Roane County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

Description
Roane County was named for Spencer Roane. The county is located in the west-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Roane County Courthouse 200 Main Street Spencer, WV 25760-1497 Phone: 304-927-2860 Roane County Website County Clerk has birth, marriage, death, probate, and land records from 1856.

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:

Biographies

 * Roane County Families at Ancestry ($)
 * Rhodes families of Roane County, West Virginia

Census Records

 * Roane County, West Virginia 1860 and 1870 Census
 * Roane County West Virginia Archives

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1856-1880 (*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1856-1927 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1860-1928 (*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1860-1934 (*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1865-1926 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1922-1940 (*); Clerk of the Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Funeral Homes

 * John H. Taylor Funeral Home in Spencer.
 * Taylor-Vandale Funeral Home in Spencer.

Genealogies

 * Roane County Families at Ancestry ($)
 * Ashley - Ross, Clara Mae. John Thomas Ashley (1838-1923), His Ancestors of Surry County, North Carolina, His Descendants of Roane County, West Virginia, and Related Families. Colfax, N.C., n.d..

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Local Histories

 * History of Roane county, West Virginia. By William Henry Bishop. c1927. Spencer, West Virginia : W.H. Bishop. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
 * Roane County History
 * Inventory of the county archives of West Virginia, no. 44, Roane County (Spencer)

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
 * Roane County, West Virginia 1895 map
 * Roane County, West Virginia Maps
 * Roane County, West Virginia Maps

Civil War

 * - 3rd Regiment, Virginia State Line (Cavalry and Infantry) (Confederate). Company G.
 * - 14th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company N (Night Hawk Rangers).
 * - 19th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company C.
 * - 30th Battalion, Virginia Sharpshooters (Clarke's) (Confederate). Company F.
 * - 36th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (2nd Kanawha Infantry) (Confederate). Company B (Logan County Wildcats), Company C (Chapmanville Riflemen), Company D (Boone Rangers), Company E (Raleigh Rangers), and Company G (Western Riflemen).
 * - 60th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (3rd Regiment, Wise Legion) (Confederate). Company G (The Roane Rangers).

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)
 * Blue and Gray Trail Roane County, West Virginia

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1814-1991  at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Obituaries

 * Roane County, West Virginia Obituaries
 * Roane County History and Genealogy Obituaries

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
 * 1856-1927 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1857-1887 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1857-1895 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1857-1900 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1857-1968 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1857-1992 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1860-1928 (*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1865-1926 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1883-1905 (*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

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.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

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 ($)

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 ($)

FamilySearch Centers

 * Charleston West Virginia FamilySearch Center

Libraries
Roane County Public Libraries 110 Parking Plaza Spencer, WV 25276 Phone: 304-927-1130 Website Facebook
 * Multiple locations.

Societies
Roane County Historical Society PO Box 161 Spencer, WV 25276 Website Facebook

Websites

 * Roane County WVGenWeb
 * Roane County USGenWeb Archives
 * Cyndi's List for West Virginia
 * Linkpendium
 * National Register of Historic Places Roane County
 * Roane County West Virginia Encyclopedia
 * 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