This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/AEC.2ACE/610.2.1.1 Message Board Post: I've ran into that problem as well in my own research and doing lookups for others. Marshall County's records only go back to "around" 1853..and Ohio County around "1850" give or take. I inquired as to where to look for any birth records of those born in this area prior to those years and was told there probably wouldnt be any recorded documents of them. Alot of births weren't even recorded at all. (For example, my own father born in 1929..born at home...his birth was never recorded and he never owned a birth certificate. ) My best advise is to search census records, wills and family bibles..etc. This is one of my favorite sites for searching births, census records, marriages, etc in different counties of WV. At the bottom of the page at that site..the catagories are listed. Its a VERY helpful site when researching ancestors in WV. http://usgenealogyguide.com/westvirginia/wvcensus.htm Another excellent source of information in Marshall County is : http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvmarsha/marsh.htm Also, it never hurts to try "googling" at www.google.com. Type as many words as you like in the search box...you might be surprised at what you can find. (I typed in "Samuel Ferguson Photo" and found pictures of my ggggg grandfathers headstone.) Happy Hunting! Leanne