Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Genealogy
Guide to Cumberland County, Pennsylvania ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 Resources
- 2.1 Bible Records
- 2.2 Biographies
- 2.3 Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- 2.4 Cemeteries
- 2.5 Census Records
- 2.6 Church Records
- 2.7 Court Records
- 2.8 Directories
- 2.9 Emigration and Immigration
- 2.10 Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
- 2.11 Funeral Homes
- 2.12 Genealogies
- 2.13 Guardianship
- 2.14 Land and Property Records
- 2.15 Local Histories
- 2.16 Maps and Gazetteers
- 2.17 Migration
- 2.18 Military Records
- 2.19 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 2.20 Newspapers
- 2.21 Obituaries
- 2.22 Other Records
- 2.23 Periodicals
- 2.24 Probate Records
- 2.25 School Records
- 2.26 Social Security Records
- 2.27 Tax Records
- 2.28 Vital Records
- 3 Research Facilities
- 4 Societies
- 5 Websites
- 6 Research Guides
- 7 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county is located in the south-central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Cumberland County Courthouse
1 Courthouse Square
Carlisle, PA 17013
Phone: 717-240-6100
Toll Free: 1-888-697-0371
Fax: 717-24-.6571
Recorder of Deeds Phone: 717-240-6370 Toll Free: 888-697-0371 Extension: 6370 Email: tshearer@ccpa.net
Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court Phone: 717-240-6345 Toll Free: 888-697-0371 Extension 6345
Prothonotary Office Phone: 717-240-6195 Email: prothonotary@ccpa.net
County Archives
Cumberland County Website
Many records stored at the courthouse are now available online.[3] County Archives holds deeds (1831-1908), mortgages (1839-1924), births, marriages, and deaths (1852-1855), letters of administration (1887-1937) and more.
Register of Wills has birth and death records from 1894-1905, marriage records from 1885 and probate records from 1750
Prothonotary Office has divorce and court records form 1751
Recorder of Deeds has land records from 1751[4]
Cumberland 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 | 1894 | 1751 | 1751 | 1750 | 1790 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
The courthouse in Carlisle burned down in 1845, but record loss was minimal. No lost record sets have been identified. |
African American[edit | edit source]
There are several record groups at the Cumberland County Archives which deal with African Americans. Some notable ones are:
- Slave & Slaveowners Register (click on the Holdings link on this page for access to available online records)
- Slave returns
- Slave Papers - Miscellaneous (includes a few manumission and Freeman's pass records as well)
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:[9]
Boroughs | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
Census-designated places | ||
Townships | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- Cumberland County Biographies at Cumberland County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives including Beer's History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania surname list with page links.
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
- 1750-1881 - Tavern License Petitions 1750-1881 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Index and many scanned images.
- 1758-1874 - Hawkers and Peddlers License Applications 1758-1874 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Index and scanned images.
- 1857-1885 - Liquor License Receipts 1857-1885 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Index and scanned images.
- 1917-1946 - Commissions Volunteer Police Officers at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Index and some scanned images.
- Cumberland County Iron Furnaces and Iron Works at PAGenWeb
- 1760-1850 - Indentured Servant and Apprentice Matters at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Index and some scanned images.
- 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
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- ca.1700-ca.1950 - Pennsylvania Cemetery Records, ca. 1700-ca. 1950 at FamilySearch — index and images
- LDS Genealogy
Census Records[edit | edit source]
Historical populations | ||
---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± |
1790 | 18,208 | — |
1800 | 25,386 | 39.4% |
1810 | 26,757 | 5.4% |
1820 | 23,606 | −11.8% |
1830 | 29,226 | 23.8% |
1840 | 30,953 | 5.9% |
1850 | 34,327 | 10.9% |
1860 | 40,098 | 16.8% |
1870 | 43,912 | 9.5% |
1880 | 45,977 | 4.7% |
1890 | 47,271 | 2.8% |
1900 | 50,344 | 6.5% |
1910 | 54,479 | 8.2% |
1920 | 58,578 | 7.5% |
1930 | 68,236 | 16.5% |
1940 | 74,806 | 9.6% |
1950 | 94,457 | 26.3% |
1960 | 124,816 | 32.1% |
1970 | 158,177 | 26.7% |
1980 | 178,541 | 12.9% |
1990 | 195,257 | 9.4% |
2000 | 213,670 | 9.4% |
2010 | 235,406 | 10.2% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
- 1814 - Septennial Census 1814 at Cumberland County, PA Archives website. Scanned images.
