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United States
Pennsylvania
Cumberland County
| Cumberland County, Pennsylvania | |||||||
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![]() Location in the state of Pennsylvania | |||||||
![]() Location of Pennsylvania in the U.S. | |||||||
| Facts | |||||||
| Founded | January 27, 1750 | ||||||
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| County Seat | Carlisle | ||||||
| Courthouse | |||||||
| Address | Cumberland County Courthouse 1 Courthouse Square Carlisle, PA 17013 Cumberland County Website | ||||||
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Historical Facts
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- Parent Counties: Formed from Lancaster County 27 January 1750.[1]
- County Seat: Carlisle
- Neighboring Counties: Cumberland County, Pennsylvania residents may also have records in [2]Perry (north) • Franklin (west) • Adams (south) • Dauphin (east) • York (southeast)
The Scotch-Irish settled heavily in the Cumberland Valley. It is estimated that they made up 90% of the population in the eighteenth century.[3]
Boundary Changes [4]
- 10 March 1682: Chester County was created from the Colonial lands, including the whole part of future Cumberland County.
- 14 October 1728: Lancaster County was set off from Chester County, including the future Cumberland County.
- 9 March 1771: Bedford County was created from Cumberland County. By this time, Cumberland County included all what is now of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Franklin, plus parts of Centre, Union, Snyder counties as well as the current county.
- 9 September 1784: Franklin County was set off, no part of it was taken for any future counties.
- 19 September 1789: Mifflin County was created from Cumberland and Northumberland counties, including the parts for future Centre and Juniata Counties.
- 22 March 1820: Perry County was created from Cumberland County.
African Americans
Resources
Bible Records
Cemeteries
Cemetery records often reveal birth, marriage, death, relationship, military, and religious information.
| Online Grave Transcripts | Published Grave Transcripts | County Cemetery Directories |
| Family History Library | ||
| WorldCat | ||
| Access Genealogy | ||
| Ancestry($) | ||
| | ||
| See Pennsylvania Cemeteries for more information. | ||
Census
For tips on accessing Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Federal (or United States) census records online, see: Pennsylvania Census.
There are no county or state census records available for Pennsylvania. County and city tax records can be used as a substitute when census records are not available.
- 1814 - Septennial Census 1814 at Cumberland County, PA Archives website - Free. Scanned images.
Church Records
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. In Pennsylvania, church records are often used as a substitute for birth, marriage, and death information. For general information about Pennsylvania denominations, view the Pennsylvania Church Records wiki page.
Finding Church Records at Other RepositoriesAdditional church records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Church Records in online catalogs like:
- Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Family History Library Catalog (For instructions see FHL Catalog Place-name Search).
County-wide Database - Multi-denominational
- 1708-1985 - Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 at Historical Society of Pennsylvania – $, free to members of the society; Also available at Ancestry.com – $; 7,542,774 entries. This database is incomplete for all counties.
- Contains church records of:
- Jonathan Worrall, J.P./Misc. Marriae Licenses, 1890-1915
- Big Spring: United Brethren in Christ
- Boiling Springs: Boiling Springs Methodist Episcopal Church; Otterbein United Methodist Church; St. John's Lutheran Church; United Brethren in Christ
- Bridgeton: First United Methodist Church
- Carlisle: Allison United Methodist Church; First Presbyterian Church; First United Methodist Church; German Reformed Church; Grace United Methodist Church; Historical Society Carlisle Marriages and Deaths; Second Presbyterian Church; St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church; United Brethren in Christ
- Chambersburg: United Brethren in Christ
- Maurice River: Cumberland Circuit Methodist Episcopal Church; Harmony Circuit Methodist Episcopal Church; Port Elizabeth Methodist Episcopal Church
- Mechanicsburg: Silver Spring Presbyterian Church; Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church; United Methodist Church
- Millville: First Presbyterian Church on Maurice River
- Mount Holly Springs: Wesley United Methodist Church
- New Cumberland: St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church; United Brethren in Christ
- New Kingstown: Trinity United Methodist Church
- Newville: Big Spring Presbyterian Church
- Philadelphia: Cohansey Baptist Church
- Shippensburg: German Reformed Church; Grace United Church of Christ; Memorial Lutheran Church; Middle Spring Presbyterian Church; Presbyterian Church; United Methodist Church
- Walnut Bottom: Trinity United Methodist Church
- Contains church records of:
- 1737-1898 - Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Church Records at Ancestry ($). Big Spring Presbyterian Church (Newville, Pa.), Bobenmayer Church (Upper Frankford, Pa.), First Evangelical Lutheran Church (Carlisle, Pa.), Meeting-House Springs, Middle Spring Presbyterian Church, Poplar Evangelical Lutheran Church (Shiremanstown, Pa.), German Reformed Church (Shippenstown, Pa.), St. James Episcopal Church, St. Stephen's Evangelical Lutheran Church (New Kingston, Pa.), First Presbyterian Church (Carlisle, Pa.), Trindle Spring Lutheran Church, Ziegler's Church (Mifflin Twp., Pa.) and other miscellaneous church records.
