Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

Guide to Philadelphia 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.

''This article is about a county in Pennsylvania. For the city, see Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.''

Philadelphia County Pennsylvania Historical Facts
Parent Counties: Formed as an original county 10 March 1682.

County Seat: Philadelphia

Neighboring Counties: Philadelphia County residents may also have records in:


 * Bucks
 * Camden County, New Jersey
 * Montgomery
 * Gloucester County, New Jersey
 * Burlington County, New Jersey
 * Delaware

Description
It's county seat is Philadelphia and was founded March 10, 1682. It is located in the Southeastern tip of the state.

Boundary Changes

 * 14 October 1751: Berks County set off.
 * 10 September 1784: Montgomery County set off.

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
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Bible Records

 * Philadelphia County Bible Records courtesy USGenWeb Archives

Biographies

 * Index of Biographies from Philadelphia, A History of the City and its People; A Record of 225 years, Published 1912, by S.H. Clark i Philadelphia, Author, Ellis Paxson Oberholtzer. Courtesy USGenWeb Archives
 * Everyname Index and Genealogy Clues, Colonial Families in Philadelphia, edited by John W. Jordan, 1911

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

Additional Cemetery Resources


 * PA-Roots
 * Names in Stone
 * Ancestry($)

Census

 * 1671 Transcription and Index

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:
 * Court of Quarter Sessions and Common Pleas
 * Chester: Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church
 * Frankford: St. Mark's Episcopal Church
 * Franklinville: Christ Episcopal Church
 * Germantown: St. John the Baptist Church
 * Hestonville: St. James Church
 * Lower Dublin: All Saints Church; All Saints Episcopal Church; Lower Dublin Baptist Church
 * Manoa: Epworth United Methodist Church
 * Perkasie: Heidelberg Reformed Church
 * Philadelphia: See Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Church Records for hundreds of additional church records included in this database
 * Roxborough: Roxborough Baptist Church; St. Alban Church
 * Torresdale: All Saints Episcopal Church
 * West Whiteland: Church of the Atonement


 * 1644-1780 Humphrey, John T. Pennsylvania Births, Philadelphia County, 1644-1780. 2 vols. Washington, D.C.: Humphrey Publications, 1994-1995..


 * Contains records of Gloria Dei, Old Swedes, or Wicaco Church (established 1642); Philadelphia Friends Monthly Meeting (est. 1682); Christ Church (est. 1695); First Presbyterian Church (est. 1698); Second Presbyterian Church (est. 1743); Pennypack Baptist Church in Lower Dublin Township (est. 1688); First Moravian Church (est. 1742); St. Michael's (est. 1728) and Zion (est. 1766) Lutheran Church, Philadelphia; First Reformed Church, Philadelphia (est. 1727); St. Michael's Lutheran Church in Germantown (est. 1738); German Reformed Church in Germantown (est. 1727); St. Joseph's Catholic Church (est. 1733); Trinity Episcopal Church in Oxford Township (est. 1698); First Baptist Church in Philadelphia (est. 1762); Friends Monthly Meeting, Pine and Orange Streets (records from 1730s); Scots Presbyterian Church (est. 1767); Personal register of Rev. Blackwell (records from 1750s); Northern District Monthly Meeting at 6th and Noble Sts. (records from 1750s); Southern District Monthly Meeting (records from 1730s); St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church (est. 1760); St. George's Methodist Episcopal Church (est. 1769).


 * Philadelphia County Church Records courtesy USGenWeb Archives
 * Churches listed in the 1840, 1850 and 1856 M'Elroy's Philadelphia City Directory
 * Contains Records of:
 * 18th Street Methodist Episcopal Church
 * All Saints (Protestant) Episcopal Church
 * Arch Street Presbyterian Church
 * Broad Street M.E. Church
 * Christ Church
 * German Reformed Chuch
 * First Reformed Church of Philadelphia
 * First Baptism Church
 * First, Second and Third Presbyterian Church
 * Immaculate Conception Church
 * Logan Baptis Church Directory
 * Moravian Church
 * Old St. Paul's P.E. Church
 * Pennepack Baptist Church
 * Philadelphia Monthly Meeting
 * Reformed Presbyterian Church
 * Salem Reformed Church
 * Sarah D. Cooper M.E. Church
 * St. Anne's Roman Catholic Church
 * St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church
 * St. Edward the Confessor Roman Catholic Church
 * St. James of Kingssesing (Episcopal)
 * St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
 * St. Mary's Catholic Church
 * St. Michael Roman Catholic Church
 * St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church
 * Swede's Church
 * Trinity (Episcopal) Church, Oxford

LDS Ward and Branch Records

 * Philadelphia

Lutheran
St. Michael's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Germantown


 * 1834-1922 St. Michael's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Germantown, Baptism Index 1832-1922 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.


