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== Online Resources == | |||
*[http://www.learnwebskills.com/family/countyhistories3.htm#wv County and Town Histories], includes biographies | |||
*[http://www.wvgenweb.org/wvcoal/ West Virginia Coal Mining] | *[http://www.wvgenweb.org/wvcoal/ West Virginia Coal Mining] | ||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3229 West Virginia Prominent Men], index | *[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3229 West Virginia Prominent Men], index | ||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4524 West Virginia History, Vol. 1], [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4552 Vol. 2], [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4574 Vol. 3] | *[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4524 West Virginia History, Vol. 1], [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4552 Vol. 2], [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4574 Vol. 3] | ||
*[http://www.retracing-our-family-legacy.com/reference_formation_va_co.html Formation of West Virginia Counties] | |||
*[http://www.kinyon.com/westvirginia/midnewriver/contents.htm Kinyon Digital Library] is a History of The Middle New River Settlements and Contiguous Territory | |||
*[http://www.shgresources.com/wv/timeline/ West Virginia Timeline] | |||
*[http://www.wvculture.org/history/archivesindex.aspx West Virginia Archives and History] | |||
== Brief History == | |||
The following important events in the history of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginia West Virginia] affected political jurisdictions, family movements, and record keeping. For information about the United States from prior to 1712 see the [[United States History|United States History]] page. | The following important events in the history of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginia West Virginia] affected political jurisdictions, family movements, and record keeping. For information about the United States from prior to 1712 see the [[United States History|United States History]] page. | ||
'''1712:''' [http://www.degraffenreid.org/pages/5/page5.html?refresh=1136349481689 Baron Christopher de Graffenreid] visits the Eastern Panhandle looking for land for Swiss families. <ref name="Bushong">Bushong, Millard Kessler. ''A History of Jefferson County, West Virginia [1719-1940]''. Heritage Books, 2008. ISBN 0788422502, 9780788422508. Pages 438. Limited view digital version is available at [http://books.google.com/books?id=tS1fQynwry8C&lpg=PA8&dq=Pocomoke+Church+at+Shepherdstown.&source=bl&ots=yiEsAHHUP0&;sig=JQj-lDWkyzS1BeuEoaLIxzBhwrE&hl=en&ei=FARASuuhJ4vWsgPao_WQDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1 Google Books] {{WorldCat|51325539|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}} </ref>For more information on immigration to West Virginia see the [[West Virginia Emigration and Immigration|West Virginia Emigration and Immigration]] page. | *'''1712:''' [http://www.degraffenreid.org/pages/5/page5.html?refresh=1136349481689 Baron Christopher de Graffenreid] visits the Eastern Panhandle looking for land for Swiss families. <ref name="Bushong">Bushong, Millard Kessler. ''A History of Jefferson County, West Virginia [1719-1940]''. Heritage Books, 2008. ISBN 0788422502, 9780788422508. Pages 438. Limited view digital version is available at [http://books.google.com/books?id=tS1fQynwry8C&lpg=PA8&dq=Pocomoke+Church+at+Shepherdstown.&source=bl&ots=yiEsAHHUP0&;sig=JQj-lDWkyzS1BeuEoaLIxzBhwrE&hl=en&ei=FARASuuhJ4vWsgPao_WQDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1 Google Books] {{WorldCat|51325539|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}} </ref>For more information on immigration to West Virginia see the [[West Virginia Emigration and Immigration|West Virginia Emigration and Immigration]] page. | ||
*'''1719:''' Presbyterians founded the first church in West Virginia, Potomoke Church at Shepherdstown. <ref name="Bushong" /> | |||
'''1719:''' Presbyterians founded the first church in West Virginia, Potomoke Church at Shepherdstown. <ref name="Bushong" /> | *'''1731-1734:''' [http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108289.html Morgan Morgan], the first white settler in West Virginia established a home in Berkeley County, Virginia. <ref>''West Virginia: A Guide to the Mountain State''. West Virginia Federal Writers' Project. Jim Comstock, 1973. Pages 559. Full text digital version at [http://books.google.com/books?id=Q3n11Tg9kDoC&printsec=frontcover&dq=West+Virginia:+a+guide+to+the+mountain+state&ei=6v8_SvzULZDOlQTbkKDrDg Google Books] </ref> | ||
