Randolph County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

Description
Randolph County was created from Harrison County in 1787, which is much earlier than the formation of West Virginia as a state. Today, Randolph county is the largest county in West Virginia, with 1040 square miles of land in modern times. The first white settlers of the county were Tygart and Files in 1753. The Shawnee Tribe had many trails through Randolph County, but there weren't many settlements in this mountainous region. It was mostly considered hunting grounds, and less of an agricultural settlement. There were many wild animals in the area, which supplied food and clothing for the early settlers. Sadly, the pioneers pushed the elk and the buffalo to extinction in Randolph County, while other animals, such as the black bear, still thrive in the area today. Tygart's Valley in Randolph County didn't attract much settlement because of the mountain barriers and the Indian threat. Despite all of this, Randolph County was formed by Virginia Assembly at the home of Benjamin Wilson in Tygart's Valley. The first session of court in Randolph County was held in a town now called Beverly, in the house of James Westfall. Overall, Randolph County was a very politically and legally active community, with many surviving court records, including probate cases and wills, including the first will ever written in Randolph County.

[http://www.wvgenweb.org/randolph/History.htm Randolph County History Taken from West Virginia Hertiage Enclyclopedia, pgs. 3951 - 3952]

County Courthouse
Randolph County Courthouse 2 Randolph Avenue Elkins, WV 26241 Phone: 304-255-9123 Randolph County Website County Court Clerk has birth records from 1856, marriage and probate records from 1787, death records from 1853, and land records.

Populated Places
The following are locations in the county:

Cemeteries

 * can be found on microfilm in the Family History Library, or available on computer in the Library.
 * Randolph County Cemeteries inventoried by by The Allegheny Regional Family History Society
 * The Political Graveyard
 * West Virginia Cemetery Preservation Association, Inc. - Randolph County Cemeteries
 * List of cemeteries currently identified by WVCPA by name, USGS quad map location, and latitude and longitude.
 * Random Acts WV Cemetery Records Research Guide

Census Records
Census available at Ancestry.com ($) years 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930. They also have indexed the 1850 Slave Schedule and the 1860 Slave Schedule. Also indexed the 1890 Veteran's Schedule.


 * 1850 US Census . Includes index. Arranged by house number and gives house and family number, names of persons in the house, ages, birthplaces, and occupations. Randolph County was part of Virginia until 1863 when it became part of West Virginia. Available in book form at the Family History Library.
 * 1860 US Census . Includes index. Randolph County is now part of West Virginia. Available in book form at the Family History Library.
 * 1870 US Census . Includes index. Available in book form at the Family History Library.

Church Records

 * Church List in Randolph County Townships

Baptist Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):


 * Robert Baylor Semple and George William Beale, A History of the Rise and Progress of the Baptists in Virginia (1810; reprint, Richmond, Va.: Pitt and Dickinson, 1894), 434. Digital version at Google Books:
 * -Little Bethel (1795)
 * -Valley (1806)

Randolph County fell within the bounds of the Union Association.

Presbyterian
 * Tygart Valley Presbyterian Church

Court Records

 * available on microfilm in Family History Library.
 * available on microfilm in Family History Library.
 * available on microfilm in Family History Library.
 * available on microfilm in Family History Library.
 * available on microfilm in Family History Library.
 * available on microfilm in Family History Library.
 * available on microfilm in Family History Library.

African Americans

 * Heinegg, Paul. "Randolph County Personal Property Tax List, 1787-1829," Free African Americans.com. [Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.]

