Jefferson County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

Description
Jefferson County was named for Thomas Jefferson. The county is located in the northeastern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Jefferson County Courthouse P O Box 208 Charles Town, WV 25414 Phone: 304-728-3215 Jefferson County Website County Clerk has birth and death records from 1853, military records from 1918 (except Civil War years), marriage, probate and land records from 1801.

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:

Bible Records

 * Jefferson County Bibles at USGenWeb Archives
 * McMurran Family Bible Record, 1794-1917 at ArchiveGrid

Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Occupations
 * Cutten, George Barton. The Silversmiths of Virginia (Together with Watchmakers and Jewelers) from 1694 to 1850. Richmond, Va.: The Dietz Press, Incorporated, 1952. . Includes sections on Charles Town, Harper's Ferry, and Shepherdstown silversmiths.

Census Records

 * Jefferson County, West Virginia GenWeb Census

Church Records
Baptist Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):


 * Zoar (1799)

Jefferson County fell within the bounds of the Ketocton Association.

Quaker Early monthly meetings (with years of existence):

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Berkeley Monthly Meeting (1778-1832) formerly Bullskin
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1793-1913 (*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1801-1807 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1801-1898 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1802-1901 (*); County and Circuit Court, Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery, Clerk of the County Court, etc. at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1804-1811 (*); Superior Court of Law and District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1812-1829 (*); Superior Court of Chancery at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1812-1902 (*); Circuit Court, Superior Court of Chancery, Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1813-1872 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1820-1827 (*); Superior Court of Chancery at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1830-1834 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1831-1855 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1831-1928 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1837-1844 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1852-1869 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1859-1872 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1869-1873 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1873-1880 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1873-1928 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images

African Americans

 * Heinegg, Paul. "Jefferson County Personal Property Tax List, 1802-1820," Free African Americans.com. Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.

Funeral Homes

 * Brown Funeral Homes and Cremations in Ranson.
 * Eackles-Spencer and Norton Funeral Home in Harpers Ferry.
 * Melvin T. Strider Colonial Funeral Home in Ranson.

Genealogies
Compiled genealogies that treat multiple Jefferson County families include:


 * Pioneers of Old Frederick County, Virginia. By Cecil O'Dell. Marceline, Mo.: Walsworth Pub. Co., 1995. . One of the most impressively researched one-place studies in the United States. In a review, Dorman stated "Comprehensive studies such as this appear only rarely. This volume should be in every Virginia genealogical collection."
 * Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia (Illustrated) from Its Formation in 1738 to 1908, Compiled Mainly from Original Records of Old Frederick County, Now Hampshire, Berkeley, Shenandoah, Jefferson, Hardy, Clarke, Warren, Morgan and Frederick. By T. K. Cartmell. n.p.: n.p., c1909. Available at ; . Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry ($).


