Ritchie County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

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

County Courthouse
Ritchie County Courthouse 115 East Main Street, Room 201 Harrisville, WV 26362 Phone: 304-643-2164 Ritchie County Website County Clerk has birth, marriage, death, probate, land, and military records from 1853. Circuit Court Clerk has divorce records. Magisterial Court has court 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:

Bible Records

 * Ritchie County Bible Records at US GenWeb Archives

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1843-1850 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1843-1862 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1843-1870 (*); Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery, Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1863-1932 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1865-1883 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1870-1927 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1881-1910 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1903-1926 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Genealogies

 * 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 by NEHGS ($)..

Local Histories

 * History of Ritchie County : with Biographical Sketches. By Minnie Kendall Lowther. Wheeling, West Virginia : Wheeling News Litho., c1911. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($).

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

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  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 I

 *  1917-1920Ritchie County, Officers and enlisted men, 1917-1920

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
 * 1843-1862 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1843-1867 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1843-1870 (*); County Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1843-1881 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1843-1900 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1843-1970 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1850-1860 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1852-1862 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1863-1903 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1863-1910 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1867-1881 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images

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.

Birth

 * 1853-1914 West Virginia Birth Index, 1853-1914 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * Delayed reports of birth, 1877-1951

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

 * Death register, 1889-1969
 * 1804-1999 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1853-1964 West Virginia Death Index & Certificates, 1853-1964 at MyHeritage - index ($)

Archives
West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture & History The Culture Center 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, E. Charleston, WV 25305-0300 Website

FamilySearch Centers

 * Parkersburg West Virginia FamilySearch Center

Societies
Ritchie County Historical Society and Museum 310 Myles Avenue Pennsboro, WV 26415 Email: [mailto:info@RitchieHistoricalSociety.com info@RitchieHistoricalSociety.com] Website

Websites

 * WVGenWeb
 * 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