Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

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

Description
The county is located in the south-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Montgomery County Courthouse 2 E Airy St P.O. Box 311 Norristown, PA 19404-0311 Phone: 610-278-3224 Office of the Prothonotary Phone: 610-278-3360 [http://rod.montcopa.org/rod/site/default.asp? Recorder of Deeds] Phone: 610-278-3289 [http://rwoc.montcopa.org/rwoc/site/default.asp? Register of Wills/Orphan's Court] Phone: 610-278-3400 Montgomery County Website Clerk of the Orphan Court has birth and death records 1893-1913 and marriage records from 1885 Register of Wills has probate records from 1784 Recorder of Deeds has land records from 1784 Prothonotary Office has divorce and court records from 1784

Office of the Prothonotary is responsible for recording and filing a wide variety of legal papers such as: personal injury, medical malpractice, divorce, custody, protection from abuse, judgments, change of name, District Justice appeals, processes passport applications, Federal income tax liens, and administers oaths and affirmations. Orphan's Court issues marriage licenses and has charge over petitions for adoptions. Recorder of Deeds collects deeds, mortgages, and other land records for the county. Register of Wills probates wills processes intestate estates and is an agent for the Commonwealth in collecting inheritance taxes. Records of all persons born in Montgomery County between 1893 and 1915 can be found here; after 1915, records were filed with the Department of Health.

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:

Bible Records

 * 1843-1929 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * Bible Records at PA Roots
 * Bibles at PA USGenWeb Archives
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * Family Bibles at The Historical Society of Montgomery County PA

Biographies

 * Biographical Annals of Montgomery County Pennsylvaniacontaining genealogical records of representative families, including many of the early settlers and biographical sketches of prominent citizens. Ellwood Roberts, Editor. Courtesy USGenWeb Archives
 * Biographies from Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (1904) published by T. S. Benham and The Lewis Publishing Co., are available free on the My Genealogy Hound website.

Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Indentured Servants

Cemeteries
Additional Cemetery Resources
 * ca.1700-ca.1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images (incomplete)
 * PA-Roots
 * Names in Stone

Census Records
Federal Census
 * 1850-1880  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Church Records

 * Visit Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Church Records for information about church denominations and records in Montgomery County.

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1798-1828  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Alphabet index then by numbered entry
 * 1900-1923  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only (by county)
 * 1952-1957   at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Indentured Servants

Genealogies

 * All of the family biographies from The Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham &amp; Company and The Lewis Publishing Company are available free online on My Genealogy Hound.

Land and Property Records
Land records in Montgomery County began in 1850. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Norristown, Pennsylvania.

Online Land Indexes and Records
 * Abstracts of Early Deeds, 17 06:Philadelphia (many now Montgomery Co.), courtesy USGenWeb Archives
 * 1784-1877 Deeds, 1784-1866; Index, 1784-1877. - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1784-1946 Mortgages, 1785-1822; Index, 1784-1946. - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * The Register and Recorder offers online access to land records (available years are unknown). The online indexes are free but fees apply for copies.

Local Histories

 * History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. 1975. Edited by Theodore W Bean. Evansville, Ind. : Unigraphic. Online at: Hathitrust, Internet Archive. The original is a reprint of the 1884 ed. published by Everts & Peck, Philadelphia, 1884.
 * History of Montgomery County within the Schuylkill Valley. 1859. By William J. Buck. Norristown, Pennsylvania : E. L. Acker. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive;.
 * Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; a History. 3 volumes. c1923. By Clifton S. Hunsicker. New York, New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vol. 3 - FamilySearch Digital Library,  Internet Archive; Vols. 1 & 2 - Hathitrust; Vols. 1-3 - Ancestry ($);.

Maps and Gazetteers
Maps
 * Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
 * Ancestor Tracks has posted free downloadable images from the 1868 Barnes' Driving Map of Philadelphia and Surroundings. This wall map located in the Library of Congress shows major landowner 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 attribute to Ancestor Tracks.
 * United States Geographic Survey Place Names - GNIS for Montgomery County(over 2000) (may not always be present in alphabetic order on first try.)
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Migration
Early migration routes to Montgomery County for European settlers included:


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

Military Records
Revolutionary War Local newspapers published obituaries on many Montgomery County Revolutionary War veterans. Summers abstracted these records and his article is available for free online:


 * Summers, William. "Obituary Notices of Pennsylvania Soldiers of the Revolution," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 38 (1914):443-460. For free online access, see WeRelate.

