Learn about the new holdings at State Archives of NC! View the linked recording of the January 23 webinar here .  Description from the video webpage : "Researchers can explore many new collections at the State Archives this year, 2026. Learn highlights from staff in government records, digital services, and special collections in Raleigh and the Archives' Outer Banks and Asheville branches. Topics will include new records about Black Mountain College, additions to the oral history and photograph collections, new military correspondence, and ways to access these records online. Whether you are a genealogist, historian, or just interested in sampling new collections, tune in to learn what the State Archives has to offer!"

Early colonial timelines point to  the French and Indian War and its aftermath as  the flashpoint for  the troubles leading up to the Revolutionary War.  The French and Indian War was part of the larger Seven Years' War 1756-1763 that pitted England and Prussia against France, Austria, Russia, and Spain, with fighting spanning North America, Europe, India, Africa, and the Philippines, focused on colonial power, trade, and resources. Prior to that point, most British colonists were pretty satisfied with their situation. The chance to get ahead while beholden to the king was not the irritant it would become later. This was still a time when they could just settle a little farther into the backcountry if they wished to escape the scrutiny of the colonial  tax collectors, sheriffs, judges. It was easier to ignore and escape too much regulatory attention in the far reaches of the colony. The French and Indian War predates the War of Regulation (1770) and the formati...

Update - This is a great place to start our look back at conditions and events surrounding Colonial Wake County.  This post was originally published in the Spring 2021 issue of the Wake Genealogy Watch newsletter . This is a great story in our history. It also reinforces the importance of being aware of these frequent boundary changes when researching early family history in Wake County. - Cyndi Deal Celebrating Wake County’s 250th  Year  It would be remiss to ignore Wake County and its place in history of both state and nation as well as its importance to the many first settlers of the region. In researching the creation of Wake, I was most intrigued to find its creation firmly entangled with the fiery politics of the day. Did you know that Wake owes its founding directly to the turmoil caused by the Regulator Movement of the pre-Revolution period from 1765 - 1771? Life, survival, and politics was rough for the inland North Carolina colonists of this period. A drought a...

WCGS member Saundra Russ Cropps will be presenting at the AAHGS 2026 Annual NC Genealogy Conference in Charlotte in February. The topic will be Using Full Text Search at FamilySearch.org .  Conference details can be accessed with the QR code in the image or via this link - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/registration-nc-aahgs-2026-conference-tickets-1979632664590 click image to enlarge Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website  -  Homepage  |  WCGS Events  |  Join WCGS  |  Publications  |  Wake Cemetery Survey Images  |  Society Surnames  |  Digital Resources  |  History Resources  |  More Links and Resources  |  Contact -  info(at)wakecogen(dot)org

Those attending  RootsTech2026  in-person already have their plans in order. For the rest of us who follow excitedly via virtual attendance, the time has come to start checking out this years speakers and classes. Virtual attendance is free. You can plan your streaming schedule. If something streams at a time when you are not available to watch, you can watch on demand later.  RootsTech2026 offers three days of content (March 5-7) and presentations covering over 40 different genealogically relavant topics.   This is an amazing online learning opportunity. Check out the speaker list and 3 day schedule. The speaker list this year is huge.  I count at least two hundred and fifty speakers. I know you will find some familiar names and faces and discover some new favorites. The schedule can be sorted by skill level, topic and online presentations. Register and put RootsTech2026 on your calendar. I promise you will be spending your genealogy time wisely. I...

I have been mulling over different directions to take the Wake Wednesday posts lately. I enjoy them, but there are not always enough research hours in the day. Another consideration is that Heather Leah has started doing something very similar with her new Facebook page. She is doing a great job and producing content at a rate that I just can't match. I encourage you to visit Heather's page . I may direct you there from time to time when I see she has written about something really special. Otherwise, I am on a quest to see if I can dredge up content from the 1770's through 1790's to inform us how the denizens of Wake County lived, rebelled and coped with the political turmoil of their day.  I hope to capture as much or more about life lived around and in spite of the politics, but I am sure both topics will appear over time. As I was toying with the idea, one of my resources suggested this great article from the Muscogee Muckraker as an example. It offers extensive dis...

I have a little New Years surprise for you! I needed to find a previously written article last week. After nearly 10 years of writing this newsletter, I could not find it to save me! My frustration led to the creation of this Cumulative Index for Wake Genealogy Watch 2017-2026 . It is arranged by issue and searchable.  You can use the categories to get you started or try any search term you like. The Search feature is in the Tool Menu at the upper left. The size can be increased using the plus in the gray bar. Each article is linked to its issue. You can view it by clicking the "volume.issue" link. Note the page number before you leave and find it in the issue! I hope it helps you find an article you wanted to revisit but forgot. Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website  -  Homepage  |  WCGS Events  |  Join WCGS  |  Publications  |  Wake Cemetery Survey Images  |  Society Surnames  |  Digital Resources ...

The Winter 2026 issue (Vol. 9, Issue 2) of our award-winning newsletter, Wake Genealogy Watch, is now available online for reading or download. Visit the WCGS website or click here: Wake Genealogy Watch, Winter 2026 This issue includes: Recap and photos of our Fall 2025 events News from the NCGS Fall Conference A house history from WCGS member Gayle Williams focusing on history, genealogy and evolution of building materials through 200 years of maintenance and preservation A revisit of the WCGS Surname Search feature at our website A fantastic workflow for identifying and researching your Revolutionary Ancestors Our winter calendar of upcoming events A new cumulative index to all published issues of Wake Genealogy Watch Dive in and explore all the resources and stories designed to enrich your genealogy journey. Be sure to visit the last page for the link to the index! Photo Note: If you choose to read a printed version of this newsletter, some of the photos will be difficult to view du...

Have you made any Genealogy Resolutions yet?  I haven't specifically, but I recently got caught up in an effort to identify any ancestors that would be Revolutionary War Patriots. It looks like that is becoming my resolution! Watch for more on that in the next issue of the Wake Genealogy Watch newsletter that will publish shortly.  If you haven't made your resolutions yet, you might like to try one or both of these ideas from Connie Knox. Each is inspired by her latest videos. Resolution #1 - Adopt a comprehensive and consistent workflow that is informed by the Genealogy Proof Standard. (Don't panic, she has a template for that.)  Her plan is covered in this video and she has even made it easy to know what you are looking for and remember where you found it. If you are intrigued, watch  Research Notes Updated for 2026 - Game Changer for Family History Brick Walls ai image generated with Gemini Nano Banana Resolution #2 - Create an online storage system (with automat...