Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

Dauphin County
	Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
	Map
	; Location in the state of Pennsylvania
	; Location of Pennsylvania in the U.S.
	Facts
Founded	March 4, 1785
County Seat	Harrisburg
	Courthouse
Address	Dauphin County Courthouse; 101 Market Street; Harrisburg, PA 17101; Dauphin County Website
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United States

Pennsylvania

Dauphin County

Guide to Dauphin County, Pennsylvania ancestry, family history and genealogy 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.

Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Tombstone Transcriptions in Print	List of Cemeteries in the county
Findagrave.com	Family History Library	Findagrave.com
PA Cemeteries	WorldCat	BillionGraves
PAGenWeb Archives		Linkpendium
Tombstone Photos		PAGravestones
GenWeb Cemetery Project		Epodunk
BillionGraves (name)		Interment
See Pennsylvania Cemeteries for more information.

Additional Cemetery Resources

Census

For tips on accessing Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Federal (or United States) census records online, see: Pennsylvania Census.

There are no county or state census records available for Pennsylvania. County and city tax records can be used as a substitute when census records are not available.

Church Records

Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. In Pennsylvania, church records are often used as a substitute for birth, marriage, and death information. For general information about Pennsylvania denominations, view the Pennsylvania Church Records wiki page.

Dauphin county pennsylvania churches.png

The Historical Society of Dauphin County has an excellent collection of records and photographs for many local area churches. Their records include baptisms, marriages and death records for many Dauphin County churches, some dating back to the 1700's. The society also maintains an archive with hundreds of manuscript items. Details of their manuscript holdings are available on their website. For information about research services and fees, see the "Research Fees" page.

The Capital Area Genealogical Society in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania has some published Dauphin County church records. See the Research Library Holdings page for a 2010 pdf. list of all their holdings.

For a good history concerning early churches of Dauphin County, see History of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The religion section is divided into town and township and discusses the denominations in each of the areas.

Finding Church Records at Other Repositories

Additional church records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Church Records in online catalogs like:

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

County-wide Database - Multi-denominational

1708-1985 - Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 at Historical Society of Pennsylvania – $, free to members of the society; Also available at Ancestry.com – $; 7,542,774 entries. This database is incomplete for all counties.

Contains church records of:

Jonathan Worrall, J.P./Misc. Marriage Licenses, 1890-1915
Berrysburg: PA Conference Evangelical Association
Elizabethville: Trinity United Methodist Church
Harrisburg: Harrisburg First Church of God; Lutheran Church; Lutheran Church of the Redeemer; Memorial Lutheran Church; Park Street United Methodist Church; Rev. Nathaniel R. Snowden Records; St. Michael's Evangelical Lutheran Church; St. Paul's Episcopal Church; St. Stephen's Episcopal Church; United Church of Christ; Zion German Lutheran Church
Hummelstown: Hummelstown United Church of Christ; Trinity United Methodist Church
Millersburg: St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church
Oberlin: Neidig Memorial United Methodist Church
Philadelphia: Cooper Memorial United Methodist Church
Steelton: St. John's Lutheran Church
Susquehanna: Paxton Methodist Episcopal Church
Williamstown: Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church

1744-1844 - Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Church Records at Ancestry ($). Includes records from Salem Reformed Church (Harrisburg, Pa.), Lykens Valley Lower Church (David's Reformed) (Killingern, Upper Paxtang, Pa.), Fetterhoff's Lutheran and Reformed Church, Fredricktown Church (Hummelstown, Pa.), Hoffman Reformed Church, Lykens Valley Lower Church, Middletown Church, Paxtang and Derry Presbyterian Churches, Reformed Church (Hummelstown, Pa.), St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Salem Reformed Church (Harrisburg, Pa.), Shoop's Reformed Church, Wenerich's Reformed Church, Zion Church.

1757-1825 - Humphrey, John T. Pennsylvania Births, Dauphin County, 1757-1825. Washington, D.C.: PA Genealogy Books, 2005. FHL Book 974.818 V2h.

