Bedford County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

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

Description
It is named from the Fort Bedford. It is located in the South-Central section of the state.

County Courthouse
Bedford County Courthouse 200 S Juliana St. Bedford, PA 15522-1714 Phone: (814) 623-4812 Clerk of the Court/Orphan's Court: 814-623-4833 Prothonotary: 814-623-4833, Fax: 814-623-4831, Email: [mailto:bcproth@pennswoods.net bcproth@pennswoods.net] Bedford County Website

The courthouse houses records of county births and deaths (1893-1905) and marriage records (1885 to the present). The Office of the Prothonotary is located in the courthouse and is a good place to search for divorce and civil case 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:

Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Indentured Servants

Cemeteries
Additional Cemetery Resources
 * ca.1700-ca.1950 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Pennsylvania Genealogy LDS Genealogy

Census Records
Value, Content, and Search Tips See the United States Census page to learn about the value, content, and search tips of census records of the United States. The United States Census page also points to nationwide and statewide record sets available online and at archives and libraries.

Census Strategy: Start with State-wide Records Free indexes and transcriptions of Bedford County census records abound, but many of these resources are divided into separate files by borough or township. Since townships are relatively small, and since people sometimes crossed township borders without having to move very far at all, it is often useful to begin your search in a statewide index in case an ancestor appears in an unexpected township. Since statewide indexes are not listed on this county page, check the Pennsylvania Census page to see if a statewide index or database is available for the year in question. If for some reason you can't access a statewide collection or if you searched it and can't find an ancestor, visit the United States Census page for listings of nationwide indexes, or return here for links to Bedford County resources.

USGenNet has the simplest listing of transcribed Bedford County U.S. census records from USGenWeb from 1790-1860. Also includes an 1890 Veteran's Schedule.

Bedford County Pennsylvania Census Records links to census transcriptions of various townships in various years that were compiled for PA-Roots.

Bedford County, Pennsylvania Census Resources from CensusFinder links to sites containing census data from 1790-1850 and 1890.

Census Resources by Year
 * 1784 - Returns of Taxables for the Counties of Bedford (1773 to 1784), Huntingdon (1788), Westmoreland (1783, 1786), Fayette (1785, 1786), Allegheny (1791), Washington (1786) and Census of Bedford (1784) and Westmoreland (1783) (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 22). Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Google Books
 * 1790 Federal Census of Bedford County is a resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
 * 1800 Federal Census of Bedford Countyis a resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
 * 1810 Federal Census of Bedford Countyis a resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
 * 1820 Federal Census of Bedford County is a resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
 * 1830 Federal Census of Bedford County is a resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
 * 1840 Federal Census of Bedford Countyis a resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
 * 1850 Federal Census of Bedford Countyis a resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
 * 1860 Federal Census of Bedford Countyis a resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
 * 1890 Federal Census of Bedford County, Veteran's Scheduleis a resource from USGenWeb containing a transcript of the original Veteran's Schedule pages, arranged by enumeration district. Includes a key to the various enumeration districts and a listing of seven enumeration districts that are not included.

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 church records of:
 * Bedford: St. John's United Church of Christ
 * Fishertown: Centre Lutheran Church
 * Londonderry: Wills Creek Charge
 * Pavia: Zion United Church of Christ
 * Saxton: St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church
 * The Bedford County Genealogical Project contains an extensive list of churches in the county. Many of them include locations and brief histories, but few contain records of members or sacramental records.

Catholic The first Catholic church was built in 1817 and is still standing.


 * "100 years of the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese 1843 -1943". Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Quarterly, 17:1. FamilySearch Library book 974.8 B2wg. Contains chronolgy, map, county-by-county information.

Lutheran The first protestant church in the county was built in 1770 by Lutherans and Reformeds, though the first services were held in 1758 in the fort. The church built in Schellsburg in 1806 is the oldest one in the county.
 * Trinity Lutheran Church records 1819-1868 transcripts for Bedford County, Pennsylvania.

Quaker In 1793 the Quakers built a church on Dunning Creek.

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * 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 ($).
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records
Pioneer Library, Bedford County Historical Society: Alms House Records ($) Divorce Records ($) Orphan Court Records: 1771-1900 ($)

Emigration and Immigration
Indentured Servants

Guardianship

 * 1771 -1900 Bedford County Orphans Court Index 1771-1900 at Bedford County Historical Society website ($)
 * Orphan Court Records 1772-1814 vol for Bedford County, Pennsylvania. on FamilySearch Records. Appears to be an everyname index.

Land and Property Records
Land records in Bedford County began in 1771. These records are filed with the Register and Recorder office in Bedford, Pennsylvania.

Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1771 -1905 Deed Book. - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1771 -1963 Mortgage Book, 1830-1900; Index, 1771-1963. - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * Bedford County offers online access to images. Fees apply.

Land Warrants 1771-1893
 * Land Warrant Lists Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Volume 25 at Bedford County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives

Local Histories
FamilySearch Digital Library. A Brief History of Bedford, Pennsylvania, from pioneer days to the present, compiled by Annie M. Gilchrist. 1955 (revised). FamilySearch Digital Library. History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties ... 1884. Chicago: Waterman, Watkins &amp; Co. WorldCat lists over 180 titles within the subject Bedford (Pa.) History.

