Pennsylvania Bible Records

Online Resources and Websites
Listed below are resources for Bible records specific to Pennsylvania. To find more resources, go to the United States Bible Records page.

Databases

 * Bible Collection, South Central Pennsylvania Genealogical Society at The York County History Center
 * The Family Bible Index - Pennsylvania at Yancey Family Genealogy
 * U.S. Select Family History and Bible Records Index, Historical Society of Pennsylvania at Ancestry ($)

Transcriptions, Indexes, and Images

 * at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * (Volumes A1.99 no. 95--A1.99 no 165) in possession of the Historical Society of Pennsyvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * Bible Records at Montgomery County PAGenWeb — transcriptions
 * Bible Records at Somerset County Pennsylvania Genealogy — transcriptions
 * at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * , Photostats at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * , Photostats at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * , Photostats at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * , Photostats at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * Franklin County Archives Bible Records at Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives - transcriptions
 * Luzerne County Bible Records at Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives — transcriptions
 * Other Local Bible Records, Sullivan County Genealogical Web Project at Rootsweb — transcriptions and images
 * Pennsylvania Bibles at Find a Family Bible — transcriptions and images
 * Shearer Bible Records: Franklin County, PA at Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives - transcriptions
 * Tri-County Bible Records at The History Center on Main Street — transcriptions

Digital Books

 * Bible Records in the Sophie Selden Rogers Collection; Vols. 10-12; 44-57. Online at.
 * Bible Records of Family Names from Truxtun to Washburn. Historical Society of Pennsylvania - Collections. Online at FamilySearch Digital Library
 * Bible Records with Family Names from Adams to Singley. Historical Society of Pennsylvania - Collections. Online at FamilySearch Digital Library
 * Bible Records with Family Names from Mace to Mervine. Historical Society of Pennsylvania - Collections. Online at FamilySearch Digital Library
 * Bible Records with Family Names from Mickley to Murray. Historical Society of Pennsylvania - Collections. Online at FamilySearch Digital Library
 * Bible Records with Family Names from Snyder to Sumner. Historical Society of Pennsylvania - Collections. Online at FamilySearch Digital Library
 * Bible Records with Family Names from Sutton to Truesdell. Historical Society of Pennsylvania - Collections. Online at FamilySearch Digital Library
 * Bible Records with Family Names from Watts to Winner. Historical Society of Pennsylvania - Collections. Online at FamilySearch Digital Library
 * Bible Records with Family Names from Winner to Ziegler. Historical Society of Pennsylvania - Collections. Online at FamilySearch Digital Library
 * Bible Records with Family Names Nagel to Pennell. Historical Society of Pennsylvania - Collections. Online at FamilySearch Digital Library
 * Bible Records with Family Names Pennington to Primrose. Historical Society of Pennsylvania - Collections. Online at FamilySearch Digital Library
 * Bible Records with Family Names Rambo to Rogers. Historical Society of Pennsylvania - Collections. Online at FamilySearch Digital Library
 * Bible Records with Family Names Rose to Shepard. Historical Society of Pennsylvania - Collections. Online at FamilySearch Digital Library
 * Bible Records with Family Names Sherbahn to Snow. Historical Society of Pennsylvania - Collections. Online at FamilySearch Digital Library
 * Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania; Vol. VI; pgs. 16-23. 1917. Philadelphia:Locust Street. Online at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania; Vol. VII; pgs. 26-43; 127-135; 264-280. 1920. Philadelphia:Locust Street. Online at FamilySearch Digital Library.

Other places to look for Bible Record Collections

 * Copies, or abstracts of old family Bibles that are no longer known to exist, may survive in Revolutionary War Pension application files at NARA, Washington, D.C., which are available online at three commercial websites: Ancestry, Fold3, and Heritage Quest Online.
 * Family records: Check home sources by reaching out to older members of the family asking if they know of any Family Bibles and who might have it in their possession.
 * FamilySearch Catalog: Using the keyword search, type in the surname you are looking for and the word "Bible."
 * Card Catalog at Ancestry. ($)
 * Periodical Source Index (PERSI): Many periodicals publish family data from Bible records. Periodical Source Index (PERSI) is an index to many of these periodicals. Learn how to use Periodical Source Index (PERSI).

Why Search for Family Bibles
Many families have traditionally recorded births, marriages, and deaths in a family bible, family record book, or book of remembrance. A bible was often given by relatives to a bride as a wedding gift, where she recorded information about her immediate family and close relatives. Relationships were seldom stated but were often implied. Names of parents, children, and their spouses, including maiden names, were frequently given along with dates of birth, marriage, and death. Sometimes the age of a person was given at the time of death. Many families kept bible records from the 1700s (and sometimes earlier) to more recent times, although few have survived. Family bibles that are no longer in the possession of the family may be at a historical or genealogical society. They are sometimes transcribed and published in genealogical periodicals or other databases

Bible records can be used as a substitute in providing birth, marriage, and date information when vital record information was not recorded.