Washington County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

Guide to Washington County, Pennsylvania ancestry, family history and genealogy in 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.

Washington County Pennsylvania Historical Facts
Parent Counties: Formed from Westmoreland County 28 March 1781.

County Seat: Washington

Neighboring Counties: Washington County residents may also have records in:
 * Beaver
 * Greene
 * Allegheny
 * Westmoreland
 * Fayette
 * Hancock County, West Virginia
 * Marshall County, West Virginia
 * Ohio County, West Virginia
 * Brooke County, West Virginia

Named for General George Washington of the American Revolutionary War.

Description
The county was named for the George Washington. Its county seat is Washington and was founded March 28, 1781. It is located in the southwest tip of the state.

Boundary Changes
The lands of Westmoreland County were claimed by both Virginia and Pennsylvania. A compromise extending the 1767 Mason-Dixon Line was proposed 31 August 1779, ratified by Pennsylvania 19 November 1779 and by Virginia 23 September 1780, and physically run and marked 23 August 1785.


 * 27 Jan 1750: Part of Cumberland County.
 * 9 March 1771: Became part of Bedford County when it was was erected.
 * 26 January 1773: The future county became part of Westmoreland County.
 * 24 September 1788: Allegheny County set off.
 * 9 February 1796: Greene County set off.
 * 12 March 1800: Beaver County set off.

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.

Additional Cemetery Resources


 * PA-Roots
 * Names in Stone
 * Ancestry($)

Church Records



 * Linkpendium


 * Washington County "Little Washington" Pennsylvania Genealogy and Family History


 * Churches of Washington County PA Rootsweb

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 the church records of:
 * Canonsburg: Canonsburg United Presbyterian Church
 * Finleyville: Mingo Presbyterian Church
 * Peters: Center United Presbyterian Church
 * Washington: Covenant United Presbyterian Church; Faith United Presbyterian Church; First Presbyterian Church; First United Methodist Church; Jefferson Avenue United Methodist Church

Roman Catholic

 * "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.

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. Washington County 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.

Orphans' Court

 * ’’’1781-1868’’’ Orphans' Court Docket with Index (1781

Family Histories

 * (Walton) Walton, John. "Job Walton of Fleming County, Kentucky," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 52, No. 1 (Mar. 1964):15-24. 973 B2ng v. 52

Land and Property
Land records in Washington County began in 1781. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds in Washington, Pennsylvania. If your ancestor lived in the area which became Washington County, they may have filed land claims with Virginia when the area was know as the District of West Augusta.

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


 * 1967–present Images are available online using the Landex system. There is a fee to view the images.

Online Land Abstracts


 * Warrantees of Land in the Washington County courtesy USGenWeb Archives

Land Records on Microfilm


 * 1781-1924 Deed Books, 1781-1886; Deed Index, 1781-1924
 * 1781-1925 Mortgages, 1841-1854; Mortgage Index, 1781-1925

Maps


 * MacInnes, Sharon Cook. Early Landowners of Pennsylvania: Atlas of Township Warrantee Maps of Washington County. Apollo, Pennsylvania : Closson Press, 2004.

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

Additional Resources

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 Washington 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.)

Local Histories

 * History of Washington County : from its first settlement to the present time ... 1870 by Alfred Creigh. Digitized book from archive.org.  Digitized book from Penn State.
 * History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, 1882, by Boyd Crumrine. Digitized book from archive.org Digitized book from Historic Pittsburgh  Transcription from chartiers.com.
 * Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens...1893, by J. H. Beers. Volume 1 Transcription from chartiers.com.
 * 20th Century History of the City of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 1910 by Joseph Fulton McFarland, 2 volumes. Digitized book online from archive.org:  Volume 1   Volume 2
 * Some pioneers of Washington County, Pa. A family history, 1902 by Francis Smith Reeder. Digitized book from archive.org.
 * The centennial celebration of the incorporation of the borough of Washington, Pa., in its Old Home Week of October 2-8, 1910 from GoogleBooks
 * A century of education; or, The history of the schools of Burgettstown, Washington County, Pennsylvania, for one hundred years, 1898, by William Melvin. Digitized book at archive.org.
 * Centennial anniversary of the founding of Monongahela City, Pa. : celebrated November 15th, 1892 by C. W. Hazzard. Digitized book at Historic Pittsburgh.

Maps

 * Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
 * Ancestor Tracks has an Atlas of Township Warrantee Maps of Washington County and a Companion Scans of Township Warratee Maps CD($). They show precise outlines in metes and bounds of each original tract and all surrounding tracts in each township, giving the names of the warrantee and patentee; dates of the warrant, survey, and patent; and the patent and survey book and page of the recorded patent.

Revolutionary War
Men living in what is now Washington County (then Westmoreland County) also served in the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment.


 * Washington County Muster Rolls and Papers courtesy USGenWeb Archives

Naturalization and Citizenship
Naturalization records available for Washington 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


 * 1802-1906 Naturalization records, 1802-1906; Index, 1802-1962,

Newspapers
Newspapers of Washington 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.


 * The Reporter August 22, 1808 - Dec 19, 1825
 * Washington Daily News January 1, 1918 - May 11, 1919
 * Washington Daily Reporter March 25, 1884 - December 31, 1896
 * The Washington Observer January 4, 1878 - November 6, 1967
 * The Washington Reporter March 29, 1845 - September 16, 1985
 * The Washington Sem-Weekly Reporter October 5, 1889 - December 25, 1891
 * The Washington Weekly Reporter November 10, 1883 - February 29, 1888

Online Newspaper Abstracts

Miscellaneous Newspaper Items] A part of a Washington County PAGenWeb Genealogy Project
 * PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Washington County, Pennsylvania.
 * [http://sites.rootsweb.com/~pawashin/newspaper/index.html
 * Newspaper Articles by year.

