Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Genealogy
Guide to Lancaster 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 Lancaster, Lancashire. It is located in the southeast area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Lancaster County Courthouse
50 N. Duke St.
P.O. Box 83480
Lancaster, PA 17608
Phone: 717-299-8275
Prothonotary: 717-299-8282
Register of Wills/Orphan's Court: 717-299-8242 or 717-299-8243
Clerk or Courts
Lancaster County Website
Register of Wills has birth records 1893-1905, marriage records from 1885, probate and court records from 1729
Prothonotary Court has records of Common Pleas court and divorce records
Clerk of Orphans Court has orphan court records
Recorder of Deeds has land records from 1729
Court of Common Pleas has death records 1894-1927[3]
Lancaster 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 |
1893 | 1885 | bef 1906 | 1729 | 1729 | 1729 | 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]
Cities | ||
Boroughs | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
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Census-designated places | ||
Townships | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Some Biographies of Lancaster County courtesy USGenWeb.org
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Indentured Servants
- Immigrant Servants Database hosted by Price Genealogy - Includes indentured/imported servants and transported convicts who served labor terms in Colonial York County, Pennsylvania.
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Additional Cemetery Resources
- ca.1700-ca.1950 Pennsylvania Cemetery Records, ca. 1700-ca. 1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- Cemetery Abstracts at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images (incomplete)
- Cemeteries of Lancaster County in Adamstown & Akron Boroughs and Bart, Brecknock, & Caernarvon Townships. Lists of cemeteries, some with lists of burials
Census Records[edit | edit source]
- 1850-1880 Pennsylvania Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Historical populations | ||
---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± |
1790 | 36,081 | — |
1800 | 43,403 | 20.3% |
1810 | 53,927 | 24.2% |
1820 | 68,336 | 26.7% |
1830 | 76,631 | 12.1% |
1840 | 84,203 | 9.9% |
1850 | 98,944 | 17.5% |
1860 | 116,314 | 17.6% |
1870 | 121,340 | 4.3% |
1880 | 139,447 | 14.9% |
1890 | 149,095 | 6.9% |
1900 | 159,241 | 6.8% |
1910 | 167,029 | 4.9% |
1920 | 173,797 | 4.1% |
1930 | 196,882 | 13.3% |
1940 | 212,504 | 7.9% |
1950 | 234,717 | 10.5% |
1960 | 278,359 | 18.6% |
1970 | 319,693 | 14.8% |
1980 | 362,346 | 13.3% |
1990 | 422,822 | 16.7% |
2000 | 470,658 | 11.3% |
2010 | 519,445 | 10.4% |
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.
- 1620-1991 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Congregational Records, 1620-1991(*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
County-wide Database - Multi-denominational
- 1708-1985 Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 at Historical Society of Pennsylvania – $, to members of the society; Also available at Ancestry $
- Contains the church records of:
- Columbia: Presbyterian Church; United Church of Christ
- Eden: Mount Hope United Methodist Church
- Ephrata: Bethany United Church of Christ
- Lancaster: First Presbyterian Church; Salem United Church of Christ; St. John's Episcopal Church
- Leacock: Christ Episcopal Church
- Lititz: St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Maytown: St. John's Lutheran Church
- Millersville: St. Paul Lutheran Church
- Mohnton: Swamp Lutheran Church
- Reamstown: Salem Lutheran Church
- Rohrerstown: Trinity Lutheran Church
- Rothsville: Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church
- 1723-1800 Humphrey, John T. Pennsylvania Births, Lancaster County, 1723-1800 2 vols. Washington, D.C.: Humphrey Publications, 1997. FHL Book 974.815 K2h.
