Ohio, Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains church records from various denominations in and around Ohio, for the years, 1762 to 2008. Some representative churches include:
 * Saint Michael's Evangelical Lutheran Church (Baughman)
 * First Universal Church (Norwalk)
 * United Presbyterian Church (Dunbridge)
 * Sharon Welsh Methodist Church (Granville)
 * St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church (Toledo)
 * First United Methodist Church (Wellington)
 * Society of Friends (Cincinnati)

What Can these Records Tell Me?
Church records may include:
 * The names of members
 * Dates of significant events, such as birth, baptism, marriage and death
 * Names of family members
 * Names of witnesses, who may be relatives
 * Minutes of meetings

How Do I Search the Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the individual
 * The approximate date and location of the event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?

 * Search for vital records on the state and county level, such as birth, marriage, and death
 * Search for the family in county land, probate, and immigration records
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in census records

I Can’t Find The Person I’m Looking for, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names, or even initials

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Ohio.
 * Ohio Guided Research
 * Ohio Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Citing this Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.