Carbon County, Pennsylvania Genealogy
Guide to Carbon County, Pennsylvania ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named for its coal deposits. The county is located in the eastern center section of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Carbon County Courthouse
4 Broadway
Jim Thorpe, PA 18229
Court of Common Pleas
Office of the Prothonotary, P.O. Box 130, (570) 325-2481
Register of Wills/Orphan's Court, 1 Hazard Square, P.O. Box 286, (570) 325-2261
Recorder of Deeds, P.O. Box 89, (570) 325-2651, Email: anitadietrich@carboncounty.net
Carbon County Website
County Clerk has birth records 1894-1905, death records 1890-1904, marriage records from 1885, and probate records from 1843
Prothonotary Office has divorce records
Clerk Courts has court records
Recorder of Deeds has land records[3]
The Register of Wills/Orphans Court is responsible for probating wills, appointing administrators, issuing marriage licenses, and more.
Recorder of Deeds Preserves all Land Records including Deeds, Mortgages, Easements, Right-of-Ways, etc.
The County Archives holds birth/death records (1894-1905), naturalization records (1843-1958), estate files (1843-present), marriages (Oct 1885-present), and more.
Carbon County, Pennsylvania Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1894 | 1885 | 1890 | 1843 | 1843 | 1843 | 1790 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
|
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
For animated maps illustrating Pennsylvania county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Pennsylvania County Boundary Maps" (1673-1878) may be viewed at the MapofUS.org website. |
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[7]
| Boroughs | ||
| Villages | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Townships | ||
| Historic communities | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Cemetery
- 1700-1950 - Pennsylvania Cemetery Records, ca. 1700-ca. 1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1747-2007 Pennsylvania, Carbon County, Jim Thorpe, Cemetery Records, 1747-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- Cemetery Abstracts at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images (incomplete)
- Pennsylvania Genealogy
Census Records[edit | edit source]
State Census
- 1850-1880 Pennsylvania Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1850 | 15,686 | — |
| 1860 | 21,033 | 34.1% |
| 1870 | 28,144 | 33.8% |
| 1880 | 31,923 | 13.4% |
| 1890 | 38,624 | 21.0% |
| 1900 | 44,510 | 15.2% |
| 1910 | 52,846 | 18.7% |
| 1920 | 62,565 | 18.4% |
| 1930 | 63,380 | 1.3% |
| 1940 | 61,735 | −2.6% |
| 1950 | 57,558 | −6.8% |
| 1960 | 52,889 | −8.1% |
| 1970 | 50,573 | −4.4% |
| 1980 | 53,285 | 5.4% |
| 1990 | 56,846 | 6.7% |
| 2000 | 58,802 | 3.4% |
| 2010 | 65,249 | 11.0% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. For members, they may contain: age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage date and maiden name; death/burial date. For general information about Pennsylvania denominations, see Pennsylvania Church Records.
County-wide Database - Multi-denominational
- 1620-1991 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Congregational Records, 1620-1991(*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1708-1985 - Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 at Historical Society of Pennsylvania – $, to members of the society; Also available at Ancestry $
- Contains church records of:
- Lansford: St. John Evangelical Slovak Lutheran Church
- Lehighton: All Saints Episcopal Church; Wesley United Methodist Church; Zion United Church of Christ
- Parryville: United Methodist Church
- Summit Hill: First Presbyterian Church of Panther Valley; St. Paul's United Church of Christ
- 1795-1825 - Humphrey, John T. Pennsylvania Births, Carbon County, 1795-1825; Monroe County, 1741-1825; Schuylkill County, 1755-1825 Washington, D.C.: PA Genealogy Books, 2006. FHL Book 974.8 K2hj.
- Contains church records of Towamensing Lutheran and Reformed Church, Towamensing Township; Ben Salem Lutheran and Reformed Church, East Penn Township; St. John's Lutheran and Reformed Church, Lausanne Township; and St. Matthew's Lutheran and Reformed Church, Packer Township.
Evangelical
Mauch Chunk Mission of the Evangelical Association
- 1870-1875 - Mauch Chunk Mission of the Evangelical Association Baptism Index 1870-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C526441
- 1870-1885 - Mauch Chunk Mission of the Evangelical Association Marriage Index 1870-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M526441
Presbyterian
First Presbyterian Church, Mauch Chunk
- 1835-1873 - First Presbyterian Church, Mauch Chunk, Baptism Index 1835-1873 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C538831 [8]
- 1836-1873 - First Presbyterian Church, Mauch Chunk, Marriage Index 1836-1873 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M538831
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
For information about records kept in the Orphan's court, Prothonotary Court, Court of Common Pleas, and other courts in counties of Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Court Records Wiki page.