Contains church records of Hill or "Maxe" Lutheran Church, Derry Township; Middletown Lutheran Church, Middletown, Lower Swatara Township; Hummelstown Lutheran Congregation, Derry Township; Evangelical Reformed Church, Lykens Valley, Upper Paxton Township; Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Killinger, Lykens Valley; Shoop's Church or Paxton Church, Lutheran and Reformed, Lower Paxton Township; Klinger's Church, Erdman, Lutheran and Reformed, Lykens Township; Salem Reformed Church, Harrisburg; Fetterhoff's Church, Lutheran and Reformed, Halifax Township; St. John's Lutheran Church, Lykens Valley, Upper Paxton Township; Hoffman's Reformed Church, Lykens Township; Zion Lutheran Church, Harrisburg; Wenrich's Church, Lutheran and Reformed, Lower Paxton Township; and St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal Church, Harrisburg.

Dauphin County Church Records at Dauphin County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives Includes Church histories and records.

Lutheran

Bindnagle Lutheran and Reformed Church, Derry Township

1724-1793 - Bindnagle Lutheran and Reformed Church, Derry Township, Baptism Index 1724-1793 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C507271.</ref>
1795-1798 - Bindnagle Lutheran and Reformed Church, Derry Township, Marriage Index 1795-1798 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch M507271.

Hill Lutheran Church, Derry Township

1752-1825 - Hill Lutheran Church, Derry Township, Baptism Index 1752-1825 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C507291.</ref>
Records of the Hill Lutheran Church in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania at Ancestry ($).

Klinger's Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed Church, Upper Paxton Township

1787-1875 - Klinger's Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed Church, Upper Paxton Township, Baptism Index 1787-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C506751.

St. John's Lutheran Church near Berrysburg, Miflin Township

1780-1875 - St. John's Lutheran Church near Berrysburg, Miflin Township, Baptism Index 1780-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C504451.</ref>
1854-1873 - St. John's Lutheran Church near Berrysburg, Miflin Township, Marriage Index 1854-1873 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch M504451.

St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lykens Township

1872-1875 - St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lykens Township, Baptism Index 1872-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C536631.

St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Middletown

1783-1861 - St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Middletown, Baptism Index 1783-1861 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C504441.</ref>
1814-1822 - St. Peter's Church, Middletown, Baptism Index 1814-1822 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C507301.</ref>
1835-1858 - St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Middletown, Baptism Index 1835-1838 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch M504441.

Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Killinger

1770-1855 - Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Killinger, Baptism Index 1770-1855 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C504421.</ref>
1806-1809 - Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Killinger, Marriage Index 1806-1809 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch M504421.

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Derry Township

1757-1866 - St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Derry Township, Baptism Index 1757-1866 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C536611.

Union Salem Church, Berrysburg

1837-1875 - Union Salem Church, Berrysburg, Baptism Index 1837-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C504651.</ref>
1863-1880 - Union Salem Church, Berrysburg, Marriage Index 1863-1880 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch M504651.

Zion Evangelical Lutheran and Evangelical Reformed Congregations, Erdman

1769-1875 - Zion Evangelical Lutheran and Evangelical Reformed Congregations, Erdman, Baptism Index 1769-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C504371.

Zion Lutheran Church, Harrisburg

1795-1809 - Zion Lutheran Church, Harrisburg, Marriage Index 1795-1809 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch M523851.

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hummelstown

1753-1875 - Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hummelstown, Baptism Index 1753-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C504411.</ref>
1823-1830, 1847, 1855-1880 - Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hummelstown, Baptism Index 1823-1830, 1847, and 1855-1880 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch M504411.

Methodist

1860-1997 - Saint Paul's United Methodist Church, Harrisburg, Pa. at Ancestry ($). Baptisms, marriages, and deaths.

Presbyterian

The first three churches established in the county were the Hanover, Paxtang and Derry Churches. These were organized prior to 1730.^[5]

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 in what is now Lebanon County. This settlement was previously in Lancaster County, before Dauphin County was formed.^[6]

Derry Presbyterian Congregation, Derry Township

1807-1839 - Derry Presbyterian Congregation, Derry Township, Baptism Index 1807-1839 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C507281.</ref>
1807-1841 - Derry Presbyterian Congregation, Derry Township, Marriage Index 1807-1841 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch M507281.

Harrisburg Presbyterian Church

1798-1803 - Harrisburg Presbyterian Church Marriage Index 1798-1803 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch M535541.

Pine Street Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg

1858-1876 - Pine Street Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg, Baptism Index 1858-1876 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C530991.</ref>
1865-1866 - Pine Street Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg, Marriage Index 1865-1866 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch M530991.