- Contains records from the following churches: Sadsbury Monthly Meeting, Sadsbury Township; Little Britain Monthly Meeting, Little Britain Township; St. James' Protestant Episcopal Church, Lancaster; Muddy Creek Lutheran Church, East Cocalico Township; Emanuel Lutheran Church, Elizabeth Township, also called Old Warwick Lutheran Church; Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster; Moravian Church, Lancaster; First Reformed Church, Lancaster; Trinity Lutheran Church, New Holland; St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Lancaster; Zion Lutheran Church, Manheim; Muddy Creek Reformed Church, East Cocalico Township; Bangor Protestant Episcopal Church, Caenarfon [sic] Township; Bergstrasse Lutheran Church, Ephrata Township; Records of Rev. John Waldschmidt; Records of Rev. John Cuthbertson; Records of Rev. Traugott Frederick Illing; Christ Lutheran Church, Elizabethtown; St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Strasburg; Swamp Reformed Church, West Cocalico Township; Zion Reformed Church, Elizabeth Township, also known as Reyer's Reformed Church; Blasser Reformed Church, West Donegal Township; White Oak Lutheran and Reformed churches, Penn Township; Zeltenreich/Seltenreich Reformed Church, Earl Township; Maytown Reformed Church, East Donegal Township; St. Paul's Reformed Church, Manheim; Pequea Reformed, Strasburg Township; Maytown Lutheran Church, East Donegal Township; Cocalico Reformed Church, Ephrata; Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever, Jr.; Moravian Church, Lititz.
- 1729-1881 Pennsylvania Church Records - Adams, Berks, and Lancaster Counties, 1729-1881 at Ancestry $
- Church and Religious Records of Lancaster County, courtesy USGenWeb.org
- Lancaster County USGenWeb Project This site has several listings of online Lancaster County church records.
Amish
Lancaster County had one of the largest Mennonite and Amish populations in Pennsylvania in the 1800s.
Catholic
- 1787-1804 St. Mary's Catholic Church, Lancaster, PA Marriages, Baptisms, Burials 1787-1804 at PAGenWeb
Church of the Brethren
- Church of the Brethren Network includes Conestoga Congregation Baptisms 1739-1747 and Conestoga Congregation Baptisms 1748-1769.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Blue Ridge District of the Eastern States Mission comprised church members living in southeastern Pennsylvania. District headquarters were in Lancaster, with branches located in Bucks, Fulton, Lancaster, and York counties.
- Record of Members, [1929]-1944, FHL film 1979
Ephrata Community
- 1728-1853 Sachse, Julius F. "The Registers of the Ephrata Community," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Burials 1728-1853: Vol. 14 (1890):297-312, Burials 1730s-1813: 387-402. For online access, see WeRelate. Also available on the Church of the Brethren Network website.
Episcopalian
St. James's Church, Lancaster
Registers begin in 1755.[8]
- 1755-1759 Private Marriage Register of Rev. Thomas Barton, in York County, Pennsylvania in "Private Church Registers to 1800, York County, Pennsylvania" at Ancestry ($).
- 1755-1756, 1783-1796 St. James Church, Lancaster, Baptism Index 1755-1756 and 1783-1796 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C507311
St. John's Church, Pequea
Registers are lost, but some parishioners appear in the registers of St. James's Church, Lancaster.[8]
St. Thomas's Church, Caernarvon
Registers are lost, but some parishioners appear in the registers of St. James's Church, Lancaster.[8]
Bangor Church, Caernarvon
Registers are lost, but some parishioners appear in the registers of St. James's Church, Lancaster. An old trunk was discovered at Bangor Church with "sundry account-books and ancient title-deeds."[8]
Evangelical
Salem Church of the Evangelical Association, Lancaster
- 1852-1877 Salem Church of the Evangelical Association, Lancaster, Marriage Index 1852-1877 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M526051
Trinity Church, Lititz
- 1875-1885 Trinity Church, Lititz, Marriage Index 1875-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M526421
Evangelical Lutheran
Rev. John Casper Stoever's Records, 1730-1779:
- Book: Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever, Baptismal and Marriage, 1730-1779. (Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Pub.,1896). Digital version: Internet Archive.
- Transcripts:
- - Rev. John Casper Stoever’s Baptisms in Alphabetical Order
- - Marriage Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever with all 1,429 marriages compiled by Mildred Smith (Lancaster County Genealogy Project).
Augustus Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Providence
- 1729-1777 Augustus Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Providence, Baptism Index 1729-1777 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C536541
Bergstrasse Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ephrata Township
- 1742-1875 Bergstrasse Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ephrata Township, Baptism Index 1742-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batches C504171 and C536481 .
Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Elizabethtown
- 1770-1875 Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Elizabethtown, Baptism Index 1840-1908 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
- 1779-1885 Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Elizabethtown, Marriage Index 1779-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batches M504361 , and M504361 .