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.
- Cumberland County Historical Society, holdings include local area church records. The society also maintains an internal database of over 900 church and cemetery records. Research Services will perform a search of their records.$
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 church records of:
- Jonathan Worrall, J.P./Misc. Marriae Licenses, 1890-1915
- Big Spring: United Brethren in Christ
- Boiling Springs: Boiling Springs Methodist Episcopal Church; Otterbein United Methodist Church; St. John's Lutheran Church; United Brethren in Christ
- Bridgeton: First United Methodist Church
- Carlisle: Allison United Methodist Church; First Presbyterian Church; First United Methodist Church; German Reformed Church; Grace United Methodist Church; Historical Society Carlisle Marriages and Deaths; Second Presbyterian Church; St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church; United Brethren in Christ
- Chambersburg: United Brethren in Christ
- Maurice River: Cumberland Circuit Methodist Episcopal Church; Harmony Circuit Methodist Episcopal Church; Port Elizabeth Methodist Episcopal Church
- Mechanicsburg: Silver Spring Presbyterian Church; Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church; United Methodist Church
- Millville: First Presbyterian Church on Maurice River
- Mount Holly Springs: Wesley United Methodist Church
- New Cumberland: St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church; United Brethren in Christ
- New Kingstown: Trinity United Methodist Church
- Newville: Big Spring Presbyterian Church
- Philadelphia: Cohansey Baptist Church
- Shippensburg: German Reformed Church; Grace United Church of Christ; Memorial Lutheran Church; Middle Spring Presbyterian Church; Presbyterian Church; United Methodist Church
- Walnut Bottom: Trinity United Methodist Church
- 1737-1898 Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Church Records at Ancestry ($). Big Spring Presbyterian Church (Newville, Pa.), Bobenmayer Church (Upper Frankford, Pa.), First Evangelical Lutheran Church (Carlisle, Pa.), Meeting-House Springs, Middle Spring Presbyterian Church, Poplar Evangelical Lutheran Church (Shiremanstown, Pa.), German Reformed Church (Shippenstown, Pa.), St. James Episcopal Church, St. Stephen's Evangelical Lutheran Church (New Kingston, Pa.), First Presbyterian Church (Carlisle, Pa.), Trindle Spring Lutheran Church, Ziegler's Church (Mifflin Twp., Pa.) and other miscellaneous church records.
Catholic
St. Patrick's, located in Carlisle, was constructed in 1807. Prior to it's construction the area was used as a supply station for the Jesuits.[10]
- "100 years of the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese 1843 -1943". Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Quarterly, 17:1. FamilySearch Library book 974.8 B2wg. Contains chronolgy, map, county-by-county information.
Episcopalian
Attempts to establish a congregation date from as early as 1753 with a permanent structure being built about 1825.[11]
St. John's Church, Carlisle
Registers begin in 1793.[12]
Lutheran
Lutherans began to establish their denomination in the county about the mid 1700s. However, major strides in the growth of the denomination did not occur in Cumberland County, until the mid 1800s.[13]
First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Carlisle
- 1787-1875 - First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Carlisle, Baptism Index 1787-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C504661.[14]
- 1790-1792, 1816-1880 - First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Carlisle, Marriage Index 1790-1792 and 1816-1880 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C504661
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Shiremanstown
- 1787-1871 - St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Shiremanstown, Baptism Index 1787-1871 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C505401.</ref>
- 1790, 1872-1880 - St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Shiremanstown, Marriage Index 1790, 1872-1880 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M505401
St. Stephen Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Kingstown
- 1775-1852 St. Stephen Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Kingstown, Baptism Index 1775-1852 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C504661
Trindle Spring Evangelical Lutheran Church
- 1803-1874 Trindle Spring Evangelical Lutheran Church, Shiremanstown, Baptism Index 1803-1874 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C503951
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lemoyne
- 1896-1936 Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lemoyne, Pa. Parish Register 1896-1936 at Ancestry ($).
