Gaston County Public Library

Finding Lincoln County Ancestors

Lincoln County History

Lincoln County was formed in 1779 from Tryon County (see our guide Finding Tryon County Ancestors as well). Since then all or parts of Catawba, Cleveland, and Gaston Counties have been cut out of this area.

Did your family come from Lincoln 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.

Search our library Catalog by Subject for: Lincoln County or by the name of a place, such as Lincolnton.

Vital Records

  • 929.1 NOR NCC. "Marriage and Death Notices from Extant Lincolnton Newspapers, 1836 - 1853". Two part article in North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal. Marriages are in vol. 2 no. 2 (April 1976), p. 62 - 84 and deaths in vol. 2 no. 3 (July 1976), p. 136 - 146.
  • 929.3 BYN NCC. Marriage Bonds of Tryon and Lincoln Counties, North Carolina.
  • 929.3 DEL NCC. Lincoln County, N. C.: Index to Vital Statistics – Deaths (4 vols in 2). 1913 - 1992.
  • 929.3 ING NCC. Lincoln County, North Carolina Marriage Records, 1783 - 1866.
  • 929.3 LIN NCC. Lincoln County, North Carolina Marriage Records (3 vols). 1868 - 1936.
  • 929.3 PHI NCC. Lincoln County, North Carolina Will Abstracts, 1779 - 1910.
  • Ancestry Library Edition includes indexes and some actual certificates for North Carolina marriages, births, and deaths. Keep in mind that the statewide birth and death registration started in 1913 in North Carolina.

County Records & Other Resources

Microfilm

We own a large collection of Lincoln County records on microfilm, including “Lincoln County Estate Files, 1779-1925”.
Go to: http://gastonlibrary.org/index.cfm/research/genealogy-local-history/lincoln-county-records-on-microfilm/

You can also search our Catalog by Keyword for: Lincoln County microform or simply ask the Reference Desk at the Gastonia Main Library for help finding records.

Online

Digital images of many Gaston County materials can be browsed in the Catalog section of FamilySearch.org. Search by Places for "North Carolina, Lincoln".

Land Records
  • 929.3756 PRU…NCC. Abstracts of Deeds. This set also contains other land related records.
Biographies
  • The Gaston & Lincoln Biography Index locates biographical information “buried” in our book collection.
    Go to: http://gastonlibrary.org/index.cfm/research/genealogy-local-history/gaston-lincoln-biography-index/
Census

See our Research Guides for detailed information on our holdings of original and transcribed census records:

Cemeteries
  • Lincoln County Cemeteries
    Go to: http://gastonlibrary.org/index.cfm/research/genealogy-local-history/cemeteries/lincoln-county-cemeteries/
City Directories
Journals

Beyond Our Library

Lincoln County Library

The Charles R. Jonas Library in Lincolnton has a North Carolina Collection with an extensive collection of surname files, Lincoln County newspapers on microfilm, directories, and other resources.
Go to: http://mylincolnlibrary.org

306 W Main St
Lincolnton NC 28092
Phone: 704-735-8044

Lincoln County Historical Association & Museum

The Lincoln County Historical Association collects and preserves historical information and materials relating to Lincoln County History. You can view these items at the Lincoln County Museum of History, located in the Lincoln Cultural Center.
Go to: http://www.lincolnculturalcenter.com

403 E Main St
Lincolnton NC 28092
Phone: 704-748-9090

Please call for hours.

Online
  • The HeritageQuest, available via NCLive.org, provides an index of genealogy and local history articles called PERSI (PERiodical Source Index).
    • Search by Places for North Carolina “Lincoln”.
  • NC GenWeb page for Lincoln County
    Go to: http://www.ncgenweb.us/lincoln/index.htm
  • Lincoln County NC Genweb Archives
    Go to: http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/lincoln.htm
  • GenForum’s Lincoln County message board
    Go to: http://genforum.genealogy.com/nc/lincoln/
  • Ancestry Message Board; you don't need an Ancestry membership to use the boards.
    Go to: http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.northam.usa.states.northcarolina.counties.lincoln/mb.ashx
  • The archives of the mailing list for Lincoln County.
    Go to: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/index/NCLINCOL/

Research Requests

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 Services
Gaston County Public Library
1555 E Garrison Blvd
Gastonia NC 28054

Phone: 704-868-2164 ext. 2
Fax: 704-853-0609
Email: refncc@gastonlibrary.org

Local researchers

The Gaston County Public Library cannot conduct extensive research on behalf of patrons. A list of researchers who will pursue larger projects for a fee is available. Please contact us for a copy of this list.

The Library cannot recommend or take responsibility for any particular researcher.

Author: Gaston County Public Library
Title: Finding Lincoln County Ancestors
URL: http://gastonlibrary.org/index.cfm/research/genealogy-local-history/finding-lincoln-county-ancestors/
Revised: 23 October 2013