Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

Guide to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania ancestry, family history and genealogy in courthouse sources including birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, wills, deeds and land records, Civil War records, Revolutionary War records, family histories, cemeteries, churches, tax records, newspapers, and obituaries.

Lancaster Pennsylvania family History Center

Lancaster County Pennsylvania Historical Facts
Parent Counties: Formed from Chester County 14 October 1728.

County Seat: Lancaster

Neighboring Counties: Lancaster County residents may also have records in


 * Berks
 * Chester
 * Harford County, Maryland
 * York
 * Cecil County, Maryland
 * Dauphin
 * Lebanon

Many Scotch-Irish immigrants settled in Lancaster County in the early eighteenth century. The area was predominantly a German place of settlement.

Description
The county was named for Lancaster, Lancashire. It's county seat is Lancaster and was founded May 10, 1729. It is located in the Southeast area of the state.

Boundary Changes

 * 14 October 1749: York County set off.
 * 14 October 1751: Berks County set off.
 * 27 January 1750: Cumberland County set off.
 * 21 March 1772: Northumberland County set off.
 * 16 October 1813: Lebanon County set off.

For animated maps illustrating Pennsylvania county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Pennsylvania County Boundary Maps" (1673-1878) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Records Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Biographies

 * Some Biographies of Lancaster County courtesy USGenWeb.org

Cemeteries
Additional Cemetery Resources


 * Cemeteries of Lancaster County in Adamstown &amp; Akron Boroughs and Bart, Brecknock, &amp; Caernarvon Townships. Lists of cemeteries, some with lists of burials

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 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


 * 1729-1881 Pennsylvania Church Records - Adams, Berks, and Lancaster Counties, 1729-1881 at Ancestry.com – $; details on 180,000 church-goers from 50 churches; incomplete.


 * 1723-1800 Humphrey, John T. Pennsylvania Births, Lancaster County, 1723-1800. 2 vols. Washington, D.C.: Humphrey Publications, 1997..


 * 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.


 * Lancaster County USGenWeb Project This site has several listings of online Lancaster County church records.
 * Church and Religious Records of Lancaster County, courtesy USGenWeb.org

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 - free.

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,

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 free online access, see WeRelate. Also available on the Church of the Brethren Network website.

Episcopalian
St. James's Church, Lancaster

Registers begin in 1755.


 * 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 - free. Batch.

St. John's Church, Pequea

Registers are lost, but some parishioners appear in the registers of St. James's Church, Lancaster.

St. Thomas's Church, Caernarvon

Registers are lost, but some parishioners appear in the registers of St. James's Church, Lancaster.

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."

Evangelical
Salem Church of the Evangelical Association, Lancaster


 * 1852-1876 Salem Church of the Evangelical Association, Lancaster, Baptism Index 1852-1876 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1852-1877 Salem Church of the Evangelical Association, Lancaster, Marriage Index 1852-1877 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

Trinity Church, Lititz


 * 1875-1885 Trinity Church, Lititz, Marriage Index 1875-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

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 ($).

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 - free. Batch.

Bergstrasse Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ephrata Township


 * 1742-1875 Bergstrasse Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ephrata Township, Baptism Index 1742-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batches  and.

Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Elizabethtown


 * 1770-1875 Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Elizabethtown, Baptism Index 1840-1908 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batches  and.
 * 1779-1885 Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Elizabethtown, Marriage Index 1779-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batches, , and.

Cocalico Evangelisch Luttnusche


 * 1729-1742 Cocalico Evangelisch Luttnusche, Baptism Index 1729-1742 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

Evangelical Church, Lutheran County


 * 1868-1967 Evangelical Church, Lutheran County, Baptism Index 1868-1967 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1868-1967 Evangelical Church, Lutheran County, Marriage Index 1868-1967 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, Mount Joy


 * 1833-1853 Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, Mount Joy, Baptism Index 1833-1853 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church


 * 1748-1766 Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church Marriage Index 1748-1766 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

Swamp Lutheran Church, Reinholds


 * 1808-1875 Swamp Lutheran Church, Reinholds, Baptism Index 1808-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Holland


 * 1730-1799 Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Holland, Baptism Index 1730-1799 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1730-1799 Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Holland, Marriage Index 1730-1799 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1730-1799 Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Holland, Death Index 1730-1799 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batches  and.

