John HOOD had land on the Potomac River - he died around 1740, leaving widow Rachel, son Tunis. Does anyone have access to "The Tunis Hood Family" by Dillman Hood, published 1960? Would like to know more about this early HOOD family. Ruth Illinois

Do any subscribers have access to the early wills and estate administrations for Berkeley Co., VA (pre-1810)? If so, I would appreciate your assistance with a look-up. Thank you. C. Ward [email protected]

Does anyone know where Strider's Mill was/is in Berkeley Co. (or possibly Jefferson Co.)? Wilmer Kerns lists Isaac Strider as the owner of a grist mill in Jefferson Co. (in Historical Records of Old Frederick and Hampshire Counties, VA); I have an 1809 newspaper article that mentions the "farm of James Whitelock, one mile from Strider's Mill in Berkeley Co..." Not clear whether it is the farm or the mill that is in Berkeley Co., but it seems as though this may have been close to the county line. I am interested in learning anything about James Whitelock and where exactly he lived. He was the third husband (at least) of my g-g-g-g-grandmother Martha, who married James Blade or Bleedes, then John Riley (my ancestor), and finally James (marriage bond dated 24 Dec. 1802, suretor was Amos Mendenhall, who was also the guardian of her child by John Riley, Alexander). The only other two Whitelocks I have come across so far is a Polly or Patty Whitelock, who married John Wilson on Feb. 23, 1813, in Berkeley Co. (minister was Rev. Reebenack and suretor was Joshua Hedges), and Rosanna Whitelock, who married Solomon Shrode in Berkeley Co.; the marriage bond was dated 4 Sept. 1824 and Edward Southwood was the suretor. I am VERY interested in them as well! Thanks for any info! Martha Grenzeback [email protected]

Thanks, Martha, for sharing this wonderful website with the list. And hats off to the WV State Archives for their foresight and hard work. Best wishes, Chanda Seibert Blitch On Aug 24, 2005, at 9:00 PM, [email protected] wrote: > From: Martha Grenzeback <[email protected]> > Date: August 24, 2005 2:02:23 PM EDT > To: [email protected] > Subject: Vital records on line at WV State Archives > > > For whoever hasn't yet seen this: The WV State Archives is putting > indexed images of birth, death, and marriage records for various > counties online at http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_login.aspx. You > have to register (merely e-mail is enough), but it's free. It's an > ongoing project, so some counties aren't there or aren't completed. > The index entries are linked to digital images of the actual records, > and you can save them to your computer or print them out. > > This made MY day! :) > > Martha Grenzeback > [email protected] >

David's message does confirm something that I saw doing a mapquest search (through another site) that showed a "red star" in the general area he described but didn't actually show the place name - thanks David! Ann in FL -------------- Original message from "David and Cindy Smith" <[email protected]>: -------------- > > There was a Harperstown, in Randolph County, West Virginia. I do not know > if it still exists, but it was in existance during the mid 1800's. > Hope this helps. > david > -------Original Message------- > > From: [email protected] > Date: 08/24/05 10:00:01 > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [WVBERKEL] RE: William and Margaret (Houseworth) Butts, early > 1800s > > I agree with Michael that they are probably referring to Harpers Ferry. I > did a "google" search and the only reference to a place name of Harperstown > was the following site that showed a Civil War letter in which the soldier > referred to Harperstown but he may have meant Harpers Ferry. It seems that > all other references on the google search were to a race horse named > Harperstown. > I also did a search in two reference texts: > Place Name Changes Since 1900-A World Gazeteer > Place Names in the United States > The only name mentioned with Harpers is Harpers Ferry, WV (VA) > Ann in Florida > > -------------- Original message from "Michael D. Miller" > net>: -------------- > > > > Perhaps Harpers Ferry, WV? > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Martha Grenzeback [mailto:[email protected]] > > Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2005 2:43 PM > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: William and Margaret (Houseworth) Butts, early 1800s > > > > > > ...There is a story that they lived near "Harperstown", Virginia, > > at some point, but I haven't been able to trace them. > > > > Thanks for any insights about the Butts! > > > > Martha Grenzeback > > [email protected] > > > > > > > > ==== WVBERKEL Mailing List ==== > > BERKELEY Co. List Administrator > > <> > > > > > ==== WVBERKEL Mailing List ==== > BERKELEY Co. List Administrator > <> > > > > > ==== WVBERKEL Mailing List ==== > BERKELEY COUNTY MESSAGES CAN BE RESEARCHED AT: > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/wvberkel >

