Berkeley County, West Virginia Genealogy

Guide to Berkeley County, West Virginia ancestry, family history and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records. Located in the Shenandoah Valley region.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth and death from 1865 Marriage from 1781 Probate Record from 1772 Land Record from 1880 Clerk Circuit Court has divorce records

Berkeley County

History

 * Aler's history of Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia
 * Aler's history of Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia : from the origin of the Indians, embracing their settlements, wars and depredations, to the first white settlement of the valley, also including the wars between the settlers and their mode and manner of living View on line.
 * Berkeley County History

Parent County
1772-- Berkeley County was created 10 February 1772 from Frederick County (Virginia). County seat: Martinsburg

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
1797-98, 1809-11, 1816-17, 1827-30, 1837-38, 1853-55, 1861-64 Deed records are missing. 1832-36, 1849-52, 1854-60 Will records are missing. 1852-64 Marriage records are missing.

Populated Places
Berekeley County West Virginia Communities

Neighboring Counties

 * Clarke County, Virginia
 * Frederick County, Virginia
 * Jefferson
 * Morgan
 * Washington County, Maryland

Research Guides

 * Good, Rebecca H. and Rebecca A. Ebert. Finding Your People in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, 1998. 4th ed.
 * Macomber, Kenneth D. "Genealogical Research in Berkeley County, West Virginia," The Virginia Genealogical Society Newsletter, Vol. 30, No. 5 (Oct. 2004):1-3. ; digital version at Virginia Genealogical Society website.

Cemeteries

 * "Cemetery Record," Rowan County Register, Vol. 16, No. 4 (Nov. 2001):3749. . [Discusses a gravemarker from Salem United Methodist Church, Cincinnati, Ohio, surname: McCormick, date of death: 1858, which identifies the person's 1788 birthplace as Burkley [sic] County, Virginia.]
 * Random Acts WV Cemetery Records Research Guide

Census
Join us in indexing the 1940 Census

Baptist
Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):

Berkeley County fell within the bounds of the Ketocton Association.
 * Mill Creek (1766). A historical marker places the organization at "prior to 1742."
 * Timber Ridge (1809)

Church of England
See also Norborne Parish

Quaker
Early monthly meetings (with years of existence):


 * Middle Creek Monthly Meeting, Darkesville, W.Va. (1762-1828)
 * Mill Creek Monthly Meeting, Arden, W.Va. (1759-1800)
 * Providence Monthly Meeting, near Martinsburg, W.Va. (1736-1758) aka Beeson's replaced by Tuscarora
 * Tuscarora Monthly Meeting, near Martinsburg, W.Va. (1760-1796)

Genealogy
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]
 * Berekeley County Biographies

General
See also Frederick County, Virginia Genealogy.

Compiled genealogies that treat multiple Berkeley County families include:


 * O'Dell, Cecil. Pioneers of Old Frederick County, Virginia. Marceline, Mo.: Walsworth Pub. Co., 1995. . One of the most impressively researched one-place studies in the United States. In a review, Dorman stated "Comprehensive studies such as this appear only rarely. This volume should be in every Virginia genealogical collection."


 * Cartmell, T. K. Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia (Illustrated) from Its Formation in 1738 to 1908, Compiled Mainly from Original Records of Old Frederick County, Now Hampshire, Berkeley, Shenandoah, Jefferson, Hardy, Clarke, Warren, Morgan and Frederick. n.p.: n.p., c1909. ; ; digital versions at Ancestry ($);

Immigration

 * Coldham, Peter Wilson. North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007. [Includes wills of residents of Berkeley County proved in London. These records often help establish an immigrant's place of origin.]

Land
Grants and Patents


 * Gray, Gertrude E. Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1742-1775. Vol. II. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997. ; digital version at Ancestry ($). [Includes Berkeley County.]
 * Gray, Gertrude E. Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1775-1800. Vol. III. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1993. ; digital version at Ancestry ($). [Includes Berkeley County.]
 * Sims Index to Land Grants in West Virginia - Berkeley

Local Histories
Archives &amp; History Berkeley County, West Virginia Books


 * Cartmell, T. K. Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia (Illustrated) from Its Formation in 1738 to 1908, Compiled Mainly from Original Records of Old Frederick County, Now Hampshire, Berkeley, Shenandoah, Jefferson, Hardy, Clarke, Warren, Morgan and Frederick. n.p.: n.p., c1909. ; ; digital version at Ancestry ($);
 * Norris, J. E.. History of the Lower Shenandoah Valley Counties of Frederick, Berkeley, Jefferson and Clarke: Their Early Settlement and Progress to the Present Time, Geological Features, a Description of Their Historic and Interesting Localities, Cities, Towns and Villages, Portraits of Some of the Prominent Men, and Biographies of Many of the Representative Citizens. Chicago: A. Warner, 1890. Original edition available at ; 1972 reprint available at ; digital version of original edition at Ancestry ($); and World Vital Records ($).
 * Aler, F. Vernon. Aler's history of Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia: from the origin of the Indians, embracing their settlements, wars and depredations, to the first white settlement of the valley, also including the wars between the settlers and their mode digital version at

Maps

 * Maps of West Virginia (1617-1995)
 * Map of 1850 Virginia and West Virginia

Martinsville West Virginia Map

Berkeley County, West Virginia Map

Migration
West Virgina, Naturalization Records, 1814-1991 Clay, Robert Y. "Some Delinquent Taxpayers 1787-1790," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 19, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1975):248-254. ; digital version at New England Ancestors ($). [These records often identify migrants who left the county and their intended destinations. Berkeley County's 1788 Delinquent List appears on pp. 250-254.]

