Jefferson County, West Virginia Genealogy
Guide to Jefferson County, West Virginia ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named for Thomas Jefferson. The County is located in the northeast area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Jefferson County Courthouse
P O Box 208
Charles Town, WV 25414
Phone: 304-728-3215
Jefferson County Website
County Clerk has birth and death records from 1853, military records from 1918 (except Civil War years), marriage, probate and land records from 1801.[3]
Jefferson County, West Virginia Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1853 | 1801 | 1853 | 1801 | 1801 | 1801 | 1870 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
|
1803 Fire burned the courthouse in 1803, but records still exist from 1801 on. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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. |
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
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:[6]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Occupations
- Cutten, George Barton. The Silversmiths of Virginia (Together with Watchmakers and Jewelers) from 1694 to 1850. Richmond, Va.: The Dietz Press, Incorporated, 1952. FHL Collection. Includes sections on Charles Town, Harper's Ferry, and Shepherdstown silversmiths.
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
For tips on accessing Jefferson census records online, see: West Virginia Census.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1810 | 11,851 | — |
| 1820 | 13,087 | 10.4% |
| 1830 | 12,927 | −1.2% |
| 1840 | 14,082 | 8.9% |
| 1850 | 15,357 | 9.1% |
| 1860 | 14,535 | −5.4% |
| 1870 | 13,219 | −9.1% |
| 1880 | 15,005 | 13.5% |
| 1890 | 15,553 | 3.7% |
| 1900 | 15,935 | 2.5% |
| 1910 | 15,889 | −0.3% |
| 1920 | 15,729 | −1.0% |
| 1930 | 15,780 | 0.3% |
| 1940 | 16,762 | 6.2% |
| 1950 | 17,184 | 2.5% |
| 1960 | 18,665 | 8.6% |
| 1970 | 21,280 | 14.0% |
| 1980 | 30,302 | 42.4% |
| 1990 | 35,926 | 18.6% |
| 2000 | 42,190 | 17.4% |
| 2010 | 53,498 | 26.8% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Baptist
Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):
- Zoar (1799)[7]
Jefferson County fell within the bounds of the Ketocton Association.
Quaker
Early monthly meetings (with years of existence):
- Berkeley Monthly Meeting (1778-1832) formerly Bullskin[8]
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
African Americans[edit | edit source]
- Heinegg, Paul. "Jefferson County Personal Property Tax List, 1802-1820," Free African Americans.com. Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
It is anticipated that this bibliography will eventually identify all known family histories published about residents of this county. Use this list to:
- Locate publications about direct ancestors
- Find the most updated accounts of an ancestor's family
- Identify publications, to quote Elizabeth Shown Mills, about an ancestor's "FAN Club" [Friends, Associates, and Neighbors]
Compiled genealogies that treat multiple Jefferson County families include:
- O'Dell, Cecil. Pioneers of Old Frederick County, Virginia. Marceline, Mo.: Walsworth Pub. Co., 1995. FHL Collection. One of the most impressively researched one-place studies in the United States. In a review, Dorman stated "Comprehensive studies such as this appear only rarely. This volume should be in every Virginia genealogical collection."[9]
- Cartmell, T. K. Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia (Illustrated) from Its Formation in 1738 to 1908, Compiled Mainly from Original Records of Old Frederick County, Now Hampshire, Berkeley, Shenandoah, Jefferson, Hardy, Clarke, Warren, Morgan and Frederick. n.p.: n.p., c1909. Available at FHL US/CAN Book 975.59 H2c 1963; FHL US/CAN Film 1000634 Item 1; digital version at Ancestry ($); Digital view FamilySearch Digital Library and World Vital Records ($).
- Beeler - Pappas, Carolyn H. "Christopher Beeler, 1705-1775," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 43, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1999):243-255; Vol. 44, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 2000):18-30; Vol. 44, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 2000):115-125. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($). FHL Book 975.5 B2vg.
- Dandridge - Kennedy, Mary Selden. Seldens of Virginia and Allied Families. New York: Frank Allaben Genealogical Co., c1911. Digital versions of Vol. 1 at Google Books; Internet Archive Internet Archive; FHL Book 929.273 Se48k.