Catholic
- "100 years of the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese 1843–1943". Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Quarterly, 17:1. FamilySearch Library book 974.8 B2wg. Contains chronolgy, map, county-by-county information.
Episcopalian
St. John's Church, Carlisle
Registers begin in 1793.[5]
Lutheran
- 1896-1936 - Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lemoyne, Pa. Parish Register 1896-1936 at Ancestry ($).
Presbyterian
Silvers' Spring Presbyterian Church, near the present site of Mechanicsburg, was organized in 1734. Meeting House Spring Presbyterian Church was organized in Middleton Township (present site of Carlisle) in 1734. Big Spring Presbyterian Church was organized in what is now the town of Newville by 1737. Falling Spring Presbyterian Church was organized, at a Scotch-Irish settlement in what is now Franklin County (formerly Lancaster and then Cumberland counties), in 1738. Middle Spring Presbyterian Church, in Southampton Township, was organized by the 1740s. Upper West Conococheague Presbyterian Church was organized at what is now the town of Mercersburg in 1738. Another Presbyterian church at the "Conococheague Settlement" (present-day Greencastle) was organized by 1738.[3]
First Presbyterian Church
- 1785-1812 - Marriage Record of the First Presbyterian Church, at Carlisle, 1785-1812 (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 2, Vol. 8, Part 4) at Ancestry ($); Google Books - free.
Lutheran
- 1896-1936 - Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, 1896-1936 at Ancestry.com - ($); book transcription.
Court Records
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania court records are housed at the Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Courthouse. For many counties copies of court records may be found at the Pennsylvania State Archives and in the FamilySearch collection. Note that within these collections some films may contain the same records, but have different titles. Other titles are not duplicates. See Finding Court Records at other repositories within this section for links to the online catalogs for these two collections. Films at the Pennsylvania State Archives are not available for inter-library loan. If court records are available FamilySearch films may be ordered at a local Family History Center.
Thousands of commissioners orders from the 1820s and 1830s have been indexed and digitized at the Cumberland County, PA Archives website.
Court of Common Pleas
The Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of Pennsylvania. Major civil and criminal cases are heard in these courts. Judges also decide cases involving adoption, divorce, child custody, abuse, juvenile delinquency, estates, guardianships, charitable organizations and many other matters. The Common Pleas courts are organized into 60 judicial districts. Cumberland County, Pennsylvania has its own judicial district. Judges of the Common Pleas courts are elected to 10-year terms. A president judge and a court administrator serve in each judicial district.[6]
Clerk of the Court
The Clerk of Courts prepares and maintains the records for the Criminal Division of the Court of Common Pleas. The Clerk signs and affixes the Seal of the Courts to all writs and processes, administers oaths and affirmations, and assumes custody of the seal and records of the Courts. The Clerk certifies and distributes orders of the Court. The Clerk also certifies and prepares bills of costs for the defendants and utilizes the computerized financial management system to disburse fines, costs and restitution.[7] For the Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Clerk of Courts address see the Courthouse section on this page.
Prothonotary
Orphan's Court (see Vital Records)
Quarter Sessions
- 1750-1785 - Greene, Diane E. Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Quarter Session Dockets 1750-1785. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2001. Digital version at Ancestry ($); FHL Book 974.843 P2g.
Finding Court Records at Other Repositories
Additional court records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Court Records in online catalogs like:
- Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Family History Library Catalog (For instructions see FHL Catalog Place-name Search).
Emigration and Immigration
For information about emigration into Pennsylvania, see the Pennsylvania Emigration and Immigration page.
Ethnic Groups
Germans
Gazetteers
Genealogy
History
Published Histories
Land and Property
Land records in Cumberland County began in 1750. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts, indexes, mortgages, leases, grants, sheriff sales, land patents, and maps. Property records include liens as well as livestock brands and estray records.
The following are examples of available resources:
Online Land Records
- 1766-1769 - Land Warrants West Side Applications 1766-1769 at Cumberland County, PA Archives website - Free. Index and scanned images.
