Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

Guide to Montgomery County, Pennsylvania ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The county is located in the south-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Montgomery County Courthouse 2 E Airy St P.O. Box 311 Norristown, PA 19404-0311 Phone: 610-278-3224 Office of the Prothonotary Phone: 610-278-3360 [http://rod.montcopa.org/rod/site/default.asp? Recorder of Deeds] Phone: 610-278-3289 [http://rwoc.montcopa.org/rwoc/site/default.asp? Register of Wills/Orphan's Court] Phone: 610-278-3400 Montgomery County Website Clerk of the Orphan Court has birth and death records 1893-1913 and marriage records from 1885 Register of Willshas probate records from 1784 Recorder of Deeds has land records from 1784 Prothonotary Office has divorce and court records from 1784

Office of the Prothonotary is responsible for recording and filing a wide variety of legal papers such as: personal injury, medical malpractice, divorce, custody, protection from abuse, judgments, change of name, District Justice appeals, processes passport applications, Federal income tax liens, and administers oaths and affirmations. Orphan's Court issues marriage licenses and has charge over petitions for adoptions. Recorder of Deeds collects deeds, mortgages, and other land records for the county. Register of Wills probates wills processes intestate estates and is an agent for the Commonwealth in collecting inheritance taxes. Records of all persons born in Montgomery County between 1893 and 1915 can be found here; after 1915, records were filed with the Department of Health.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Biographies

 * Biographical Annals of Montgomery County Pennsylvaniacontaining genealogical records of representative families, including many of the early settlers and biographical sketches of prominent citizens. Ellwood Roberts, Editor. Courtesy USGenWeb Archives
 * Biographies from Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (1904) published by T. S. Benham and The Lewis Publishing Co., are available free on the My Genealogy Hound website.

Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Indentured Servants

Cemeteries
Additional Cemetery Resources
 * ca.1700-ca.1950 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * PA-Roots
 * Names in Stone

Church Records
County-wide Database - Multi-denominational


 * 1682-1800 Humphrey, John T. Pennsylvania Births, Montgomery County, 1682-1800. Washington, D.C.: Humphrey Pub., 1993..


 * Contains baptisms of Abington Friends Monthly Meeting, Lower Merion Friends, Abington Presbyterian Church, Gwynedd Friends Monthly Meeting, Lower Dublin or Pennypack Baptist, Augustus Evangelical Lutheran Church at Trappe, New Goshenhoppen Reformed, St. Paul's Lutheran at Red Hill, New Hanover Lutheran, Falkner Swamp Reformed, Horsham Friends Monthly Meeting, Old Goshenhoppen Lutheran, Indian Creek Reformed, Indianfield Lutheran, St. Luke's Reformed at Trappe, Wentz's Reformed, Boehm's Reformed, Old Goshenhoppen Reformed Church, St. Paul's Lutheran at Barren Hill, Trinity Reformed at Pottstown, St. Paul's Lutheran at Ardmore, St. John's Lutheran at Centre Square, Emanuel Lutheran at Pottstown, St. Peter's Lutheran in North Wales Township, St. Thomas Protestant Episcopal, Plymouth Friends Monthly Meeting, records of Rev. John Casper Stoever (Lutheran), and records of Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg (Lutheran).


 * 1708-1985 Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 at Historical Society of Pennsylvania – $, free to members of the society; Also available at Ancestry $


 * Contains the church records of:
 * Ambler: Calvary United Methodist Church; Trinity Episcopal Church
 * Anconia Township: Anconia Mennonite Cemetery Gravestone Inscriptions; Salford Mennonite Church
 * Ardmore: Methodist Episcopal Church; United Methodist Church
 * Barren Hill: St. Peter's Lutheran Church
 * Blue Bell: Boehm's Reformed Church (United Church of Christ)
 * Bridgeport: Christ Church
 * Collegeville: Skippack Brethren Cemetery; Trinity Christian Church; Trinity Reformed Cemetery
 * Conshohocken: Calvary Church; Calvary Episcopal Church
 * Eagleville: Lower Providence Presbyterian Church
 * East Greenville: New Goshenhoppen United Church of Christ
 * Elkins Park: Church of the Annunciation
 * Fairview: Riton Brethren Cemetery
 * Flourtown: David H. Kollock III Funeral Homes, Record Books; First Presbyterian Church
 * Franconia: Indian Creek Reformed Church
 * Harleysville: Vincent Mennonite Cemetery
 * Lansdale: Plains Mennonite Cemetery
 * Limerick: James Union Lutheran and Reformed
 * Lower Salford Township: Salford Mennonite Church
 * Marion: Westminster Cemetery Company
 * Montgomeryville: Montgomery Square United Methodist
 * New Hanover: New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church
 * Norristown: Christ United Church of Christ; St. John's Episcopal Church; St. John's Episcopal Church (2)
 * Oaks: Germantown Ministry Church of the Brethren
 * Obelisk: St. Luke's Lutheran Church
 * Plymouth: Reverend L O Knipp Diary and Pastoral Record
 * Potts Grove: Presbyterian Church
 * Pottstown: Christ Episcopal Church; Trinity United Church of Christ
 * Prospectville: Prospectville Methodist Episcopal Church
 * Rockhill: Rockhill Mennonite Church
 * Roxborough: St. Timothy's Episcopal Church; St. Timothy's Protestant Episcopal Church [sic]
 * Schwenksville: Mennonite Cemetery
 * Skippack: Charles M. Pool Undertaker Records; Lower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery; Neutralist Newspaper; Upper Skippack Mennonite Cemetery; Warren G. Bean Ministerial Records
 * Towamencin Township: Towamencin Mennonite Cemetery Gravestone Inscriptions
 * Trappe: Frank W. Shalkop Undertaker Records
 * Upper Frederick Township: Riton Brethren Cemetery
 * Upper Hanover: Gehman Family Papers
 * Upper Providence: Providence Mennonite Cemetery
 * Worcester: Worcester Mennonite Cemetery


