Lewis County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

Description
The County is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Lewis County Courthouse 110 Center Avenue Weston, WV 26452 Phone: 304-269-8215 Lewis County Website County Clerk has birth and death records from 1853, marriage, probate and land records from 1816. Clerk of the Circuit Court has divorce records.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Census Records

 * Lewis County Census, 1850 at Ancestry ($)

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Genealogies

 * Cunningham - Harter, Mary. "James Cunningham of Western Virginia," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 29, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1985):9-16; Vol. 29, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1985):109-116. Digital version at American Ancestors ($)..
 * Hacker - “A Noted Mason Dead: The Demise of William Hacker at a Ripe Old Age,” Newspaper obituary (Shelbyville, Ohio), 29 July 1891, reprinted in Hacker’s Creek Journal, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Fall 1987):31-32 - free digital version at Hacker's Creek website.
 * Swisher - Swisher, Robert Edward. The Swisher Family of Harrison and Lewis Counties, West Virginia. Richmond, Va.: Whittet &amp; Shepperson, 1974..

Land and Property Records
Lewis County, West Virginia Deeds

Local Histories

 * Lewis County, WV - This is Stonewall Country

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
 * Maps of West Virginia (1617-1995)
 * Map of 1850 Virginia and West Virginia
 * Lewis County, West Virginia Map

Revolutionary War

 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841. Digital versions at U.S. Census Bureau and Google Books et. al. 1967 reprint: 973 X2pc 1840. See Virginia, Western District, Lewis County on page 135.
 * Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions. Washington, D.C., 1852. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1969, and 1991. Reprints include "an Added Index to States." 973 M24ur; digital version at Ancestry ($). Includes veterans from this county; Virginia section begins on page 238.

Civil War

 * - 3rd Regiment, Virginia State Line (Cavalry and Infantry) (Confederate). Company I.
 * - 18th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company I.
 * - 26th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company B.
 * - 31st Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company I (Lewis County Rangers).
 * - 36th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company D.

Records and histories are available, including:


 * 1861-1865  at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 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)

World War II

 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1814-1991  at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Newspapers

 * The Weston Democrat

Probate Records
'''Online Probate Records


 * 1724-1978 West Virginia Wills and Probate Records 1724-1978 at Ancestry — index and images $
 * 1756-1971 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * Lewis County Wills, USGenWeb

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.

Tax Records
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

 * West Virginia Vital Records, 1865-1969 (varies) - Includes birth, death, and marriage.
 * Lewis County birth records : births recorded in the Lewis County Courthouse, Weston, West Virginia v. 1. 1853-1868 -- v. 2. 1869-1877 -- v. 3. 1878-1892 -- v. 4. 1893-1903 -- 1904-1916.
 * Lewis County, W. Va., death records : deaths recorded in Lewis County Courthouse, Weston, West Virginia v. 1. 1853-1886 -- v. 2. 1887-1905 -- v. 3. 1906-1929 -- v. 4. 1930-1940.
 * Lewis County Courthouse death records

Marriage

 * 1780-1970 - at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1801-1962 - West Virginia, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $

Death

 * 1804-1999 - at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Societies

 * Lewis County Genealogical-Historical Society
 * Hacker's Creek Pioneer Descendants, Inc.

Websites

 * Lewis County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Lewis County, WVGenWeb
 * Cyndi's List for West Virginia
 * Lewis County, West Virginia various records on Microfilm at the Library of Virginia
 * Lewis County, West Virginia families
 * Hacker's Creek Pioneer Descendants, Inc
 * - The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records