Civil War
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1865-1936  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

World War II
 * 1933-1947  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1791 -1906 Naturalization Papers - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1795-1930 Naturalization Petitions for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1795-1930 on Fold3.com - ($), indexed, National Archives publication M1522, incomplete for all counties.
 * 1795-1930 Naturalization Petitions for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania located in Selected US Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1790-1974 database on Ancestry $
 * 1795-1931  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1795-1952  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers
Newspapers of Montgomery County

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.


 * Ambler Gazette Collection through Wissahickon Valley Public Library.
 * Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory.
 * Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive
 * Pennsylvania Newspapers

Online Newspaper Abstracts


 * PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
 * Newspaper Clippings for Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Obituaries

 * 1947-2021  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1977-2010  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Online Obituary Abstracts


 * PA-Roots Obituaries for Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
 * Index to Montgomery County Obituaries Death Notices and Funeral Notices (USGenWeb.com)
 * Montgomery County Obituaries, courtesy USGenWeb Archives

Obituary Excerpts and Abstracts


 * Marriages...Deaths from Der Nautralist, 1845-1854 (Trenton, New Jersey:NMI, Norton Micro-Images for the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania)
 * Compiled and arranged by Michael J. Osiol, Pottstown Area Necrology (S.I.:M.J. Osiol, 19--?) ;


 * Summers, William. "Obituary Notices of Pennsylvania Soldiers of the Revolution," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 38 (1914):443-460. For free online access, see WeRelate.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1683-1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1683-1994 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images
 * 1784-1850 Abstract of Wills and Administrations of Montgomery County, Pa. By Roberts, Ellwood. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, 1912. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library; Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library; Also at:
 * 1784-1850 Index of Wills and Estate Settlements, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 1784-1850. By Williams, Richard T. and Mildred C. Williams. Danboro, Pennsylvania : Richard T. and Mildred C. Williams, 1972. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; Also at: ; Also Online at: Ancestry ($)
 * 1784-1850 Index of Wills and Estate Settlements, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 1784-1850. By Williams, Richard T.; Mildred C. Williams; Janet R. Brittingham. Pennsylvania : Will-Britt Books, 1987.  Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
 * 1784-1866 (*); Orphans' Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1784-1941 (*); Register of Wills at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1784-1942 (*); Register of Wills at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1784-1973 (*); Register of Wills at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1785-1850 Wills/Estates; Stover Quarterly - V. 4, No. 2,3,4 (Spring-Fall 1983). By Stover, Sheila Spencer and Stover Family Association. Lenexa, Kansas : Stover Family Association, 1983. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
 * Montgomery County, Wills/Estate Records at Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives

School Records
Pottstown, PA High School: 1941 Football Team Photo with names of individuals.

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.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records

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

Vital Records

 * The following records are available at the Montgomery County Records Department:
 * 1841-1966 Delayed Birth Certificates
 * 1852-1855 Birth, Marriage and Death Records
 * 1885 to present Marriage Records, with bride and groom index
 * 1893-1915 Birth and Death Records

Birth

 * 1520-1999  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1709-1950  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1941-1976  at FamilySerch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

The following records are available at the Montgomery County Records Department:
 * 1841-1966 Delayed Birth Certificates
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Births Ancestry $
 * 1852-1855 Birth Records
 * 1893-1895 Montgomery County Birth Index 1893-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.
 * 1893-1915 Birth Records

Marriage
The following records are available at the Montgomery County Records Department:

Marriage records older than 25 years are not available at the courthouse. These records need to be brought in from an off site storage facility. When the record has been brought to the courthouse, the patron will be notified and may pick up the record at that time. Order records by completing the following form.


