Union County, Pennsylvania Genealogy
Guide to Union 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 seat is located in the mid-central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Union County Courthouse
103 South Second Street
Lewisburg, PA 17837
Phone: 570-524-8641
Fax: 570-524-8644
Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts: 570-524-8751
Register of Wills: 570-524-8762
Union County Website
Prothonotary office has birth records from 1893-1905, marriage records from 1885, death records from 1898, divorce and court records from 1813
Registrar and recorder has probate and land records from 1813[3]
Union 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 |
| 1893 | 1885 | 1893 | 1813 | 1813 | 1813 | 1790 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
|
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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[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:[7]
| Boroughs | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Townships | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
- 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 — index and images
- PA-Roots
- Names in Stone
- Ancestry($)
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1820 | 18,619 | — |
| 1830 | 20,795 | 11.7% |
| 1840 | 22,787 | 9.6% |
| 1850 | 26,083 | 14.5% |
| 1860 | 14,145 | −45.8% |
| 1870 | 15,565 | 10.0% |
| 1880 | 16,905 | 8.6% |
| 1890 | 17,820 | 5.4% |
| 1900 | 17,592 | −1.3% |
| 1910 | 16,249 | −7.6% |
| 1920 | 15,850 | −2.5% |
| 1930 | 17,468 | 10.2% |
| 1940 | 20,247 | 15.9% |
| 1950 | 23,150 | 14.3% |
| 1960 | 25,646 | 10.8% |
| 1970 | 28,603 | 11.5% |
| 1980 | 32,870 | 14.9% |
| 1990 | 36,176 | 10.1% |
| 2000 | 41,624 | 15.1% |
| 2010 | 44,947 | 8.0% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. For members, they may contain: age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage date and maiden name; death/burial date. For general information about Pennsylvania denominations, see Pennsylvania Church Records.
- Addresses for Union County Churches by USGenWeb
- Linkpendium
County-wide Database - Multi-denominational
- 1708-1985 Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 at Historical Society of Pennsylvania ($), free to members of the society. Also available at Ancestry ($).
- Contains the church records of:
- Lewisburg: Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church; St. John's United Church of Christ; United Methodist Church
- Mifflinburg: St. John's United Church of Christ; United Methodist Church
- New Berlin: Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church; United Brethren in Christ
Lutheran and Reformed
- 1772-1775, 1791-1794, 1805-1825 Dreisbachs Lutheran and Reformed Church, Buffalo Valley, Baptism Index 1772-1775, 1791-1794, 1805-1825 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C507211
Presbyterian
- 1841-1875 First Presbyterian Church, New Berlin, Baptism Index 1841-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C507211.[8]
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.
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.
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
For groups that came, see People section of the Pennsylvania Emigration page.
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.[9]
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 Union County began in 1813. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Land records from 1962 and on are available at the link.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1962 - present The Recorder of Deeds offers records since 1962 online. The index is free to view, but there is a charge to view the actual image.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
- History and Topography of Northumberland, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Centre, Union, Columbia, Juniata and Clinton Counties, Pa. 1847. By I. Daniel Rupp. Lancaster, Pennsylvania : G. Hills. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Google Books; 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[edit | edit source]
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 to be used commercially. We hereby give permission to use them strictly for personal use; please attribute to Ancestor Tracks.
- Land Owners from 1868 Atlas courtesy USGenWeb Archives
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Revolutionary War
Men from what is now Union County (then Northumberland County) served in the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment.[10]
Civil War
- 1861-1865 - Pennsylvania, Register of Military Volunteers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
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
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[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 Union County
- Pennsylvania Newspapers
- Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory
- Newspapers of Union County A PAGenWeb Project
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.
- Lewisburg Chronicle and West Branch Farmer (Lewisburg, PA) 1850
- Union County Star and Lewisburg Chronicle (Lewisburg, PA) 1859-1864
Online Newspaper Abstracts
- PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Union County, Pennsylvania.
Newspaper and Obituary Excerpts and Abstracts
- Lontz, Mary Belle, Central Pennsylvania Deaths and Marriages, 1771-1882 Abstracts from Various Newspapers, Publications and Court Records Throughout the Area (Hollidaysburg, PA:Hoenstine Rental Library, 1987?) FHL book 974.8 V28L
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 Union County, Pennsylvania.
- 1947-2010 Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Collection, 1947-2010 at
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Probate matters in Union 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 $
- 1683 -1994 Pennsylvania Probate Records 1683-1994 at FamilySearch
- Fisher, Charles A. Wills and Administrations of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Including Wills and Administrations of Union, Mifflin and Indiana Counties. 1950. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library. Abstracts and index. Specifically 1813-1818 for Union County.
School Records[edit | edit source]
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]
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.
Marriage[edit | edit source]
Pennsylvania marriages were created by county officials. Contact Union County Courthouse
- 1626-2016 - Pennsylvania, 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 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 FamilySearch.
- Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
- 1852-1976 Pennsylvania, Marriages, 1709-1940 index. Not complete for all years.
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
- 1850-1880 Pennsylvania Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry $
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary which is located in the Union County Courthouse building at 103 S. Second St, Lewisburg, PA .
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Union 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[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 Union County. For state-wide library facilities, see Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries.
- Union County Library System consists of three public libraries in Union County. See website for libraries and locations in this system.
- Herr Memorial Library
500 Market Street
Mifflinburg, PA 17844
Phone: 570-966-0831
Website
Email: herr@herrlibrary.org
- The Herr Memorial Library's Robert K. Strunk Room houses the library’s “Pennsylvania Collection", which includes material about Union County families, churches, school and histories on old family names.
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Union County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Pennsylvania Societies.
- New Berlin Heritage Association
400 Market Street
PO Box 223
New Berlin, PA 17855
Phone: 570-966-1783
Association Facebook
Email: diane45@dejazzd.com
- Union County Historical Society
Union County Court House
South Second & St. Louis Streets
Lewisburg, PA 17837
Phone: 570-524-8666
Fax: 570-524-8743
Hours: Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM-12:00 PM; 1:00 PM-4:30 PM
Website
Email: hstoricl@ptd.net
- The UCHS has a library holding a wide variety of research material including historical research items; a large collection of newspapers dating from 1834; tax, census, marriage, cemetery records. The library is also in close proximity to the courthouse records.
Websites[edit | edit source]
- USGenWeb archives, for Union County
- Union 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/Union_County,_Pennsylvania 2/12/2017
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists : United States of America, 10th ed., (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002), p. 592.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Union County, Pennsylvania," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_County,_Pennsylvania, accessed 3 February 2020.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/2/20/Igipennsylvaniat.pdf.
- ↑ The Philadelphia Courts at Common Pleas accessed 10 July 2012
- ↑ 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.