 * Montgomery County Church Records, courtesy USGenWeb Archives

Episcopalian

St. James's Church, Perkiomen

Early registers, which began in 1730, are lost. Surviving registers date from 1800.

For a history, read:


 * Barrow, A.J. "St. James's, Perkiomen," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 19 (1895):87-95. For free online access, see WeRelate.

St. Thomas's Church, Whitemarsh

Early registers "were destroyed in the Revolution."

Lutheran

Augustus Evangelical Lutheran Church, Trappe


 * 1712-1777 Augustus Evangelical Lutheran Church, Trappe, Marriage Index 1712-1777 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch

Indianfield Lutheran Church, Franconia Township


 * 1753-1838 Indianfield Lutheran Church, Franconia Township, Baptism Index 1753-1838 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch
 * 1753-1780 Indianfield Lutheran Church, Franconia Township, Marriage Index 1753-1780 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch

Lutheran Church, New Hanover


 * 1745-1809 Marriage Record of the Lutheran Church, New Hanover, Montgomery County, PA., 1748-1800 (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 2, Vol. 8, Part 7) at Ancestry ($); Google Books

Lutheran Church, Old Goshenhoppen


 * 1751-1780 Lutheran Church, Old Goshenhoppen, Marriage Index 1751-1780 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch

St. Peter's Yellow Church, North Wales Township


 * 1787-1856 Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 1787-1856: St. Peter's Yellow Church, North Wales Township at Ancestry ($). Births, marriages, deaths.

Methodist
 * 1920  Directory, First Cheltenham Methodist Episcopal Church, Cheltenham, Pa. ... February, 1920 at Ancestry ($).

Presbyterian

Ashbourne Presbyterian Church, Elkins Park


 * 1878-1919 Ashbourne Presbyterian Church, Elkins Park, Baptism Index 1878-1919 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch

Presbyterian Church, Abington


 * 1819-1864 Presbyterian Church, Abington, Baptism Index 1819-1864 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch
 * 1820-1862 Presbyterian Church, Abington, Marriage Index 1820-1862 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch

Reformed

Boehm's Reformed Church


 * Directory, Boehm's Reformed Church ... Blue Bell Montgomery County, Pa., founded 1740 ... at Ancestry ($).

Indian Creek Reformed Church


 * 1753-1851 Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 1753-1851: Indian Creek Reformed Church at Ancestry ($). Baptisms, marriages.

Reformed Church, Falkner Swamp


 * 1748-1800 Marriage Record of the Reformed Church, Falkner Swamp, Montgomery County, PA., 1748-1800 (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 2, Vol. 8, Part 6) at Ancestry ($); Google Books
 * 1748-1854 Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 1748-1854: Falckner Swamp Reformed Congregation at Ancestry ($). Births, marriages, deaths.

St. Paul's Memorial Church


 * Directory, St. Paul's Memorial Church ... Oaks, Pa. ... Lent, 1926 at Ancestry ($).

Trinity Reformed Church, Pottstown

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * 1770-1865 Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 1770-1865: Trinity Reformed Church of Pottstown at Ancestry ($). Births, marriages, deaths.
 * FamilySearch Places

Emigration and Immigration
Indentured Servants

Genealogies

 * All of the family biographies from The Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham &amp; Company and The Lewis Publishing Company are available free online on My Genealogy Hound.

Land and Property Records
Land records in Montgomery County began in 1850. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Norristown, Pennsylvania.