*'''1738:''' Frederick and Augusta counties were formed from Orange County, Virginia. Frederick County included territory later in the Eastern panhandle of West Virginia and began functioning in 1743. Augusta County encompassed all the area west of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Ridge_Mountains Blue Ridge mountains] north of the Carolinas and began functioning in 1745. | |||
'''1731-1734:''' [http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108289.html Morgan Morgan], the first white settler in West Virginia established a home in Berkeley County, Virginia. <ref>''West Virginia: A Guide to the Mountain State''. West Virginia Federal Writers' Project. Jim Comstock, 1973. Pages 559. Full text digital version at [http://books.google.com/books?id=Q3n11Tg9kDoC&printsec=frontcover&dq=West+Virginia:+a+guide+to+the+mountain+state&ei=6v8_SvzULZDOlQTbkKDrDg Google Books] </ref> | *'''1753: ''' Hampshire County, Virginia was created. This was the first county whose boundaries were within present-day West Virginia. | ||
*'''1774:''' Oct 10, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Point_Pleasant Battle of Point Pleasant] - Major battle of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Dunmore%27s_War Dunmore's War] between Virginia Militia and Indians from the [[Shawnee Indians|Shawnee]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mingo Mingo] tribes. | |||
'''1738:''' Frederick and Augusta counties were formed from Orange County, Virginia. Frederick County included territory later in the Eastern panhandle of West Virginia and began functioning in 1743. Augusta County encompassed all the area west of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Ridge_Mountains Blue Ridge mountains] north of the Carolinas and began functioning in 1745. | *'''1775: ''' [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_West_Augusta West Augusta District] was established by Virginia and include d all of West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. Ownership of part of this district was disputed with Pennsylvania. | ||
*'''1779: ''' Virginia ceded most of the northern part of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_West_Augusta West Augusta District] to Pennsylvania after Pennsylvania agreed to accept land grants that Virginia had made in the disputed region. | |||
'''1753: ''' Hampshire County, Virginia was created. This was the first county whose boundaries were within present-day West Virginia. | *'''1784: ''' Virginia ceded its claims north of the Ohio River to the United States but reserved a section known as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Military_District Military District for Revolutionary War bounty land]. | ||
*'''1788: ''' Virginia ratified the constitution and became a state. For more information about the United States during the Colonial Times see the [[Colonial Times 1607-1789|Colonial Times 1607-1789]] page. | |||
'''1774:''' Oct 10, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Point_Pleasant Battle of Point Pleasant] - Major battle of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Dunmore%27s_War Dunmore's War] between Virginia Militia and Indians from the [[Shawnee Indians|Shawnee]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mingo Mingo] tribes. | *'''1800:''' [http://www.legis.state.wv.us/legisdocs/2016/BlueBook/0000_WVS_BlueBook.pdf 78,000 people in West Virginia] , with 35,000 west of the Alleghenies. Existed 13 counties, 8 post offices, and 19 incorporated towns. (see page 8) | ||
*'''1801:''' Jefferson county was created from Berkeley county. | |||
'''1775: ''' [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_West_Augusta West Augusta District] was established by Virginia and include d all of West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. Ownership of part of this district was disputed with Pennsylvania. | *'''1803:''' First newspaper west of the Alleghenies is the [http://sites.rootsweb.com/~wvhampsh/nzppr.htm Monongalia Gazette and Morgantown Advertiser]. | ||
*'''1804:''' Mason county was created from Kanawha county. '''1818:''' [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Road The Cumberland Road] (or National Road) was completed from Cumberland, Maryland, to Wheeling. Counties were changed with Preston county being created from Monongalia county and Nicholas county was created from Greenbrier, Kanawha, Randolph Counties. Charles Town renamed Charleston. | |||
'''1779: ''' Virginia ceded most of the northern part of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_West_Augusta West Augusta District] to Pennsylvania after Pennsylvania agreed to accept land grants that Virginia had made in the disputed region. | *'''1831''': Jackson County was created from Mason, Wood, and Kanawha Counties. | ||
