Morgan County, West Virginia Genealogy

Guide to Morgan 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 the Daniel Morgan. The County is located in the northeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Morgan County Courthouse 202 Fairfax Street, Suite 100 Berkeley Springs, WV 25411 Phone: 304-258-8547 Morgan County Website County Clerk has birth marriage, death from 1865; land and some marriage and probate records from 1820. Circuit Court Clerk has divorce and county 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

Court Records

 * Account book, 1861-1901 this is an account book for the poor.

Genealogies
Compiled genealogies that treat multiple Morgan 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. Available at ; ; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library and Ancestry ($); and World Vital Records ($).

Local Histories

 * 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. Available at ; ; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library; Ancestry ($); and World Vital Records ($).
 * Morgan County, West Virginia and its people

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

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, Morgan 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

 * - 11th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry. Company A (The Wildcat Company).

Records and histories are available, including:


 * West Virginia, - 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 battle was fought in Morgan County


 * January 5-6, 1862 - Hancock Heritage Preservation Services
 * Map showing battle in Maryland
 * Map showing Civil War Battles in West Virginia

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

Obituaries

 * Morgan County, West Virginia obituaries v. [1]. Obituaries 1936-1953 (also 1907-1909) -- v. [2]. Obituaries 1954-1967 -- v. [3]. Obituaries 1968-1979.

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

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.
 * Morgan County, West Virginia marriages, deaths, wills and inventories (1817-1900) copied from Berkeley Springs Court House records

Birth

 * 1853-1914 West Virginia Birth Index, 1853-1914 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * Morgan County, West Virginia births, 1866-1893 copied from Berkeley Springs Court House records

Marriage

 * 1780-1970 - at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * Morgan County, (West) Virginia marriage records, 1820-1865

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

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Societies
Morgan County Historical and Genealogical Society, Morgan County Public Library P O Box 52 Berkeley Springs, WV 25411 Morgan County Historical and Genealogical Society

Websites

 * Morgan County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Cyndi's List for West 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.