- 1824-1872 - Treasurer's Deeds Unseated Lands 1824-1872 at Cumberland County, PA Archives website - Free. Index and scanned images.
- 1973–present - Cumberland County offers free online access to indexes. Fees apply to view images since 1993. Check the website for current information on availability and fees.
Land Records on Microfilm
- 1750–1954 Deeds and Miscellaneous Records, 1750-1866; Indexes, 1750-1954. FHL film 21029 (first of 60 films)
- 1738–1890 Land Drafts and Warrants. FHL films 1010322–1010326
- 1777–1956 Mortgages, 1777-1826; Indexes, 1777-1956. FHL films 1010596–1010603
- 1750–1954 Deeds and Miscellaneous Records, 1750-1866; Indexes, 1750-1954. FHL film 21029 (first of 60 films)
Additional Resources
Note that the "Maps" section below includes maps related to land ownership.
See Pennsylvania Land and Property for more information about using land records, especially about original land warrants, surveys, and patents filed at the state land office.
Additional resources can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Cumberland County Pennsylvania Land in online catalogs such as:
- Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog.)
- Family History Library Catalog (For instructions see FHL Catalog Place-name Search.)
Maps
Ancestor Tracks has posted free, downloadable images from the 1872 Atlas of Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania, from Actual Surveys by and under the Direction of F.W. Beers. This wall map located in the Library of Congress shows major landowners and geographic sites at the date of publishing. While the physical maps are in the public domain, the images we have taken of the maps belong to us and are not to be used commercially. We hereby give permission to use them strictly for personal use; please attribute to Ancestor Tracks.
Migration
Military
French and Indian War
In 1756, Colonel Armstrong recruited many Scotch-Irish men from Cumberland County. They attacked and destroyed the Indian village at Kittanning (present-day Armstrong County).[3]
Colonel Henry Bouquet led a group of Scotch-Irish men from Cumberland County to rescue Fort Pitt. They decisively defeated the Indians at the Battle of Bushy Run.[3]
Reverend John Elder, pastor of Derry and Paxtang churches, recruited Scotch-Irish rangers from his congregation in Cumberland County. Known as the Paxton Rangers or Paxton Boys, they provided security for white settlements between the Blue Mountains and the Susquehanna River. They are remembered for playing a prominent role in Pontiac's War.[3]
Revolutionary War
Local men served in the Cumberland County Militia. A guide at the Pennsylvania State Archives website identifies townships where specific companies recruited soldiers, see Revolutionary War Militia Battalions and Companies, Arranged by County.
Cumberland County men also served in the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment,[8] the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment[9] and the 9th Pennsylvania Regiment.[10]
- 1779-1781 - Cumberland County Militia Accounts 1779-1781 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Scanned images.
- 1786-1804 - Revolutionary War Pension Applications Series 1, 1786-1804 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index and description.
- 1820-1834 - Revolutionary War Pension Applications Series 2, 1820-1834 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index and scanned images.
Later Records
Various military records, including Civil War Board of Relief (1861-1862), Military Bounty Correspondence (1862), Military Enrollment (1870-1874), Military Exonerations (1846-1865), Military Fund (1845-1873), Military Papers Miscellaneous (1840-1923), and Militia Rolls (1849-1861) have been digitized at the Cumberland County, PA Archives website - Free.
Naturalization and Citizenship
Naturalization records can contain information about immigration and nativity. Prior to 1906, it is rare to find the town of origin in naturalization records. See Pennsylvania Naturalization for more information about the types of records and availability.
Naturalizations granted at the county level were kept by the office of the Prothonotary. Naturalizations could also be granted on the Federal Court level.
Newspapers
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania newspapers may contain genealogical value including obituaries, births, marriages, deaths, anniversaries, family gatherings, family travel, achievements, business notices, engagement information, and probate court proceedings.
To access newspapers, contact public libraries, historical/genealogical societies, college or university libraries, or state archives in the area where the newspaper was published.
For information on state-wide newspapers see Pennsylvania Newspapers
Newspapers of Cumberland County
- Pennsylvania Newspapers
- Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory
Online Newspaper Abstracts
- PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Cumberland County.
Obituaries
Obituaries are generally found in local newspapers where the person died. However, sometimes an obituary is found in the location from which he or she originated. To find an obituary, see the information under the Newspaper heading
| Sometimes the fastest way of finding obituaries is to call or email the local public library in the area where the person died. If the library does not have newspapers, a librarian often will know where they are kept. If a death date is known, and the newspapers are at the library, someone on staff will usually make a search for a small fee, or will indicate someone who will do the search. |
Online Obituary Abstracts
- PA-Roots Obituaries for Cumberland County.
