African-American » Wills & Probate

Barnetta McGhee White Research

Estate papers are significant records needed in searching the genealogies of African Americans whose ancestors were enslaved. With the original papers located in the state's archives, this site contains the names and death dates for those who died in Granville County, North Carolina from ca. 1745 - 1909. These papers are excellent sources for white and black ancestry research.

Courthouse Research: Using Probate Records to Research Enslaved Ancestors

By LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture.

Enslaved Ancestors Abstracted From Deed Books, etc. Vol. I and Vol. II

Two books have been placed online to document the transference of thousands of slaves among & between hundreds of slaveholders in Granville County, North Carolina. Valuable for both white and black genealogy in that not only are relationships given, but their movement can be traced to other states such as SC, AL, MS,KY, TN, etc.