Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

United States Pennsylvania  Susquehanna County

Historical Facts
Susquehanna County was once a part of Connecticut, along with Luzerne, and several other northeastern Pennsylvania counties. For further information on this go to: http://www.cslib.org/susqsettlers.htm

Susquehanna County is named for the Susquehanna River. which runs through the county. In 1810 the county had 10 townships and 3500 residents. In the 2000 Federal Census, Susquehanna County had 27 townships and 13 towns. Residents numbered 42,238.

Parent County
21 February 1810: Susquehanna County was created from Luzerne County.

Neighboring Counties
Bradford | Broome | Lackawanna | Wayne | Wyoming | Tioga County, New York

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

There are four different titles for Cemeteries in Susquehanna County listed in the Family History Library Catalog, with three of them having been microfilmed. They are listed under Pennsylvania, Susquehanna. (See under websites)

A listing of Susquehanna County cemeteries is given on website:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mjwanc/suscem.htm

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.

History
There are several good histories of Susquehanna County, but the one by Emily Blackman is superior:

History of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania : from a period preceding its settlement to recent times, including the annals of geography of each township... by Emily C. Blackman (FHL 1425564 Item 5)

Another history is: Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania by Rhamanthus Menville Stocker

974.834 H2 (FHL 1000573 Item 1)

Other histories are listed in the FHL Catalog under Pennsylvania, Susquehanna. (See website below)

It is important to remember too that this area of Pennsylvania was once Connecticut. The information on this website will lead you to other historical/genealogical records of Wyoming Valley:

http://www.cslib.org/susqsettlers.htm

Land and Property
Land records in Susquehanna County began in 1810. These records are filed with the Register and Recorder office in Montrose, 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


 * 1974 - present Images are available on-line from 1974 to the present using the Landex system. There is a fee to view the images.

Land Records on Microfilm


 * 1812-1923 Deeds, 1812-1922; Index, 1812-1923.
 * 1812–1973 Mortgage Records, 1812-1855; Index, 1812-1973.

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 Susquehanna 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 theMap of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania from Actual Survey by G.M. Hopkins, C.E. (Philadelphia: Lee &amp; Marsh Publishers, 1858). This 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 to attribute to Ancestor Tracks.

There is a clickable map of Susquehanna County which gives information concerning each township, but their online site is not working.

Newspapers
The Susquehanna County Independent/Weekender 24 S. Main St. Montrose PA 18801 Phone: (570) 278-6397 E-mail: indyweek@epix.net http://www.independentweekender.com

This newspaper was preceded by the following weekly newspapers:


 * The Montrose Independent (1927-1985)
 * Independent Republican (1855-1926)
 * The Montrose Democrat (1879-1926)

Courthouse
Susquehanna County Courthouse Recorder of Deeds Register of Wills Clerk of the Orphans’ Court

PO Box 218 11 Maple Street Montrose, PA 18801 (570) 278-4600 Fax (570) 278-2963

Our office hours are 8:30 to 4:30 Monday through Friday

MARRIAGE LICENSES are only available until 4:00

http://www.susqco.com/subsites/gov/pages/regrec/regrechome.htm

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

Societies
Susquehanna has an historical society that is in connection with their county public library:

Email Us: info@susqcohistsoc.org Susquehanna County Historical Society  2 Monument Square

Montrose, PA 18801 Their journal information is available at: Email Us: suspulib@epix.net

The Luzerne County Historical Society, formerly known as the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society.

49 South Franklin Street

Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701

Telephone: 570-823-6244

Fax: 570-823-9011

Their Bishop's Memorial Library has records of their Connecticut/Pennsylvania connections.

Taxation
The Family History Library has microfilmed the following tax records:

Tax Assessment Records from 1813-1865. The record gives the record of each township, and each is on a separate roll of film. Some of the townships may also include Military Lists for the years ca 1855-1863. See the Family History Library Catalog listed under the websites for film numbers.

Unseated Land Records 1820-1904. These are additional tax records in the Family History Library Catalog (1927752, Items 2-9, and 1927823, Item 1)

Birth

 * 1726-1930 - - free index. Not complete for all years.
 * 1852-1854 – Pennsylvania Births Ancestry.com – $ Index with images.

Marriage

 * 1835-1976 - - free index. Not complete for all years.


 * 1885–present – Marriage licenses issued by the county are only available from 1885 to the present at:

Clerk of the Orphans Court Susquehanna County Courthouse 105 Maple Street PO Box 218 Montrose, PA 18801 Phone: 570-278-4600 Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30am to 4:30pm

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:

Susquehanna County Prothonotary Susquehanna County Courthouse 105 Maple Street PO Box 218 Montrose, PA 18801 Phone: 570-278-4600 Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30am to 4:30pm

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.