One of the main goals for genealogists is finding birth, marriage, and death (BMD) information about their ancestors.
Over the past few decades, thanks to volunteers, librarians and archivists (as well as the largest of them all - FamilySearch), a great number of indexes to birth, marriage, and death collections have been provided for free online. These searchable indexes provide specific BMD information, and sometimes scanned images of the actual birth, marriage, and death certificates themselves. These free online collections have hundreds of millions of records in them in total.
There are a great number of online and offline collections that may include birth, marriage, and death information that are not included in the lists below. For example, newspapers, draft registration files, naturalization records, etc. have BMD info. To find out which types of other records may include BMD information, please see:
- 27 Ways to Find Ancestor Birth Information
- 22 Ways to Find Ancestors Marriage Information
- 21 Ways to Find Ancestors Death Information
The lists below are specific birth, marriage, and death indexes and record collections that are available for free online for the state of West Virginia.
Note 1: Many of the links listed below take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. In many cases there is a link to the digital collection in the middle of the page, but also near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections' images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. Please also note that I have listed below only BMD databases that are accessible digitally from your computer (or tablet/phone)
Note 2: I have included links to Free Ancestry records and indexes. You do not need a subscription, but do need an Ancestry account. Without a subscription you can view indexes. If there is an image associated with a record, in most cases you will need a subscription, but the index does include very usable information.
(Updated May, 2020; recently added links are in BOLD)
General U.S.
- United States Births and Christenings, 1867-1931
- United States Deaths and Burials, 1867-1961
- United States Korean War Battle Deaths, 1950-1957
- United States Marriages, 1733-1990
- United States Social Security Death Index
- United States, Freedmen's Bureau Marriages, 1861-1872
- Online Searchable Death Indexes
West Virginia
- Barbour County Birth Index
- Barbour County Birth List
- Barbour County Death List
- Barbour County Death Records, 1887-1905
- Barbour County Deaths
- Barbour County Marriage List
- Barbour County Births 1853-1865
- Barbour County Deaths 1853-1874
- Barbour County Marriage Records, 1840-1969
- Barbour County Marriages 1843-1892
- Barbour County Vital Records, 1853-1969
- Barbour County Vital Records, 1914
- Berkeley County Births
- Berkeley County Births 1868-1871
- Berkeley County Births 1872-1875
- Berkeley County Births 1876-1877
- Berkeley County Births 1878-1880
- Berkeley County Births and Deaths : 1869-1899
- Berkeley County Death Records, 1865-1945
- Berkeley County Marriage Bonds 1816-1852
- Berkeley County Marriage Records, 1781-1970
- Berkeley County Marriages : 1816-1899
- Berkeley County Marriages 1797-1816
- Berkeley County Vital Records, 1865-1970
- Berkeley County, Church Marriages, 1819-1889
- Boone County Deaths 1865-1899
- Boone County Birth Records, 1865-1907
- Boone County Births 1865-1890
- Boone County Death Records, 1865-1968
- Boone County Index to Registers of Birth, Marriage and Death Records : 1865-1883
- Boone County Marriage Records, 1865-1968
- Boone County Marriages 1860-1899
- Braxton County Deaths
- Braxton County Marriage Index
- Braxton County Court Records, 1836-1882
