Monroe County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

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

Description
The county was named James Monroe. It is located in the east-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Monroe County Courthouse 610 Monroe Street Stroudsburg, PA 18360 Phone: 570-517-3370 Fax:  570-420-3582 Register of Wills  Phone: 570-517-3359 Monroe County Recorder Phone: 570-517-3969 Monroe County Website County Clerk has birth records 1892-1905, marriage records from 1885, court records from 1845, and divorce records from 1900 Register of Wills has probate records Recorder of Deeds has land records

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:

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

Church Records
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 $


 * Contains the church records of:
 * Brodheadsville: Zion United Church Lutheran Broadheadsville
 * Clifford: East Stroudsburg Presbyterian Church
 * East Stroudsburg: Middle Smithfield Presbyterian Church
 * Paradise Valley: Keokee United Methodist Church
 * Stroudsburg: Christ Episcopal Church; St. John's Lutheran Church; Stroudsburg United Methodist Church
 * Tannersville: United Church of Christ



Dutch Reformed The first church in Monroe County was a Dutch Reformed Church, organized in 1737 and called the Old Log Church. It was located in Smithfield. The Smithfield Church was one of the four Dutch Reformed churches built in about 1741 in the area. The other 3 churches were all built on the other side of the Delaware River in Minisink Valley area (Northwestern New Jersey).
 * 1741-1825 Humphrey, John T. Pennsylvania Births, Carbon County, 1795-1825; Monroe County, 1741-1825; Schuylkill County, 1755-1825. Washington, D.C.: PA Genealogy Books, 2006. .:Contains church records of the Dutch Reformed Church, Smithfield Township; Lutheran and Reformed Congregations in Hamilton Township; Lutheran and Reformed Congregations in Lower Smithfield Township; Stroudsburg Monthly Meeting; and Lutheran and Reformed Congregations at Gilbert in Chestnuthill Township.
 * 1741-1814 Canfield, Amos. "Records of the Reformed Dutch Church at Smithfield, Pennsylvania," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record,
 * Church Officials 1745-1814, Membership Lists 1745-1788, Marriage Banns 1742-1786, Baptisms 1741-1749: Vol. 57, No. 1 (Jan. 1926):63-74;*Baptisms 1749-1807: Vol. 57, No. 2 (Apr. 1926):142-152. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Lutheran

Hamilton Church


 * Miscellaneous Hamilton Church Records on at PAGenWeb – free, incomplete

Salem Reformed and Lutheran Church, Chestnut Hill Township


 * Baptism Records of Salem Reformed and Lutheran Church on at PAGenWeb – free, located in Chestnut Hill Township

Salem Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed Church, Gilbert


 * 1807-1866 Salem Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed Church, Gilbert, Baptism Index 1807-1866 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch

Methodist The Delaware Water Gap Methodist Church (also called Dutotsburg) began in 1800.

Presbyterian The Smithfield Stone Church was erected in 1752 and later became known as the Presbyterian Church in 1853 (Image courtesy of the Monroe County Historical Association). The church welcomed all Protestant denominations. The Church of the Mountain was organized in Delaware Water Gap in 1854.


 * 1832-1853 "The Smithfield, Pa., Presbyterian Church," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, List of Births, Baptisms 1842-1853, Marriages 1842-1853, Membership Lists 1832-1843: Vol. 57, No. 2 (Apr. 1926):153-160. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Reformed List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Baptism Records of Salem Reformed and Lutheran Church on at PAGenWeb – free, located in Chestnut Hill Township
 * FamilySearch Places

Land and Property Records
Land records in Monroe County began in 1836. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1958–present Images (since 1958) and an index (since 1979) are available on-line using the Landex system. There is a fee to view the images.

Local Histories

 * History of Monroe County, Pennsylvania. 1927. By Robert Brown Keller. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania : Monroe Pub. Co. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library;.
 * History of Northampton, Lehigh, Monroe, Carbon, and Schuylkill Counties. 1885. By I. Daniel Rupp. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania : Hickok and Cantine. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive;.
 * History of Wayne, Pike and Monroe Counties, Pennsylvania. 1886. Ed. by Alfred Mathews. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : R.T. Peck. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Google Books.

Maps and Gazetteers
Maps
 * Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
 * Ancestor Tracks has posted free downloadable images from the Map of the Counties of Munroe and Carbon, Pennsylvania from the Surveys under the Direction of H.F. Walling (New York, 1860). 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.
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Migration
The migration routes used by early European settlers to and from Monroe County 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.
 * Delaware River.

Military Records

 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index

Naturalization and Citizenship
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 $

Newspapers
Newspapers of Monroe County

Microfilms of the following newspapers can be found in the Kemp Library located on the campus of the East Stroudsburg University. This library is located at 200 Prospect Ave, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania 18301; Phone: 570-422-3465. Microfilm copies can be made for a minimal fee. See also Kemp Library at East Stroudsburg University

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.


 * Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory.
 * Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive
 * Pennsylvania Newspapers
 * The Jeffersonian (Stroudsburg, PA) 1853-1911

Online Newspaper Abstracts


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

Obituaries
Online Obituary Abstracts


 * PA-Roots Obituaries for Monroe County, Pennsylvania.