Genealogies
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]


 * Coberly - Arthaud, John Bradley. "Dr. James Stell Coberly 18th Century Migrant from New Jersey to Virginia and Revolutionary Patriot," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 26, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1982):112-117; Vol. 26, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1982):183-189. Digital version at American Ancestors ($)..
 * Coberly - Harter, Mary. "James Cunningham of Western Virginia," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 29, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1985):9-16; Vol. 29, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1985):109-116. Digital version at American Ancestors ($)..
 * Cunningham - 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 ($)..
 * Cunningham - Newman, Betty Cunningham. Adam and 500 More Cunninghams of the Valley of Virginia, c.1734-c.1800. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, Inc., 2000..
 * Currance - Bosworth, Albert S. A History of Randolph County, West Virginia, from Its Earliest Exploration and Settlement to the Present Time. Elkins, W. Va.: A.S. Bosworth, 1916.
 * Goff - The history and genealogy of the Nathan P. Goff family of Randolph County, West Virginia, Delaware County, Indiana, and Madison County, Iowa. Joseph P Barnes. Baker and Taylor: St. Louis, Mo. 1972.
 * Hart - Hammond, Cleon E. John Hart, The Biography of a Signer of the Declaration of Independence. Newfane, Vt., 1977.
 * 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.
 * available at the Family History Library. Contains a brief history of the county, businesses, churches, historical buildings and monuments, etc., and a large section of family histories, which include biographies and genealogies. Includes Index.

Land and Property Records

 * available on microfilm at Family History Library. Microfilm of original records at the State Auditor's Office, Charleston.
 * available on microfilm at Family History Library. Microfilm of original records at the Monongalia County Courthouse in Morgantown, West Virginia.
 * available on microfilm at Family History Library. Microfilm of original records at the Randolph County courthouse.
 * available on microfilm at Family History Library. Original available on microfilm at the Randolph County Courthouse.

Local Histories


History of Randolph County From its Earliest Exploration and Settlement to the Present Time. Dr. A. S. Bosworth. McClain Printing Company: Parsons, W.Va., 1975.

The History of Randolph County, West Virginia: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Embracing Records of All Leading Families, Reminiscences and Traditions. Hu Maxwell. Acme Publishing Co.: Morgantown, W.Va., 1898.

The Blackwater Chronicle: A Narrative of an Expedition into the Land of Canaan in Randolph County, Virginia. Philip Pendleton Kennedy; Timothy Sweet. West Virginia University Press: Morgantown, W.Va.. 1853.

Elkins, West Virginia: Its Past, Present, and Future. Charles J Holmes; Justin M Kunkle. McClain Printing: Parsons, W.Va. 1975.

Pioneer Index of Randolph County, West Virginia. Lauren d'Ablemont Ragland. Seneca Publishers: Bowden, W.Va. 2007.

Historick Beverly, Official Guidebook: Containing a Brief History of the City and Descriptions of Twenty-seven Shops, Dwelling Houses, Publick and Historick Sites, Illustrated: Also a Guide-map: Randolph County, West Virginia. Glenn H Phillips. Randolph County Historical Society: Beverly, W.Va. 1975.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of West Virginia (1617-1995)
 * Map of 1850 Virginia and West Virginia
 * David Rumsey Map Collection can be searched to find maps for locality.
 * Map of Historic West Virginia: Can search each county.

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, Randolph 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.
 * available on microfilm at the Family History Library. Microfilm of original at the county courthouse, Elkins.
 * available on microfilm at the Family History Library. Microfilm of original records at the Randolph County courthouse.
 * The Soldiery of West Virginia. Virgil A Lewis. Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1978. Gives available lists of rosters from French and Indian War, Mexican War, Civil War, Indian Wars, Lord Dunmore's War, Revolutionary War, and War of 1812.

War of 1812

 * Randolph County men served in the 107th Regiment.
 * Watkins, Raymond W, Old military burials, West Virginiacemetery(Falls Church, Virginia, 1987)

Civil War

 * - 5th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate).
 * - 5th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (12 months, 1861-62) (Mullins') (Confederate). Company G (Randolph Cavalry).
 * - 19th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company I.
 * - 20th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company C..
 * - 31st Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company F (Jacob Currence's Company).