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, and more.
The office of the Prothonotary is the custodian of all civil matters in the county. This includes naturalization, immigration, equity actions, judgements, and more.
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
For online resources, passenger lists, and specific groups coming to Pennsylvania, see Pennsylvania Emigration and Immigration.
- 1798-1828 Pennsylvania Landing Reports of Aliens, 1798-1828 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Alphabet index then by numbered entry
- 1900-1923 Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Case Files of Chinese Immigrants, 1900-1923 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only (by county)
- 1952-1957 Pennsylvania, Crew Lists arriving at Erie, 1952-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
For groups that came, see People section of the Pennsylvania Emigration page.
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
The Orphan's Court ensures the best interests of those not capable of handling their own affairs: minors, incapacitated persons, decedents' estates, and more.[9]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a specific location and reveal family relationships. Records include: deeds, abstracts, indexes, mortgages, leases, grants, sheriff sales, land patents, maps and more. For more information, see Pennsylvania Land and Property.
Land records in Carbon County began in 1843. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania.
Land Indexes and Records
- 1843 -1934 Deeds 1843-1902, 1922-1923; Index 1843-1934. FHL film 2209389 (first of 25 films) - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
- History of Carbon County, Pennsylvania. 1913. By Fred Brenckman. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania : James J. Nungesser. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Google Books; At various libraries (WorldCat).
- History of Northampton, Lehigh, Monroe, Carbon, and Schuylkill Counties. 1885. By I. Daniel Rupp. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania : Hickok and Cantine. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat).
- History of the Counties of Lehigh and Carbon in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 1884. By Alfred Mathews and Austin N. Hungerford. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : Everts & Richards. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat).
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
Maps
- Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
- Ancestor Tracks has posted and downloadable images from the Map of the Counties of Munroe and Carbon, Pennsylvania from Surveys under the Direction of H. F. Walling (New York, 1860). This wall map located in the library of Congress shows major landowners and geographic sites at the date of publishing. While the physical maps are in the puiblic domain, the images we have taken of the maps belong to us and are not to be used commercially. We hereby give permission to use them strictly for personal use; please attribute to Ancestor Tracks
- 1875 County Atlas of Carbon, Pennsylvania by F. W. Beers has been posted on Rootsweb.com site.
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Civil War
- 1861-1865 - Pennsylvania, Register of Military Volunteers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
World War II
- 1933-1947 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, World War II Casualty Cards, 1933-1947 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Naturalization records can contain information about immigration and nativity. Prior to 1906, it is rare to find the town of origin in naturalization records. For more information, see Pennsylvania Naturalization
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1795-1931 Pennsylvania, Eastern District Petitions for Naturalization, 1795-1931 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1795-1952 Pennsylvania, Eastern District Naturalization Indexes, 1795-1952 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1901-1930 – Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. Circuit and District Courts for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 1906-1930; and 1901-1906 on Fold3.com - ($), indexed, National Archives publication M1622, Middle District court was created in 1901, for earlier dates try the Eastern and Western District court records
- 1901-1930 - Middle District, US Circuit and District Courts: Naturalization petitions, 1906-1930 located in U.S. Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1795-1972 (World Archives Project) database on Ancestry $ National Archives publication M1622, Middle District court was created in 1901, for earlier dates try the Eastern and Western District court records
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Newspapers may contain obituaries, births, marriages, deaths, anniversaries, family gatherings, family travel, achievements, business notices, engagement information, and probate court proceedings. Newspapers are often found in local or university libraries, historical or genealogical societies, or state archives in the area where the newspaper was published. See Pennsylvania Newspapers for more information.
Newspapers of Carbon County
Online Newspapers
To learn if there are newspapers online for a specific town or city in Pennsylvania, see news.google.com/newspapers and search for the town or the name of a newspaper.
- Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory
- Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive
- Pennsylvania Newspapers
- The Carbon Advocate of Lehighton, Pennsylvania 1872-1924.
Online Newspaper Abstracts
- PA-Roots Newspaper Articles of Carbon County.
Newspaper Excerpts and Abstracts
- USGenWeb Carbon County Newspaper Tidbits From the Evening Star Saturday, January 27, 1945.
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Obituaries are generally found in local newspapers where the person died or where family members lived. Local libraries or societies may have indexes or other sources.
- 1947-2010 Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Collection, 1947-2010 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1977-2010 Pennsylvania Obituaries, 1977-2010 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- PA-Roots Obituaries for Carbon County.