Newspaper Abstracts


 * Compliled by Bonnie Malmat, Abstracts of the Washington, PA Reporter:Washington County, PA (Apollo, Pennsylvania:Closson Press, c1990-2008)

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


 * PA-Roots Obituaries for Washington County, Pennsylvania.
 * Links to the Dixon Collection Death Notices for 1880 Washington County, PA. A full list of 1880 Deaths from the Washington Reporter or Washington Observer.
 * Washington County Obituaries courtesy USGenWeb Archives

Obituary Excerpts and Abstracts


 * Compiled by Yvonne L. Blair Morgan, Index of Census, Newspaper Obituary Files and Microfilm:Fayette, Green, Washington and Westmoreland Counties (Apollo, Pennsylvania:Closson Press, c2003) ;
 * Compliled by Bonnie Malmat, Abstracts of the Washington, PA Reporter:Washington County, PA (Apollo, Pennsylvania:Closson Press, c1990-2008)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes


 * 1683-1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry.com — index and images $


 * 1683-1994  at FamilySearch — images


 * 1781-1796 Estate Records in Washington County ($) on Ancestry. Taken from Bell, Raymond Martin. Estate Records and Deed 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

Washington County Only:


 * 1781-1850 Washington County Probate Records

Online Probate Abstracts


 * 1786-1830 Washington County PAGenWeb Genealogy Project – incomplete Extract of Washington County Partitions, Estate Divisions. Includes name, wife, children with spouses.

Original Probate Records on Microfilm


 * 1781-1872 Wills, includes index 1781–1935.
 * 1781-1850 Probate Files, includes index 1781–1924.
 * 1781-1868 Orphans' Court Records, includes index 1781–1952.

Repositories

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

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

 * Washington County Courthouse 1 South Main St. Washington, PA 15301 Phone: 724-228-6787
 * Genealogy Resources describes and limitations on research requests. Additionally,
 * Research Portal lists resources and links for researchers.


 * Clerk of the Courts Suite 1005 Phone: 724-228-6787
 * Prothonotary Suite 1001 Phone: 724-228-6770
 * Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court Suite 1002 Phone: 724-228-6775 Fax: 724-250-4821

Family History Centers
The Monongahela Center is also nearby.

Libraries

 * Washington County Library System consists of 14 public libraries in Washington County. Each library has access to genealogical databases - especially newspaper sites. Many are accessible with your library card from home.
 * Visit main website (above) for all library locations, hours, services and available resources, or
 * Visit WCLS locations

Museums

 * David Bradford House 175 S. Main St. P.O. Box 537 Washington PA 15301 Email: [mailto:bradfordhouse@verizon.net bradfordhouse@verizon.net] (for general inquiries) or [mailto:bradforddirector@verizon.net bradforddirector@verizon.net] (Historical Director)
 * They publish a newsletter about the history of the area.


 * Washington County Historical Society Museums 49 East Maiden St. Washington, PA 15301 Phone: 724-225-6740 Email: [mailto:wchspa@verizon.net wchspa@verizon.net]
 * The Society offers tours of the museums throughout downtown Washington. One house, the 199-year old LeMoyne House, was an Underground Railroad.

Societies

 * Washington County Historical Society 49 East Maiden St. Washington, PA 15301 Email: [mailto:wchspa@verizon.net wchspa@verizon.net] Phone: 724-225-6740
 * Visit website for hours and services
 * The Research Library has some tools to help the researcher in the area of Washington County.


 * Genealogical Society of Southwestern Pennsylvania c/o Citizens Library 55 South College St. Washington, PA 15301 Email: [mailto:gsswpa55@yahoo.com gsswpa55@yahoo.com]
 * The Keyhole is the Society's quarterly publication; the index is archived on the internet.


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

School Records

 * Washington County Education Records courtesy USGenWeb Archives
 * 1877 Common School Report
 * Donora High School, 1919
 * East Bethlehem Senior Annual, 1919
 * West Bethlehm "Last Will and Testament for 1929"
 * Pennsylvania Reform School, 1893.

Taxation

 * 1781 Washington County Tax Lists courtesy USGenWeb Archives
 * 1783 The 1783 Tax Lists and the 1790 Federal Census for Washington County, Pennsylvania at  - free.
 * 1786 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 ($); Google Books - free.
 * 1786 A Duplicate of the State Taxes for the Year 1786 at PAGenWeb - free.
 * 1798 Pennsylvania, U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798 at Ancestry ($).
 * 1809-1810 Anwell Township Tax List at PAGenWeb - free.
 * 1822-1824 West Bethlehem Township Tax Lists at PAGenWeb - free.

Vital Records
See also How to order Pennsylvania Vital Records

Birth

 * 1852-1930  - free index. Not complete for all years.
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Births Ancestry.com – $ Index with images.

Marriage

 * 1626-2016 - Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1677-1950  at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1700-1821 Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties.
 * 1752-1976  - free index. Not complete for all years.
 * Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) 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. 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.
 * 1947-2010  at FamilySearch — index and images

Marriage records recorded in the Register of Wills Office are from 1885 through the present. Write for the records at:

Register of Wills Office 1 South Main Street Suite 1002, Washington, PA 15301 Hours: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm

Divorce
Divorce records are handled by the office of the Prothonotary. While no on-line indexes or records are available, records may be obtained by visiting or writing to the Prothonotary at:

Death

 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry.com – $ Index with images.
 * 1893-1906 Washington County Death Index 1893-1906 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1947-2010  at FamilySearch — index and images

Washington County Pennsylvania Genealogy Websites

 * Washington County, PA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Linkpendium - Washington County
 * Washington County PAGenWeb Genealogy Project
 * USGenWeb
 * Washington County PA Genealogy