Presbyterian
Silvers' Spring Presbyterian Church, near the present site of Mechanicsburg, was organized in 1734. Meeting House Spring Presbyterian Church was organized in Middleton Township (present site of Carlisle) in 1734. Big Spring Presbyterian Church was organized in what is now the town of Newville by 1737. Falling Spring Presbyterian Church was organized, at a Scotch-Irish settlement in what is now Franklin (formerly Lancaster and then Cumberland counties), in 1738. Middle Spring Presbyterian Church, in Southampton Township, was organized by the 1740s. Upper West Conococheague Presbyterian Church was organized at what is now the town of Mercersburg in 1738. Another Presbyterian church at the "Conococheague Settlement" (present-day Greencastle) was organized by 1738.[15]
First Presbyterian Church
- 1785-1812 Marriage Record of the First Presbyterian Church, at Carlisle, 1785-1812 (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 2, Vol. 8, Part 4) at Ancestry ($); Google Books
Silver Spring Presbyterian Church
- 1814-1830 Silver Spring Presbyterian Church Marriages, 1814-30, Silver Spring Twp., Cumberland County, Pennsylvania at PAGenWeb
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
For information about records kept in the Orphan's court, Prothonotary Court, Court of Common Pleas, and other courts in counties of Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Court Records Wiki page.
Thousands of commissioners orders from the 1820s and 1830s have been indexed and digitized at the Cumberland County, PA Archives website.
Court of Common Pleas
- 1769-1905 Appearance dockets; Adsecturm index, 1750-1894 FHL Film 1010167 (first of 40). Consult listings in both individual volumes and Adsectum index for all parties concerned.
Quarter Sessions
- 1750-1785 - Greene, Diane E. Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Quarter Session Dockets 1750-1785. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2001. Digital version at Ancestry ($); FHL Book 974.843 P2g.
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.
- 1760-1850 - Indentured Servant and Apprentice Matters at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Index and some scanned images.
- 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.
- 1780-1841 - Slave and Slaveholder Register at Cumberland County, PA Archive - Free. Scanned images.
- 1780-1841 - Slave Returns 1780-1841 at Cumberland County, PA Archive - Free. Index and scanned images.
- 1801-1838 - Slave Matters Miscellaneous 1801-1838 at Cumberland County, PA Archive - Free. Index and scanned images.
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.[16]
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 Cumberland County began in 1750. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1738 -1890 Land Drafts and Warrants. FHL films 1010322–1010326 - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- 1750 -1954 Deeds and Miscellaneous Records, 1750-1866; Indexes, 1750-1954. FHL film 21029 (first of 60 films) - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- 1766-1769 - Land Warrants West Side Applications 1766-1769 at Cumberland County, PA Archives website. Index and scanned images.
- 1777 -1956 Mortgages, 1777-1826; Indexes, 1777-1956. FHL films 1010596–1010603 - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- 1824-1872 - Treasurer's Deeds Unseated Lands 1824-1872 at Cumberland County, PA Archives website. Index and scanned images.
- 1973–present - Cumberland County offers online access to indexes. Fees apply to view images since 1993. Check the website for current information on availability and fees.
- Cumberland County Land Records at Cumberland County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives including a surname list of Cumberland County warrantees of land 1750-1874.
Many records related to land and property can be found at the Cumberland County Archives throughout their record collections, many of which are available online.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
- The History and Topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry Counties (Pennsylvania). 1846. By I. Daniel Rupp. Lancaster, Pa. : Gilbert Hills. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Google Books, Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat). Index: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania. 1886. By Warren & Beers. Chicago, Illinois : Warner, Beers & Co. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive; 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 1872 Atlas of Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania, from Actual Surveys by and under the Direction of F.W. Beers. This wall map located in the Library of Congress shows major landowners and geographic sites at the date of publishing. While the physical maps are in the public domain, the images we have taken of the maps belong to us and are not to be used commercially. We hereby give permission to use them strictly for personal use; please attribute to Ancestor Tracks.