Online Land Indexes and Records
 * Abstracts of Early Deeds, 17 06:Philadelphia (many now Montgomery Co.), courtesy USGenWeb Archives
 * 1784-1877 Deeds, 1784-1866; Index, 1784-1877. - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1784-1946 Mortgages, 1785-1822; Index, 1784-1946. - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * The Register and Recorder offers online access to land records (available years are unknown). The online indexes are free but fees apply for copies.

Local Histories

 * History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. 2 volumes. 1975. Edited by Theodore W Bean. Evansville, Ind. : Unigraphic. Online at: Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Vol. 1 - Google Books, Vol. 2 - Google Books. The original is a reprint of the 1884 ed. published by Everts & Peck, Philadelphia, 1884.
 * History of Montgomery County within the Schuylkill Valley. 1859. By William J. Buck. Norristown, Pennsylvania : E. L. Acker. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Google Books;.
 * Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; a History. 3 volumes. c1923. By Clifton S. Hunsicker. New York, New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol. 3 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Vol. 1 - Internet Archive, Vol. 2 - Internet Archive, Vol. 3 - Internet Archive, Ancestry ($);.

Maps and Gazetteers
Maps
 * Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
 * Ancestor Tracks has posted free downloadable images from the 1868 Barnes' Driving Map of Philadelphia and Surroundings. This wall map located in the Library of Congress shows major landowner 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.
 * United States Geographic Survey Place Names - GNIS for Montgomery County(over 2000) (may not always be present in alphabetic order on first try.)
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Migration
Early migration routes to Montgomery County for European settlers included:


 * Minsi Path from Kingston, New York to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 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.

Military Records
Revolutionary War Local newspapers published obituaries on many Montgomery County Revolutionary War veterans. Summers abstracted these records and his article is available for free online:


 * Summers, William. "Obituary Notices of Pennsylvania Soldiers of the Revolution," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 38 (1914):443-460. For free online access, see WeRelate.

Civil War
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1791 -1906 Naturalization Papers - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1795-1930 Naturalization Petitions for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1795-1930 on Fold3.com - ($), indexed, National Archives publication M1522, incomplete for all counties.
 * 1795-1930 Naturalization Petitions for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania located in Selected US Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1790-1974 database on Ancestry $
 * 1795-1931  at FamilySearch
 * 1795-1952  on FamilySearch.org, National Archives publication M1248, browsesable images of card.

Newspapers
Newspapers of Montgomery County


 * Pennsylvania Newspapers
 * Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory

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.


 * Ambler Gazette Collection through Wissahickon Valley Public Library.

Online Newspaper Abstracts


 * 1947-2010  at FamilySearch
 * PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
 * Newspaper Clippings for Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Obituaries
Online Obituary Abstracts


 * PA-Roots Obituaries for Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
 * Index to Montgomery County Obituaries Death Notices and Funeral Notices (USGenWeb.com)
 * Montgomery County Obituaries, courtesy USGenWeb Archives

Obituary Excerpts and Abstracts


 * Marriages...Deaths from Der Nautralist, 1845-1854 (Trenton, New Jersey:NMI, Norton Micro-Images for the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania)
 * Compiled and arranged by Michael J. Osiol, Pottstown Area Necrology (S.I.:M.J. Osiol, 19--?) ;


 * Summers, William. "Obituary Notices of Pennsylvania Soldiers of the Revolution," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 38 (1914):443-460. For free online access, see WeRelate.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1683-1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry $
 * 1683-1994 at FamilySearch
 * 1784-1850 Williams, Richard T. Index of Wills &amp; Estate Settlements, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 1784-1850. Danboro, Pa.: R.T. and M.C. Williams, 1972. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * 1784-1973  at FamilySearch . Includes Montgomery County Will Index (1784-1942), Will Books 1-34 (1784-1907); Administration Record Index (1784-1941); Estate Index A-Z (1784-1973); Orphan's Court Dockets Volumes 1-15 (1784-1866); Proceedings Index Volumes 1-45 (1784-1973).
 * 1784-1941 Index to Administrations - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1784-1907 Wills - images only; click on the camera icon to view images; Index included: 1784-1942
 * 1784-1973 Probate Records - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * Will Abstracts 1784-1823 and index, courtesy USGenWeb Archives

School Records
Pottstown, PA High School: 1941 Football Team Photo with names of individuals.

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.

