Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

Guide to Huntingdon 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.

Huntingdon County Pennsylvania Historical Facts


Parent Counties: Formed from Bedford County 20 September 1787.

County Seat: Huntingdon

Neighboring Counties: Huntingdon County residents may also have records in:


 * Centre
 * Mifflin
 * Juniata
 * Blair
 * Bedford
 * Fulton
 * Franklin

Named (in a technical sense) for a former Huntingdon Township of Bedford County, named in turn for the village of Huntingdon. Rev. William Smith of Philadelphia, a land speculator, laid out a town "at Standing Stone on Juniata" in 1767 and provided the name. The best supposition is that he had in mind the geographical position of shire towns in England (Bedford and Huntingdon) which suggests the locations of those two towns in Penn's Colony. A persistent legend found in many sources that has him naming his town plat for a famous contemporary, Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon, is denied by his biographers and descendants. The two were of quite opposite religious persuasions within the Church of England and apparently never met each other.

Wikipedia


 * Nearly everyone in Huntingdon County speaks English as a first language. The dominant form of speech in Huntingdon County is the Central Pennsylvania accent. In Kishacoquillas Valley, where many Amish and Mennonite people live, Pennsylvania German is spoken by the bilingual population.

Description
It's county seat is Huntingdon and was founded September 20, 1787. It is located in the Southwest corner of the state.

Boundary Changes

 * 26 March 1804: Cambria County was set off from one part of Huntingdon County along with other parts from Bedford and Somerset Counties.
 * 26 February 1846: Significant parts of both Huntingdon and Bedford Counties were taken to create Blair County. This was the last and most significant change to take place in the geography of the Central Pennsylvania region.

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.

Church Records

 * Church Locations, Huntingdon County PAGenWeb



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:
 * Cassville: Cassville Lutheran Church
 * Huntingdon: St. John's Episcopal Church; United Methodist Church
 * Mount Union: St. Luke's Lutheran Church
 * Orbisonia: First United Methodist Church; Otterbein United Methodist Church
 * Woodward: Birmingham Presbyterian Church

Catholic

 * "100 Years of the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese 1843–1943," Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 17, No. 1. . Chronology, map, county-by-county information.
 * St. Mary's Catholic Church Shade Valley, Cromwell Township, Huntingdon County PAGenWeb

Lutheran

 * Selected Baptisms, 1857-1860, First Lutheran Congregation, Penn Township at USGenWeb Archives
 * Selected Baptisms, 1857-1860, First Lutheran Congregation, Penn Township, Huntingdon County, PA, USGenWeb Archives

Presbyterian

 * 1834 Membership of Presbyterian Church of Shavers Creek Manor, USGenWeb Archives

Court Records
Some of the Continuence Dockets and the Quarter Session Books are stored in the basement of the Huntingdon County Court House. The Continuence Dockets have been microfilmed and are at the Huntingdon County Pennsylvania Courthouse.

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. Huntingdon 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
The Huntingdon County Register &amp; Recorders Office serves the public in three distinct areas: The Register of Wills; The Recorder of Deeds and Clerk of the Orphans’ Court.


 * Register and Recorder Courthouse 223 Penn St. Huntingdon, PA 16652 Phone: 814-643-2740 Fax: 814-643-6849 Email: [mailto:vcooper@huntingdoncounty.net vcooper@huntingdoncounty.net]

Land and Property
Land records in Huntingdon County began in 1803. These records are filed with the Register and Recorder office in Huntingdon, 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:

Land Records on Microfilm


 * 1786–1972 Deeds, 1786-1866; Index to Deeds, 1786-1972; Misc. Index to Deeds, 1790- 1877.
 * 1803–1969 Mortgage Index

Land Abstracts


 * 1787-1889 Pennsylvania Archives Land Warrant Lists at Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives

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 Huntingdon 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)

Newspapers
Newspapers of Huntingdon County


 * Pennsylvania Newspapers
 * Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory
 * The Pennsylvania State Library has a book entitled Huntingdon County Newspapers, Vol I that contains notices from the Huntingdon Gazette 1806-1811. This book is not indexed. It's call number is 929.37484 NW1001 and is found in Form Room 101.
 * The Blair County Genealogical Society has a copy of the book Huntingdon County Newspaper: A Finding List which was compiled by M. M. Faust and Nancy S. Shedd for the Huntingdon County Historical Society. Also available

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.


 * Newspaperarchive.com has the Huntingdon County News online.

Online Newspaper Abstracts


 * PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Huntingdon County.

Newspapers on Microfilm

The Blair County Genealogical Society and the State Library of Pennsylvania has the Huntingdon Gazette on microfilm.

