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Pennsylvania Research Outline |
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Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
Historical Geography
History
Land And Property
Law And Legislation
Maps
Military Records
Minorities
Native Races
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Periodicals
Probate Records
Societies
Taxation
Vital Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions
TAXATION Tax lists in Pennsylvania can help you establish where an ancestor lived prior to and between the federal censuses.
An early form of tax list is:
Pennsylvania. Secretary of the Land Office. Rent Rolls, 1703-1744. (FHL films 1035090 item 2 and 1032840 items 1-2; computer number 5956.) These rolls have indexes which are excellent tools for locating those who owned land at this time.
The Pennsylvania Archives (see the “Genealogy” section of this outline), 3rd series, volumes 11-22, contains tax lists for varying years between 1765 and 1791, for 14 of the 19 counties created by 1788. Indexes are in volumes 27-29 of the series (FHL films 824436-37).
The eleven colonial counties are also indexed in John D. and Diane Stemmons, Pennsylvania in 1780: A Statewide Index of Circa 1780 Taxlists (Salt Lake City, UT.: [Stemmons Publishing Co.], 1978; FHL book 974.8 R42p; computer number 327744.)
The library has the following federal tax records:
United States. Secretary of the Treasury. United States Direct Tax of 1798: Tax Lists for the State of Pennsylvania. (FHL films 351594-617; computer number 174989.)
United States. Commissioner of Internal Revenue. Internal Revenue Assessment Lists for Pennsylvania, 1862-1865. (FHL films 1549103-209; computer number 462514.)
The Family History Library has microfilm copies of many county tax lists from county or state repositories. These lists often date from the creation of the county and to the early 1800s. An example is Pennsylvania, Comptroller General, Tax and Exoneration Lists, 1762-1801 (on 29 FHL films beginning with 295759; computer number 15551). Many of these may be the same as those cited in the Pennsylvania Archives above.
Statewide registration of births and deaths began in January, 1906, and was generally complied with by 1915. You can obtain copies by writing to:
The Register of Wills in most counties kept records of births and deaths for the years 1852-1854. The Family History Library has Pennsylvania, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Births, Marriages, and Deaths on File at the State Archives, 1852-1854 (FHL films 1016403-8; computer number 374806). The Library does not have 1852-1854 records for the counties of Blair, Clarion, Erie, Forest, Lehigh, Monroe, Montour, Philadelphia, Pike, Potter, and Union. Cameron, Lackawanna, and Snyder counties were formed after 1854.
Counties began registering births and deaths by 1893. Some counties (Chester, Cumberland, Fulton) and the City of Philadelphia began about 1873 or before. Birth and death registration continued until the state took over the responsibility in 1906.
Vital records were also kept by some of the larger cities. The library has birth and death records on microfilm for the cities of Altoona, Harrisburg, Johnstown, McKeesport, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Reading, Scranton, Wilkinsburg, Williamsport, and York.
For example:
Philadelphia County and City. The library has over 1,000 microfilms, some of which are:
With the consolidation of Philadelphia City and County in 1854, all vital records after 1854 are found on the level for Philadelphia City.
Other records include:
Old German Midwife's Records, 1791-1815. (FHL film 383294; computer number 371745.) The originals are at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Fayette County (Pennsylvania). Prothonotary. Birth Returns for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826: Includes Certificates of Registry Received from Other Counties 1785, 1803, 1805, 1807-1808 and Miscellaneous Papers 1823, 1830, n.d. (FHL film 1449141; computer number 353205.) The library also has these records of varying dates for Adams, Centre, and Lancaster counties.
Pennsylvania. Governor. Death Warrants, 1794-1873. (FHL films 1016409-12; computer number 178235.) These records are warrants for the executions of convicted criminals.
Bucks County (Pennsylvania). Coroner. Coroner's Views and Inquisitions, 1710-1906; Index, 1722-1946. (FHL films 941417-24; computer number 170873.) Coroner's reports supply information on accidental or suspicious deaths.
Funeral records issued by a funeral home include financial records (cost of casket, dressings, etc.), funeral cards given out at the time of the funeral, etc. These records usually give the name of the deceased, when and where buried, if shipped out to another funeral home, purchaser of cemetery plot, etc. The library has many records of funeral homes. An example from Philadelphia is:
David H. Bowen and Son, Undertakers (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). Funeral Records, 1845-1899. (On 13 FHL films beginning with 527812; computer number 330125.)