- Braxton County Marriage Records, 1836-1967
- Braxton County Vital Records, 1858-1875
- Brooke County Birth Index
- Brooke County Marriage Index
- Brooke County Marriage Indexes 1797-1899
- Brooke County Marriages, 1797-1842
- Brooke County Colored Marriage Record, 1909-1937
- Brooke County Marriage Record, 1848-1854
- Brooke County Marriage Records 1797-1842
- Brooke County Marriage Records, 1797-1971
- Brooke County Marriages, Deaths, Wills and Inventories, 1795-1899
- Brooke County Register of Deaths 1889-1962
- Brooke County Register of Marriages, Births, Deaths, 1853-1897; Birth Book, 1889-1905
- Cabell County Deaths
- Cabell County Births, 1886-1899
- Cabell County Births, 1853-1912
- Cabell County Death Records, 1853-1967
- Cabell County Deaths, Wills, Inventories, etc., 1850-1899
- Cabell County Marriage register, 1808-1968
- Cabell County Marriages & Wills 1809-51
- Cabell County Marriages, 1818-1899
- Calhoun County Birth Index
- Calhoun County Death Index, 1855 - 1899
- Calhoun County Marriage Indexes
- Calhoun County Births, Marriages, Deaths, Wills, Inventories, Church Records
- Calhoun County Early Records Births 1855-1875, Marriages 1856-1875, Deaths 1855-1867
- Calhoun County Marriages, 1856-1969
- Clay County Marriage Index
- Clay County Birth and Death Records, 1858-1968
- Clay County Births, 1858-1899; Deaths, 1858-1899; Marriages, 1858-1899; Wills, 1858-1899
- Clay County Births, Marriages, Deaths, Wills, Inventories and Cemetery Records
- Clay County Marriage Records, 1858-1968
- Doddridge County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Doddridge County Marriages, 1845-1970
- Doddridge County Birth Records, 1853-1896
- Doddridge County Births, Marriages, Deaths, Wills, Inventories
- Doddridge County Marriages, 1846-1970
- Early Records of Berkeley & Marion Counties, 1759-1923
- Early Records of Cabell and Mason Counties, W. Va.
- Early records of Lewis, Mercer & Monongalia Counties 1799-1899
- Early Wirt County Marriages
- Jefferson County Marriages 1801 - 1890
- Fayette County Deaths
- Fayette County Births, 1866-1893
- Fayette County Death Records, 1888-1948
- Fayette County Deaths, 1866-1899; Marriages, 1830-1899; Wills, Inventories, 1830-1899; Births 1866-1893
- Fayette County Deaths, Wills, Inventories 1832-1899
- Fayette County Marriage Records, 1831-1968
- Fayette County Marriages, 1853-1899
- Gilmer County Deaths
- Gilmer County Marriages, 1845-1969
- Gilmer County Births, 1853-1899; Wills, Inventories, 1853-1899; Wills, Inventories, 1845-1899; Marriages, 1853-1935
- Gilmer County Births, 1853-1914
- Gilmer County Marriages, 1845-1969
- Grant County Marriages
- Grant County Births, Marriages, Deaths, Wills, Inventories and Church Records
- Grant County Marriages 1866-1937
- Greenbrier County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Greenbrier County Births and Marriages
- Greenbrier County Deaths, 1853-1909; Death Index, 1853-1925
- Greenbrier County Deaths, Wills, Inventories, Church and Bible Records
- Greenbrier County Marriages, 1780-1969
- Greenbrier County Vital Records, 1853-1969
- Hampshire County Birth and Marriage Indexes
- Hampshire County Death Records (1866 - 1922)
- Hampshire County Births and Deaths : 1888-1903
- Hampshire County Births, 1865-1880; Deaths, 1866-1894; Marriages, 1824-1828, 1865-1899
- Hampshire County Death Records, 1866-1939
- Hampshire County Early Records
- Hampshire County Vital Records, 1824-1970
- Hancock County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Hancock County Births and Marriages
- Hancock County Deaths, Deeds, Wills, Inventories, Church and Cemetery Records
- Hancock County Register of Deaths 1940-1967