I agree with Michael that they are probably referring to Harpers Ferry. I did a "google" search and the only reference to a place name of Harperstown was the following site that showed a Civil War letter in which the soldier referred to Harperstown but he may have meant Harpers Ferry. It seems that all other references on the google search were to a race horse named Harperstown. I also did a search in two reference texts: Place Name Changes Since 1900-A World Gazeteer Place Names in the United States The only name mentioned with Harpers is Harpers Ferry, WV (VA) Ann in Florida -------------- Original message from "Michael D. Miller" <[email protected]>: -------------- > Perhaps Harpers Ferry, WV? > > -----Original Message----- > From: Martha Grenzeback [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2005 2:43 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: William and Margaret (Houseworth) Butts, early 1800s > > > ...There is a story that they lived near "Harperstown", Virginia, > at some point, but I haven't been able to trace them. > > Thanks for any insights about the Butts! > > Martha Grenzeback > [email protected] > > > > ==== WVBERKEL Mailing List ==== > BERKELEY Co. List Administrator > <> >

For whoever hasn't yet seen this: The WV State Archives is putting indexed images of birth, death, and marriage records for various counties online at http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_login.aspx. You have to register (merely e-mail is enough), but it's free. It's an ongoing project, so some counties aren't there or aren't completed. The index entries are linked to digital images of the actual records, and you can save them to your computer or print them out. This made MY day! :) Martha Grenzeback [email protected]

Yes, there is a "Harpertown" still existing today in Randolph Co., near Elkins. Thanks for the info below--I was wondering when it was established. I am investigating both that possibility and the Harpers Ferry one, though I have not yet found an instance of people calling Harpers Ferry Harperstown. The information is from a family history manuscript written in the 1920s. Thanks, all! Martha Grenzeback [email protected] At 10:12 AM 8/24/2005 -0400, David and Cindy Smith wrote: > > There was a Harperstown, in Randolph County, West Virginia. I do not know >if it still exists, but it was in existance during the mid 1800's. >Hope this helps. >david >-------Original Message------- > >From: [email protected] >Date: 08/24/05 10:00:01 >To: [email protected] >Subject: Re: [WVBERKEL] RE: William and Margaret (Houseworth) Butts, early >1800s > >I agree with Michael that they are probably referring to Harpers Ferry. I >did a "google" search and the only reference to a place name of Harperstown >was the following site that showed a Civil War letter in which the soldier >referred to Harperstown but he may have meant Harpers Ferry. It seems that >all other references on the google search were to a race horse named >Harperstown. >I also did a search in two reference texts: >Place Name Changes Since 1900-A World Gazeteer >Place Names in the United States >The only name mentioned with Harpers is Harpers Ferry, WV (VA) >Ann in Florida > >-------------- Original message from "Michael D. Miller" <[email protected] >net>: -------------- > > > > Perhaps Harpers Ferry, WV? > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Martha Grenzeback [mailto:[email protected]] > > Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2005 2:43 PM > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: William and Margaret (Houseworth) Butts, early 1800s > > > > > > ...There is a story that they lived near "Harperstown", Virginia, > > at some point, but I haven't been able to trace them. > > > > Thanks for any insights about the Butts! > > > > Martha Grenzeback > > [email protected] > > > > > > > > ==== WVBERKEL Mailing List ==== > > BERKELEY Co. List Administrator > > <> > > > > >==== WVBERKEL Mailing List ==== >BERKELEY Co. List Administrator ><<[email protected]>> > > > > >==== WVBERKEL Mailing List ==== >BERKELEY COUNTY MESSAGES CAN BE RESEARCHED AT: >http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/wvberkel

