Who settled here
Virginia claimed this area from 1775 to 1780, placing the eastern part in Monongalia County and the western quarter in Ohio County, Virginia. The first permanent settlement was a Swan-VanMeter-Hughes party from Virginia in 1767. Col. John Minor, from Loudoun County, Virginia, settled near Whiteley Creek about 1764 and is called the father of Greene County.
A state record says the county was created in 1796, after Indian hostility and Whiskey Rebellion problems had passed, to benefit small farmers.
Why families moved on
- Virginia roots. Many early families came from Virginia, so Greene County ancestors may have Virginia records before 1780, and kin who went on to Ohio.
- Whiskey Rebellion region. Greene County was part of the Washington County area at the time of the 1794 uprising. The sources used for this guide do not tie it to migration to Ohio.
Records that say exactly why a family left are rare. Treat these as leads, and look for evidence about your own ancestors in deeds, tax lists, court cases, and church records.
Clues to look for
- Check Monongalia and Ohio County, Virginia, records for pre-1780 events.
- Search Washington County records for 1781–1796.