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 - free. Batch.

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Manheim


 * 1759-1875 Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Manheim, Baptism Index 1759-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1771-1782, 1807-1812 - Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Manheim, Marriage Index 1771-1782 and 1807-1812 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

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.

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 - free.

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.

Cedar Grove Presbyterian Church, East Earl


 * 1840-1908 Cedar Grove Presbyterian Church, East Earl, Baptism Index 1840-1908 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1843-1890 Cedar Grove Presbyterian Church, East Earl, Marriage Index 1843-1890 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

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 - free. Batches  and.

Seltenreich Presbyterian Church


 * 1766-1800 Seltenreich Presbyterian Church Baptism Index 1766-1800 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1766-1779 Seltenreich Presbyterian Church Marriage Index 1766-1779 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

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 - free.

Reformed
First Reformed Church, Lancaster


 * 1736-1800 First Reformed Church, Lancaster, Baptism Index 1736-1800 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

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 - free. Batch.
 * 1767-1779 Keller's Reformed Church, Cocalico, Marriage Index 1767-1779 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

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 - free. Batch.

Reformed Church of Cocalico


 * 1743-1772 Reformed Church of Cocalico, Baptism Index 1743-1772 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1753 Reformed Church of Cocalico, Marriage Index 1753 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

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 ($).

Reihers or Zion's Reformed Church, Brickerville


 * 1823-1843 Reihers or Zion's Reformed Church, Brickerville, Marriage Index 1823-1843 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

Zion's Reformed Church, Brickerville


 * 1766-1820 Zion's Reformed Church, Brickerville, Baptism Index 1766-1820 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1767-1779 Zion's Reformed Church, Brickerville, Marriage Index 1767-1779 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

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 - free. Batch.

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. Lancaster County 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.

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: [mailto:kwoodjacobs@co.lancaster.pa.us kwoodjacobs@co.lancaster.pa.us]

Orphan's Court (see Vital Records)
In Lancaster County the Register of Wills and the Clerk of the Orphans' Court are the same individual. The only birth records stored in Lancaster County are dated from 1881 to 1906.

Register of Wills Office Mary Ann Gerber, Register of Wills 50 N. Duke St. P.O. Box 83480 Lancaster, PA 17608-3480 Email: [mailto:MGerber@co.lancaster.pa.us MGerber@co.lancaster.pa.us]


 * 1742–1867Miscellaneous Books; Index to Miscellaneous Books, 1742-1891
 * 1742–1755 Index and Abstracts of Orphans' Court Records
 * 1730–1830 Index to Letters of Administration
 * 1942–1973 Delayed Birth Certificates, filed 1942-1973; Index to volumes 1-25

Directories

 * Lancaster City and County Directories, 1843-1914

Emigration and Immigration
Major Scotch-Irish Settlements in the 1730's Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Huguenots
Shirk, Willis L., Jr. "Assimilating into the Amerian Milieu: French Huguenots in Eighteenth Century Lancaster County", Lancaster Historical Society Journal, 95:3, 74.

Published Histories

 * Lancaster County USGenWeb Project This site has several online histories of Lancaster County.

Some of the Lancaster County histories available in the :


 * History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men. Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 (Has been microfilmed on #547037 or on #1000559 Item 3)
 * History of Lancaster County : to which is prefixed a brief sketch of the early history of Pennsylvania. Rupp, Israel Daniel, 1803-1878 (Has been microfilmed on #1036814 Item 3)
 * An authentic history of Lancaster County, in the state of Pennsylvania. Mombert, J. I. (Jacob Isidor), 1829-1913 (This book has been digitized.)
 * 1875 Historical Atlas of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Everts &amp; Stewart (Has been microfilmed on #982071 Item 13)

Land and Property
Land records in Lancaster County began in 1728. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Lancaster, 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


 * 1729–present The Recorder of Deeds has placed all county land records on-line which can be viewed for free. 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.

Land Records on Microfilm


 * 1729–1894 Deeds, 1729-1867; Index, 1729-1894
 * 1729–1940 Mortgage records, 1812-1821; mortgagor index, 1729-1940.