Tax Records

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

Vital Records

 * The following records are available at the Montgomery County Records Department:
 * 1841-1966 Delayed Birth Certificates
 * 1852-1855 Birth, Marriage and Death Records
 * 1885 to present Marriage Records, with bride and groom index
 * 1893-1915 Birth and Death Records

Birth
The following records are available at the Montgomery County Records Department:


 * 1726-1930  index. Not complete for all years. This collection is an 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.
 * 1841-1966 Delayed Birth Certificates
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Births Ancestry $
 * 1852-1855 Birth Records
 * 1893-1895 Montgomery County Birth Index 1893-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.
 * 1893-1915 Birth Records

Marriage
The following records are available at the Montgomery County Records Department:

Marriage records older than 25 years are not available at the courthouse. These records need to be brought in from an off site storage facility. When the record has been brought to the courthouse, the patron will be notified and may pick up the record at that time.

Order records by completing the following form.


 * 1626-2016 Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at FindMyPast ($)
 * 1677-1950  at FamilySearch
 * 1700-1821  Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry $
 * 1725-1976  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 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
 * Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
 * 1812-1839 Van Booskirk, Mahlon. "Marriages from Squire Van Booskirk's Docket," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 30 (1906):437-444. For free online access, see WeRelate. Van Booskirk was a Justice of the Peace. Republished as: "Marriage Record of Mahlon Van Booskirk," Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, Vol. 4, No. 3 (Mar. 1911):305-311. For online access, see WeRelate; the Family History Library also has this series in its collection:.
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
 * 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.
 * Index to Marriage Records at USGenWeb - Includes two indexes: the first is an alphabetical listing of brides and grooms in local newspapers, the second is a county marriage license search from the early 1990s to the presennt.

Death
The following records are available at the Montgomery County Records Department:
 * 1720-1999  at FamilySearch — index, some images
 * 1850-1880  at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry $
 * 1852-1855 Death Records
 * 1893-1915 Death Records
 * 1894 Montgomery County Birth Index 1894 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.

Divorce
Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary Montgomery County Courthouse.

Archives

 * National Archives at Philadelphia 14700 Townsend Road Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096 Phone: 215-305-2044 Fax: 215-305-2052 website


 * Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center 105 Seminary Street Pennsburg, PA 18073 Phone: 215–679–3103 Website Email: [mailto:info@schwenkfelder.com info@schwenkfelder.com]


 * This organization has over "200 unpublished records from churches in Montgomery, Berks, Lehigh and Bucks County, from the Schwenkfelder, Reformed, Lutheran, Mennonite, Brethren, and Roman Catholic congregations." It also has many years of five local newspapers, family genealogies and files, local and county histories, diaries, printed fraktur, cemetery records, photographs, and other types of records.


 * Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel 8339 Old York Road Elkins Park, PA 19027 Phone: 215-887-8700 Fax: 215-887-1070 Website


 * The Archives contains Jewish synagogue records from its founding in 1847 to the present.

Family History Centers

 * Pottstown Pennsylvania Family History Center
 * Philadelphia Pennsylvania Family History Center

Libraries

 * Montgomery Area Public Library 1 South Main Street Montgomery, PA 17752 Phone: 570-547-6212 Website The Montgomery Area Public Library is part of the Lycoming County Library System that holds genealogical, historical, and biographical items in their collection.


 * Valley Forge National Historical Park Library &amp; Archives 1400 North Outer Line Drive King of Prussia, PA 19406 Office: 610-783-1034 Fax: 610-783-1060 Library: 610-296-2593 Website This National Historic Park is staffed by The National Park Service and appointments are necessary. Contact Dona M. McDermott, Archivist. Email: [mailto:dona_mcdermott@nps.gov dona_mcdermott@nps.gov]

Museums

 * Valley Forge National Historical Park Museum 1400 North Outer Line Drive King of Prussia, PA 19406 Phone: 610-783-1000 Website


 * Temple Judea Museum Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel 8339 Old York Road, (SE corner Township Line Road) Elkins Park, PA 19027 Phone: 215-887-2027 Website Email: [mailto:TJMuseum@aol.com TJMuseum@aol.com] The museum has collections of art works, political items, military information, music, history, and more.

Societies

 * The Mennonite Heritage Center 565 Yoder Road Harleysville, PA 19438-1020 Phone: 215-256-3020 Email: [mailto:library@mhep.org library@mhep.org] Website 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.


 * The Lower Merion Historical Society Lower Merion Academy 506 Bryn Mawr Ave. Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 Website The Society preserves historic resources of the Township of Lower Merion and the Borough of Narberth. They have a collection of online biographical sketches, burial records, early maps, and other historical items. In their library are countless records that can be identified by online searches.


 * Historical Society of Montgomery County 1654 DeKalb Street Norristown, PA 19401 Phone: 610-272-0297 Website Established in 1881, the Society's library contains over thirty thousand titles including books, pamphlets, newspapers and archival materials, family files, censuses, city directories, maps, photographs, county and church records, and scrapbooks.

Websites

 * Montgomery County USGenWeb Archives
 * The Montgomery County PAGenWeb Project, a member of The PAGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * Montgomery County PA Genealogy
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.