Research By County

Records, maps, and other primary source records that I have collected, compiled, or investigated.

Wilkes Co, NC

Research at the Wilkes Heritage Museum
The Wilkes Heritage Museum in Wilkesboro is an essential resource for anyone doing research on the people or places in Wilkes County. Not only is it an impressive museum, but it also maintains collections of records, genealogy files, photos, maps, and books that often aren't available anywhere else. I've described many of the resources that are available at the museum.
Early Wilkes County Tax Records

I've written and compiled two books about Wilkes County tax records in the late 1700s. Both are available for purchase online. You can read more about each of them at the link.
Maps and Land Grants
1. Wilkes Land Grants (since March 2021)
  Multiple lists, details, and maps for the 7,975 Wilkes County Land Grants.
2. Map of 1841 Wilkes School Census Districts (Nov 2022)
  In 1839, the North Carolina General Assembly passed the Education Act which led to the formalization of county school districts. In Wilkes County, these were created on March 4, 1841, as detailed in Volume 1 of the Wilkes County Board of Education Minutes. These boundaries aren't very detailed, but combined with other information, they can be mapped accurately enough to see the general area where families lived.
  The black numbers and boundary lines are the original districts created in 1841. The green districts are the ones that were added or amended over the following twelve years. The Board of Education was abandoned before the Civil War, but it was re-established in the 1870s. The Minutes books and the individual census pages for each district are available at the NC State Archives and on familysearch.org.
3. Roaring River Map (March 2019)
  A group of maps showing land purchased in 1902 by the Stone Mountain Granite and Timber Company on the waters of Roaring River.
4. William Lenoir's 1800 map of Wilkesboro (September 2024)
  William Lenoir laid out the streets for the 50-acre town and included notes that specify the location of important buildings in 1800.
5. 1754 Moravian Surveys (September 2024)
  In 1752, the Moravians surveyed two tracts of land along the Yadkin River in what is now Wilkes County. The upper and lower tracts were issued to them in 1754.
6. 1947 Glenn Johnson Property Survey (November 2024)
  
  In 1935, Glenn Johnson became famous when Revenue agents raided his home and confiscated 7,100 gallons of illegal whiskey. Some consider this the largest inland seizure in the history of the United States. His son -- and future NASCAR champion -- Junior Johnson was 4 years old. In 1947 a survey was done on Glenn Johnson's property to mark key parts of his moonshine operation. It's not clear if this was in reference to the 1935 raid or a later incident. Their home was in the eastern part of the county on Ingle Hollow off of Somers Road. I overlaid this survey on top of Google Maps to get a better idea of the operation.
7. 1921 Reddies Lake (December 2024)
  
  This 1921 survey shows the bottom land located on Reddies River, one mile above the dam. The map suggests that this area was prone to flooding, but otherwise corn was planted there. The small branch that runs westward into Reddies River is Hoopers Branch. Map image.
8. Jim Combs Land c1940s (December 2024)
  
  This map appears to be the Jim Combs property, drawn for use in court where he was charged with illicit distilling. The map shows the still locations, the 'spring branch', and the location of his house. It also shows the home of his neighbors Tom Bell and Everett Blackburn. The map doesn't give the location, but after investigation, I determined that it is along Ruritan Rd on the east side of Roaring River. The map isn't dated, but I hope to eventually find a court case that explains more about the purpose of the map. Map image.

Other Records
1. Obituaries from the Primitive Baptist Association
  
  This is an assortment of obituaries for Wilkes and Alleghany Co between 1869 and 1982.
2. Assorted Headstone Transcriptions
  Mainly from Wilkes and Alleghany Co in NC, and Carroll and Pulaski Co in VA. There are about 440 names here from cemeteries I visited mainly in the 1990s. They are listed alphabetically by last name.
3. Guardian and Estate Papers for the Estate of Peter Ingold (c1780-1820) of Guilford Co
  I received these records from the NC State Archives in 2005.
4. The 1878 Wilkes Co, NC, Estate Record for Emanuel Bauguess who had died in 1861.
  His son Jonas Bauguess was the administrator, but he had a difficult time settling the account. He experienced a classic case of sibling rivalry.
5. Ezra Deborde Civil War Record (2019)
  Ezra Deborde was born in 1825. After being forced to enlist in the Confederate Army by the Home Guard, he left home in October 1863. His first action was in Tennessee the following month where he was tragically killed in his first battle. These pages are from his pension file requested by his wife Mary C. Boaz Deborde in 1885.
6. Views Of North Wilkesboro (2021)
  
  This 60-page booklet was printed in 1906 as a marketing tool to bring in new business to the new town of North Wilkesboro.
7. List Grandchildren of Richard Bauguess (born 1750s) (2021)
  This pdf file lists the grandchildren of Richard Bauguess who settled in Traphill in 1789.
8. Census analysis of children and grandchildren of Richard Bauguess (born 1750s) (2013)
  Bauguess cousins often used the same names for their children, and this is an attempt at sorting them all out. This pdf file lists the Bauguess families as they are found in early census records, starting with Richard Bauguess (born 1750s).
9. Joynes School 1925-1953 (2023)
  This pdf file is a 13-page booklet of memories and information about Joynes School that was located on Longbottom Rd near Little Stone Mountain Baptist Church. This was shared with me by Virginia Johnson.

Surry Co, NC

Historical records for Elkin, NC, in Surry Co.
Maps, grants, and deeds relating to the town of Elkin and the early David Allen ironworks.

Stokes Co, NC

The 1836 Stokes Co, NC, Estate Record for Edmund Tilley who died in 1835.
His son David Tilley was the administrator, but his siblings contested the will. (July 2020).

Alleghany Co, NC

Stay tuned!

Top of page Jason Duncan
222 Sundance Cir
Statesville, NC 28625
704-929-2643
jason@webjmd.com

Maintaining a website since April 1995