Northampton County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

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

Description
The county was named for Northamptonshire. The county is located in the mideastern central tip of the state.

County Courthouse
Northampton County Courthouse 669 Washington Street Easton, PA 18042 Phone: 610-829-6500 Northampton County

Courthouse Archives: 610-829-1220 Office of the Prothonotary: 610-829-6457 Orphan's Court: 610-829-6488 or 610-829-6494 Register of Wills Phone:  610-829-6488   Fax:  610-559-3735 Clerk of Orphan Court has birth records 1893-1936 and marriage records from 1885 Prothonotary Office has divorce and court records 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:

History Timeline

 * Davis' History of Northampton Cuonty, Pennsylvania, 1877courtesy USGenWeb Archives

Bible Records

 * Northampton County Archives Bible Records at USGenWeb Archives

Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Indentured Servants

Cemeteries

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

Additional Cemetery Resources
 * ca.1700-ca.1950  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images (incomplete)


 * The Cemetery Database at the Mennonite Heritage Center includes 86,000 burial records from 125 local cemeteries. Records cover cemeteries in the counties of Berks, Bucks, Butler, Chester, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, and Westmoreland. The database provides transcriptions from Mennonite, Brethren, Lutheran, Reformed, Union, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, community, and private cemeteries. Search the list of cemeteries and the alphabetical surname lists in Adobe PDF format.

Census Records
Federal Census
 * 1850-1880  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Church Records

 * Visit Northampton County, Pennsylvania Church Records for information about church denominations and records in Northampton County.

Court Records

 * 1752 (*); Court of Common Pleas at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1752-1882 (*); Orphans' Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1798-1828  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Alphabet index then by numbered entry
 * 1900-1923  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only (by county)
 * 1952-1957   at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Indentured Servants

Guardianship

 * 1752 -1882 Orphans court records (index 1752–1882)

Land and Property Records
Land records in Northampton County began in 1752. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Easton, Pennsylvania. Most of the 19th century deeds are preserved in the county Archives.

Online Land Records


 * 1985–present Images are available online using the Landex system. There is a fee to view the images.

Land Records on Microfilm


 * 1752-1922 Mortgages, 1799-1822; Index, 1752-1922.
 * 1752-1926 Deeds, 1752-1866; Miscellaneous Records, 1815-1866, and Index, 1752-1926

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

Local Histories

 * History of Northampton County Pennsylvania. 1877. Philadelphia, Pa. : Peter Fritts. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry ($);.
 * History of Northampton County, Pennsylvania, and the Grand Valley of the Lehigh. 3 volumes. 1920. Under supervision of William J. Heller. New York, New York : American Historical Society. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vol. 3 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vols. 1-3 - Hathitrust;.
 * 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;.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
 * Ancestor Tracks has posted free downloadable images from the 1860 Map of Northampton Co., Pennsylvania, published by Smith, Gallup and Co. This wall map located in the Library of Congress 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.
 * Township Maps courtesy USGenWeb Archives
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Migration
Early migration routes to and from Northampton County for European settlers included:


 * Delaware River a pre-historic patthway serving as the border between New Jersey and Pennsylvania rises in Schoharie (NY) 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.
 * Delaware and Raritan Canal 1834 connected New Brunswick, New Jersey on the Raritan River (and NY City) to Bordentown, New Jersey on the Delaware River and parts of Pennsylvania including the Lehigh Canal and Northampton County with the D and R Canal at Frenchtown.
 * 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

Many Germans from Northampton County served in the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment. Northampton County men also served in the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment (probably) and the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment.

Civil War
 * 1861-1865  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1865-1936  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

World War II
 * 1933-1947  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records


 * 1740-1773 Pennsylvania Naturalizations, 1740-1773 on Ancestry $
 * 1795-1930 Naturalization Petitions for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania located in Selected US Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1790-1974 database on Ancestry $
 * 1795-1930 Naturalization Petitions for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1795-1930 on Fold3.com - ($), indexed, National Archives publication M1522, incomplete for all counties
 * 1795-1931  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1795-1952  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers
Newspapers of Northampton County

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

Online Newspaper Abstracts


 * PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Northampton County, Pennsylvania.

Obituaries

 * 1947-2021  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1977-2010  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Online Obituary Abstracts
 * 1867-1890 Obituary/Biographical Article Indexes by the Bethlehem Area Public Library - covers the newspapers: Bethlehem Times, Bethlehem Globe, Bethlehem Globe-Times, and Express-Times; copies can be obtained from the Bethlehem Area Public Library
 * 1895-1983 Morning Call Online Obituary Index by the Allentown Public Library - incomplete for some years, copies can be obtained using the Archival Research Request
 * 1902-2011 Easton Express/Express Times Newspaper Obituary Index by the Easton Area Public Library - copies can be obtained using the Request Form
 * PA-Roots Obituaries for Northampton County, Pennsylvania.
 * USGenWeb Northampton County Genealogy Obituaries

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1683-1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1683-1994  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images
 * 1734-1879 (*); Recorder of Deeds at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1743-1909 Northampton County Probate Records at FamilySearch
 * 1752-1802 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1752-1818 Northampton County Archives, Wills & Estate Records at USGenWeb Archives
 * 1752-1850 Index to Wills and Administration Records, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, 1752-1850; Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, 1812-1850. By Williams, Richard T. and Mildred Corson Williams. Danboro, Pennsylvania : R. T. and M. C. Williams, 1971. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
 * 1752-1882 (*); Orphans' Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1752-1966 (*); Register of Wills at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images

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

 * 1762 Lynn Township, Lehigh Co, PA
 * 1772, 1785-1786, 1788 Proprietary, Supply, and State Tax Lists of the Counties of Northampton and Northumberland: For the Years 1772 to 1787 (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 19). Digital versions at Don's List; Google Books - free.
 * 1798 Pennsylvania, U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798 at Ancestry ($).

