Hancock County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for John Hancock. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Hancock County Courthouse P O Box 367 New Cumberland, WV 26047 Phone: 304-564-3311 Hancock County Website County Clerk has birth, marriage, death, probate and land records from 1848. Clerk Circuit Clerk has divorce 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:

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * County Court record, 1857-1927 Hancock County was part of Virginia until 1864, when it became part of West Virginia.
 * Chancery order book, 1875-1880
 * Chancery order books, 1848-1930 Hancock County was part of Virginia until 1864, when it became part of West Virginia.
 * Fiduciary records, 1897-1904
 * Index to discharges, 1866-1992
 * Inventory books, 1864-1931
 * Law order book, 1848-1871
 * County clerk's order books, 1897-1930 Original records at the Hancock County Courthouse in New Cumberland, West Virginia.

Land and Property Records

 * Deed books, 1848-1863 Hancock County was part of Virginia until 1864, when it became part of West Virginia.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
 * Maps of West Virginia (1617-1995)

Military Records
Go here for general Military Records of West Virginia

Civil War

 * 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)

Union


 * - 1st Regiment, West Virginia Infantry. Company I.

World War I

 * Officers and enlisted men, 1917-1918
 * Soldiers record, 1918

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

 * Weirton Daily Times (Weirton, West Virginia) at Ancestry ($)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and 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

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.
 * Hancock County, West Virginia deaths, deeds, wills, inventories, church and cemetery records Contains deaths 1853-1899; wills, inventories, etc. 1848-1899; cemetery records ca. 1799-1936; New Cumberland Methodist Protestant Church records of births 1878-1896, baptisms 1890-1895, membership 1889-1899; Cove Christian Church (organized as the Congregation of Jesus Christ) membership rolls 1830-1892; Cove Presbyterian Church baptisms 1859-1897, membership [1859?]-1898; Nessly Chapel (M.P.) membership roll [1878?]-1898; Point Pleasant M.P. Church membership roll 1885-1896; and miscellaneous deeds 1785-1814.
 * Will book, 1918-1932

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 ($)

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Societies
Hancock County Genealogical-Historical Society

Tri-State Genealogical and Historical Society P O Box 454 Newell, West Virginia 26050-0454

Mary H Weir Public Library 3442 Main Street Weirton, WV 26062-4590 Phone: 304-797-8510 Mary H. Weir Public Library

Hancock County Historical Society of West Virginia, Swaney Library New Cumberland, WV 26047 Mailing Address: 2669 Main Street Weirton, WV 26062 Phone: 304-748-4829 Swaney Library

Websites

 * Hancock County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * - 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