 * Beeler - Pappas, Carolyn H. "Christopher Beeler, 1705-1775," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 43, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1999):243-255; Vol. 44, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 2000):18-30; Vol. 44, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 2000):115-125. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($)..
 * Dandridge - Kennedy, Mary Selden. Seldens of Virginia and Allied Families. New York: Frank Allaben Genealogical Co., c1911. . Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Vol. 2 - Internet Archive; Vols. 1 & 2 - Ancestry ($).
 * Daniel - Woods, Dorothy J. and Michael E. Pollock. "The Daniel/Daniels Family in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties," Frederick Findings, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Winter 1988):19-24; Vol. 1, No. 2 (Spring 1988):80-87; Vol. 1, No. 3 (Summer 1988):139-145; Vol. 1, No. 4 (Fall 1988):219-222; Vol. 2, No. 1 (Winter 1989):41-49; Vol. 2, No. 3 (Summer 1989):157-167; Vol. 2, No. 4 (Fall 1989):251-258; Vol. 3, No. 1 (Winter 1990):1-10; Vol. 3, No. 2 (Spring 1990):79-88; Vol. 3, No. 3 (Summer 1990):175-188; Vol. 3, No. 4 (Fall 1990):207-212..
 * Hefflebower - Rohrbach, Lewis Bunker. Hoffelbauer Genealogy, 1585-1993, The American Families Hefelbower, Heffelbower, Heflebower, Hefflebower, Heflybower, Hefflibauer, Heflibauer and Heffelbauer Together with Their German and Austrian Ancestry. Camden, Me.: Picton Press, 1993..
 * Hieronymus - Gentry, Veronica J. Descendants of Conrad Hironimus (Heironimus) Whose Will Was Probated in Frederick Co., Virginia in 1816. MSS., available at.
 * Hieronymus - Chenault, Louise Ryan, John P. Hieronymus, Dorothy Hieronymus, and George P. Unseld. The Hieronymus Story. Salt Lake City, Utah, 1959.
 * Hieronymus - Hieronymus Family in America. The Hieronymus Story, 1985. Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, 1985. Available at.
 * Hite - The Colonial Dames of America. Ancestral Records and Portraits, 2 vols. New York: The Grafton Press Publishers, 1910. Digitized by Internet Archive: Vol. I and Vol. II - both free.
 * Kennedy - Kennedy, Mary Selden. Seldens of Virginia and Allied Families. New York: Frank Allaben Genealogical Co., c1911. . Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Vol. 2 - Internet Archive; Vols. 1 & 2 - Ancestry ($).
 * Little - Horner, Frederick. The History of the Blair, Banister and Braxton Families Before and After the Revolution: With a Brief Sketch of Their Descendants. Philadelphia: J.P. Lippincott, 1898. ; digital version at Internet Archive.
 * Lowndes - The Colonial Dames of America. Ancestral Records and Portraits, 2 vols. New York: The Grafton Press Publishers, 1910. Digitized by Internet Archive: Vol. I and Vol. II - both free.
 * Motter - Russell, Donna Valley. "Valentine Motter of Middletown," Western Maryland Genealogy, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Jan. 1987):3-9; Vol. 3, No. 2 (Apr. 1987):51-56.
 * Ranson - The Colonial Dames of America. Ancestral Records and Portraits, 2 vols. New York: The Grafton Press Publishers, 1910. Digitized by Internet Archive: Vol. I and Vol. II - both free.
 * Rutherford - The Colonial Dames of America. Ancestral Records and Portraits, 2 vols. New York: The Grafton Press Publishers, 1910. Digitized by Internet Archive: Vol. I and Vol. II - both free.
 * Sinclair - Hall, Newman Arnold. "Allerton of Virginia," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 32, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1988):83-92; Vol. 32, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1988):171-178; Vol. 32, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1988):287-296; Vol. 33, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1989):13-18; Vol. 33, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1989):94-102; Vol. 33, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1989):175-180. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($)..
 * Snyder - Lowe, Elizabeth Snyder. Roots and Branches of the Jacob Snyder Family Tree. 1997. Digital version at FamilySearch
 * Strother - Owen, Thomas McAdory, "William Strother of Virginia and His Descendants," Publications of the Southern History Association, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Apr. 1898):149-173. Digitized by Internet Archive.
 * Turner - Tyler, Lyon G. "The Blackburns, of 'Ripon Lodge,'" The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 4, No. 4 (Apr. 1896):266-269. Digital version at JSTOR - free.
 * Vanswearingen - Daniels, Frances C.T. Some Descendants of Garrett Vanswearingen of St. Mary's, Maryland. Georgetown, Del.: A.B. and R.P. Thompson, 1983. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Yates - Roberts, Gary Boyd. The Royal Descents of 600 Immigrants to the American Colonies or the United States: Who Were Themselves Notable or Left Descendants Notable in American History. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2008. ; online at Ancestry ($).

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Local Histories

 * A history of Jefferson County, West Virginia
 * A history of Jefferson County, West Virginia at Ancestry ($)
 * Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia (Illustrated) from Its Formation in 1738 to 1908, Compiled Mainly from Original Records of Old Frederick County, Now Hampshire, Berkeley, Shenandoah, Jefferson, Hardy, Clarke, Warren, Morgan and Frederick. By T. K. Cartmell. n.p.: n.p., c1909. Available at ; . Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry ($).
 * History of the Lower Shenandoah Valley Counties of Frederick, Berkeley, Jefferson and Clarke. By J. E. Norris. Chicago: A. Warner, 1890. Reprinted 1972. Available at . Online at:  Ancestry ($), MyHeritage ($).