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- 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 Cumberland County. They attacked and destroyed the Indian village at Kittanning (present-day Armstrong).[17]
Colonel Henry Bouquet led a group of Scotch-Irish men from Cumberland County to rescue Fort Pitt. They decisively defeated the Indians at the Battle of Bushy Run.
Reverend John Elder, pastor of Derry and Paxtang churches, recruited Scotch-Irish rangers from his congregation in Cumberland County. Known as the Paxton Rangers or Paxton Boys, they provided security for white settlements between the Blue Mountains and the Susquehanna River. They are remembered for playing a prominent role in Pontiac's War.
Revolutionary War
Local men served in the Cumberland County Militia. A guide at the Pennsylvania State Archives website identifies townships where specific companies recruited soldiers, see Revolutionary War Militia Battalions and Companies, Arranged by County.
Cumberland County men also served in the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment,[18] the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment[19] and the 9th Pennsylvania Regiment.[20]
- 1779-1781 Cumberland County Militia Accounts 1779-1781 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Scanned images.
- 1786-1804 Revolutionary War Pension Applications Series 1, 1786-1804 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Index and description.
- 1820-1834 Revolutionary War Pension Applications Series 2, 1820-1834 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Index and scanned images.
Civil War
- 1861-1865 - Pennsylvania, Register of Military Volunteers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
Later Records
Various military records, including Civil War Board of Relief (1861-1862), Military Bounty Correspondence (1862), Military Enrollment (1870-1874), Military Exonerations (1846-1865), Military Fund (1845-1873), Military Papers Miscellaneous (1840-1923), and Militia Rolls (1849-1861) have been digitized at the Cumberland County, PA Archives website
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
The Cumberland County Archives holdings website (see Naturalizations on page 5) has many record groups related to naturalizations, some of which are digitized and available online.
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1798-1905 Naturalization Records FHL film 1011467 (first of 5 films) - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- 1820-1906 Index to Declarations and Petitions in the Western District of Pennsylvania, US Circuit and District Courts located in US Naturalization Records Indexes, 1794-1995 database on Ancestry $
- 1820-1930 Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. District Court, 1820-1930, and Circuit Court, 1820-1911, for the Western District of Pennsylvania on Fold3.com - ($), indexed, National Archives publication M1537, incomplete for all counties
- 1820-1930 Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. District Court, 1820-1930, and Circuit Court, 1820-1911, for the Western District of Pennsylvania located in Selected US Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1790-1974 database on Ancestry $
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 Cumberland County
- Pennsylvania Newspapers
- Chronicling America, US Newspaper Directory
Online Newspaper Abstracts
- PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Cumberland County.
- 1947-2010 Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Collection, 1947-2010 at FamilySearch
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.
Online Obituary Abstracts
- PA-Roots Obituaries for Cumberland County.
- The Sentinel Online Obituaries are archived from 1997 to the present. To find a name, use the advanced search tab.
- Cumberland County Obituaries at Cumberland, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Poorhouse, Almshouse
- Poorhouse Records History at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Scanned images.
- 1812-1948 Orders, 1812-1948 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Index and scanned images.
- 1823 Directors' Statements Work Papers 1823 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Index and scanned images.
- 1859-1915 - Admissions and Commitments 1859-1915 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Index and scanned images.
- 1868 Poorhouse Vouchers at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Index and scanned images.
- 1870-1912 Poorhouse Indentures and Apprenticeships Children at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Index and scanned images.
- 1880-1882, 1899 Out-Door Relief Reports at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Scanned images.
- 1886-1919 Correspondence Miscellaneous 1886-1919 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Index and scanned images.
- 1902-1953 Anatomical Board Unclaimed Bodies 1921-1934 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Scanned images.
- 1921-1934 - Anatomical Board Unclaimed Bodies 1921-1934 at Cumberland County, PA Archives - Free. Scanned images.
- 1930-1937 Anatomical Board Unfit Bodies 1930-1937 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Index and scanned images.
Prisons
- 1775-1778 Jail Keepers' Account Books 1775-1778 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Scanned images.
- 1776-1852 Prison Kalendars 1776-1852 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Scanned images. Identify prisoners and crimes.
