Marshall County, West Virginia Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for John Marshall. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Marshall County Courthouse 7th Street P O Box 459 Moundsville, WV 26041 Phone: 304-845-1220 Marshall County Website County Clerk has birth and death from 1853, marriage and land records from 1835, probate records from 1850. Clerk of the Circuit Court has divorce and land 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:

Cemeteries

 * There are three cemeteries on Fork Ridge Road, just outside of Moundsville in rural Marshall County, West Virginia: Fork Ridge Baptist, Fork Ridge Christian and Fork Ridge Universalist. Each may be referred to as Fork Ridge Cemetery.

Churches
A book about the Schools, Churches and Cemeteries of Marshall County is available online at Marshall County WVGenWeb

Short write ups related to local churches can be found at the Marshall County WVGenWeb site under the History tab. They include:
 * A History of Sand Hill Methodist Church names the pastors of the church from 1883-1946.
 * The History of St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church
 * History of Fork Ridge Church
 * Calvary Methodist Church in Graysville was previously known as Baker's Meeting house.
 * Booklet and History of Wolf Run Presbyterian Church

Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * McMechen
 * FamilySearch Places

Directories

 * Marshall County Directories, 1888-93 at Ancestry ($)

Genealogies

 * Cresap - Cresap, Joseph Ord and Bernarr Cresap. The History of the Cresaps. Revised edition. Gallatin, Tenn.: Cresap Society, 1987..

Land and Property Records

 * Deeds, 1835-1901; index to deeds, leases, etc., 1835-1971 at FamilySearch - Deeds through 1901 have been digitized.
 * Release deed book, 1866-1877 at FamilySearch

Local Histories

 * Powell, Scott., History of Marshall County, from forest to field : a story of early settlement and development of Marshall County, W. Va., with incidents of early life and roster of soldiers of the several wars, with other matters of interest available at FamilySearch.org.
 * J.H., G.C. Nichols and A.G. Sprankle, History of the Pan-handle; Being Historical Collections of the Counties of Ohio, Brooke, Marshall, and Hancock, West Virginia available at Google Books.
 * Gibson Lamb, et. al. History of the upper Ohio Valley : with family history and biographical sketches ; a statement of its resources, industrial growth and commercial advantages available at Google Books.
 * C.B. Allman, A history of Limestone Community, Marshall County, West Virginia

Maps and Gazetteers


Maps
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
 * Pennsylvania - Virginia Boundary 1774-1779 Property in Marshall County was part of the Pennsylvania-Virginia boundary dispute.
 * Maps of West Virginia (1617-1995)
 * Map of 1850 Virginia and West Virginia
 * 1871 Marshall County Property Map
 * 1909 Farm line map of Marshall Co., West Virginia

Gazeteers
 * Marshall County Communities & Geographical Locations available at WVGenWeb Marshall County.

Migration
Early Settlers to the area followed the predecessor trails to today's National Road from Cumberland Maryland to Wheeling, West Virginia. National Road

Revolutionary War

 * 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: 973 X2pc 1840. See Virginia, Western District, Marshall County on page 135.

Civil War
Civil War service men from Marshall County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Marshall County.

Union


 * - 1st Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry
 * - 1st Regiment, West Virginia Infantry, Companies A, B, C, E, H, and K.
 * - 1st Regiment, West Virginia Light Artillery, Batteries A, C and D Light Artillery

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)

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

Newspapers
The West Virginia Regional History Center at West Virginia University has microfilmed newspapers from Moundsville. These records have not been digitized.
 * Moundsville Weekly Echo: Oct 30 1891-Aug 1 1929
 * Moundsville Journal Weekly: May 12 1910-Jan 21 1915
 * Moundsville Journal: Jan 20 1910-Jul 24 1946
 * The Journal of Valley News: Jul 25 1946-Sep 30 1946
 * Moundsville Daily Echo: Mar 18 1896-Present

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1724-1978 West Virginia Wills and Probate Records 1724-1978 at Ancestry — index and images $
 * 1756-1971 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

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
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

 * Marshall County, WV website has an index of vital records. Use the link titled 'Click here to search online for documents on file' near the top right of page. Enter search criteria on the search page. Be patient; the search can take a long time.  Note that sometimes a pop up message says 'This page can not be found.' Again, be patient.  Search results may yet display, even after this message. This site has birth, marriage, death, liens, wills, ucc, and deeds. Some are actual images. Many are dates and other information. To view the image, try West Virginia Vital Research Records Search. This site has images of the records. If results of your query show two links for one person, check out both links because there may be different types of records for a single vital event. Although not all records are available, there are many birth, death and marriage records on these web pages. Using both web sites (the Marshall county and the West Virginia sites) is recommended.


 * 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 $
 * 1851-1863 Virginia Marriages 1851-1863 at Ancestry ($).

Death

 * 1804-1999 - at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1853-1964 West Virginia Death Index & Certificates, 1853-1964 at MyHeritage - index ($)

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Societies
Marshall County Historical Society, 301 13th Street P O Box 267  Moundsville, WV 26041 Email: [mailto:marshallwvhistoricalsociety@gmail.com marshallwvhistoricalsociety@gmail.com] Cockayne Farmstead Marshall County WV Historical Society Facebook Cockayne Farmstead Facebook Marshall County Historical Society

Websites

 * Marshall County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Cyndislist
 * - 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