Step-by-Step West Virginia Research, 1880-Present
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Step 1. Find out everything possible from living relatives and their family records.[edit | edit source]
Every good genealogy project starts with finding all the clues that can be gathered from living relatives — both from their memories and from documents or memorabilia in their homes.
What are the best questions to ask?[edit | edit source]
In order to extend research, ask for names, dates, and places. Everything about who a relative was and when and where they lived is a clue to a new record search. For ideas, see :
- 50 Questions to Ask Relatives About Family History at ThoughtCo.com
- Creating Oral Histories at FamilySearch Wiki
What documents should be collected or copied?[edit | edit source]
Because these records cover names, dates, places, and relationships, they are a valuable source of clues. Look for them in your home, your parents' home, and ask living grandparents to check for them.
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Step 2. Find ancestors in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.[edit | edit source]
- A census is a count and description of the population for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day.
- For each person living in a household (depending on the year), their name, age, birthplace, relationship to head of household, place of birth for father and mother, citizenship status, year of immigration, mother of how many children and number of children living, native language, and whether they were a veteran of the military can be listed.
- Searching for a family in census records every ten years can identify all the children in a family.
- Searching in earlier census records to find someone as a child can identify parents.
Using clues to lead to census record searches.[edit | edit source]
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This marriage record has many clues as to which census records to search.
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In addition to William L. (Lorenzo), in his parents' home, his grandmother, Mary A. Metz, and her son, Harry, are listed.
Here are the two families ten years earlier in the 1930 census.
- Rosa Sirna's mother, Mary Ridolfo lives with them, identifying Rosa's maiden name.
- Notice that Sam's name here is Salvatore. He is from Italy, so Sam has Anglicized his name, a common practice.
- Notice that the first four children are listed as step-children.
In 1920, the Detricks have not yet moved to West Virginia.
But here is a really interesting census record for the Sirnas. Rosa here is married to Charles, who is father of the children listed as Salvatore's step-children ten years later. Salvatore is his brother living with them. Apparently, Rosa first married Charles Sirna and second his brother, Salvatore (Sam) Sirna.
Look for ancestors in as many censuses as possible. Use the clues from each census for hints where to find families in both earlier and later census records.[edit | edit source]
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For more information, see Utah Census and United States Census.
Step 3: Find birth, marriage, and death certificates for ancestors and their children.[edit | edit source]
States, counties, or (even towns in some states) recorded births, marriages, and deaths.
- In addition to the child's name, birth date, and place of birth, a birth certificate may give the birthplaces of the parents, their ages, and occupations.
- A marriage certificate might list the parents of the bride and groom.
- A death certificate may give the person's birth date and place, parents' names and birthplaces, and spouse's name.
Using census clues to lead to a birth certificate.[edit | edit source]
Census information gives approximate birth years and probable birth places, and that information leads to finding important birth records. In addition to basic birth date and place, a birth certificate can give age, birthplace, occupation, etc. about the parents.
Using census clues to lead to a marriage certificate.[edit | edit source]
Finding marriage records can:
- establish the full identity of the wife, with her maiden name and possible birth details.
- find the names of the parents of the bride and groom.
Using the census clues to lead to a death certificate.[edit | edit source]
Moving forward in time, older generations stop showing up in the census. That is a clue that they probably died in the last 10 years. The death certificate is important because of all the possible secondary data beyond just the date and place of death:
- birth date and place of the deceased
- maiden name of the wife
- names of the deceased's parents
- birth places of the deceased's parents.
The examples shown above are index entries. That means for each of them an actual, original, full certificate exists. It is highly advisable to order the original certificate. It will contain many details not given in the index. In some cases, the image of the original is found online. Instructions are given below on obtaining the original certificate in other cases.
Gather as many birth, marriage, and death records as possible.[edit | edit source]
How to Find the Records[edit | edit source]
There are basically three ways to find these indexes or full original certificates:
- online databases
- writing to a county courthouse (prior to the beginning of state civil registration)
- purchasing them through the mail at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.gov
Online databases, usually indexes, with some images[edit | edit source]
- This chart gives links to some West Virginia online databases for these records:
Records at the County Courthouse.[edit | edit source]
These records were originally created by county clerks, and then copies were sent to the state. County clerks can be willing to help find all the birth records for one family or perform other searches that the state would not do. To contact county clerks by e-mail or telephone, go to the Wiki article for each county. Links to the county Wiki articles are found at the end of this page or by clicking here: West Virginia Counties.
