Granville County Marriage Records

Granville County marriage records are among the oldest in North Carolina, with records going back to 1759. The Register of Deeds in Oxford holds marriage licenses, certificates, marriage bonds, and deed abstracts that span nearly 270 years of county history. Granville County is a rich source for genealogical research because of its early formation in 1746 and the survival of many pre-20th-century records. This page covers how to find Granville County marriage records, what historical materials exist, and how to request copies from the office in Oxford.

Granville County Register of Deeds

The Granville County Register of Deeds is in Oxford, the county seat. The office maintains marriage records, deed abstracts, and other vital records for the county. Staff can assist with license applications, certified copy requests, and genealogical research inquiries. The county website at granvillecounty.org provides current information on office hours, contact details, fees, and available services. The Register is the official keeper of all marriage records in Granville County.

Granville County was formed in 1746 from Edgecombe County. It was named for John Carteret, the 2nd Earl Granville, who held a large proprietary land grant in North Carolina. The county seat of Oxford is a small town in the northern Piedmont region. Marriage records at the Register of Deeds date from 1759, making Granville County one of the earliest North Carolina counties with surviving marriage documentation. The combination of early formation, survival of old records, and marriage bonds going back to the colonial era makes this office a significant resource for North Carolina genealogy.

Historical Granville County Marriage Records

Granville County has some of the oldest surviving marriage records in North Carolina. Marriage records go back to 1759, just 13 years after the county was formed. The early records include marriage bonds from the colonial and early American periods. These bonds were the standard form of pre-ceremony documentation before modern marriage licenses replaced them. A bond was posted by the groom and a bondsman to guarantee that no legal obstacle existed to the marriage. Granville County's marriage bonds often name relatives and neighbors, which makes them valuable for tracing family networks in 18th and 19th century North Carolina.

The office also holds deed abstracts and related historical documents that can supplement marriage records for genealogical research. Deed abstracts often mention family members, heirs, and neighbors, providing context that can help researchers connect names across different record types. Many early Granville County families had land grants and deeds that predate the county's formal organization, and cross-referencing these with marriage bonds can yield significant genealogical results.

Researchers who want to access the oldest Granville County marriage records should contact the Register of Deeds office in Oxford directly. Staff can advise on what is available for a specific time period and whether records need to be viewed in person or can be ordered remotely. The North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh at archives.ncdcr.gov also holds Granville County historical records and may have materials that have been transferred from the county or digitized for remote access.

Granville County Marriage License Requirements

To get a marriage license in Granville County today, both parties must appear together at the Register of Deeds office in Oxford. NCGS 51-8 requires both applicants to be present. Each person must present a valid government-issued photo ID and provide their Social Security number and date of birth. The license is typically issued the same day of the application.

Under NCGS 51-16, any prior marriage must be documented. A certified divorce decree or a death certificate for a deceased former spouse shows the previous marriage ended legally. The Register will review this before issuing the new license. Once issued, the license is valid anywhere in North Carolina for 60 days under NCGS 51-6. After the ceremony, the officiant returns the completed license to the Granville County Register of Deeds for recording. Certified copies of the marriage record can then be requested by the parties to the marriage.

Granville County Marriage Records Requests

Certified copies of Granville County marriage records are available from the Register of Deeds in Oxford. Visit the office in person, or submit a request by mail. In-person visits are the fastest way to get copies. Bring a valid photo ID and the full names of both parties and the approximate year of the marriage. Mail requests should include the same information plus payment by money order or check and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

NCGS 130A-93 governs access to certified copies of vital records in North Carolina. The parties to the marriage and their legal representatives are among those who may receive certified copies. For questions about eligibility or current fees, contact the office through the Granville County website at granvillecounty.org. North Carolina Vital Records in Raleigh holds statewide records from 1962 onward at vitalrecords.nc.gov. For pre-1962 Granville County marriages, the county Register of Deeds is the primary source.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Granville County. If you need marriage records from a neighboring area, start with the county where the ceremony took place.