Lutheran
- Weiser, Frederick Sheely. Parochial Registers for Lutheran Congregations in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1729-1960: A Guide to Genealogical Resources in the Parish Records of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, As Well As to Translations and Copies in Print in Public Institutions Lancaster, Pa.: unknown, 1961. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
Cocalico Evangelisch Luttnusche
- 1729-1742 Cocalico Evangelisch Luttnusche, Baptism Index 1729-1742 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C536711
Evangelical Church, Lutheran County
- 1868-1967 Evangelical Church, Lutheran County, Baptism Index 1868-1967 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C526301
Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, Mount Joy
- 1833-1853 Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, Mount Joy, Baptism Index 1833-1853 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C504471
Swamp Lutheran Church, Reinholds
- 1808-1875 Swamp Lutheran Church, Reinholds, Baptism Index 1808-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C504521
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Holland
- 1730-1799 Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Holland, Baptism Index 1730-1799 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C536511
White Oaks Lutheran and Reformed Church, Penn Township
- 1754-1789 White Oaks Lutheran and Reformed Church, Penn Township, Baptism Index 1754-1789 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C727041
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Manheim
- 1759-1875 Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Manheim, Baptism Index 1759-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C504231
- 1771-1782, 1807-1812 - Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Manheim, Marriage Index 1771-1782 and 1807-1812 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M504231
Mennonites
Lancaster County had one of the largest Mennonite and Amish populations in Pennsylvania in the 1800s.
Presbyterian
The first Scotch-Irish settlement in Lancaster County was made at Chickies Creek in 1714. Donegal Presbyterian Church was built there shortly thereafter. Pequea Presbyterian Church, constructed at another early Scotch-Irish settlement, was built in 1724.[9]
Paxtang Church and Derry Church were both organized in 1729.
- 1741-1810 Marriage Record of Paxtang and Derry Churches, 1741-1810 (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 2, Vol. 8, Part 10) at Ancestry ($); Google Books
The Hanover Presbyterian Church was built in 1736 in a Scotch-Irish settlement. This ground later fell within the bounds of Dauphin County and still later Lebanon County after those counties split off.[10]
Cedar Grove Presbyterian Church, East Earl
- 1840-1908 Cedar Grove Presbyterian Church, East Earl, Baptism Index 1840-1908 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C727431
Middle Octorara Presbyterian Church, Quarryville
- 1808-1821, 1846-1859 Middle Octorara Presbyterian Church, Quarryville, Baptism Index 1808-1821 and 1846-1859 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batches C534991 and C534992 .
Seltenreich Presbyterian Church
- 1766-1800 Seltenreich Presbyterian Church Baptism Index 1766-1800 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C523711
- 1766-1779 Seltenreich Presbyterian Church Marriage Index 1766-1779 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M523711
Quaker
- 1800s-1900s Pennsylvania Quaker Records: Warrington, York County, Little Brittain, Lancaster County, Centre, Centre County, West Branch, Clearfield County, Dunnings Creek, Bedford County n.p. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Internet Archive
Reformed
First Reformed Church, Lancaster
- 1736-1800 First Reformed Church, Lancaster, Baptism Index 1736-1800 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C511421
Keller's Reformed Church, Cocalico
- 1738-1806, 1853-1861 Keller's Reformed Church, Cocalico, Baptism Index 1738-1806 and 1853-1861 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C536681
- 1767-1779 Keller's Reformed Church, Cocalico, Marriage Index 1767-1779 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M536681
Muddy Creek Reformed Church, East Cocalico Township
- 1766-1779 Muddy Creek Reformed Church, East Cocalico Township, Marriage Index 1766-1779 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M516471
Reformed Church of Cocalico
- 1743-1772 Reformed Church of Cocalico, Baptism Index 1743-1772 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C536701
- 1753 Reformed Church of Cocalico, Marriage Index 1753 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M536701
Reformed Church of Maytown
- 1774-1819 - Transcript of baptismal record of the Reformed Church of Maytown, Lancaster County, 1765 (1774)-1819. Typescript held at the Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
Zion's Reformed Church, Brickerville
- 1766-1820 Zion's Reformed Church, Brickerville, Baptism Index 1766-1820 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C536671
- 1767-1779 Zion's Reformed Church, Brickerville, Marriage Index 1767-1779 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M536671
Roman Catholic
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church
- 1770-1792 St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church Baptism Index 1770-1792 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C507321
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.