Westminster Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg

1889-1890 - Westminster Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg, Baptism Index 1889-1890 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C530981.</ref>
1873-1885 - Westminster Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg, Marriage Index 1873-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch M530981.

Reformed

Hoffman Reformed Church

1800-1855 - Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 1800-55: Hoffman Reformed Church at Ancestry ($). Includes more than 8,400 records of baptisms, marriages, and burials for the Hoffman Reformed Church located in the Lykens Valley.

Shoop's Reformed Church, Harrisburg

1771-1830 - Shoop's Reformed Church, Harrisburg, Baptism Index 1771-1830 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C507361.^[7]

Court Records

Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy court records are housed at the Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Courthouse. For many counties copies of court records may be found at the Pennsylvania State Archives and in the FamilySearch collection. Note that within these collections some films may contain the same records, but have different titles. Other titles are not duplicates. See Finding Court Records at other repositories within this section for links to the online catalogs for these two collections. Films at the Pennsylvania State Archives are not available for inter-library loan. If court records are available FamilySearch films may be available at a local Family History Center. Call ahead for availability.

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. Dauphin 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.^[8]

Clerk of the Court

The Clerk of Courts prepares and maintains the records for the Criminal Division of the Court of Common Pleas. The Clerk signs and affixes the Seal of the Courts to all writs and processes, administers oaths and affirmations, and assumes custody of the seal and records of the Courts. The Clerk certifies and distributes orders of the Court. The Clerk also certifies and prepares bills of costs for the defendants and utilizes the computerized financial management system to disburse fines, costs and restitution.^[9] For the Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Clerk of Courts address see the Courthouse section on this page.

Prothonotary

The office of the Prothonotary is the custodian of all civil matters in the county. This includes naturalization, immigration, equity actions, judgements, federal and local tax liens, city liens, family court, arbitrations, license suspension appeals, appeals to higher court, commercial code filings, applications for passports and divorce proceedings. See the Courthouse section on this page for the Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Prothonotary office information.

Orphans' Court

See Vital Records
The Orphans' Court is responsible for a wide range of matters. The name of the Court is derived from the more general definition of "orphan," that being a person or thing that is without protective affiliation or sponsorship. This would include those not capable of handling their own affairs, minors, incapacitated persons, decedents estates, nonprofit corporations and trusts. It is the role of the Court to ensure that the best interests of the person or entity are not compromised.

It is believed the name of this court was borrowed from the Court of Orphans of the city of London, England which had the care and guardianship of children of deceased citizens, in their minority.^[10]

For Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Orphans' Court contact information see the Courthouse section on this page.

Finding Court Records at Other Repositories

Additional court records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Court Records in online catalogs like:

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

Emigration and Immigration

For information about emigration into Pennsylvania, see the Pennsylvania Emigration and Immigration page.

Ethnic Groups

Germans

Gazetteers

Genealogy

History

Published Histories

Land and Property

Land records in Dauphin County began in 1785. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Harrisburg, 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

1979–present Dauphin County offers online access to records. Fees apply for copies. Check the website for current information on availability and fees.

Online Land Record Abstracts

Warrantees of land, Pennsylvania Archives Series 3 Volume 24, 1785-1895 at Dauphin County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives

Land Records on Microfilm

1785–1917 Deeds, 1785-1850; Index to Deeds, 1785-1917. FHL films 21249-21282)

Maps

MacInnes, Sharon Cook and Angus MacInnes. Early landowners of Pennsylvania : Atlas of Township Warrantee Maps of Dauphin County, PA. Apollo, Pennsylvania : Closson Press, 2009. FHL book 974.818 E7ms

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

Additional Resources

Click the image to view an enlarged version

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 Dauphin County Pennsylvania Land in online catalogs such as:

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

Local Histories

Maps

Dauphin County

Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)

Ancestor Tracks has posted free, downloadable images of The Combination Atlas Map of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Compiled, Drawn and Published from Personal Examinations and Surveys by Everts & Stewart, 1875. 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 be used commercially. We hereby give permission to use them strictly for personal use; please attribute to Ancestor Tracks.

Atlas of Township Warrantee Maps of Dauphin County and a Companion Scans of Township Warrantee Maps plus Current Road Overlays CD ($) is 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.