Birth

 * 1520-1999  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1709-1950  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Births Ancestry $
 * 1888-1907 Easton Birth Index 1888-1907 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
 * 1941-1976  at FamilySerch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Marriage

 * 1512-1989  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1626-2016 Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($)
 * 1677-1950   at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1682-1976  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1700-1821 Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry $
 * 1709-1940  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1772-1774, 1824-1836 Northampton County, Pennsylvania, Marriage Licenses issued by Isaac Hicks at Ancestry $
 * Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
 * 1885-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1947-2010  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Death

 * 1720-1999  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, some images
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry $
 * 1856-1971  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1888-1907 Easton Death Index 1888-1907 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
 * 1893-1912 Northampton County Death Index 1893-1912 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch

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

Archives
Moravian Archives 41 W Locust St Bethlehem, PA 18018 Phone: 610-866-3255 Email: [mailto:info@moravianchurcharchives.org info@moravianchurcharchives.org] Website Facebook
 * The Moravian Archives is the official repository for the records of the Moravian Church in America – Northern Province. This covers the Moravian churches in the United States (except for North Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Virginia) and Canada. The Archives in Bethlehem also holds records from the Moravian church in Alaska, Labrador, Nicaragua and the Eastern West Indies. The Archives is located in a modern 9,200 square foot building with two climate-controlled vaults. It contains approximately 8,000 linear feet of material. The collection includes finding aids of the Moravian collections, church registers, the Memoir Index, records of the mission to the American Indians from 1740 to 1820 (indexed in the Fliegel Index), historical newspapers on microfilm, and a photo collection. Services include monthly lectures, tours, a German Script course, research by mail, reproduction orders, translation, and publications including a monthly electronic newsletter.

National Archives at Philadelphia 14700 Townsend Rd Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096 Phone: 215-305-2044 Fax: 215-305-2052 Email: [mailto:philadelphia.archives@nara.gov philadelphia.archives@nara.gov] Website Facebook

FamilySearch Centers

 * Allentown Pennsylvania FamilySearch Center
 * Nazareth Pennsylvania FamilySearch Center
 * Eastern Monroe Public Library - an affiliate library.
 * Washington Township Public Library - New Jersey - an affiliate library.

Libraries
Easton Area Public Library 515 Church St Easton, PA 18042-3587 Phone: 610-258-2917 Email: [mailto:eaplibrary@gmail.com eaplibrary@gmail.com] Website Facebook
 * The Henry F. Marx Local History Room offers: Online newspaper obituary indexes, specialized indexes to local records, WPA Index to church records, online index of church records (not included in the WPA index) and cemetery records compiled by the library, marriage and death indexes, 1799-1902. Easton Library also contains an original collection, 1811-1825 which includes: Newspaper microfilm from 1799-current, 15,000 books, periodicals, census microfilm, family files, maps, manuscript material. Check website for available services and fees for some photocopy requests.

Jane S. Moyer Library 342 Northampton St Easton, PA 18042 Phone: 610-253-1222 Website
 * This Northampton County local and family history collection includes: 5,000 books, 10,000 manuscript items, 6,000 surname files, 2,000 history vertical files, 120,000 photographs, thousands of maps, drawings, and architectural plans detailing the history and families of Northampton County.

Museums
Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites 505 Main St Bethlehem, PA 18018 Mailing Address: 74 W Broad St, Ste 260 Bethlehem, PA 18018 Phone: 610-691-6055 Email: [mailto:info@historicbethlehem.org info@historicbethlehem.org] Website Facebook
 * The Historic Bethlehem collection includes: City directories from 1800s/1900s, historic maps and documents.

Sigal Museum 342 Northampton St Easton, PA 18042 Phone: 610-253-1222 Website Facebook

Societies
Mennonite Heritage Center 565 Yoder Rd Harleysville, PA 19438-1020 Phone: 215-256-3020 Email: [mailto:library@mhep.org library@mhep.org] Website Facebook
 * 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 also cover the counties of Bucks, Chester, Berks, Lehigh, Northampton, and Philadelphia.  Access website for comprehensive overview of library resources, online cemetery database, manuscript collections, photo collections, archival collections, and more.

Moravian Historical Society 214 E Center St Nazareth, PA 18064 Phone: 610-759-5070 Email: [mailto:info@moravianhistory.org info@moravianhistory.org] Website Facebook Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society Sigal Museum and Jane S. Moyer Library 3432 Northampton St Easton, PA 18042 Phone: 610-253-1222 Website Facebook

Websites

 * USGenWeb
 * Northampton 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.