Prothonotary
Office of Prothonotary
Katherine Wood-Jacobs – Prothonotary
50 N. Duke St
P.O. Box 83480
Lancaster, PA 17608-3480
Phone: 717-299-8282
Fax: 717-293-7210
Email: kwoodjacobs@co.lancaster.pa.us
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
Huguenots
Shirk, Willis L., Jr. "Assimilating into the Amerian Milieu: French Huguenots in Eighteenth Century Lancaster County", Lancaster Historical Society Journal, 95:3, 74.
Indentured Servants
- Immigrant Servants Database hosted by Price Genealogy - Includes indentured/imported servants and transported convicts who served labor terms in Colonial York County, Pennsylvania.
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
For groups that came, see People section of the Pennsylvania Emigration page.
African American[edit | edit source]
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.[11]
- 1730 -1830 Index to Letters of Administration FHL film 383286 item 1
- 1742 -1755 Index and Abstracts of Orphans' Court Records FHL film 383286 Item 2
- 1742 -1867 Miscellaneous Books; Index to Miscellaneous Books, 1742-1891 FHL film 21368 (first of 23 films)
- 1942 -1973 Delayed Birth Certificates, filed 1942-1973; Index to volumes 1-25 FHL film 941249 (first of 15 films)
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 Lancaster County began in 1728. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1729–present The Recorder of Deeds has placed all county land records on-line which can be viewed for Land Records from 1981 to present can be viewed and searched; you do not have to be a registered user, just login as Guest. Land Records from 1729 to 1981 can be viewed but not searched so have the Page number and the Land Record number (Book and Volume for older records).
- 1729-1770 Mayhill, R.,Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, deed abstracts and Revolutionary War oaths of allegiance: deed books "A" through "M", 1729 through ca.1770 Everyname (incl adj landowners) index.
- 1729-1894 Deeds, 1729-1867; Index, 1729-1894 FHL film 21439 (first of 111 films) - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- 1729-1940 Mortgage records, 1812-1821; mortgagor index, 1729-1940. FHL films 941084–941093 - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
Landowner Maps
- MacInnes, Sharon Cook and Angus MacInnes. Early Landowners of Pennsylvania: Atlas of Township Warrantee Maps of Lancaster County, PA Apollo, Pennsylvania: Closson Press, 2008. FHL book 974.815 E7ms
- Gilbert, Geri. The Warrant Maps of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania: Including an Every-name IndexMorgantown, Pennsylvania: Masthof Press, 2005. FHL Q book 974.815 R2g
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
- An Authentic History of Lancaster County, in the State of Pennsylvania. 1869. By J. I. Mombert. Lancaster, Pa.: J.E. Barr. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat).
- History of Lancaster County. 1844. By I. Daniel Rupp. Lancaster, Pennsylvania : Gilbert Hills. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat).
- History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. 1883. By Franklin Ellis and Samuel Evans. Philadelphia : Everts & Peck. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat).
- Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : a History. 4 volumes. c1924. Editor H.M.J. Klein. New York, New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol. 3 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol. 4 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Vols. 2-4 - Hathitrust; At various libraries (WorldCat).
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
Maps
- Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
- Ancestor Tracks has posted downloadable images from the Bridgens' Atlas of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania from Actual Surveys by H.F. Bridgens published by D.S. Bare in 1864. This atlas 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.
- An Atlas of Township Warrantee Maps of Lancaster County and a Companion Scans of Township Warrantee Maps plus Current Road Overlay CD ($) are also available from Ancestor Tracks. They show precise outlines in metes and bounds of each original tract and all surrounding tracts in the township, giving the names of the warrantee and patentee; dates of the warrant, survey, and patent; and the patent and survey book and page of the recorded patent.
- Lancaster County USGenWeb Project This site contains several maps of Lancaster County both old and modern.
- Online map site and things to do in Lancaster county PA
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
French and Indian War
In 1756, Colonel Armstrong recruited many Scotch-Irish men from Lancaster County. They attacked and destroyed the Indian village at Kittanning (present-day Armstrong County).[12]
Colonel Henry Bouquet led a group of Scotch-Irish men from Lancaster County to rescue Fort Pitt. They decisively defeated the Indians at the Battle of Bushy Run.
