Hardy County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

Description
Hardy County was named for Samuel Hardy. The county is located in the northeastern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Hardy County Courthouse 204 Washington Street Moorefield, WV 26836 Phone: 304-538-2929 Hardy County Website County Clerk has birth, marriage, death and burials from 1853, probate and land records from 1786, court records from 1860 and 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:

Bible Records

 * JOHN B. BRAKE at Bucknell.edu

Census Records

 * 1790 - Lost, but a substitute is available, see Taxation.
 * 1800 - Lost, but a substitute is available, see Taxation.
 * 1810 - Lost, but a substitute is available, see Taxation.

Church Records
Baptist Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * 1) Lunie's Creek (1777)
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1786-1850 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * 1787-1791 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1788-1792 (*); County Court, Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1788-1854 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * 1788-1880 (*); County Court, Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * 1789-1790 (*); District Court, General Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1789-1829 (*); District Court, Superior Court of Law at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * 1795-1899 (*); County Court, Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1797-1816 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * 1797-1837 (*); District Court, Superior Court of Law, Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * 1801-1825 (*); District Court, Superior Court of Law at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1803-1840 (*); District Court, Superior Court of Law, Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * 1812-1829 (*); Superior Court of Chancery at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1812-1902 (*); Circuit Court, Superior Court of Chancery, Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * 1820-1827 (*); Superior Court of Chancery at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * 1821-1827 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1831-1862 (*); Circuit Court, Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery, Superior Court of Law at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1831-1929 (*); Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery, Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images. Court proceedings, 1821-1827] Contains pleas and other proceedings brought before the court. Each plea might contain exhibits of documents, such as court orders for administration and inventory of estates, deed and dower acknowledgments, bills of sale, deeds, powers of attorney, appointments of militia officers, etc.
 * 1852-1869 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * 1873-1880 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images Chancery order book, 1873-1880] For these cases the court sat in chancery which meant it acted as a court of equity. Equity law is a body of legal and procedural rules and doctrines which supplement or override common and statute law to protect rights and enforce duties defined or fixed by substantive law. The court usually dealt with cases which did not need a jury, such as divorces or foreclosures. Orders are judgments based on those laws.
 * 1880-1931 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * 1885-1927 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * (*); County Court, Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * (*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * West Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1776-1971. By Compiled. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library

African Americans

 * Heinegg, Paul. "Hardy County Personal Property Tax List, 1786-1819," Free African Americans.com. Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.

Genealogies
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]


 * 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. Available at ; ; digital version at Ancestry ($), FamilySearch Digital Library and Internet Archive. [3 copies at FS Library.]
 * 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..


 * Coberly - Arthaud, John Bradley. "Dr. James Stell Coberly 18th Century Migrant from New Jersey to Virginia and Revolutionary Patriot," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 26, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1982):112-117; Vol. 26, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1982):183-189. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($)..
 * Coberly - Arthaud, John Bradley. "George Coberly (1788-1855) Virginia Migrant to the Midwest," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 28, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1984):217-221; Vol. 28, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1984):256-260. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($)..
 * Coberly - Arthaud, John Bradley. "The Ancestry of Mary (Poffenberger) (Coberly) Power (1752-27 Oct. 1840)," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 35, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1991):39-42. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($)..
 * Coberly - Arthaud, John Bradley and Marian (Kortum) Coberly. "The Ancestry of Mary C. Coberly (1820-1875)," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 43, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1999):293-296. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($)..
 * Cunningham - Harter, Mary. "James Cunningham of Western Virginia," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 29, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1985):9-16. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($)..
 * Franklin - Mathys, Mary Sue and Dorsey W. Franklin. "A Mystery Story: The Case of the Origins of John Franklin Sr. (1729-1819) of Burke County, North Carolina," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 32, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1988):243-252; Vol. 33, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1989):27-33. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($)..
 * Homan - Arthaud, John Bradley. "The Ancestry of Mary (Poffenberger) (Coberly) Power (1752-27 Oct. 1840)," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 35, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1991):39-42. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($)..
 * Mathias - Griffiths, George R. The Mathias Family of Hardy County, Virginia and West Virginia, A Pioneer Mountain Family. Chicago, Ill.: Adams Press, 1977..
 * Newman - Boogher, William F. Gleanings of Virginia History: An Historical and Genealogical Collection, Largely from Original Sources. Washington: n.p., 1903. Available at ; digital version at online at Internet Archive. Includes a chapter titled "Genealogy of the Newman Family, 1618-1900," see Table of Contents; discusses Newmans of Hardy County.
 * Post - Poinsett, Doris Jean Post. Valentin Pfost/Post, 1740-1800, of Hardy County (West) Virginia and Some of His Descendants. Baltimore, Md.: Gateway Press, 1989. Digital version at Family History Archives;.
 * Renick - Renick, E.I. "The Renick Family of Virginia," Publications of the Southern History Association, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Jul. 1899): 221-227. Digitized by Internet Archive - free.
 * Rohrbough - Rohrbough, Fred Ware. The Rohrbough Family. 1962.
 * Strother - Owen, Thomas McAdory, "William Strother of Virginia and His Descendants," Publications of the Southern History Association, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Apr. 1898):149-173. Digitized by Internet Archive.
 * Trader - Dorman, John Frederick. Adventurers of Purse and Person Virginia 1607-1624/5. 3 vols. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2005. See Volume 2..

