Wood County, West Virginia Genealogy

Guide to Wood 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 Wood. The County has Parkersburg as its seat and the County was created December 21, 1798. The County is located in the west central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Wood County Courthouse 1 Court Square Parkersburg, WV 26101 Phone: 304-424-1844 Wood County Website County Clerk has birth, marriage and death records from 1850; probate records and military records from 1900. County Assessor has land records from 1798. Clerk of the Circuit Court has divorce and county 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:

Bible Records

 * Wood County, West Virginia Bible Records

Cemeteries

 * West Virginia Cemetery Preservation Association Wood County

Funeral Homes

 * Wood County, West Virginia Funeral Homes

Genealogies

 * Agnew - Roberts, Gary Boyd. The Royal Descents of 600 Immigrants to the American Colonies or the United States: Who Were Themselves Notable or Left Descendants Notable in American History. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2008. ; online bookstore; 2004 digital edition at Ancestry ($).
 * Blennerhasset - Roberts, Gary Boyd. The Royal Descents of 600 Immigrants to the American Colonies or the United States: Who Were Themselves Notable or Left Descendants Notable in American History. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2008. ; online bookstore; 2004 digital edition at Ancestry ($).
 * Cooke - Welles, Albert. American Family Antiquity. New York: Society Library, 1880. Digital version at Internet Archive - free.
 * Cunningham - Newman, Betty Cunningham. Adam and 500 More Cunninghams of the Valley of Virginia, c.1734-c.1800. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, Inc., 2000..
 * Kiger - 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 ($)..
 * Page - Rutherford, Dolores Crumrine. Page Family Records in Virginia Counties. 2 vols. Carmichael, Calif.: D.C. Rutherford, 1982-2006. Wood County appears in Vol. 2 Part 4
 * Page - Rutherford, Dolores Crumrine. The Page Family in Virginia Personal Property Taxes (1782-1850). 2 vols. Carmichael, Calif.: D.C. Rutherford, 2002. Wood County appears in Vol. 2

Local Histories

 * West Virginia Archives History Wood County
 * Wood County History


 * “Area Families Have Interest in Saga of John Jones His Sister Polly” - complete story

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of West Virginia (1617-1995)
 * Map of 1850 Virginia and West Virginia
 * Wood 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. 1967 reprint: . See Virginia, Western District, Wood County on page 136.
 * 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.

War of 1812

 * Wood County men served in the 113th Regiment.

Civil War

 * - 14th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company N (Night Hawk Rangers).
 * - 20th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company G.

Records and histories are available, including:


 * 1861-1865
 * 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)

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1814-1991 at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

 * Wood County, WV Genealogy News Clippings
 * Wood County, West Virginia Newspapers

Obituaries

 * Wood County WV Genealogy Obituaries
 * Wood County, West Virginia Obituaries

Probate Records
Online Probate Records


 * 1724-1978 West Virginia Wills and Probate Records 1724-1978 at Ancestry — index and images $
 * 1756-1971 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1833-1969 Wood County, West Virginia Will Books 1833-1969
 * West Virginia
 * Wood County, West Virginia Wills

Tax Records
How can West Virginia tax lists help me?


 * 1802-1822 - Wood County, West Virginia Tax Lists 1802-1822 - free.
 * 1815 - Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. Available at . The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Wood 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 here

Vital Records

 * West Virginia Vital Records, 1865-1969 (varies) - Includes birth, death, and marriage.

Marriage

 * 1780-1970 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1801-1962 - West Virginia, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers
 * Parkersburg West Virginia Family History Center

Libraries

 * Wood County Public Library

Societies

 * Wood County West Virginia Genealogical and Historical Societies
 * Wood County Historical and Preservation Society

Websites

 * Wood County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Wood County, West Virginia Various Records on Microfilm at the Library of Virginia
 * Cyndi's List for West Virginia
 * Wood County West Virginia Genealogies
 * Parkersburg, West Virginia:A Vintage Portrait
 * - 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: Wood County," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 24, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1976):297-300. ; digital version at American Ancestors ($).