*'''1842:''' Marion County was created from Monongalia and Harrison Counties. Ritchie County was created from Harrison, Lewis and Wood Counties. Wayne County was created from Cabell County. | |||
'''1784: ''' Virginia ceded its claims north of the Ohio River to the United States but reserved a section known as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Military_District Military District for Revolutionary War bounty land]. | *'''1843:''' Barbour County was created from Harrison, Lewis and Randolph Counties. | ||
*'''1845:''' Doddridge County was created from Harrison, Tyler, Ritchie, and Lewis Counties. Gilmer County was created from Lewis and Kanawha Counties. | |||
'''1788: ''' Virginia ratified the constitution and became a state. For more information about the United States during the Colonial Times see the [[Colonial Times 1607-1789|Colonial Times 1607-1789]] page. | *'''1861-1865:''' In a dispute over secession, fifty western counties broke off to form the “restored government of Virginia,” which remained loyal to the Union. The state of [http://www.wvculture.org/history/archives/statehoo.html West Virginia] was admitted to the Union in 1863. During the Civil War, about 32,000 West Virginia soldiers enlisted in the Union Army, while 9,000 served the Confederacy. For more information about the Civil War see the [[United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865|United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865]] page. | ||
*'''1867-69:''' Lincoln County was created from Boone, Cabell, Logan, Kanawha, and Wayne Counties. | |||
'''1800:''' [http://www.legis.state.wv.us/legisdocs/2016/BlueBook/0000_WVS_BlueBook.pdf 78,000 people in West Virginia] , with 35,000 west of the Alleghenies. Existed 13 counties, 8 post offices, and 19 incorporated towns. (see page 8) | *'''1870s: ''' [http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3406400169.html Industrial expansion] in West Virginia attracted Black immigrants from southern states and European immigrants from overseas. | ||
*'''1898:''' The [http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/ Spanish-American War] which was fought mainly in Cuba and the Philippines. [http://www.spanamwar.com/1stWV.htm West Virginia] had 3,004 soldiers serve. | |||
'''1801:''' Jefferson county was created from Berkeley county. | *'''1917–1918:''' West Virginia men from the United States ages 18 through 45 registered with the Selective Service. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I World War I] had over 58,053 men and women from West Virginia serve during the war. | ||
*'''1930's:''' {{wikipedia|Great_Depression|The Great Depression}} closed many factories and mills. Many small farms were abandoned, and many families moved to cities. | |||
'''1803:''' First newspaper west of the Alleghenies is the [http://sites.rootsweb.com/~wvhampsh/nzppr.htm Monongalia Gazette and Morgantown Advertiser]. | *'''1940–1945:''' Over 50.6 million men ages 18 to 65 registered with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_Training_and_Service_Act_of_1940 Selective Service]. Over 16.3 million American men and women served in the armed forces during [http://www.worldwar-2.net/ World War II]. | ||
*'''1950–1953:''' Over 5.7 million American men and women served in the [http://www.korean-war.com/ Korean War]. | |||
'''1804:''' Mason county was created from Kanawha county. '''1818:''' [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Road The Cumberland Road] (or National Road) was completed from Cumberland, Maryland, to Wheeling. Counties were changed with Preston county being created from Monongalia county and Nicholas county was created from Greenbrier, Kanawha, Randolph Counties. Charles Town renamed Charleston. | *'''1950's–1960's''' The building of [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/nhs/ interstate highways] made it easier for people to move long distances. | ||
*'''1964–1972:''' Over 8.7 million American men and women served in the [http://www.vietnamwar.com/ Vietnam War]. | |||
'''1831''': Jackson County was created from Mason, Wood, and Kanawha Counties. | |||
'''1842:''' Marion County was created from Monongalia and Harrison Counties. Ritchie County was created from Harrison, Lewis and Wood Counties. Wayne County was created from Cabell County. | |||
'''1843:''' Barbour County was created from Harrison, Lewis and Randolph Counties. | |||
'''1845:''' Doddridge County was created from Harrison, Tyler, Ritchie, and Lewis Counties. Gilmer County was created from Lewis and Kanawha Counties. | |||