Land and Property Records

 * Homestead records, 1877-1909
 * Land entries, 1843-1861
 * List of real estate, 1869-1932. The county recorder existed from 1863 to 1872 and handled many of the legal documents that the clerk of the county court managed before and after this.

Contains lists of real estate being sold for the non-payment of taxes, 1869, 1879-1932, and liens or mechanic liens 1870, 1876-1893.


 * Gray, Gertrude E. Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1775-1800. Vol. III. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1993. Available at ; digital version at Ancestry ($). Includes Hardy County.

Local Histories

 * The history of Hardy County : 1786-1986
 * 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. Available at ; ; digital version at Ancestry ($), FamilySearch Digital Library and Internet Archive.

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

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 FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). 1967 reprint: 973 X2pc 1840. See Virginia, Western District, Hardy County on page 134.

War of 1812
Hardy County men served in the 14th Regiment.

Civil War

 * - 7th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Ashby's) (Confederate). Company F (Hampshire Riflemen aka New Creek Riflemen).
 * - 11th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry. Company B (The Hardy Rangers).
 * - 18th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Companies B, E, and H.
 * - 25th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Heck's) (Confederate). Company H (Hardy Blues) and Company K (South Branch Riflemen).
 * - 62nd Regiment, Virginia Mounted Infantry (Confederate). Company B (Hardy Blues).

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)

Civil War Battle The following Civil War battle was fought in Hardy County:


 * August 7, 1864 - Moorefield, also known as Oldfields


 * Map showing Civil War battles in West Virginia.

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
 * Naturalization records, 1913-1916 These can be viewed online.

Probate Records
'''Online Probate Records


 * 1724-1978 West Virginia Wills and Probate Records 1724-1978 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1757-1899 (*); County Court, Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1787-1791 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1791-1859 (*); Virginia. Circuit Court (Frederick County), Virginia. District Court (Winchester District : 1789-1808), Virginia. Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery (Frederick County), Virginia. Superior Court of Law (Frederick County) at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * 1795-1899 (*); County Court, Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1801-1925 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * 1819 (*); County Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1885-1930 (*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * (*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * West Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1776-1971. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
 * West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library

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
How can Virginia tax lists help me?

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.


 * 1786 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. . Online at FamilySearch Digital Library, - images. 1786 personal property tax list of Hardy County.
 * 1786-1819 Heinegg, Paul. "Hardy County Personal Property Tax List, 1786-1819," at Free African Americans.com. Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.
 * 1786-1850 Hardy County Personal property tax lists, 1786-1850 at - images
 * 1787 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 & 21 Years, the Number of Slaves over 16 & Those Under 16 Years, Together with a Listing of Their Horses, Cattle & 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. Available at . The source of this publication is the 1787 personal property tax list. Hardy County is included in Vol. 2.
 * 1810 Schreiner-Yates, Netti. A Supplement to the 1810 Census of Virginia: Tax Lists of the Counties for which the Census is Missing. Springfield, Va.: Genealogical Books in Print, 1971. Available at . The source for this publication is the 1810 personal property tax list. Hardy County is included because the 1810 Census for that county has been destroyed.
 * 1815 Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. Available at . The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Hardy County is included in Vol. 6.

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

 * Introduction to FamilySearch Centers
 * Petersburg West Virginia FamilySearch Center

Societies
Hardy County Genealogical-Historical Society Moorefield, West Virginia 26836 Hardy County Genealogical-Historical Society

Hardy County Historical Society 104 S Main Street 2B P O Box 380 Moorefield, WV 26836 Phone: 304-257-3844 Hardy County Historical Society Hardy County Historical Society II

Websites

 * Hardy 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.
 * Cyndi's List for West Virginia
 * Microfilms at the Library of Virginia for Hardy County, West Virginia
 * - 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