Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

United States   Pennsylvania    Dauphin County

Historical Facts
Named for Louis-Joseph, Dauphin of France, first son of Louis XVI. The title "Dauphin" signified heir-apparent.

Many Scotch-Irish immigrants settled in what is now Dauphin County (then Lancaster County) in the early eighteenth century. It was predominantly a German area of settlement.

Parent County
4 March 1785: Dauphin County was created from Lancaster County.

Boundary Changes
16 Feb 1813: Lebanon County was created from parts of Dauphin and Lancaster counties.

Neighboring Counties
Cumberland | Lancaster | Lebanon | Northumberland | Perry | Schuylkill | York

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

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.

Presbyterian
The Paxtang Church and the Derry Church were both organized in 1729.


 * 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.


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

Land and Property
Dauphin County Court House Room 102 101 Market Street Harrisburg, PA 17101 Phone: (717) 780-6560

Due to the lack of vital records for Pennsylvania, land records are an important tool in early Pennsylvania research. Land records will list the sellor and purchaser of the property and may hide clues to family connections. Land records for Dauphin County are available from the recorder's office for 1785 to the present.


 * On-line recordsare available for 1979 to the present. Indexes are available on-line for 1785 to 1978.
 * Deeds, 1785-1850; Index to Deeds, 1785-1917
 * Ancestor Tracks has published Early Landowners of Pennsylvania: Atlas of Township Warrantee Maps of Dauphin County which contains the Township Warrantee Maps on file at the Pennsylvania Archives in Harrisburg. Each Warrantee Map was painstakingly platted by draftsmen from the original warrants, surveys, and patents of current Dauphin County. The maps show precise outlines in metes and bounds of each original tract and all surrounding tracts in each township. Information included: names of the warrantee and patentee (first owners); tract name and size; dates of the warrant, survey and patent; patent book and page number; survey book and page number; and atlals coordinate. Accompanying CD contains the original maps, as well as copies superimposed with modern road maps.  Surveys have been placed online by the Pennsylvania Archives.

Maps
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 &amp; 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.

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).

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.

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.

Courthouse
Dauphin County Courthouse Room 103 Front Market Streets Harrisburg, PA 17101 (717) 780-6500 Phone

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers
 * Hershey Pennsylvania Family History Center (Harrisburg)

Societies
The Historical Society of Dauphin County 219 South Front Street Harrisburg, PA 17104 (717) 233-3462

Taxation

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

Birth

 * 1726-1930 - - free index. Not complete for all years.
 * 1852-1854 – Pennsylvania Births Ancestry.com – ($) Index with images.

Marriage

 * 1725-1976 - - free index. Not complete for all years.
 * 1700-1821 - Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties.
 * Pre-1810 – Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties. Includes 35,000 marriage records from vol. VIII of of the second series of the Pennsylvania Archives.

Divorce
Divorce records are handled by the office of the Prothonotary. While no on-line indexes or records are available, records may be obtained by visiting or writing to the Prothonotary at:

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

Death

 * 1852-1854 – Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry.com – ($) Index with images.

Web Sites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.

Populated Places
Middletown Borough

Hershey