The American civil war changed the course of American history. It divided a nation that was still young. The state of West Virginia was given birth during this terrible conflict. On May 23, 1861 a majority of Virginia voters approved the Ordinance of Secession. West Virginia was still a part of Virginia at that time. It is uncertain as to which side controlled the western counties of Virginia. The United States wished to retain this part of Virginia, and considered admitting it to the Union as a new state. On December 31, 1862 President Lincoln signed a bill which created the new state of West Virginia. On March 26, 1863, the citizens of the fifty counties approved the statehood bill, and on June 20, the state of West Virginia was officially created to become the 35th state. Several of our family lines have long histories in the State of West Virginia. The line of Bartley Belcher, (Greg's line) son of George Belcher, brought his growing family from Russell County, Virginia to Wyoming County, West Virginia about 1853. Bartley's half-brother John Belcher had settled further north in Kanawha County several years earlier. Another brother of Bartley's settled in what is now Wayne County at about the same time. Other lines that connect to this Bartley Belcher line , the ODells, Childers, Nutters, Lyons, Leatherman, Holly, and King families settled in West Virginia long before it became a state. Other related surnames that settled later in WV are Ramey, Chaney, Polley, Looney, and May . There are many others too numerous to mention here. When we research for West Virginia ancestors, many files have WV listed before 1863 but this is not officially right. You have to research in Virginia in the earlier years. The 1850 Census of West Virginia is really the 1850 census of Virginia although many places list it as WV. It can be very confusing to the new genealogist. The formation of counties is a valuable tool to aid in this, A page is included in the links below to help assist in this hunt for ancestors in West Virginia. We hope the Research below will help you in your endeavor to uncover your ancestors. |