Are these locations okay to use for Monroe County, (West) Virginia before 1870s?

+8 votes
189 views

History note: Sources cited below are from Wikipedia Articles:

Monroe County, West Virginia  which  was created in 1799. To the south is:

Giles County, Virginia which was established in 1806 from parts of four counties, one of which was Monroe County, West Virginia.

Therefore use:

Between 1806 and 20 Jun 1863: Monroe County, Virginia, United States.

After 19 Jun 1863 use Monroe County, West Virginia, United States when West Virginia was admitted to the Union.

After 1806: Giles County, Virginia, United States.

WikiTree profile: Jane Carper
in The Tree House by Pat Credit G2G6 Pilot (183k points)
retagged by Pat Credit

" County" is probably omitted when entering in location fields.

Revision: Replaced "probably omitted when entering" with "entered"

For Virginia, please include County when you know it (or Parish). Virginia has towns, parishes, and counties that share names but not necessarily location (e.g., Brunswick Parish & Brunswick County - Brunswick Parish never served Brunswick County). Virginia counties are confusing enough (as your post illustrates) without the guesswork of whether or not county is meant but not stated.

Yes, absolutely please do DEFINITELY add "County" or (independent city), e.g.,

Roanoke County, Virginia

Roanoke (independent city), Virginia.

Richmond County, Virginia

Richmond (independent city), Virginia.

Most states leave the word "County" out of the location field. Are there any other states that prefer having "County" included?
Although the word 'County' is not used with a full location - if you are researching and don't know the state but do know the county, please use the word county. That way others know which you mean (town or county). For example: Prince George, Virginia could be either (not everyone adds the county in). If you didn't know the town yet you could write 'Prince George County, Virginia' until the town was discovered.

Virginia Project guidelines...

When entering a Virginia location in a profile's datafields, please include as appropriate "County" or "Parish" if you know that Parish or County is meant (many Virginia cities, counties, and parishes share a name but not a location). See this page for Virginia Project guidelines concerning Virginia and Virginia Colony categories for Counties, Parishes, and Cities (whether an Independent City or not).

Location categories for all Virginia Counties & Independent Cities are under Category:Virginia. ICs & Parishes are collected under their own categories (see Virginia Parishes and Independent Cities, Virginia). See also the tables on Space:Virginia Counties and Parishes.

1 Answer

+5 votes
I have a lot of family from Giles County, and it is always difficult to discern, was it really Montgomery County, Pulaski, Fincastle, etc. I say always refer to the current  name at the time. Takes a little effort, but it is always better to be accurate as possible. Fixing many of my own errors now.
by
The line I,m working is either Monroe County, Virginia or Giles, County, Virginia.

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