There was a Harperstown, in Randolph County, West Virginia. I do not know if it still exists, but it was in existance during the mid 1800's. Hope this helps. david -------Original Message------- From: [email protected] Date: 08/24/05 10:00:01 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [WVBERKEL] RE: William and Margaret (Houseworth) Butts, early 1800s I agree with Michael that they are probably referring to Harpers Ferry. I did a "google" search and the only reference to a place name of Harperstown was the following site that showed a Civil War letter in which the soldier referred to Harperstown but he may have meant Harpers Ferry. It seems that all other references on the google search were to a race horse named Harperstown. I also did a search in two reference texts: Place Name Changes Since 1900-A World Gazeteer Place Names in the United States The only name mentioned with Harpers is Harpers Ferry, WV (VA) Ann in Florida -------------- Original message from "Michael D. Miller" <[email protected] net>: -------------- > Perhaps Harpers Ferry, WV? > > -----Original Message----- > From: Martha Grenzeback [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2005 2:43 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: William and Margaret (Houseworth) Butts, early 1800s > > > ...There is a story that they lived near "Harperstown", Virginia, > at some point, but I haven't been able to trace them. > > Thanks for any insights about the Butts! > > Martha Grenzeback > [email protected] > > > > ==== WVBERKEL Mailing List ==== > BERKELEY Co. List Administrator > <> > ==== WVBERKEL Mailing List ==== BERKELEY Co. List Administrator <<[email protected]>>

Perhaps Harpers Ferry, WV? -----Original Message----- From: Martha Grenzeback [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2005 2:43 PM To: [email protected] Subject: William and Margaret (Houseworth) Butts, early 1800s ...There is a story that they lived near "Harperstown", Virginia, at some point, but I haven't been able to trace them. Thanks for any insights about the Butts! Martha Grenzeback [email protected]

I believe I had some correspondence with a Butts researcher or two many years ago--I've decided to get serious about this couple again. Here is what I know: Margaret Houseworth, daughter of Isaac and Sarah (who are buried in the Gerrardstown Presbyterian Church Cemetery), born probably in the late 1790s, probably in Bucks Co., PA; married 11 April 1816 in Berkeley Co. (by Nathan Young) to William Butts (or sometimes Butt). I think I've found them on the 1820 census (in Berkeley Co.), but that's about it. There is a story that they lived near "Harperstown", Virginia, at some point, but I haven't been able to trace them. Thanks for any insights about the Butts! Martha Grenzeback [email protected]

Does anyone remember a Helen Forney McIntrye (Mrs. Edward) who lived at 543 N. High St. in Martinsburg in as late as 1978? Her parents were Alonzo and Carrie Elliott Forney. Helen had worked for the office of P.R. Harrison, JP in the 1930's. I'm looking for descendants who might be able to tell me about the Forney family. Thanks, Karen Nelson Hangsleben

Karen, I assume you are asking about the cemetery at the Falling Waters Presbyterian Church in Spring Mills. Your request was "Could a local lister tell me if there has been a Cem abstract put together for a Spring Mill Cem.? I found a reference to this cem. in an obit published in 1975-Martinsburg. I'm looking for information on a FORNEY family and this was the obit of a Lillie Belle SAYLES FORNEY. Her husband Walter T. FORNEY predeceased her in April 1951. I'm supposing he is also at Spring Mill. My mission is to verify his parentage. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Karen Nelson Hangsleben" In 1988 The Berkeley Country Historical Society published a book - "Cemeteries of Martinsburg and Berkeley County West Virginia" They used WPA records among others and I don't find many records beyond early 1950s. The Society is in the process of reading the cemeteries and will be publishing several books as an addendum and correction to the 1988 publication. It will be broken down into areas of the county as it would be too big a book to publish as one volume. We expect to have the first one ready in the fall - hopefully in time for Christmas. Spring Mill area will not be in the 1st book, sorry. I find some Forney's buried in Greenhill Cemetery in Martinsburg - Burton, Catherine, Edward and Fenton and Richard Sayles buried in Old Norbourne Cemetery. No other listings for Forney or Sayles in this book. Hope this helps. Mollie Seibert Ziegler

