Greenbrier County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

County Courthouse

 * County Clerk has birth and death from 1853
 * Marriage from 1781
 * Probate and Land from 1780
 * and Court Records

History

 * A History of Greenbrier County Greenbrier Historical Society, c1986.

Parent County
1777--Greenbrier County was created 20 October 1777 from Botetourt and Montgomery Counties (Virginia). County seat: Lewisburg

Variant Spellings

 * Greenbriar

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating West Virginia county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation West Virginia County Boundary Maps" (1617-1995) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.


 * Lost censuses: 1790, 1800, 1810.

Neighboring Counties

 * Alleghany County, Virginia
 * Bath County, Virginia
 * Fayette
 * Monroe
 * Nicholas
 * Pocahontas
 * Summers
 * Webster

African American
African American Research

Cemeteries

 * Random Acts WV Cemetery Records Research Guide

Census
1783-1786 Enumerations


 * Greenbrier County Heads of Families - 1783-1786 at U.S. Census Bureau - free. County begins on page 109.

1790 - Lost, but a subsitute is available, see Taxation. 1800 - Lost, but a subsitute is available, see Taxation. 1810 - Lost, but a subsitute is available, see Taxation. 1820 Greenbrier County, Virginia Census Index 1830 Greenbrier County, Virginia Census Index 1840 Greenbrier County, Virginia Census Index 1850 Greenbrier County, Virginia CensusIndex 1820-1850 - Exist, available online and in print: Shuck, Larry G. The Federal Censuses for Greenbrier County, Virginia, 1820, 1830, 1840 and 1850. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1990. Available at.

Baptist
Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):


 * 1) Big Levels (1796)
 * 2) Greenbrier (1781)

Greenbrier County fell within the bounds of the Greenbrier Association.

Church of England
Meade's 1861 history of parishes in Greenbrier County is available online.

German Reformed

 * Braun, Johannes, Klaus Wust and Joseph H. Meyerhoeffer. Shenandoah Valley Family Data, 1799-1813: From the Memorandum Book of Pastor Johannes Braun. Edinburg, Va.: Shenandoah History Publishers, 1978..

Greenbrier County, West Virginia Churches

Genealogy
It is anticipated that this bibliography will eventually identify all known family histories published about residents of this county. Use this list to:


 * Locate publications about direct ancestors
 * Find the most updated accounts of an ancestor's family
 * Identify publications, to quote Elizabeth Shown Mills, about an ancestor's "FAN Club" [Friends, Associates, and Neighbors]

General

 * Greenbrier County Heritage Book Committee. Greenbrier County, West Virginia, Family Heritage, 1997. n.p.: Walsworth Pub. Co., 1996..

Land and Property

 * Hudgins. 415 patents dated 1774-1858 in what is now Greenbrier County, West Virginia placed on a map. DeedMapper. [Names of those who received land patents, dates, land descriptions, and references may be viewed free of charge (click "Index" next to the county listing); however, in order to view the maps, it is necessary to purchase Direct Line Software's DeedMapper product.]

Local Histories
West Virginia Archives and History Agricultural Extension Division.

