Mercer County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

Description
Mercer County is located in the southern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Mercer County Courthouse P O Box 1716 Princeton, WV 24740 Phone: 304-487-8311 Mercer County Website County Clerk has birth, marriage and death records from 1853; probate and land records from 1837. Circuit Court Clerk has divorce and court records from 1837.

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:

Cemeteries

 * Angelfire

Census Records

 * 1870 Mercer Co. Census at WVGenWeb

Church Records
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Bluefield
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1837-1843 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1837-1927 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1837-1969 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1839-1884 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1850-1899 (*); Clerk of the County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1881-1914 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Directories

 * 1930 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Genealogies

 * Harman - Harman, John Newton. Harman Genealogy (Southern Branch): With Biographical Sketches, 1700-1924. Richmond, Va.: W.C. Hill Print. Co., 1925. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Local Histories

 * A History of the Middle New River Settlements. By David E. Johnston.  Huntington, West Virginia : Standard Ptg. & Pub. Co., c1906. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Kinyon 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
 * Mercer County West Virginia Map

Revolutionary War

 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshals of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841. Digital versions at FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). 1967 reprint: 973 X2pc 1840. See Virginia, Western District, Mercer County on page 135.
 * Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions. Washington, D.C., 1852. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1969, and 1991. Reprints include "an Added Index to States." 973 M24ur; digital version at Ancestry ($). Includes veterans from this county; Virginia section begins on page 238.

Civil War

 * - 8th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company D (1st) (French's Company), Company E (Border Rangers) and Company H (Tazewell Troop).
 * - 23rd Battalion, Virginia Infantry Reserves (Confederate). Company B (The Blue Stone Greys).
 * - 24th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company G.
 * - 26th Battalion, Virginia Infantry (Edgar's) (Confederate). Company C.
 * - 30th Battalion, Virginia Sharpshooters (Clarke's) (Confederate). Company A.
 * - 34th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry (Witcher's Battalion, Virginia Mounted Rifles) (Confederate). Company K.
 * - 59th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company I2 (Princeton Guard).
 * - 60th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (3rd Regiment, Wise Legion) (Confederate). Companies 2H (Richmond Light Guard) and I.

Records and histories are available, including:


 * West Virginia, Civil War Service - 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)

Civil War Battle The following Civil War battle was fought in Mercer County.


 * May 15-17, 1862 - Princeton Court House, also known as Princeton Court House, WV.
 * Battles of the American Civil War maps - filter by state or by battle name.

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

 * Bluefield Daily Telegraph (Bluefield, West Virginia) at Ancestry ($)
 * The New Daily Telegraph (Bluefield, West Virginia) at Ancestry ($)

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
 * 1832-1899 (*); County Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1837-1927 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1837-1969 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1838-1969 (*); County Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1839-1883 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1839-1884 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1850-1899 (*); Clerk of the County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1858-1883 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * (*); Works Progress Administration of West Virginia 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

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 ($)
 * Mercer County, West Virginia Death Records

FamilySearch Centers

 * Charleston West Virginia FamilySearch Center
 * Huntington West Virginia FamilySearch Center

Societies
Mercer County Historical Society P.O. Box 5012 908 Harrison Street Princeton, WV 24740 Phone: 304-425-9017 Facebook Bluefield Historical Society P.O. Box 1754 Bluefield, WV 24701-5754 Email: [mailto:info@bluefieldhistoricalsociety.org info@bluefieldhistoricalsociety.org] Website

Websites

 * Mercer County WVGenWeb
 * Mercer County USGenWeb Archives
 * USGenWeb Project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Cyndi'S List West Virginia
 * Historic Bramwell, West Virginia
 * 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