- The Sentinel Online Obituaries are archived from 1997 to the present. To find a name, use the advanced search tab.
Occupations
- 1750-1881 - Tavern License Petitions 1750-1881 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index and many scanned images.
- 1758-1874 - Hawkers and Peddlers License Applications 1758-1874 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index and scanned images.
- 1857-1885 - Liquor License Receipts 1857-1885 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index and scanned images.
- 1917-1946 - Commissions Volunteer Police Officers at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index and some scanned images.
Indentured Servants
- 1760-1850 - Indentured Servant and Apprentice Matters at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index and some scanned images.
- List of imported servants and transported convicts from Europe who served labor terms in Colonial Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (work in progress), courtesy: Immigrant Servants Database.
Officials
Cumberland County has preserved records of local men who served in various government capacities during the 1700s and 1800s, including assessors, attorneys, auditors, clerks of court, commissioners, constables, coroners, election officials, judges, juries, justices of the peace, lumber inspectors, notaries, policemen, poorhouse directors, prothonotaries, recorders of deeds, registrars of wills, sheriffs, surveyors, and treasurers. The records have been indexed and digitized at the Cumberland County, PA Archives website - Free.
Constables helped maintain law and order in the community. Many can be identified:
- 1789-1927 - Constables' Returns 1789-1927 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Identifies locals who served as constables by name and township.
- 1791-1884 - Appointments and Petitions for Appointments 1791-1884 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Includes many different types of local government officials.
- 1793-1888 - Constables Oaths of Office 1793-1888 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free.
- 1805-1870 - Constable Bonds 1805-1870 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Identifies locals who served as constables by name and township.
If your ancestors served as a tax collector, you may be able to identify him in these collections:
- 1842-1894 - Tax Collector Bonds 1842-1894 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free.
- 1890-1908 - Tax Collector Oaths 1890-1908 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free.
Periodicals
Poorhouse, Almshouse
Poorhouse Records History at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Scanned images.
- 1812-1948 - Orders, 1812-1948 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index and scanned images.
- 1823 - Directors' Statements Work Papers 1823 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index and scanned images.
- 1859-1915 - Admissions and Commitments 1859-1915 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index and scanned images.
- 1868 - Poorhouse Vouchers at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index and scanned images.
- 1870-1912 - Poorhouse Indentures and Apprenticeships Children at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index and scanned images.
- 1880-1882, 1899 - Out-Door Relief Reports at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Scanned images.
- 1886-1919 - Correspondence Miscellaneous 1886-1919 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index and scanned images.
- 1902-1953 - Burial Permits, Poorhouse, 1902-1953 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index and scanned images.
- 1921-1934 - Anatomical Board Unclaimed Bodies 1921-1934 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Scanned images.
- 1930-1937 - Anatomical Board Unfit Bodies 1930-1937 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index and scanned images.
Prisons
- 1775-1778 - Jail Keepers' Account Books 1775-1778 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Scanned images.
- 1776-1852 - Prison Kalendars 1776-1852 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Scanned images. Identify prisoners and crimes.
- 1873-1887 - Prison Discharges Eastern Penitentiary at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index and scanned images. Identifies criminal and type of crime.
- 1886-1896 - Prison Discharges 1886-1896 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index. Identifies prisoner and type of discharge.
Probate Records
Probate matters in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania are handled by the Orphans' Court and start when the county was created. To obtain original probate records, contact the Orphan's Court in the County Courthouse.
In addition to wills and administrations, the Orphans' Court also handles: audits of accounts of executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians; distribution of estates of decedents, incompetents, and minors; appointment and control of guardians; adoptions; appeals from the Register of Wills involving probate matters; inheritance tax appeals and various petitions and motions.
Online Probate Records
Original probate records for some Pennsylvania counties are available free online as digital images at FamilySearch.org. The dates vary significantly for each county and not all counties are listed. Some counties may only have probate indexes. This Pennsylvania collection of images may be browsed through the links listed below:
Complete Collection:
- 1683-1994-Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994 at FamilySearch.org
Chester County Only:
- 1750-1937-Cumberland County Probate Records
- 1750-1937-Cumberland County Probate Records
Original Probate Records on Microfilm
- 1846-1874 Register's Court Docket FHL film 1009842 item 2
- 1750-1908 Wills FHL film 21075 (first of 18 films) - Index included: 1750-1937
Repositories
Archives
- Cumberland County Archives
1 Courthouse Square
Carlisle, PA 17013
Phone: 717.240.7886
Hours: By Appointment Only (Mon-Fri)
- Cumberland County Archives
- The Archives holds deeds (1831-1908), mortgages (1839-1924), births, marriages, and deaths (1852-1855), letters of administration (1887-1937) and more.
