Somerset County, Pennsylvania Genealogy
Guide to Somerset County, Pennsylvania ancestry, family history and genealogy in courthouse sources including birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, wills, deeds and land records, Civil War records, Revolutionary War records, family histories, cemeteries, churches, tax records, newspapers, and obituaries.
Somerset County, Pennsylvania | |||||||
Map | |||||||
![]() Location in the state of Pennsylvania | |||||||
![]() Location of Pennsylvania in the U.S. | |||||||
Facts | |||||||
Founded | April 17, 1795 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
County Seat | Somerset | ||||||
Courthouse | |||||||
Address | Somerset County Courthouse 111 East Union Street Somerset, PA 15501 | ||||||
|
Contents
- 1 Somerset County Pennsylvania Historical Facts
- 1.1 Description
- 1.2 Boundary Changes
- 1.3 Records Loss
- 1.4 Bible Records
- 1.5 Biographies
- 1.6 Cemeteries
- 1.7 Census
- 1.8 Church Records
- 1.9 Court Records
- 1.10 Emigration and Immigration
- 1.11 Ethnic Groups
- 1.12 Gazetteers
- 1.13 Genealogy
- 1.14 History
- 1.15 Land and Property
- 1.16 Maps
- 1.17 Migration
- 1.18 Military
- 1.19 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 1.20 Newspapers
- 1.21 Occupations
- 1.22 Periodicals
- 1.23 Poorhouse, Almshouse
- 1.24 Probate Records
- 1.25 Repositories
- 1.26 Research Guides
- 1.27 Taxation
- 1.28 Vital Records
- 2 Somerset County Pennsylvania Genealogy Websites
- 3 Somerset County Pennsylvania Places
- 4 Somerset County Pennsylvania Genealogy References
Somerset County Pennsylvania Historical Facts
| ||||||
Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
1893 | 1885 | 1893 | 1795 | 1795 | 1795 | 1790 |
|
Parent Counties: Formed from Bedford County 17 April 1795. [2]
County Seat: Somerset
Neighboring Counties: Somerset County residents may also have records in:[3]
Named for the County of Somerset in England.
Description
The county was named after Somerset, United Kingdom. Its county seat is Somerset and was founded April 17, 1795. It is located in the south central tip of the state.[4]
Boundary Changes
26 March 1804: Cambria County was set off.[5]
For animated maps illustrating Pennsylvania county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Pennsylvania County Boundary Maps" (1673-1878) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.
Records Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.
Bible Records
Biographies
Cemeteries
Cemetery records often reveal birth, marriage, death, relationship, military, and religious information.
Tombstone Transcriptions Online | Tombstone Transcriptions in Print | List of Cemeteries in the county |
Findagrave.com | Family History Library | Findagrave.com |
HomeTownLocator | WorldCat | BillionGraves |
PAGenWeb Archives | Linkpendium | |
Tombstone Photos | PAGravestones | |
PAGenWeb | Epodunk | |
Pennsylvania Genealogy | Access Genealogy | |
BillionGraves (name) | Interment | |
See Pennsylvania Cemeteries for more information. |
Additional Cemetery Resources
Census
For tips on accessing Somerset 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.
The Somerset County Historical Center has various records for churches throughout the Somerset 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.
Finding Church Records at Other Repositories
Additional church records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Somerset 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.
- Somerset County Church History and Records courtesy USGenWeb Archives
Catholic
- 1843-1943 "100 years of the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese 1843–1943". Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Quarterly, 17:1. FamilySearch Library book 974.8 B2wg. Contains chronology, map, county-by-county information.