 * 1512-1989  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1626-2016 Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($)
 * 1677-1950  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1682-1976  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1700-1821 Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry $
 * 1709-1940  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
 * 1812-1839 Van Booskirk, Mahlon. "Marriages from Squire Van Booskirk's Docket," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 30 (1906):437-444. For free online access, see WeRelate. Van Booskirk was a Justice of the Peace. Republished as: "Marriage Record of Mahlon Van Booskirk," Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, Vol. 4, No. 3 (Mar. 1911):305-311. For online access, see WeRelate; the FamilySearch Library also has this series in its collection:.
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
 * 1885-1950  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1947-2010  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Index to Marriage Records at USGenWeb - Includes two indexes: the first is an alphabetical listing of brides and grooms in local newspapers, the second is a county marriage license search from the early 1990s to the presennt.

Death
The following records are available at the Montgomery County Records Department:
 * 1720-1999  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, some images
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry $
 * 1852-1855 Death Records
 * 1856-1971  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1893-1915 Death Records
 * 1894 Montgomery County Birth Index 1894 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.

Divorce
Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary Montgomery County Courthouse.

Archives
National Archives at Philadelphia 14700 Townsend Rd Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096 Phone: 215-305-2044 Fax: 215-305-2052 Email: [mailto:philadelphia.archives@nara.gov philadelphia.archives@nara.gov] Website Facebook Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel 8339 Old York Rd Elkins Park, PA 19027 Phone: 215-887-8700 Email: [mailto:contact@kenesethisrael.org contact@kenesethisrael.org] Website Facebook
 * The Archives contains Jewish synagogue records from its founding in 1847 to the present.

Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center 105 Seminary St Pennsburg, PA 18073 Phone: 215–679–3103 Email: [mailto:info@schwenkfelder.com info@schwenkfelder.com] Website Facebook
 * This organization has over "200 unpublished records from churches in Montgomery, Berks, Lehigh and Bucks County, from the Schwenkfelder, Reformed, Lutheran, Mennonite, Brethren, and Roman Catholic congregations." It also has many years of five local newspapers, family genealogies and files, local and county histories, diaries, printed fraktur, cemetery records, photographs, and other types of records.

Valley Forge National Historical Park Library and Archives 1400 N Outer Line Dr King of Prussia, PA 19406 Phone: 610-783-1000 Fax: 610-783-1053 Email: [mailto:vafo_superintendent@nps.gov vafo_superintendent@nps.gov] Website Facebook
 * This National Historic Park is staffed by The National Park Service and appointments are necessary.

FamilySearch Centers

 * Doylestown Pennsylvania FamilySearch Center
 * Pottstown Pennsylvania FamilySearch Center
 * Reading Pennsylvania FamilySearch Center
 * Free Library of Northampton Township - an affiliate library.
 * Historical Society of Pennsylvania - an affiliate library.

Libraries
Montgomery Area Public Library 1 S Main St Montgomery, PA 17752 Phone: 570-547-6212 Website Facebook
 * The Montgomery Area Public Library is part of the Lycoming County Library System that holds genealogical, historical, and biographical items in their collection.

Museums
Temple Judea Museum Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel 8339 Old York Rd (SE corner Township Line Rd) Elkins Park, PA 19027 Phone: 215-887-2027 Email: [mailto:contact@kenesethisrael.org contact@kenesethisrael.org] Website Facebook
 * The museum has collections of art works, political items, military information, music, history, and more.

Valley Forge National Historical Park Library and Archives 1400 N Outer Line Dr King of Prussia, PA 19406 Phone: 610-783-1000 Fax: 610-783-1053 Email: [mailto:vafo_superintendent@nps.gov vafo_superintendent@nps.gov] Website Facebook

Societies
Friends Historical Association (Quakers) Haverford College Library 370 Lancaster Ave Haverford, PA 19041-1392 Phone: 484-471-7169 Email: [mailto:fha@quakerhistory.org fha@quakerhistory.org] Website Facebook Historical Society of Montgomery County 1654 DeKalb St Norristown, PA 19401 Phone: 610-272-0297 Email: [mailto:contact@hsmcpa.org contact@hsmcpa.org] Website Facebook Lower Merion Historical Society Lower Merion Academy 506 Bryn Mawr Ave Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 610-664-3216 Email: [mailto:LMHistory@comcast.net LMHistory@comcast.net] Website Facebook

Websites

 * Montgomery County USGenWeb Archives
 * The Montgomery County PAGenWeb Project, a member of The PAGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * Montgomery 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.