York County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

United States Pennsylvania York County

Historical Facts

 * Parent Counties: Formed from Lancaster County 14 October 1748.
 * County Seat: York
 * Neighboring Counties: residents may also have records in Dauphin (north)  •  Baltimore County, Maryland and Carroll County, Maryland (south)  •  Adams (west)  •  Lancaster (east)  •  Cumberland (northwest)  •  Harford (southeast)

The Scotch-Irish made settlements at the "Monaghan Settlement" and the "Barrens" in what predominantly a German area.

Boundary Changes

 * 22 January 1800: Adams County set off.

Resources

 * The York County USGenWeb Project is a central respository for genealogical data and resources on the Internet, all of which are free.
 * The York County Archives also has a wealth of data available that can be searched online.
 * Come join our York County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Group on Facebook

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


 * Harry Senft York and Adams County Cemetery Pictures Harry Senft has taken pictures of 1000s of headstones in over 200 cemeteries in York and Adams counties that are ALL posted online. In conjunction with [mailto:familyhart@aol.com FamilyHart] (aka Don &amp; Jeanine Hartman), Custom Google Maps for each cemetery location have been produced so that the user can easily find the cemetery. An index of the cemeteries listed is also provided by name and by location. In addition, indexing of the actual cemetery picture files with links to the FamilyHart Online Databaseare being compiled. The FamilyHart Online Database contains over 719,000 linked family names, most of which have connections to York and Adams counties. This family database is the most comprehensive and complete listing of York and Adams County names on the Internet. It grows by about 1,000 names per week, and is updated online quarterly.
 * The York County Cemeteries USGenWeb site is a relatively comprehensive site for finding transcriptions and pictures of Tombstones in York County. Many of Harry Senft's pictures (and those of others) are posted here and are indexed by cemetery.  Also found here are transcriptions of many cemeteries (some complete and many incomplete.)  These transcriptions are valuable as they often include stones that are no longer readable and may not show up on photo images.  Also many cemeteries have only transcriptions available. Neither this page nor the FamilyHart site are all inclusive for burials in York County but used together they provide the most comprehensive record online of burials in the county.
 * There are over 345 different cemeteries in the county. Finding the right cemetery is often compounded by the fact that many cemeteries have changed names over the years and are now known by a different name. A comprehensive list of cemeteries can be found at York County Cemeteries and Locations. This link does not have burials listed but is the most complete listing of all the cemeteries in York County.

Individual Cemeteries:


 * Fairview Cemetery, Hellam BillionGraves
 * Highmount Cemetery, Hellam BillionGraves

Church Records

 * Churches of York County A listing of the old-time Churches of York County (pre-1900).




 * Custom Google Maps for some York County Churches Most of the Cemetery Picture Custom Google Maps on this site have the addresses and phone numbers of the associated churches. For some there are also links to histories on the particular church.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Blue Ridge District of the Eastern States Mission comprised church members living in southeastern Pennsylvania. District headquarters were in Lancaster, with branches located in Bucks, Fulton, Lancaster, and York counties.


 * Record of Members, [1929]-1944,


 * The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2100 Hollywood Drive, York, Pennsylvania. Family History Center for public use housed in building. Family History Center Hours


 * LDS York 2nd Ward Family History Newletters The York 2nd Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints produces monthly Family History Newsletters that are posted online.

Episcopalian
St. John's Church, York

Registers begin in 1786, but some earlier parishioners appear in the registers of St. James's Church, Lancaster.

Quaker

 * 1800s-1900s - Pennsylvania Quaker Records: Warrington, York County, Little Brittain, Lancaster County, Centre, Centre County, West Branch, Clearfield County, Dunnings Creek, Bedford County. n.p. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Court Records
The York County Archiveshave searchable indexes for the following:


 * Clerk of Courts Quarter Session Dockets (1749 - 1876, 1877 - 1949, and 1950 - 1989)

Again these are only indexes but will lead you to the location of these court records.

Prothonotary
Office of the Prothonotary York County Judicial Center 45 N. George St. York PA 17401 717-771-9611 pslee@yorkcountypa.gov

Published Histories
HistoricPA.net &gt; Pennsylvania County Histories at http://www.historicpa.net/history/york.html York County PA Biographies at http://www.historicpa.net/bios/co/york.html


 * York County USGenWeb Project This site contains several local histories and links to histories online.