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.
 * Gilbert, Geri. The Warrant Maps of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania: Including an Every-name Index.Morgantown, Pennsylvania: Masthof Press, 2005.

Note that the "Maps" section below also includes maps related to land ownership.

Additional Resources

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 Lancaster County Pennsylvania Land in online catalogs such as:


 * Historical Society of Pennsylvania
 * WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog.)
 * (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Place-name Search.)

Maps
Click the image to view an enlarged version
 * Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
 * Ancestor Tracks has posted free, 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

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).

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
Lancaster County men also served in the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment,. Digital version at, the 5th Pennsylvania Regiment, and the 9th Pennsylvania Regiment.

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.

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records


 * 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.
 * 1740-1773 Pennsylvania Naturalizations, 1740-1773 on Ancestry.com - ($), incomplete for all counties


 * 1795-1952 on FamilySearch.org - free, National Archives publication M1248, browsesable images of card index


 * 1795-1931 at FamilySearch — 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.com - ($), indexed, National Archives publication M1522

Original Naturalization Records on Microfilm


 * 1743 Extract aus der Registratur der Supreem Court zu Philadelphia

Newspapers
Newspapers of Lancaster County


 * Pennsylvania Newspapers
 * Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory

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 Hearld (1834-72) from Collections: Our Digital Newspapers
 * The Columbia Spy (1830-89) from Collections: Our Digital Newspapers
 * The Intelligencer Journal (1848-71) from Collections: Our Digital Newspapers
 * The New Holland Clarion (1873-1950) from Collections: Our Digital Newspapers
 * The Lancaster Farmer (1869-84) from Collections: Our Digital Newspapers

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

Newspaper Collections


 * Pennsylvania Civil War Era Newspaper Collection
 * 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) ; Lancaster Journal, 1794-1810.


 * Der Volksfreund, Lancaster (Pennsylvanien) (SLC, Utah, 1961)

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

Online Obituary Abstracts


 * PA-Roots Obituaries for Lancaster County.
 * Mennonite and Amish Obituaries
 * Lancaster County Obituaries courtesy USGenWeb Archives
 * Archived Intelligencer Obituaries
 * Current Lancaster Intelligencer Obituaries
 * Marshall College Obituaries 19th Century

Probate
Online Probate Indexes


 * 1683 - 1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry.com — index and images $


 * 1683 - 1994  at FamilySearch — images


 * Lancaster County Probate Records

Poorhouse, Almshouse
Probate Settlement papers are usually in possession of the Lancaster Historical Society

Repositories

 * List of Pennsylvania Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies

Archives

 * Lancaster County Archives 150 North Queen Street, Suite 10, Lancaster, PA 17603 Phone: 717-299-8319 Fax: 717-735-9606 Email: [mailto:archives@co.lancaster.pa.us archives@co.lancaster.pa.us] The archives has historic records, such as wills and deeds from the beginning of the county in 1729.




 * National Archives at Philadelphia 14700 Townsend Road Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096 Phone: 215-305-2044 Fax: 215-305-2052


 * Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society (ERHS) and United Church of Christ Archives (UCC) Philip Schaff Library Lancaster Theological Seminary 555 W. James Street Lancaster, PA 17603 Phone: 717-290-8734 This site has church records and family histories that used to be at the Franklin and Marshall College Library.


 * Franklin and Marshall College Library Archives and Special Collections 450 College Ave P.O. Box 3003 Lancaster, PA 17604 Phone: 717-291-4223 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 (see above).


 * LancasterHistory.org 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: [mailto:info@lancasterhistory.org info@lancasterhistory.org] The archive has county records, manuscripts, newspapers, and more. Check the online finding aids, library catalog, Discovery Tool, and online newspapers and city directories.


 * Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society - Archives 2215 Millstream Rd Lancaster, PA 17602-1499 Phone: 717-393-9745 Fax: 717-393-8751 Email: [mailto:lmhs@lmhs.org lmhs@lmhs.org] This is the official depository for records of the Atlantic Coast and Lancaster Conferences of the Mennonite Church. In addition, it has many records of other organizations affiliated with them. It also has helps for genealogists.


 * Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania 300 Gap Road P. O. Box 15 Strasburg, PA 17579 Phone: 717-687-8628 The Library has thousands of historic books and magazines about railroads. The Archives has a large collection of photographs, maps, and manuscripts. Try their catalogs to see specific information.

Courthouse

 * Lancaster County Courthouse


 * Register of Wills 50 N. Duke St. P.O. Box 83480 Lancaster, PA 17608-3480 Email: [mailto:MGerber@co.lancaster.pa.us MGerber@co.lancaster.pa.us] The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court Office provides a variety of services to the public such as the probate of decedent estates, issuance of marriage licenses, collection of inheritance taxes and maintenance of records pertaining to adoptions, guardianships and estates.


 * Clerk of Courts 50 North Duke Street P.O. Box 83480 Lancaster, PA 17608-3480 Phone: 717-299-8275 Fax: 717-295-3686 Email: [mailto:ClerkofCourts@co.lancaster.pa.us ClerkofCourts@co.lancaster.pa.us] The Clerk of Courts maintains criminal records for the courts and the 519,000 plus citizens of Lancaster County. Many of the records are scanned.


 * Recorder of Deeds 150 N. Queen St. P.O. Box 1478 Lancaster, PA 17608-1478 Phone: 717-299-8238 Fax: 717-299-8393 An online sight allows users to search records from 1729-1981 which requires you to sign in.


 * Office of Prothonotary 50 North Duke Street P.O. Box 83480 Lancaster, PA 17608-3480 Phone: 717-299-8282 Fax: 717-293-7210 Email: [mailto:kwoodjacobs@co.lancaster.pa.us kwoodjacobs@co.lancaster.pa.us]

Libraries

 * Lancaster County Library 125 North Duke St Lancaster, PA 17602 Phone: 717-394-2651


 * The Lancaster Public Library is part of the Lancaster Public Library System that serves 16 libraries. They have shared online catalog which has a sizable genealogy and biography collection. Online Catalog


 * Winters Heritage House Museum Seibert Library 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: [mailto:winters-hh@embarqmail.com winters-hh@embarqmail.com]


 * 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

 * Amish Farm and House GPS/MapQuest Address: The Amish Farm and House 2395 Lincoln Highway East (Covered Bridge Drive) Lancaster, PA 17602 Phone: 717-394-6185 Fax: 717-394-4857 Email: [mailto:info@amishfarmandhouse.com info@amishfarmandhouse.com]


 * Tours explain Amish life and customs.


 * Bethel Harambee Historical Services Hopkins Study Center Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church 450-512 East Strawberry Lancaster, PA 17602-4449 Phone: 717-393-8379


 * Has historical documents relating to African American history.


 * Ephrata Cloister 632 West Main Street Ephrata, PA 17522 Phone: 717-733-6600 Email: [mailto:ra-ephratacloister@pa.gov ra-ephratacloister@pa.gov]


 * 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." For an appointment, call the Curator.


 * LancasterHistory.org 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: [mailto:info@lancasterhistory.org info@lancasterhistory.org]


 * This historical center has a library and archives with many records of genealogical value. Their collection contains over 15,000 volumes, as well as maps, family files, subject information files, photographs, oral histories, microfilm, and CDs. A reference collection consisting of indexes, genealogical and historical journals, and books is available for browsing. All other books are housed in closed stacks and must be requested at the reference desk.

Lancaster city and county directories 1847-1922 and directories for several other Lancaster cities have been digitized and are available online.


 * Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania 300 Gap Road P. O. Box 15 Strasburg, PA 17579 Phone: 717-687-8628


 * Has good information about U.S. Railroads, including a timeline.The museum also has a library and archives.

Societies

 * Lancaster County Historical Society 230 N President Ave Lancaster, PA 17603 Phone: 717-392-4633


 * The society has a research library, with an Online Search. The Family History Library has some of the journals they have published on microfilm.


 * Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society 2215 Millstream Rd Lancaster, PA 17602-1499 Phone: 717-393-9745


 * The society has an online catalog.


 * Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Group Facebook

Taxation

 * Pre-1729 Eshelman, H. Frank. Assessment Lists and Other Manuscript Documents of Lancaster County Prior to 1729. Digitized by Internet Archive - free.