- Daniel - Woods, Dorothy J. and Michael E. Pollock. "The Daniel/Daniels Family in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties," Frederick Findings, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Winter 1988):19-24; Vol. 1, No. 2 (Spring 1988):80-87; Vol. 1, No. 3 (Summer 1988):139-145; Vol. 1, No. 4 (Fall 1988):219-222; Vol. 2, No. 1 (Winter 1989):41-49; Vol. 2, No. 3 (Summer 1989):157-167; Vol. 2, No. 4 (Fall 1989):251-258; Vol. 3, No. 1 (Winter 1990):1-10; Vol. 3, No. 2 (Spring 1990):79-88; Vol. 3, No. 3 (Summer 1990):175-188; Vol. 3, No. 4 (Fall 1990):207-212. FHL Book 975.59 D25f.
- Hefflebower - Rohrbach, Lewis Bunker. Hoffelbauer Genealogy, 1585-1993, The American Families Hefelbower, Heffelbower, Heflebower, Hefflebower, Heflybower, Hefflibauer, Heflibauer and Heffelbauer Together with Their German and Austrian Ancestry. Camden, Me.: Picton Press, 1993. FHL Book 929.273 H675rL.
- Hieronymus - Gentry, Veronica J. Descendants of Conrad Hironimus (Heironimus) Whose Will Was Probated in Frederick Co., Virginia in 1816. MSS., available at FHL.
- Hieronymus - Chenault, Louise Ryan, John P. Hieronymus, Dorothy Hieronymus, and George P. Unseld. The Hieronymus Story. Salt Lake City, Utah, 1959.
- Hieronymus - Hieronymus Family in America. The Hieronymus Story, 1985. Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, 1985. Available at FHL.
- Hite - The Colonial Dames of America. Ancestral Records and Portraits, 2 vols. New York: The Grafton Press Publishers, 1910. Digitized by Internet Archive: Vol. I and Vol. II - both free.
- Kennedy - Kennedy, Mary Selden. Seldens of Virginia and Allied Families. New York: Frank Allaben Genealogical Co., c1911. Digital versions of Vol. 1 at Google Books; Internet Archive Internet Archive; FHL Book 929.273 Se48k.
- Little - Horner, Frederick. The History of the Blair, Banister and Braxton Families Before and After the Revolution: With a Brief Sketch of Their Descendants. Philadelphia: J.P. Lippincott, 1898. FHL Film 1550788 Item 7; digital versions at Google Books - free and Internet Archive - free.
- Lowndes - The Colonial Dames of America. Ancestral Records and Portraits, 2 vols. New York: The Grafton Press Publishers, 1910. Digitized by Internet Archive: Vol. I and Vol. II - both free.
- Motter - Russell, Donna Valley. "Valentine Motter of Middletown," Western Maryland Genealogy, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Jan. 1987):3-9; Vol. 3, No. 2 (Apr. 1987):51-56.
- Ranson - The Colonial Dames of America. Ancestral Records and Portraits, 2 vols. New York: The Grafton Press Publishers, 1910. Digitized by Internet Archive: Vol. I and Vol. II - both free.
- Rutherford - The Colonial Dames of America. Ancestral Records and Portraits, 2 vols. New York: The Grafton Press Publishers, 1910. Digitized by Internet Archive: Vol. I and Vol. II - both free.
- Sinclair - Hall, Newman Arnold. "Allerton of Virginia," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 32, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1988):83-92; Vol. 32, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1988):171-178; Vol. 32, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1988):287-296; Vol. 33, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1989):13-18; Vol. 33, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1989):94-102; Vol. 33, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1989):175-180. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($). FHL Book 975.5 B2vg v. 32 (1988)-v. 33 (1989).
- Snyder - Lowe, Elizabeth Snyder. Roots and Branches of the Jacob Snyder Family Tree. 1997. Digital version at FamilySearch
- Strother - Owen, Thomas McAdory, "William Strother of Virginia and His Descendants," Publications of the Southern History Association, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Apr. 1898):149-173. Digitized by Internet Archive.
