Berkeley County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for Norborne Berkeley, Baron de Botetourt. The County has Martinsburg as its seat and the County was created May 15, 1772. The County is located in the northeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Berkeley County Courthouse 126 West King Street Martinsburg, WV 25401-3209 Phone: 304-264-1929 Berkeley County Website County Clerk has birth and death records from 1865; marriage records from 1781; probate records from 1772; land records from 1880. Clerk Circuit Court has divorce 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:

Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Occupations
 * Cutten, George Barton. The Silversmiths of Virginia (together with Watchmakers and Jewelers) from 1694 to 1850. Richmond, Va.: The Dietz Press, Incorporated, 1952. . Includes a section on Martinsburg silversmiths.

Church Records
Baptist Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):


 * Mill Creek (1766). A historical marker places the organization at "prior to 1742."
 * Timber Ridge (1809)

Berkeley County fell within the bounds of the Ketocton Association.

Church of England
 * See also Norborne Parish

Quaker Early monthly meetings (with years of existence):


 * Middle Creek Monthly Meeting, Darkesville, W.Va. (1762-1828)
 * Mill Creek Monthly Meeting, Arden, W.Va. (1759-1800)
 * Providence Monthly Meeting, near Martinsburg, W.Va. (1736-1758) aka Beeson's replaced by Tuscarora
 * Tuscarora Monthly Meeting, near Martinsburg, W.Va. (1760-1796)

Emigration and Immigration

 * Coldham, Peter Wilson. North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007. Includes wills of residents of Berkeley County proved in London. These records often help establish an immigrant's place of origin.

Genealogies
It is anticipated that this bibliography will eventually identify all known family histories published about residents of this county. Use this list to:


 * Locate publications about direct ancestors
 * Find the most updated accounts of an ancestor's family
 * Identify publications, to quote Elizabeth Shown Mills, about an ancestor's "FAN Club" [Friends, Associates, and Neighbors]
 * Berekeley County Biographies

See also Frederick County, Virginia Genealogy.

Compiled genealogies that treat multiple Berkeley County families include:


 * O'Dell, Cecil. Pioneers of Old Frederick County, Virginia. Marceline, Mo.: Walsworth Pub. Co., 1995. . One of the most impressively researched one-place studies in the United States. In a review, Dorman stated "Comprehensive studies such as this appear only rarely. This volume should be in every Virginia genealogical collection."
 * Cartmell, T. K. Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia (Illustrated) from Its Formation in 1738 to 1908, Compiled Mainly from Original Records of Old Frederick County, Now Hampshire, Berkeley, Shenandoah, Jefferson, Hardy, Clarke, Warren, Morgan and Frederick. n.p.: n.p., c1909. ; ; digital versions at Ancestry ($);


