Bedford County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

United States Pennsylvania  Bedford County

Guide to Bedford County, Pennsylvania ancestry, family history and genealogy courthouse sources including birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, wills, deeds and land records, Civil War records, Revolutionary War records, family histories, cemeteries, churches, tax records, newspapers, and obituaries.

Bedford County Pennsylvania Historical Facts



 * Parent Counties: Formed from Cumberland County 9 March 1771.


 * County Seat: Bedford


 * Neighboring Counties: residents may also have records in:

Blair (north) Fulton (east) Somerset (west) Allegany County, Maryland (south) Huntingdon (northeast) Cambria (northwest)

Boundary Changes
The original Bedford County, sometimes called "Mother Bedford," encompassed a huge area when it was created in 9 March 1771. Later counties which were originally part of Bedford County include:


 * parts of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Clearfield
 * all of Blair, Cambria, Fayette, Fulton, Greene, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland
 * most of Centre, Huntingdon, Indiana

For animated maps illustrating Pennsylvania county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Pennsylvania County Boundary Maps" (1673-1878) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Records Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

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

BillionGraves:


 * Comps Cemetery, Southhampton
 * Cooks Mill Cemetery, Londonderry
 * Lybarger Cemetery, Bedford
 * Madley Cemetery, Bedford
 * Palo Alto Hill-Top Cemetery, Londonderry



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.

General Resources for Bedford County Censuses
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 - free.
 * 1790 Federal Census of Bedford County is a free resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
 * 1800 Federal Census of Bedford Countyis a free resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
 * 1810 Federal Census of Bedford Countyis a free resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
 * 1820 Federal Census of Bedford County is a free resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
 * 1830 Federal Census of Bedford County is a free resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
 * 1840 Federal Census of Bedford Countyis a free resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
 * 1850 Federal Census of Bedford Countyis a free resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
 * 1860 Federal Census of Bedford Countyis a free 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 free 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.

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.com – $; 7,542,774 entries. This database is incomplete for all counties.


 * 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 wnd 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 in Schellsburg built in 1806, is the oldest one in the county.

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


 * 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 ($).

Court Records
Courtesy of the Pioneer Library, Bedford County Historical Society:


 * Alms House Records
 * Divorce Records
 * Orphan Court Records: 1771-1900

Court of Common Pleas
The Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of Pennsylvania. Major civil and criminal cases are heard in these courts. Judges also decide cases involving adoption, divorce, child custody, abuse, juvenile delinquency, estates, guardianships, charitable organizations and many other matters. The Common Pleas courts are organized into 60 judicial districts. has its own judicial district. Judges of the Common Pleas courts are elected to 10-year terms. A president judge and a court administrator serve in each judicial district.

Orphan's Court

 * 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.

History
This page contains information on histories of Bedford County. However, histories of Pennsylvania mentioned on the Pennsylvania History page can also yield excellent information on migration patterns and settlers of early counties.

Why Use Histories?
For information about why published histories are valuable to the genealogist or what kinds of information they contain, see United States History.

Histories Available Online
. A Brief History of Bedford, Pennsylvania, from pioneer days to the present, compiled by Annie M. Gilchrist. 1955 (revised).

. History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties ... 1884. Chicago: Waterman, Watkins &amp; Co.

Published Histories
WorldCat lists over 180 titles within the subject Bedford (Pa.) History.

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

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts, indexes, mortgages, leases, grants, sheriff sales, land patents, and maps. Property records include liens as well as livestock brands and estray records.

The following are examples of available resources:

Online Land Records


 * Bedford County offers online access to images. Fees apply.

Land Records on Microfilm


 * 1771–1905 Deed Book.
 * 1771–1963 Mortgage Book, 1830-1900; Index, 1771-1963.

Land Warrants 1771-1893


 * Land Warrant Lists Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Volume 25 at Bedford County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives

Additional Resources

Note that the "Maps" section below includes maps related to land ownership.

See Pennsylvania Land and Property for more information about using land records, especially about original land warrants, surveys, and patents filed at the state land office.

Additional resources can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Bedford County Pennsylvania Land in online catalogs such as:


 * Historical Society of Pennsylvania
 * WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog.)
 * (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Place-name Search.)

Maps

 * Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
 * Ancestor Tracks has posted free, 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
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.

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 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.

Naturalization records available for Bedford County, Pennsylvania include the following:

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records


 * 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.com - ($), National Archives publication M1208


 * 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.com - ($), indexed, National Archives publication M1537

Original Naturalization Records on Microfilm


 * 1802-1934 Naturalization Papers

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


 * USGenWeb Bedford County Newspaper Articles
 * PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Bedford County.

