Taylor County, West Virginia Genealogy

Guide to Taylor County, West Virginia ancestry, family history and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Courthouse
Taylor County


 * County Clerk has birth, marriage, death probate and land records from 1853
 * Land records from 1853
 * Circuit Court Clerk has divorce and court records

History
Taylor County, West Virginia was created on 19 January 1844 from parts of Barbour, Marion, and Harrison Counties in Virginia. Taylor County remained part of Virginia until West Virginia was created as a state on 20 June 1863. The county seat is in Grafton, but was originally at Cross Roads. Cross Roads was renamed Williamsport 1 January 1801 and was again renamed on 23 January 1845 as Pruntytown. West Virginia became a state during the Civil War. Most of the records that were held in Virginia before West Virginia was admitted to the Union were transferred to West Virginia upon statehood, but some of the records from before 1863 may still be found in Virginia. The Tygart Valley River moves through Taylor County, and is the main waterway that provided sustenance to the farmers and other laborers in the County. Taylor County is historically the home of miners and freed former slaves. Taylor County is proudly the home of Mother’s Day founder Anna Jarvis.


 * A history of all American wars in which Taylor County, West Virginia and her men had a part from the Revolution to World War II
 * A History of Taylor County, West VirginiaIncludes indexes after the topical histories and the family histories. Contains a history of the county and a large section of family histories. Includes roster of the dead at Grafton National Cemetery and wartime deaths of Taylor County serviceman. Taylor County Historical and Genealogical Society (Grafton, West Virginia)

Parent County
1844--Taylor County was created 19 January 1844 from Harrison, Barbour and Marion Counties. County seat: Grafton

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating West Virginia county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation West Virginia County Boundary Maps" (1617-1995) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Neighboring Counties

 * Barbour
 * Harrison
 * Marion
 * Monongalia
 * Preston

Cemeteries

 * Smith Cemetery (Baptist) Pruntytown, Taylor County, West Virginia
 * Grafton National Cemetery, 1867-2010 at Ancestry.com ($)
 * Random Acts WV Cemetery Records Research Guide

Census
Court

Land
● Four different sets of court records on film, covering the years 1844 to 1927: FHL Catalog ● Land records on film and book at FHL covering 1844 to 1970: FHL Catalog

Maps

 * Maps of West Virginia (1617-1995)
 * Map of 1850 Virginia and West Virginia

Civil War

 * - 3rd Regiment, Virginia State Line (Cavalry and Infantry) (Confederate). Company C.
 * - 9th Battalion, Virginia Infantry (Hansbrough's) (Confederate). Company A (Letcher Guard), Captain George W. Hansbrough's Company.

Records and histories are available, including:


 * 1861 - 1865 - West Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865
 * 1861 - 1865 - U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
 * 1861 - 1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)

Naturalization

 * 1814 - 1991 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1724 - 1978 West Virginia Wills and Probate Records 1724-1978 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1756 - 1971 at [https:/familysearch.org/ FamilySearch] — index and images

Taylor County, West Virginia Will Books 1844 - 1969 West Virginia Will Books

Online West Virginia Tax site
West Virginia real and personal property tax records are managed by the County Assessor in each county. Land and land improvements are considered real property while mobile property is classified as personal property.

Many County Assessors offer an online searchable database, where assessment record searches can be performed by name, account number, year, or mp/parcel number. Where online records are not available, requests for records can be made to the Assessment Office in person, by phone, or in writing.

The search for tax information can start here

Vital Records

 * . Includes marriages 1853-1970 - free.

Birth

 * West Virginia Division of Culture and History search Birth Records: Birth Records
 * West Virginia, Births Index, 1853-1969, available on Ancestry.com Ancestry.com

Marriage

 * West Virginia Division of Culture and History search Marriage Records: WV culture.org
 * West Virginia Marriage Records, 1863-1900, available on Ancestry.com Ancestry.com
 * West Virginia Marriages Index, 1785-1971, available on Ancestry.com Ancestry.com
 * 1853 - 1863 - Virginia Marriages 1853-1863 Ancestry (Ancestry) ($).
 * 1858 - 1884 - Marriage, Taylor County, West Virginia Includes surname index. Marriage register, 1853-1878; register of Negro marriages, 1866-1877 and marriage licenses, 1858-1884

Death

 * West Virginia Division of Culture and History search Death Records: WV Culture
 * West Virginia, Deaths Index, 1853-1973, available on Ancestry.com Ancestry
 * West Virginia Cemetery Readings, 1941, available on Ancestry.com Ancestry

Societies and Libraries
See also a List of West Virginia Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies

Taylor County Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc; P O Box 522 Grafton, WV 26354

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

Web Sites

 * Taylor County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Cyndi's List for West Virginia
 * Cyndi's List for West Virginia

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