Published records include:
Charles Adam Fisher. Early Pennsylvania Births, 1675-1875. Reprint of 1947 edition; Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979 (FHL book 974.8 V2fi; fiche 6101577; computer number 682968.) This book contains church and cemetery records as well as birth dates, many from sources never before published, in the counties of Berks, Juniata, Lebanon, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union. An index to this is:
Santos, Carile. Complete Name Index to “Early Pennsylvania Births, 1675-1875. (FHL film 1597740 item 6; computer number 567168.)
Pennsylvania Vital Records From the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine and the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography. 3 vols. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1983. (FHL book 974.8 V2p; computer number 202042.) This contains most records of births, baptisms, marriages, and deaths published in those magazines.
Newspaper accounts of deaths are valuable sources for further research. The library has numerous newspaper accounts of vital records. Many obituary records have been abstracted in published books such as:
Scott, Kenneth. Abstracts (Mainly Deaths) From the Pennsylvania Gazette, 1775-1783. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1976. (FHL book 974.8 A1 no. 87; computer number 162389.) See the “Newspapers” section of this outline for more information.
Births before 1906 that were not registered at the time of the birth may have been registered beginning in 1941. To prove a birth, several witnesses were required to sign affidavits Delayed birth records are at:
An example of delayed registration of births is Pennsylvania, Orphans' Court (Bucks County), Delayed Special Registration of Births and Index, 1941-1972 (FHL films 927594-605; computer number 168895).
Pennsylvania recorded few civil marriage records before 1885. However, many marriages before then will be found in church records. The Family History Library has:
Marriage Register of Pennsylvania, 1684 to 1689. (FHL film 20438 item 4; computer number 350142.) This contains mainly Quaker records in Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania. Supreme Executive Council. Marriage Bonds, 1784-1786. (FHL films 1759093 item 2 through 1759094 item 1; computer number 717511.) These records are alphabetically arranged by male applicant and are all at Philadelphia. They are probably the same records as those abstracted in Pennsylvania Archives, series 6, volume 6, pp. 285- 310.
Pennsylvania. Bureau of Vital Statistics. Marriage Records, 1885-1889. (FHL films 1027957-8; computer number 2939.) The males are listed on the first film and the females on the second.
Individual counties or cities have recorded marriages. Some cities began keeping records in the early 1800s. Counties which kept birth and death records for the years 1852-1854 usually kept marriage records for the same time period. Most counties began keeping marriage records in October 1885. You can obtain copies from the clerk of the orphans' court in the appropriate county.
The Family History Library has copies of many marriage records, usually from 1885 to 1920, although some are earlier. For Philadelphia City and County, the library has:
Early Marriage Papers of Philadelphia County,1752- 1804. (FHL film 20438 item 8; computer number 350147.)
Marriages in Philadelphia, 1808-1895. (FHL films 381275-8; computer number 372023.)
Marriage Register of Philadelphia County, 1814 to 1839. (FHL film 20438 item 5; computer number 350143.)
Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). Board of Health. Certificates of Marriages Before John Dennis, Alderman of Philadelphia, 1846-1852. (FHL film 20447 item 3; computer number 351134.)
Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). Mayor. Marriage Records, 1857-1938. (FHL films 972954-6; computer number 323976.)
Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). Board of Health. Marriage Returns, 1860-1885, Filed by Person Performing the Ceremony. (On 28 FHL films beginning with 1764889; computer number 591509.) These records are returns of marriages arranged quarterly under the name of the person performing the marriage. They include the date of ceremony, the name, age, place of birth, and residence of parties involved; and the groom's occupation and race. The records are the source for:
Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). Board of Health. Marriage Register, 1860-1885. (On 7 FHL films beginning with 978997; computer number 262501.) These films are difficult to read in many places.
Pennsylvania. Magistrate's Court (Philadelphia). Record of Marriages, 1880-1908, in Magistrate's Court No. 9. (FHL film 475647; computer number 59820.)
Philadelphia County (Pennsylvania). Clerk of the Orphans' Court. Affidavit of Applicant for Marriage License 1885-1915; Index 1885-1916. (On 598 FHL films beginning with 1290579; computer number 55805.)
Justice of the Peace Potter County (Pennsylvania). Justice of the Peace. Records, 1865-1927. (FHL film 1421828; computer number 468160.) This source contains summons, warrants, and marriages. It also includes typewritten indexes to the records and a separate typewritten index to marriages (1865-1896).
Bucks County (Pennsylvania). Justice of the Peace. Register of Marriages Performed by Lewis Swift, a Justice of the Peace of Bensalem Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 1835-1839. (FHL film 20447 item 3; computer number 351132.)