Obituaries
Obituaries are generally found in local newspapers where the person died. However, sometimes an obituary is found in the location from which he or she originated. To find an obituary, see the information under the Newspaper heading

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)

Poorhouse, Almshouse

 * Alms House Records at Bedford County Historical Society website. Free online index; records can be ordered for a small fee.

Probate Records
Online Probate Records

Original probate records for some Pennsylvania counties are available free online as digital images at FamilySearch.org. The dates vary significantly for each county and not all counties are listed. Some counties may only have probate indexes. This Pennsylvania collection of images may be browsed through the links listed below:

Complete Collection:


 * 1683-1994- at FamilySearch.org

Bedford County Only:


 * 1771-1906-Bedford County Probate Records

Original Probate Records on Microfim


 * 1771-1906 Will Book -Index included

Will Abstracts


 * Complete Transcribed Wills for Bedford County Not complete, but does contain many wills for residents of Bedford County.

Archives

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

Courthouse
Bedford County Courthouse 200 S Juliana St. Bedford, PA 15522-1714 Phone: (814) 623-4812 Clerk of the Court/Orphans' Court Phone: (814) 623-4833

Prothonotary Phone: (814) 623-4833 Fax: (814) 623-4831 email: [mailto:bcproth@pennswoods.net bcproth@pennswoods.net]

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.

Family History Centers

 * Bedford Pennsylvania Family History Center

Libraries
Bedford County Library 240 South Wood St. Bedford, PA 15522 Phone: (814) 623-5010 Hours: Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 7 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM - 2 PM Sunday - CLOSED

Societies
Bedford County Historical Society 6441 Lincoln Highway Bedford, PA 15522 814-623-2011 Email: [mailto:bedfordhistory@embarqmail.com bedfordhistory@embarqmail.com] FamilySearch Wiki page: Bedford County Historical Society

Library has collected 4500 family histories. Website includes free indexes to Alms House Records, Civil War Exemptions Index, Divorce Index, Naturalization Papers Index, Obituary Index, Orphans Court Index (1771-1900), and Military Pension Files (Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, and Spanish American War) of local residents. The Society offers a look-up service to retrieve the actual documents indexed in these databases; family research; court house research; cemetery look-ups; and gravestone photographs.

Taxation

 * 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 - free.


 * 1779 - Cumberland Valley Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Tax Records at - free.


 * 1781-1782 - Bedford Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Tax Records at - free.


 * 1788-1789 - Elk Lick Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Tax Records at - free.


 * 1791-1793 - Colerain Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Tax Records at - free.


 * 1791-1793 - Cumberland Valley Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Tax Records at - free.


 * 1792-1793 - Woodberry Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Tax Records at - free.


 * 1798 - Pennsylvania, U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798 at Ancestry ($).

Courtesy of the Pioneer Library, Bedford County Historical Society:

Bedford County Commissioner's Records: Includes minutes, assessment books, tax records, election returns &amp; miscellaneous records.

Vital Records
See also How to order Pennsylvania Vital Records

Births

 * 1852-1854 – Pennsylvania Births Ancestry.com – ($) Index with images.
 * 1894-1905, 1941-1963 - Bedford County Birth Index 1894-1905 and 1941-1963 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.

Marriages

 * 1677–1950 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1700-1821 - Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties.
 * 1725-1976 - - free index. Not complete for all years. This index is not necessarily intended to index any specific set of records. This index is not complete for any particular place or region. This collection may include information previously published in the International Genealogical Index or Vital Records Index collections.
 * Pre-1810 – Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties. Includes 35,000 marriage records from vol. VIII of of the second series of the Pennsylvania Archives.
 * 1852-1854 - Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) Index with images.
 * 1885-1950 - Extracted marriage records – free. This database is incomplete for all counties. May also contain marriage records earlier than 1885.

Divorce
Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary. A free online index is available on the Bedford County Historical Society website. You can also search an index onsite at the Prothonotary's office. The office of the Prothonotary is located in the courthouse building.

Deaths

 * 1852-1854 – Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry.com – ($) Index with images.
 * 1890-1905 - Bedford County Death Index 1890-1905 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.

Genealogy Societies and Libraries

 * List of Pennsylvania Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies

Bedford County Pennsylvania Genealogy Websites

 * Bedford County, PA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * 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
 * Bedford County PA USGenWeb Archives