Putnam County, West Virginia Genealogy

Guide to Putnam 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 Israel Putnam. The County is located in the southwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Putnam County Courthouse 3389 Winfield Road Winfield, WV 25213 Phone: 304-586-0202 Putnam County Website County Clerk has birth records from 1848, death records from 1853, marriage and probate records from 1853, land records from 1841. Circuit Court Clerk has divorce and 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:

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Genealogies

 * Rust - Rust, Ellsworth Marshall. Rust of Virginia: Genealogical and Biographical Sketches of the Descendants of William Rust, 1654-1940. Washington, D.C.: Rust, 1940..

Local Histories

 * History of Putnam County, West Virginia
 * History and Genealogy Putnam County, West Virginia
 * Centennial Celebration, Hurricane, West Virginia, 1888-1988: Program. s. l., n. p., 1988. 975.435 H966c Pam.
 * Comstock, Jim. Hardesty's Historical and Genealogical Encyclopedia. Richwood, West Virginia, Jim Comstock, 1973. 975.4003 H259 1973 v.1.
 * Hanson, Lee H. The Buffalo Site: A Late 17th Century Indian Village Site (46 PU 31) in Putnam County, West Virginia. Morgantown, West Virginia, West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, 1975. Geo 3. R4 no.5.
 * Harper, Charles Ray. History of Red House, West Virginia. Red House, West Virginia, Charles Harper, 1983. 975.435 H293 Pam.
 * _________________. A Short History of Putnam County, in Two Parts. Red House, West Virginia, Charles Harper, Putnam Democrat and Hurricane Breeze, 1983. 975.435 H293s Pam.
 * Historical Records Survey, West Virginia. Inventory of the County Archives of West Virginia: No. 40 Putnam County (Winfield). Division of Professional and Service Projects, Work Projects Administration, Charleston, West Virginia, West Virginia Historical Records Survey, 1941. 016.9754 P899.
 * History of Buffalo, Putnam County, West Virginia. Pt. Pleasant, West Virginia, Mattox Printing Service, 1976. 975.435 B929.
 * History of Hurricane, 100 Years, 1888-1988. Salem, West Virginia, Walsworth Press, Inc., 1988. 975.435 H966.
 * Upper Vandalia Historical Society. The Paradise Journals, 1884-1905, Putnam County, West Virginia. s. l., Upper Vandalia Historical Society, 1981. 975.435 P222 Pam.
 * ____________________________. The Vandalia Journal. s. l., Upper Vandalia Historical Society, 1964-. Per.
 * Wintz, William D. and Hunter, Ivan N. The History of Putnam County. Charleston, West Virginia, Upper Vandalia Historical Society, Quick Copy Service Company, 1967. 975.435 H673.

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
 * Putnam County, West Virginia map
 * Map West-Virginia

Civil War
Confederate


 * - 8th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company G (Mountain Rangers).
 * - 16th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company D.
 * - 22nd Regiment, Virginia Infantry (1st Kanawha Regiment). Company A (Border Rifles).
 * - 34th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry (Witcher's Battalion, Virginia Mounted Rifles) (Confederate). Company B.
 * - 36th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company B.
 * - 36th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (2nd Kanawha Infantry) (Confederate). Company A (Buffalo Guards).

Union


 * - 8th Regiment, West Virginia Infantry.

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 II
{{WV World War II Intro|Putnam}
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * Putnam County, West Virginia World War II Casualties Army and Air Force

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1814-1991  at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Newspapers

 * Charleston Gazette

Obituaries

 * Charleston Gazette Obituaries

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1724-1978 West Virginia Wills and Probate Records 1724-1978 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1756-1971 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * Putnam County, West Virginia Wills

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 $

Death

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

Family History Centers

 * The closest family history centers are in the Huntingon Family History Center and in the Charleston Family History Center
 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Libraries

 * Putnam County Public Library

Societies
Upper Vandalia Historical Society PO Box 517 Poca, WV 25159 Upper Vandalia Historical Society Upper Vandalia Historical Society Facebook

Websites

 * Putnam County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Cyndi's List West Virginia
 * Putnam County, West Virginia Various Microfilm Records at the Library of Virginia
 * Putnam County, West Virginia
 * Putnam County, West Virginia Families
 * - 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