- 1873-1887 Prison Discharges Eastern Penitentiary at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Index and scanned images. Identifies criminal and type of crime.
- 1886-1896 Prison Discharges 1886-1896 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Index. Identifies prisoner and type of discharge.
Cumberland County has preserved records of local men who served in various government capacities during the 1700s and 1800s, including assessors, attorneys, auditors, clerks of court, commissioners, constables, coroners, election officials, judges, juries, justices of the peace, lumber inspectors, notaries, policemen, poorhouse directors, prothonotaries, recorders of deeds, registrars of wills, sheriffs, surveyors, and treasurers. The records have been indexed and digitized at the Cumberland County, PA Archives website
Officials
Constables helped maintain law and order in the community. Many can be identified:
- 1789-1927 - Constables' Returns 1789-1927 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Identifies locals who served as constables by name and township.
- 1791-1884 - Appointments and Petitions for Appointments 1791-1884 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Includes many different types of local government officials.
- 1793-1888 - Constables Oaths of Office 1793-1888 at Cumberland County, PA Archives
- 1805-1870 - Constable Bonds 1805-1870 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Identifies locals who served as constables by name and township.
If your ancestors served as a tax collector, you may be able to identify him in these collections:
- 1842-1894 - Tax Collector Bonds 1842-1894 at Cumberland County, PA Archives
- 1890-1908 - Tax Collector Oaths 1890-1908 at Cumberland County, PA Archives
Voter Registration
- 1874-1893 - Voter Oaths at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Identifies individuals by name, naturalization status, and often township of residence.
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Probate matters in Cumberland 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 $
- 1750-1908 Wills FHL film 21075 (first of 18 films) - Index included: 1750-1937 - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- 1750-1937-Cumberland County Probate Records at FamilySearch
- 1846-1874 Register's Court Docket FHL film 1009842 item 2 - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- Cumberland County Wills and Estate Records at Cumberland County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives including will abstracts 1750-1776, with index.
School Records[edit | edit source]
- 1899 Return of Children Between the Ages of Six and Twenty-One years, residing within the District of South Middleton Township, Upper, 1899 at Cumberland County, PA Archive. Scanned images. Identifies children's names, exact birth dates, genders, nationalities, residences, school districts, and parents.
- 1900 Return of Children Between the Ages of Six and Twenty-One Years, Residing within the District of South Middleton Township, Lower, 1900 at Cumberland County, PA Archive. Scanned images. Identifies children's names, exact birth dates, genders, nationalities, residences, school districts, and parents.
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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
- 1736-1853 - Probably the most comprehensive tax-related records available for Cumberland County are not strictly classified as tax records at all. These records are in fact the Tax Rates Books, which are records of the Cumberland County Commissioner's Office (now housed in the Cumberland County Archives). They serve as a precursor to County Assessor Records, but they are very easily overlooked when hunting for records. These records, which appear comprehensive and consistently available annually, are online at the Cumberland County Archives in their online archival platform under the Commissioners Record Group. Click HOLDINGS to access to records starting about 1736 intermittently but available annually beginning about 1767 onwards.
- 1778-1782, 1785 - State and Supply Transcripts of the County of Cumberland: For the Years 1778, 1779, 1780, 1781, 1782 and 1785 (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 20). Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Google Books
- 1779-1850 - Tax Appeals 1779-1850 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Scanned images.
- 1781-1852 - Cumberland County Tax Assessors' Duplicates 1781-1852 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Scanned images arranged by year and township.
- 1781-1789, 1824, 1829, 1845 - Tax Collector Accounts Delinquent Taxes at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Scanned images.
- 1781-1782, 1790-1791, 1826-1828 - Tax Collectors Settlements at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Scanned images.
- 1783, 1806, 1815 - Delinquent Taxes Unseated Lands at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Scanned images.
- 1798 - Pennsylvania, U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798 at Ancestry ($).
- 1841-1898 - Cumberland County Tax Collectors' Exonerations 1841-1898 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Scanned images arranged by year and township. Explicity state when taxpayers moved from the area or died.
- 1867 - Tax Exonerations Tax Payers at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Scanned images.
- 1870-1875 - Tax Collectors Exonerations Vouchers at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Scanned images.
