Lincoln County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

Description
Lincoln County was named for Abraham Lincoln. The county is located in the west-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Lincoln County Courthouse 8000 Court Avenue Hamlin, WV 25523 Phone: 304-824-3336 Lincoln County Website County Clerk has birth, marriage, death, probate and land records from 1909.

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

 * Interment.net Cemetery Records on line

Census Records

 * USGenWeb Census Project
 * Lincoln County, West Virginia 1870 Federal Census Index

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1909-1956 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1916-1919 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Funeral Homes

 * Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek.
 * Handley Funeral Home in Hamlin and West Hamlin.

Local Histories

 * Lincoln County, West Virginia Origins

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
 * Maps of West Virginia (1617-1995)
 * Lincoln County, West Virginia Map 1895 The general indexes cover chancery orders v. 7-26.
 * Lincoln County, West Virginia Maps
 * Trails Rus West Virginia map
 * Lincoln County, West Virginia Topical Maps

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)
 * Turner, Ronald Ray. 7th West Virginia Cavalry. Manassas, Va.: R.R. Turner, 1989. Includes biographical sketches of soldiers from Lincoln County.

World War II

 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 1940-1945 Bob L. VandLinde. A tribute to Lincoln County veterans : (West Virginia, that is).Victoria, British Columbia : Trafford, c2006. FS Library 975.443 M2v

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1814-1991  at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Newspapers

 * Lincoln County, West Virginia Newspapers

Obituaries

 * Lincoln County, West Virginia Obituaries
 * Miscellaneous Lincoln County West Virginia Obituaries

Probate Records
Online Probate 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
 * 1910-1947 (*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1916-1919 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

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.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

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 records, 1871-1957 You can view originals on line.
 * Death records, 1909-1936 You can view originals on line.
 * Marriage records, 1895-1926 1780-1970 are available online.
 * Early Lincoln County West Virginia Marriage Records 1880, 1895-1929

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

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

Libraries
Lincoln County Libraries 7999 Lynn Ave Hamlin, WV 25523-1434 Phone: 304-824-5481 Website
 * Multiple locations: Alum Creek, Guyan River and Hamlin-Lincoln.

Societies
Lincoln County Genealogical Society 7999 Lynn Ave Hamlin, WV 25523 Phone: 304-824-3478 Email: [mailto:LincolnCoGenSoc@aol.com LincolnCoGenSoc@aol.com] Website Facebook

Websites

 * Lincoln County WVGenWeb
 * Lincoln 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
 * Lincoln County West Virginia Wikipedia
 * 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