 * Ziegenfuss, S.A. A Brief and Succinct History of Saint Michael's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germantown, Pennsylvania, 1730-1905: One Hundred and Seventy-fifth Anniversary, November 12-14, 1905. Digital version at - free.

Trinity Lutheran Church, Winchester Park


 * Trinity Lutheran Church, Winchester Park records in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Presbyterian
Market Square Presbyterian Church, Germantown


 * 1753-1856 Market Square Presbyterian Church, Germantown, Baptism Index 1753-1856 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1753-1856 Market Square Presbyterian Church, Germantown, Marriage Index 1753-1856 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

Wakefield Presbyterian Church, Germantown


 * 1874-1885 Wakefield Presbyterian Church, Germantown, Baptism Index 1874-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1875-1898 Wakefield Presbyterian Church, Germantown, Marriage Index 1875-1898 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

Court Records
Salmon compiled an inventory of "The Court Records of Philadelphia County 1683-1800," as an appendix to:


 * Salmon, Marylynn. "The Court Records of Philadelphia, Bucks, and Berks Counties in Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 107, No. 2 (Apr. 1983):249-292. Digital version at The Historical Society of Pennsylvania website - free.

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. Philadelphia County 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.

Prothonotary
Office of the Prothonotary First Judicial District of Pennsylvania City Hall, Room 284 Philadelphia, PA 19107 Phone: 215-686-6652

Orphan's Court (see Vital Records)

 * Clerk of Orphans' Court City Hall, Room 415 Philadelphia, PA 19107 Phone: 215-686-2219 or 215-686-2234


 * 1716-1755 Minutes of Court Records and Probate Actions,
 * 1719-1856 Orphans' Court Records; Index 1719-1938,
 * 1850–1878 Auditor's Accounts,

Directories

 * Fold3 ($) has Philadelphia City Directories 1785, 1791, 1793-1922 (7 yrs. missing) available online.
 * City Directories by Year courtesy USGenWeb Archives 1825, 1830, 1833, 1835-1850, 1856, 1859-1861, 1863, 1867, 1868, 1880, 1882, 1885, 1888, 1890, 1895, 1897, 1900-1910, 1921, 1935, 1936.
 * Don's List contains 1785, 1791, 1793, 1796, 1797, 1799-1801, 1803-1809, 1811, 1813-1814, 1816, 1818-1819, 1822-1823, 1828, 1830, 1833-1835, 1837, 1839-1867, 1895 Philadelphia directories.

Funeral Homes
Funeral records issued by a funeral home include financial records (cost of casket, dressings, etc.), funeral cards given out at the time of the funeral, etc. These records usually give the name of the deceased, when and where buried, if shipped out to another funeral home, purchaser of cemetery plot, etc. Funeral home records from Philadelphia include:


 * 1) David H. Bowen and Son, Undertakers (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). Funeral Records, 1845-1899

History
1633-1643: (-1647?) Dutch build a blockhouse (single log cabin fort) "at the Schuylkill" River (now Philadelphia). It was abandoned about 1643. See the New Sweden and the New Netherland Wiki article for details.

1641: Swedes and Finns spreading north from Fort Christina (present-day Wilmington, Delaware) first settle in Finland (Chamassungh), now Trainer, Pennsylvania  and Upland (Meckopenacka), now Chester, Pennsylvania. The New Sweden Colony continues to expand northward with new settlements as far as Philadelphia in the following years.

1642: The English build a blockhouse on Province Island (now Philadelphia airport) but are soon removed by the Dutch, probably with help from the Swedish.

