Venango County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

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

Description
Venango County is located in the west-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Venango County Courthouse 1168 Liberty Street Franklin, PA 16323 Phone: 814-432-9500 Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts: 814-432-9577 Register and Recorder: 814-432-9539 Venango County Website Clerk of Courts and Recorder of Deeds has birth and death records from 1893-1905, marriage records from 1885, probate and land records from 1806 and court 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:

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($)

Church Records



 * Linkpendium

Methodist

Methodist Church, Plumer


 * 1867-1894 Methodist Church, Plumer, Baptism Index 1867-1894 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch.

Methodist Episcopal Church, Rouseville


 * 1877-1900 Methodist Episcopal Church, Rouseville, Baptism Index 1877-1900 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch.

Presbyterian

Amity Presbyterian Church, Irwin Township


 * 1867-1904 Amity Presbyterian Church, Irwin Township, Baptism Index 1867-1904 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch.

Presbyterian Church, Nickleville


 * 1856-1909 Presbyterian Church, Nickleville, Baptism Index 1856-1909 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch.

Presbyterian Church, Utica


 * 1859-1905 Presbyterian Church, Utica, Baptism Index 1859-1905 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch.

Scrubgrass Presbyterian Church


 * 1837-1892 Scrubgrass Presbyterian Church, Baptism Index 1837-1892 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch.
 * 1852-1853 Scrubgrass Presbyterian Church, Marriage Index 1852-1853 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch.

United Presbyterian Church, Emlenton

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * 1873-1888 United Presbyterian Church, Emlenton, Baptism Index 1873-1888 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch.
 * FamilySearch Places

Land and Property Records
Land records in Venango County began in 1800. These records are filed with the Register and Recorder office in Franklin, Pennsylvania.

Land Indexes and Records


 * 1800 -1925 Deeds, 1805-1889; Deed Index, 1800–1925. - images only; click on the camera icon to view images

Local Histories

 * History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its Past and Present. 1890. By Herbert C. Bell. Chicago : Brown, Runk. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($);.
 * Venango County Pennsylvania : her Pioneers and People. 1919. Prepared by Charles A. Babcock. Chicago : J.H. Beers. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Vol. 1 - Google Books, Vol. 2 - Google Books;.

Maps and Gazetteers
Maps
 * Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
 * Ancestor Tracks has posted free, downloadable images of the 1857 Map of Venango County, Pennsylvania Compiled from Official Surveys by R. Irwin, C.H. Heydrick, and C. Heydrick and Hunt's Improved Map of Venango County Oil Regions, published by John P. Hunt in 1865. These maps located in the Library of Congress show major landowners and geographic sites at the dates 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.
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Military Records

 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1806-1906 - Naturalization docket, 1806-1906, - 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 $

Newspapers
Newspapers of Venango County


 * Pennsylvania Newspapers
 * Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory

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.

Online Newspaper Abstracts


 * 1947-2010  at FamilySearch
 * PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Venango County, Pennsylvania.
 * Newspaper Abstracts including abstracts from The News Herald, Oil City Blizzard, Oil City Derrick News, Plain Dealer Bellaire and Citizens Press

Obituaries
Online Obituary Abstracts


 * PA-Roots Obituaries for Venango County, Pennsylvania.
 * Venango Pennsylvania Obituaries at USGenWeb.org
 * Venango County Obituaries courtesy USGenWeb Archives.
 * 1947-2010  at FamilySearch
 * 2008 -2011 Venango Obituaries (PDF version)

Obituary Excerpts and Abstracts


 * Venango County Genealogical Club, Rockland Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Church of Tionesta, Clapp Farm Cemetery and the Methodist Church of Franklin, Venango County Records, Volume 1 (Oil City, PA:Venango County Genealogical Club, 1984)
 * Romig, Nancy Byers, Scrips and Scraps; Scrapbook Abstracts, Venango County and Surrounding Areas (Apollo, PA:Closson Press, c1995)
 * Collected by Sarah E. Milford, Carol H. Jamison and Marilyn Q. Gerhold, Obituaries from Venango and Butler Counties (S.I.:s.n., 2006) Digital version available at catalog entry.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1683-1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry $
 * 1683-1994 at FamilySearch
 * 1800-1916 Venango County Probate Records
 * 1800 - unknown County of Venango, Pennsylvania Wills ($) on Ancestry. Taken from County of Venango, State of Pennsylvania, Will Book Number 1 unknown: 1900. You will find an names and page numbers to wills and administrations. There are no images of wills the wills.
 * 1806 -1870 Orphans' Court Records  - images only; click on the camera icon to view images; Each volume is indexed.
 * 1819 -1916 Will Dockets with Index (1800–1968)  - 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

 * Early Tax Roll Residents courtesy USGenWeb Archives

Birth

 * 1726-1930  index. Not complete for all years. This collection is an index for the years 1726 to 1930. It 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.
 * 1837-1915  index. Not complete for all years.
 * 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.
 * Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
 * 1833-1976 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.

Death

 * 1720-1999  at FamilySearch — index, some images
 * 1850-1880  at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry $
 * 1893-1905 Venango County Death Index 1893-1905 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free

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

 * Franklin Pennsylvania Family History Center

Libraries

 * Franklin Public Library 421 Twelfth St. Franklin, PA 16323 Phone: 814-432-5062 Fax: 814-432-8998 Email: [mailto:FranklinPL@FranklinLibrary.org FranklinPL@FranklinLibrary.org] website
 * The Genealogy and Local History Room is located in the basement of the library. There is a large collection of local and Pennsylvania History as well as obituaries.
 * Visit website for hours and services. Before planning your research trip, please contact them ahead of time by phone or e-mail.


 * Oil City Library 2 Central Ave. Oil City, PA 16301 Phone: 814-678-3072 Fax: 814-676-8028 website
 * Offers local history and genealogy. The Venango County Genealogical Club meets in the library. The library has newspapers on microfilm, offers interlibrary loans, and access to Heritage Quest.
 * Visit website for hours and services.

Societies

 * Venango County Pennsylvania Historical Society 301 S. Park St. P.O. Box 301 Franklin, PA 16323-1238 Phone: 814-437-2275 Email: [mailto:vchistory@csonline.net vchistory@csonline.net] Facebook website
 * The Research Library has a list of research, photocopy, and scanner fees. The Archival Resource Center has wills, estates, and naturalization records from 1800 to 1900. Also, records for collections for businesses, churches, clubs, and organizations, families and individuals are housed in the Archival Resource Center. This room is not available to the public; it is available only to Archivist who will assist you.
 * Visit website for available hours


 * Venango County Genealogical Club 2 Central Ave. Heritage Room in the Oil City Library Oil City, PA 16301-3122 Phone: 814-678-3077 (answered only on Saturdays from 1-5 pm) Email: [mailto:vengen@csonline.net vengen@csonline.net] website


 *  Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society (WPGS) c/o PA Department, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh 4400 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213-4080 website
 * The focus of the WPGS is the 26 counties west of Centre County, including Venago County. WPGS is based out of Pittsburgh, PA in the Pennnsylvania Department of the Carnegie Library.
 * Visit website for research services and fees.

Websites

 * USGenWeb archives
 * Venango 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.