- Hancock County Register of Marriages, 1854-1873; Marriage licenses, 1880-1971
- Hardy County Marriage Index
- Hardy County Births and Deaths
- Hardy County Births, 1853-1882; Deaths, 1853-1899; Marriages, 1795-1899
- Hardy County Marriage Records, 1787-1926
- Hardy County Marriage Records, 1795-1950
- Harrison County Birth Indexes
- Harrison County Deaths
- Harrison County Marriages
- Harrison County Marriages
- Harrison County Vital Records Indexes
- Harrison County Birth and Death Records, 1853-1906
- Harrison County Deaths, Births, 1853-1970; Index to Births, Deaths, 1852-1933
- Harrison County Index, Marriage Records 1784-1850
- Harrison County Marriage Records, 1784-1895
- Harrison County Marriage Records, 1784-1970
- Harrison County Marriage Records, 1883-1887
- Harrison County Miscellaneous Records, 1801-1928
- Jackson County Births
- Jackson County Death Index
- Jackson County Marriages
- Jackson County Marriages 1901-1930
- Jackson County Marriage Records, 1831-1961
- Jackson County Marriages 1834-1895
- Jackson County Marriages, 1802-1899; Wills, Inventories, etc., 1801-1894
- Jackson County Vital Records, 1853-1919
- Jefferson County Newspaper Death Records
- Jefferson County Newspaper Marriage Records
- Jefferson County Births, Deaths, 1853-1949
- Jefferson County Marriage Records, 1801-1957
- Jefferson County Marriages, 1802-1899
- Kanawha County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Kanawha County Marriages 1792-1869
- Kanawha County Marriages 1792-1869
- Kanawha County Births, 1853-1890
- Kanawha County Death Records, 1853-1967
- Kanawha County Marriage Records 1816-1850
- Kanawha County Marriage Records, 1794-1967; Index to Marriages, 1854-1967
- Kanawha County Marriages, 1792-1869
- Kanawha County Marriages, Deaths and Wills 1866-1899
- Kanawha County Registers of Births, 1853-1902
- Lewis County Death Indexes
- Lewis County Marriages 1817-1880
- Lewis County Births, Deaths, 1833-1970
- Lewis County Births, Deaths, 1853-1899; Marriages, 1817-1864; Wills, Inventories, 1864-1899, 1853
- Lewis County Marriage Records, 1817-1966; Marriage Index, 1817-1954
- Lincoln County Birth Records, 1909-1917
- Lincoln County Death Records, 1909-1936
- Lincoln County Marriage Records, 1895-1926
- Logan County Birth Records
- Logan County Death Records
- Logan County Marriages, 1853 - 1860
- Logan County Birth Records, 1889-1917
- Logan County Births, Marriages, Deaths, Wills and Bible Records 1872-1900
- Logan County Death Records, 1888-1966
- Logan County Logan County Marriages, 1853-1860
- Logan County Marriage Records, 1892-1969
- Logan County Marriages, Deaths, Births, 1872-1892
- Marion County Deaths, 1864-1900
- Marion County Marriages, 1842-1899
- Marion County Birth Records, 1860-1898
- Marion County Births 1853-1860
- Marion County Chancery Orders : 1842-1927
- Marion County Chancery Orders : 1893-1919
- Marion County Death Records, 1861-1986
- Marion County Law orders : 1842-1904
- Marion County Marriage Records, 1842-1865
- Marion County Marriages, 1842-1970
- Marion County Marriages, 1866-1899
- Marion County Register of Deaths 1865-1919
- Marion County Vital Records, 1853-1861
- Marion County Wills, Inventories and Church Records 1842-1900
- Marshall County Births
- Marshall County Deaths
- Marshall County Marriages
- Marshall County Marriages 1835-1889
- Marshall County Marriages, 1835-1889
- Marshall County Birth Records, 1853-1882
- Marshall County Births, 1853-1859; Deaths, 1853-1860; Marriages, Inventories, Wills, 1835-1899
- Marshall County Births, Marriages and Deaths
- Marshall County Death Records, 1853-1949
- Marshall County Marriage Records, 1835-1970
- Marshall County Wills, Inventories, Family and Church Records 1795-1900
