates are filed locally and maintained as part of the permanent county record. The Register of Deeds provides certified copies to eligible requesters and can assist researchers in identifying which records are available from which time periods.
Certified copies of death certificates are $10 each. Researchers must provide the full name of the deceased, an approximate date of death, and documentation of their eligibility to receive the record under NCGS 130A-93.1. Requests may be submitted in person at the Hertford courthouse or by mail to the Register of Deeds office.
The Perquimans County courthouse in Hertford is a landmark in itself. Built in 1825, it is recognized as the oldest courthouse in North Carolina that remains in active use. This building and its surrounding records complex represent one of the most historically layered county record environments in the state, making Perquimans a particularly compelling destination for genealogy researchers.
The NCGenWeb Perquimans County page at ncgenweb.us/perquimans offers free access to transcribed records, cemetery indexes, and historical links specifically compiled for Perquimans County research.
| Office |
Perquimans County Register of Deeds 128 North Church Street Hertford, NC 27944 Phone: (252) 426-5660 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Records Begin | Death certificates from 1913; colonial and court records through NC State Archives |
| Certified Copies | $10.00 each |
The NCGenWeb Perquimans County page provides a curated collection of transcribed documents and historical genealogy materials supporting obituary and death record research in the area.
The NCGenWeb Perquimans County resource at ncgenweb.us/perquimans contains cemetery transcriptions, historical records, and links that supplement the official Perquimans County obituary and death certificate collection.
About Perquimans County, North Carolina
Perquimans County is one of the oldest in the entire state. Formed in 1668 from the original Albemarle County, the county takes its name from the Perquimans Indians who inhabited the Perquimans River watershed. The river, which flows into the Albemarle Sound, defines much of the county's geography and historical character.
Hertford, the county seat, sits along the Perquimans River and has served as the county's administrative center for centuries. The courthouse at Hertford, built in 1825, remains in active use and stands as a symbol of the county's deep historical roots. Perquimans County is also associated with early Quaker settlements in North Carolina, and many Quaker meeting records from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries survive and serve as genealogical sources.
Early Quaker records from Perquimans County are among the most detailed surviving colonial-era genealogical documents in North Carolina. These meeting records tracked births, deaths, and marriages within Quaker communities and are available through the NC State Archives and the Friends Historical Library at Swarthmore College. Researchers tracing colonial Perquimans County deaths will find these records invaluable.
Note: Perquimans County's colonial Quaker meeting records, held in part at the NC State Archives, are among the richest pre-1913 death documentation sources available for any North Carolina county.
Perquimans County Obituary Research - Libraries and Historical Collections
The Perquimans County Library in Hertford maintains a local history collection with newspaper files, genealogy materials, and county records. Researchers can review historical issues of the Perquimans Weekly and other local publications that carried death notices and obituaries for Hertford and surrounding communities. The library's collection includes materials spanning the late nineteenth through mid-twentieth centuries.
The Museum of the Albemarle in nearby Elizabeth City also holds regional materials relevant to Perquimans County history. Because Perquimans County and its neighbors share deep historical ties through the Albemarle Sound region, Elizabeth City institutions often hold records that cross county lines. Visiting both Hertford and Elizabeth City repositories is recommended for comprehensive research.
DigitalNC at digitalnc.org has digitized selected northeastern North Carolina newspapers. Some Perquimans County publications and regional papers covering the Hertford area appear in this collection. Full-text searching by name or keyword makes DigitalNC a practical tool for locating historical death notices and obituaries from Perquimans County.
Searching Perquimans County Obituary Records Step by Step
Begin with the time period of the death. Modern records from 1913 onward are held at the Register of Deeds. Colonial and nineteenth-century records require broader searching across archives, church collections, and historical society files.
For post-1913 records, contact the Perquimans County Register of Deeds in Hertford or request a certified copy from NC Vital Records at vitalrecords.nc.gov. Both offices maintain independent copies of death certificates filed in Perquimans County. The NC Register of Deeds directory at ncard.us provides current contact details for the Hertford office.
For deaths before 1913, the primary sources include:
- NC State Archives for Perquimans County court records, estate files, and colonial documents
- Quaker meeting records for colonial-era death documentation from Perquimans County
- DigitalNC for digitized northeastern North Carolina newspapers
- NCGenWeb Perquimans County page for transcribed records and cemetery indexes
- Perquimans County Library for local history files and newspaper microfilm
- North Carolina Genealogical Society for published indexes covering the Albemarle region
Crossing official death certificates with newspaper obituaries from the Perquimans Weekly provides the most complete picture. Newspaper notices frequently identify surviving family members, church affiliations, and burial locations that do not appear in official death records.
Note: Perquimans County's colonial-era records are among the oldest surviving county records in North Carolina. Researchers investigating deaths from the 1600s and 1700s should contact the NC State Archives directly for guidance on accessing these materials.
NC State Archives and Vital Records for Perquimans County Deaths
The NC State Archives at archives.ncdcr.gov is an essential resource for Perquimans County obituary research, particularly for deaths before 1913. The archives hold colonial-era court records, estate files, and county documents spanning from Perquimans County's 1668 formation through the twentieth century. Staff archivists can assist researchers in identifying specific record groups relevant to Perquimans County deaths.
NC Vital Records at vitalrecords.nc.gov maintains statewide copies of death certificates filed since 1913. Researchers can request certified copies of Perquimans County death records from the state office without visiting Hertford. Processing times and fees vary, and the website provides current instructions for all request methods.
The NC Digital Collections portal at digital.ncdcr.gov provides online access to selected digitized state records. Browsing or searching for Perquimans County materials through this portal can surface relevant death-related documents without requiring a trip to Raleigh or Hertford.
Nearby Counties
Perquimans County borders these counties. Checking neighboring county records is useful when the exact county of death is unclear or when family members moved between counties.