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
 * Maps of West Virginia (1617-1995)
 * Map of 1850 Virginia and West Virginia

Revolutionary War

 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshals of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). 1967 reprint: . See Virginia, Western District, Jefferson County on page 134.
 * Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions. Washington, D.C., 1852. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1969, and 1991. Reprints include "an Added Index to States." ; digital version at Ancestry ($). Includes veterans from this county; Virginia section begins on page 238.

War of 1812
Jefferson County men served in the 55th Regiment.

Civil War

 * - 1st Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate).
 * - 2nd Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company A (Jefferson Guards), Company B (Hamtramck Guards), Company G (Botts Greys), Company H (Letcher Riflemen), and Company K (Floyd Guards).
 * - 11th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry. Company A (The Wildcat Company).
 * - 12th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company B (Baylor Light Horse) and 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)

Civil War Battle The following Civil War battles were fought in Jefferson County.


 * September 12 - 15, 1862 - Harpers Ferry.
 * September 19 - 20, 1862 - Shepherdstown.
 * August 21, 1864 - Summit Point, also known as Flowing Springs, Cameron's Depot.
 * August 25 - 29, 1864 - Smithfield Crossing.


 * Battles of the American Civil War maps - filter by state or by battle name.

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

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1724-1985 West Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1724-1985 at Ancestry ($) — index & images
 * 1756-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1776-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1791-1859 (*); Circuit and District Court, Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery, Superior Court of Law at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1793-1913 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1797-1913 (*); Circuit and District Court, Superior Court of Law, Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1801-1807 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1801-1893 (*); Works Progress Administration of West Virginia at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1801-1894 (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1801-1899 (*); County Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1801-1970 (*); County Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1802-1901 (*); County and Circuit Court, Superior Court of Chancery, Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery, Clerk of the County Court, Supreme Court, United States and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1813-1872 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1831-1928 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1873-1880 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1879-1883 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

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.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records
How can Virginia tax lists help me?


 * 1802-1820 Heinegg, Paul. "Jefferson County Personal Property Tax List, 1802-1820," Free African Americans.com. Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.
 * 1815 Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. Available at . The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Jefferson County is included in Vol. 6.

 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

 * West Virginia Vital Records, 1865-1969 (varies) - Includes birth, death, and marriage.
 * Index of names appearing in the birth records of Jefferson County, Virginia - West Virginia 1853 through 1890
 * Index of names appearing in the death records of Jefferson County, Virginia - West Virginia, 1853 through 1910
 * Marriages, Jefferson County, Virginia - West Virginia, 1801 through 1890
 * Burials in Jefferson County, West Virginia, 1978-1997 : supplemental to tombstone inscriptions to 1980

Birth

 * 1853-1914 West Virginia Birth Index, 1853-1914 at MyHeritage - index ($)

Marriage

 * 1776-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1780-1970 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1801-1962 West Virginia, United States Marriages at Findmypast; index $

Death

 * 1804-1999 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1853-1964 West Virginia Death Index & Certificates, 1853-1964 at MyHeritage - index ($)

FamilySearch Centers

 * Harpers Ferry West Virginia Charles Town FamilySearch Center

Libraries
Old Charles Town Library 200 E Washington St Charles Town, WV 25414 Phone: 304-725-2208 Email: [mailto:librarian@ctlibrary.org librarian@ctlibrary.org] Website Facebook

Museums
Historic Shepherdstown and Museum 129 E German St PO Box 1786 Shepherdstown, WV 25443 Phone: 304-876-0910 Email: [mailto:info@historicshepherdstown.com info@historicshepherdstown.com] Website Facebook

Societies
Historic Shepherdstown Commission 129 E German St PO Box 1786 Shepherdstown, WV 25443 Phone: 304-876-0910 Email: [mailto:info@historicshepherdstown.com info@historicshepherdstown.com] Website Facebook Jefferson County Black History Preservation Society PO Box 569 Ranson, WV 25438 Website Facebook Jefferson County Historical Society 600 Mordington Dr PO Box 485 Charles Town, WV 25414 Email: [mailto:info@jeffersonhistoricalwv.org info@jeffersonhistoricalwv.org] Website Facebook

Websites

 * Jefferson County WVGenWeb
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Cyndi's List for West Virginia
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * - 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

Research Guides

 * Good, Rebecca H. and Rebecca A. Ebert. Finding Your People in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, 1998. 4th ed.