Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

United States Pennsylvania  Susquehanna County

Guide to Susquehanna 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.

Susquehanna County Pennsylvania Historical Facts



 * Parent Counties: Formed from Luzerne County 21 February 1810.


 * County Seat: Montrose


 * Neighboring Counties: residents may also have records in


 * Broome County, New York (north)
 * Wyoming (south)
 * Lackawanna (southeast)
 * Bradford (west)
 * Wayne (east)
 * Tioga County, New York (northwest)

Susquehanna County was once a part of Connecticut, along with Luzerne, and several other northeastern Pennsylvania counties. For further information on this go to: http://www.cslib.org/susqsettlers.htm

Susquehanna County is named for the Susquehanna River. which runs through the county. In 1810 the county had 10 townships and 3500 residents. In the 2000 Federal Census, Susquehanna County had 27 townships and 13 towns. Residents numbered 42,238.

Boundary Changes
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
For a list of record loss in Pennsylvania counties see: Pennsylvania Counties with Burned Courthouses

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

There are four different titles for Cemeteries in Susquehanna County listed in the FamilySearch Catalog, with three of them having been microfilmed. They are listed under Pennsylvania, Susquehanna. (See under websites)

A listing of Susquehanna County cemeteries is given on website:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mjwanc/suscem.htm

Church Records


The Susquehanna County Historical Society has a great listing of all the township and borough churches, giving current and past information. Also, some information of what records may be located. Directions


 * Type the name of the township you want in the box labeled "Search this site with Google" and press enter
 * You will see a list of findings with one being "(name of township) Township"
 * Click on the Link, this will take you to the Township page
 * In the middle of the page you will see "Churches"
 * Below will be a list of churches and then a list of other churches with dates, histories, and possible records

Additional church records can be located at Linkpendium and by searching the FamilySearch Catalog. The FamilySearch Catalog has a plethora offor Susquehanna County, many are limited in the time frame they cover. When searching the FamilySearch Catalog, be sure to also search at the town and township level.

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 records of:
 * Clifford: United Methodist Church
 * Great Bend: Grace Church Episcopal Great Bend
 * Hallstead: First Presbyterian Church
 * Montrose: St. Paul's Episcopal Church; United Methodist Church
 * New Milford: St. Mark's Episcopal Church

The following book has a section on Churches, including a brief history and pictures of many of the early structures.


 * Looking Back, Souvenir Book of the Susquehanna County Sesquicentennial Celebration 1810-1960. by Sesquicentennial Committee. FHL book 974.834 H2L or film 1320543 item 7

OnLine Church records for Susquehanna Co., Pa. by Rootsweb OnLine Church records for Susquehanna Co., Pa. by Rootsweb

Presbyterian

 * 1835-1877 - Presbyterian Church, Montrose, Baptism Index 1835-1877 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1835-1869 - Presbyterian Church, Montrose, Marriage Index 1835-1869 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

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. 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.

History
There are several good histories of Susquehanna County, but the one by Emily Blackman is superior:

History of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania : from a period preceding its settlement to recent times, including the annals of geography of each township... by Emily C. Blackman (FHL 1425564 Item 5)

Another history is: Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania by Rhamanthus Menville Stocker

974.834 H2 (FHL 1000573 Item 1)

Other histories are listed in the FamilySearch Catalog under Pennsylvania, Susquehanna. (See website below)

It is important to remember too that this area of Pennsylvania was once Connecticut. The information on this website will lead you to other historical/genealogical records of Wyoming Valley:

http://www.cslib.org/susqsettlers.htm

Land and Property
Land records in Susquehanna County began in 1810. These records are filed with the Register and Recorder office in Montrose, 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


 * 1974 - present Images are available on-line from 1974 to the present using the Landex system. There is a fee to view the images.

Land Records on Microfilm


 * 1812-1923 Deeds, 1812-1922; Index, 1812-1923.
 * 1812–1973 Mortgage Records, 1812-1855; Index, 1812-1973.

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 Susquehanna County Pennsylvania Land in online catalogs such as:


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

Maps

 * Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
 * Ancestor Tracks has posted free downloadable images from theMap of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania from Actual Survey by G.M. Hopkins, C.E. (Philadelphia: Lee &amp; Marsh Publishers, 1858). This 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 to be used commercially.  We hereby give permission to use them strictly for personal use; please to attribute to Ancestor Tracks.

There is a clickable map of Susquehanna County which gives information concerning each township, but their online site is not working.

Migration
The migration routes used by early European settlers to and from included:


 * Lehigh and Lackawanna Paths 1766 from Unadilla, New York to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that is, from the Catskill Turnpike  to the Great Valley Road.
 * Minsi Path from Kingston, New York to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that is, from the Ulster and Delaware Turnpike  to the Great Valley Road.
 * Susquehanna River.

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


 * 1844-1906 - Naturalization records, 1844-1906,


 * 1844-1929 - Naturalization documents, 1844-1929,

Newspapers
Newspapers of Susquehanna County


 * Pennsylvania Newspapers
 * Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory


 * The Susquehanna County Independent/Weekender 24 S. Main St. Montrose PA 18801 Phone: (570) 278-6397 E-mail: indyweek@epix.net http://www.independentweekender.com This newspaper was preceded by the following weekly newspapers:


 * The Montrose Independent (1927-1985)
 * Independent Republican (1855-1926)
 * The Montrose Democrat (1879-1926)

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.

