January 22, 2012

Marriage Index: West Virginia, 1863-1900

This database contains information on approximately 177,000 individuals who were married between 1863 and 1900 in select West Virginia counties. Fully indexed, it is a great resource because it brings together previously uncollected marriage records and gives you easy access to information that you would otherwise have to obtain from local sources.

Information was collected from the following West Virginia counties:
*Barbour *Jackson *Roane *Boone *Kanawha *Summers *Brooke *Lewis *Taylor *Calhoun *Marion *Tyler *Clay *Marshall *Upshur *Doddridge *Mason *Wayne *Fayette *Nicholas *Wetzel *Gilmer *Pleasants *Wirt *Greenbrier *Raleigh *Wyoming *Hampshire *Randolph *Harrison *Ritchie

Since all but three of West Virginia's counties were established prior to June 20, 1863 (when West Virginia was admitted to the Union), counties in existence prior to this date were governed by the same laws as other Virginia counties. In 1853, Virginia began requiring county clerks to keep marriage registers and issue marriage licenses. Individuals who applied for a license between May and June of 1863 may appear in Virginia records as well as West Virginia records. In rare cases, a marriage license may have been applied for in Virginia but recorded in West Virginia.

Listings Include:
- Name of each spouse.
- Marriage date
- County where the marriage was recorded.
- Where to find copies of your ancestor's original marriage record so that you can obtain even more detailed family history information.