Craven County Genealogy

True Stories from Colonial North Carolina

True Stories from Colonial North Carolina

I was recently asked by Wake County Public Libraries to give a virtual Zoom presentation on fascinating but little known facts about colonial North Carolina history. In this presentation, I talked about the Lost Colony, the Tuscarora War and how it led directly to the...

NC Tax Lists at NC Digital Collections

NC Tax Lists at NC Digital Collections

UPDATE: 1/9/2025 - Since this page was originally published, the NCDR site has changed all of its links. I'm updating them as I'm able, but if any of the links below don't work, please just go to the main category page here...

1779 Craven County Tax List

1779 Craven County Tax List

Below is a transcription of names found on the 1779 Tax List. These original scans can be found here at the NC Digital Collections Site. I am not transcribing all of the property values, only the names. If you see a name that is of interest to you, just find the...

The Muddle that is John Vendrick, Sr.

The Muddle that is John Vendrick, Sr.

The Reverend Joshua Kocherthal baptized John Vendrick in New York on 25 Aug 1710 (The Book of Names: Especially Relating to the Early Palatines and the First Settlers in the Mohawk Valley by Lou D. MacWethy, p. 23). He may have been born there or on the voyage. His...

John Vendrick, his wife, and his mother

John Vendrick, his wife, and his mother

About a week ago, I was poking around in Currituck County land records. I don't even remember why. While skimming through the index, I stumbled over something, or someone, unexpected. John Vindrick! That's right! A Vendrick in Currituck. I was every bit as astonished...

Family Tree Fact Check:  Cason and Averilla Scott

Family Tree Fact Check: Cason and Averilla Scott

Too many researchers conclude Cason and Averilla Scott were husband and wife. I have lost count of the number of trees, forum posts and other media to make this claim. In fact, they were brother and sister. This misapprehension may have begun with a hurricane. The...

West Craven Highlights now digitized and searchable online

West Craven Highlights now digitized and searchable online

If your family is from the Vanceboro area, you will certainly remember the paper that was produced by the Cannon family, West Craven Highlights.  I'm not sure when this was done, but the whole project has now been digitized. You can browse all of the issues or search...

An Odd Turn of Phrase

An Odd Turn of Phrase

Samuel Lawson received a deed of gift from his stepfather, John James, 25 May 1770. In the deed, Mr. James uses a phrase that, both baffles and intrigues me. From Craven County Deed Book 18, p. 1 and 2 (emphasis mine). North Carolina }Craven County }To all People to...