Greenbrier County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

Description
The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Greenbrier County Courthouse 200 North Court Street P O Box 506 Lewisburg, WV 24901-0506 Greenbrier County Website

County Clerk has birth and death records from 1853, marriage records from 1781, probate and land from 1780, 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:

Business, Commerce, and Occupations
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.

Census Records
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.

Church Records
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 List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

African Americans

 * African American Research

Genealogies
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]
 * Greenbrier County Heritage Book Committee. Greenbrier County, West Virginia, Family Heritage, 1997. n.p.: Walsworth Pub. Co., 1996..
 * Alexander - Clemens, William M. Alexander Family Records. New York: William M. Clemens, 1914. Digital version at Internet Archive - free.
 * Armstrong - Boss, Lula Reed. "Revolutionary Soldiers Buried in Mason County, Kentucky," The Kentucky Genealogist, Vol. 9, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1967):153-156.
 * Arthur - Arthur Family Genealogy of Bedford, Greenbrier &amp; Cabell counties, Va., W. Va. and Jackson Co., Ohio. Microfilmed 1992:.
 * Braun - West, Klaus and Joseph H. Meyerhoeffer. Shenandoah Valley Family Data, 1799-1813, From the Memorandum Book of Pastor Johannes Braun. Edinburg, Va.: Shenandoah History Publishers, 1978..
 * Burnside - Clark, Bertha Lewis and Margaret Byrnside Ballard. Burnside Family of Scotland and America, Augusta, Rockingham, Greenbrier, Pocahontas, Virginia and West Virginia, and Other Sections. Typescript, 1960..
 * Burnside - Clark, Bertha Lewis and Margaret Byrnside Ballard. Burnside Family of the Upper Greenbrier. Typescript, 1960..
 * Caldwell - Caldwell, Arthur B. "Kinkead Caldwell 1769-1828 Early Missouri Settler," The Southwest Virginian, Vol. 3, No. 18 (Dec. 1980):40-48..
 * Campbell - "Memorial to William S. H. Baylor," Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 2, No. 2 (Apr. 1964):33. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * Cary - Harrison, Fairfax. The Virginia Carys. New York: De Vinne Press, 1919. Digital version at Internet Archive - free;.
 * Childers - Childers Family Bible: of William Benton Childers Born 1866, d. 1954; Gallia &amp; Franklin counties of Ohio and Greenbrier County Viarginia [sic] (now WV); Also Includes Rickabaugh, Lewis, 1754-1989..
 * Dilley - Jones, Thomas W. "Dilley of Northern Virginia and Ohio: A Proposed Solution Hanging on a Single Word," The American Genealogist, Vol. 79, No. 3 (Jul. 2004):220-227.
 * Eagle - Eagle, Lawrence H. Eagles of the Virginias and Their Pioneering Descendants in Dakota Territory: History and Genealogy. Sioux Falls, S.D.: L.H. Eagle, 1980..
 * Eagle - Eagle, Lawrence H. The Greenbrier Branch: History and Genealogy of the Timothy Eagle--David Patterson Families and Collateral Lines. Sioux Falls, N.D.: L.H. Eagle, 1988.
 * Gillian - Williams, Elizabeth Pierce. Pierce/Gillilan Families: Some Descendants of John Pers of Watertown, Massachusetts, Who Had Emigrated from Norwich, Norfolk County, England and of Nathan Gillian of Greenbriar County, Virginia. Los Angeles, Calif.: E.P. Williams, 1989..
 * Henderson - Miller, Joseph Lyon. Ancestry and Descendants of Lieut. John Henderson of Greenbrier County, Virginia, 1650-1900. Richmond, Va.: Whittet & Shepperson, 1902. ; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Henderson - Crozier, William Armstrong. Virginia Heraldica: Being a Registry of Virginia Gentry Entitled to Coat Armor, With Genealogical Notes of the Families. New York: The Genealogical Association, 1908. Digital version at Internet Archive - free.
 * Holtzopple - Holsopple (Holtzopple)-LeFevre Genealogy. MSS. Microfilmed 1992:.
 * Kelly - Kelly, Kathryn, "Abraham Kelly from Virginia to Ohio," The Appalachian Quarterly, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Sep. 1996):70-71..
 * Kincaid - Johnson, Ollie Tepton. Genealogy of the Kincaid Family of Greenbrier County, West Virginia: Descendants of Samuel Kincaid. Typescript. Microfilmed 2005:.
 * Lewis - Johnson, Patricia Givens. General Andrew Lewis of Roanoke and Greenbrier. Christianburg, Va.: Givens, 1980..
 * McClung - McClung, William. The McClung Genealogy: A Genealogical and Biographical Record of the McClung Family from the Time of Their Emigration to the Year 1904. Pittsburgh, Pa.: McClung Printing Company, 1904. ; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * McClung - Donnelly, Shirley. "Family History of Tyree Clan Traced," Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Jan. 1964):3-7. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * McClung - McClung, Rheba Irrene. The Greenbrier McClung Way. Parkersburg, W. Va.: Easton Printing Co., 1990..
 * McClung - McClung, Judith A. The McClung Family Association: Greenbrier Section, as Posted at RootsWeb Freepages, 2004. Based on The McClung Genealogy (1904)..
 * Morgan - Hayden, Richard A. "Resolving the Inexplicable: The Marriage Bond of Archibald Young and Lettice Morgan," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 95, No. 1 (March 2007):5-16. 973 B2ng v. 95 (2007)
 * Morrison - Morrison, Warren Dale. A Branch of the Andrew Morrison Family of Greenbrier County, (W) Virginia. Granbury, Texas: W.D. Morrison, 1993..
 * Porter - Barnett, Bobby D. Descendants of Mitchell Porter: Revolutionary War Soldier. [South Pasadena, Fla.]: B.D. Barnett, 2000.
 * Rayburn - Machir, Violette S. Some Chapman, Jolly, Rayburn and Smith Families in W.Va. &amp; Ohio. Middleport, Ohio: Quality Print Shop, 1966..
 * Renick - Renick, E.I. "The Renick Family of Virginia," Publications of the Southern History Association, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Jul. 1899): 221-227. Digitized by Internet Archive - free.
 * Robertson - Roberson, Rhonda S. "Genealogical Sketches of Revolutionary War Soldiers: William Robertson," The Southwest Virginian, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Apr. 1978):55-78..
 * Robertson - Robertson, Rhonda. William Robertson of England and His Descendants: (A Partial Genealogy). n.p.: Rhonda Robertson, 1978..
 * Tyree - Donnelly, Shirley. "Family History of Tyree Clan Traced," Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Jan. 1964):3-7. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * Ward - Boss, Lula Reed. "Captain Charles Ward of Mason County, Kentucky," The Kentucky Genealogist, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1972):11-13.