Order Certificates from West Virginia Vital Records Department.[edit | edit source]
Almost always the full original certificate will contain information not contained in the index. Although it costs money, consider sending for the full original certificates, particularly for direct line ancestors (grandparents, great-grandparents, etc).
- Where to Write for West Virginia Birth, Marriage, Death and Divorce Records at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.gov
For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in West Virginia, see How to Find West Virginia Birth Records, How to Find West Virginia Marriage Records, and How to Find West Virginia Death Records.
Step 4: Try to find additional details about ancestors in obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records online.[edit | edit source]
There are additional record collections available, based upon a person's death: obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records. These are a great source for more details about a person. Here are some examples; notice the level of details.
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Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- 1690–Current GenealogyBank at GenealogyBank — index & images ($)
- 1980-2014 United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages 1980-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Search Newspaper Archives at Newspaper Archives — index & images ($)
- West Virginia Newspapers and Periodicals at Ancestry — index ($)
- West Virginia Obituaries at ObitsArchive.com — index & images ($)
- West Virginia Online Historical Newspapers at Google Sites
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
- 1854-1932 West Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1854-1932 at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index
- 1941 West Virginia, U.S., Cemetery Readings, 1941 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1949-1969 United States, Cemetery Abstracts, 1949-1969 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- BillionGraves — index & images
- BillionGraves Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Findmypast ($)
- FindaGrave — index & images
- Find a Grave Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry ($)
- Online West Virginia Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com — index
- West Virginia Cemeteries at USGenWeb Tombstones — index
- West Virginia Cemetery Records at AccessGenealogy — index
- West Virginia Death Records and West Virginia Cemetery Records at Interment.net — index
U.S. Social Security Death Index and Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007[edit | edit source]
- The U.S. Social Security program began in 1935 but most deaths recorded in the index happened after 1962.
- The Social Security Death index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits.
- You can search these records online at
- 1935-2014 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry — index ($); Picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off by providing information filed in the application or claims process
- 1962-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- If you find an ancestor in the SSDI index, you can order a copy of their original Social Security application (SS-5). If you can prove the individual has died (by sending an obituary or copy of their cemetery headstone), the application will also give the deceased's parents' names, if listed.
For more information, see West Virginia Obituaries and West Virginia Cemeteries.
Step 5: Search military records: World War I and II draft cards.[edit | edit source]
There are many different types of military records: draft records, enlistment records, service records, pension records, etc. Information in military records can vary from a simple lists of name, age, and residence, to more detailed records including name, residence, age, occupation, marital status, birthplace, physical description, number of dependents, pensions received, disabled veterans, needy veterans, widows or orphans of veterans, and other information.
Example of a World War I draft card.
Example of a World War II draft card.
Search the World War I and World War II Draft Collections for male relatives.[edit | edit source]
- 1917-1918 United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1942 United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
For more information and additional collections, see West Virginia Military Records.
Step 6: Look for church records online.[edit | edit source]
Church records function as vital records.
- An infant christening or baptism record documents a birth.
- Many, if not most, people are married in a church, and then a record is created by the minister.
- Likewise, ministers presided over funerals, then creating a burial record, which documents a death.
Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration.
Search for church records that can provide additional birth, marriage, and death information.[edit | edit source]
Indexes[edit | edit source]
- 1853-1928 West Virginia Births and Christenings, 1853-1928 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1854-1932 West Virginia Marriages, 1854-1932 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1854-1932 West Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1854-1932 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Quaker (Society of Friends)[edit | edit source]
- 1681-1935 U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
For help with church records kept in West Virginia, see West Virginia Church Records.
To search records by denomination, if you know your ancestors religion, go to Searching for Church Records by Denomination.
Step 7: Search for wills and probate packets.[edit | edit source]
- County probate records include probate proceedings, petitions, affidavits, orders for sales, reports of sales, administrators' and executors' bonds, guardianship papers, wills, and letters of administration.
- In a will book, usually just a transcription of the will is recorded. But all of these other records are kept in a probate packet.
- Administrations are probate proceedings that handled an estate if no known will existed.
