Nicholas County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

Description
Nicholas County was named for Virginia Governor Wilson Cary Nicholas. The county is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Nicholas County Courthouse 700 Main Street Summersville, WV 26651 Phone: 304-872-7820 Nicholas County Website County Clerk has birth records from 1855, marriage and land records from 1812, death records from 1890, probate records from 1880. Clerk of the Circuit Court 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:

Census Records

 * Nicholas County, West Virginia Census Records USGenweb Archives

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1818-1830 (*); Clerk of the County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1818-1832 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1818-1860 (*); Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery, Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1818-1944 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1839-1949 (*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1844-1928 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1889-1943 (*); Clerk of the Circuit Court and Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Funeral Homes

 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * Simons-Coleman Funeral Home, Inc. in Richwood (Facebook).
 * Waters Funeral Chapel in Summersville.
 * White Funeral Home, Inc in Summersville.

Genealogies

 * Coberly - Arthaud, John Bradley. "Dr. James Stell Coberly 18th Century Migrant from New Jersey to Virginia and Revolutionary Patriot," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 26, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1982):112-117; Vol. 26, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1982):183-189. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($)..

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records

Local Histories
Nicholas County, West Virginia, USA

Nicholas County, WV, heritage, 2000 Summersville, West Virginia Nicholas County Historical &amp; Genealogical Society, 1998

Bell C. W. ''The Double Grave: A Chapter in the Early History of Nicholas County. Summersville, West Virginia'', Press of the Nicholas Chronicle, 1929. 975.469 B433 Pam.

Bell, Carol Hughes and Hilda Grose. Summersville Pictorial History, 1820-1991. Marceline, Missouri, Heritage House Publishing, 1991. 975.469 B433.

Brown, William Griffee. History of Nicholas County, West Virginia. Richmond, Virginia, Dietz Press, 1954. 975.469 B881.

__________________. History of Nicholas County, West Virginia. Richwood, West Virginia, The News Leader, 1981. 975.469 B881 1981.

Campbell, Edward. "Nicholas County's First Settlers," West Virginia History, Charleston, West Virginia, Department of Archives and History, 1954-55. Arc 1. 4:16.

Deitz, J. Dennis. Mountain Memories II. Charleston, West Virginia, Jalamap Publications, 1983. 818.54 D325 2.

_____________. Mountain Memories III. Charleston, West Virginia, Jalamap Publications, 1984. 818.54 D325 3.

_____________. Mountain Memories IV. Charleston, West Virginia, Mountain Memories Books, 1985. 818.54 D 325 4.

Groves, James Huling. Life at the Bend. s. l., William Groves Long, 1995. 975.469 G884.

Just For Old Time Sake: A Book From The Past. s. l., Jim Comstock and Bronson McClung, 1949. Q975.469 C739.

Legg, A. J. A History of Panther Mountain Community (Nicholas County, West Virginia). Morgantown, West Virginia, Agricultural Extension Division, 1930 (On-line version). Xwv 1. Agr 3. 2: L45.

''Leivasy Centennial Committee. Leivasy, West Virginia'', Centennial, 1979. s. l., n. p., 1979. 975.469 L533 Pam.

''Nicholas County Historical and Genealogical Society. Nicholas County West Virginia ''Heritage 2000. Summersville, West Virginia, Nicholas County Historical and Genealogical Society, 2000. 975.469 N597 2000.

__________________________________________. Nicholas County West Virginia History, 1985. Summersville, West Virginia, Nicholas County Historical and Genealogical Society Inc., 1985. 975.469 N597.

Nicholas County State Troops, Enrolled and Enlisted Men. s. l., n. p., n. d. MS 79-229.

Stults, Erma. Only In Memories: Crupperneck: West Virginia: Recollections of Rural America. Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Southern Heritage Press, 1998. B S934.

Van Bibber, Mathias. Mathias Van Bibber Papers, 1799-1844. s. l., n. p. MS 80-152.

''Webster County Historical Society. Nicholas County, (West) Virginia Records of the Pioneers, 1818-1860.'' Upper Glade, West Virginia, Webster County Historical Society, Inc., 1985. 929.3 N597w.

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
 * Nicholas County West Virginia 1895
 * Nicholas County, West Virginia Map

Revolutionary War

 * Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions. Washington, D.C., 1852. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1969, and 1991. Reprints include "an Added Index to States." ; digital version at Ancestry ($). Includes veterans from this county; Virginia section begins on page 238.

Civil War

 * - 14th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company L.
 * - 22nd Regiment, Virginia Infantry (1st Kanawha Regiment). Company D (Nicholas Blues).
 * - 36th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (2nd Kanawha Infantry) (Confederate). Company F (Mountain Riflemen).

Records and histories are available, including:


 * West Virginia, Civil War - 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)

Civil War Battle The following Civil War battles were fought in Nicholas County.


 * August 26, 1861 - Kessler's Cross Lanes, also known as Cross Lanes.


 * Battles of the American Civil War maps - filter by state or by battle name.

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
 * 1818-1944 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1820-1899 (*); County Clerk and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1820-1899 (*); Clerk of the County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1820-1969 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1832-1901 (*); Clerk of the County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1844-1928 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1872-1938 (*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1881-1931 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1902-1989 (*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1903-1932 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1915-1930 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & 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.

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.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

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 $
 * Nicholas County, West Virginia marriages by Bride and Groom

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

 * Charleston West Virginia FamilySearch Center
 * White Sulphur Springs West Virginia FamilySearch Center

Libraries
Summersville Public Library 6201 Webster Rd Summersville, WV 26651 Phone: 304-872-0844 Email: [mailto:spl@mail.mln.lib.wv.us spl@mail.mln.lib.wv.us ] Website Facebook

Societies
Nicholas County WV Historical and Genealogical Society PO Box 443 Summersville, WV 26651 Email: [mailto:ncwvhistandgensoc@localnet.com ncwvhistandgensoc@localnet.com] Website Facebook

Websites

 * Nicholas County USGenWeb Archives
 * USGenWeb Project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * 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