Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

United States Pennsylvania  Westmoreland County

Parent County
26 February 1773: Westmoreland County was created from Bedford County.

Boundary Changes
Several counties were set off over the years.


 * 28 March 1781: Washington County
 * 26 September 1783: Fayette County
 * 24 September 1788: Allegheny County
 * 12 March 1800: Armstrong County
 * 30 March 1803: Indiana County

Neighboring Counties
Allegheny | Armstong | Butler | Cambria | Fayette | Indiana | Somerset | Washington

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


 * Feightner Cemetery, Greensburg BillionGraves
 * Union Cemetery, Arnold BillionGraves

Census

 * 1783 - Returns of Taxables for the Counties of Bedford (1773 to 1784), Huntingdon (1788), Westmoreland (1783, 1786), Fayette (1785, 1786), Allegheny (1791), Washington (1786) and Census of Bedford (1784) and Westmoreland (1783). (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 22). Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Google Books - free.

Church Records


Many denominations dot the landscape of Berks County. Visiting the church your ancestor attended is recommended; however, many times, due to distance, that is not possible. The Historical Society of Berks County has an on-line index of more then 1.2 millions names, gleaned from the records of more than 300 local churches. It is not a complete index but still worth your time if you are looking for baptism, marriage, and burial records. The index is searchable in numerous ways, but searching by last name or church name is probably most popular. The index lists the name of the record, volume and page number where the individual record can be found. The volume and page number refer to books located at the historical society. To view the actual record, use the printable on-line form that can be mailed to obtain a copy of the record or visit the society. There is a fee for acquiring the record by mail.


 * "100 years of the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese 1843–1943". Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Quarterly, 17:1. FamilySearch Library book 974.8 B2wg. Contains chronolgy, map, county-by-county information.

Land and Property
Land records in Westmoreland County began in 1773. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Greensburg, 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


 * 1850–present The Recorder of Deeds offers online access to land records. The online indexes are free but fees apply for copies.

Land Records on Microfilm


 * 1773-1886 Deeds and Index

Additional Resources

Note that the "Maps" section below 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 Westmoreland 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 Map of Westmoreland Co. Pennsylvania from Actual Surveys by D.J. Lake &amp; N.S. Ames, published by Wm. J. Barker in 1857
 * Ancestor Tracks also has an Atlas of the Township Warrantee Maps of Westmoreland County and a Companion Scans of Township Warrantee Maps plus Current Road Overlay CD ($). They show precise outlines in metes and bounds of each original tract and all surrounding tracts in each 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 each recorded patent.
 * The 1867 Atlas of Westmoreland County has been posted at USGenWeb Digital Map Library.

Revolutionary War
Westmoreland County men also served in the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment, the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment and the 9th Pennsylvania Regiment.

Obituaries
Courtesy of the Baltzer Meyer Historical Society:

Obituary Index created from their collection of obituaries of the years of individuals who resided in or had connections to Westmoreland County.

Courthouse
Westmoreland County Courthouse 2 N. Main Street Greensburg, PA 15601

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers
 * Greensburg Pennsylvania Family History Center

Taxation

 * 1783, 1786 - Returns of Taxables for the Counties of Bedford (1773 to 1784), Huntingdon (1788), Westmoreland (1783, 1786), Fayette (1785, 1786), Allegheny (1791), Washington (1786) and Census of Bedford (1784) and Westmoreland (1783). (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 22). Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Google Books - free.


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

Birth

 * 1782-1930 - - free index. Not complete for all years.
 * 1852-1854 – Pennsylvania Births Ancestry.com – $ Index with images.

The Register of Wills have incomplete birth records from 1852 to 1855 and complete records 1893 to 1905. You may obtain the records from:

Register of Wills 2 N. Main Street, Suite 301 Greensburg, PA 15601 Phone: 724-830-3177 Fax: 724-850-3976 Email: row@co.westmoreland.pa.us Hours: Monday, Wednesday to Friday 8:15 am to 4:15 am Tuesday 8:15 am to 6:00 pm

Marriage

 * 1802-1976 - - free index. Not complete for all years.

The Register of Wills have incomplete marriage records from 1852 to 1855 and complete records 1885 to the present. You may obtain the records from:

Register of Wills 2 N. Main Street, Suite 301 Greensburg, PA 15601 Phone: 724-830-3177 Fax: 724-850-3976 Email: row@co.westmoreland.pa.us Hours: Monday, Wednesday to Friday 8:15 am to 4:15 am Tuesday 8:15 am to 6:00 pm

In May 2012, the Register of Wills of the Orphan Court discovered marriages performed by District Judge, Raymond Tubbs from 1974 to 1989 had not been filed. This office is now trying to reconstruct the marriages. To learn about this problem visit their website. at http://www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/westmoreland/cwp/view.asp?a=1453&amp;q=639334.

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:

Westmoreland Prothonotary P.O. Box 1630 2 N. Main Street Suite 501 Greensburg, PA 15601 Phone: 724-830-3502

Death

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

The Register of Wills have incomplete death records from 1852 to 1855 and complete records 1893 to 1905. You may obtain the records from:

Register of Wills 2 N. Main Street, Suite 301 Greensburg, PA 15601 Phone: 724-830-3177 Fax: 724-850-3976 Email: row@co.westmoreland.pa.us Hours: Monday, Wednesday to Friday 8:15 am to 4:15 am Tuesday 8:15 am to 6:00 pm

Web Sites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * An early history of the county published in 1906 and biographical sketches of early residents can be found in this transcription project: Westmoreland County History.
 * An early history of the county published in 1906 and biographical sketches of early residents can be found in this transcription project: Westmoreland County History.