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This index provides data about around 177,000 people who tied the knot from 1863 to 1900 in certain counties of West Virginia.
If your ancestors married in what is now West Virginia between 1863 and 1900, their records may be easier to find than you think—but there are some important historical twists to keep in mind. Marriage records during this time were shaped not only by family traditions and church customs, but also by the very formation of the state itself.
West Virginia became a state on June 20, 1863, breaking away from Virginia during the Civil War. That means the early part of this index—particularly marriages from May and June of 1863—can fall into a murky zone. Some couples applied for marriage licenses under Virginia’s legal system, while their marriage was ultimately recorded in West Virginia. For this reason, researchers exploring marriages around the 1863 transition should check both Virginia and West Virginia archives to avoid missing records that may have been filed under either jurisdiction.
Long before statehood, Virginia had already established a system of local marriage registration. Beginning in 1853, county clerks were legally required to issue marriage licenses and officially record marriages. When West Virginia became its own state, it carried over this law. Even in the midst of war and political upheaval, record-keeping for marriages remained remarkably steady.
Marriage records from this period are generally held at the county level. Each marriage license issued and returned to the county courthouse created an official paper trail that often included:
- The full names of the bride and groom
- Ages or estimated birth years
- Birthplaces and current residences
- Names of parents or guardians (especially for minors)
- Occupations
- Date and place of the ceremony
- Name of the officiant
For many family historians, these details open up entire branches of the family tree.
The index you’re working with covers around 177,000 individuals across a wide span of West Virginia counties. Here are the counties included:
Barbour, Boone, Brooke, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Harrison, Jackson, Kanawha, Lewis, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Nicholas, Pleasants, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Summers, Taylor, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Wetzel, Wirt, Wyoming.
These counties range from heavily populated industrial hubs to rural farming regions and coal towns. Knowing where your ancestors lived—or even nearby counties they may have moved through—can make a big difference in finding the right record.
Keep in mind that some couples married across county lines, especially if they lived near a boundary or wanted to marry in a church outside their home area. If you can’t find a marriage in the county where they lived, broaden your search to neighboring counties or those along travel routes such as rivers or rail lines.
Churches also played a major role in West Virginia marriage traditions, and many ceremonies were recorded in both church registers and the county courthouse. If you’re researching a family that belonged to a specific denomination—such as Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, or Catholic—try to locate local parish records, especially if the civil record is missing or hard to read. Some church books from this era include additional details such as the names of witnesses, information on prior marriages, or the couple’s involvement in the church.
Marriage announcements in newspapers can also add depth to the story. In smaller towns, even brief wedding announcements might mention relatives, occupations, or special guests. Local papers like the Wheeling Intelligencer, Charleston Gazette, or the Hampshire Review are good places to start if you’re searching for added context.
As with many border regions during the Civil War, records from this period reflect a time of change and uncertainty—but also a surprising amount of consistency. Despite the wartime divide, most West Virginia counties kept up with marriage recording requirements. And because of that continuity, researchers today can benefit from well-preserved documentation stretching back more than 150 years.
If you’re working on a marriage that falls near 1863 and can’t locate a record in West Virginia, don’t forget to try the Virginia State Archives, especially for areas that were under Virginia control in the months leading up to statehood.
These West Virginia marriage records offer more than just names and dates—they offer a glimpse into the lives of couples who lived through a pivotal time in American history. By understanding the laws and events that shaped these records, you’re better equipped to discover the stories behind the names.