Search New Castle County Genealogy Records
New Castle County holds some of Delaware's oldest genealogy records, with land and court files dating to the 1670s and vital records going back to the mid-1800s. If you are searching for ancestors who lived in Wilmington or anywhere in the northern part of the state, this county is your first stop for birth, death, marriage, probate, and land documents.
New Castle County Overview
New Castle County Vital Records
Vital records for New Castle County include births, deaths, and marriages. Statewide birth registration started in 1861, though the early years had gaps. A second push began in 1881, and by 1921 most births were being recorded consistently. Marriage records go back to 1847, and death records also start in 1861. The records are split between the county level and the state, so knowing where to look saves time.
The Clerk of Peace in New Castle County holds local marriage records. For divorce and court records, you go to the Clerk of Superior Court. The Office of Vital Statistics (OVS) is the main state agency for birth, death, and marriage certificates under Delaware Code Title 16, Chapter 31. That chapter covers definitions and access rights at section 3110, and fee rules at section 3132. Registration requirements are spelled out at Title 16, Chapter 31, Subchapter II. Each certified copy costs $25.
The OVS office serving New Castle County is at 258 Chapman Road, Newark, DE 19702, and can be reached at (302) 283-7130. The central state office is in Dover at 417 Federal Street, Dover, DE 19901, phone (302) 744-4549. You can also find Delaware Vital Records 1650-1974 and Delaware Wilmington Vital Records 1847-1954 through FamilySearch at no cost.
| Record Type | Births, Deaths, Marriages |
|---|---|
| Earliest Birth Records | 1861 (general compliance by 1921) |
| Earliest Marriage Records | 1847 |
| Earliest Death Records | 1861 |
| OVS Newark Office | 258 Chapman Road, Newark, DE 19702 |
| Phone | (302) 283-7130 |
| Copy Fee | $25 per certified copy |
| Wilmington Vital Records Office | 2055 Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE 19808, (302) 995-8588 |
The county image below comes from vitalrec.com, which lists county-level vital records offices across Delaware.
The page shows contact details and record availability for vital records offices in each Delaware county.
New Castle County Court Records and Probate
Court records in New Castle County go back to 1680. That is a long run of documented cases, and for genealogists they are a rich source. Probate records start even earlier, in 1676. These files can tell you when an ancestor died, who their heirs were, what they owned, and sometimes where they came from. The Register of Wills holds probate records for the county.
The Delaware Public Archives Probate Index lets you search probate records by name. Each entry shows the person's name, years of probate, the number of pages in the file, an entry number, and whether the record has been filmed or scanned. You can order copies directly through the email link on the search page. This is one of the most useful tools for New Castle County genealogy research, covering hundreds of years of probate filings.
A printed reference that is well worth finding is A Calendar of Delaware Wills, New Castle County, 1682-1800, compiled by the National Society of Colonial Dames of America. It indexes wills from the county's earliest decades. Many researchers use it as a starting point before pulling the actual files.
The Delaware Public Archives probate search portal is shown below.
The portal allows name searches and gives file details for each probate entry in the county.
| Court Records Start | 1680 |
|---|---|
| Probate Records Start | 1676 |
| Probate Index | Delaware Public Archives |
| Register of Wills | Holds probate records for New Castle County |
| Clerk of Superior Court | Holds divorce and court records |
| Delaware Public Archives | 121 Duke of York St, Dover, DE 19901, (302) 744-5000 |
New Castle County Genealogy Land Records
Land records in New Castle County start in 1676, making them among the oldest in Delaware. The Recorder of Deeds maintains these files. The office is at the Public Building in Wilmington, DE 19801. Land records are useful in genealogy because they name the grantor and grantee, give property descriptions, and are often signed by witnesses whose names may appear in other records.
A particularly notable early source is the Taxables of New Castle County in 1676. This list names heads of households who were taxed that year, giving researchers a snapshot of who was living in the area before formal land records were fully developed. It is one of the oldest demographic records available for the region. Delaware Land Records 1677-1947 are also available through Ancestry for subscribers.