History of Renick Community, Greenbrier County, West Virginia. Morgantown, West Virginia, n.d. (On-line version) Xwv 1. Agr 3. 2: R4. Cole, Joseph R. ''History of Greenbrier County. Lewisburg, West Virginia,'' 1917. 975.488 C689 closed stacks. Comstock, Jim. ''Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia. Richwood, West Virginia,'' Jim Comstock, 1973. 975.4003 H259 1973 V.6. Conte, Robert S. ''The History of the Greenbrier: America's Resort. Charleston, West Virginia'', Pictorial Histories Publishing Company, 1989. 917.5488 C761. Crayon, Mark. Life in the Irish Corner District During the Civil War, Greenbrier County, West Virginia. Charleston, West Virginia, John Young Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. 1926. 975.488 M138. Dayton, Ruth (Woods). ''Greenbrier Pioneers and Their Homes. Charleston, West Virginia, West Virginia'' Publishing Company, 1942. 975.488 D276. Deitz, J. Dennis. ''The Greenbrier Ghost and Other Strange Stories. South Charleston, West Virginia'', Mountain Memories Books, 1990. 398.25 D325. _____________. Mountain Memories, II, III. South Charleston, West Virginia, Jalamap Publishing, 1984. 975.4 Deitz. ____________. Mountain Memories, IV. South Charleston, West Virginia, Mountain Memories Books, 1985. 975.4 Dietz. Dempsey, William. Papers Greenbrier and Fayette Counties, 1859-1883. MS 79-154. Donnelley, Clarence Shirley. ''David S. Creigh, the Greenbrier Martyr, A Tragedy of the Civil War. Oak Hill, West Virignia'', Royal Oak Press, 1950. B C914d Pam. Fasick, Ralph N. A Brief History of Rupert, West Virginia. E.J. Crichton, n.d. 975.488 F248 closed stacks. Fry, Rose W. ''Recollections of the Rev. John McElhenny. Richmond, Virginia'', Whittet &amp; Shepperson Printers, 1893. B M141f. The Greenbrier. General Robert E. Lee at White Sulphur Springs, 1867-1869. White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, The Greenbrier Resort, 1932. B L479gr Pam. Greenbrier County Bicentennial Committee. Greenbrier County Bicentennial, 1778- 1978. Lewisburg, West Virginia, Bicentennial Committee, 1978. 975.488 G795. Greenbrier County Virginia High School. ''Announcement of the Alleghany High School at the Blue Sulphur Springs for the Session 1859-1860 Greenbrier, Virginia. Richmond, Virginia'', Dispatch Steam Power Presses, 1859. 370.975 G82 Pam. Greenbrier Historical Society Journal, volume 1- 1963-. Greenbrier Historical Society, Lewisburg, West Virginia. Per Historical Booklet, ''Greenbrier County, 160th Anniversary, 1788-1938. Charleston, West Virginia'', 1938. 975.488 H673. Hogsett, Paul Crawford. Items of Interest Concerning Greenbrier County, West Virginia, Including Memorandum of Colonel John Stuart, Clerk of Court. n.p., 1935. 975.488 H716 Pam. Humphreys, Blanche. History of Organ Cave Community, Greenbrier County West Virginia. Morgantown, West Virginia, Agricultural Extension Division, 1928. (On-line version) Xwv 1. Agr 3. 2: H83. Humphreys, Milton Wylie. ''Anthomy, the White Man's Friend. Fayetteville, West Virginia'', Fayette Tribune, 1927. 970.1 H927 Pam. Ledger, Shanklin and James Alexander. Greenbrier and Monroe Counties, 1799- 1814. MS 79-44. McPherson, Joel. Joel McPherson Papers, 1860. MS 80-130. Meadow River Festival. ''History of Meadow River Lumber Company and Rainelle Area. Rainelle, West Virginia'', Meadow River Festival, 1970. 975.488 M482. Olcott, William. The Greenbrier Heritage. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Arndt, Preston, Chapin, :Lamb &amp; Keen, 1967. 975.489 O43. Ott, Edwin. The Mountains Speak in Picture and Story, Narration: M. Thomas Clemons. Fairlea, West Virginia, Fairlea Print Shop, 1969. 917.5488 O89. Peck, Frank U. History of Brushy Ridge Community. Morgantown, West Virginia, Agricultural Extension Division, 1924. (On-line version) Xwv 1. Agr 3. 2: P4 Rice, Otis K. ''A History of Greenbrier County. Lewisburg, West Virginia, Greenbrier Historical Society'', 1986. 975.488 R497. Specific Goshen. ''Greenbrier Ghost, 1897-1979. Charmco, West Virginia'', Specific Goshen, 1979. 364.152 G798 Pam. Stone, William Dale. ''Greenbrier County: Our Heritage. Charmco, West Virginia'', Specific Goshen, 1977. 975.488 S881. Warren, Rose Harlow. ''Memories of Christmas Holidays at "Old Castle". n.p., n.d. 394.26 W25 Pam. Woods, C. West Virginia Was Good''. Charleston, West Virginia, Mountain State Press, 1984. 975.476 Wood.

Maps



 * Maps of West Virginia (1617-1995)
 * Map of 1850 Virginia and West Virginia
 * Maps of Greenbrier County, West Virginia
 * Map of Greenbrier County, W. Va., 1887

Migration

 * Clay, Robert Y. "Some Delinquent Taxpayers 1787-1790," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 20, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1976):199-208. Available at ; digital version at American Ancestors ($). [These records identify migrants who left the county and often their intended destinations. Greenbrier County's 1788 Delinquent List appears on pp. 126-127.]

French and Indian War

 * Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Virginia's Colonial Soldiers. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988. Available at . [Identifies some Greenbrier County veterans; see place name index.]

Revolutionary War
Greenbrier residents recommended for military commissions during the 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, Greenbrier County on page 134.]
 * 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.]

War of 1812
Greenbrier County men served in the 79th Regiment.