Military
Go here for general Military Records of West Virginia

French and Indian War

 * Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Virginia's Colonial Soldiers. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988. . [Identifies some Berkeley County veterans and 1774-1775 militia officers; see place name index.]

Revolutionary War
Regiments. Service men in Berkeley County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Berkeley County supplied soldiers for the:


 * - 8th Virginia Regiment
 * - 12th Virginia Regiment (8th Company) Berkeley County, West Virginia Revolutionary War Pension List

Additional resources:

Berkeley residents recommended for military commissions during the 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, Berkeley 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.]

War of 1812
Berkeley County men served in the 67th Regiment.

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 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)


 * - 1st Battalion, Virginia Cavalry, Local Defense (Confederate). Company B (Berkeley Troop)
 * - 1st Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate).
 * - 1st Regiment, Virginia Light Artillery (Pendleton's) (Confederate). Company B (Wise Artillery)
 * - 2nd Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company D (Berkeley Border Guards), Company E (Hedgesville Blues)
 * - 11th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry. Company A (The Wildcat Company).

Civil War Battle
The following Civil War battles were fought in Berkeley County.


 * July 2, 1861 = Hoke's Run, also known as Falling Waters and Hainesville
 * August 25 - 29, 1864 = Smithfield Crossing


 * Map showing Civil War battles in West Virginia.

Naturalization

 * 1814 - 1991 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers
Journal Newspaper

Occupations

 * Cutten, George Barton. The Silversmiths of Virginia (together with Watchmakers and Jewelers) from 1694 to 1850. Richmond, Va.: The Dietz Press, Incorporated, 1952. . [Includes a section on Martinsburg silversmiths.]

Probate
Online Probate Records

Berkeley West Virginia Wills 1772-1965
 * 1724 - 1978 West Virginia Wills and Probate Records 1724-1978 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1756 - 1971 at FamilySearch — index and images

West Virginia Will Books

Wills of Berkely County, West Virginia 1744 -1880


 * Coldham, Peter Wilson. North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007. (Includes wills of residents of Berkeley County proved in London. These records often help establish an immigrant's place of origin.)

Taxation
How can West Virginia tax lists help me?


 * 1774 Rice, William H. The 1774 List of Tithables and Wheel Carriages in Berkeley County, Virginia. Elkins, W. Va.: W.H. Rice, 2006.
 * 1782 Fothergill, Augusta B. and John Mark Naugle. Virginia Tax Payers, 1782-87, Other Than Those Published by the United States Census Bureau. 1940; reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1978. . 1782 personal property tax list of Berkeley County.
 * 1787, 1788 Schreiner-Yantis, Netti and Florene Speakman Love. The 1787 Census of Virginia: An Accounting of the Name of Every White Male Tithable Over 21 Years, the Number of White Males Between 16 &amp; 21 Years, the Number of Slaves over 16 &amp; Those Under 16 Years, Together with a Listing of Their Horses, Cattle &amp; Carriages, and Also the Names of All Persons to Whom Ordinary Licenses and Physician's Licenses Were Issued. 3 vols. Springfield, Va.: Genealogical Books in Print, 1987. . Source for this publication are the 1787 personal property tax list and 1787/1788 tax delinquent lists. Berkeley County is included in Vol. 2.
 * 1788 Clay, Robert Y. "Some Delinquent Taxpayers 1787-1790," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 19, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1975):248-254. ; digital version at American Ancestors ($). These records often identify migrants who left the county and their intended destinations. Berkeley County's 1788 Delinquent List appears on pp. 250-254.
 * 1798 - Berkeley County Historical Society. 1798 House Tax and Slave Tax of Berkeley County, Virginia: This Included the Area in 2003 of Berkeley County, Jefferson County and 2/3 of Morgan County West Virginia. Martinsburg, W. Va.: Berkeley County Historical Society, 2003.
 * 1815 Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Ga.: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. . The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Berkeley County is included in Vol. 6.

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 at the West Virginia Assessor and Property Tax Records Directory.

Marriage

 * Keesecker, Guy L. Marriage Records of Berkeley County, Virginia 1781 - 1854. Originally published: Strasburg, VA: G.L. Keesecker, 1969. Baltimore, Md.: Reprinted for Clearfield Co. by Genealogical Pub. Co., 1995. Reprint: ; digital version at Ancestry ($); and World Vital Records ($).
 * . Includes marriages 1780-1856, 1858, 1862-1970 - free.
 * Berkeley County, West Virginia Marriages Brides
 * Berkeley County, West Virginia Marriages Grooms

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

Berkelely County Genealogical-Historical Society P O Box 1624 Martinsburg, West Virginia 25401

Berkeley County Historical Society

Martinsburg Berkeley County Public Libraries

Naylor Memorial Pubic Library

Musselman - South Berkeley Branch Library

Belle Boyd House and Museum

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

Websites

 * Berkeley County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Cyndis List
 * Berkeley County, West Virginia Biographies
 * Berkeley County, West Virginia Links
 * Berkeley County, West Virginia Wikipedia
 * National Register of Historic Places - Berkeley
 * Berkely County West Virginia History and Genealogy
 * A Historical Tour of Berkeley County, West Virginia
 * Berkeley County, West Virginia Microfilm Library of Virginia
 * Bridges in Berkeley County, West Virginia
 * Berkeley County, West Virginia Familypedia
 * Berkeley County, West Virginia Microfilms at the Library of Virginia Learning How to Edit our Wiki Sites
 * Berkeley County, West Virginia Microfilms at the Library of Virginia Learning How to Edit our Wiki Sites