Mercer County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth, marriage and death records from 1853; probate and land recrods from 1837; Circuit Court Clerk has divorce and court records from 1837

History
Early History of Mercer County Official Blue Book of Mercer County, West Virginia by Charles B Hedrick Welcome to Mercer County, West Virginia Mercer County, West Virginia Discover America's Coal Story Mercer County history : sesquicentennial year, 1987 Mercer County history, 1984

Parent County
1837--Mercer County was created 17 March 1837 from Giles and Tazewell Counties (Virginia). County seat: Princeton

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating West Virginia county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation West Virginia County Boundary Maps" (1617-1995) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Populated Places
Athens West Virginia Glenwood, West Virginia Pisgah Community, West Virginia Spanishburg Community, West Virginia

Neighboring Counties

 * Bland County, Virginia
 * Giles County, Virginia
 * McDowell
 * Raleigh
 * Summers
 * Tazewell County, Virginia
 * Wyoming

Cemetery

 * Random Acts WV Cemetery Records Research Guide

Census
1870 Mercer Co. Census

Church Records
LDS Ward and Branch Records


 * Bluefield

Genealogy

 * Harman - Harman, John Newton. Harman Genealogy (Southern Branch): With Biographical Sketches, 1700-1924. Richmond, Va.: W.C. Hill Print. Co., 1925. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Local Histories
Johnston, Daniel E A History of the Middle New River Settlements and ContiguousKinyon Digital Library

Maps



 * Maps of West Virginia (1617-1995)
 * Map of 1850 Virginia and West Virginia
 * Mercer County West Virginia Map

Revolutionary War

 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census]. 1841. Digital versions at U.S. Census Bureau and Google Books et. al. 1967 reprint: 973 X2pc 1840. See Virginia, Western District, Mercer County on page 135.
 * 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." 973 M24ur; digital version at Ancestry ($). Includes veterans from this county; Virginia section begins on page 238.

Civil War

 * - 8th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company D (1st) (French's Company), Company E (Border Rangers) and Company H (Tazewell Troop).
 * - 23rd Battalion, Virginia Infantry Reserves (Confederate). Company B (The Blue Stone Greys).
 * - 24th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company G.
 * - 26th Battalion, Virginia Infantry (Edgar's) (Confederate). Company C.
 * - 30th Battalion, Virginia Sharpshooters (Clarke's) (Confederate). Company A.
 * - 34th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry (Witcher's Battalion, Virginia Mounted Rifles) (Confederate). Company K.
 * - 59th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company I2 (Princeton Guard).
 * - 60th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (3rd Regiment, Wise Legion) (Confederate). Companies 2H (Richmond Light Guard) and I.

Records and histories are available, including:


 * West Virginia, Civil War Service
 * 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 battle was fought in Mercer County.


 * May 15-17, 1862 - Princeton Court House, also known as Princeton Court House, WV


 * Map showing Civil War battles in West Virginia.

Naturalization
West Virginia,

Newspapers

 * Bluefield Daily Telegraph (Bluefield, West Virginia) at Ancestry.com ($)
 * The New Daily Telegraph (Bluefield, West Virginia) at Ancestry.com ($)

Probate
Online Probate Records

Mercer County, West Virginia Will Books 1838 - 1969 West Virginia
 * 1724 - 1978 West Virginia Wills and Probate Records 1724-1978 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1756 - 1971 at [https:/familysearch.org/ FamilySearch] — index and images

Online West Virginia Tax site
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

 * . Includes marriages 1854-1967 - free.
 * Mercer County, West Virginia Death Records
 * Deaths of Mercer County, West Virginia, 1853 through 1890
 * Marriages of Mercer County, West Virginia, 1853 thru 1890

Societies and Libraries
See also a List of West Virginia Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies

Mercer Co Historical Society P.O. Box 5012 Princeton, WV 24740.

Family History Centers
The closest family history centers are the Huntington Family History Center and the Charleston Family History Center.


 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

Web Sites

 * Mercer County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * CYNDI'S List West Virginia
 * Book One Western Virginia An old man's thrilling experiences in Mercer County.
 * The New Dailey Telegraph
 * Historic Bramwell, West Virginia
 * Horton G Cowan
 * Learning How to Edit our Wiki Sites
 * Learning How to Edit our Wiki Sites