Pocahontas County, West Virginia Genealogy

Guide to Pocahontas 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 records from 1853 Death records from 1854 Marriage probate and land from 1822 Circuit Court Clerk has divorce and county records

History
Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County, West Virginia

Preserving Pocahontas WV Historic Preservation Project

Pocahontas County Today

Pocahontas County Yesterday

Historical Background Research

Parent County
1821--Pocahontas County was created 21 December 1821 from Pendleton, Greenbrier and Randolph Counties (now West Virginia) and Bath County (now Virginia). County seat: Marlinton

Pocahontas County Timeline Formations

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
1901-04 Death records for these years are missing.

African American

 * Heinegg, Paul. "Pocahontas County Personal Property Tax List, 1825-1843," Free African Americans.com. [Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.]

Cemeteries

 * Pocahontas County, West Virginia Obituary Index
 * Random Acts WV Cemetery Records Research Guide

Church
Join us in indexing the 1940 Census

Family Histories
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]

Bibliography

Local Histories
Pocahontas County histories
 * Blackhurst, Warren E. Natural History of the Cass Scenic Railroad. Morgantown, West Virginia, West Virginia University Library, 1976. 500.9754 B628.
 * Clarkson, Roy B. On Beyond Leatherbark: The Cass Saga. Parsons, West Virginia, McClain Printing Company, 1990. 975.487 C613.
 * Comstock, Jim. Hardesty's Historical and Genealogical Encyclopedia. Richwood, West virginia, Jim Comstock, 1973. 975.4003 H259 1973 v.3.
 * Edgar, Betsy. Our House: The Birthplace of Pearl S. Buck. Parsons, West Virginia, McClain Printing Company, 1965. B B922e.
 * Harper, Enid. History of Knapp's Creek Community Consisting of the The Hills, Forst, Knapp's Creek and Minnehaha Neighborhoods, Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Morgantown, West Virginia, Agricultural Extension Division, 1924 (On-line version). Xwv 1. Agr 3. 2: H3.
 * Mill Point, West Virginia, Marvin Chapel Church History Committee. A History of Marvel Chapel and Community Mill Point, West Virginia, 1953-54. s. l., Committee, 1954. 287.6754 M645.
 * Ott, Edwin. The Mountains Speak in Picture and Story. Fairlea, West Virginia, Farilea Print Shop, 1969. 917.5488 O89.
 * Pocahontas County Historical Society. Gleanings of Pocahontas County Historical Society. Marlinton, West Virginia, Society, 1980-.
 * History of Pocahontas County, West Virginia, 1981. Dallas, Texas, Taylor Publishing Company, 1981. 975.487 P739.
 * Price, Andrew. Selim, the Algerine:Adventures of a Prisoner of Spain, France and Shawnees, Rescued in Pocahontas County in 1759. Marlinton, West Virginia, times Book Company, 1924. B S464p
 * Pam. Price, William Thomas. Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Marlinton, West Virginia, Price Brothers, 1901. 975. 487 P946.
 * Wilson, Mrs. Stanley. History of Minnehaha Springs Community, Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Morgantown, West Virginia, Agricultural Extension Division, 1928 (On-line versio n). Xwv 1. Agr 3. 2: W5.

Maps

 * Maps of West Virginia (1617-1995)
 * Map of 1850 Virginia and West Virginia
 * Pocahonta County West Virginia Map
 * Pocahontas County Map
 * Pocahontas County, West Virginia Maps

Military

 * Pocahontas County Military

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, Pocahontas County on page 135.
 * 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

 * - 3rd Regiment, Virginia State Line (Cavalry and Infantry) (Confederate). Company D.
 * - 9th Battalion, Virginia Infantry (Hansbrough's) (Confederate). Company D (Pocahontas Rescues).
 * - 11th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry. Company F (The Bath Grays).
 * - 18th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company G.
 * - 19th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company F (Pocahontas Cavalry) and Company I.
 * - 31st Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company G (Pocahontas Riflemen).

Records and histories are available, including:


 * West Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865
 * 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 battles were fought in Pocahontas County.


 * September 12 - 15, 1861 = Cheat Mountain, also known as Cheat Mountain Summit
 * October 3, 1861 = Greenbrier River
 * December 13, 1861 = Camp Alleghany
 * November 6, 1863 = Droop Mountain


 * Map showing Civil War battles in West Virginia.

World War II

 * Pocahontas County, West Virginia World War II Casualties Army and Air Force

Naturalization

 * 1814 - 1991 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers
The Pocahontas Times

Probate
Online Probate Records

Pocohantas County, West Virginia
 * 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

West Virginia Guides Will Books


 * "A Guide to the Counties of Virginia: Pocahontas County," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 20, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1976):210-212. Available at ; digital version at New England Ancestors ($).

Taxation

 * How can Virginia tax lists help me?


 * 1825-1843 - Heinegg, Paul. "Pocahontas County Personal Property Tax List, 1825-1843," Free African Americans.com. Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.

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 1822-1969 - free.

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

 Allegheny Regional Family History Society

Pocahontas McClintic Library

Pocahontas County Free Libraries

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

Web Sites

 * Pocahontas County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Cyndi's List Pocahontas County, West Virginia various records on Microfilm at the Library of Virginia

Pocahontas County Families

Pocahontas Research Links

Pocahontas Photo's Contruted for use by Pocahontas County WV GEN WEB

Visit the Home Place of Pearl S Buck

West Virginia History Benign Betrayl Capitalist Intervention in Pocahontas County

Pocahontas County West Virginia History and Genealogy

Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County, West Virginia google book

West Virginia USGENWEB ARCHIVES PROJECT POCAHONTAS COUNTY

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