Episcopal
Services for the St. James Episcopal Church in Bedford began as early as 1755 but was not an organized parish until 1861.[6]
Lutheran
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized by 1785 although the exact date is unknown. The Lutheran and German Reformed congregations met at the same Union Church until 1848.[6]
- 1812-1875 Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church Baptism Index 1812-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C505481.[7]
- 1818-1871 Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church Marriage Index 1818-1871 (gap 1849-1860) in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch M505481.[7]
Evangelical Lutheran Church, Stoyestown
- 1798-1881 Evangelical Lutheran Church, Stoyestown, Baptism Index 1798-1881 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C505431.[7]
Glade Reformed and Lutheran Congregation, Stony Creek Township
- 1798, 1811-1866 Glade Reformed and Lutheran Congregation, Stony Creek Township, Baptism Index 1798, 1811-1866 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C505421.[7]
Grace White Oak Lutheran and Reformed Church, Formerly Reichards
- 1830-1875 Grace White Oak Lutheran and Reformed Church, Formerly Reichards, Baptism Index 1830-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C505451.[7]
Methodist
In 1809, the Methodist Episcopal church was formed.[6]
Presbyterian
The Presbyterians were in the county early although no exact date is known, although, the first known pastor came in 1786. The First Presbyterian Church building in the county was erected in Bedford in 1800.[6]
Reformed
The Reformed Church of Bedford was in the county early although no known date is known although it is believed it was before 1769. They met in a union church with the Lutherans until they separated in 1848.[6]
German Reformed Church, Centreville
- 1850-1883 German Reformed Church, Centreville, Baptism Index 1850-1883 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C587031.[7]
- 1873-1883 German Reformed Church, Centreville, Marriage Index 1873-1883 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch M587031.[7]
German Reformed Church, New Centerville
- 1850-1883 German Reformed Church, New Centerville, Baptism Index 1850-1883 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C536691.[7]
- 1873-1883 German Reformed Church, New Centerville, Marriage Index 1873-1883 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch M536691.[7]
German Reformed Church, Stoyestown
- 1799-1875 German Reformed Church, Stoyestown, Baptism Index 1799-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C505441.[7]
Glade Reformed and Lutheran Congregation, Stony Creek Township
- 1798, 1811-1866 Glade Reformed and Lutheran Congregation, Stony Creek Township, Baptism Index 1798, 1811-1866 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C505421.[7]
Grace White Oak Lutheran and Reformed Church, Formerly Reichards
- 1830-1875 Grace White Oak Lutheran and Reformed Church, Formerly Reichards, Baptism Index 1830-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C505451.[7]
Mt. Tabor Reformed Church formerly Union Church or Zimmermans, Quemahoning Township
- 1839-1875 Mt. Tabor Reformed Church formerly Union Church or Zimmermans, Quemahoning Township, Baptism Index 1839-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C505391.[7]
Reformed Church, Friedens
- 1852-1875 Reformed Church, Friedens, Baptism Index 1852-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C504971.[7]
Court Records
Somerset County, Pennsylvania Genealogy court records are housed at the Somerset 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. Somerset 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]
- 1753-1922 Coroner's Inquisitions FHL film 1029677, item 2; 1029678
Clerk of the Courts
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 Somerset 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 Somerset 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 Somerset County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Orphans' Court contact information see the Courthouse section on this page.
- 1800-1902 Orphans court Docket (index 1795–1920)FHL film 559652 (first of 15 films)
Finding Court Records at Other Repositories
Additional court records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Somerset 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
- Blackburn, E. Howard, History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, 1906 courtesy USGenWeb Archives
Published Histories
Land and Property
Land records in Somerset County began in 1795. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Somerset, 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
- 1985-present Images are available online using the Landex system. There is a fee to view the images.
Land Records on Microfilm
- 1795–1949 Record of Deeds, 1795-1902; Index to Deeds, 1795-1949. FHL film 558300 (first of 79 films)
- 1795–1964 Index to Mortgagor and Mortgagee, 1795-1964; Mortgage Records, v. 1-2 1846-1871. FHL film 559207 (first of 10 films)
- 1803–1922 Sheriff's Deeds. Fhl films 559649-50
Additional Resources
Note that the "Maps" section below also includes maps related to land ownership.
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 Somerset 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.)