Search these indexes and images for probate records.[edit | edit source]
- 1724-1985 West Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1724-1985 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1756-1971 West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Probate Information in County Wiki Articles[edit | edit source]
Each West Virginia county Research Wiki page lists additional probate sources, including where to write for records: West Virginia Counties
For more information, see West Virginia Probate Records and United States Probate Records.
Step 8: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.[edit | edit source]
The census records may show that an ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records would be the next step.
Example of a passenger list. Notice that this shipping record for Salvatore Sirna gives his birth place. In the blow-up of the original record you see the column where passengers listed their next-of-kin in Italy. Here Salvatore names his father, Vincenza Sirna.
Original record
Blow up of father's name
Example of naturallization records.'
Look for immigrant ancestors in shipping lists and citizenship sources.[edit | edit source]
West Virginia Immigration Records[edit | edit source]
- 1500-Onward All U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s at Ancestry — index & images; includes those with destination of West Virginia ($); Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1895-1956 United States, Border Crossings from Canada, 1895-1956 at MyHeritage — index & images; includes those with destination of West Virginia ($)
Cultural Groups[edit | edit source]
- 1920-1939 Germany, Bremen Emigration Lists, 1920-1939 at MyHeritage — index ($); includes those with destination of West Virginia
- Germans Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage — index ($) ; includes those with destination of West Virginia
- Italians Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage — index ($); includes those with destination of West Virginia
- Russians Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage — index ($); includes those with destination of West Virginia
Passport Records Online[edit | edit source]
- 1795-1925 United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)
West Virginia Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records[edit | edit source]
- United States Naturalization and Citizenship Online Genealogy Records
- West Virginia, Naturalization Records, 1814-1991 - index & images
- West Virginia, Naturalization Records, 1814-1991 ($), also at Findmypast, index, and at My Heritage, index
- U.S., Naturalization Records - Original Documents, (World Archives Project) for West Virginia, 1856-1867 - Northern District, Wheeling, U.S. District Court ($)
- West Virginia, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1844-1943 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
For more information, see West Virginia Emigration and Immigration and West Virginia Naturalization and Citizenship.
Step 9: Search for printed local histories or biography collections online.[edit | edit source]
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
- Published histories of towns, counties, and states sometimes contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
- Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories: West Virginia; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
- Google Books. Use keywords "West Virginia" and the county name. Hits will list online readable books, lists of libraries that carry the book, and purchasing opportunities.
- Family History Books
- County and Town Histories
- Internet Archive. Use keywords "West Virginia" and the county name.
- Ancestry.com ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use West Virginia and the name of the county.
FamilySearch Collected Local Histories[edit | edit source]
- Local histories are extensively collected by the FamilySearch Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies.
- If you have access to the FamilySearch Library or a FamilySearch center, you can find local histories by:
- Go to the FamilySearch Catalog.
- In the "Place" field, type the name of your county and click "Search".
- A list of subheadings for the county will appear. Local histories containing genealogies and biographies will be found under Biography, Genealogy, History, or History - Indexes.
Biographies[edit | edit source]
These collections of biographies can be searched online. Most have a table of contents and an index. Or use the "Find" function on a computer.
- 1915 Hand-book of West Virginia : The State's Wonderful Development, Its Natural Resources and Industrial Advantages, Biographies of Prominent Citizens and Stories of Leading Business Institutions, by Byrne, George. Charleston: Lovett Printing Company, 1915. Online at: HathiTrust
- An Inside View of the Formation of the State of West Virginia, with Character Sketches of the Pioneers in That Movement, by Willey, William P. Wheeling, West Virginia: News Publishing Company, 1901. Online at: HathiTrust
- County and Town Histories, West Virginia at LearnWebSkills — index & images
- Men of West Virginia, Chicago, Illinois: Biographical Publishing Company, 1903. Online at: Vol. 1 - HathiTrust; Vol. 2 - HathiTrust
Step 10: Contact a local historical or genealogical society.[edit | edit source]
This online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county: Click on the map to select a county, then scroll down to the historical or genealogical society listings. Here is an example of an internet website for a local genealogical society.
Step 11: Use other FamilySearch tools.[edit | edit source]Historical Images[edit | edit source]Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
West Virginia Online Genealogy Records[edit | edit source]Search any other online records listed in West Virginia Online Genealogy Records. The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the West Virginia Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
Step 12: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in West Virginia.[edit | edit source]This article focused more on West Virginia state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in West Virginia. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records.
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