Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

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

Description
The county was named for Susquehanna River. It is located in the northeastern tip of the state.

County Courthouse
Susquehanna County Courthouse PO Box 218 31 Lake Avenue Montrose, PA 18801 Phone: 570-278-4600 Fax: 570-278-2963 Prothonotary & Clerk of Courts: 570-278-4600 Orphan's Court: 570-278-6645, Email: [mailto:regrec@susqco.com regrec@susqco.com] Susquehanna County Website Registrar and recorder has birth and death records from 1893-1905, marriage records from 1885, probate records from 1810, and military records from 1918 Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts has divorce records from 1877, court records from 1812, and naturalization records from 1844-1956

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:

History Timeline
This area of Pennsylvania was once a part of Connecticut. Connecticut's Susquehanna Settlers at Connecticut State Library will lead you to some historical/genealogical records of Wyoming Valley.

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.
 * Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, by Rhamanthus Menville Stocker

Cemeteries

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

Additional Cemetery Resources
 * ca.1700-ca.1950 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * PA-Roots
 * Names in Stone
 * Ancestry($)
 * Susquehanna Headstones Shutterfly

Church Records


County-wide Database - Multi-denominational
 * Susquehanna County Historical Society has a great listing of all the township and borough churches, giving current and past information.
 * 1708-1985 - Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 at Historical Society of Pennsylvania – $, free to members of the society; Also available at Ancestry $
 * Looking Back, Souvenir Book of the Susquehanna County Sesquicentennial Celebration 1810-1960, by Sesquicentennial Committee. Contains a section on churches, including a brief history and pictures of many of the early structures. FHL book 974.834 H2L or film 1320543 item 7
 * Church records, Rootsweb


 * Linkpendium
 * for Susquehanna County. When searching the FamilySearch Catalog, be sure to also search at the town and township level.

Presbyterian List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * 1835-1877 Presbyterian Church, Montrose, Baptism Index 1835-1877 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1835-1869 Presbyterian Church, Montrose, Marriage Index 1835-1869 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * FamilySearch Places

Guardianship

 * 1814 -1917 Orphans' Court Dockets, with index (1814–1949)  - images only; click on the camera icon to view images

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

Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1812-1923 Deeds, 1812-1922; Index, 1812-1923. - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1812-1973 Mortgage Records, 1812-1855; Index, 1812-1973. - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1974 - present Images are available on-line from 1974 to the present using the Landex system. There is a fee to view the images.

Local Histories

 * Centennial History of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. 1887. By Rhamanthus Menville Stocker. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : R.T. Peck. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive;.
 * The Centennial of Susquehanna County. 1888. Written and compiled by James T. DuBois and Wm. J. Pike. Washington, D.C. : Gray & Clarkson, Printers. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive;.
 * History of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. 1873. By Emily C. Blackman. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : Claxton, Remen & Haffelfinger. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive;.

Maps and Gazetteers
Maps
 * Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
 * 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.
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Migration
The migration routes used by early European settlers to and from Susquehanna County included:


 * Lehigh and Lackawanna Paths 1766 from Unadilla, New York to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that is, from the Catskill Turnpike  to the Great Valley Road.
 * Minsi Path from Kingston, New York to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that is, from the Ulster and Delaware Turnpike  to the Great Valley Road.
 * Susquehanna River.

Military Records

 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1844-1906 Naturalization records, 1844-1906,  - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1844-1929 Naturalization documents, 1844-1929,  - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1901-1930 Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. Circuit and District Courts for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 1906-1930; and 1901-1906 on Fold3.com - ($), indexed, National Archives publication M1622, Middle District court was created in 1901, for earlier dates try the Eastern and Western District court records.
 * 1901-1930 Middle District, US Circuit and District Courts: Naturalization petitions, 1906-1930 located in U.S. Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1795-1972 (World Archives Project) database on Ancestry $

Newspapers
Newspapers of Susquehanna County


 * Pennsylvania Newspapers
 * The Montrose Independent (1927-1985)

Online Newspapers

To learn if there are newspapers online for a specific town or city in Pennsylvania, see news.google.com/newspapers and search for the town or the name of a newspaper.


 * Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory.
 * Independent Republican (1855-1926)
 * Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive
 * Pennsylvania Newspapers
 * The Montrose Democrat (1879-1926)
 * The Susquehanna County Independent/Weekender

Online Newspaper Abstracts
 * 1947-2010  at: FamilySearch
 * PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.

Obituaries
Online Obituary Abstracts


 * PA-Roots Obituaries for Susquehanna County.
 * 1947-2010  at: FamilySearch

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1683-1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry $
 * 1683-1994 at FamilySearch
 * 1812-1907 Susquehanna County Probate Records
 * 1812 -1912 Wills and Administrations, with index (1810–1949)  - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1814 -1917 Orphans' Court Dockets, with index (1814–1949)  - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1870 -1916 Minutes  - images only; click on the camera icon to view images; These records include guardianship information.
 * 1885 -1918 Inventory Appraisement Dockets, with index (1885–1949)  - images only; click on the camera icon to view images

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.

Tax Records

 * , at the Family History Library
 * Note: The Tax Assessment Records from 1813-1865 give 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.

Birth

 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Births Ancestry $

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 an electronic database of information. The entries are primarily from the International Genealogical Index (IGI) along with some entries derived from compiled and original records such as: Family Records, Church Records, Civil Registration. It may also include indexes generated by the internet indexing project sponsored by FamilySearch.
 * Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
 * 1835-1976  index. Not complete for all years.
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
 * 1885-1950  Extracted marriage records – free. Most of the records consist of marriage licenses, certificates, applications, docket books, and affidavits. This database is incomplete for all counties. May also contain marriage records earlier than 1885.
 * 1885–present Marriage licenses issued by the county are only available from 1885 to the present at: Clerk of Courts

Death

 * 1720-1999  at FamilySearch — index, some images
 * 1850-1880  at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry $

Divorce
Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary. The office of the Prothonotary is located in the courthouse building.

Archives

 * National Archives at Philadelphia 14700 Townsend Road Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096 Phone: 215-305-2044 Fax: 215-305-2052 website

Family History Centers

 * Cestal New York Family History Center The main FHC for Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania is the Vestal New York Family History Center

Libraries

 * Susquehanna County Free Library Association The Association consists of four public libraries and Outreach Services in Susquehanna County. Each library has access to Heritage Quest, accessible with your library card from home and Ancestry.com from the library system. A list of the libraries in this system and their website and contact information is found at the website.

Museums

 * Soldier's Orphan School Museum Orphan School Road Harford, PA 18823 Phone: 570-434-2496
 * The Soldier's Orphan School Museum features historical exhibits and a library concerned with the Franklin Academy and Soldier's Orphan School.
 * This historical society collects and preserves the rich heritage of the region.

Societies

 * Susquehanna County Historical Society 18 Monument Square Montrose, PA 18801 Phone: 570-278-1881 Email: [mailto:info@susqcohistsoc.org info@susqcohistsoc.org] website


 * Genealogical Research Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Inc. (GRSNP) 1100 Main Street Peckville, PA 18452 Phone: 570-383-7661 FAX: 570-383-7466 Email: [mailto:info@grsnp.org info@grsnp.org] website
 * The GRSNP serves northeastern counties: Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming


 * Brooklyn Historical Society PO Box 112 Brooklyn, PA 18813 Phone: 570-289-4378 or 570-498-6637
 * Harford Historical Society PO Box 1023 Harford, PA 18823 Phone: 570-289-4405 website Facebook
 * The Harford Historical Society preserves the heritage of Harford through a variety of special events throughout the year.

Websites

 * USGenWeb project.Susqehanna County. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Susquehanna County PA Genealogy
 * – 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.