 * Ament - McJohn, James F. The Ament Family of York County, Pennsylvania. LaGrange, Ill.: McJohn Research, 1992.
 * Barnes - Cole, Mary. "Stevens - Barnes - King - Mears Connection," Bulletin of the Watauga Association of Genealogists, Vol. 24, No. 2 (1995):141-142.
 * Beeks - Adams, Katherine K. Addams—Adams and Allied Families, ca. 1715-1925. Unpublished, 1925.
 * Beeks - Adams, Katherine K. Ancestors of Katharine Kellogg Adams. Unpublished. 1928.
 * Beeks - Adams, Katherine K. “The Beeks Family,” The Researcher: A Magazine of History &amp; Genealogical Exchange, :109-113.
 * Beeks - Adams, Katherine K. Genealogy Column of the Boston Transcript, March 15, 1922. 9589.
 * Beeks - Adams, Katherine K. Genealogy Column of the Boston Transcript, December 10, 1924. 2498.
 * Beeks - Adams, Katherine K. “Genealogical Queries,” The William and Mary Quarterly, 2nd Ser., Vol. 6, No. 3 (Jul. 1926):245-250. Digital version at JSTOR ($).
 * Beeks - Adams, Katherine K. “Query: Beakes or Beeks,” The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 54, No. 3 (1930):288. Digital version at JSTOR ($).
 * Beeks - Adams, Katherine K. “Genealogical Notes and Queries: Barnes-Bonner-Beakes,” The William and Mary Quarterly, 2nd Ser., Vol. 11, No. 1 (Jan. 1931):73. Digital version at JSTOR ($).
 * Beeler - Pappas, Carolyn H. "Christopher Beeler, 1705-1775," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 43, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1999):243-255; Vol. 44, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 2000):18-30; Vol. 44, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 2000):115-125. Digital version at American Ancestors ($)..
 * Benson - Miller, Lori. Burns--Miller--Garrett--Benson Families, ca. 1794-1932. Typescript, Butler Area Public Library, Butler, Pa. Microfilmed 1991. Reproduction:
 * Boyd - Paul, Gordon W. John Boyd of Berkeley County, West Virginia. Albuquerque, New Mexico: G.W. Paul, 1991.
 * Buckles - Albert, Ethel Evans. Southwest Virginia Kin. 2 vols. Kingsport, Tenn.: 1977.
 * Burns - Miller, Lori. Burns--Miller--Garrett--Benson Families, ca. 1794-1932. Typescript, Butler Area Public Library, Butler, Pa. Microfilmed 1991. Reproduction:
 * Campbell - Campbell, Martha W. The Duties and Contributions of James Campbell to Berkeley County, West Virginia. Typescript. Microfilmed 1991.
 * Chapman - Chapman, George E. Chapman Family Historical Workbook. Allison Park, Pa.: G.E. Chapman, 1966.
 * Chapman - Chapman, George E. Chapman Family Historical Workbook. 2 vols. Mars, Pa.: G.E. Chapman, 1991.
 * Clark - French, Grace Clark. Descendants of Ambrose Clark of Berkeley and Morgan Counties, Virginia, and Their History, 1765-1973. Hagerstown, Md.: G.C. French, 1974.
 * Cunningham - Newman, Betty Cunningham. Adam and 500 More Cunninghams of the Valley of Virginia, c.1734-c.1800. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, Inc., 2000..
 * Cunningham - Dunn, Victor S. "Family Record of George Cunningham of Berkeley County, [West] Virginia, and Probable Parentage of His Second Wife Ruth," Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 48, No. 1 (Feb. 2010):33-39..
 * Cunningham - Dunn, Victor S. "Using Lawsuits to Identify Family Origins: George Cunningham of Virginia," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 98, No. 4 (Dec. 2010), 251-261.
 * Daniel - Woods, Dorothy J. and Michael E. Pollock. "The Daniel/Daniels Family in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties," Frederick Findings, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Winter 1988):19-24; Vol. 1, No. 2 (Spring 1988):80-87; Vol. 1, No. 3 (Summer 1988):139-145; Vol. 1, No. 4 (Fall 1988):219-222; Vol. 2, No. 1 (Winter 1989):41-49; Vol. 2, No. 3 (Summer 1989):157-167; Vol. 2, No. 4 (Fall 1989):251-258; Vol. 3, No. 1 (Winter 1990):1-10; Vol. 3, No. 2 (Spring 1990):79-88; Vol. 3, No. 3 (Summer 1990):175-188; Vol. 3, No. 4 (Fall 1990):207-212..