'''1861-1865:''' In a dispute over secession, fifty western counties broke off to form the “restored government of Virginia,” which remained loyal to the Union. The state of [http://www.wvculture.org/history/archives/statehoo.html West Virginia] was admitted to the Union in 1863. During the Civil War, about 32,000 West Virginia soldiers enlisted in the Union Army, while 9,000 served the Confederacy. For more information about the Civil War see the [[United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865|United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865]] page. | |||
'''1867-69:''' Lincoln County was created from Boone, Cabell, Logan, Kanawha, and Wayne Counties. | |||
'''1870s: ''' [http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3406400169.html Industrial expansion] in West Virginia attracted Black immigrants from southern states and European immigrants from overseas. | |||
== Local Histories == | |||
Some of the most valuable sources for family history research are local histories. Published histories of towns, counties, and states usually contain accounts of families. They describe the settlement of the area and the founding of churches, schools, and businesses. You can also find lists of pioneers, soldiers, and civil officials. Even if your ancestor is not listed, information on other relatives may be included that will provide important clues for locating your ancestor. A local history may also suggest other records to search. Local histories are extensively collected by the [https://www.familysearch.org/family-history-library/welcome-to-the-family-history-library Family History Library], public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies. The United States Research "[[United States History|History]]" page cites nationwide bibliographies of local histories which include histories of West Virginia . | Some of the most valuable sources for family history research are local histories. Published histories of towns, counties, and states usually contain accounts of families. They describe the settlement of the area and the founding of churches, schools, and businesses. You can also find lists of pioneers, soldiers, and civil officials. Even if your ancestor is not listed, information on other relatives may be included that will provide important clues for locating your ancestor. A local history may also suggest other records to search. Local histories are extensively collected by the [https://www.familysearch.org/family-history-library/welcome-to-the-family-history-library Family History Library], public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies. The United States Research "[[United States History|History]]" page cites nationwide bibliographies of local histories which include histories of West Virginia . | ||
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*''West Virginia County Formations and Boundary Changes'' <ref>''West Virginia County Formations and Boundary Changes''. Charleston, West Virginia: Historical Records Survey, 1939 {{FHL|47845|item|disp=FHL film 1573628; book 975.4 E2h}} </ref> | *''West Virginia County Formations and Boundary Changes'' <ref>''West Virginia County Formations and Boundary Changes''. Charleston, West Virginia: Historical Records Survey, 1939 {{FHL|47845|item|disp=FHL film 1573628; book 975.4 E2h}} </ref> | ||
== State Histories Useful to Genealogists == | |||
Good genealogists strive to understand the life and times of their ancestors. In this sense, any history is useful. But certain kinds of state, county, and local histories, especially older histories published between 1845 and 1945, often include biographical sketches of prominent individuals. The sketches usually tend toward the laudatory, but may include some genealogical details. If these histories are indexed or alphabetical, check for an ancestor's name. Some examples for the State of West Virginia are: | Good genealogists strive to understand the life and times of their ancestors. In this sense, any history is useful. But certain kinds of state, county, and local histories, especially older histories published between 1845 and 1945, often include biographical sketches of prominent individuals. The sketches usually tend toward the laudatory, but may include some genealogical details. If these histories are indexed or alphabetical, check for an ancestor's name. Some examples for the State of West Virginia are: | ||
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::WEST VIRGINIA, BIBLIOGRAPHY | ::WEST VIRGINIA, BIBLIOGRAPHY | ||
== Sources == | |||
<references /> {{West Virginia|West Virginia}} | <references /> {{West Virginia|West Virginia}} | ||
[[Category:West_Virginia, United States|History]][[Category:United States History]] | [[Category:West_Virginia, United States|History]][[Category:United States History]] | ||
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