- The Pennsylvania Archives collection contains county archive records that can be searched onsite. Currently the Archives' staff cannot provide research or make copies of these records. Their collections include Almshouse Registers; Tax records; Birth, Death and Marriage Indexes and Records; Midwife records; African American records; Wills; Deeds; Naturalizations; Coroner's inquests; and Orphan's Court dockets. A list of the Archive's county holdings are on Microfilm or Manuscript form.
Courthouse
Cumberland County Courthouse
1 Courthouse Square
Carlisle, PA 17013
Hours: M-F 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Phone: 717-240-6100
Toll Free: 1-888-697-0371
Recorder of Deeds
can be reached at 717.240.6370 and is open M-F from 8 am - 4:30 pm.
The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court is located in room 102 of the County Courthouse and is available at 717-240-6345. The office is open from 8 am - 4:30 pm.
The County Archives (see above) holds deeds (1831-1908), mortgages (1839-1924), births, marriages, and deaths (1852-1855), letters of administration (1887-1937) and more.
Prothonotary Office
1 Courthouse Sq.
Suite 100
Carlisle, PA 17013
Phone: 717–240–6195
Many records stored at the courthouse are now available for free online.[11]
Family History Centers
Family History Centers (FHCs) are branches of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and are located all over the world. Their goal is to provide resources for family history research.
The main FHC for Cumberland County, Pennsylvania is the Carlisle Pennsylvania Family History Center. For additional nearby Family History Centers, search online in the FHC directory.
Libraries
Museums
Societies
Schools
- 1899 - Return of Children Between the Ages of Six and Twenty-One years, residing within the District of South Middleton Township, Upper, 1899 at Cumberland County, PA Archive - Free. Scanned images. Identifies children's names, exact birth dates, genders, nationalities, residences, school districts, and parents.
- 1900 - Return of Children Between the Ages of Six and Twenty-One Years, Residing within the District of South Middleton Township, Lower, 1900 at Cumberland County, PA Archive - Free. Scanned images. Identifies children's names, exact birth dates, genders, nationalities, residences, school districts, and parents.
Slavery and Bondage
- 1780-1841 - Slave and Slaveholder Register at Cumberland County, PA Archive - Free. Scanned images.
- 1780-1841 - Slave Returns 1780-1841 at Cumberland County, PA Archive - Free. Index and scanned images.
- 1801-1838 - Slave Matters Miscellaneous 1801-1838 at Cumberland County, PA Archive - Free. Index and scanned images.
Taxation
- 1778-1782, 1785 - State and Supply Transcripts of the County of Cumberland: For the Years 1778, 1779, 1780, 1781, 1782 and 1785. (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 20). Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Google Books - free.
- 1779-1850 - Tax Appeals 1779-1850 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Scanned images.
- 1781-1852 - Cumberland County Tax Assessors' Duplicates 1781-1852 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Scanned images arranged by year and township.
- 1781-1789, 1824, 1829, 1845 - Tax Collector Accounts Delinquent Taxes at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Scanned images.
- 1781-1782, 1790-1791, 1826-1828 - Tax Collectors Settlements at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Scanned images.
- 1783, 1806, 1815 - Delinquent Taxes Unseated Lands at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Scanned images.
- 1798 - Pennsylvania, U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798 at Ancestry ($).
- 1841-1898 - Cumberland County Tax Collectors' Exonerations 1841-1898 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Scanned images arranged by year and township. Explicity state when taxpayers moved from the area or died.
- 1867 - Tax Exonerations Tax Payers at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Scanned images.
- 1870-1875 - Tax Collectors Exonerations Vouchers at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Scanned images.
- 1920-1922 - Estate Tax Reports 1920-1922 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index and scanned images.
Vital Records
Vital records are handled by the County Orphans' Court. Between the years 1852-1855 Pennsylvania made a failed attempt to record birth, marriage and death events at the county level. While the records for that time period are available, there were few events recorded. County marriage records were kept in earnest in 1885. Births and deaths, at the county level, were begun in 1893 and kept through 1905. Abstracts and copies of vital records are available for some counties, but most are incomplete. For the most complete set of records, always contact the County Orphans' Court.
| Use substitute records for birth, marriage and death information. These substitute records include Bible Records, Cemeteries, Church Records, Newspapers, and Probate Records. |
Birth
Early births 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. See the heading Court Records on this page for contact information.