- Turner - Tyler, Lyon G. "The Blackburns, of 'Ripon Lodge,'" The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 4, No. 4 (Apr. 1896):266-269. Digital version at JSTOR - free.
- Vanswearingen - Daniels, Frances C.T. Some Descendants of Garrett Vanswearingen of St. Mary's, Maryland. Georgetown, Del.: A.B. and R.P. Thompson, 1983. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library.
- Yates - Roberts, Gary Boyd. The Royal Descents of 600 Immigrants to the American Colonies or the United States: Who Were Themselves Notable or Left Descendants Notable in American History. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2008. FHL Book 973 D2rrd 2008; online at Ancestry ($).
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See West Virginia Land and Property for additional information about early West Virginia land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Jefferson County, West Virginia Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories see the wiki page section West Virginia Local Histories.
- A history of Jefferson County, West Virginia
- A history of Jefferson County, West Virginia at Ancestry ($)
- Cartmell, T. K. Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia (Illustrated) from Its Formation in 1738 to 1908, Compiled Mainly from Original Records of Old Frederick County, Now Hampshire, Berkeley, Shenandoah, Jefferson, Hardy, Clarke, Warren, Morgan and Frederick. n.p.: n.p., c1909. Available at FHL US/CAN Book 975.59 H2c 1963; FHL US/CAN Film 1000634 Item 1; digital version at Ancestry ($); Digital view FamilySearch Digital Library and World Vital Records ($).
- Norris, J. E.. History of the Lower Shenandoah Valley Counties of Frederick, Berkeley, Jefferson and Clarke: Their Early Settlement and Progress to the Present Time, Geological Features, a Description of Their Historic and Interesting Localities, Cities, Towns and Villages, Portraits of Some of the Prominent Men, and Biographies of Many of the Representative Citizens. Chicago: A. Warner, 1890. Original edition available at FHL; 1972 reprint available at FHL; digital version of original edition at Ancestry ($); and World Vital Records ($).
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- 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
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Revolutionary War[edit | edit source]
- 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: FHL Book 973 X2pc 1840. See Virginia, Western District, Jefferson County on page 134.
- 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." FHL Book 973 M24ur; digital version at Ancestry ($). Includes veterans from this county; Virginia section begins on page 238.
War of 1812[edit | edit source]
Jefferson County men served in the 55th Regiment.[10]
Civil War[edit | edit source]
Regiments. Service men in Jefferson served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Jefferson County:
- - 1st Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate).
- - 2nd Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company A (Jefferson Guards), Company B (Hamtramck Guards), Company G (Botts Greys), Company H (Letcher Riflemen), and Company K (Floyd Guards).
- - 11th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry. Company A (The Wildcat Company).[11]
- - 12th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company B (Baylor Light Horse) and Company D.[12]
Records and histories are available, including:
- 1861-1865 West Virginia Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 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)
Civil War Battle
The following Civil War battles were fought in Jefferson County.
- September 12 - 15, 1862 - Harpers Ferry[13]
- September 19 - 20, 1862 - Shepherdstown[14]
- August 21, 1864 - Summit Point, also known as Flowing Springs and/or Cameron's Depot[15]
- August 25 - 29, 1864 - Smithfield Crossing[16]
- Map showing Civil War battles in West Virginia.
World War II[edit | edit source]
- 1940-1945 - West Virginia, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
- 1814-1991 West Virginia Naturalization Records, 1814-1991 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1724-1978 West Virginia Wills and Probate Records 1724-1978 at Ancestry — index and images $
- 1756-1971 West Virginia Will Books 1756-1971 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index 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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
How can Virginia tax lists help me?
- 1802-1820 Heinegg, Paul. "Jefferson County Personal Property Tax List, 1802-1820," Free African Americans.com. Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.
- 1815 Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. Available at FHL. The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Jefferson County is included in Vol. 6.
Online West Virginia Tax site
West Virginia real and personal property tax records are managed by the County Assessor in each county. Land and land improvements are considered real property while mobile property is classified as personal property.
