Berkeley is the second oldest county in West Virginia. The county was created by an act of the House of Burgesses in
February 1772 from the northern third of Frederick County (Virginia). At the time of the county's formation it also consisted
of the areas that make up the present-day Jefferson and Morgan counties.
According to missionary reports, several thousand Hurons occupied present-day West Virginia, including the Eastern
Panhandle region, during the late 1500s and early 1600s. During the 1600s the Iroquois Confederacy (then consisting of the
Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, and Seneca tribes) drove the Hurons from the state. The Iroquois Confederacy was
headquartered in New York and was not interested in occupying present-day West Virginia. Instead, they used it as a hunting
ground during the spring and summer months.
Berkeley History Contents
CHAPTER I. Origin of tlie Indian Settlements. The different Tribes.
CHAPTER II. First Settlements of the Valley. Locations, Land Titles, Dwellings, etc 82
CHAPTER III. The Indian Warfare.
CHAPTER IV. Houses, Furniture, Diet and Dress of the early Settlers.
CHAPTER V. Northern Neck of Virginia. Berkeley County laid off 54
CHAPTER VI. Martinsburg established.
CHAPTER VII. Report of Faulkner on Adjustment of the Boundary Line
CHAPTER VIII. Historical Sketches of the early Inhabitants 87
CHAPTER IX. Slavery— Mode and Manner of Punishment— Freedom 200
CHAPTER X. The late War of the Rebellion. The different Companies of Berkeley County, Federal and
Confederate, with full Names, Happenings,
CHAPTER XI. Historical Reminiscence of Martinsburg 1835-1901 241
CHAPTER XII. Commencing and ending of Strikes.
CHAPTER XIII. Life of the late Hon. Charles James Faulkner
CHAPTER XIV. The Churches— Organization and present Condition
CHAPTER XV. Berkeley County in 1810.
CHAPTER XVI. Present situation of the Town and County
CHAPTER XVII. Personal Sketches of the Enterprising Public and Professional Men of the present day 397
CHAPTER XVIII. Biography of Martinsburg's Business Men 412