Putnam County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

Description


Putnam County was named for Israel Putnam. The county is located in the southwestern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Putnam County Courthouse 3389 Winfield Road Winfield, WV 25213 Phone: 304-586-0202 Putnam County Website County Clerk has birth records from 1848, death records from 1853, marriage and probate records from 1853, land records from 1841. Circuit Court Clerk has divorce and court 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

 * 1848 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1848-1960 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1848-1862 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1848-1968 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images

Genealogies

 * Rust - Rust, Ellsworth Marshall. Rust of Virginia: Genealogical and Biographical Sketches of the Descendants of William Rust, 1654-1940. Washington, D.C.: Rust, 1940..

Local Histories

 * The History of Putnam County. By William D. Wintz and Ivan N. Hunter. Charleston, West Virginia, Upper Vandalia Historical Society, Quick Copy Service Company, 1967. ;.

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
 * Putnam County, West Virginia map
 * Map West-Virginia

Civil War
Confederate


 * - 8th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company G (Mountain Rangers).
 * - 16th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company D.
 * - 22nd Regiment, Virginia Infantry (1st Kanawha Regiment). Company A (Border Rifles).
 * - 34th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry (Witcher's Battalion, Virginia Mounted Rifles) (Confederate). Company B.
 * - 36th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company B.
 * - 36th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (2nd Kanawha Infantry) (Confederate). Company A (Buffalo Guards).

Union


 * - 8th Regiment, West Virginia Infantry.


 * 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)

World War II

 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * Putnam County, West Virginia World War II Casualties Army and Air Force

Naturalization and Citizenship

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

Newspapers

 * Charleston Gazette

Obituaries

 * Charleston Gazette Obituaries

Periodicals

 * The Vandalia Journal. s. l., Upper Vandalia Historical Society, 1964-..

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and 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
 * 1776-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1833-1888 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1846-1900 (*); Works Progress Administration of West Virginia at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1847-1968 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1848-1888 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1848-1916 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1848-1960 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1848-1968 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1848-1991 (*); County Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1857-1874 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1863-1942 (*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1878-1968 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1893-1939 (*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * Putnam County Will and Estate Records at USGenWeb Archives

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.

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 ($)

Archives
West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture & History The Culture Center 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, E. Charleston, WV 25305-0300 Website

FamilySearch Centers

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

Libraries

 * Putnam County Public Library

Societies
Upper Vandalia Historical Society P.O. Box 517 Poca, WV 25159 Facebook

Websites

 * Putnam County WVGenWeb
 * Putnam County USGenWeb Archives
 * Cyndi's List West Virginia
 * Putnam County, West Virginia Various Microfilm Records at the Library of Virginia
 * 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