Probate Records

 * Monroe County Wills Filed at Easton, North Hampton County, Pennsylvania. This is brief extract of information contained in about 60 wills found on the Monroe County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb site.

Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1683 -1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry $
 * 1683 -1994 at FamilySearch

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

 * 1775-1847 Tax Lists for Monroe County, PA at PAGenWeb

Birth

 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Births Ancestry $

Marriage

 * 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 FamilySearch.
 * Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
 * 1860-1865 Marriage Abstracts from Monroe Democrat, courtesy USGenWeb Archives.
 * 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.

Death

 * 1720-1999  at FamilySearch — index, some images
 * 1850-1880  at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry $

Divorce
Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary.

Archives
The Monroe County Archives was established in 2005 and is located at One Quaker Plaza, Room 207, Stroudsburg, PA., 18360. The archivist, B.J. (Bette Jo) Bachman, advised that you make an appointment prior to doing research by calling 570-517-3189. Requests are accepted by mail with an enclosed fee of $5.00 per name, plus a small fee for copies of documents found. The fee must be submitted in the form of a money order payable to the Monroe County Archives. Below is a brief listing of the holdings at the archives :


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

Family History Centers

 * Nazareth Pennsylvania Family History Center

Libraries

 * Eastern Monroe Public Library Hughes Library (main branch) 1002 North Ninth Street Stroudsburg, PA 18360 Phone: 570-421-0800 Website
 * The Library collection includes:The History of Monroe County and the surrounding areas, Some Family History Books, Pennsylvania Civil War Conscientous Objectors Database, Access to Ancestory.com and Heritage Quest


 * Western Pocono Community Library 131 Pilgrim Way Broadheadsville, PA 18322 Phone: 570-992-7934. Website
 * This library has a limited number of family genealogies.They do have microfilm of the records of the Salem Union Church located in Gilbert, Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, for the years 1806-1924. These microfilms are also found in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Access these films at FamilySearch online or through your local family history library.


 * The Easton Public Library 515 Church Street Easton, PA 18042-3597 Phone: 610-258-2917 Website
 * This library has a dedicated family history research room called The Marx Room. In the Marx Room you will find over 15,000 items of interest to local researchers looking for ancestors who lived in Northampton County prior to the formation of Monroe County in 1836.The collection includes but is not limited to the following records: Family History Books, Periodicals, Local Newspapers from 1799 - current, Obituary Indexes, 175 Volumes of Northampton County Church and Cemetery Records, Northampton Court Records, Extracts, DAR publications, Vertical Family Files,.

Museums

 * Cresco Station Museum P.O. Box 358 Mountainhome, PA 18342 Phone: 570-595-6157 Email: stationmuseum@verizon.net Website
 * The purpose is to promote the history of Barrett Township. The museum has an archives that collects information as well as scans records and returns them to the original owner. Contact the archivist for more information: [mailto:leeanne@uplink.net leeanne@uplink.net].

Societies

 * The Monroe County Historical Association Jacob Stroud Manson 900 Main Street Stroudsburg, PA 18360 Phone: 570-421-7703 Website
 * Check website for Elizabeth D Walters Library usage fees. A partial listing of the holdings in the library is as follows: Many Local Family Histories, U S Census Records, Some Newspapers from 1840 - 1999, Vertical Files by Surname and Subject, Obituary Collections,Monroe County Church Records, Monroe County Death Records from Sep 1893 - Oct 1905, Monroe County Cemetery Lists, Monroe County Funeral Home Records,County and State Histories, City Directories and Phonebooks, Maps.


 * Barrett Township Historical Society Cresco Station Museum P.O. Box 358 Mountainhome, PA 18342 Phone: 570-595-6157 Email: [mailto:stationmuseum@verizon.net stationmuseum@verizon.net] Facebook Website
 * Coolbaugh Township Historical Association Wills Mansion 5550 Memorial Dr., Rt. 611 Tobyhanna, PA 18466 Phone: 570-894-4207
 * Eldred Township Historical Society P.O. Box 600 490 Kunkletown Rd Kunkletown, PA 18058 Phone: 610-381-4252
 * Historical Association of Tobyhanna Township P.O. Box 2084 Pocono Pines, PA 18350 Phone: 570-972-6812 Website
 * Paradise Township Historical Society P.O. Box 94 Henryville, PA 18332 Phone: 570-629-2727 Website
 * Pocono Jackson Historical Society P.O. Box 572 Tannersville, PA 18372
 * Polk/Chestnuthill Township Historical Society P.O. Box 243, Route 715 S Brodheadsville, PA 18322 Phone: 570-992-7247 Email: [mailto:info@chestnuthilltwp-pa.gov info@chestnuthilltwp-pa.gov]
 * Genealogical Research Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Inc. (GRSNP) 1100 Main Street Peckville, PA 18452 Phone: 570-383-7661 FAX: 570-383-7466 Email: [mailto:info@grsnp.org info@grsnp.org] The GRSNP serves northeastern counties:Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming. Website

Websites

 * USGenWeb
 * Monroe 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.