Rockingham County, N.C. - Miscellaneous Land Records (1789-1926)

Rockingham County was formed in 1785, from the northern part of Guilford County. It is important to understand Guilford County first. Guilford was formed from PART of Orange County (western 9.5 miles) and part of Rowan County – which butted the western edge of Orange – in 1752/53. In 1771, Guilford was formed as a large rectangle – from VA-NC boundary to the north – extending to Lord John Carteret, Earl Granville boundary to the south (lat 35, 34 min). This became Rockingham, Guilford, and Randolph County. What most people do not understand is – Orange County’s western boundary and Rowan Co. eastern boundary was located about 9.5 miles east of today’s Rockingham-Caswell Co. line – and from VA to Earl Granville line to the south. That is why Orange and to be reduced in size. THEREFORE – if you see William Churton’s grants on Troublesome Creek – plated in “Orange County” you will understand why – since that was the very extreme western edge of Orange.