 * Dawkins - Prewitt, Lela Wolfe. The Dawkins and Stewart Families of Virginia and Kentucky. [Fairfield, Iowa: Prewitt], 1968..
 * Duke - Brandenberger, Evelyn Duke. The Duke Family. 2 vols. [Houston, Texas]: E.D. Brandenberger, 1979-1995..
 * Dunham - Roberts, Gary Boyd. Ancestors of American Presidents. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009. ; online bookstore.
 * Faris - Wilson, Mrs. George F. "Aaron Faris, Jr.," The Kentucky Genealogist, Vol. 17, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1975):128-129.
 * Flagg - Flagg, Charles Allcott. Descendants of Josiah Flagg of Berkeley County, W. Va. With Sketches of the Flagg, Keyes, Foss, Shively, Hughes, Slemons and Campbell Ancestries. Boston, Mass.: Press of T.R. Marvin &amp; Son, 1920. ; digital version at {{FSbook|{{FSbook|54131}}
 * Garrett - Miller, Lori. Burns--Miller--Garrett--Benson Families, ca. 1794-1932. Typescript, Butler Area Public Library, Butler, Pa. Microfilmed 1991. Reproduction:
 * Geringer - Shaper, M. Caroline. Unpuzzling One David Geringer/Gerringer/Garinger/Garringer. Washington C.H. [Court House], Ohio: M.C. Shaper, 1992. {{FHL|741957|item|disp=FHL Book 929.273 G183s}}; digital version at {{FSbook|1352221457769~867}}
 * Gerrard - Society of Descendants of the Colonial Clergy, Robert Glenn Thurtle, and Lillian S. King. Pedigrees of Descendants of the Colonial Clergy. 3 vols. Ann Arbor, Mich.: Edwards Brothers, 1976-1987. {{FHL|260206|item|disp=FHL Books 973 D2cc v. 1-3}}.
 * Gray - Gray, Clarence E. and Lynn Jones Warren. The Michael Gray Family: of Berkeley and Morgan Counties, Virginia (now West Virginia) and Fayette and Greene Counties, Ohio. Decorah, Iowa: Anundsen, 2001. {{FHL|1053663|item|disp=FHL Book 929.273 G793gc}}; digital version at {{FSbook|1352221457769~867}}
 * Grundy - Thompson, Mrs. Arthur A. "The Family of Samuel Seay, Amelia County, Virginia," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 7, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1963):127-135. {{FHL|975.5 B2vg}}; digital version at American Ancestors ($).
 * Habermehl - Allemong, Kathern Ruppenthal and Sylvia H. Clark. Johann Christian Habermehl, Morgan County (VA) WV, Hovermale/Hovermill/Hawvermale Descendants, 1731-1993. Berkeley Springs, W. Va.: Morgan County Historical and Genealogical Society (West Virginia), 1993. {{FHL|707796|item|disp=FHL Book 929.273 H113ak}}
 * Hardon - Hardon, Henry W. Some of the Ancestors and the Children of Anna Hall Field, Wife of Comfort Hardon, Esq.: Sometime Civil Justice in Berkeley Co., W. Va., She was Born December 26, 1797, at Taunton, Mass. n.p.: H.W. Hardon, 1904. {{FHL|263470|item|disp=FHL Film 22358 Item 1}}; digital version at Open Library.
 * Harrison - Harrison, G. Eugene. Threads. Peoria, Ariz.: G.E. Harrison, 1995. {{FHL|713399|item|disp=FHL Book 929.273 H245hg}}
 * Hedges - Eustice, Joanne, Mackey Hedges, and Hedges Family Association. Jonas Hedges (1716-1804) &amp; Wife Agnes Powelson of Berkeley Co., VA (W VA) and Their Descendants. St. George, Utah: Hedges Family Association, 1995. {{FHL|1126241|item|disp=FHL Book 929.273 H358ejo}}
 * Hite - The Colonial Dames of America. Ancestral Records and Portraits, 2 vols. New York: The Grafton Press Publishers, 1910. Digitized by Internet Archive: Vol. I and Vol. II - both free.
 * Hunter - Kennedy, Mary Selden. Seldens of Virginia and Allied Families. New York: Frank Allaben Genealogical Co., c1911. Digital versions of Vol. 1 at Google Books; Internet Archive | Vol. 2 at {{FSbook|96908}};Internet Archive; {{FHL|29009|item|disp=FHL Book 929.273 Se48k}}.
 * Knox - Wood, Christine Knox. Knox Memorial: Descendants of William Knox Who Died 1778 Berkeley Co., Va., His Son George Knox, Revolutionary Soldier, Born Ireland, 1761, Died Howard County Missouri 1833 as Many as 9 Proven Generations to Date. [Lubbock, Texas: C. Wood?], 1972. {{FHL|570157|item|disp=FHL Book 929.273 K779w v. 1-2}}
