Fayette County, West Virginia Genealogy
Guide to Fayette 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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Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 Resources
- 2.1 Bible Records
- 2.2 Biographies
- 2.3 Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- 2.4 Cemeteries
- 2.5 Census Records
- 2.6 Church Records
- 2.7 Court Records
- 2.8 Directories
- 2.9 Emigration and Immigration
- 2.10 Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
- 2.11 Funeral Homes
- 2.12 Genealogies
- 2.13 Guardianship
- 2.14 Land and Property Records
- 2.15 Local Histories
- 2.16 Maps and Gazetteers
- 2.17 Migration
- 2.18 Military Records
- 2.19 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 2.20 Newspapers
- 2.21 Obituaries
- 2.22 Other Records
- 2.23 Periodicals
- 2.24 Probate Records
- 2.25 School Records
- 2.26 Social Security Records
- 2.27 Tax Records
- 2.28 Vital Records
- 3 Research Facilities
- 4 Societies
- 5 Websites
- 6 Research Guides
- 7 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named for Marquis de la Fayette. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Fayette County Courthouse
100 Church Street
Fayette, WV 25840
Phone: 304-574-1200
Fayette County Website
County Clerk has birth and death records from 1866; marriage, probate and land records from 1831.
Clerk of the Circuit Court has divorce and county records.[3]
Fayette 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 |
| 1866 | 1831 | 1866 | 1831 | 1831 | 1831 | 1870 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
|
There are undocumented gaps in several sets of records throughout the 1800s, and particularly between roughly 1890 and 1915. |
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]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
For tips on accessing Fayette census records online, see: West Virginia Census.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1840 | 3,924 | — |
| 1850 | 3,955 | 0.8% |
| 1860 | 5,997 | 51.6% |
| 1870 | 6,647 | 10.8% |
| 1880 | 11,560 | 73.9% |
| 1890 | 20,542 | 77.7% |
| 1900 | 31,987 | 55.7% |
| 1910 | 51,903 | 62.3% |
| 1920 | 60,377 | 16.3% |
| 1930 | 72,050 | 19.3% |
| 1940 | 80,628 | 11.9% |
| 1950 | 82,443 | 2.3% |
| 1960 | 61,731 | −25.1% |
| 1970 | 49,332 | −20.1% |
| 1980 | 57,863 | 17.3% |
| 1990 | 47,952 | −17.1% |
| 2000 | 47,579 | −0.8% |
| 2010 | 46,039 | −3.2% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
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]
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 Fayette 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.
- Fayette County History
- Fayette County West Virginia Historic Fayetteville
- History of Fayette County, West Virginia
- History of Fayette County, West Virginia at Ancestry ($)
- Donnelly, Shirley. History of Oak Hill, West Virginia: a series of historical notes on the Fayette County metropolis from the time of its early settlement up to the year 1953. FamilySearch Digital Library
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
- Maps of West Virginia (1617-1995)
- Map of 1850 Virginia and West Virginia
- Fayette County, West Virginia Map
- Fayette County West Virginia 1895
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Revolutionary War[edit | edit source]
- A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841. Digital versions at U.S. Census Bureau and Google Books et. al. 1967 reprint: FHL Collection 973 X2pc 1840. See Virginia, Western District, Fayette County on page 134.
- Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions. Washington, D.C., 1852. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1969, and 1991. Reprints include "an Added Index to States." FHL Collection 973 M24ur; digital version at Ancestry ($). Includes veterans from this county; Virginia section begins on page 238.
Civil War[edit | edit source]
Regiments. Service men in Fayette 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 Fayette County:
Confederate
- - 8th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company I (Kanawha Rangers).[7]
- - 22nd Regiment, Virginia Infantry (1st Kanawha Regiment). Company B (Mountain Cove Guards) and Company C (Fayetteville Rifles).[8]
- - 59th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company F1 (Jackson Avengers, Dixie Rifles).[9]
- - 60th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (3rd Regiment, Wise Legion) (Confederate). Company C (The Dixie Rifles).[10]
Union
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)
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]
- Fayette Tribune
- Fayette Journal (Fayetteville, West Virginia) at Ancestry ($)
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Probate 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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
West Virginia real and personal property tax records are managed by the County Assessor in each county. Land and land improvements are considered real property while mobile property is classified as personal property.
Many County Assessors offer an online searchable database, where assessment record searches can be performed by name, account number, year, or mp/parcel number. Where online records are not available, requests for records can be made to the Assessment Office in person, by phone, or in writing.
The search for tax information can start here
- 1866 – 1890 West Virginia Voter Registers, 1866-1890 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
- Fayette County, West Virginia marriages for 1903 through 1931 personal property tax records for 1831 and 1833
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
- West Virginia Vital Records, 1865-1969 (varies) - Includes birth, death, and marriage.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- Birth Records:Fayette County, West Virginia births, 1866-1893 copied from Fayetteville courthouse records
- Fayette County Births, 1866-80 at Ancestry ($)
- Fayette County Births,1881-87 at Ancestry ($)
- Fayette County Births, 1888-93 at Ancestry ($)
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1780-1970 - West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1801-1962 - West Virginia, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
- Marriage Records of Fayette County Brides List
- Marriage Records of Fayette County Grooms List
- Fayette County, West Virginia, marriages, 1853-1899 copied from Fayetteville courthouse records
- Fayette County, West Virginia marriages for 1903 through 1931 personal property tax records for 1831 and 1833
Death[edit | edit source]
- Death Records of Fayette County
- 1804-1999 - West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- Fayette County, West Virginia, deaths, wills, inventories (1832-1899) copied from Fayetteville courthouse records
- Fayette County, West Virginia, death records, 1866-1899
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Fayette County. For state-wide archival repositories, see West Virginia Archives and Libraries.
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
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
- The closest family history centers is in Charleston Family History Center
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Fayette 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 Fayette County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see West Virginia Societies.
- Genealogical Society of Fayette and Raleigh Counties, Inc.
P O Box 68
Oak Hill, WV 25901-0068
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Fayette County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- Cyndi's List for West Virginia
- USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
- Fayette County, WV
- Elkridge, Fayette County, West Virginia
- Fayette County, West Virginia History and Genealogy
- 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]
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, "Fayette County, West Virginia" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fayette_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), Fayette 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, "Fayette County, West Virginia," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fayette_County,_West_Virginia, accessed 30 June 2018.
- ↑ Jack L. Dickinson, 8th Virginia Cavalry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1986). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 25.
- ↑ Terry D. Lowry, 22nd Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1988). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 44.
- ↑ G.L. Sherwood and Jeffrey C. Weaver, 59th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1994). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 107.
- ↑ J.L. Scott, 60th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1997). FHL book 975.5 M2vr v. 130.
- ↑ Ronald R. Turner, 7th West Virginia Cavalry (Manassas, Va.: R.R. Turner, 1989). Digital version at Raleigh County West Virginia GenWeb; FHL Book 975.4 M2t.