1648-1651: The Dutch built Fort Beaversrede (now Philadelphia) inland from the Delaware River to be the first contact for Indian fur traders coming down the Schuylkill River. The Swedes respond by building a blockhouse between the Schuylkill and the Dutch fort in order to obscure the view of the fort from the river.

1651-1655: The New Netherland Colony builds Fort Casimir  (now New Castle, Delaware), settle Sandhook,   and abandon Fort Beversrede in 1651. In 1654 New Sweden captures Fort Casimir from the Dutch without a fight and rename it Fort Trinty (Trefaldighets). In 1655 New Netherland returns with a large army and all of New Sweden in presend-day Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey submits to Dutch rule.

1664: As part of the Second Anglo-Dutch War New Netherland including southeast Pennsylvania is surrendered to the English.

1673-1674: A new war breaks out and the Dutch send a large armada to retake New Netherland for a few months. But as the war ends the colony is ceded to England for the last time.

1680s: William Penn founded the English colony of Pennsylvania after receiving a grant in 1681 from the king of England. His colony offered religious freedom, liberal government, and inexpensive land. Quakers established the city of Philadelphia.

November 1682: William Penn selected the name Philadelphia which means Brotherly Love.

1700-1754: Welsh, German, and Scotch-Irish groups arrived.

Much of Philadelphia County's functions to exist with Act of Consolidation, 1854. Further consolidations took place in 1867, 1895, 1937, 1951, 1963 and finally 1965.

Land and Property
Land records in Philadelphia County began in 1682. These records are filed with the Philadelphia City Archives office in Philadelphia, 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


 * Online indexes are available through the City Archives for a fee.
 * 1734 "Landholders of Philadelphia County, 1734," Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, Vol. 1 (Jul. 1897):166-184. For free online access, see WeRelate.
 * Philadelphia Deed Book Indices http://philadox.phila.gov/phillyhistoricalindex/index.html

Online Land Record Abstracts


 * Philadelphia County Land Records courtesy USGenWeb Archives
 * Philadelphia in 1684
 * 1706-1707 Abstracts of Early Deeds Philadelphia (many now Montgomery County)
 * 1733-1866 Warrantees of Land
 * Land Sales of October 14, 1880

Land Records on Microfilm


 * 1683-1916 Deeds, 1683-1886; Index to Deeds, 1683-1916.
 * 1736-1851 Sheriff's Deeds.
 * 1740-1912 Partition Records.

Additional Resources

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

Click the image to view an enlarged version

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 Philadelphia 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)

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


 * The Atlantic Ocean, and Delaware Bay connected Philadelphia with Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and South America
 * Delaware River a pre-historic patthway serving as the border between New Jersey and Pennsylvania rises in Schoharie County, New York and flows by the Lehigh Canal in Pennsylvania, Frenchtown, Trenton where river meets tidewater, and past Bordentown in New Jersey, Philadelphia in Pennsylvania to empty into the North Atlantic Ocean.
 * Minsi Path a pre-historic American Indian trail from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Kingston, New York, that is, from the Ulster and Delaware Turnpike to the Great Valley Road.
 * Lehigh and Lackawanna Paths from Unadilla, New York to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that is, from the Catskill Turnpike to the Great Valley Road.
 * King's Highway 1673 connected Boston, Massachusetts to Charleston, South Carolina and many coastal cities between including Philadelphia and New York City.
 * Great Valley Road an ancient American Indian trail that served as the border to Indian land until 1744 and then became one of the most important westward migration routes from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Knoxville, Tennessee including a south fork from Roanoke, Virginia to Augusta, Georgia.
 * Forbes Road built during the French and Indian War in 1758 to help the British army attack French forces by reaching from Philadelphia to Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania).
 * Delaware and Raritan Canal 1834 connected New Brunswick, New Jersey on the Raritan River (and NY City) to Bordontown, New Jersey on the Delaware River and parts of Pennsylvania

Military

 * 1783-1790 Philadelphia City Muster Rolls courtesy USGenWeb Archives

Revolutionary War
Philadelphia County men also served in the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment, and the 9th Pennsylvania Regiment.

