Gaston County was formed in December 1846 from Lincoln County. (See our guide Finding Lincoln County Ancestors for research sources prior to 1847).
Go to: http://gastonlibrary.libguides.com/finding/lincoln-county-ancestors
Did your family come from Gaston County? Here's a list of some basic resources in our collection to get you started. For help finding more, stop by the Reference Desk at the Gastonia Main Library.
Gaston County Register of Deeds, Vital Records - Birth, Death & Marriage
Request certified copies of Gaston County birth certificates, marriage licenses, and death certificates from Gaston County Register of Deeds.
Go to: https://www.gastongov.com/government/departments/register_of_deeds/vital_records_-_birth_death_and_marriage.php
Birth
Marriage
Divorce
Death
The Gastonia Gazette (later The Gaston Gazette starting January 2, 1989).
The Main Library has the Gastonia Gazette on microfilm beginning with the February 21, 1880 issue. However, there are many missing issues in the early years.
The Historic North Carolina Digital Newspaper Collection has digitized online content from some of the issues of the Gastonia Gazette. (More issues are available on microfilm at the Gastonia Main Library) Log in to NC Live with your library card number for online access.
The Gastonia Gazette (Gastonia, N.C.) has issues from the years: 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1908, and 1909 that are only available online at DigitalNC North Carolina Newspapers Collection.
At this time, there is only limited indexing to the Gazette newspaper and/or the obituaries.
| 1880 - 1889 | 929.5 GAS NCC. The Gastonia Gazette Obituary and Marriage Index: “Gaston in the Eighties” (1880s). From 1915 to 1919 the Gazette occasionally reprinted notices from its earlier issues in the 1880s. These are useful because in some cases the original issue no longer exists. |
| 1880 - 1899 | 929.5 GAS NCC. The Gastonia Gazette Obituary and Death Notices Index, 1880 - 1899. |
| 1900 - 1969 | No indexing. |
| 1970 | Ask at the Reference Desk at Gastonia Main Library. |
| 1971 - 1979 | No indexing. |
| 1980 - Present | Ask at the Reference Desk at Gastonia Main Library. |
| 1998 - 2017 | The Gaston Gazette Microfilm INDEX covers The Gaston Gazette microfilms from 1998 - 2017. |
We also have a microfilm copy of another short-lived newspaper, the Gaston Citizen, October 25, 1951 - March 21, 1956. There is no index.
We will be happy to check the microfilm for an obituary if you have a specific date or a close approximation; if you do not, we can try to locate the required information using the publications mentioned above. However, we do not have the staff to do extensive research on your behalf.
Miscellaneous Gaston County newspapers are available online. Please check our Historical Newspapers guide.
Go to: http://gastonlibrary.libguides.com/serials/historical-newpapers
Go to: https://gis.gastongov.com/
Find Gaston County land records by using the "Deed Search" at the Gaston County Register of Deeds website. This is much easier once you have the information provided in the online county property record from the GIS website.
Go to: https://deeds.co.gaston.nc.us/external/LandRecords/protected/v4/SrchName.aspx
Original Deeds found in the Gaston County Register of Deed's Office include Records from 1845 to present (Prior deed records recorded in Lincoln County).
Go to: http://gastongov.com/departments/register-of-deeds
Digital images of many Gaston County land records can be found at FamilySearch.org in the following collections:
Microfilm copies of the following Gaston County Register of Deeds records are available at the Gaston County Public Library:
Gaston County: Tax List, 1847-1860, 1863-1868. Microfilm. Raleigh, N.C.: NC Dept. of Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and History
975.6 CAR. Gaston County, North Carolina, in the Civil War, by Robert C. Carpenter. Includes Gaston County Tax List of 1863.
FamilySearch.org has the Tax records (Gaston County, North Carolina), 1851-1902. Records include Tax Lists, 1851; Certificates for release from taxes, 1876, 1878, 1879; Abstract of unlisted taxables, 1895; Accounts, 1872-1888 (undated); Civil action, sheriff vs. deputy concerning collection of taxes, 1868; Tax Collections 1873; Civil action against Sheriff concerning illegal collection of taxes, 1902; County Tax Record, 1875; Dealers in tobacco products, 1899; Liquor dealers listed for taxes, 1878-1902 (broken series); Court case, testimony, concerning public funds, 1883; List of uncollectible tax in Dallas, 1886; Livery stables listed for taxes, 1899-1902; Ferries listed for taxes, 1899-1902; Printed answer from county official after charges made concerning taxes collected in 1882; Orders from release from taxes, 1875-1880 (broken series); Request from Cherryville Township that a tax of $50 be levied, 1876; Tax Returns, 1876; Tax List, no date; Orders to those who will collect or list taxes, 1856, 1883, 1888.
Go to: https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/1554081
FamilySearch.org has the Internal Revenue Assessment List for North Carolina, 1864-1866. Browse images by State, then by County. Includes the 1866 Gaston County Tax List.
Go to: https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2075263
FamilySearch.org has the Gaston County Inheritance tax record, 1923-1959.
Go To: https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/251455
929.375 WYN NCC. North Carolina extant voter registrations of 1867, by Frances Holloway Wynne. Includes Gaston County.
929.2 GRA NCC. 1908 Gaston County voters registration : "the grandfather clause",[1902-1908], transcribed by Willene Caskey.
FamilySearch.org has the Gaston County Election records, 1880-1882. Browse images for names of candidates and vote totals received by candidates.
Go To: https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/251447
Digital images of many Gaston County records can be found at FamilySearch.org in the following collections:
Digital images of Gaston County records can be found at DigitalNC in the following collections:
Access the Gaston County Board of Commissioners Minutes Archive for a complete Repository of Board of Commissioners’ Adopted Regular Meeting Minutes from 1879 through 2020.
In addition to more general genealogy magazines, we have files of four titles specifically for this area:
See our Research Guides for detailed information on our holdings of original and transcribed census records:
The Library does not have any books for sale. Books relating to Gaston County genealogy may be purchased from:
The Gaston County Public Library staff welcomes requests for specific information from those who are unable to use the collection in person.
Please contact:
NCC Librarian - Reference ServicesEmail: refncc@gastonlibrary.org
Author: Gaston County Public Library
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