 * Lucas - Hall, Betty Porter. Governor Robert Lucas, His Ancestors and Descendants. LaVerne, Calif.: University of LaVerne Press, 1989. {{FHL|432085|item|disp=FHL Book 929.273 L964hb}}.
 * McNew - Hockett, Thomas Jack and Janice M. Snead. The Macknew (McNew) and Marlow (Marler; Marley) Family of Prince Georges Cty, Md., Frederick (Berkeley) Cty, Va. and Fincastle (Washington) Cty., Va., and the Possibly Allied Families of Hargis and Berry. Typescript, microfilmed 1991. {{FHL|418691|item}} 1697545 Item 21; also {{FHL|518943|item}} 929.273 M218ht
 * McNew - Hockett, Thomas Jack and Janice M. Snead. William Macknew (McNew), 1715-1791 and Wife, Mary____ of Prince Georges County, MD, Frederick (Berkeley) County, VA and Fincastle (Washington) County, VA: An Early Settler to the County of Fincastle (Washington), 1773. St. Davids, Pa.: J. Hockett, 1991. {{FHL|518943|item|disp=FHL Book 929.273 M218ht}}
 * Male -Mayhle, Bernard Victor. The Males of Barbour County, West Virginia. 1983.
 * Male - Barnett, Glenn W. Mayle-Male-Male Family Kinship: Four Generations of Descendants of Mary Elizabeth Male nee Cockit.
 * Male - Heinegg, Paul. Free African Americans of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, and Delaware (2005). Digital version online
 * Male - Finley, Alexandra. "Founding Chestnut Ridge: The Origins of Central West Virginia's Community," Senior Honor's Thesis, The Ohio State University (2010). Digital version online.
 * May - Cuddy, Jo Ann. "John May Family," Bulletin of the Watauga Association of Genealogists, Vol. 15, No. 1 (1986):60.
 * Miller - Whitaker, Mildred Campbell. Genealogy of the Campbell, Noble, Gorton, Shelton, Gilmour and Byrd Families. St. Louis, Mo.: Mound City Press, 1927. Digital versions at Ancestry ($) and {{FSbook|217405}} - free.
 * Miller - Miller, Lori. Burns--Miller--Garrett--Benson Families, ca. 1794-1932. Typescript, Butler Area Public Library, Butler, Pa. Microfilmed 1991. Reproduction:
 * Morgan - Meade, William. Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia. 2 vols. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott and Co., 1861. Digital versions at Internet Archive: Vol. I and Vol. II - free.
 * Morgan - Chancellor, Johnson Camden. The Chancellors. Odessa, Texas: West Texas Office Supply, 1963. {{FHL|203550|item|disp=FHL Book 929.273 C36c}}.
 * Morgan - Society of Descendants of the Colonial Clergy, Robert Glenn Thurtle, and Lillian S. King. Pedigrees of Descendants of the Colonial Clergy. 3 vols. Ann Arbor, Mich.: Edwards Brothers, 1976-1987. {{FHL|260206|item|disp=FHL Books 973 D2cc v. 1-3}}.
 * Motter - Russell, Donna Valley. "Valentine Motter of Middletown," Western Maryland Genealogy, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Jan. 1987):3-9; Vol. 3, No. 2 (Apr. 1987):51-56.
 * Newman - Boogher, William F. Gleanings of Virginia History: An Historical and Genealogical Collection, Largely from Original Sources. Washington: n.p., 1903. {{FHL|73108|item}}; digital version at Google Books. [Includes a chapter titled "Genealogy of the Newman Family, 1618-1900," see Table of Contents; discusses Newmans of Berkeley County.]
 * Nourse- Lyle, Maria Catherine Nourse. James Nourse and His Descendants. Lexington, Ky.: Transylvania Printing Company, 1897. {{FHL|18206|item}} 929.273 N855L
 * Nourse - Long, Martha Ann Nourse. "Weston Hall: The Seat of the Nourse Family," The Kentucky Genealogist, Vol. 27, No. 2 (Apr./June 1985):43-66. {{FHL|149488|item}} 976.9 B2kg v. 27 (1985)
 * Pendleton - Meade, William. Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia. 2 vols. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott and Co., 1861. Digital versions at Internet Archive: Vol. I and Vol. II - free.
 * Pendleton - Kennedy, Mary Selden. Seldens of Virginia and Allied Families. New York: Frank Allaben Genealogical Co., c1911. Digital versions of Vol. 1 at Google Books; Internet Archive | Vol. 2 at {{FSbook|96908}};Internet Archive; {{FHL|29009|item|disp=FHL Book 929.273 Se48k}}.