Migration

Military

French and Indian War

In 1756, Colonel Armstrong recruited many Scotch-Irish men from what is now Dauphin County (then Lancaster County). They attacked and destroyed the Indian village at Kittanning (present-day Armstrong County).^[11]

Reverend John Elder, pastor of Derry and Paxtang churches, recruited Scotch-Irish rangers from his congregation in what is now Dauphin County (then 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

Men from what is now Dauphin County (then Lancaster County) served in the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment.^[12]

War of 1812

Anderson, John, Dr. John Anderson papers, 1812-1814, 1819 Microfilm of original records in the Bureau of Archives and History in Harrisburg. Contains enlistment records relating to Pennsylvanians in the War of 1812. FHL Film 1032585 Item 3.

Naturalization and Citizenship

Naturalization records can contain information about immigration and nativity. Prior to 1906, it is rare to find the town of origin in naturalization records. See Pennsylvania Naturalization for more information about the types of records and availability.

Naturalizations granted at the county level were kept by the office of the Prothonotary. Naturalizations could also be granted on the Federal Court level.

Naturalization records available for Dauphin County, Pennsylvania include the following:

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

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.com - ($), National Archives publication M1208
1820-1930 – Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. District Court, 1820-1930, and Circuit Court, 1820-1911, for the Western District of Pennsylvania on Fold3.com - ($), 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.com - ($), indexed, National Archives publication M1537.

Finding Naturalization Indexes at Other Repositories

Additional naturalization indexes can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy naturalization in online catalogs like:

Historical Society of Pennsylvania
WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
Do a Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Place-name search for these and other records in the FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Place-name Search).

Newspapers

Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy newspapers may contain genealogical value including obituaries, births, marriages, deaths, anniversaries, family gatherings, family travel, achievements, business notices, engagement information, and probate court proceedings.

To access newspapers, contact public libraries, historical/genealogical societies, college or university libraries, or state archives in the area where the newspaper was published.

For information on state-wide newspapers see Pennsylvania Newspapers

Newspapers of Dauphin County

Pennsylvania Newspapers
Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory

Online Newspapers

Whig State Journal at Pennsylvania Dept. of Education Historic Newspapers.
Pennsylvania Civil War Era Newspaper Collection available through the Penn State University Library

Daily Patriot and Unio 15 October 1860-31 October 1863

Pennsylvnia Daily Telegraph 21 January 1859- 26 Nov 1862

Evening Telegraph 28 Nove 1862 - 11 Mar 1864

Pennsylvania Telegraph 12 Mar 1864 - 31 Dec 1864

Online Newspaper Abstracts

PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Dauphin County.
USGenWeb Lykens Register Newspaper tidbits.
Dauphin County Newspaper Articles at Dauphin County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives Includes Items from the Harrisburg Telegraph, January 4,7,8,9 1892 and Items from The Evening News

Newspaper Excerpts and Abstracts June - September 1918.

Marriages and Deaths from Dauphin Co. Newspapers, (SLC, Utah, 1980) FHL film 1298604

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 Dauphin County.
Dauphin County Obituaries at Dauphin County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives

Obituary Excerpts and Abstracts

Stroh, Alice F., Cemetery Records of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania (SLC, Utah, 1978) FHL film 1026670 item 5
Deaths from Berks, Dauphin and Philadelphia Counties Newspapers, 1791-1864 (SLC, Utah, 1964) FHL film 385043

Occupations

Indentured Servants

List of imported servants and transported convicts from Europe who served labor terms in Colonial Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy (work in progress), courtesy: Immigrant Servants Database.

Periodicals

Poorhouse, Almshouse

Probate Records

Probate matters in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy are handled by the Orphans' Court and start when the county was created. To obtain original probate records, contact the Orphan's Court in the County Courthouse.

In addition to wills and administrations, the Orphans' Court also handles: audits of accounts of executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians; distribution of estates of decedents, incompetents, and minors; appointment and control of guardians; adoptions; appeals from the Register of Wills involving probate matters; inheritance tax appeals and various petitions and motions.

