Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

United States Pennsylvania Lancaster County

Historical Facts

 * Parent Counties: Formed from Chester County 14 October 1728.
 * County Seat: Lancaster
 * Neighboring Counties: residents may also have records in Berks (north) • Chester (east) • Harford County, Pennsylvania (southwest) • York (west)  •  Cecil County, Maryland (south) •  Dauphin and Lebanon (northwest)

Many Scotch-Irish immigrants settled in Lancaster County in the early eighteenth century. The area was predominantly a German place of settlement.

Wikipedia

Boundary Changes

 * 14 October 1749: York County set off.
 * 14 October 1751: Berks County set off.
 * 27 January 1750: Cumberland County set off.
 * 21 March 1772: Northumberland County set off.
 * 16 October 1813: Lebanon County set off.

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

Lancaster County USGenWeb Project This site has several listings for Lancaster County cemetery records.

Cemeteries of Lancaster County in Adamstown &amp; Akron Boroughs and Bart, Brecknock, &amp; Caernarvon Townships. Lists of cemeteries, some with lists of burials

Cemeteries in Lancaster County at Find A Grave

The has a number of cemetery records in books and on films. They would be available either in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City or in one of its affiliate Family History Centers.

Individual cemeteries:


 * Camp Hill Cemetery, Mt. Joy at BillionGraves
 * Chiques Church of the Brethren Cemetery, Rapho at BillionGraves
 * Concordia Cemetery in Columbia PA at BillionGraves
 * Creswell Cemetery, Conestoga at BillionGraves
 * Crossroads Brethren in Christ Church Cemetery, Mt. Joy at BillionGraves
 * Donegal Presbyterian Church Cemetery, East Donegal Township in BillionGraves
 * Eberle Cemetery, Mt. Joy at BillionGraves
 * East Petersburg Mennonite Cemetery, East Petersburg at BillionGraves
 * Green Mount Cemetery, Highville at BillionGraves
 * Habecker Mennonite Cemetery, Manor Township at BillionGraves
 * [http://www.billiongraves.com/pages/cemetery/cemetery.php?cemetery_id=160021 Hernley Memorial Cemetery, Manheim (Rapho Twp.) at BillionGraves
 * Kauffman Mennonite Church Cemetery in Penn, PA at BillionGraves
 * Kinderhook Cemetery in Columbia PA at BillionGraves
 * Laurel Hill Cemetery in Columbia PA at BillionGraves
 * Marietta Cemetery, Marietta at BillionGraves
 * Maytown Reformed UCC Church Cemetery, Mayton at BillionGraves
 * Millport Mennonite Church Cemetery, Millport at BillionGraves
 * Mount Bethel Cemetery in Columbia PA at BillionGraves
 * Mt. Joy Cemetery, Mt. Joy at BillionGraves
 * Mountville Cemetery, Mountville at BillionGraves
 * Mountville Church of the Brethren Cemetery, Mountville at BillionGraves
 * Saint Peters Cemetery in Columbia PA at BillionGraves
 * Silver Springs Cemetery in West Hempfield PA at BillionGraves
 * Trinity Cemetery in Columbia PA at BillionGraves
 * Washington Boro Cemetery in Washington Boro PA at BillionGraves

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.
 * 1729-1881 – Pennsylvania Church Records - Adams, Berks, and Lancaster Counties, 1729-1881 at Ancestry.com – $; details on 180,000 church-goers from 50 churches; incomplete.


 * Lancaster County USGenWeb Project This site has several listings of online Lancaster County church records.

Catholic

 * 1787-1804 - St. Mary's Catholic Church, Lancaster, PA Marriages, Baptisms, Burials 1787-1804 at PAGenWeb - free.

Church of the Brethren

 * Church of the Brethren Network includes Conestoga Congregation Baptisms 1739-1747 and Conestoga Congregation Baptisms 1748-1769.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Blue Ridge District of the Eastern States Mission comprised church members living in southeastern Pennsylvania. District headquarters were in Lancaster, with branches located in Bucks, Fulton, Lancaster, and York counties.