 * 1750-1758, 1771-1772 Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Assessment Lists 1750, 1751, 1753, 1755, 1758, 1771, 1772 at PAGenWeb - free.


 * 1751, 1756-1758 Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Tax Lists 1751, 1756, 1757, 1758: With Additional Tax Lists and Index at  - free.


 * 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 - free.


 * 1798 Pennsylvania, U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798 at Ancestry ($).

The Salt Lake City has microfilmed many Lancaster County taxation records, and they are available in Salt Lake City and can be accessed in its satellite Family History Centers.

Vital Records
For birth, marriage and death records prior to 1906 contact:

Lancaster County Archives 150 North Queen Street, Suite 10 Lancaster PA 17603 Phone: 717-299-8319 Fax: 717-735-9606 Email: [mailto:archives@colancaster.pa.us archives@colancaster.pa.us]

See also How to order Pennsylvania Vital Records

Birth
The following records are available at the Lancaster County Archives:


 * 1852-1855 Birth Registrations, online index
 * 1852-1855 Lancaster County Birth Index 1852-1855 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1870-1906 Delayed birth certificates, online index
 * 1881-1906 Birth Registrations (Lancaster City), online index
 * 1894-1907 Birth Registrations, online index

Online Resources:


 * 1726-1930  - free index. Not complete for all years. This index is an electronic index for the years 1726 to 1930. It is not necessarily intended to index any specific set of records. This index is not complete for any particular place or region. This collection may include information previously published in the International Genealogical Index or Vital Records Index collections.
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Births Ancestry.com – $ Index with images.

Old birth records for Lancaster County from 1881 through 1906 are kept by the Register of Wills.

Birth and Death
Birth/Death records from 1907 to the present are kept by the Pennsylvania Department of Vital Records at New Castle, PA

Marriage
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.

The following records are available at the Lancaster County Archives:


 * 1852-1855 Marriage Registrations
 * 1885-2004 Marriage License Applications

Online Resources:


 * 1626-2016 - Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1677-1950  at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1700-1821 Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties.
 * 1725-1976  - free index. Not complete for all years. This index is not necessarily intended to index any specific set of records. This index is not complete for any particular place or region. This collection may include information previously published in the International Genealogical Index or Vital Records Index collections.
 * 1730-1779 1,429 Marriage Records (1730-1779) of Rev. John Casper Stoever Pennsylvania/Maryland, at USGenWeb - Lists date of marriage as well as names and residences of bride and groom.
 * 1767-1913  - free index. Not complete for all years.
 * Marriage Licenses are recorded continuously from 1885 and an index are available on-line.
 * Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties. Includes 35,000 marriage records from vol. VIII of of the second series of the Pennsylvania Archives.
 * 1852-1855, 1885 Lancaster County Marriage Index 1852-1855 and 1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) Index with images.
 * 1885-1950  Extracted marriage records – free. Most of the records consist of marriage licenses, certificates, applications, docket books, and affidavits. This database is incomplete for all counties. May also contain marriage records earlier than 1885.
 * 1947-2010  at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Beginning 1948 The Register of Wills keeps a marriage index beginning 1948 with an online index.

Divorce
Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary. The office of the Prothonotary is located in the courthouse building. Records may be obtained by visiting or writing.


 * 1851-1997 Divorce Records, online index (select Index Book Search)

Death
The following records are available at the Lancaster County Archives:


 * 1803-1804, 1846-1907 Lancaster County Death Index 1803-1804 and 1846-1907 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1803-1907 Lancaster County, PA Deaths: 1893-1907
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania, Deaths, 1852-1854  Index with images. Ancestry ($)
 * 1852-1855 Death Registrations, online index
 * 1894-1907 Death Registrations
 * 1874-1978 Death Affidavits
 * 1947-2010  at FamilySearch — index and images

Lancaster County Pennsylvania Genealogy Websites

 * The Lancaster County PA GenWeb Project, has numerous maps, church records, local histories, family histories, and other genealogical and historical information for Lancaster county.


 * Lancaster County, PA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy




 * 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


 * Lancaster County Genealogy Facebook Group