Fayette County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

Description


Fayette County was named for Marquis de la Fayette. The county is located in the southern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Fayette County Courthouse 100 Church Street Fayette, WV 25840 Phone: 304-574-1200 Fayette County Website County Clerk has birth and death records from 1866; marriage, probate and land records from 1831. Clerk of the Circuit Court has divorce and county 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

 * Fayette County Bible Records at USGenWeb West Virginia Archives Project
 * James Skaggs Family at AMERICAN TAPESTRY

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1787-1901 (*); County and Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1787-1923 (*); County and Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1832-1927 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1837-1928 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1842-1928 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1858-1876 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1870-1926 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1872-1921 (*); Clerk of the Circuit Court and Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog —index & images
 * 1921-1946 (*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Local Histories

 * Fayette County West Virginia Historic Fayetteville
 * History of Fayette County, West Virginia at Ancestry ($)
 * Donnelly, Shirley. History of Oak Hill, West Virginia: a series of historical notes on the Fayette County metropolis from the time of its early settlement up to the year 1953. FamilySearch Digital Library

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
 * Fayette County, West Virginia Map
 * Fayette County West Virginia 1895

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, Fayette 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.

Civil War
Confederate


 * - 8th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company I (Kanawha Rangers).
 * - 22nd Regiment, Virginia Infantry (1st Kanawha Regiment). Company B (Mountain Cove Guards) and Company C (Fayetteville Rifles).
 * - 59th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company F1 (Jackson Avengers, Dixie Rifles).
 * - 60th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (3rd Regiment, Wise Legion) (Confederate). Company C (The Dixie Rifles).

Union


 * - 8th Regiment, West Virginia Infantry.

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

Newspapers

 * Fayette Tribune
 * Fayette Journal (Fayetteville, West Virginia) at Ancestry ($)

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
 * 1787-1901 (*); County and Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1787-1923 (*); County Court and Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1830-1899 (*); County Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1832-1899 (*); Works Progress Administration of West Virginia at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1832-1900 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1832-1927 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1832-1969 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1858-1969 (*); County Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1865-1872 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1865-1872 (*); County Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1865-1893 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1866-1872 (*); County Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1870-1926 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1872-1921 (*); Clerk of the Circuit Court and Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1881-1934 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * Fayette Co. Wills 1832-1866; Vol. 01. By Haga, Pauline A. Crab Orchard, West Virginia : P. Haga, n.p. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
 * (*); 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
 * 1866–1890 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Fayette County, West Virginia marriages for 1903 through 1931 personal property tax records for 1831 and 1833

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 ($)
 * 1866-1893 Fayette County, West Virginia births, 1866-1893 copied from Fayetteville courthouse records at FamilySearch
 * Fayette County Births, 1866-80 at Ancestry ($)
 * Fayette County Births,1881-87 at Ancestry ($)
 * Fayette County Births, 1888-93 at Ancestry ($)

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 $
 * Fayette County, West Virginia, marriages, 1853-1899 copied from Fayetteville courthouse records
 * Fayette County, West Virginia marriages for 1903 through 1931 personal property tax records for 1831 and 1833
 * Marriage Records of Fayette County Brides List
 * Marriage Records of Fayette County Grooms List

Death

 * 1804-1999 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1853-1964 West Virginia Death Index & Certificates, 1853-1964 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * Fayette County, West Virginia, deaths, wills, inventories (1832-1899) copied from Fayetteville courthouse records
 * Fayette County, West Virginia, death records, 1866-1899
 * Death Records of Fayette County

FamilySearch Centers

 * Charleston West Virginia FamilySearch Center
 * White Sulphur Springs West Virginia FamilySearch Center

Libraries
Fayette County Public Libraries Website Multiple branches

Societies
Fayette County Historical Society P.O. Box 702 Ansted, WV 25812 Facebook Genealogical Society of Fayette and Raleigh Counties, Inc. P.O. Box 68 Oak Hill, WV 25901-0068 Facebook

Websites

 * Fayette County WVGenWeb
 * Cyndi's List for West Virginia
 * USGenWeb Project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Fayette County, West Virginia History and Genealogy
 * 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