Snyder County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

United States

Pennsylvania

Snyder County

Guide to Snyder County, Pennsylvania ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Pennsylvania Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: Middleburg Organized: March 2, 1855 Parent County(s): Union Neighboring Counties Union  • Perry  • Juniata  • Mifflin  • Northumberland See County Maps Courthouse Location Map Adoption Adopt-a-wiki page This page adopted by: PA Roots and its members who welcome you to contribute. Adopt a page today

County Information

Description

The county was named in honor of the famous citizen and political figure Simon Snyder, who was governor of Pennsylvania. It is located in the mid-central area of the state.

County Courthouse

Snyder County Courthouse
P.O. Box 217
9 West Market Street
Middleburg, PA 17842
Phone: 570-837-4208
Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Phone: 570–837-4202
Office of Register and Recorder/Orphan's Court Phone: 570-837-4224
Snyder County Website

Clerk Courts has birth, death, and burial records 1893-1905, marriage records from 1885, divorce, and court records from 1855
County Register and Recorder has probate and land records
Susquehanna University Library in Selinsgrove has local census records

Copies of documents including birth, marriages, deaths, divorces, land, and probate records can be obtained by using: Pennsylvania Public Record. Click on the link for the record you wish to request.

The Prothonotary is the Clerk for the Orphan's Court and can be reached at [Snyder Office of Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts]. E-mail: prothonotary@snydercounty.org

Snyder County, Pennsylvania Record Dates

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.

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1893	1885	1893	1855	1855	1855	1790
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1906. General compliance by 1915.

Record Loss

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

Boundary Changes

Formed from Union County 2 March 1855. County seat: Middleburg 1855 - Snyder County created from Union County. 1813 - Union County created from Northumberland County. 1772 - Northumberland County created from Cumberland County. 1750 - Cumberland County created from Lancaster, Cumberland and Berks Counties. 1682 - Lancaster County created from Chester County which was one of the 3 original counties. 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.

Populated Places

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:

Boroughs
Beavertown Freeburg	McClure Middleburg	Selinsgrove Shamokin Dam
Census-designated places
Beaver Springs Hummels Wharf Kissimmee Kratzerville	Kreamer Mount Pleasant Mills Paxtonville Penns Creek	Port Trevorton Richfield Troxelville
Townships
Adams Beaver Center Chapman Franklin	Jackson Middlecreek Monroe Penn Perry	Spring Union Washington West Beaver West Perry

Resources

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Snyder County, Pennsylvania online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Findagrave.com HomeTownLocator PAGenWeb Archives Interment PAGenWeb Pennsylvania Genealogy BillionGraves (name)
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	Family History Library WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the County	Findagrave.com BillionGraves Linkpendium PAGravestones Access Genealogy FamilySearch Places
See Pennsylvania Cemeteries for more information

 

• Cemetery records often reveal birth, marriage, death, relationship, military, and religious information.

Additional Cemetery Resources

• ca.1700-ca.1950 Pennsylvania Cemetery Records, ca. 1700-ca. 1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• Cemetery Abstracts at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images (incomplete)
• PA-Roots
• Names in Stone
• Ancestry($)

Census Records

Federal Census

• 1850-1880 Pennsylvania Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1860	15,035	—
1870	15,606	3.8%
1880	17,797	14.0%
1890	17,651	−0.8%
1900	17,304	−2.0%
1910	16,800	−2.9%
1920	17,129	2.0%
1930	18,836	10.0%
1940	20,208	7.3%
1950	22,912	13.4%
1960	25,922	13.1%
1970	29,269	12.9%
1980	33,584	14.7%
1990	36,680	9.2%
2000	37,546	2.4%
2010	39,702	5.7%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

Church Records

Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. For members, they may contain: age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage date and maiden name; death/burial date. For general information about Pennsylvania denominations, see Pennsylvania Church Records.

• 1620-1991 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Congregational Records, 1620-1991 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Snyder County Pennsylvania Churches

The Snyder County Historical Society has various records for churches throughout the Snyder County area. However, the society has not put the records on-line and to view the records one must go to the society. The society will do research for a fee. For more details see their website.

