Ritchie County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

County Courthouse

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

History

 * The History of Ritchie County, West Virginia, to 1980
 * Ritchie County, West Virginia History at Ancestry.com ($)

Parent County
1843--Ritchie County was created 18 February 1843 from Wood, Harrison and Lewis Counties. County seat: Harrisville

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

 * Calhoun
 * Doddridge
 * Gilmer
 * Pleasants
 * Tyler
 * Wirt
 * Wood

Cemeteries

 * Index to cemetery readings at the Ritchie County Library, Harrisville, Ritchie County, West Virginia, book I
 * Random Acts WV Cemetery Records Research Guide

Genealogy

 * McFarland - Finley, Carmen J. "The McFarlings: From Virginia to the California Gold Rush," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 44, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 2000):3-12; Vol. 44, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 2000):131-145; Vol. 44, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 2000):186-195; Vol. 44, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 2000):275-292. Digital version at American Ancestors ($)..

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.
 * - 26th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company A and Company C.

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
 * 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 1843-1970 - free.
 * Death register, 1889-1969
 * Delayed reports of birth, 1877-1951

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

Ritchie County Historical Society 200 S Church Street Harrisville, WV 26362

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

Web Sites

 * Ritchie 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

Learning How to Edit our Wiki Sites