Maps
- Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
- Ancestor Tracks has posted free downloadable images from the Somerset County Atlas of Surveys and Warrants Collected and Plotted as a WPA Project, 1939. This atlas located in the Office of Recorder of Deeds in Somerset includes maps showing the first landowners, warrants, surveys, and patents, but they are not indexed. While the physical maps may be in the public domain, the images we have taken of them 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.
Migration
Military
Civil
- Service of Somerset County Men and Women involved in the Civil War Work in Progress. Courtesy USGenWeb Archives
Revolutionary War
Men living in what is now Somerset County (then Bedford County) served in the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment.[11]
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 Somerset 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
Original Naturalization Records on Microfilm
- 1800-1906 Naturalization Records FHL film 1318013 (first of 4 films)
Finding Naturalization Indexes at Other Repositories
Additional naturalization indexes can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Somerset County, Pennsylvania Genealogy naturalization in online catalogs like:
- Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Abstracts in FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Place-name Search).
Newspapers
Somerset 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 Somerset County
- Pennsylvania Newspapers
- Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory
- USGenWeb - Newspapers in the County
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.
- The Somerset Herald and Farmers' and Mechanics Register (Somerset, PA) 183?-1852 Chronicling America.
- Somerset Herald (Somerset, PA) 18?? - ???? Chronicling America.
- The Somerset Herald (Somerset, PA) 1870-1936 Chronicling America.
Online Newspaper Abstracts
- PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
Newspaper Extracts and Abstracts
- Somerset Whip (Somerset County, Pennsylvania) and Somerset Democrat (Somerset County, Pennsylvania), Newspapers, The Somerset Whig, 1818,1819; The Somerset Democrat, 1864 (SLC, Utah, 1968) FHL film 560193 item 8
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
Sometimes the fastest way of finding obituaries is to call or email the local public library in the area where the person died. If the library does not have newspapers, a librarian often will know where they are kept. If a death date is known, and the newspapers are at the library, someone on staff will usually make a search for a small fee, or will indicate someone who will do the search. |
Online Obituary Abstracts
- PA-Roots Obituaries for Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
- USGenWeb - Obituary Records
- Obituaries provided online from 1930 to the present hosted on USGenWeb Archives
Occupations
Indentured Servants
Periodicals
Poorhouse, Almshouse
Probate Records
Probate matters in Somerset 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:
- 1683-1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
- 1683-1994 Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994 at FamilySearch.org
Somerset County Only:
- 1795–1916 Somerset County Probate Records
Original Probate Records on Microfilm
- 1795–1916 Orphans court records (index 1795–1922)FHL film 558479 (first of 7 films)
- 1795–1907 Index of estate records, docket, record of executors and administration accounts, auditor's reports (index 1795–1921)FHL film 558478 (first of 20 films)
- 1889–1937 Partition Docket, vol. 1FHL film 557976
Additional Probate Indexes and Abstracts
Additional probate indexes or abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Somerset County, Pennsylvania Genealogy probate wills 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).
Repositories
Archives
The Pennsylvania Archives collection contains county archive records that can be searched onsite. Currently the Archives' staff cannot provide research or make copies of these records. Their collections include Almshouse Registers; Tax records; Birth, Death and Marriage Indexes and Records; Midwife records; African American records; Wills; Deeds; Naturalizations; Coroner's inquests; and Orphan's Court dockets. A list of the Archive's county holdings are on Microfilm or Manuscript form.
Courthouse
- Somerset County Courthouse
111 East Union Street
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: 814-445-1473
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30AM-4:00PM
- 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.
- Clerk of Courts
Somerset County Courthouse
111 East Union Street, Suite 180
Phone: 814-445-1435
- Prothonotary's Office
Somerset County Courthouse
111 East Union Street, Suite 165
Phone: 814-445-1428
Fax: 814-444-9270
Email: prothonotary@co.somerset.pa.us
- Clerk of Orphans' Court
Somerset County Courthouse
111 East Union Street, Suite 145
Phone: 814-445-1548
Fax: 814-444-1542
Email: ackermans@co.somerset.pa.us
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 Somerset County, Pennsylvania Genealogy is the Greensburg Pennsylvania Family History Center. For additional nearby Family History Centers, search online in the FHC directory.