Civil War

 * - 1st Regiment, New York Veteran Cavalry, Company C
 * - 71st Regiment, New York Infantry, Company G

World War I
 * Philadelphia in the World War

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization indexes and Records


 * 1789-1880 Naturalization Petitions for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1795-1930 on Fold3.com ($), National Archives publication M1522, incomplete for all counties


 * 1795-1931  at FamilySearch — index and images


 * 1795-1930 Philadelphia Naturalization Records 1789-1880 on Ancestry.com ($), incomplete for all counties

Original Naturalization Records on Microfilm


 * 1728–1775 Immigration Lists, Oaths of Allegiance in Philadelphia, Books A–G Philadelphia County (Pennsylvania). Recorder of Deeds.


 * 1743 Extract aus der Registratur der Supreem Court zu Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Supreme Court (Philadelphia County). Text in German and English.


 * 1777–1790 Oaths of Allegiance Pennsylvania. General Assembly. Predominantly loyalty oaths rather than naturalization papers.


 * 1793–1906 Petitions for Naturalization Pennsylvania. Court of Common Please (Philadelphia County). Indexes 1793–1930. See catalog notes.


 * 1794–1911 Declarations of Intention Pennsylvania. Court of Common Please (Philadelphia County).


 * 1795–1851 Naturalization Register Pennsylvania. Court of Common Please (Philadelphia County).


 * 1795–1911 Naturalization Petitions and Records United States. Circuit Court (Pennsylvania: Eastern District).


 * 1795–1931 Naturalization Petitions, and Declarations, 1906–1931 United States. District Court (Pennsylvania: Eastern District). Index 1795–1928. Also available online, access through catalog listing. Note missing petitions.


 * 1800–1929 Petitions for Naturalization Pennsylvania. Court of Quarter Sessions (Philadelphia County), includes index, 1802–1930.


 * 1802–1837 Index to Naturalization and Declaration Reports [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania] Microfilm of original records at the Philadelphia City Archives.


 * 1802–1932 Declarations of Intentions Pennsylvania. Court of Quarter Sessions (Philadelphia County), includes index 1810–1887. Records not available 1907–1912.


 * 1811–1874 Petitions for Naturalization Pennsylvania. District Court (Philadelphia County).


 * 1818–1875 Declarations of Intention of Naturalization Pennsylvania. District Court (Philadelphia County).


 * 1839–1843 Declarations of Intention Pennsylvania. Court of General Sessions (Philadelphia County).


 * 1881–1930 Naturalization Index for Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Includes petitions and declarations filed in the Circuit Court (Pennsylvania: Eastern District).


 * 1916–1930 Index to Declarations of Intentions and Petitions for Naturalization, Petitions for Naturalization, 1914 Pennsylvania. Court of Quarter Sessions (Philadelphia County).

Newspapers
Newspapers of Philadelphia County


 * Pennsylvania Newspapers
 * Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory

Online Newspapers


 * The Philadelphia Record 17 June 1881 - 31 August 1910
 * Aurora General Advertiser - 1300+ full-text digital issues in Google News Archive; covers 1795-1901
 * Philadelphia Inquirer Civil War Archive 1860-1865
 * Various Philadelphia newspapers Civil War Era Collection 1858-1870
 * Various Philadelphia newspapers 1719-current - ($)
 * Evening Public Ledger 1915-1922 - ($)
 * Evening Telegraph 1864-1871- ($)

Online Newspaper Abstracts


 * PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Philadelphia County.
 * Philadelphia County Newspaper Articles and Death Lists courtesy USGenWeb Archives

Newspaper Excerpts and Abstracts


 * Edward W. Hocker and I. Pearson Willits, Genealogical Notes from the Incomplete Files of "The Germantown Telegraph" (SLC, Utah, 1973)

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 Philadelphia County.
 * USGenWeb Philadelphia County Obituaries
 * Philadelphia County Obituaries courtsy USGenWeb Archives.

