Barbour County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

Description
Barbour County was named for Philip Pendleton Barbour. The county is located in the north-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Barbour County Courthouse 8 N Main Street Philippi, WV 26416 Phone: 304-457-2232 Barbour County Website

County Clerk has birth, marriage, death since 1853 Probate Record and land records from 1845 Clerk Circuit Court 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:

Bible Records

 * 1821-1899 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * W. H. Houser Family Bible Record, 1821-1898 at Barbour County, West Virginia Microfilm

Biographies

 * Barbour County Biography at Ancestry ($)

Census Records

 * 1850 Barbour County, West Virginia Census

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1843-1927 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1843-1927 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1843-1850 (*); County and Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1853-1886 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1860-1861 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1869-1900 (*); Clerk of the County Court and County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1895-1925 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index &d images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey, Clerk of the County Court and Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * Virginia State Library: A Calendar of Legislative Petitions Arranged by Counties Accomac - Bedford. By Eckenrode, H.J. Richmond, Virginia : Davis Bottom, Superintendent of Public Printing, 1908. Online at: HathiTrust. Barbour County petitions (1843-1858) are described on pp. 186-194.
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Genealogies

 * Coberly - Harter, Mary. "James Cunningham of Western Virginia," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 29, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1985):9-16; Vol. 29, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1985):109-116. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($)..
 * 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.

Local Histories

 * Barbour County History at Ancestry ($)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
 * Maps of West Virginia (1617-1995)
 * Map of 1850 Virginia and West Virginia

Military Records
Go here for general Military Records of West Virginia

Civil War

 * - 20th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company D..
 * - 31st Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company H (Barbour Greys) and Company K (Potomac Guards or Mountain Guards).
 * - 62nd Regiment, Virginia Mounted Infantry (Confederate). Company E.

Records and histories are available, including:


 * 1861-1865  at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * Union and Confederate Soldiers and Sympathizers of Barbour County, West Virginia at Ancestry ($)
 * 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 Barbour County.


 * June 3, 1861 - Philippi, also known as Philippi Races.


 * Battles of the American Civil War maps - filter by state or by battle name.

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
 * 1724-1985 West Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1724-1985 at Ancestry ($) — index & images
 * 1756-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1789-1860 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1843-1882 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1843-1899 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1843-1905 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1843-1927 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1843-1969 (*); County Court and Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1863-1895 (*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1869-1900 (*); Clerk of the County Court and County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1881-1922 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images

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.
 * Indexes to births, marriages and deaths, 1848-1969

Birth

 * 1853-1914 West Virginia Birth Index, 1853-1914 at MyHeritage - index ($)

Marriage

 * 1776-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1780-1970 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1801-1962 West Virginia, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * West Virginia Marriages 1853-1970; free searchable index available at FamilySearch. Records include such information as bride and groom's names, birth date and birthplace, marriage place, clerk's name and sometimes the name of the father, and film and record numbers. Individual names and collections can be searched at FamilySearch.
 * Marriage bonds of Barbour County, Virginia, 1843

Death

 * 1804-1999 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1853-1964 West Virginia Death Index & Certificates, 1853-1964 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * Death records, 1853-1969 FamilySearch Catalog
 * Historical Records Survey, Barbour County, West Virginia, death records : 1854-1883 FamilySearch Catalog

FamilySearch Centers

 * Buckhannon West Virginia FamilySearch Center
 * Elkins West Virginia FamilySearch Center
 * Shenandoah County Library - Virginia - an affiliate library.

Societies

 * Allegheny Regional Family History Society P.O. Box 1804 Elkins, WV 26241 Phone: 304-636-8528 or 304-636-5558 Email: [mailto:arfhs@yahoo.com arfhs@yahoo.com] Website

Websites

 * Barbour County WVGenWeb
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Barbour County, West Virginia Microfilms at the Library of Virginia
 * Cyndi's List
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * - 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