Land and Property
Land records in York County began in 1749. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in York, 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


 * 1981–present Images are available online using the Landex system. There is a fee to view the images.
 * 1749–1943 The York County Archives have deed book indexes online (1749 - 1912 and 1913 - 1943).  When searching these indexes you will be directed to PDF pages that have the grantee and grantor indexes.  Instructions are given on the York County Archives page as to how to use the PDF pages that are generated.  The PDF documents are quite large and take some time to download.  These indexes provide you with the details needed to search and obtain copies of the original deeds.
 * PA Original Land Records The Rev. Neal Hively has done extensive land record compilations and land mapping of York and Adams counties with indexes available online.

Land Records on Microfilm


 * 1749–1912 Deeds, 1749-1859; Index to deeds, 1749-1912

Additional Resources

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

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 York County Pennsylvania Land in online catalogs such as:


 * Historical Society of Pennsylvania
 * WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog.)
 * (For instructions see FHL Catalog Place-name Search.)

Maps

 * Ancestor Tracks has posted free, downloadable images from the 1876 Atlas of York County, Pennsylvania, Illustrated from Actual Surveys by and under the Direction of Beach Nichols, Published by Pomeroy, Whitman and Co. (Philadelphia). 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 to be used commercially.  We hereby give permission to use them strictly for personal use; please attribute to Ancestor Tracks.
 * The York County USGenWeb site has several York County Maps, including the 1835, 1846, and 1895 Atlases of York County in addition to modern maps of today. 
 * The York County USGenweb Project has several maps, both current and historical, online (as well as excellent links to many other resources).
 * Rev. Neal Hively has compiled and published books and maps showing the earliest landowners of York County.
 * The Pennsylvania Visitors Network promotes tourism to York County.
 * Detailed topographical maps are posted at the York County Township Maps site.

Revolutionary War
York County men also served in the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment.

The Camp Security website has a lot of information on this Revelotionary War Prisoner of War Camp that was located in York County.

http://www.usgwarchives.org/pa/york/military.htm

Civil War
Civil War at http://www.pacivilwar.com/county/york.html

Newspapers
The York Daily Record at ([mailto:letters@ydr.com letters@ydr.com]) ; Weekly Record - at  Joan Concilio ([mailto:jconcilio@ydr.com jconcilio@ydr.com]);  "Flipside"

The York Dispatch at [mailto:bmundis@yorkdispatch.com bmundis@yorkdispatch.com], "Flipside"

Community Courier at (news@engleonline.com)

Dillsburg Banner at dillsburgbanner@dillsburgbanner.net

Probate Records
The York County Archives houses the following Probate related records:

Bond Books (1794 - 1968) There is no local microfilm available. They are indexed and can be searched online at the Archives web site. These records originated in the Recorder of Deeds office. Bonds from 1749 - 1793 are found in Estate Files. After 1968 Bonds are at the Register of Deeds.

Estate Files (1749 - 1958) There is no local microfilm or index. They originated in the office of the Register of Wills/Orphan's Court.

Estate Files (1959 - 1967) There is no local microfilm but they are indexed and can be searched online at the Archives web site. These records also originated in the office of the Register of Wills/Orphan's Court.

Will Books (1749 - 1973) There are local microfilms of Dockets A - AA. These records are indexed but not searchable online. They originated in the Register of Wills office.

Archives
The York County Archives is a department of the York County Government.

The Archives was established in 1987 and moved to its current location in 1995. To accommodate the growing number of records, the Archives building was expanded in 2001.

York County's records begin in August of 1749 when York County was formed from Lancaster County. The Archives stores records for over 40 different county offices during various time periods throughout the past 250 years.

The Archives is located at: 150 Pleasant Acres Road York, PA 17420 Phone (717) 840-7222 Open - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday &amp; Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Courthouse
York County Judicial Center Second Floor 45 North George Street York, PA 17401 Phone (717) 771-9288 Fax (717) 771-4678

Family History Centers
Family History Centers (FHCs) are branches of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and are located all over the world. Their goal is to provide resources for family history research.

The main FHC for York County, Pennsylvania is the York Pennsylvania Family History Center. For additional nearby Family History Centers, search online in the FHC directory.

Libraries
Martin Memorial Library, 159 East Market Street, York, Pennsylvania, Telephone (717) 846-5300

Museums
York Heritage Trust, 250 East Market Street, York, Pennsylvania, (formerly York County Historical Society). From quilts to tiny photographs, the Historical Society Museum and Library houses both exhibits and an extensive research library. The Heritage Trust's Library and Archives houses an extensive and varied collection covering a wide range of topics including genealogy and family history, local history, the decorative arts and military history.