- Mason County Birth and Marriage Indexes
- Mason County Marriages
- Mason County Marriage Records, 1806-1968; Marriage Index, 1806-1959
- Mason County Marriages, 1851-1865; Wills, Inventories, 1832-1882
- Mason County Vital Records, 1853-1968
- McDowell County Marriages
- McDowell County Births, Marriages and Wills 1860-1900
- McDowell County Chancery orders, 1858-1928
- McDowell County Deaths, 1894-1964
- McDowell County Marriages, 1859-1969; Index to Marriages, 1861-1969
- Mercer County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Mercer County Births, Marriages, Deaths and Wills
- Mercer County Deaths, 1853-1960
- Mercer County Marriages, 1854-1967
- Mercer County Marriages, 1855-1899; Wills, 1832-1882
- Mercer County Vital Records, 1853-1905
- Mineral County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Mineral County Birth Records : Doctor's Birth Records
- Mineral County Births, 1866-1869; Deaths, 1866-1899; Marriages, 1866-1899
- Mineral County Births, 1866-1899
- Mineral County Deaths, Births, 1865-1934
- Mineral County Marriages, 1866-1969
- Mineral County Marriages, Deaths, Wills and Family Records 1800-1900
- Mingo County Births
- Mingo County Births, Marriages, 1895-1899; Wills, Inventories, 1884-1911
- Mingo County Births, Marriages, Wills, Inventories, Official Bonds
- Mingo County Marriage Records, 1904-1925
- Miscellaneous BMD Records by County
- Monongalia County Marriages
- Monongalia County Vital Records
- Monongalia County Births and Wills 1828-1906
- Monongalia County Births, Deaths, 1853-1924
- Monongalia County Deaths and Estate Books 1-2-3 1853-1934
- Monongalia County General index to Marriages, 1794-1935
- Monongalia County Marriage Bond Records 1796-1850
- Monongalia County Marriages, 1796-1960
- Monroe County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Monroe County Marriages, 1799-1850
- Monroe County Birth Records, 1853-1917
- Monroe County Births, Deaths, List of Sales and Church Records 1831-1900
- Monroe County Death Records, 1853-1948
- Monroe County Marriage Records, 1799-1965
- Morgan County Births, 1861-1893; Deaths, 1866-1899; Marriages, 1820-1900; Wills, Inventories, 1820-1900
- Morgan County Births, 1866-1893
- Morgan County Deaths, 1865-1956
- Morgan County Marriage Records, Bonds, 1820-1865
- Morgan County Marriages, 1865-1969
- Morgan County Marriages, Deaths, Wills and Inventories 1817-1900
- Morgan County Vital Records, 1853-1875
- Morgan County Vital Records, 1865-1916
- Nicholas County Marriages
- Nicholas County Marriages
- Nicholas County Birth Records, 1853-1916
- Nicholas County Births, 1882-1899; Deaths, 1853-1891; Wills, Inventories, 1820-1899; Births, 1855-1899
- Nicholas County Death Records, 1853-1889
- Nicholas County Marriages, 1817-1969
- Nicholas County Miscellaneous Records, 1839-1949
- Ohio County Marriages
- Ohio County Births, 1853-1914
- Ohio County Births, Deaths, Wills, 1853-1899
- Ohio County Church and Parish Records, 1828-1899
- Ohio County Deaths, 1853-1970
- Ohio County Marriage Book I, 1790-1827
- Ohio County Marriage Records
- Ohio County Marriages, 1790-1899
- Ohio County Marriages, 1790-1971
- Online Searchable Death Indexes
- Pendleton County Births, Marriages, and Deaths
- Pendleton County Births, 1853-1862; Deaths, 1853-1892; land owners; 1789-1804; voters, 1790-1797; surveys, 1789-1797; Marriages, 1843-1899; Wills, etc., 1791-1818, 1825-1899
- Pendleton County Loose Papers : 1789-1859
- Pendleton County Marriage Bonds, 1843-1850
- Pleasants County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Pleasants County Marriages
- Pleasants County Births, 1852-1893
- Pleasants County Births, 1853-; Deaths, 1853-1893; Marriages, 1853-1899; Wills, Inventories, 1865-1899
