Wetzel County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

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

County Courthouse
Wetzel County Courthouse PO Box 156 New Martinsville, WV 26155-0156 Phone: 304-455-8224 Wetzel County Website County Clerk has birth, marriage, death, burial, probate, land and military records from 1846. Clerk of the Circuit Court has divorce and naturalization 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

 * Wetzel County Bibles at WVGenWeb

Church Records
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Hundred
 * New Martinsville
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1826-1868 (*); Surveyor and County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1846 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1846-1872 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1846-1872 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1846-1873 (*); County and Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1846-1980 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1848-1861 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1848-1887 (*); Clerk of the County Court, County and Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1860-1879 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1863-1872 (*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1870-1939 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1873-1875 (*); County and Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1873-1908 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1878-1880 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1909-1929 (*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * Wetzel County, West Virginia, Wills, 1847-1899. By Barekman, June Beverly and Roberta Lee Lent. Chicago, Illinois: Genealogical Reference Builders, 1967. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library

Directories

 * 1946-Onward (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

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

 * 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

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
 * 1847-1899 (*); County Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1847-1899 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1847-1970 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1848-1991 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1854-1899 (*); Works Progress Administration of West Virginia at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1860-1879 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1863-1872 (*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1869-1879 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1869-1899 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1870-1879 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1870-1939 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * Index to Wetzel Co., WV Wills Prior to 1900. By Tri-County Researcher (West Virginia). Proctor, West Virginia: Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
 * Last Will and Testament of Michael Pyles : Wetzel County, West Virginia May 15, 1878; Tri-County Researcher (West Virginia) : Marshall, Tyler and Wetzel Counties, West Virginia - V. 22, No. 3 (July 1998). By Lyndia Goddard Stout. Proctor, West Virginia: Tri-County Researcher, 1998. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
 * Last Will and Testament of William Miller; Tri-County Researcher (Series) (West Virginia) : Marshall, Tyler and Wetzel Counties, West Virginia - V. 21, No. 2 (Apr. 1997). By Lyndia Goddard Stout. Proctor, West Virginia: Tri-County Researcher, 1997. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
 * (*); 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 ($)

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 $
 * 1854-1863 Virginia Marriages 1854-1863, Ancestry ($)

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

 * New Martinsville West Virginia FamilySearch Center

Societies
Wetzel County Genealogical Society PO Box 464 New Martinsville, WV 26155-0464 Phone: 304-455-2772 Email: [mailto:clhassig@suddenlink.net clhassig@suddenlink.net] Website

Websites

 * Wetzel County WVGenWeb
 * 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