Lycoming County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

Guide to Lycoming 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 after the Lycoming Creek. It is located in the north-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Lycoming County Courthouse 48 West Third Street Williamsport, PA 17701 Phone: 570-327-2200 Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts: 570–327-2251 Register and Recorder Office: 570–327-2263 Lycoming County Register of Wills/Orphan's Court Clerk: Phone: 570-327-2263 Lycoming County Website County Clerk has birth records 1893-1905, death records 1893-1898, marriage records from 1885, probate records from 1850, and land records from 1795 Prothonotary Court has divorce and court records from 1795 The James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., Williamsport, PA is the major source of Lycoming County genealogical info.

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

 * Cemetery records often reveal birth, marriage, death, relationship, military, and religious information.
 * 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:
 * Jersey Shore: Epworth United Methodist Church; First United Methodist Church; Lutheran Church; Trinity United Methodist Church
 * Lock Haven: United Methodist Church
 * Montgomery: First United Methodist Church
 * Montoursville: Bethany Lutheran Church; United Methodist Church
 * Muncy: St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Muncy
 * Newberry: United Methodist Church
 * Oriole: Oriole United Methodist Church
 * Picture Rocks: United Methodist Church, Picture Rocks Charge
 * Quiggleville: Central PA Conference of the United Methodist Church
 * Williamsport: Christ Episcopal Church; Christ United Methodist Church; Covenant Central Presbyterian Church; First Baptist Church; First United Methodist Church; Immanuel German Reformed Church; Pine Street United Methodist Church; Presbyterian Church; St. Boniface Roman Catholic Church; St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church; St. Luke's Lutheran Church; St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church; St. Paul Methodist Church; St. Paul's Lutheran Church; United Methodist Church; Wesley United Methodist Church

Union churches were formed in many townships. These churches met with their respective congregations, but shared the church property with those of other faiths. They were called Union churches.

Baptist Of the main religious sects, the Baptists were one of the last to come to Lycoming County. Hughesville settlers were largely Baptist. They founded their church in 1849. Baptists organized in Muncy (1841), Jersey Shore (1842), Montgomery (1832), and other locations in the county.

Episcopalian Episcopalian circuit riders were in Lycoming County as early as 1797. Congregations were established in Muncy (1819), Mountoursville, Williamsport, and other locations in the county.

Lutheran Lutherans were prominent from very early in the history of Lycoming County. Churches were organized in Muncy Creek (pre-1800), Muncy (1852), Jersey Shore (1869), Mountoursville, Williamsport, Montgomery, Huntersville (Trinity Church), and other locations in the county.

Frieden's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Jackson Township


 * 1831-1875 Frieden's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Jackson Township, Baptism Index 1831-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch
 * 1838-1852, 1868-1880 Frieden's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Jackson Township, Marriage Index 1838-1852 and 1868-1880 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch

Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church, Washington Township


 * 1846-1923 Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church, Washington Township, Baptism Index 1846-1923 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch

Methodist Methodism was popular early in Lycoming County history. Preaching began as early as 1821. Congregations were formed in Muncy (1821), Jersey Shore (1829), Mountoursville, Hughesville, Mill Creek (Centennial, 1800), and other locations in the county.

Methodist Episcopal Williamsport was the site of one of the early Methodist Epsicopal churches in Lycoming County.

Presbyterian Presbyterians established congregations throughout Lycoming County. Towns with churches included Muncy (1834), Jersey Shore (1793), Mountoursville, Montgomery, and other locations in the county.

Jersey Shore Presbyterian Church


 * 1849-1875 Jersey Shore Presbyterian Church Baptism Index 1849-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch
 * 1854-1886 Jersey Shore Presbyterian Church Marriage Index 1854-1886 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch
 * 1850s-1870s Jersey Shore Presbyterian Church Baptisms at The USGenWeb Project

Mount Zion Presbyterian Church, McIntyre Township


 * 1871-1884 Mount Zion Presbyterian Church, McIntyre Township, Baptism Index 1871-1884 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch

Presbyterian Church, Newberry


 * 1875 Presbyterian Church, Newberry, Baptism Index 1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch
 * 1875-1885 Presbyterian Church, Newberry, Marriage Index 1875-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch

Presbyterian Church, Pennsdale


 * 1847-1898 Presbyterian Church, Pennsdale, Baptism Index 1847-1898 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch

United Brethren United Brethren met in Williamsport as early as 1886. List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Funeral Homes

 * Bastian-Maneval Funeral Home is in Williamsport, Lycoming County, but their records include many with ties to Bradford and Tioga Counties.Bastian-Maneval website

Land and Property Records
Land records in Lycoming County began in 1804. These records are filed with the Register and Recorders office in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1825 -1873 Mortgages. - images only; click on the camera icon to view images

Local Histories

 * History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. 1892. Ed. by John F. Meginness. Chicago, Illinois : Brown, Runk & Co. 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 1873 Atlas of Lycoming County Pennsylvania from Actual Surveys by and under the Direction of Beach Nichols, published by A. Poweroy &amp; Co. This atlas 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 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

Military Records

 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index

Naturalization and Citizenship
Naturalization records for Lycoming County, Pennsylvania include the following:

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 Lycoming County


 * 1807-1904 Lycoming Newspaper Index 1807-1904 at James V. Brown Library. Includes marriages, obituaries, funerals, political activities, court cases, land sale notices, and news items.
 * 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.

Online Newspaper Abstracts


 * 1947-2010  at FamilySearch
 * PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
 * Lycoming Gazette published by William Brindle and hosted by USGenNet.org

Obituaries
Online Obituary Abstracts


 * PA-Roots Obituaries for Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
 * Lycoming County Obituaries hosted by USGenNet.org.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1683 -1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry $
 * 1683 -1994 at FamilySearch
 * 1795-1850 Probate Records of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania - images only; click on the camera icon to view 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

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

Birth

 * 1726-1930  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.
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Births Ancestry $

Marriage

 * 1626-2016 - Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at FindMyPast
 * 1677-1950  at FamilySearch
 * 1700-1821  Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry $
 * Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
 * 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.

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 Lycoming County Courthouse.

Archives

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

Family History Centers

 * Williamsport Pennsylvania Family History Center

Libraries

 * James V. Brown Library 19 East Fourth Street Williamsport, PA 17701 Phone: 570-326-0536 Contact the library Website
 * The library collection includes local newspapers 1807-present on microfilm (Online Newspaper Index), local history, Williamsport City Directories, and high school yearbooks.

Museums

 * Thomas T. Taber Museum of the Lycoming County Historical Society 858 W Fourth Street Williamsport, PA 17701-5824 Phone: 570-326-3326 Website
 * Collections include deeds, maps, manuscripts, local and county histories, and city directories.


 * Muncy Historical Society & Museum P.O. Box 11 Muncy, PA 17756 Phone: 570-546-5917

Societies

 * Lycoming County Genealogical Society 858 West Fourth Street Williamsport, PA 17701-5824 Phone: 570–326-3326 Website
 * The genealogical collection is housed in the Taber Museum. The collection includes over 2,000 rare documents and books, including deeds, maps, manuscript collections, local and county histories, township tax records and city directories. The society has photographed nearly all headstones in the county. Copies are available from the society. Holdings also include indexed county naturalization records.
 * If you would like someone to conduct family research for you, you may contact the Genealogical Society, either at the museum’s phone number (570-326-3326) or at the Genealogical Society’s email address:[mailto:lycominglineage@gmail.com lycominglineage@gmail.com]

Websites

 * USGenWeb
 * Lycoming 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.