Polly There is often confusion when folks indicate they were born in either Virginia or West Virginia. West Virginia was created in 1863 as a result of the Civil War. What is now West Virginia was originally part of the State of Virginia. The first full census was in 1850; so that leaves two full censuses for you to search for your first grandmother. Also folks tended to say they were from just 'Virginia', as indicating West Virginia had a political connotation at that time. Knowing this might help narrow down your search to the western most counties of the original Virginia. Sara > Just as an example, not someone mentioned on this > site, but one of my great grandmothers has been > reported as being born in: Virginia, West > Virginia, Caribou ME, and the Irish Free > State--until I find a birth record, I'm not > believing any of it and I have her death certificate, > census records etc.

Virginia is not an easy area to track they are missing records on certain years and prior to those years you mainly have to read books on land sales and wills and hope the children are mentioned been there, almost as bad as NY called the arm pit of genealogy and ME. Maine did not keep good records either again been there, plus many town halls burned. Also often even with a birth record in earlier times people did not live near a town hall and a midwife or whomever would deliver the child it could be days or weeks before the child was recorded and if the parent did not write this could also be a wrong age but it is all we have to go by. Nova Scotia is no different when it comes to records. Polly There is often confusion when folks indicate they were born in either Virginia or West Virginia. West Virginia was created in 1863 as a result of the Civil War. What is now West Virginia was originally part of the State of Virginia. The first full census was in 1850; so that leaves two full censuses for you to search for your first grandmother. Also folks tended to say they were from just 'Virginia', as indicating West Virginia had a political connotation at that time. Knowing this might help narrow down your search to the western most counties of the original Virginia. Sara > Just as an example, not someone mentioned on this > site, but one of my great grandmothers has been > reported as being born in: Virginia, West > Virginia, Caribou ME, and the Irish Free > State--until I find a birth record, I'm not > believing any of it and I have her death certificate, > census records etc. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.463 / Virus Database: 269.6.1/776 - Release Date: 4/25/2007 12:19 PM