- 1920-1922 - Estate Tax Reports 1920-1922 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Index and scanned images.
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.
- 1788-1908 Bastardy Bonds 1788-1908 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Index and scanned images.
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Births Ancestry $
Marriage[edit | edit source]
Pennsylvania marriages were created by county officials. Contact Cumberland County Courthouse
- 1626-2016Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at FindMyPast
- 1677-1950 Pennsylvania Civil Marriages, 1677-1950 at FamilySearch
- 1700-1821 Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry $
- 1725-1976 Pennsylvania, Marriages, 1709-1940 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.
- Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
- 1761-1786 Marriage Bonds 1761-1786 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Index and some scanned images.
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
- 1885-1950 Pennsylvania County Marriage, 1885-1950 Extracted marriage records – This database is incomplete for all counties. May also contain marriage records earlier than 1885.
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 — index, some images
- 1785-1914 Coroner's Inquests at Cumberland County, PA Archives
- 1850-1880 Pennsylvania Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry $
- 1917-1921 Statement of Deaths in Cumberland County 1917-1921 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Scanned images.
- 1921-1934 Anatomical Board Unclaimed Bodies 1921-1934 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Scanned images.
- 1930-1937 Anatomical Board Unfit Bodies 1930-1937 at Cumberland County, PA Archives. Index and scanned images.
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 Cumberland County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries.
Cumberland County Archives
1 Courthouse Square
Carlisle, PA 17013
Phone: 717-240-7886
The Archives holds deeds (1831-1908), mortgages (1839-1924), births, marriages, and deaths (1852-1855), letters of administration (1887-1937) and more.
Website.
National Archives at Philadelphia
14700 Townsend Road
Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096
Phone: 215-305-2044
Fax: 215-305-2052
Website
Local Archives[edit | edit source]
Cumberland County Archives
1 Courthouse Square
Carlisle, PA 17013
Phone: 717-240-7886
Hours: Monday 10-3 OR by appointment (Mon-Fri)
Cumberland County is one of many jurisdictions which increasingly digitizes its archival collections. As such, they have an online platform with many types of records, many quite obscure, which can be viewed by the public. This platform can be reached directly here.
The Cumberland County Archives Department holdings are organized into record collections. All their archival holdings, digital or otherwise, are summarized and listed in this online platform, so this can be a good resource to help plan a research trip. Collections with digital content have a camera icon next to them. The contents available online are likely to increase over time, so it makes sense to check back with them regularly.
Selected Highlights of available digital content at the archives includes (by record group):
Clerk Of Courts Record Group
- Appointments and Petitions 1791-1956
- Bastardy Bonds 1788-1908
- Coroner Inquests 1769-1919
- Election Returns (Municipal) 1792-1949
- Elections - Polling Place Changes 1845-1941
- Grand Jury Reports - Series #1 1788-1888
- Hawkers And Peddlers License Applications 1758-1899
- Indentured Servant & Apprentice Matters 1774-1818
- Indictments 1750-1889
- Marriage Bonds c. 1761-1786
- Oyer & Terminer Case Papers 1798-1969
- Poorhouse Directors Statements 1814-1922
- Prison Discharges - Eastern State Penitentiary 1873-1887
- Quarter Sessions Miscellaneous Documents Series #1 1778-1924
- Retailer Classifications 1823-1846
- Road & Bridge Papers - Civil Divisions 1750-1949
- Slave & Slaveowners Register 1779-1841
- Slave Matters - Miscellaneous 1801-1838
- Slave Returns 1780-1841
- Tavern License Petitions 1750-1881
- Tavern Licenses Unpaid 1813-1837
- Tax Collector Oaths 1890-1908
- Trial Lists - Criminal Court 1789-1939
- Voter Oaths 1874-1893
- Commissioners Record Group
- Appointments & Resignations 1817-1952
- Board Of Relief - Civil War 1861-1863
- Collateral Inheritance Valuations 1827-1849
- Contracts & Agreements 1805-1904
- Correspondence - Miscellaneous 1790-194
- Eastern State Penitentiary Accounts 1807-1873
- Military Papers - Miscellaneous 1840-1923
- Militia Rolls 1849-1861
- Orders 1784-1947
- Soldiers Burial Applications 1894-1906
- Tax Assessors Duplicates 1781-1852
- Tax Assessors' Returns - Taverns 1832-1859
- Tax Rates Books 1736-1930
- Orphan's Court Record Group
- Marriage Returns 1852-1855