This is for Karen Nelson Hangsleben: Base on a check of the census, Walter T. Forney is the son of James A. and Mary J. Forney; 1910 Berkeley County census, Ward 4, Martinsburg, page 87. Harry Grossman

Just to let you know the book "Shenandoah Valley Pioneers" by T. K. Cartmell is now on CD that is indexed and searchable by Adobe Reader or Preview. The table of contents and index are at the website: http://www.dmkheritage.com Feel free to use the table of contents and index. Doris **************************** Visit: http://www.dmkheritage.com To check on the latest County Histories on CDs Indexed and searchable

Could a local lister tell me if there has been a Cem abstract put together for a Spring Mill Cem.? I found a reference to this cem. in an obit published in 1975-Martinsburg. I'm looking for information on a FORNEY family and this was the obit of a Lillie Belle SAYLES FORNEY. Her husband Walter T. FORNEY predeceased her in April 1951. I'm supposing he is also at Spring Mill. My mission is to verify his parentage. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Karen Nelson Hangsleben

Hello All: I am researching the Jewish history here in the Panhandle for a website that I have created called "West Virginia Jewish History & Genealogy" - www.WestVirginiaJewishHistory.com The specific Martinsburg page is located at: http://www.westvirginiajewishhistory.com/martinsburg.htm I am interested inlearning about the many Jewish-owned stores and other businesses that once existed in Martinsburg. I have some names, such as Cohens, Katz Department Store, Diamond's, etc. You can see my complete list at: http://www.westvirginiajewishhistory.com/eastern%20panhandle%20Jewish%20businesses.htm I am searching for information on additional business as well as any memorabilia & artifacts, ie. photographs, old shopping bags, business cards, ads, promotional items, etc. I would like to photograph or scan items such as those mentioned and use the images on my website. If anyone has information to share, I'd be happy to correspond with you. Looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks very much in advance. Julian H. Preisler Falling Waters, West Virginia __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

If going to the library, could someone please lookup the year and address Roena Sours/Sowers moved to Martinsburg? She was in Culpeper, VA in 1900 and Martinsburg in 1910. Children who might be listed as working, Hubert, Ellis, Carrie. Thanks very much for any help. Marcia

Hi everyone, I wonder if any of you are familiar with the surname ASHKETTLE? Perhaps in your research you have encountered the name, or have a member of the ASHKETTLE family in your lineage. I am looking for any families in the area of Hampshire, Berkeley and Morgan Counties, Virginia, now West Virginia. Also, Allegany, Garrett and Washington Counties, Maryland. I do not have a given name, I am working by process of elimination at this point. I have determined there were several families in the Little Orleans area of Allegany County, Maryland. Although these families were a little later than the time frame I am focusing on. The time period I am looking at, is late 1700's to early 1800's. The surrounding areas would seem a possibility. If anyone can help or offer their thoughts I would be very grateful. Thank you. Ken

Ron, If you do a "Google" search (search engine) on Martinsburg, WV, the first item will be this link: http://www.martinsburg.com/ which then describes the information you are seeking. Ann in Florida -------------- Original message from "Ronald Powell" <[email protected]>: -------------- > Hello Everyone: > > My Aunt Lona told me that Martinsburg, Berkeley County, West Virginia, was named > after my Uncle Wally's mother's father. > > My Uncle Wally's mother was Helen "Nellie" N.Z. Martin. > > Does anyone have any information regarding Martinsburg, Berkeley County, West > Virginia, and this Martin family? > > I want to thank you in advance for your help. > > In Christ, > > Ron Powell > > > > ==== WVBERKEL Mailing List ==== > BERKELEY COUNTY MESSAGES CAN BE RESEARCHED AT: > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/wvberkel >