Reverend John Elder, pastor of Derry and Paxtang churches, recruited Scotch-Irish rangers from his congregation in Lancaster 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.
Revolutionary War
Local men served in the Lancaster 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.
Lancaster County men also served in the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment,[13]. Digital version at Family History Archive, the 5th Pennsylvania Regiment, and the 9th Pennsylvania Regiment.[14]
Civil War
Pennsylvania Volunteers of the Civil War lists Lancaster County Pennsylvania Soldiers in the Civil War - Civil War Books, Rosters, Medal of Honor Recipients, and Soldier Biographies.
- 1861-1865 Pennsylvania, Register of Military Volunteers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1865-1936 Pennsylvania, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records, 1865-1936 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
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
- 1740-1773 Pennsylvania Naturalizations, 1740-1773 on Ancestry $
- 1743 Extract aus der Registratur der Supreem Court zu Philadelphia FHL Collection - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- 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
- 1795-1930 Naturalization Petitions for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1795-1930 on Fold3.com - ($), indexed, National Archives publication M1522, incomplete for all counties
- 1795-1930 Naturalization Petitions for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania located in Selected US Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1790-1974 database on Ancestry $
- Mayhill, R., Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, deed abstracts and Revolutionary War oaths of allegiance: deed books "A" through "M", 1729 through ca.1770. At the back of Deed Book L are some Oaths of Allegiance.
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.
Newspaper Collections
- Father Abraham 6/12/1868-4/29/1870; 10/25/1872-12/13/1872
- Lancaster Intelligencer 12/28/1847-12/27/1871
Newspaper Extracts and Abstracts
- Hawbaker, Gary T., Runaways, Rascals and Rogues:Missing Spouses, Servants and Slaves (Hershey, Pennsylvania:G.T. Habaker, c1987) At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL book 974.815 B38h Lancaster Journal, 1794-1810.
- Der Volksfreund, Lancaster (Pennsylvanien) (SLC, Utah, 1961) FHL film 262665 item 2
Newspapers of Lancaster County
Online Newspapers
- Chronicling America Lancaster Daily Intelligencer 1863-1928 Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
- Pennsylvania Historic Newspapers
- Lancaster Intelligencer 1833-1852
- Marietta Register 1883-1890
- Mariettian 1858-1860
- Marietta Advocate and Farmers' and Mechanic's Intelligencer 1833-1835
- Marietta Pioneer 9/1827-9/1828
- Pioneer (Marietta) 9/26/1828-1/8/1830
The Lancaster County Digitization Project is a consortium of institutions interested in digitizing the county's newspaper and manuscript collections. Several Lancaster county newspapers are provided in digital format through this and other collaborative efforts.
- Lancaster Examiner and Herald 1834-72
- The Columbia Spy 1830-89
- The Intelligencer Journal 1848-71
- The Lancaster Farmer 1869-84
- The New Holland Clarion 1873-1950
Online Newspaper Abstracts
- PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Lancaster County.
- Selected Newspaper Articles from Lancaster Intelligencer1881 -1897; Terre Hill Times 1910-1911; Quarryville Sun, 1918. Courtesy USGenWeb Archives
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
Online Obituary Abstracts
- Archived Intelligencer Obituaries
- Current Lancaster Intelligencer Obituaries
- Lancaster County Obituaries courtesy USGenWeb Archives
- PA-Roots Obituaries for Lancaster County.
- Marshall College Obituaries 19th Century
- Mennonite and Amish Obituaries
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Probate matters in Lancaster 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)
- 1729-1947 Lancaster County Probate Records
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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
- Pre-1729 Eshelman, H. Frank. Assessment Lists and Other Manuscript Documents of Lancaster County Prior to 1729 Digitized by Internet Archive[15]
- 1750-1758, 1771-1772 Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Assessment Lists 1750, 1751, 1753, 1755, 1758, 1771, 1772 at PAGenWeb
- 1751, 1756-1758 Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Tax Lists 1751, 1756, 1757, 1758: With Additional Tax Lists and Index
- 1771-1773, 1779, 1782 Proprietary and State Tax Lists of the County of Lancaster: For the Years 1771, 1772, 1773, 1779 and 1782 (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 17). Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Google Books
- 1798 Pennsylvania, U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798 at Ancestry ($).