Many County Assessors offer an online searchable database, where assessment record searches can be performed by name, account number, year, or mp/parcel number. Where online records are not available, requests for records can be made to the Assessment Office in person, by phone, or in writing.
The search for tax information can start here
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
- West Virginia Vital Records, 1865-1969 (varies) - Includes birth, death, and marriage.
- Index of names appearing in the birth records of Jefferson County, Virginia - West Virginia 1853 through 1890
- Index of names appearing in the death records of Jefferson County, Virginia - West Virginia, 1853 through 1910
- Marriages, Jefferson County, Virginia - West Virginia, 1801 through 1890
- Burials in Jefferson County, West Virginia, 1978-1997 : supplemental to tombstone inscriptions to 1980
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1853-1914 West Virginia Birth Index, 1853-1914 at MyHeritage - index ($)
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1776-1971 West Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1776-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1780-1970 West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1801-1962 West Virginia, United States Marriages at Findmypast; index $
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1804-1999 - West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1853-1964 West Virginia Death Index & Certificates, 1853-1964 at MyHeritage - index ($)
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Jefferson County. For state-wide archival repositories, see West Virginia Archives and Libraries.
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Jefferson County. For state-wide library facilities, see West Virginia Archives and Libraries.
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Jefferson County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see West Virginia Societies.
Old Charles Town Library
200 East Washington Street
Charles Town, WV 25414
Phone: 304-725-2208
Old Charles Town Library
Jefferson County Historical Society PO Box 485
Charles Town, WV 25414
Jefferson County Historical Society
Harpers Ferry Historical Association and Bookshop, Harpers Ferry National Historic Park
Shenandoah Street
PO Box 197
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
Phone: 304-535-6881
Harpers Ferry Historical Association and Bookshop
Historic Shepherdstown Commission, Historic Shepherdstown Museum
Entler Hotel Room 200
PO Box 1786
Shepherdstown, WV 25443
Phone: 304-876-0910
Historic Shepherdstown & Museum
Jefferson County Black History Preservation Society
P. O. Box 569
Ranson, WV 25438
Jefferson County Black History Preservation Society
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Jefferson County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
- Jefferson County, West Virginia Bible Records
- Cyndi's List for West Virginia
- FamilySearch Catalog - 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
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
- Good, Rebecca H. and Rebecca A. Ebert. Finding Your People in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, 1998. 4th ed. FHL Book 975 D27e 1998
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), West Virginia.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Jefferson County, West Virginia" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_County,_West_Virginia."
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Jefferson County, West Virginia. Page 744 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Jefferson County, West Virginia. Page 743-746 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 742-743.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), West Virginia.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Jefferson County, West Virginia," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_County,_West_Virginia, accessed 04 July 2018.
- ↑ Robert Baylor Semple and George William Beale, A History of the Rise and Progress of the Baptists in Virginia (1810; reprint, Richmond, Va.: Pitt and Dickinson, 1894), 386-387. Digital version at Google Books.
- ↑ Jay Worrall, The Friendly Virginians: America's First Quakers (Athens, Ga.: Iberian Publishing Company, 1994), 537-539. FHL Book 975.5 K2wj.
- ↑ John Frederick Dorman, "Review of Pioneers of Old Frederick County, Virginia," in The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 39, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1995):236.
- ↑ Stuart Lee Butler, A Guide to Virginia Militia Units in the War of 1812 (Athens, Ga.: Iberian Pub. Co., 1988), 114. FHL Book 975.5 M2bs.
- ↑ Richard L. Armstrong, 11th Virginia Cavalry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, c1989). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 52.
- ↑ Dennis E. Frye, 12th Virginia Cavalry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, c1988). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 42.
- ↑ Heritage Preservation Services, Civil War Battle Summaries by State, (accessed 20 September 2012)
- ↑ Heritage Preservation Services, Civil War Battle Summaries by State, (accessed 20 September 2012)
- ↑ Heritage Preservation Services, Civil War Battle Summaries by State, (accessed 25 September 2012)
- ↑ Heritage Preservation Services, Civil War Battle Summaries by State, (accessed 25 September 2012)