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 $

Contains the church records of:

• Penns Creek United Methodist Church
• Selinsgrove Wesley United Methodist Church

Lutheran
The first church building in Selin's Grove was the Union Church (later known as the First Lutheran Church). The Evangelical Lutheran Church was created from members of the First Lutheran Church in 1843.

Botschaft Lutheran and Reformed Church, Chapman Township

• 1792-1876 Botschaft Lutheran and Reformed Church, Chapman Township, Baptism Index 1792-1876 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch

Rows or Salem Lutheran Church, Penn Township

• 1774-1832 Rows or Salem Lutheran Church, Penn Township, Baptism Index 1774-1832 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C507201.

Trinity Lutheran Church, Selinsgrove

• 1849-1875 Trinity Lutheran Church, Selinsgrove, Baptism Index 1849-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C504921.
• 1849-1875 Trinity Lutheran Church, Selinsgrove, Marriage Index 1849-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M504921.

Zion Lutheran Church

• 1889-1943 Zion Lutheran Church, Snyder County, Pennsylvania at Ancestry $

Zion's or Moor's Lutheran Church, Freeburg

• 1781-1809 Zion's or Moor's Lutheran Church, Freeburg, Baptism Index 1781-1809 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C507101.

Methodist
It is unknown when the Methodist Episcopal Church was first organized, but they errected their own church in 1848.

Reformed
The Reformed congregation met as early as 1780. In 1802 they met in a union church with the Lutherans until 1855 when they built their own church.

Botschaft Lutheran and Reformed Church, Chapman Township

• 1792-1876 Botschaft Lutheran and Reformed Church, Chapman Township, Baptism Index 1792-1876 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C504691.

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places
  

Court Records

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.

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. Snyder County shares its judicial district with Union.

Emigration and Immigration

For online resources, passenger lists, and specific groups coming to Pennsylvania, see Pennsylvania Emigration and Immigration.

• 1798-1828 Pennsylvania Landing Reports of Aliens, 1798-1828 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Alphabet index then by numbered entry
• 1900-1923 Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Case Files of Chinese Immigrants, 1900-1923 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only (by county)
• 1952-1957  Pennsylvania, Crew Lists arriving at Erie, 1952-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

For groups that came, see People section of the Pennsylvania Emigration page.

Guardianship

The Orphan's Court ensures the best interests of those not capable of handling their own affairs: minors, incapacitated persons, decedents' estates, and more.

Land and Property Records

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 Snyder County began in 1855. These records are filed with the Register and Recorder office in Middleburg, Pennsylvania.

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

Local Histories

• Snyder County Annals. 2 volumes. 1919. Compiled by George W. Wagenseller. Middleburg, Pennsylvania : Middleburgh Post. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol. 1 - Hathitrust, Vol. 1 - Internet Archive, Vol. 2 - Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat).
• History of [...] the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 2 volumes. 1886. By Franklin Ellis, Alfred Matthews. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : Everts, Peck & Richards. Online at: Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat). Volume 2 contains histories for Perry, Union, and Snyder counties.

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Maps

• Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
• Ancestor Tracks has posted free downloadable images from the Pomeroy & Beers 1868 Atlas of Union & Snyder Counties, Pennsylvania. This atlas 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.
• FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Military Records

Civil War

• 1861-1865 Pennsylvania, Register of Military Volunteers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
• 1865-1936 Pennsylvania, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records, 1865-1936 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

World War II

• 1933-1947 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, World War II Casualty Cards, 1933-1947 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Naturalization and Citizenship

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

• 1795-1931 Pennsylvania, Eastern District Petitions for Naturalization, 1795-1931 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1795-1952 Pennsylvania, Eastern District Naturalization Indexes, 1795-1952 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

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

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

• 1901-1930 Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. Circuit and District Courts for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 1906-1930; and 1901-1906 on Fold3.com - ($), indexed, National Archives publication M1622, Middle District court was created in 1901, for earlier dates try the Eastern and Western District court records
• 1901-1930 Middle District, US Circuit and District Courts: Naturalization petitions, 1906-1930 located in U.S. Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1795-1972 (World Archives Project) database on Ancestry $

Newspapers

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 Snyder County

• Snyder County Newspaper Resources at USGenWeb.org

Online Newspapers

To learn if there are newspapers online for a specific town or city in Pennsylvania, see news.google.com/newspapers and search for the town or the name of a newspaper.

• Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory.
• Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive
• Pennsylvania Newspapers
• The Middleburgh Post (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., PA) 1883-1916, Chronicling America.
• The Post (Middleburg, Snyder County, PA) 1864-1883, Chronicling America.

Online Newspaper Abstracts

• PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Snyder County, Pennsylvania.

Obituaries

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.

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 Snyder

Online Obituary Abstracts

• 1947-2010 Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Collection, 1947-2010 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1977-2010 Pennsylvania Obituaries, 1977-2010 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• PA-Roots Obituaries for Snyder County, Pennsylvania]

Probate Records

Probate matters in Snyder 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. Original probate records for some Pennsylvania counties are available free online as digital images at FamilySearch . The dates vary significantly for each county and not all counties are listed. Some counties may only have probate indexes.

Online Probate Indexes and Records

• 1683-1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry $
• 1683-1994 Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only (by county)
• 1816-1980 Snyder County Probate Records at FamilySearch
• 1855-1883 Orphans court dockets FHL film 1293508 Item 4 (first of 3 films) - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
• 1855-1882 Will Books FHL film 1289384 - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
• 1855-1871 Index to Snyder County Will Book 1 (1855-1871) at PAGenWeb

School Records

• Susquehanna University Yearbooks - 1898-2010 (almost all inclusive) via the Internet Archive

Social Security Records

• 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.

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. 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

Early births 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. For more information, see Pennsylvania Vital Records.

• 1520-1999 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Births and Baptisms, 1520-1999 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1709-1950 Pennsylvania, Births and Christenings, 1709-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
• 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Births Ancestry $
• 1941-1976 Pennsylvania Delayed Birth Records, 1941-1976 at FamilySerch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1942-1962 Snyder County Birth Index 1942-1962 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch

Marriage

Pennsylvania marriages were created by county officials. Contact Snyder County Courthouse

• 1512-1989 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Marriage Records, 1512-1989 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1626-2016 - Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at FindMyPast
• 1677-1950 Pennsylvania Civil Marriages, 1677-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1682-1976 Pennsylvania, Church Marriages, 1682-1976 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1700-1821 Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry $
• 1709-1940 Pennsylvania Marriages, 1709-1940 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
• Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
• 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
• 1885-1950 Pennsylvania County Marriage, 1885-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1947-2010 Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Collection, 1947-2010 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Death

Early deaths 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. For indexes and records, 1906 and later, see Pennsylvania Vital Records.

• 1720-1999 Pennsylvania Deaths and Burials, 1720-1999 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, some images
• 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry $
• 1856-1971 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Deaths and Burials, 1856-1971 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1893-1905 Snyder County Death Index 1893-1905 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch

Divorce

Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary which is located in the Snyder County Courthouse.

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Snyder County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries.

• National Archives at Philadelphia
  14700 Townsend Road
  Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096
  Phone: (215) 305-2044
  Fax (215) 305-2052
  Website

Family History Centers

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.

• Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

• Sunbury Pennsylvania Family History Center

Libraries

Listed below are libraries in Snyder County. For state-wide library facilities, see Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries.

• Snyder County Library
  Jackson Penn Elementary School (this is a temporary location for the main library)
  297 Route 204
  Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, 17870
  Phone: (570) 374-7163
  Website

The Snyder County Library system has four branches
Call to verify locations and hours
Ancestry.com is available to patrons

Societies

Listed below are societies in Snyder County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Pennsylvania Societies.

• Synder County Historical Society
  30 East Market St
  P.O. Box 276
  Middleburg, PA 17842
  Phone: 570-837-6191
  Website
  

Websites

• Susquehanna PAGenWeb genealogy resources; part of the national USGenWeb Project
• Snyder 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

Woodroofe's guide to Snyder County "hidden sources" at The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania is available online:

• Woodroofe, Helen Hutchison. "A Genealogist's Guide to Pennsylvania Records," The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, Vol. 34, No. 3 (1986):250-251. For free online access, see WeRelate.

This website requires a paid subscription for full access.