Libraries
Meyersdale Public Library
Pennsylvania Room
210 Center St
PO Box 98
Meyersdale, PA15552
Phone: 814-634-0512
Website
- Genealogical resources for the county and state. Visit website for services and fees.
Roller-Hojeth Memorial Library
Blair County Genealogical Society
431 Scotch Valley Rd.
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
Phone: (814) 696-3492
Website
- Collection covers Blair and surrounding counties, particularly Huntingdon, Cambria, and Bedford Counties.
Museums
- Somerset Historical Center
Western Pennsylvania's Rural Heritage Museum
10649 Somerset Pike
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: 814-445-6077
Email: c-sseese@pa.gov
The Museum also holds the Genealogical Library maintained by the Historical and Genealogical Society of Somerset County Pennsylvania. See the society listed below.
Societies
- Somerset Historical Center
10649 Somerset Pike
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: 814-445-6077
Email: c-sseese@pa.gov
Facebook
- The Historical and Genealogical Society of Somerset County Pennsylvania maintains a library at the Somerset Historical Center. The collection includes records of birth, marriage, death, maps, military, newspapers, obituaries, tax, estate, family files, county histories, church records, and an online WPA Cemetery Index. Visit website for services and fees.
Research Guides
Woodroofe's guide to Somerset 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):252-263. For free online access, see WeRelate.
Taxation
- 1798 Pennsylvania, U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798 at Ancestry ($).
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.
See also How to order Pennsylvania Vital Records
Birth
- 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.
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Births Ancestry.com – $ Index with images.
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
Marriage
Pennsylvania marriages are located at the county level. Contact the Somerset 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 – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties.
- 1725-1976 Pennsylvania, Marriages, 1709-1940 - free index. Not complete for all years. This index is an electronic database of information. The entries are primarily from the International Genealogical Index (IGI) along with some entries derived from compiled and original records such as: Family Records, Church Records, Civil Registration. It may also include indexes generated by the internet indexing project sponsored by the LDS Church.
- Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) 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. Most of the records consist of marriage licenses, certificates, applications, docket books, and affidavits. This database is incomplete for all counties. May also contain marriage records earlier than 1885.
- 1947-2010 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
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry.com – $ Index with images.
- 1853-1908 Somerset County Death Index 1853-1908 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.[7]
- 1947-2010 Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Collection, 1947-2010 at FamilySearch — index and images
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
Finding Vital Records at Other Repositories
Additional vital records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Somerset 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).
Somerset County Pennsylvania Genealogy Websites
- Somerset County, PA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
- Somerset County PA Genealogy
- FamilySearch Catalog
Somerset County Pennsylvania Places
Populated Places
Somerset County Pennsylvania Genealogy References
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Page 588-593 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 579-581.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), [FHL book 973 D27e 2002].
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Somerset County, Pennsylvania" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerset_County,_Pennsylvania (accessed 17 July 2012).
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerset_County,_Pennsylvania 2/12/2017
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), [FHL book 973 D27e 2002].
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Waterman, Watkins, 1884), 258-262; FamilySearch Books Online; FHL book 974.87 H2w.
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/images/4/49/Igipennsylvaniapppppp.pdf.
- ↑ The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania http://www.pacourts.us/T/CommonPleas/ accessed 10 July 2012.
- ↑ Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, Clerk of Courts in http://www.pacourts.us/T/CommonPleas/ClerksOfCourts.htm (accessed 25 Aug 2012)
- ↑ The Philadelphia Courts at http://www.courts.phila.gov/common-pleas/orphans/ accessed 10 July 2012
- ↑ Harold Frederic, William C. Frederick III with William J. McMaster Sr., Path of Blood: The Untold Story of the Kittanning PA. Regiment in the American Revolution (Kittanning, Pa.: W.C. Frederick, 1998). FHL Book 974.8 M2ff