 * Record of Members, [1929]-1944,

Ephrata Community

 * 1728-1853 - Sachse, Julius F. "The Registers of the Ephrata Community," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Burials 1728-1853: Vol. 14 (1890):297-312, Burials 1730s-1813: 387-402. For free online access, see WeRelate. Also available on the Church of the Brethren Network website.

Episcopalian
St. James's Church, Lancaster

Registers begin in 1755.


 * 1755-1759 - Private Marriage Register of Rev. Thomas Barton, in York County, Pennsylvania in "Private Church Registers to 1800, York County, Pennsylvania" at Ancestry ($).

St. John's Church, Pequea

Registers are lost, but some parishioners appear in the registers of St. James's Church, Lancaster.

St. Thomas's Church, Caernarvon

Registers are lost, but some parishioners appear in the registers of St. James's Church, Lancaster.

Bangor Church, Caernarvon

Registers are lost, but some parishioners appear in the registers of St. James's Church, Lancaster. An old trunk was discovered at Bangor Church with "sundry account-books and ancient title-deeds."

Lutheran

 * Weiser, Frederick Sheely. Parochial Registers for Lutheran Congregations in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1729-1960: A Guide to Genealogical Resources in the Parish Records of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, As Well As to Translations and Copies in Print in Public Institutions. Lancaster, Pa.: unknown, 1961. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Evangelical Lutheran

Rev. John Casper Stoever's Records, 1730-1779:


 * Book: Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever, Baptismal and Marriage, 1730-1779. (Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Pub.,1896). Digital version: Internet Archive.


 * Transcripts:
 * - Rev. John Casper Stoever’s Baptisms in Alphabetical Order
 * - Marriage Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever with all 1,429 marriages compiled by Mildred Smith, (Lancaster County Genealogy Project).

Methodist

 * 1884-1913 - The Church of the Mount Hope Methodist-Episcopal Church, Quarryville Charge, Record of Marriages at PAGenWeb - free.

Presbyterian
The first Scotch-Irish settlement in Lancaster County was made at Chickies Creek in 1714. Donegal Presbyterian Church was built there shortly thereafter. Pequea Presbyterian Church, constructed at another early Scotch-Irish settlement, was built in 1724.

Paxtang Church and 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. This ground later fell within the bounds of Dauphin County and still later Lebanon County after those counties split off.

Quaker

 * 1800s-1900s - Pennsylvania Quaker Records: Warrington, York County, Little Brittain, Lancaster County, Centre, Centre County, West Branch, Clearfield County, Dunnings Creek, Bedford County. n.p. Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Internet Archive - free.

Reformed

 * 1774-1819 - Transcript of baptismal record of the Reformed Church of Maytown, Lancaster County, 1765 (1774)-1819. Typescript held at the Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Directories

 * Lancaster City and County Directories, 1843-1914

Huguenots
Shirk, Willis L., Jr. "Assimilating into the Amerian Milieu: French Huguenots in Eighteenth Century Lancaster County", Lancaster Historical Society Journal, 95:3, 74.

Published Histories

 * Lancaster County USGenWeb Project This site has several online histories of Lancaster County.

Some of the Lancaster County histories available in the :


 * History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men. Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 (Has been microfilmed on #547037 or on #1000559 Item 3)
 * History of Lancaster County : to which is prefixed a brief sketch of the early history of Pennsylvania. Rupp, Israel Daniel, 1803-1878 (Has been microfilmed on #1036814 Item 3)
 * An authentic history of Lancaster County, in the state of Pennsylvania. Mombert, J. I. (Jacob Isidor), 1829-1913 (This book has been digitized.)
 * 1875 Historical Atlas of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Everts &amp; Stewart (Has been microfilmed on #982071 Item 13)

Land and Property
Land records in Lancaster County began in 1728. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Lancaster, 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


 * 1729–present The Recorder of Deeds has placed all county land records on-line which can be viewed for free. Land Records from 1981 to present can be viewed and searched; you do not have to be a registered user, just login as Guest. Land Records from 1729 to 1981 can be viewed but not searched so have the Page number and the Land Record number (Book and Volume for older records).

Land Records on Microfilm


 * 1729–1894 Deeds, 1729-1867; Index, 1729-1894
 * 1729–1940 Mortgage records, 1812-1821; mortgagor index, 1729-1940.