Obituary Extracts and Abstracts


 * Deaths from Berks, Dauphin and Philadelphia Counties Newspapers, 1791-1864 (SLC, Utah 1964)
 * Compiled by Sandralee Summers Jensen, Death Notices from the Philadelphia Enquire, January 1933 (1995?)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes


 * 1683-1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry.com — index and images $


 * 1683-1994 at FamilySearch — images


 * 1682-1839 "Philadelphia Wills," Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, 1682-1692: Vol. 1 (Jul. 1986):45-89; 1692-1697: Vol. 2 (Jun. 1900):7-33; 1697-1700: Vol. 3, No. 1 (Jan. 1906):12-37; 1700-1701: Vol. 3, No. 2 (Jan. 1907):144-152; 1688-1745: Vol. 3, No. 3 (Jun. 1908):161-189, 1701-1702: Vol. 3, No. 3 (Jun. 1908):245-254; 1746-1812: Vol. 5, No. 2 (Mar. 1913):174-240; 1812-1839: Vol. 5, No. 3 (Mar. 1914):271-322. For free online access to Vols. 1, 3, and 5, see WeRelate; see also . Includes abstracts of Will Books A and B and Administration Book A.
 * 1682-1782 Richard T and Mildred G Williams, Index of Wills &amp; Administration Records, Philadelphia, Pennsylvnia, 1682-1782. (Danboro, Pennsylvania : 1972). Available digitally online in FS catalog.


 * 1682-1819 Philadelphia County Wills, 1682-1819. Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1900. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * 1682-1924 Philadelphia County (Pennsylvania). Register of Wills. Wills, 1682-1916; Indexes to Wills, 1682-1924.


 * 1719-1880 Pennsylvania. Orphans' Court (Philadelphia County). Orphans' Court Records, 1719-1880: Orphans' Court Index, 1719-1938..

Online Probate Abstracts


 * 1682-1825 Will Abstract Indexes courtey USGenWeb Archives
 * Will and Estate Records courtesy [USGenWeb Archives]

Original Probate Records on Microfilm


 * 1682-1916 Wills - Indexes included: 1682-1924

Repositories

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

Archives

 * Philadelphia City Archives Suite 150 3101 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 Phone: 215-685-9401 Fax: 215-685-9409 Email: [mailto:archives@phila.gov archives@phila.gov] Hours and holidays


 * Philadelphia City Archives, Genealogical Resources, include records of births (1860-1915), marriages (1860-1885), marriage licenses (1885-1915), deaths (1803-1915), deeds (1683-1952), and naturalizations (1793-1930), plus city directories (1785-1930, 1935-1936).




 * National Archives at Philadelphia 14700 Townsend Road Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096 Phone: 215-305-2044 Fax: 215-305-2052 E-mail: [mailto:philadelphia.archives@nara.gov philadelphia.archives@nara.gov]


 * Family History Research section has the following records: census passenger, naturalization, military, and more.

Courthouse

 * Philadelphia County Courthouse Philadelphia City Hall Broad &amp; Market Streets Philadelphia, PA 19107 Phone: 215-683-6950
 * The offices include:
 * U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
 * Court-Common Pleas
 * Marriage Bureau
 * Prothonotary Office


 * Philadelphia City Archives 3101 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 Phone: 215-685-9401 Fax: 215-685-9409 Email: [mailto:archives@phila.gov archives@phila.gov]
 * Genealogical resources at the City Archives of Philadelphia listed below are available for searching by the patrons. The Archives has self-service coin-operated microfilm readers and a reader-printer.
 * BIRTHS: 1 July 1860 - 30 June 1915
 * DEATHS: 1803 - 30 June 1915
 * MARRIAGES: 1 July 1860 - 30 December 1885
 * NATURALIZATIONS: 1793 - 1930
 * CITY DIRECTORIES: 1785-1930, 1935
 * DEEDS: 1683 - 1952


 * Other records include:
 * Common Pleas Court: Divorce dockets 1851-1875 (docket entries only - papers not in custody of Archives)
 * Guardians of the Poor: Support Bonds (indexed): Apprenticeship indentures (partially indexed)
 * City and County Commissioners: Tax Assessment Registers ca. 1769 - ca. 1820 (varies by ward or district); Street Lists of Voters, 1928-1929, 1934, 1948-ca. 1980.


