Upshur County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

Description
Upshur County was named for Abel Parker Upshur. The county is located in the north-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Upshur County Courthouse 40 West Main Street, #101 Buckhannon, WV 26201 Phone: 304-472-1068 Upshur County Website County Clerk has birth, marriage, death and land records from 1853. Clerk of the Circuit Court has divorce, probate, and county 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

 * 1776-1938 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1851 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1851-1924 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1851-1927 (*); County Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1851-1929 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1853-1889 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1857-1926 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1874-1880 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Local Histories

 * Upshur County, West Virginia from Hardesty's 1883
 * The history of Upshur County, West Virginia. By W. B. Cutright. Tucson, Arizona : W.C. Cox & Co., 1974. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, 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
 * Upshur County, West Virginia Map

Civil War
Union


 * - 1st Regiment, West Virginia Light Artillery, Battery E Light Artillery.

Confederate


 * - 25th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Heck's). Company A (Upshur Grays).

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)
 * West Virginia Archives Union Milia Rosters Upshur County
 * Upshur County Military Records at WVGenWeb

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

Obituaries

 * Upshur County, West Virginia, obituaries and news items, Includes index

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
 * 1784-1865 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1851 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1851-1866 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1851-1867 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1851-1884 (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1851-1899 (*); County Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1851-1900 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1851-1906 (*); County Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1851-1927 (*); County Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1851-1929 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1852-1970 (*); County Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1857-1926 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1867-1899 (*); County Court and Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images; Also at:
 * 1868-1929 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1874-1880 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1880-1934 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * Calendar of Wills in West Virginia, No. 49, Upshur County (Buckhannon). By Historical Records Survey and Work Projects Administration. Charleston, West Virginia: West Virginia Historical Records Survey, 1941. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; Also at:
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * (*); Historical Records Survey at FamilySearch Catalog — images

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
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

 * 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

 * Buckhannon West Virginia FamilySearch Center

Libraries

 * Upshur County Public Library Website
 * West Virginia Wesleyan College Annie M Pfeiffer Library College Avenue Buckhannon, WV 26201 Phone: 304-473-8059

Societies
The Upshur County Historical Society  P.O. Box 2082 Buckhannon, WV 26201 Phone: 304-472-2738 Website Publication: The Upshur County Historical Society Newsletter & Journal

Websites

 * Upshur County WVGenWeb
 * Hacker's Creek Pioneer Descendants, Inc.
 * WV Encyclopedia
 * Cyndi's List
 * West Virginia Archives History Upshur County
 * 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