As you may or may not know, my family has a long history and heritage through the Earp family line.  Thomas Earp being our immigrant ancestor that came to America 6 July 1674 as a possible indentured servant.  His progeny is spread far and wide across this country, which includes West Virginia as I recently discovered.  My family also has a connection to West Virginia seeing as I lived there from 1966 to 1973, met my wife there whom I’ve known now for 53 years.

The West Virginia Earps were a discovery made from sheer curiosity.  I just wanted to know if there were any Earps living in West Virginia and how I might be related to them…and boy am I related to them. 

The first Earp name I came across in Ancestry© was Charles R. Earp (1826-1902).  The second Earp I came across was William P. Earp (1824-1889).  Charles and William were the sons of William Earp (1792-1844) and Ann Reed (1794-1850).  Here are primary records for William Earp and his family. 

This is the 2^nd Administration Account that lists all the children for William Earp, deceased in 1845: 

Courtesy of FamilySearch® 

My 3x great-grandfather Joseph Earp is listed, as well as his 2 brothers William P. Earp and Charles R. Earp, the subjects of this post. 

Another primary document is a land deed that also mentions the children of William Earp and their respective spouses. 

Courtesy of the Maryland Land Records 

The actual document shown above is a 4-page land deed instrument, but I just wanted to show the 1^st and 3^rd pages to show the children and spouses’ names.  One other surprise mentioned above is the name of Walter Clemens (Clements) 4 lines above the children and spouses’ names on the 3^rd page.  Walter just happens to be my 3x great-grandfather Joseph Earp’s father-in-law, my 4x great-grandfather.  

To read more about the patriarch of this clan, William Earp, you can go to the following links of my past posts: 

The William Earp Mistake 

The William Earp Mistake – The Final Truth 

There are many ancestral trees on Ancestry©, other genealogy websites and even publications that have the parents of the above William Earp as Joshua Earp and Eleanor McKinsey.  I can’t stress enough that I have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the parents of William Earp that married Ann Reed are James Earp and Susannah Jones. 

Let’s get back to the subjects of this post, Charles R. Earp and William P. Earp. The first instance I found of Charles R. Earp living in West Virginia was by the 1880 Census in the Union District of Marshall Co., WV (so at some point Charles moved his family to WV between 1870 and 1880): 

Courtesy of Ancestry© 

Charles’ wife was Mary E. Bryant (I never found a marriage record for them). Notice all the children were born in Maryland except for the last child, Edgar, age 3.  With this little bit of information about Edgar being born in WV and his age, we can deduce that Charles moved his family sometime between 1870 and 1877. Also, you will notice the occupation of Charles as a Nailer.  The same profession as my 3x great-grandfather, Joseph.  Charles was probably working in an iron factory or forge making or cutting nails. 

Here is the 1900 Census for the Union District of Marshall Co., WV: 

Courtesy of Ancestry© 

In the 1900 Census, Charles’ occupation is noted as a City Weigher.  A City Weigher of the 1900s period worked with large platform scales and would weigh wagons and teams of horses. 

Courtesy of Ancestry© 

Charles R. Earp died in 1902: 

Courtesy of Ancestry© 

Our next subject is William P. Earp (1824-1889). William P. Earp was married to Mary M. Smith: 

Courtesy of Ancestry© 

The first instance I found of William P. Earp living in West Virginia was by the 1870 Census in the Union District of Marshall Co., WV (William preceded Charles in moving to WV, sometime between 1860 and 1870): 

Courtesy of Ancestry© 

Notice that the occupation of William Earp is Nailer, the same as his brother Charles. 

Here is the 1880 Census in the Union District of Marshall Co., WV: 

Courtesy of Ancestry© 

Notice that all 4 sons also worked with nails.

Here is the WV Death Index for William P. Earp: 

Courtesy of Ancestry© 

It should not be surprising to any of us that our ancestors relocated to so many areas in this country, whether for work’s sake, for inherited land or land given for military service or even just to start a new life elsewhere.  Natural disasters were another reason why people moved.  The Great Flood of Baltimore of 1868 that wiped out iron forges throughout the area caused people to move, which included my 3x great-grandfather, Joseph Earp.  That could be why William P. Earp left Baltimore as well to move his family to WV.  In turn, perhaps the reason why Charles R. Earp relocated to WV.  There are many reasons why our families may have relocated. 

The Earps have left a mighty heritage throughout this country.  Don’t be afraid to branch out to research sibling ancestors because you may never know where it could lead you.  You’ll also have a better understanding of your distant families and the part in history they played in the birth and the growth of this nation. 

Sources: 

Ancestry© 

FamilySearch® 

Maryland Land Records 

Featured Image:

Johnson’s Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware, and Maryland Map – Library of Congress – 1862

Acknowledgements: 

Cathy Meder-Dempsey – thank you Cathy for your dedication to this type of research, specifically being a FamilySearch and Maryland Land Records whisperer! 

My great-uncle William E. Earp (Uncle Bill) – for being my first Earp mentor for all things Wyatt Earp and our branch and extended branches of the Earp family 

Cheryl, my wife, my rock, and my inspiration…Love you, Sweetie! 

Brian