The Salt Lake City Family History Library has microfilmed many Lancaster County taxation records, and they are available in Salt Lake City and can be accessed in its satellite Introduction to Family History Centers.
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. Old birth records for Lancaster County from 1881 through 1906 are kept by the Register of Wills.
- 1520-1999 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Births and Baptisms, 1520-1999 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1709-1950 Pennsylvania, Births and Christenings, 1709-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Births Ancestry $
- 1852-1855 Birth Registrations, online index at Lancaster County Archives
- 1852-1855 Lancaster County Birth Index 1852-1855, International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C535484 [16]
- 1870-1906 Delayed birth certificates, 1870-1906 online index at Lancaster County Archives
- 1881-1906 Birth Registrations, 1881-1906, Lancaster City at Lancaster County Archives
- 1893-1907 Births Registrations, 1897-1907 at Lancaster County Archives
- 1941-1976 Pennsylvania Delayed Birth Records, 1941-1976 at FamilySerch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
Marriage[edit | edit source]
Pennsylvania marriages were created by county officials. Contact Lancaster County Courthouse
Pennsylvania marriages are located at the county level. Contact the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania clerk's office for marriage records from 2004 to the present. It is best to contact the Lancaster County Archives for marriage records prior to 2004.
- 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 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1700-1821 Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry $
- 1709-1940 Pennsylvania Marriages, 1709-1940 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
- 1852-1855, 1885 Lancaster County Marriage Index 1852-1855 and 1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch[17]
- 1852-1855 Marriage Registrations, 1852-1855 at Lancaster County Archives
- 1852-1855 Marriage Registrations, 1852-1855 at Lancaster County Archives
- 1885-1936 Marriage License Index 1885-1936 at Lancaster County Archives
- 1885-1950 Pennsylvania County Marriage, 1885-1950at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1947-2010 Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Collection, 1947-2010 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- Beginning 1948 The Register of Wills keeps a marriage index beginning 1948 with an online index.
- Marriage Licenses are recorded continuously from 1885 and an index are available on-line.
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
- 1803-1804, 1846-1907 Lancaster County Death Index 1803-1804 and 1846-1907, International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
- 1803-1907 Lancaster County, PA Deaths: 1893-1907 is a database with information extracted from death registrations, and can be used as a finding aid for original entries.
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania, Deaths, 1852-1854 Index with images. Ancestry ($)
- 1852-1855 Death Registrations, 1852-1855 at Lancaster County Archives
- 1856-1971 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Deaths and Burials, 1856-1971 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1874-1978 Death Affidavit Index, 1874-1978 at Lancaster County Archives
- 1893-1907 Death Registrations, 1893-1907 at Lancaster County Archives
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary.
- 1851-1997 Divorce Records, online index (select Index Book Search)
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Montour 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
Lancaster County Archives
150 North Queen Street, Suite 10
Lancaster, PA 17603
Phone: 717-299-8319
Fax: 717-735-9606
Email: archives@co.lancaster.pa.us
Website
The archives has historic records, such as wills and deeds from the beginning of the county in 1729.
Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society (ERHS)] and United Church of Christ Archives (UCC)
555 W. James Street
Lancaster, PA 17603
Phone: 717-290-8734
Philip Schaff Library Website
Website
This site has church records and family histories formerly housed at the Franklin and Marshall College Library.
Bethel Harambee Historical Services
Hopkins Study Center
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
450-512 East Strawberry
Lancaster, PA 17602-4449
Phone: 717-393-8379
Website
Has historical documents relating to African American history.
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
- Lancaster Pennsylvania Family History Center]
- York Pennsylvania Family History Center
- The Annville Free Library - an affiliate library.
- York County History Center - an affiliate library.
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Lancaster County. For state-wide library facilities, see Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries.
Franklin and Marshall College Library
Archives and Special Collections
450 College Ave
P.O. Box 3003
Lancaster, PA 17604
Phone: 717-291-4223
Website
Has some genealogical data about College faculty, students and administrators only. All church records and family histories were moved to the Lancaster Theological Seminary in 1967.