 * Plunket - Reinders, Alice K. "Patrick Plunket: A Virginia Revolutionary Soldier," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 24, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1980):9-10. Digital version at American Ancestors ($). {{FHL|33159|item|disp=FHL Book 975.5 B2vg v. 24 (1980)}}.
 * Range - Range, Joan Elaine. "Noah Range Descendants," Bulletin of the Watauga Association of Genealogists, Vol. 29, No. 2 (2000):148-149.
 * Rumsey - Beltzhoover, George M. "James Rumsey, The Inventor of the Steamboat," Paper, The West Virginia Historical and Antiquarian Society's Publication, ca. 1900.
 * Seaton - Katheder, Thomas. "Seaton of Fauquier County, Virginia," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 44, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 2000):83-102. Digital version at American Ancestors ($)..
 * Seibert - Bell, Raymond Martin. The Seibert Family. Wolfersweiler, Saar. Tulpehocken, Pennsylvania. Clear Springs, Maryland. Martinsburg, West Virginia. Washington, Pa., 1959.
 * Slagle - von Frank, Karl Friedrich. The Slagle Family in America, Descended from the Schlegel von Gottleben Family of Germany. Baltimore, Md.: A.R. Slagle, 1967. {{FHL|38174|item|disp=FHL Book 929.273 SL 12sr}}.
 * Snodgrass - Snodgrass Clan Society et al. The Mace: Official Journal of the Snodgrass Clan Society. Indianapolis, Ind.: Snodgrass Clan Society, 1977-. {{FHL|114463|item|disp=FHL Book 929.27305 Sn52h}}
 * Spiker - W.R. Spiker Family Association. W.R. Spiker Family Newsletter. Berkeley Springs, W. Va.: W.R. Spiker Family Association, 2003. {{FHL|1316479|item|disp=FHL Book 929.27305 Sp44w}}
 * Stephen - Kennedy, Mary Selden. Seldens of Virginia and Allied Families. New York: Frank Allaben Genealogical Co., c1911. Digital versions of Vol. 1 at Google Books; Internet Archive, Vol. 2 at {{FSbook|96908}};Internet Archive; {{FHL|29009|item|disp=FHL Book 929.273 Se48k}}.
 * Stephen - "General Adam Stephen," The Appalachian Quarterly, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Sep. 1996):90. {{FHL|1116569|item|disp=FHL US/CAN Book 975.5743 D25a v. 1, no. 2 (Sep. 1996)}}.
 * Strode - Boss, Lula Reed. "Revolutionary Soldiers Buried in Mason County, Kentucky," The Kentucky Genealogist, Vol. 9, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1967):52-57.
 * Strother - Owen, Thomas McAdory, "William Strother of Virginia and His Descendants," Publications of the Southern History Association, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Apr. 1898):149-173. Digitized by Internet Archive.
 * Stuntz - Stuntz, Jeanne DeCamp Cheadle and Rick J. Ashton. Stuntz, Fuller, Kennard and Cheadle Ancestors. Evanston, Ill.: Northwestern University, University Libraries, 1989. {{FHL|458672|item|disp=FHL Book 929.273 St94sj}}.
 * Swaim - Eustice, Robert L. and Joanne Eustice. A Homespun History of Matthias Swaim (1740-1825) and Wife, Abigail (Hedges) Swaim: of Frederick County, Virginia and Berkeley County, West Virginia and Their Descendants. St. George, Utah: B. &amp; J. Eustice, 1994. {{FHL|1185321|item|disp=FHL Book 929.273 Sw13e}}.
 * Washington - Hardy, Stella Pickett. Colonial Families of the Southern States of America. New York: Tobias A. Wright, 1911. Digital version at Google Books - free.
 * Woltz - Woltz, Flora Lee. The Woltz Family. Berryville, Va., 1975.
 * Womeldorf - Komarek, Carole Womeldorf. Frederick Womeldorf: The Pennsylvania/Virginia Connection. n.p.: Womelsdorf Family Association, 1984 (?). {{FHL|530830|item|disp=FHL Book 929.273 W842kc}}
 * Yadon - Fletcher, Virginia Billingsley. "Down in the Barns", The Kecks of Claiborne County, Tennessee; The Ancestors and Descendants of John "Guider" Keck and His Wife Rebecca A. Yadon. Baltimore, Md.: Gateway Press, 1983. Digital version at {{FHA|IE97535|disp=Family History Archives}}; {{FHL|57706|item|disp=FHL Fiche 6075685 (5 fiche)}}.