Maps


 * MacInnes, Sharon Cook and Angus MacInnes. Early Landowners of Pennsylvania : Atlas of Township Warrantee Maps of Lancaster County, PA. Apollo, Pennsylvania : Closson Press, 2008.
 * Gilbert, Geri. The Warrant Maps of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania: Including an Every-name Index.Morgantown, Pennsylvania : Masthof Press, 2005.

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

Additional Resources

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 Lancaster County Pennsylvania Land in online catalogs such as:


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

Maps

 * Ancestor Tracks has posted free, downloadable images from the Bridgens' Atlas of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania from Actual Surveys by H.F. Bridgens published by D.S. Bare in 1864. This atlas 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.
 * An Atlas of Township Warrantee Maps of Lancaster County and a Companion Scans of Township Warrantee Maps plus Current Road Overlay CD ($) are 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.
 * Lancaster County USGenWeb Project This site contains several maps of Lancaster County both old and modern.
 * Online map site and things to do in Lancaster county PA

French and Indian War
In 1756, Colonel Armstrong recruited many Scotch-Irish men from Lancaster County. They attacked and destroyed the Indian village at Kittanning (present-day Armstrong County).

Colonel Henry Bouquet led a group of Scotch-Irish men from Lancaster County to rescue Fort Pitt. They decisively defeated the Indians at the Battle of Bushy Run.

Reverend John Elder, pastor of Derry and Paxtang churches, recruited Scotch-Irish rangers from his congregation in 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
Lancaster County men also served in the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment, the 5th Pennsylvania Regiment, and the 9th Pennsylvania Regiment.

Civil War
Pennsylvania Volunteers of the Civil War lists Lancaster County Pennsylvania Soldiers in the Civil War - Civil War Books, Rosters, Medal of Honor Recipients, and Soldier Biographies.

Newspapers
The Lancaster County Digitization Project is a consortium of institutions interested in digitizing the county's newspaper and manuscript collections. Several Lancaster county newspapers are provided in digital format through this and other collaborative efforts.


 * Lancaster Examiner and Hearld (1834-72) from Collections: Our Digital Newspapers
 * The Columbia Spy (1830-89) from Collections: Our Digital Newspapers
 * The Intelligencer Journal (1848-71) from Collections: Our Digital Newspapers
 * The New Holland Clarion (1873-1950) from Collections: Our Digital Newspapers
 * The Lancaster Farmer (1869-84) from Collections: Our Digital Newspapers

Newspapers in Lancaster Pennsylvania at Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers

Probate Records
Lancaster County has an Online Index for their Probate Files and can be viewed for free.

A number of wills and other probate records from the Lancaster County Probate office have been filmed by the in Salt Lake and are available for viewing either in Salt Lake or in one of its affiliate Family History Centers.

An Index to the Will Books and Intestate Records of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania 1729-1850 ($) by Eleanore Jane Fulton at Ancestry, institutional access only

Courthouse
Lancaster County Courthouse Register of Wills 50 N. Duke St. P.O. Box 83480 Lancaster, PA 17608-3480 email: Mary Ann Gerber - MGerber@co.lancaster.pa.us

Office of the Clerk of Courts County of Lancaster 50 North Duke Street P.O. Box 83480 Lancaster, PA 17608-3480 Phone: (717) 299-8275 Fax: (717) 295-3686 Email: ClerkofCourts@co.lancaster.pa.us

Museums

 * Bethel Harambee Historical Services Hopkins Study Center Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church 450-512 East Strawberry Lancaster PA 17602-4449 Phone: 717.393.8379 Has historical documents relating to African American history.


 * Ephrata Cloister 632 West Main Street, Ephrata, PA 17522 Phone:(717) 733-6600 Email: ra-ephratacloister@pa.gov The cloister has a small research library that is open weekdays by appointment only. Limited genealogical materials are available. "The staff is unable to answer genealogical queries, but can provide some advice on available sources." For an appointment, call the Curator.