Societies
York Heritage Trust, 250 East Market Street, York, Pennsylvania, (formerly York County Historical Society)

South Central Genealogical Society, meets in the York County Heritage Trust, 250 E. Market St., Richard Konkel, president. Check meeting dates and times online.

Susquehanna Trail Genealogy Club, meets the fourth Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2100 Hollywood Drive, York, Pennsylvania, Contact Jackson Sonneborn, president,&amp; Mark Gagermeier, webmaster. 717-757-2331

Taxation
The York County Archives house tax records for the county from 1767 (with gaps) to 1988. Prior to the 1950's these tax records were listed under the tax payer's name and township and borough. Records since then are listed by name, address, location of property, account number, etc. These records originated in the Assessment Office of the Court House. They are available locally on microfilm for 1767 - 1850 and 1950 - 1988. These records are not indexed nor are they available at the Archives web site.


 * 1779-1783 - York County USGenWeb Project The York County USGenWeb Project has the Returns of Taxables of the County of York for the Years 1779, 1780, 1781, 1782, 1783 online.


 * 1779-1783 - Returns of Taxables of the County of York: For the Years 1779, 1780, 1781, 1782 and 1783. (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 21). Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Google Books - free.


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

Vital Records
The vital records created by York County are now housed at the York County Archives.

The York County Archives has the following indexes available for online searches:


 * 1852 - 1853 1893 - 1906 Birth Records
 * Prior to 1906 Delayed Births (recorded after 1941)
 * 1852 - 1853 1885 - 1949 Marriage Records
 * 1852 - 1855 1893 - 1906 Death Records
 * 1877 - 1958 Affidavits of Death

These indexes reference the original records which can be ordered from the Archives.

York County Archives 150 Peasant Acres Rd York PA 17401 Phone: 717-840-7222 Fax: 717-840-7224 [mailto:archives@york-county.org archives@york-county.org]

County-wide Database

 * 1700-1821 – Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties.


 * Pre-1810 – Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties. It includes 35,000 marriage records from volume VIII of the second series of the Pennsylvania Archives.

Birth
The following records are available at the York County Archives:


 * 1852-1853 Birth Records, online index
 * 1893-1906 Birth Records, online index
 * 1906 and earlier Delayed Births, recorded after 1941, online index


 * 1768-1896 - - free index. Not complete for all years.
 * 1852-1854 –Pennsylvania, Births 1852-1854 Index with images. Ancestry ($)

Marriage
The following records are available at the York County Archives:


 * 1852-1853 Marriage Records, online index
 * 1885-1929 Marriage Records, online index
 * 1930-1949 Marriage Records, online index

The Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885 - 1950 on FamilySearch listed above only includes entries for York County 1887-1896.

Divorce
Divorce records are handled by the office of the Prothonotary. Records may be obtained by visiting or writing.


 * 1749 - present Divorce Records

Office of the Prothonotary York County Judicial Center 45 N. George St. York PA 17401 717-771-9611 pslee@yorkcountypa.gov

Death
The following records are available at the York County Archives:


 * 1852-1855 Death Records, online index
 * 1893-1906 Death Records, online index


 * 1852-1854 – Pennsylvania, Deaths, 1852-1854 Index with images. Ancestry ($)

Web Sites

 * York County USGenWeb Project The York County, Pennsylvania USGenweb Project has an extensive collection of links for help in performing genealogy in York County. The Project also has many online extracted and original records.




 * FamilyHart Online Database, provided by [mailto:familyhart@aol.com FamilyHart] (aka Don &amp; Jeanine Hartman), has the largest collection of York County family genealogies online (Total database size over 719,000 linked names, most with York County ties). They also have a large collection of family photgraphs, documents, and headstone pictures associated with these families.


 * McClure, Jim, local author on York County, Pennsylvania, "York Town Square" Blog, http://www.yorktownsquare.com/; also McClure, Jim, Blog on "The Laux, Loux, Loucks, Laucks, Louck, Lauck, Louks family to hold 300th reunion in York, " http://www.yorkblog.com/yorktownsquare/2009/07/laucks.html.


 * Pennsylvania Dutch Family History, Genealogy, Culture and Life This site contains links to everything Pennsylvania Dutch.

Populated Places
York, Franklintown, Codorus Township, Heidelberg Township, Penn Township, York Township, more ...