Indexes for Pennsylvania birth records are available through the Department of of Health for 1906 and 1907. Once an individual is located in the index a non certified Birth certificate can be obtained by writing and sending $3.00 to:
Division of Vital Records
ATTN: Public Records
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
- 1788-1908 - Bastardy Bonds 1788-1908 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index and scanned images.
- 1852-1854 – Pennsylvania Births Ancestry.com – ($) Index with images.
Marriage
Pennsylvania marriages are located at the county level. Contact the Cumberland County, Pennsylvania clerk's office for these records.
- 1700-1821 - Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties.
- 1725-1976 - Pennsylvania, Marriages, 1709-1940 - free index. Not complete for all years.
- Pre-1810 – Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties. Includes 35,000 marriage records from vol. VIII of of the second series of the Pennsylvania Archives.
- 1761-1786 - Marriage Bonds 1761-1786 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index and some scanned images.
- 1852-1854 - Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) Index with images.
- 1885-1950 - Pennsylvania County Marriage, 1885-1950 Extracted marriage records – free. This database is incomplete for all counties. May also contain marriage records earlier than 1885.
Divorce
Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary. The office of the Prothonotary is located in the courthouse building. The Cumberland County, PA Archives website includes a list of divorces in the county between 1810 and 1967.
Death
Early deaths 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. See the heading Court Records on this page for contact information.
Indexes for Pennsylvania death records are available through the Department of Health for 1906 through 1962. Once an individual is located in the index a non certified death certificate can be obtained obtained by writing and sending $3.00 to:
Division of Vital Records
ATTN: Public Records
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
- 1785-1914 - Coroner's Inquests at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index.
- 1852-1854 – Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry.com – ($) Index with images.
- 1917-1921 - Statement of Deaths in Cumberland County 1917-1921 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Scanned images.
- 1921-1934 - Anatomical Board Unclaimed Bodies 1921-1934 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Scanned images.
- 1930-1937 - Anatomical Board Unfit Bodies 1930-1937 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Index and scanned images.
Finding Vital Records at Other Repositories
Additional vital records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Vital Records in online catalogs like:
- Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Family History Library Catalog (For instructions see FHL Catalog Place-name Search).
Voter Registration
- 1874-1893 - Voter Oaths at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Identifies individuals by name, naturalization status, and often township of residence.
Web Sites
- Cumberland County Historical Society
- Cumberland County PA Genealogy
- Linkpendium - Cumberland County
- USGenWeb project.
- Family History Library Catalog
Places
Populated Places
References
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), [FHL book 973 D27e 2002].
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Adams County, Pennsylvania" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adams_County,_Pennsylvania (accessed 17 July 2012).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Wayland F. Dunaway, The Scotch-Irish of Colonial Pennsylvania (Chapel Hill, N.C.: The University of North Carolina Press, 1944), 59-64. Free digital version at PA's Past: Digital Bookshelf at Penn State.
- ↑ Pennsylvania line : a research guide to Pennsylvania genealogy and local history, 1990 ed. (Laughlintown, Pa.: Southwest Pennsylvania Genealogical Services, 1990), [FHL book 974.8 D27p 1990].
- ↑ Philip Syng Physick Conner,"Registers of the Anglican Church in Pennsylvania prior to 1800," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 12 (1888):341-349. For free online access, see WeRelate.
- ↑ The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania http://www.pacourts.us/T/CommonPleas/ accessed 10 July 2012.
- ↑ Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, Clerk of Courts in http://www.pacourts.us/T/CommonPleas/ClerksOfCourts.htm (accessed 25 Aug 2012)
- ↑ John B.B. Trussell and Charles C. Dallas, The Pennsylvania Line; Regimental Organization and Operations, 1776-1783 (Harrisburg, Pa.: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1977). Digital version at Family History Archive.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "8th Pennsylvania Regiment," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8th_Pennsylvania_Regiment, accessed 31 May 2012.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "9th Pennsylvania Regiment," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_Pennsylvania_Regiment, accessed 31 May 2012.
- ↑ Dick Eastman, "Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Archives Go Online," Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter, 15 July 2009, http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2009/07/cumberland-county-pennsylvania-archives-go-online.html, accessed 5 September 2012.
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