Records and histories are available, including:


 * 1861-1865 West Virginia, Civil War Service
 * 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 Randolph County.


 * July 11, 1861 - Rich Mountain
 * Mapshowing Civil War battles in West Virginia.

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1814-1991 at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers
The Randolph Enterprise was the first newspaper published in Randolph County, with the first issue appearing in May 1874. The first editor was Geo P. Sargent.

The Randolph Review was the second newspaper published in Randolph County in 1882. The founders were J.L. and A.S. Bosworth, who after six months bought the Randolph Enterprise and sold the Review plant to the town of Huttonsville.


 * The Inter Mountain

Obituaries

 * 1905 obituaries from the Randolph Enterprise

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
 * 1787-1872 available on microfilm at Family History Library. Microfilm copy of material in the W. Guy Tetrick collection, Clarksburg, West Virginia, prepared by the Historical Records Survey.
 * West Virginia Will Books

Tax Records
How can Virginia tax lists help me?


 * 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. . The source of this publication is the 1787 personal property tax list. Randolph County is included in Vol. 2.
 * 1787-1829 - Heinegg, Paul. "Randolph County Personal Property Tax List, 1787-1829," Free African Americans.com. Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.
 * 1787-1850 - available on microfilm at Family History Library. Microfilm of original records at the Virginia State Library and Archives in Richmond, Virginia.
 * 1790, 1800 - Images of the 1790 and 1800 Personal Property Tax Lists of Randolph County, Virginia(now West Virginia) are available to browse online, courtesy: Binns Genealogy - free.
 * 1805-1813 - available on microfilm at Family History Library. Microfilm of original at the county courthouse, Elkins.
 * 1805-1813 - Randolph County, West Virginia Land Tax Records, 1805-1813. Images online at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1805-1813 - available on microfilm at Family History Library. Microfilm of original at the county courthouse, Elkins.
 * 1815 - Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Ga.: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. Available at . The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Randolph 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.

Birth

 * 1853-1859, 1861, 1865-1899  on Family Search Catalog. Microfilm of material at the West Virginia University Library, Morgantown, prepared by the Historical Records Survey.
 * 1853-1899 on Family Search Catalog. Microfilm copy of material in the W. Guy Tetrick collection, Clarksburg, West Virginia, prepared by the Historical Records Survey.
 * 1853-1969  on Family Search Catalog. Microfilm of original records at the Randolph County Courthouse.

Marriage

 * 1787-1879  on Family Search Catalog. Microfilm of material at the West Virginia University Library, Morgantown, prepared by the Historical Records Survey. Randolph County, West Virginia Marriage Records
 * 1787-1969  on Family Search Catalog. Microfilm of original records at the Randolph County Courthouse.
 * 1801-1962 - West Virginia, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $

Death

 * 1853-1969  on Family Search Catalog. Microfilm of original records at the Randolph County Courthouse.

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers
 * Elkins West Virginia Family History Center

Societies

 * Allegheny Regional Family History Society P O Box 1804 Elkins, WV 26241 Website
 * Randolph County Historical Society Box 1164 Elkins, WV 26241 Email: [mailto:dlrice@citynet.net dlrice@citynet.net]
 * Rich Mountain Battlefield Foundation P.O. Box 227 Beverly, WV 26253 Phone: 304-637-7424 Website Email: [mailto:richmt@richmountain.org richmt@richmountain.org]
 * Historic Beverly Preservation, Inc. P.O. Box 277 Beverly, WV 26253 Phone: 304-637-7424 Website Email: [mailto:info@historicbeverly.org info@historicbeverly.org]

Websites

 * Randolph County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Cyndislist
 * Randolph County Genealogy Project
 * Randolph County, WV Genealogy Forum
 * Randolph County WVGenWeb
 * Randolph County, West Virginia Microfilms at the Library of Virginia
 * Randolph County Modern Homepage
 * Beverly, West Virginia Historical Homepage
 * - 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