This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: lheffner42 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.westvirginia.counties.ritchie/3297.3/mb.ashx Message Board Post: You should know that in West Virginia (and Virginia) there are no birth or death records prior to 1853. A law was passed in 1853 requiring that birth and death records be recorded. Marriage records, wills, etc are not restricted by date. All birth and death records are stored in the office of the County Clerk in the county in which the event occurred so it is imperative that you know when the specific county was formed. Marriage records are stored in the county in which the marriage license was granted, not necessarily the county in which the couple were married although they may be one and the same. Grandma may have married in Kanawha county but if she got the marriage license in Nicholas county then all documents relating to the marriage will be stored in Nicholas county and there will be no evidence of the marriage in Kanawha county. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>