Union County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

United States Pennsylvania  Union County

Historical Facts
The name is an allusion to the federal union.

Parent County
22 March 1813: Union County was created from Northumberland County.

Boundary Changes
2 March 1855: Snyder County was set off.

Neighboring Counties
Centre | Clinton | Lycoming | Mifflin | Northumberland | Snyder

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

Church Records
Many denominations dot the landscape of Berks County. Visiting the church your ancestor attended is recommended; however, many times, due to distance, that is not possible. The Historical Society of Berks County has an on-line index of more then 1.2 millions names, gleaned from the records of more than 300 local churches. It is not a complete index but still worth your time if you are looking for baptism, marriage, and burial records. The index is searchable in numerous ways, but searching by last name or church name is probably most popular. The index lists the name of the record, volume and page number where the individual record can be found. The volume and page number refer to books located at the historical society. To view the actual record, use the printable on-line form that can be mailed to obtain a copy of the record or visit the society. There is a fee for acquiring the record by mail.

Land and Property
Land records in Union County began in 1813. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Lewisburg, 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


 * 1962 - present The Recorder of Deeds offers records since 1962 online. The index is free to view, but there is a charge to view the actual image.

Additional Resources

Note that the "Maps" section below also 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 Union 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 Pomeroy &amp; Beers 1868 Atlas of Union &amp; Snyder Counties, Pennsylvania. 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.

Revolutionary War
Men from what is now Union County (then Northumberland County) served in the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment.

Courthouse
Union County Courthouse 103 South Second Street Lewisburg, PA 17837 Phone: 570-524-8751

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

Birth

 * 1771-1930 - - free index. Not complete for all years.

Marriage

 * 1852–1976 - - free index. Not complete for all years.

Clerk of Courts Union County Courthouse 103 South Second Street First Floor Lewisburg, PA 17837 Phone: 570-524-8751 Fax: 570-524-8628

Divorce
Divorce records are handled by the office of the Prothonotary. While no on-line indexes or records are available, records may be obtained by visiting or writing to the Prothonotary at: Union County Courthouse 103 South Second Street First Floor Lewisburg, PA 17837 Phone: 570-524-8751 Fax: 570-524-8628

Death

 * 1852-1854 – Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry.com – $ Index with images.

Web Sites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.