Wayne County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

Description


The County was named for Anthony Wayne. The County is located in the southwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Wayne County Courthouse 700 Hendricks Street Wayne, WV 25570 Phone: 304-272-6371 Wayne County Website County Clerk has birth and death records from 1853, marriage records from 1854, probate and land 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

 * Wayne County, West Virginia Transcribed Documents at Rootsweb

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1842-1926 (*); County and Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1843-1859 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1843-1956 (*); Circuit Court, Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1888-1894 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Funeral Homes

 * Morris Funeral Home

Land and Property Records

 * Wayne County, Transactions West Virginia Deeds

Local Histories
West Virginia Archives

A Brief History of Buffalo Creek Community, Wayne County ,West Virginia. Morgantown, West Virginia, Agricultural Extension Division, 1925. (On-line version) Xwv 1. Agr 3. 2: B78. Comstock, Jim. ''Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia. Richwood, West Virginia'', Jim Comstock, 1973. 975.4003 H259 v.7. Darby, Erasmus Foster. App Queen Day: Being an Eyewitness Account of How This Great Schoolmaster is Honored Each Year in Wayne County, West Virginia. Chillicothe, Ohio, Dave Webb, 1955. 398.22 D24a Pam. _________________. Spot the Great Red Nosed Hound of Sugar Tree Hollow. Chillicothe, Ohio, Dave Webb, 1954. 636.7 D34s Pam. Kirby, Wesley D. History of Wayne Community Wayne County West Virginia. Morgantown, West Virginia, Agricultural Extension Division, 1926. (On-line version) Xwv 1. Agr 3. 2: K5. McClintic, Elizabeth Knight. Ceredo: An Experiment in Colonization. s. l., n. p., 1937. 917.5447 M126. Osborn, Lucian W. History of East Lynn Community Wayne County West Virginia. Morgantown, West Virginia, Agricultural Extension Division, 1927. (On-line version)Xwv 1. Agr 3. 2: O8. ''A Pictorial History of Wayne County. Kenova, West Virginia, Wayne County Historical Publications Inc.'', 1988. 975.447 W359p. Taylor, Mildred. ''History of Wayne County, West Virginia. Wayne, West Virginia,'' n. p., 1963. 975.447 T244. Thomas C. W.History of Ceredo and Kenova. s. l., n. p., @1958.975.447 T482 Pam. Varney, Carl E. Birch Bark and Sassafras Tea. Crum, West Virginia, @1976. 917.5447 V318. Williams, John Alexander. "A Note and Documents on the Wayne County Shooting Incident During the Election Campaign of 1894." West Virginia History, Charleston, West Virginia, Department of Archives and History, 1971-72.Arc 1. 4:33.

Maps and Gazetteers

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

Civil War
Union


 * - 1st Regiment, West Virginia Light Artillery, Battery B Light Artillery.

Confederate


 * - 1st Regiment, Virginia State Line (Cavalry) (Confederate). Companies A, C, and G.
 * - 2nd Regiment, Virginia State Line (Cavalry) (Confederate). Company H.
 * - 4th Regiment, Virginia State Line (Cavalry and Infantry) (Confederate). Company G.
 * - 8th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company K (Fairview Rifle Guards aka Sandy Rangers).
 * - 16th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Companies E, G, and H.
 * - 34th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry (Witcher's Battalion, Virginia Mounted Rifles) (Confederate). Company A (Witcher's Company Virginia Mounted Rifles).
 * - 45th Battalion, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company F (K).

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)
 * 8th Virginia Calvary
 * Wayne County, West Virginia Civil War

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


 * 1724-1978 West Virginia Wills and Probate Records 1724-1978 at Ancestry — index and images $
 * 1853-1881 (*); Historic Marker Project, United States. Works Progress Administration, Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1871-1933 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library

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 $
 * 1853-1863 Virginia Marriages 1853-1863 at 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

 * Huntington West Virginia FamilySearch Center
 * FamilySearch Centers

Libraries

 * Wayne County, West Virginia Public Library
 * Ceredo-Kenova Memorial Public Library
 * Fort Gay Public Library

Societies
Wayne County Genealogical and Historical Society P O Box 787 Wayne, WV 25570-0787 Wayne County Genealogical and Historical Society

Cabell-Wayne Historical Society 630 1/2 – 7th Avenue Huntington, WV 25701 Cabell-Wayne Historical Society

KYOWVA Genealogical Society 901 Jefferson Avenue P O Box 1254 Huntington, WV 25704 Email: [mailto:kyowvagen@yahoo.com kyowvagen@yahoo.com] KYOWVA Genealogical Society

Carter G. Woodson Memorial Foundation, Inc. P O Box 5483 Huntington, WV 25703 Carter G. Woodson Memorial Foundation, Inc.

The Cultural Center 1900 Kanawha Boulevard E.  Charleston, WV 25305-0300 The Cultural Center

Websites

 * Wayne County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Wayne County, West Virginia Communities
 * Wayne County, West Virginia Wikipedia
 * CYNDI'S List West Virginia
 * Wayne County, West Virginia Biographies
 * - 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