Wood County, West Virginia Genealogy
Guide to Wood 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 James Wood. The County is located in the west central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Wood County Courthouse
1 Court Square
Parkersburg, WV 26101
Phone: 304-424-1844
Wood County Website
County Clerk has birth, marriage and death records from 1850; probate records and military records from 1900.
County Assessor has land records from 1798.
Clerk of the Circuit Court has divorce and county records.[3]
Wood 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 |
| 1850 | 1850 | 1850 | 1798 | 1798 | 1800 | 1870 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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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]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1800 | 1,217 | — |
| 1810 | 3,036 | 149.5% |
| 1820 | 5,860 | 93.0% |
| 1830 | 6,429 | 9.7% |
| 1840 | 7,923 | 23.2% |
| 1850 | 9,450 | 19.3% |
| 1860 | 11,046 | 16.9% |
| 1870 | 19,000 | 72.0% |
| 1880 | 25,006 | 31.6% |
| 1890 | 28,612 | 14.4% |
| 1900 | 34,452 | 20.4% |
| 1910 | 38,001 | 10.3% |
| 1920 | 42,306 | 11.3% |
| 1930 | 56,521 | 33.6% |
| 1940 | 62,399 | 10.4% |
| 1950 | 66,540 | 6.6% |
| 1960 | 78,331 | 17.7% |
| 1970 | 86,818 | 10.8% |
| 1980 | 93,648 | 7.9% |
| 1990 | 86,915 | −7.2% |
| 2000 | 87,986 | 1.2% |
| 2010 | 86,956 | −1.2% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing Wood census records online, see: West Virginia Census.
Church Records[edit | edit source]
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]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
- Agnew - 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 ($).
- Blennerhasset - Roberts, Gary Boyd. The Royal Descents of 600 Immigrants to the American Colonies or the United States: Who Were Themselves Notable or Left Descendants Notable in American History. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2008. FHL Book 973 D2rrd 2008; online at Ancestry ($).
- Cooke - Welles, Albert. American Family Antiquity. New York: Society Library, 1880. Digital version at Internet Archive - free.
- Cunningham - Newman, Betty Cunningham. Adam and 500 More Cunninghams of the Valley of Virginia, c.1734-c.1800. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, Inc., 2000. FHL Book 929.273 C917n.
- Kiger - 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.
- Page - Rutherford, Dolores Crumrine. Page Family Records in Virginia Counties. 2 vols. Carmichael, Calif.: D.C. Rutherford, 1982-2006. FHL Book 929.273 P141rdc v. 2 Wood County appears in Vol. 2 Part 4
- Page - Rutherford, Dolores Crumrine. The Page Family in Virginia Personal Property Taxes (1782-1850). 2 vols. Carmichael, Calif.: D.C. Rutherford, 2002. FHL Book 929.273 P141rd v. 1-2 Wood County appears in Vol. 2
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 Wood 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.
- “Area Families Have Interest in Saga of John Jones His Sister Polly” - complete story
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
- Wood County, West Virginia Map
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. 1967 reprint: FHL Book 973 X2pc 1840. See Virginia, Western District, Wood County on page 136.
- 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]
- Wood County men served in the 113th Regiment.[7]
Civil War[edit | edit source]
Regiments. Service men in Wood 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 Wood County:
- - 14th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company N (Night Hawk Rangers).[8]
- - 20th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company G.[9]
Records and histories are available, including:
- 1861-1865 Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 - 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[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
- Wood County, West Virginia Wills
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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
How can West Virginia tax lists help me?
- 1802-1822 - Wood County, West Virginia Tax Lists 1802-1822 - free.
- 1815 - Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. Available at FHL Book 975 E4w v. 6. The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Wood County is included in Vol. 6.
West Virginia real and personal property tax records are managed by the County Assessor in each county. Land and land improvements are considered real property while mobile property is classified as personal property.
Many County Assessors offer an online searchable database, where assessment record searches can be performed by name, account number, year, or mp/parcel number. Where online records are not available, requests for records can be made to the Assessment Office in person, by phone, or in writing.
The search for tax information can start here
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
- West Virginia Vital Records, 1865-1969 (varies) - Includes birth, death, and marriage.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1853-1914 West Virginia Birth Index, 1853-1914 at MyHeritage - index ($)
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 Wood 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 Wood 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 Wood County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see West Virginia Societies.
Parkersburg and Wood County Public Library
3100 Emerson Avenue
Parkersburg, WV 26104
Phone: 304-485-6564
Parkersburg and Wood County Public Library
Wood County Historical and Preservation Society
P O Box 565
Parkersburg, WV 26102
304-295-9777
Email: wchps.email@gmail.com
Wood County Historical and Preservation Society
Wood County Historical and Preservation Society Facebook
West Augusta Historical & Genealogical Society
915 East Main Street
Mannington, WV 26582
Phone: 304-986-1252
Email: westaugustahistorical@gmail.com
West Augusta Historical & Genealogical Society
Wood County West Virginia Genealogical and Historical Societies
Julia-Ann Square Historical Community Association, Inc.
P O Box 966
Parkersburg, WV 26102-0966
Phone: 304-422-9861
Julia-Ann Square Association
Julia-Ann Square Historic District
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Wood County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- Wood County, West Virginia Various Records on Microfilm at the Library of Virginia
- Cyndi's List for West Virginia
- Wood County West Virginia Genealogies
- Parkersburg, West Virginia:A Vintage Portrait
- West Virginia Archives History Wood County
- 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]
- "A Guide to the Counties of Virginia: Wood County," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 24, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1976):297-300. FHL; digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
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, "Wood County, West Virginia" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_County,_West_Virginia."
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Wood 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, "Wood County, West Virginia," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_County,_West_Virginia, accessed 29 August 2018.
- ↑ Stuart Lee Butler, A Guide to Virginia Militia Units in the War of 1812 (Athens, Ga.: Iberian Pub. Co., 1988), 215. FHL Book 975.5 M2bs.
- ↑ Robert J. Driver, 14th Virginia Cavalry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, c1988). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 47.
- ↑ Richard L. Armstrong, 19th and 20th Virginia Cavalry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1994). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 101.