 * Recorder of Deeds City Hall, Suite 111 Market-Frankford Line Philadelphia, PA 19107 Phone: 215-686-2260


 * Office of the Prothonotary First Judicial District of Pennsylvania City Hall, Room 284 Philadelphia, PA 19107 Phone: 215-686-6652

Family History Centers
See also:


 * Philadelphia Pennsylvania Family History Center
 * Philadelphia Pennsylvania Metro Family History Center

Libraries

 * Free Library of Philadelphia has 54 branches within the city. Searching their catalog one finds a number of genealogy, local history, and biographical offerings.


 * The Mennonite Heritage Center 565 Yoder Road Harleysville, PA 19438-1020 Phone: 215-256-3020 Email: [mailto:library@mhep.org library@mhep.org]
 * The Mennonite Historians of Eastern Pennsylvania support the John L. Ruth Historical Library and Museum at the Mennonite Heritage Center. Located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania the records and resources of this treasure also cover the counties of Bucks, Chester, Berks, Lehigh, Northampton, and Philadelphia. The website provides a comprehensive overview of library resources, online cemetery database, manuscript collections, photo collections, archival collections, and more.

Museums

 * Philadelphia History Museum 15 South 7th Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 Phone: 215-685-4830 Fax: 215-685-4837 Email: [mailto:info@philadelphiahistory.org info@philadelphiahistory.org]
 * The museum has many historical collections and city history lessons.

Societies

 * African American Genealogy Group (AAGG) P.O. Box 1798 Philadelphia, PA 19106 Phone: 215-574-6063


 * Historical Society of Pennsylvania 1300 Locust Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 Phone: 215-732-6200.
 * Collections of the society include information from all Mid-Atlantic States. The Society's digital history project offers several online records and multi-media items.
 * The Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies merged with the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in January 2002. The Balch Institute gathered a many records about ethnic and immigrant groups.


 * Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Philadelphia JGSGP Library at Tuttleman Jewish Public Library Newman Building at Gratz College, 2nd Floor 7605 Old York Road Melrose Park, PA 19027
 * The Society which was founded in 1979 is devoted to researching, preserving, and sharing Jewish heritage and genealogy. They publish a quarterly newsletter, "Chronicles". The catalog to the Library is free online, though registration is required.

School Records

 * Philadelphia County School Records courtesy USGenWeb Archives
 * Includes records of:
 * Central High School, 1895
 * Central Manuel Training School, 1905
 * Episcopal Hospital School of Nursing, 1890-1912
 * Frankford High School, 1942
 * Geo Clymer School, graduates, 1948, 1949, 1952
 * Jefferson Medical College
 * Kensington High School, Class of 1924
 * Philadelphia High School for Girls, 1962
 * West Philadelphia High School, Class of 1929

Taxation

 * 1693 Rawle, William Brooke. "The First Tax List for Philadelphia County. A.D. 1693," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 8 (1884):82-105. For free online access, see WeRelate.


 * 1769, 1774, 1779 -Proprietary, Supply, and State Tax Lists of the City and County of Philadelphia: For the Years 1769, 1774 and 1779. (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 14). Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Google Books - free.


 * 1779-1781 Proprietary, Supply, and State Tax Lists of the City and County of Philadelphia: For the Years 1779, 1780 and 1781. (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 15). Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * 1781-1783 Supply, and State Tax Lists of the City and County of Philadelphia: For the Years 1781, 1782 and 1783. (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 16). Digital version at Ancestry ($).


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


 * Philadelphia County Tax Lists courtesy USGenWeb Archives

Vital Records

 * Philadelphia County City Archives 3101 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 Phone: 215-685-9402 Email: [mailto:archives@phila.gov archives@phila.gov]

See also How to order Pennsylvania Vital Records

Birth

 * 1726-1930  - free index. Not complete for all years. This index is an electronic index for the years 1726 to 1930. It is not necessarily intended to index any specific set of records. This index is not complete for any particular place or region. This collection may include information previously published in the International Genealogical Index or Vital Records Index collections.


 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania, Births 1852-1854 Index with images (none from Philadelphia). Ancestry ($)
 * 1860-1906  - free index (images available for LDS members only).
 * 1860-1903 Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). Board of Health. Birth Registers, 1860-1903, For the City of Philadelphia.
 * 1860-1915 Birth Registrations are available at the Philadelphia City and County Archives:
 * 1904-1915 Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). Board of Health. Birth Returns, 1904-1915, Filed by Physician, Midwife, or Hospital and Birth Index Cards, 1904-1915, for Philadelphia.
 * Some Philadelphia County Births

Marriages
Information on how to obtain a copy of the actual marriage record can be found this link.

