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.

Church Records
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..

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
 * Maps of West Virginia (1617-1995)
 * Map of 1850 Virginia and West Virginia

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
 * 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

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1814-1991 at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate Records
Online Probate Records


 * 1724-1978 West Virginia Wills and Probate Records 1724-1978 at Ancestry — index and images $
 * 1756-1971 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1835-1916 Marshall County, West Virginia Will Books 1835-1916
 * West Virginia Will Books

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.

Marriage

 * 1780-1970 - at FamilySearch — 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

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

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