Societies
There are two very helpful societies in Lancaster County:

Lancaster County Historical Society 230 N President Ave Lancaster, PA 17603 (717) 392-4633

The society has a research library, with an Online Search. The Family History Library has some of the journals they have published on microfilm.

Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society 2215 Millstream Rd Lancaster, PA 17602-1499 (717) 393-9745

The society has an online catalog.


 * Come join our Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Group at Facebook

Taxation

 * Pre-1729 - Eshelman, H. Frank. Assessment Lists and Other Manuscript Documents of Lancaster County Prior to 1729. Digitized by Internet Archive - free.


 * 1771-1773, 1779, 1782 - Proprietary and State Tax Lists of the County of Lancaster: For the Years 1771, 1772, 1773, 1779 and 1782. (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 17). Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Google Books - free.


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

The Salt Lake City has microfilmed many Lancaster County taxation records, and they are available in Salt Lake City and can be accessed in its satellite Family History Centers.

Vital Records
The following records are available at the Lancaster County Archives:


 * 1852-1855 Birth, Marriage, Death Registrations, online index
 * 1870-1906 Birth Certificates (Delayed), online index
 * 1881-1906 Birth Registrations (Lancaster City), online index

The Register of Wills keeps a marriage index beginning 1948 with an online index.

For birth, marriage and death records prior to 1906 contact:

Lancaster County Archives 150 North Queen Street, Suite 10 Lancaster PA 17603 Phone: 717-299-8319 Fax: 717-735-9606 [mailto:archives@colancaster.pa.us archives@colancaster.pa.us]

County-wide Database

 * 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. It includes 35,000 marriage records from volume VIII of the second series of the Pennsylvania Archives.

Birth
The following records are available at the Lancaster County Archives:


 * 1852-1855 Birth Registrations, online index
 * 1870-1906 Delayed birth certificates, online index
 * 1894-1907 Birth Registrations, online index
 * 1881-1906 Birth Registrations (Lancaster City), online index


 * 1733-1906 - - free index. Not complete for all years.
 * 1852-1854 – Pennsylvania Births Ancestry.com – $ Index with images.

Old birth records for Lancaster County from 1881 through 1906 are kept by the Register of Wills.

Birth and Death
Birth/Death records from 1907 to the present are kept by the Pennsylvania Department of Vital Records at New Castle, PA

The Lancaster County Register of Wills maintains a 24-hour telephone information line (717-295-2001) which gives specific details about how to access these birth/death records.

Marriage
The following records are available at the Lancaster County Archives:


 * 1852-1855 Marriage Registrations
 * 1885-1998 Marriage License Applications

The Register of Wills keeps a marriage index beginning 1948 with an online index.


 * 1767-1913 - - free index. Not complete for all years.
 * Marriage Licenses are recorded continuously from 1885 and an index are available on-line.


 * 1730-1779 – 1,429 Marriage Records (1730-1779) of Rev. John Casper Stoever Pennsylvania/Maryland, at USGenWeb - Lists date of marriage as well as names and residences of bride and groom.

Divorce
Divorce records are handled by the office of the Prothonotary. Records may be obtained by visiting or writing.


 * 1851-1997 Divorce Records, online index (select Index Book Search)

Office of Prothonotary County of Lancaster 50 North Duke Street P.O. Box 83480 Lancaster PA 17608-3480 Phone: (717) 299-8282 Fax: (717) 293-7210 E-mail: kwoodjacobs@co.lancaster.pa.us

Death
The following records are available at the Lancaster County Archives:


 * 1852-1855 Death Registrations, online index
 * 1894-1907 Death Registrations
 * 1874-1978 Death Affidavits


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

Web Sites

 * The Lancaster County PA GenWeb Project, has numerous maps, church records, local histories, family histories, and other genealogical and historical information for Lancaster county.




 * FamilyHart Online Database This is an online family database containing over 719,000 records, mostly of Pennsylvania Dutch Extraction. Many of the families are from Lancaster County. This database adds 1,000 names per week which is updated online every quarter. It is the most comprehensive family database online for Pennsylvania Dutch families.


 * Pennsylvania Dutch Family History, Genealogy, Culture and Life This site contains links to everything Pennsylvania Dutch with a large concentration in Lancaster County.