Preston County, West Virginia Genealogy

United States West Virginia  Preston County

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

County Courthouse
County Clerk had birth, marriage, deaths Probate and land records from 1869 Clerk Circuit Court has divorce and court records

History

 * A History of Preston County, West Virginia at Ancestry.com ($)
 * History of Preston County, West Virginia at Ancestry.com ($)

Parent County
1818--Preston County was created 19 January 1818 from Monongalia County. County seat: Kingwood

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
1869--The courthouse burned and many records were destroyed.

Neighboring Counties

 * Barbour
 * Fayette County, Pennsylvania
 * Garrett County, Maryland
 * Grant
 * Monongalia
 * Taylor
 * Tucker

General

 * Genealogy of Some Early Families in Grant and Pleasants Districts, Preston County, West Virginia. Baltimore, Md., 1977.

Maps

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

Naturalization

 * 1814 - 1991 - at FamilySearch — index and images

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, Preston County on page 136.]
 * 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
Preston County, Virginia (now West Virginia ) War of 1812

Civil War

 * - 3rd Regiment, Virginia State Line (Cavalry and Infantry) (Confederate). Company D.

Records and histories are available, including:


 * West Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865
 * 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)

Probate
Online Probate Records

Preston County, West Virginia Will Books 1869-1970
 * 1724 - 1978 West Virginia Wills and Probate Records 1724-1978 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1756 - 1971 at [https:/familysearch.org/ FamilySearch] — index and images

West VirginiaWill Books

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 here

Vital Records

 * . Includes marriages 1866, 1869-1970 - free.

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

Preston County Historical Society PO Box 307 Rowlesburg, WV 26425

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

Web Sites

 * Preston County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Cindi'sList
 * Learning How to Edit our Wiki Sites
 * Learning How to Edit our Wiki Sites