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Probate matters in Carbon County are handled by the Orphans' Court and start when the county was created.
In addition to wills and administrations, the Orphans' Court also handles: audits of accounts of executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians; distribution of estates; appointments of guardians; adoptions; appeals from the Register of Wills; inheritance tax appeals, and various petitions and motions.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1683 - 1993 - Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry $
- 1683 - 1994 - Pennsylvania Probate Records 1683-1994 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only (by county)
- 1843 - 1948 - Probate Records FHL film 1290569 item 2 (first of (first of 8 films) - images only; click on the camera icon to view images, Index included
- 1843 - 1948 - Carbon County Probate Records - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
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. County marriage records were kept in earnest in 1885. Births and deaths, at the county level, were begun in 1893 and kept through 1905. For the most complete set of records, contact the County Orphans' Court.
Birth[edit | edit source]
Early births 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. For more information, see Pennsylvania Vital Records.
- 1520-1999 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Births and Baptisms, 1520-1999 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1726-1930 - Pennsylvania, Births and Christenings, 1709-1950 - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1852-1854 - Pennsylvania Births Ancestry $
- 1941-1976 Pennsylvania Delayed Birth Records, 1941-1976 - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Marriage[edit | edit source]
Pennsylvania marriages were created by county officials. Contact Carbon County Courthouse
- 1512-1989 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Marriage Records, 1512-1989 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1626-2016 - Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at Findmypast
- 1677-1950 - Pennsylvania Civil Marriages, 1677-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1682-1976 Pennsylvania, Church Marriages, 1682-1976 FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1700-1821 - Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry $ This database is incomplete for all counties.
- 1709-1940 Pennsylvania Marriages, 1709-1940 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- Pre-1810 – Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $ This database is incomplete for all counties. Includes 35,000 marriage records from vol. VIII of of the second series of the Pennsylvania Archives.
- 1852-1854 - Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
- 1885-1950 Pennsylvania County Marriage, 1885-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images (incomplete for all counties. May contain marriage records earlier than 1885.
- 1885-present - Original records located at the Carbon County Archives.
- 1947-2021 Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Collection, 1947-2010 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Death[edit | edit source]
Early deaths 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. For indexes and records, 1906 and later, see Pennsylvania Vital Records.
- 1720-1999 - Pennsylvania Deaths and Burials, 1720-1999 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, some images
- 1856-1971 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Deaths and Burials, 1856-1971 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1852-1854 - Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry $
- 1893-1905 - Carbon County Death Index 1893-1905 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch[10]
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary.
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Carbon County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries.
National Archives at Philadelphia
14700 Townsend Road
Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096
Phone: 215-305-2044
Fax: 215-305-2052
Website
Carbon County Archives
44 Susquehanna St
Jim Thorpe, PA
Phone: 570-325-5713
Email: ccarchiv@ptd.net
Website
The County Archives holds birth/death records (1894-1905), naturalization records (1843-1958), estate files (1843-present), marriages (Oct 1885-present), and more.
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Allentown Pennsylvania Family History Center
- Nazareth Pennsylvania Family History Center
- Eastern Monroe Public Library - an affiliate library.
- Northeast Pennsylvania Genealogical Society - an affiliate library.
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Carbon County. For state-wide library facilities, see Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries.
Dimmick Memorial Library
54 Broadway
Jim Thorpe, PA 18229
Phone: 570-325-2131
Fax: 570-325-9339
Email: thorpepl@ptd.net
Website
This library has federal censuses (1790 to 1930), plus a nearly complete set of Mauch Chunk newspapers on microfilm from 1829 to the present and The Valley Gazette (a local monthly paper devoted to the area’s history). Also have many books pertaining to Carbon Co. History.
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Carbon County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Pennsylvania Societies.
Mauch Chunk Historical Society
P.O. Box 273
Jim Thorpe, PA 18229
Phone: 570-325-4439
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Carbon County PA Genealogy
- FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Pennsylvania.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_County,_Pennsylvania accessed 2/1/2017
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists : United States of America, 10th ed., (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002) Carbon County, Pennsylvania, p.589
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Carbon County, Pennsylvania. Page 588-593 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 579-581.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Pennsylvania.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Pennsylvania.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Carbon County, Pennsylvania," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_County,_Pennsylvania, accessed 15 January 2020.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/2/23/Igipennsylvaniac.pdf.
- ↑ The Philadelphia Courts at Common Pleas accessed 10 July 2012
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/2/23/Igipennsylvaniac.pdf.