Published records include the following:
Marriage licenses for 1742 to 1790 (mostly for 1744 to 1776) are in:
Pennsylvania Marriages Prior to 1790. 1968. Reprint, Baltimore, Pa.: Genealogical Publishing, 1968. (FHL book 974.8 V2n; film 823832 item 2; computer number 173236.) This was reprinted from Pennsylvania Archives, series 2, volume 2.
Additional marriage records are in:
“List of Marriage Licenses Issued in the Secretary's Office From August 1755 through April 1759.” Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 21 (1960): 312-27. See the “Periodicals” section of this outline.
Record of Pennsylvania Marriages, Prior to 1810. 2 vols. 1880. Reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1968. (FHL book 974.8 V2r; fiche 6049248-9; computer number 173651.) This was reprinted from Pennsylvania Archives, series 2, volumes 8 and 9, and is mostly from church records.
In Pennsylvania, divorce proceedings were usually kept by the court of common pleas. For example, see:
Pennsylvania. Court of Common Pleas (Philadelphia County). Divorce Docket, 1851-1874. (FHL films 963387-93; computer number 326269.)
“Divorces Granted by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from December 1785 until 1801,” Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania. Vol. 1, pp. 185-92. (FHL book 974.8 B2p v. 1; film 1698098 item 2; computer number 744353.)
You can learn more about the history and availability of vital records in:
Inventory of Vital Statistics within Each County. Harrisburg, Pa.: Historical Records Survey, N.d. (FHL film 1016402; computer number 374826.) This inventory also describes many available church records.
The following handbooks will give more detailed information about research and records of Pennsylvania:
Clint, Florence. Pennsylvania Area Key: A Guide to the Genealogical Records of the State of Pennsylvania; Including Maps, Histories, Charts and Other Helpful Materials. 2nd ed. Denver, Colo.: Area Keys, 1976. (FHL 974.8 D27c; computer number 130225.) An area key has also been published for each county.
Eichholz, Alice, ed. Ancestry's Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources. Rev. ed. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1992. (FHL book 973 D27rb 1992; computer number 594021.) Contains bibliographies and background information on history and ethnic groups. Also contains maps and tables showing when each county was created.
Heisey, John W. Handbook for Genealogical Research in Pennsylvania. Indianapolis, Ind.: Heritage House, 1985. (FHL book 974.8 D27h; computer number 426257.)
Hoenstine, Floyd G. Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research in Pennsylvania. 3rd ed. Hollidaysburg, Pa.: F. G. Hoenstine, 1978. (FHL book 974.8 A3h; computer number 13507.) This includes a bibliography of research materials available for rental or sale. It also contains an important surname index to many local histories. Also use the 1978-84 supplement.
Iscrupe, William L., and Shirley G. M. Iscrupe, comps. Pennsylvania Line: A Research Guide to Pennsylvania Genealogy and Local History. 4th ed. Laughlintown, Pa.: Southwest Pennsylvania Genealogical Services, 1990. (FHL book 974.8 D27p; computer number 576942.) Contains informative maps and a gazetteer.
Schweitzer, George K. Pennsylvania Genealogical Research. Knoxville, Tenn.: G. Schweitzer, 1986. (FHL book 974.8 D27s; computer number 429580.)
The Family History Library welcomes additions and corrections that will improve future editions of this outline. Please send your suggestions to:
Paper publication: Second edition July 1997. English approval: 7/97.
©1998, 2006 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
No part of this document may be reprinted, posted on-line, or reproduced in any form for any purpose without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. FamilySearch is a trademark of Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
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VITAL RECORDS
Statewide Records of Births and Deaths
Division of Vital Statistics
State your relationship to the individual you want information about and your reason. The current fees for obtaining copies of the state's records are listed in Where to Write for Vital Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Divorces (Hyattsville, Md.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, March 1993). Copies of this booklet are at the Family History Library and many Family History Centers. You can also write to the Division of Vital Statistics for current information.
State Department of Health
101 South Mercer St.
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
Local Records of Births and Deaths
Delayed Registration of Birth Records
before the orphans' court which would then issue a birth certificate. Delayed registration of births began in various counties in different years, usually in 1941, and continued until about 1976.
Marriage Records
records may contain marriages before 1885. The library has these records from the counties of Beaver, Chester, Dauphin, Greene, Lancaster, Lebanon, Montogmery, and Somerset. For example see:
Divorce Records
Inventory of Vital Records
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FOR FURTHER READING
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COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Publications Coordination
We appreciate the archivists, librarians, and others who have reviewed this outline and shared helpful information.
Family History Library
35 N. West Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150-3400
USA
Fax: 801-240-2597
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Version of Data: 4/3/2006]