- Pleasants County Births, Marriages, Deaths, 1853-1965
- Pleasants County Marriage Consents, Loose Papers, 1880-1920
- Pleasants County Marriages, Deaths, Wills and Church Records, 1853-1899
- Pocahontas County Birth and Death Indexes
- Pocahontas County Births, Marriages, Deaths, Wills, Church and Cemetery Records 1748-1935
- Pocahontas County Marriages, 1822-1969
- Preston County Deaths, 1868-1886
- Preston County Births 1868-1882
- Preston County Births 1871-1882
- Preston County Births, 1868-1895
- Preston County Births, Marriages, Deaths and Wills 1871-1899
- Preston County Deaths, 1868-1886; Marriages, 1869-1881; Wills, 1862-1899; Births, 1868-1882
- Preston County Deaths, 1868-1920
- Preston County Deaths, 1880-1886
- Preston County Marriages 1869-1881
- Preston County Marriages 1877-1881
- Preston County Marriages, 1869-1970
- Putnam County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Putnam County Marriages 1882-1911
- Putnam County Birth Records, 1853-1900
- Putnam County Births, Marriages, Wills and Inventories 1846-1900
- Putnam County Death Registers, 1853-1927
- Putnam County Marriage Records, 1848-1968
- Raleigh County Marriages 1850-1911
- Raleigh County Births, 1853-1875; Deaths, 1852-1872; Marriages, 1850-1875; Wills, Inventories, 1850-1900
- Raleigh County Births, Deaths, 1853-1941
- Raleigh County Births, Marriages, Deaths and Wills 1850-1900
- Raleigh County Chancery Orders, 1850-1926
- Raleigh County Court and Civil Records, 1850-1900
- Raleigh County Marriage and Court Records, 1850-1871
- Raleigh County Marriages, 1890-1969; Marriage Index, 1850-1969
- Randolph County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Randolph County Deaths
- Randolph County Births, Deaths, and Marriages, 1787-1899
- Randolph County Chancery order books : 1861-1962
- Randolph County Death Records, 1853-1959
- Randolph County Marriages, 1787-1969
- Ritchie County Vital Records Indexes
- Ritchie County Births, 1853-1872; Marriages, 1843-1864; Deaths, 1853-1874; Wills, Inventories, 1843-1881
- Ritchie County Marriages 1843-1966
- Ritchie County Register of Births, 1853-1905
- Roane County Deaths
- Roane County Death Records, 1856-1966
- Roane County Marriage Records, 1856-1967
- Roane County Marriages 1856-1861, 1865-1899
- Roane County Miscellaneous Records, 1856-1880
- Summers County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Summers County Court Records, 1853-1902
- Summers County Birth, Death Records, 1871-1905
- Summers County Births, 1893-1899; Deaths,1871-1900; Marriages, 1871-1899; Wills, 1867-1900
- Summers County Births, Deaths, Marriages, Wills, Inventories and Church Records 1867-1900
- Summers County Marriage Records, 1871-1905
- Taylor County Marriage and Death Indexes
- Taylor County Marriage index 1863-1900
- Taylor County Birth, Death Records, 1853-1941
- Taylor county Chancery Orders : 1844-1927
- Taylor County Deaths, 1854-1862, 1865-1899; Marriages, 1853-1899; Wills, 1844-1899; Births, 1877-1899
- Taylor County Marriages 1854-1870
- Taylor County Marriages, 1853-1970
- Tucker County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Tucker County Marriages 1856-1930
- Tucker County Births, 1856-1898; Deaths, 1856-1890; Marriages, 1856-1881; Wills, etc., 1854-1898
- Tucker County Births, 1856-1913
- Tucker County Chancery orders, 1856-1929
- Tucker County Deaths, 1852-1932
- Tucker County Marriages, 1856-1970
- Tyler County Deaths, 1853-1899; Marriages, 1816-1899
- Tyler County Marriages
- Tyler County Births, Deaths, 1853-1915
- Tyler County Marriage Records, 1815-1860
- Tyler County Marriages 1860-1899
- Tyler County Marriages and Deaths, 1853-1899
- Tyler County Marriages, 1815-1971