Online Databases for New Castle County Genealogy
Several large online platforms have digitized New Castle County records. FamilySearch and Ancestry both hold major collections. Most FamilySearch databases are free. Ancestry requires a subscription but has some of the broadest coverage for Delaware records.
Key online collections worth searching include:
- Delaware Vital Records 1650-1974 at FamilySearch (free)
- Delaware Wilmington Vital Records 1847-1954 at FamilySearch (free)
- 1800-1932 Delaware Birth Records at Ancestry (incomplete early years)
- Delaware Birth Records 1913-1948 at Delaware Public Archives
- 1744-1912 Delaware Marriage Records at Ancestry
- Delaware Marriage Records 1750-1954 at Ancestry
- 1861-1933 Delaware Death Records at Ancestry
- Delaware Land Records 1677-1947 at Ancestry
- Delaware Federal Naturalization Records 1802-1943 at Ancestry
The University of Delaware Library also maintains research guides for Delaware genealogy that point to both online and physical collections. These guides are updated by librarians and can help you find records you might not know exist. The University of Delaware is a good secondary stop after you have searched the archives.
Two FamilySearch centers in New Castle County offer in-person help with online research. The Wilmington FamilySearch Center is at 143 Dickinson Lane, Wilmington, DE, phone (302) 654-1911. The Newark FamilySearch Center is at 500 W Chestnut Hill Road, Newark, DE, phone (302) 456-9301. Winterthur Library at 5105 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, DE 19735, phone (302) 888-4681, is also a FamilySearch affiliate library with access to subscription databases.
Local Societies and New Castle County Genealogy Resources
Several organizations in the county support genealogy research. The New Castle Historical Society is at 30 Market Street, New Castle, DE 19720, phone (302) 322-2794, email info@newcastlehistory.org. The society preserves local history and can assist with genealogical research requests. Their holdings cover the town of New Castle and surrounding areas. The image below comes from their website.
The society's site at newcastlehistory.org has information about their collections and how to contact them for research help.
The Delaware Historical Society Research Library at 505 Market Street Mall, Wilmington, DE 19801 holds the largest collection of Delaware genealogies in the state. This library is the primary destination for serious New Castle County genealogy work. Read House and Gardens, part of the Delaware Historical Society, is also located nearby at 42 The Strand, New Castle, DE 19720, phone (302) 322-8411.
The Delaware Genealogical Society at delgensoc.org offers statewide genealogy support, publishes research guides, and maintains useful indexes. Membership gives access to member resources and research assistance. Their work covers all three Delaware counties including New Castle.
The Delaware Public Archives in Dover is the central repository for state records. Address: 121 Duke of York St, Dover, DE 19901, phone (302) 744-5000. They hold Delaware Birth Records 1913-1948, Delaware Death Records 1913-1980, and many other original records. Remote access is available for some collections through the archives website at archives.delaware.gov.
Church and Census Records in New Castle County Genealogy
Church records often fill in the gaps that civil registration left behind, especially for births and deaths before the 1860s. New Castle County has several important church record sources. The NC-CHAP program at nc-chap.org/resources/ has pulled together a broad set of local records including Immanuel Church Vital Statistics 1714-1985 and Presbyterian Church Records 1700-1965. These go back more than three centuries and name baptisms, marriages, and burials long before state registration existed.
NC-CHAP also holds census and tax records from 1671, 1776, 1798, 1815, and 1826, plus Federal census records from 1800 through 1870. An 1885 Street Level City Directory and the Boyd 1874 City Directory are available there as well. These directories name residents, their occupations, and their addresses, which helps link individuals across different record types. Several family genealogies are also in the collection, covering surnames like Robert Clay and Van Dyke.
Delaware has no known courthouse disasters in New Castle County, so the record set is largely intact. That is a significant advantage compared to other states where fires destroyed original files. Researchers can generally expect continuity in the records from the 1670s forward.
Cities in New Castle County
New Castle County includes Wilmington and several other communities. Genealogy records for residents of any of these cities are held through the same county offices and state archives.
Nearby Counties
New Castle County sits at the northern end of Delaware. Kent and Sussex counties are the other two Delaware counties. If ancestors moved within the state, records may be held in either of these counties.