Pleasants County, West Virginia Genealogy

Guide to Pleasants 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 James Pleasants. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Pleasants County Courthouse 301 Court Lane, #101 Saint Mary's, WV 26170 Phone: 304-684-3542 Pleasants County Website

County Clerk has birth, marriage, death, and probate records from 1853; land records from 1851. 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

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
 * Maps of West Virginia (1617-1995)
 * Map of 1850 Virginia and West Virginia

Civil War

 * - 20th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company G.
 * - 26th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company A.

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

 * 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 $
 * 1756-1971 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

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 ($)
 * Pleasants County WV Gen Web: The Pleasants County West Virginia website for US GenWeb is host to may excellent transcriptions of county records, including of Pleasants Co Birth Records from 1853-1891 from the FHL Film #0163911, with only a couple of years missing

Marriage

 * 1780-1970 - at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1791-1820 - Pendleton County Marriage Bonds by Eric Hedrick. 4 CDs. Online bookstore ($).
 * 1801-1962 - West Virginia, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * There are also marriage recordsavailable, from 1853 to 1931, transcribed from both FHL film #0163911 and from courthouse record.

Death

 * Complying with the law enacted in 1853, Pleasants County deaths were recorded and transcriptions are available at this site also.
 * The West Virginia State Archivesalso has a searchable database of the actual death certificate imagesavailable for deaths occuring during the years 1917-1919, and 1921-1957 for Pleasants County.
 * 1804-1999 - at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Societies
Pleasants County Historical Society PO Box 335 Saint Marys, WV 26170 Phone: 304-684-7621 Pleasants County Historical Society

Websites

 * Pleasants County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Pleasants County WV GenWeb
 * Cyndi's List
 * - 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

 * "A Guide to the Counties of Virginia: Pleasants County," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 20, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1976):209-210. Available at ; digital version at American Ancestors ($).