Land and Property Records
Grants and Patents


 * Gray, Gertrude E. Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1742-1775. Vol. II. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997. ; digital version at Ancestry ($). (Includes Berkeley County)
 * Gray, Gertrude E. Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1775-1800. Vol. III. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1993. ; digital version at Ancestry ($). (Includes Berkeley County)
 * Sims Index to Land Grants in West Virginia - Berkeley

Local Histories

 * Archives &amp; History Berkeley County, West Virginia Books
 * Aler's history of Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia
 * Aler's history of Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia
 * Berkeley County History


 * Cartmell, T. K. Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia (Illustrated) from Its Formation in 1738 to 1908, Compiled Mainly from Original Records of Old Frederick County, Now Hampshire, Berkeley, Shenandoah, Jefferson, Hardy, Clarke, Warren, Morgan and Frederick. n.p.: n.p., c1909. ; ; digital version at Ancestry ($);
 * Norris, J. E.. History of the Lower Shenandoah Valley Counties of Frederick, Berkeley, Jefferson and Clarke: Their Early Settlement and Progress to the Present Time, Geological Features, a Description of Their Historic and Interesting Localities, Cities, Towns and Villages, Portraits of Some of the Prominent Men, and Biographies of Many of the Representative Citizens. Chicago: A. Warner, 1890. Original edition available at ; 1972 reprint available at ; digital version of original edition at Ancestry ($); and World Vital Records ($).
 * Aler, F. Vernon. Aler's history of Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia: from the origin of the Indians, embracing their settlements, wars and depredations, to the first white settlement of the valley, also including the wars between the settlers and their mode digital version at

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of West Virginia (1617-1995)
 * Map of 1850 Virginia and West Virginia
 * Martinsville West Virginia Map
 * Berkeley County, West Virginia Map

Migration

 * West Virgina, Naturalization Records, 1814-1991 Clay, Robert Y. "Some Delinquent Taxpayers 1787-1790," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 19, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1975):248-254. ; digital version at New England Ancestors ($). These records often identify migrants who left the county and their intended destinations. Berkeley County's 1788 Delinquent List appears on pp. 250-254.

Military Records
Go here for general Military Records of West Virginia

French and Indian War

 * Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Virginia's Colonial Soldiers. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988. . Identifies some Berkeley County veterans and 1774-1775 militia officers; see place name index.

Revolutionary War
Regiments. Service men in Berkeley County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Berkeley County supplied soldiers for the:


 * - 8th Virginia Regiment
 * - 12th Virginia Regiment (8th Company) Berkeley County, West Virginia Revolutionary War Pension List

Additional resources:


 * Berkeley residents recommended for military commissions during the 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, Berkeley County on page 134.)
 * 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.

War of 1812
Berkeley County men served in the 67th Regiment.

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
 * 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)


 * - 1st Battalion, Virginia Cavalry, Local Defense (Confederate). Company B (Berkeley Troop)
 * - 1st Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate).
 * - 1st Regiment, Virginia Light Artillery (Pendleton's) (Confederate). Company B (Wise Artillery)
 * - 2nd Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company D (Berkeley Border Guards), Company E (Hedgesville Blues)
 * - 11th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry. Company A (The Wildcat Company).

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


 * July 2, 1861 - Hoke's Run, also known as Falling Waters and Hainesville.
 * August 25-29, 1864 - Smithfield Crossing.


 * Map showing Civil War battles in West Virginia.

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1814-1991 at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

 * Journal Newspaper

Probate Records
'''Online Probate Records


 * 1724-1978 West Virginia Wills and Probate Records 1724-1978 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1756-1971 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Berkeley West Virginia Wills 1772-1965
 * West Virginia Will Books
 * Wills of Berkeley County, West Virginia 1744 -1880
 * Coldham, Peter Wilson. North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007. Includes wills of residents of Berkeley County proved in London. These records often help establish an immigrant's place of origin.