Land and Property Records

 * 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

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

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 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
 * 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 by NEHGS ($). These records identify migrants who left the county and often their intended destinations. Greenbrier County's 1788 Delinquent List appears on pp. 126-127.

Indian Wars

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

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.
 * Virginia Militia in the Revolutionary War. By J.T. McAllister. 1913. Hot Springs, Va.: McAllister Pub. Co. Online at: Internet Archive

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:


 * 1861-1865  at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 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)

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 Records


 * 1724-1978 West Virginia Wills and Probate Records 1724-1978 at Ancestry — index and images $
 * 1756-1971 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

School Records

 * 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.

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
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.
 * 1782 1782 Greenbrier County, (West) Virginia Personal Property Tax List; index online at New River Notes - free.
 * 1783 Personal Property (or Land) Tax List, 1783; index online at Revolutionary War Service website - free.
 * 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. Available through the FamilySearch Catalog ; . 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 American Ancestors by NEHGS ($). 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.
 * 1796 1796 Greenbrier County, (West) Virginia Personal Property Tax List; index online at New River Notes - free.
 * 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.

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.
 * Greenbrier County, West Virginia births and marriages
 * Greenbrier Co., West Virginia birth, marriage, death records, wills, church records, etc., 1780-1899

Birth

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

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 $

Death

 * 1804-1999 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1853-1964 West Virginia Death Index & Certificates, 1853-1964 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * Shuck, Larry G. Greenbrier County Death Records, 1853-1901. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1993. Available at.

Family History Centers

 * White Sulphur Springs West Virginia Family History Center

Societies
Greenbrier County, West Virginia Historical Society 814 Washington St W Lewisburg, WV 24901 Phone: 304-645-3398 Greenbrier County, West Virginia Historical Society

Sons of the American Revolution Society 132 North Court Street Lewisburg, WV 24901 West Virginia State Society, Sons of the American Revolution

Websites

 * Greenbrier County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * 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
 * - 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