- Pension Applications - Revolutionary War Series #1 1779-1804
- Pension Applications - Revolutionary War Series #2 1820-1838
- Poorhouse Record Group
- Indentures & Apprenticeships - Children 1870-1912
- Orders 1812-1948
- Poorhouse records
- Prothonotary Record Group
- Civil Case Papers 1761-1965
- Insolvent Debtor Petitions Series #1 1750-1764
- Insolvent Debtor Petitions Series #2 1765-1799
- Insolvent Debtor Petitions Series #3 1799-1860
- Mechanics Liens 1836-1993
- Naturalization Petitions 1798-1942
- Oaths Of Office - numerous categories 1785-
- Treasurer Record Group
- Miscellaneous Accounts - Revolutionary War 1779-1781
- Miscellaneous Documents - Land Sales 1769-1839
- Tax Collectors Accounts - Delinquent Taxes 1788-1861
In its physical holdings, the Archives holds deeds (1831-1908), mortgages (1839-1924), births, marriages, and deaths (1852-1855), letters of administration (1887-1937) and much more.
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
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
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Cumberland County. For state-wide library facilities, see Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries.
Gardner Digital Library is maintained by the Cumberland County Historical Society
website
Cumberland County Library System Headquarters
400 Bent Creek
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
(717) 240-6175
- Cumberland County Library System (CCLS) leads the way in the delivery and support of Cumberland County's public library services. We're the busiest library system in Pennsylvania! We circulate more books per person than any other library system in the state each year. website
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Cumberland County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Pennsylvania Societies.
- Cumberland County Historical Society
21 North Pitt Street
P.O. Box 626
Carlisle, PA 17013
Phone: 717-249-7610
Website
The Cumberland County Historical Society was founded in 1874 and maintains The Gardner Library, a Museum, and works with the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau to maintain and staff the county Visitors Center. The Gardner Library holds historical records, a collection of manuscripts and rare books, census records, tax lists, newspapers and periodicals, and surname files.
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Cumberland 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/Cumberland_County,_Pennsylvania accessed 2/2/2017
- ↑ Dick Eastman, "Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Archives Go Online," Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter, 15 July 2009, http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2009/07/cumberland-county-pennsylvania-archives-go-online.html, accessed 5 September 2012.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists : United States of America, 10th ed., (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002) Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, p.589
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Pennsylvania line : a research guide to Pennsylvania genealogy and local history, 1990 ed (Laughlintown, Pa.: Southwest Pennsylvania Genealogical Services, 1990), [FHL book 974.8 D27p 1990].
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Cumberland County, Pennsylvania," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumberland_County,_Pennsylvania, accessed 17 January 2020.
- ↑ Pliny A. Durant, J. Fraise Richard, Bennett Bellman, "History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania" (Chicago: Warner, Beers and Company, 1886), 216. WorldCat 4592541; FHL book 974.84 H2h
- ↑ Pliny A. Durant, J. Fraise Richard, Bennett Bellman, "History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania" (Chicago: Warner, Beers and Company, 1886), 212. WorldCat 4592541; FHL book 974.84 H2h
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Pliny A. Durant, J. Fraise Richard, Bennett Bellman, "History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania" (Chicago: Warner, Beers and Company, 1886), 217. WorldCat 4592541; FHL book 974.84 H2h
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Wayland F. Dunaway, The Scotch-Irish of Colonial Pennsylvania (Chapel Hill, N.C.: The University of North Carolina Press, 1944), 59-64. Free digital version at PA's Past: Digital Bookshelf at Penn State.
- ↑ 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). Digital version at Family History Archive.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "8th Pennsylvania Regiment," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8th_Pennsylvania_Regiment, accessed 31 May 2012.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "9th Pennsylvania Regiment," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_Pennsylvania_Regiment, accessed 31 May 2012.