Tax Records
How can West Virginia tax lists help me?


 * 1774 Rice, William H. The 1774 List of Tithables and Wheel Carriages in Berkeley County, Virginia. Elkins, W. Va.: W.H. Rice, 2006.
 * 1782 Fothergill, Augusta B. and John Mark Naugle. Virginia Tax Payers, 1782-87, Other Than Those Published by the United States Census Bureau. 1940; reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1978. . 1782 personal property tax list of Berkeley County.
 * 1783 Personal Property (or Land) Tax List, 1783; index online at Revolutionary War Service website - free.
 * 1787, 1788 Schreiner-Yantis, Netti and Florene Speakman Love. The 1787 Census of Virginia: An Accounting of the Name of Every White Male Tithable Over 21 Years, the Number of White Males Between 16 &amp; 21 Years, the Number of Slaves over 16 &amp; Those Under 16 Years, Together with a Listing of Their Horses, Cattle &amp; Carriages, and Also the Names of All Persons to Whom Ordinary Licenses and Physician's Licenses Were Issued. 3 vols. Springfield, Va.: Genealogical Books in Print, 1987. . Source for this publication are the 1787 personal property tax list and 1787/1788 tax delinquent lists. Berkeley County is included in Vol. 2.
 * 1788 Clay, Robert Y. "Some Delinquent Taxpayers 1787-1790," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 19, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1975):248-254. ; digital version at American Ancestors ($). These records often identify migrants who left the county and their intended destinations. Berkeley County's 1788 Delinquent List appears on pp. 250-254.
 * 1798 - Berkeley County Historical Society. 1798 House Tax and Slave Tax of Berkeley County, Virginia: This Included the Area in 2003 of Berkeley County, Jefferson County and 2/3 of Morgan County West Virginia. Martinsburg, W. Va.: Berkeley County Historical Society, 2003.
 * 1815 Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Ga.: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. . The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Berkeley County is included in Vol. 6.

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 at the West Virginia Assessor and Property Tax Records Directory.

Marriage

 * 1801-1962 - West Virginia, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * Keesecker, Guy L. Marriage Records of Berkeley County, Virginia 1781-1854. Originally published: Strasburg, VA: G.L. Keesecker, 1969. Baltimore, Md.: Reprinted for Clearfield Co. by Genealogical Pub. Co., 1995. Reprint: ; digital version at Ancestry ($); and World Vital Records ($).
 * West Virginia Vital Records, 1865-1969 (varies) - Includes birth, death, and marriage.
 * Berkeley County, West Virginia Marriages Brides
 * Berkeley County, West Virginia Marriages Grooms

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Libraries

 * Martinsburg Berkeley County Public Libraries
 * Naylor Memorial Pubic Library
 * Musselman - South Berkeley Branch Library

Societies

 * Berkeley County Genealogical-Historical Society P O Box 1624 Martinsburg, WV 25401
 * Berkeley County Historical Society
 * Belle Boyd House and Museum

Websites

 * Berkeley County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Cyndis List
 * Berkeley County, West Virginia Biographies
 * Berkeley County, West Virginia Links
 * Berkeley County, West Virginia Wikipedia
 * National Register of Historic Places - Berkeley
 * Berkely County West Virginia History and Genealogy
 * A Historical Tour of Berkeley County, West Virginia
 * Berkeley County, West Virginia Microfilm Library of Virginia
 * Bridges in Berkeley County, West Virginia
 * Berkeley County, West Virginia Familypedia
 * Berkeley County, West Virginia Microfilms at the Library of Virginia
 * - 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

Research Guides

 * Good, Rebecca H. and Rebecca A. Ebert. Finding Your People in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, 1998. 4th ed.
 * Macomber, Kenneth D. "Genealogical Research in Berkeley County, West Virginia," The Virginia Genealogical Society Newsletter, Vol. 30, No. 5 (Oct. 2004):1-3. ; digital version at Virginia Genealogical Society website.