Maps and Gazetteers
Maps
 * Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
 * Ancestor Tracks has posted downloadable images from the 1861 Map of Bedford County, PA Surveyed, Drawn &amp; Published by E. L. Walker which can be used in conjunction with the 1860 census to help pinpoint your ancestors. These images show major landowners on the date of publication. 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 to commercially. We hereby give permission to use them strictly for personal use; please attribute to Ancestor Tracks.

Military Records
Online resources available through the Pioneer Library, Bedford County Historical Society:


 * War Exemptions Index, Bedford County, Pennsylvania ($)
 * Military Pension Files, Bedford County, Pennsylvania (Includes soldiers who served in the Civil War, Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and the Spanish-American War). ($)

Revolutionary War

Bedford County men also served in the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment,, possibly the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment, and the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment.

Civil War
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1802 -1934 Naturalization Papers - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1820 -1906 Index to Declarations and Petitions in the Western District of Pennsylvania, US Circuit and District Courts located in US Naturalization Records Indexes, 1794-1995 database on Ancestry $
 * 1820 -1930 Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. District Court, 1820-1930, and Circuit Court, 1820-1911, for the Western District of Pennsylvania on Fold3.com - ($), indexed, National Archives publication M1537, incomplete for all counties
 * 1820 -1930 Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. District Court, 1820-1930, and Circuit Court, 1820-1911, for the Western District of Pennsylvania located in Selected US Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1790-1974 database on Ancestry $
 * Naturalization Papers: Bedford County Naturalization Papers Index at the Bedford County Historical Society website. Free online index; records can be ordered for a small fee.

Newspapers
Newspapers of Bedford County


 * Pennsylvania Newspapers
 * Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory
 * USGenWeb Bedford County Newspapers. Information regarding newspapers in the county.

Online Newspapers

To learn if there are newspapers on line 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
 * USGenWeb Bedford County Newspaper Articles
 * PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Bedford County.

Obituaries
Online Obituary Abstracts


 * Bedford County Historical Society Online Obituary Index - the place to start. Free online index; copies can be ordered for a small fee.
 * USGenWeb Bedford County Obituaries
 * PA-Roots Obituaries for Bedford County]

Obituary Excerpts and Abstracts


 * Claar, Archie, edited and indexed by Jan Oberle and James D. Boor, Obituary Clippings [in Blair and Bedford Counties, Pennsylvania] (Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania:Hoenstine's, 1990-1996) Photocopy of newspaper clippings. Each volume contains an index.
 * Mitchell, Caryl A., Extracts from the Bedford Gazette, Beford County, Pennsylvania September 7, 1832 - September 9, 1836 (Westminster, Maryland:Family Line Publications, 1998)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1683 -1994  at FamilySearch
 * 1771 -1906 Will Book - images only; click on the camera icon to view images; Index included
 * Complete Transcribed Wills for Bedford County - Abstracts, Not complete, but does contain many wills for residents of Bedford County.

Tax Records

 * 1773 -1784 Returns of Taxables for the Counties of Bedford (1773 to 1784), Huntingdon (1788), Westmoreland (1783, 1786), Fayette (1785, 1786), Allegheny (1791), Washington (1786) and Census of Bedford (1784) and Westmoreland (1783) (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 22). Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Google Books


 * 1779 - Cumberland Valley Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Tax Records at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * 1781 -1782 - Bedford Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Tax Records at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * 1788 -1789 - Elk Lick Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Tax Records at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * 1791 -1793 - Colerain Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Tax Records at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * 1791 -1793 - Cumberland Valley Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Tax Records at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * 1792 -1793 - Woodberry Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Tax Records at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * 1798 - Pennsylvania, U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798 at Ancestry ($).

Birth

 * 1852 -1854 Pennsylvania Births Ancestry $
 * 1894 -1905, 1941 - 1963 Bedford County Birth Index 1894-1905 and 1941-1963 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch

Marriage

 * 1626-2016 Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at FindMyPast ($)
 * 1677 -1950 at FamilySearch
 * 1700 -1821 Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry $
 * 1725 -1976  index. Not complete for all years. This index 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.
 * Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
 * 1852 -1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
 * 1885 -1950  Extracted marriage records – 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 $
 * 1890-1905 Bedford County Death Index 1890-1905 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch

Divorce
Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary, Bedford 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

 * Bedford Pennsylvania Family History Center

Libraries

 * Bedford County Library 240 South Wood Street Bedford, PA 15522 Phone: 814-623-5010 Website

Societies

 * Blair County Genealogical Society Roller-Hojeth Memorial Library 431 Scotch Valley Rd. Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 Phone: 814-696-3492 Website Collection covers Blair and surrounding counties, particularly Huntingdon, Cambria, and Bedford Counties.


 * Bedford County Historical Society 6441 Lincoln Highway Bedford, PA 15522 Phone: 814-623-2011 Email: [mailto:bedfordhistory@embarqmail.com bedfordhistory@embarqmail.com] Website
 * The Society has collected 4500 family histories and indexes to Alms House Records, Civil War Exemptions, Divorces, Naturalization Papers, Obituary\ies, Orphans Court (1771-1900), and Military Pension Files (Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, Spanish American War) of local residents.


 * Directory of Pennsylvania Genealogical & Historical Societies Website

Websites

 * Bedford County Genealogy Project by PA-Roots contains several types of records, including cemetery, census, church, history, military, and taxation.
 * Linkpendium - Bedford County
 * USGenWeb project
 * The Bedford County Historical Society Civil War Information
 * Bedford County PA Genealogy
 * Bedford County PA USGenWeb Archives
 * – 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.