Online Newspaper Abstracts


 * PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.

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 Susquehanna County.

Probate Records
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 – at FamilySearch.org

Susquehanna County Only:


 * 1812–1907 – Susquehanna County Probate Records

Original Probate Records on Microfilm


 * 1812–1912 - Wills and Administrations, with index (1810–1949)
 * 1814–1917 - Orphans' Court Dockets, with index (1814–1949)
 * 1885–1918 - Inventory Appraisement Dockets, with index (1885–1949)
 * 1870–1916 - Minutes These records include guardianship information.

Repositories

 * List of Pennsylvania Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies

Courthouse
Susquehanna County Courthouse PO Box 218 11 Maple Street Montrose, PA 18801 Phone: 570-278-4600 Fax: 570-278-2963 Office hours: 8:30–4:30 Monday through Friday. From the community webpage you will have access to each clerk, the pronthonotary, recorder of deeds, and administrator.


 * Orphan's Court Toll Free Phone: 800-386-4981 E-mail: susqded@susqco.com
 * Copies are $2.00 for a regular copy and $3.00 for a certified copy.
 * Birth and death records can be obtained in person or through the mail.


 * Susquehanna County Prothonotary Susquehanna County Courthouse 105 Maple Street PO Box 218 Montrose, PA 18801 Phone: 570-278-4600 Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30am to 4:30pm

Family History Centers
The main FHC for Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania is the Vestal New York Family History Center. For additional nearby Family History Centers, search online in the FHC directory.

Libraries
Susquehanna County Free Library Association consists of four public libraries and Outreach Services in Susquehanna County. Each library has access to Heritage Quest, accessible with your library card from home and Ancestry.com from the library system. A list of the libraries in this system and their website and contact information is found here.

Museums
Soldier's Orphan School Museum Orphan School Road Harford, PA 18823 Phone: 570-434-2496


 * The Soldier's Orphan School Museum features historical exhibits and a library concerned with the Franklin Academy and Soldier's Orphan School.

Societies
Susquehanna County Historical Society 18 Monument Square Montrose, PA 18801 Phone: 570-278-1881 E-mail: info@susqcohistsoc.org


 * Hours: May 1 to September 30— Monday–Thursday 9:00–5:00
 * October 1 to April 30—Monday and Thursday 9:00–5:00
 * Tuesday and Wednesday 12:00–5:00

Their journal information is available at: suspulib@epix.net

Genealogical Research Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Inc. (GRSNP) 110 Main Street Peckville, PA 18452 Phone: 570-383-7661 FAX: 570-383-7466 E-mail: info@grsnp.org


 * Hours: Monday through Thursday 9:00–2:00 and Wednesday night 6:00 pm–900 pm and Saturday by appointment
 * A simple search of a dated name or event $20 - Detailed searches are at the rate of $40 an hour. Postage and photocopies up to $1 are included.

The GRSNP serves northeastern counties:


 * Lackawanna
 * Luzerne
 * Monroe
 * Pike
 * Susquehanna
 * Wayne
 * Wyoming

There resources include the research center and library, newsletters, and database queries.

Brooklyn Historical Society PO Box 112 Brooklyn, PA 18813 Phone: 570-434-2606


 * This historical society collects and preserves the rich heritage of the region.

Harford Historical Society PO Box 1023 Harford, PA 18823 Phone: 570-289-4405


 * The Harford Historical Society preserves the heritage of Harford through a variety of special events throughout the year.

Taxation
The Family History Library has microfilmed the following tax records:

Tax Assessment Records from 1813-1865. The record gives the record of each township, and each is on a separate roll of film. Some of the townships may also include Military Lists for the years ca 1855-1863. See the FamilySearch Catalog listed under the websites for film numbers.

Unseated Land Records 1820-1904. These are additional tax records in the FamilySearch Catalog (1927752, Items 2-9, and 1927823, Item 1)

Vital Records
See also How to order Pennsylvania Vital Records

Birth

 * 1852-1854 – Pennsylvania Births Ancestry.com – $ Index with images.

Marriage

 * 1700-1821 - Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties.
 * 1725-1976 - - free index. Not complete for all years. This index is an electronic database of information. The entries are primarily from the International Genealogical Index (IGI) along with some entries derived from compiled and original records such as: Family Records, Church Records, Civil Registration. It may also include indexes generated by the internet indexing project sponsored by the LDS Church.
 * Pre-1810 – Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties. Includes 35,000 marriage records from vol. VIII of of the second series of the Pennsylvania Archives.
 * 1835-1976 - - free index. Not complete for all years.
 * 1852-1854 - Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) Index with images.
 * 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.
 * 1885–present – Marriage licenses issued by the county are only available from 1885 to the present at:
 * Clerk of the Orphans Court Susquehanna County Courthouse 105 Maple Street PO Box 218 Montrose, PA 18801 Phone: 570-278-4600 Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30am to 4:30pm

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

Susquehanna County Pennsylvania Genealogy Websites

 * Susquehanna County, PA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * USGenWeb project. Susqehanna County. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.