Civil War

 * - 8th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company L (White's Company of Cavalry).
 * - 14th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company A (White's Mounted Riflemen), Company D (Jenkins Guards), and Company K (Greenbrier Swifts or Greenbrier Cavalry No. 2).
 * - 26th Battalion, Virginia Infantry (Edgar's) (Confederate). Company B and Company E.
 * - 27th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate) . Company F (Greenbrier Sharp Shooters).
 * - 46th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company C (Greenbrier Mtn. Rifles) and Company F (Bruce Rifles).
 * - 47th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company B.
 * - 59th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Companies B2 (White Sulphur Rifles) and C2 (Red Sulphur Yankee Hunters).
 * - 60th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (3rd Regiment, Wise Legion) (Confederate). Companies B (The Greenbrier Mountain Rifles) and E (The Bruce Rifles).

Records and histories are available, including:


 * West Virginia,
 * Greenbrier County in the Military
 * 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

 * 1814 - 1991 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Occupations

 * Cutten, George Barton. The Silversmiths of Virginia (together with Watchmakers and Jewelers) from 1694 to 1850. Richmond, Va.: The Dietz Press, Incorporated, 1952. Available at . [Includes a section on Lewisburg silversmiths.]

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1724 - 1978 West Virginia Wills and Probate Records 1724-1978 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1756 - 1971 at [https:/familysearch.org/ FamilySearch] — index and images
 * West Virginia Will Books
 * Probate records, 1853-1969 Original records in the Greenbrier County Courthouse, Lewisburg, West Virginia.

Taxation
How can Virginia tax lists help me?


 * 1780s - 1815 Shuck, Larry G. Greenbrier County (West) Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists: 1782/3, 1786/8, 1792, 1796, 1799, 1805 &amp; 1815. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1990. Available at.
 * 1787 Schreiner-Yantis, Netti and Florene Speakman Love. The 1787 Census of Virginia: An Accounting of the Name of Every White Male Tithable Over 21 Years, the Number of White Males Between 16 &amp; 21 Years, the Number of Slaves over 16 &amp; Those Under 16 Years, Together with a Listing of Their Horses, Cattle &amp; Carriages, and Also the Names of All Persons to Whom Ordinary Licenses and Physician's Licenses Were Issued. 3 vols. Springfield, Va.: Genealogical Books in Print, 1987. Online at FamilySearch - free; . The source of this publication is the 1787 personal property tax list. Greenbrier County is included in Vol. 1.
 * 1788 Clay, Robert Y. "Some Delinquent Taxpayers 1787-1790," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 20, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1976):199-208. Available at ; digital version at New England Ancestors ($). [These records identify migrants who left the county and often their intended destinations. Greenbrier County's 1788 Delinquent List appears on pp. 126-127.]
 * 1791 Indexed images of the 1791 Personal Property Tax List of Greenbrier County, Virginia (now West Virginia) are available online, courtesy: Binns Genealogy.
 * 1803 Images of the 1803 Personal Property Tax List of Greenbrier County, Virginia (now West Virginia) are available online, courtesy: Binns Genealogy.
 * 1810 Schreiner-Yates, Netti. A Supplement to the 1810 Census of Virginia: Tax Lists of the Counties for which the Census is Missing. Springfield, Va.: Genealogical Books in Print, 1971.


 * Available at . The source for this publication is the 1810 personal property tax list. Greenbrier County is included because the 1810 Census for that county has been destroyed.
 * 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. Greenbrier County is included in Vol. 5.

Online West Virginia Tax site
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

 * . Includes marriages 1781-1914, 1918-1969 - free.
 * Greenbrier County, West Virginia births and marriages
 * Greenbrier Co., West Virginia birth, marriage, death records, wills, church records, etc., 1780-1899

Birth

 * Shuck, Larry G. Greenbrier County Birth Records, 1853-1899: In Two Volumes; Extracted from County Birth Registers. 2 vols. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1995. Available at.

Death

 * Shuck, Larry G. Greenbrier County Death Records, 1853-1901. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1993. Available at.

Societies and Libraries
See also a List of West Virginia Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies

Greenbrier County, West Virginia Historical Society

Son of the American Revolution Society 132 North Court Street Lewisburg, West Virginia 24901

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers
 * White Sulphur Springs West Virginia Family History Center

Websites

 * Greenbrier County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Cyndi's List for West Virginia
 * Greenbrier County, West Virginia Microfilms at the Library of Virginia
 * Greenbrier Research's Home Pages
 * Greenbrier County, West Virginia Biographies
 * Greenbrier County, West Virginia Biographies

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