Additional resources:


 * 1626-2016 - Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1677-1950  at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 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.
 * 1752-1804 Early Marriage Papers of Philadelphia County,1752–1804. Family History Library film  20438 item 8.
 * 1808-1895 Marriages in Philadelphia, 1808-1895.  381275-8.
 * 1814-1839 Marriage Register of Philadelphia County, 1814 to 1839. Family History Library film  20438 item 5.
 * 1846-1852 Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). Board of Health. Certificates of Marriages Before John Dennis, Alderman of Philadelphia, 1846-1852.  20447 item 3.
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) Index with images.
 * 1857-1938 Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). Mayor. Marriage Records, 1857-1938.  974.811 V28k
 * 1860-1885 Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). Board of Health. Marriage Returns, 1860-1885, Filed by Person Performing the Ceremony.  film 1764889. These records are returns of marriages arranged quarterly under the name of the person performing the marriage. They include the date of ceremony, the name, age, place of birth, and residence of parties involved; and the groom's occupation and race. The records are the source for:
 * 1860-1885 Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). Board of Health. Marriage Register, 1860-1885. . These films are difficult to read in many places.
 * 1860-1885 Marriages Records are available at the Philadelphia City and County Archives
 * 1880-1908 Pennsylvania. Magistrate's Court (Philadelphia). Record of Marriages, 1880-1908, in Magistrate's Court No. 9..
 * 1885-1916 Philadelphia County (Pennsylvania). Clerk of the Orphans' Court. Affidavit of Applicant for Marriage License 1885-1915; Index 1885-1916..
 * 1885-1950  Extracted marriage records – free. Most of the records consist of marriage licenses, certificates, applications, docket books, and affidavits. This database is incomplete for all counties. May also contain marriage records earlier than 1885.
 * 1885-1951  - free index with images.
 * 1885-1951 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Marriage Index, 1885-1951 at Ancestry.com – ($).
 * 1947-2010  at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Philadelphia County Marriages
 * Marriage Licenses and Notices
 * Orphan's Court Marriage Index, 1885-1916

Divorce
Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary. The office of the Prothonotary is located in the courthouse building.

Death

 * 1803-1915.
 * 1803-1915 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Death Certificates Index, 1803–1915 at Ancestry.com – ($).
 * 1906-1963 Pennsylvania, Death Certificates Index, 1906–1963 at Ancestry.com – ($).
 * 1803-1915 Death Records are available at the Philadelphia City and County Archives.
 * 1803-1860 Pennsylvania Historical Survey. Work Projects Administration. Index to Registration of Deaths, City of Philadelphia, 1803-1860.  item 2.
 * 1807-1840 Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). Department of Public Health. Burial Records, 1807-1840.
 * 1832-1860 Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) Department of Public Health. Death Records, 1832-1860.
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania, Deaths, 1852–1854 Index with images. Ancestry ($)
 * 1860-1903 Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). Board of Health. Death Registers, 1860-1903. . Images online
 * 1904-1915 Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). Bureau of Health. Death Certificates, 1904-1915: Death Indexes, 1904-1915.  Images online
 * 1947-2010  at FamilySearch — index and images

Philadelphia County Pennsylvania Places
Prior to 1854 consolidation:


 * City: Philadelphia
 * Boroughs: Aramingo . Bridesburg . Byberry . Frankford . Germantown . Kingsessing . Manayunk . Oxford . Roxborough . West Philadelphia . Whitehall
 * Districts: Belmont . Kensington . Northern Liberties . Penn . Richmond . Southwark . Spring Garden
 * Townships: Blockley . Bristol . Delaware . Germantown . Lower Dublin . Moreland . Moyamensing . Northern Liberties . Passyunk . Penn.

Philadelphia County Pennsylvania Genealogy Websites

 * Philadelphia County, PA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * The Philadelphia County PAGenWeb Project, a member of The PAGenWeb Project
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * USGenWeb Archives backup site
 * Philadelphia County Genealogy, links to online records