Records that survive
These are the record books from Harrison County that the Library of Virginia has on microfilm, grouped into series with the earliest and latest years filmed. A span can include gaps. The original books are still kept by the county.
Deeds and land
- Entry Book1784–1863
- Grantee Index to Surveys1784–1865
- Survey Record1784–1865
- Deed Book1786–1865
- Grantee Index to Deeds1786–1923
- Grantor Index to Deeds1786–1923
Wills and estates
- General Index to Wills1788–1970
- Will Book1788–1914
- Record of Wills1822–1880
- Inventories1841–1872
- List of Fiduciaries1858–1903
Marriages, births and deaths
- General Index to Marriage Records1784–1912
- Marriage Bonds1784–1850
- Marriage Records1784–1851
- Marriage Record1853–1894
Court records
- Minute Book1784–1862
- Law Orders1809–1926
- Chancery Orders1812–1863
- Chancery Record1821–1846
- Chancery Record Book1822–1826
- Orders - Land Cases1824–1830
- Order Book1829–1863
- General Index to Chancery Orders1831–1897
- Law Record1833–1847
- Law Side Record Book1877–1881
Other records
- Family Record1860–1920
- Harrison County1898
- Record of Bonds1910–1913
See every volume and reel at the Library of Virginia
Source: Library of Virginia, West Virginia County Records Microfilm. The reels can be viewed in Richmond but can't be borrowed through interlibrary loan. Counties began recording births and deaths in 1853; the state began collecting them in 1917, though most state records from 1917 to 1920 were lost in a fire.
Where to find the records
- Harrison County official website
Hours, addresses and phone numbers for the county clerk and the circuit clerk, and any online record search the county offers.
- The county clerk
Deeds, wills and estate (fiduciary) records, marriages from the county's beginning, and births and deaths from 1853.
- The circuit clerk
Lawsuits, chancery cases and divorces.
- The West Virginia Archives and History
In Charleston: some counties' original court records, microfilm of county records, and the state's online vital records.
- Library of Virginia: West Virginia county records on microfilmfree
Every filmed volume for Harrison County, with its years and reel number.
- West Virginia Vital Research Recordsfree
Search scanned county birth, death and marriage records by name, county and year.
- FamilySearch Catalogfree
Search by place for "West Virginia, Harrison" to find filmed and digitized records, many viewable free online with a FamilySearch account.
Offices change their hours and access rules; call before you visit.
Boundaries and parent counties
Formed from: Monongalia County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Monongalia County
Later formed partly from Harrison County: Barbour County, Doddridge County, Lewis County, Marion County, Randolph County, Ritchie County, Taylor County, Wood County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1784, search the parent county. The Atlas of Historical County Boundaries shows each boundary change.
Research tip
West Virginia was part of Virginia until 1863, so for an ancestor here before then, also use Virginia's statewide records at the Library of Virginia, such as land grants and land tax lists. The county clerk's birth and death registers from 1853 often name parents.