- Upsher County Births, 1853--1879; Deaths, 1853-1880; Marriages, 1851-1890; Wills, 1851-1899
- Upshur County Births 1853-1879
- Upshur County Births 1865-1879
- Upshur County Births, Marriages, Deaths Index, 1853-1889
- Upshur County Deaths, 1853-1880
- Upshur County Deaths, 1853-1880
- Upshur County Marriage Records, 1853-1970
- Upshur County Marriages 1865-1889
- Upshur County Marriages 1865-1890
- Wayne County Marriages
- Wayne County Birth and Death Records, 1853-1898
- Wayne County Births, Wills, and Inventories, 1853-1881
- Wayne County Marriage Records, 1853-1969
- Wayne County Marriages, 1853-1899
- Wayne County Marriages, 1854-1899
- Webster County Marriages
- Webster County Births, 1888-1905; Deaths, 1888-1916; Marriages, 1888-1935; Wills, etc., 1890-1931
- Webster County Marriage Books, 1888-1961
- West Virginia Births and Christenings, 1853-1928
- West Virginia Births, 1853-1930
- West Virginia Certificates of Deaths 1917-1973; Indexes, 1917-1991
- West Virginia County Records, 1772-1859
- West Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1854-1932
- West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999
- West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970
- West Virginia Marriages, 1854-1932
- West Virginia Marriages, Counties of Barbour, 1843-1846, Hancock, 1854-1864, and Pocahontas 1822-1840
- West Virginia Marriages, Counties of Ritchie, 1843-1864, Wirt, 1854-1864 and Wood, 1801-1843
- West Virginia Mortality Schedules 1850-1880
- West Virginia Vital Records Indexes, by County
- West Virginia, Birth Certificates and Delayed Birth Certificates, 1852-1930
- Wetzel County Court Records, 1848-1887
- Wetzel County Delayed Births 1845-1970
- Wetzel County Births, 1854-1898; Deaths, 1854-1899; Marriages, 1854-1899; Wills, Inventories, 1847-1899
- Wetzel County Births, 1854-1899
- Wetzel County Marriage Records, 1855-1920
- Wetzel County Marriages, 1845-1970
- Wetzel County Marriages, Deaths, Wills, Inventories and Church Records 1854-1899
- Wirt County Marriage Index
- Wirt County Marriages
- Wirt County Births, 1870-1874; Deaths, 1888-1899; Marriages, 1854-1899; Wills, Inventories, 1848-1900
- Wirt County Marriage Certificates and Marriage Bonds, 1848-1853
- Wirt County Marriage Consents, 1906-1936
- Wirt County Marriages, 1854-1970
- Wood County Death Records
- Wood County Deaths
- Wood County Deaths 1940-1949
- Wood County WV Deaths 1940-
- Wood County Birth Records 1800-1919
- Wood County Birth Records 1853-1969; Index, 1853-1906, 1940-1954
- Wood County Birth Records, 1889-1934; Birth Index 1867-1934
- Wood County Births 1853-1866
- Wood County Births, 1853-1866; Deaths, 1853-1890
- Wood County Consent to Marry, 1880-1926
- Wood County Death Certificates 1913-1920; Index for Certificates of Death 1913-1920
- Wood County Death Record, 1853-1967; Death Index, 1853-1906
- Wood County Deaths, 1853-1890
- Wood County Early Deaths, 1853-1879
- Wood County Early Marriages
- Wood County Marriage Records, 1801-1969
- Wood County Marriages
- Wood County Marriages 1801-1883
- Wood County Marriages, 1801-1883
- Wood County Miscellaneous Records, 1801-1900
- Wyoming County Births, Marriages, and Deaths
- Wyoming County Births 1853-1895
- Wyoming County Births, 1853-1895; Deaths, 1853-1895; Marriages, 1855-1890; Wills, etc., 1850-1900
- Wyoming County Death Records, 1853-1955
- Wyoming County Deaths 1853-1885
- Wyoming County Marriages 1854-1890
- Wyoming County Marriages, 1855-1957
Check out the links for other states on the BMD Records page.
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
For other Free West Virginia Links, click on the category of interest:
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