Lancaster County Library
125 North Duke St
Lancaster, PA 17602
Phone: 717-394-2651
Website
Winters Heritage House Museum
Seibert Genealogy Library and Research Center
Elizabethtown Preservation Associates, Inc.
P.O. Box 14
41-47 East High Street
Elizabethtown, PA 17022
Phone: 717-367-4672
Fax: 717-367-9991
Email: winters-hh@embarqmail.com
Website
The library has historical and family records, maps, photographs, etc. Call ahead to make an appointment with a research librarian. The museum has three original log structures dating from 1750-1847, and a brick house dating to 1877.
Museums[edit | edit source]
Amish Farm and House
2395 Lincoln Highway East (Covered Bridge Drive)
Lancaster, PA 17602
Phone: 717-394-6185
Fax: 717-394-4857
Email: info@amishfarmandhouse.com
Website
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
300 Gap Road
P.O. Box 15
Strasburg, PA 17579
Phone: 717-687-8628
Website
The Museum has thousands of historic books and magazines about railroads plus a large collection of photographs, maps, and manuscripts.
Ephrata Cloister
632 West Main Street
Ephrata, PA 17522
Phone: 717-733-6600
Email: ra-ephratacloister@pa.gov
Website
The cloister has a small research library that is open weekdays by appointment only. Limited genealogical materials are available. "The staff is unable to answer genealogical queries, but can provide some advice on available sources." The Cloister is one of 26 historic sites and museums on the Pennsylvania Trail of History.
Winters Heritage House Museum
Elizabethtown Preservation Associates of Winters Heritage House Museum
41-47 East High Street
P.O. Box 14
Elizabethtown, PA 17022
Phone: 717-367-4672
Fax: 717-367-9991
Email: winters-hh@embarqmail.com
Website
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Lancaster County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Pennsylvania Societies.
LancasterHistory
Lancaster County's Historical Society and President James Buchanan's Wheatland
230 North President Avenue
Lancaster, PA 17603
Phone: 717-392-4633
Fax: 717-293-2739
Email: info@lancasterhistory.org
Website
Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society
2215 Millstream Rd
Lancaster, PA 17602-1499
Phone: 717-393-9745
Fax: 717-393-8751
Email: lmhs@lmhs.org
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- The Lancaster County PA GenWeb Project, has numerous maps, church records, local histories, family histories, and other genealogical and historical information for Lancaster county.
- FamilyHart Online Database This is an online family database containing over 843,000 records, mostly of Pennsylvania Dutch Extraction. Many of the families are from Lancaster County. This database adds 1,500 names per week which is updated online every quarter. It is the most comprehensive family database online for Pennsylvania Dutch families.
- Pennsylvania Dutch Family History, Genealogy, Culture and Life This site contains links to everything Pennsylvania Dutch with a large concentration in Lancaster County.
- Lancaster 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/Lancaster_County,_Pennsylvania accessed 2/12/2017
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists : United States of America, 10th ed., (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002) Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, p.590
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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, "Lancaster County, Pennsylvania," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancaster_County,_Pennsylvania, accessed 24 January 2020.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 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 online access, see WeRelate.
- ↑ Wayland F. Dunaway, The Scotch-Irish of Colonial Pennsylvania (Chapel Hill, N.C.: The University of North Carolina Press, 1944), 52. Free digital version at PA's Past: Digital Bookshelf at Penn State.
- ↑ Wayland F. Dunaway, The Scotch-Irish of Colonial Pennsylvania (Chapel Hill, N.C.: The University of North Carolina Press, 1944), 53-54. Free digital version at PA's Past: Digital Bookshelf at Penn State.
- ↑ The Philadelphia Courts at Common Pleas accessed 10 July 2012
- ↑ Wayland F. Dunaway, The Scotch-Irish of Colonial Pennsylvania (Chapel Hill, N.C.: The University of North Carolina Press, 1944), 150-154. Free digital version at PA's Past: Digital Bookshelf at Penn State.
- ↑ 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)
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "9th Pennsylvania Regiment," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_Pennsylvania_Regiment, accessed 31 May 2012.
- ↑ Our thanks to FamilyHart at PAGenWeb for this link.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/9/92/Igipennsylvaniaf.pdf.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/9/92/Igipennsylvaniaf.pdf.