Online Probate Records

Original probate records for some Pennsylvania counties are available free online as digital images at FamilySearch.org. The dates vary significantly for each county and not all counties are listed. Some counties may only have probate indexes. This Pennsylvania collection of images may be browsed through the links listed below:

Complete Collection:

1683-1994-Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994 at FamilySearch.org

Dauphin County Only:

1785-1937-Dauphin County Probate Records

Online Probate Indexes

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

Original Probate Records on Microfilm

1785-1795 Will Records FHL film 434946
1785-1875 Wills FHL film 21237

Repositories

Courthouse

Dauphin County Courthouse
101 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101

The Register of Wills/Clerk of the Orphans' Court is located on the first floor of the Dauphin County Courthouse (rm 103) and can be reached at 717-780-6500 (register of wills), or 717-780-6510 (Orphans' Court). The Register of Wills holds birth and death records (1893-1906), marriage records (1850-1855 and 1885-present) and estates. See their Genealogy search request form to request a search.

Dauphin County Prothonotary
101 Market Street
Room 101
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone:717–780-6520

Family History Centers

Family history centers provide one-on-one assistance and free access to premium genealogical websites. In addition, many centers have free how-to genealogy classes. See family history center for more information. Search the online FHC directory for a nearby family history center.Family History Centers (FHCs) are branches of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and are located all over the world. Their goal is to provide resources for family history research.

The main FHC for Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy is the Harrisburg/Hershey Pennsylvania Family History Center. For additional nearby Family History Centers, search online in the FHC directory.

Libraries

Museums

Societies

The Historical Society of Dauphin County
219 South Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17104
Phone: 717.233.3462
E-mail: library@dauphincountyhistory.org

The Alexander Family Library holds church records, newspaper clippings, cemetery inventories, military records, and more.

Taxation

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

1800 - First Annville Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania 1800 at PAGenWeb - free.

Vital Records

Vital records are handled by the County Orphans' Court. Between the years 1852-1855 Pennsylvania made a failed attempt to record birth, marriage and death events at the county level. While the records for that time period are available, there were few events recorded. County marriage records were kept in earnest in 1885. Births and deaths, at the county level, were begun in 1893 and kept through 1905. Abstracts and copies of vital records are available for some counties, but most are incomplete. For the most complete set of records, always contact the County Orphans' Court.

Birth

Early births 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. See the heading Court Records on this page for contact information.

Indexes for Pennsylvania birth records are available through the Department of of Health for 1906 and 1907. Once an individual is located in the index a non certified Birth certificate can be obtained by writing and sending $3.00 to:

Division of Vital Records
ATTN: Public Records
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103

1726-1930 - Pennsylvania, Births and Christenings, 1709-1950 - 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.
1852-1864 - Dauphin County Birth Index 1852-1864 [1854?] in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C523831.^[13]
1852-1854 - Pennsylvania Births Ancestry.com – ($) Index with images.

Marriage

Pennsylvania marriages are located at the county level. Contact the Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy clerk's office for these records.

1626-2016 - Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
1677-1950 - Pennsylvania Civil Marriages, 1677-1950 at FamilySearch — index and images
1700-1821 - Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties.
1725-1976 - Pennsylvania, Marriages, 1709-1940 - free index. Not complete for all years. This index is not necessarily intended to index any specific set of records. This index is not complete for any particular place or region. This collection may include information previously published in the International Genealogical Index or Vital Records Index collections.
1797-1822 - Hummelstown Marriages by Justices of the Peace 1797-1822 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch M523861.^[14]
Pre-1810 – Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties. Includes 35,000 marriage records from vol. VIII of of the second series of the Pennsylvania Archives.
1852-1854 - Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) Index with images.
1885-1950 - Pennsylvania County Marriage, 1885-1950 Extracted marriage records – free. This database is incomplete for all counties. May also contain marriage records earlier than 1885.
1947-2010 - Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Collection, 1947-2010 at FamilySearch — index and images

Divorce

Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary. The office of the Prothonotary is located in the courthouse building.

Death

Early deaths 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. See the heading Court Records on this page for contact information.

Indexes for Pennsylvania death records are available through the Department of Health for 1906 through 1962. Once an individual is located in the index a non certified death certificate can be obtained obtained by writing and sending $3.00 to:

Division of Vital Records
ATTN: Public Records
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103

1794-1873 - Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Death Index 1794-1873 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.^[15]
1852-1906 - Dauphin County Death Index 1852-1906 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.^[16]
1852-1854 - Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry.com – ($) Index with images.
1947-2010 - Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Collection, 1947-2010 at FamilySearch — index and images

Finding Vital Records at Other Repositories

Additional vital records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Vital Records in online catalogs like:

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

Genealogy Societies and Libraries

List of Pennsylvania Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical & Genealogical Societies