Pleasants County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

Description
Pleasants County was named for James Pleasants. The county is located in the northwestern 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

Court Records

 * 1851-1856 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1851-1856 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1851-1856 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1851-1931 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1852-1858 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1854-1952 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1859-1905 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1864-1883 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1869-1907 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1879-1926 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1882-1928 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1907-1926 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images

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

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
 * 1724-1985 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
 * 1776-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1843-1880 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1848-1918 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1850-1899 (*); Historical Records Survey and County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1851-1929 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1851-1971 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1852-1865 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1853-1899 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1853-1899 (*); Works Progress Administration of West Virginia at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1854-1952 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1898-1979 (*); 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.

Birth

 * 1853-1914 West Virginia Birth Index, 1853-1914 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * Pleasants County WVGenWeb - transcribed birth records from 1853-1891, from the FS Library Film #0163911, with only a couple of years missing

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 $
 * Pleasants County WVGenWeb - transcribed marriage records from 1853 to 1931, from both FS Library film #0163911 and from courthouse records.

Death

 * 1804-1999 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1853-1964 West Virginia Death Index & Certificates, 1853-1964 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * 1917-1919, 1921-1957 The West Virginia State Archives has a searchable database of the actual death certificate images available for deaths occurring during the years 1917-1919, and 1921-1957 for Pleasants County.
 * Pleasants County WVGenWeb - transcribed death records.

Archives
West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture & History The Culture Center 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, E. Charleston, WV 25305-0300 Website

FamilySearch Centers

 * Washington County Public Library - an affiliate library

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

Websites

 * Pleasants County WVGenWeb
 * Pleasants County USGenWeb Archives
 * USGenWeb Project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * 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

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 by NEHGS ($).