Newspaper Excerpts and Abstracts


 * McFarland, K.T.H., Hollidaysburg Records : Marriages, Deaths &amp; Partitions from Weekly Newspapers of Hollidaysburg, Huntingdon/Blair Cos., Pa., 1836-1852 (Apollo, Pennsylvania:Closson Press, c1994) ;

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

Obituary Indexes


 * Archie Claar Obituary Collection Index, Volume 19, 20 through Blair County Genealogical Society. Online
 * Wion, John H. Deaths in Central Pennsylvania; an Index to the Obituaries Appearing in the Democratic Watchman, Bellefonte, Pa. (S.I.:s.n., 1969)

Online Obituary Abstracts


 * PA-Roots Obituaries for Huntingdon County.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes


 * Huntingdon County Wills and Estate Records at Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives


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

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:


 * 1683-1994- at FamilySearch.org

Huntingdon County Only:


 * Huntingdon County Probate Records

The Huntingdon County Historical Society has a wonderful every name indexed compilation by Linnaria B Wheland of Huntingdon County Will Abstracts from 1787-1846.

The original inventories for Huntington county are housed at the Huntington Historical Society.

Original Probate Records on Microfilm


 * 1787–1908 Wills
 * 1787–1918 Index to Wills and Administrations
 * 1788–1866 Orphans' Court Dockets
 * 1786–1972 Index to Orphans' Court Dockets

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

Courthouse

 * Huntingdon County Courthouse Register and Recorder 223 Penn St. Huntingdon, PA 16652 Phone: 814-643-2740 Fax: 814-643-8152


 * Prothonotory/Clerk of Court Kay Coons Huntingdon County Courthouse P.O. Box 39 Huntingdon, PA 16652 Phone: 814-643-1610 or 814-643-5511 Fax: 814-643-4271 Email: [mailto:kcoons@huntingdoncounty.net kcoons@huntingdoncounty.net]

Museums

 * Hartslog Heritage Museum Main St Alexandria, PA 16611 Phone: 814-669-4313 The Museum is located on the 2nd floor of the Alexandria Memorial Public Library. It houses over 4000 artifacts that represent the area's past. Most notable is a rare historic map of Huntingdon County.

Societies

 * Huntingdon County Historical Society 100 4th Street P.O. Box 305 Huntingdon, PA 16652-1418 Phone: 814-643-5449

Taxation
Many of the tax lists have been microfilmed, but no one repository has them all. The Huntingdon County Historical Society, State Library of Pennsylvania and the Family History Library each have collections. One can purchase a microfilm roll from the Huntingdon County Historical Society and the State Library of Pennsylvania. The Family History Library will loan their films to their various centers for a small fee.


 * 1788 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.


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

Vital Records
See also How to order Pennsylvania Vital Records

Birth

 * 1726-1930  - free index. Not complete for all years. This index is an electronic 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.

Some birth records exist for the 1852–1853 time period for Huntingdon County. Only a small percentage of births were recorded in this time period. These records are available at:


 * 1852-1853 Huntingdon County Birth Index 1852-1853 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Births – Ancestry.com – $ Index with images
 * 1852-1853 Births
 * 1893-1905, 1941 Birth Registers  The birth records for Huntingdon County were microfilmed by FamilySearch. These microfilms may be ordered into a local FamilySearch Center or authorized public library for a small fee.

Birth records for Huntingdon County began in 1894. The Huntingdon County Register and Recorder/Clerk of the Orphans' Court maintains the birth records from 1894–1905. Visit the website for instructions to obtain a copy of a birth record in the 1894–1905 time period.

Beginning in 1906, Pennsylvania birth records are available through the Department of of Health. Birth records become public after 105 years. A statewide index is available. Once an individual is located in the index a certificate can be obtained by writing to:


 * Division of Vital Records Attn: Public Records P.O. Box 1528 New Castle, PA 16103

Some Huntingdon County births can be found online in Pennsylvania, Births and Christenings, 1709-1950.

Marriage
Huntingdon County marriages are maintained by the Register and Recorder of Huntingdon County. The county began recording marriages in 1885. A few marriage records were created by the county in the 1853–1854 time period. To obtain a marriage record you may go to or contact the Register and Recorders office.
 * 1677–1950  at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1700-1821 Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties.
 * 1725-1976  - free index. Not complete for all years. This index is not necessarily intended to index any specific set of records. This index is not complete for any particular place or region. This collection may include information previously published in the International Genealogical Index or Vital Records Index collections.
 * 1787-1823 Marriages by Rev. John Johnston 1787-1823, from J. Simpson Africa's History of Huntingdon and Blair Counties, (1883), PAGenWeb
 * Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) 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 Huntingdon County Marriage Index 1852-1854 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) Index with images.
 * 1852-1854 Marriages
 * 1885 - Huntingdon County Marriage Index 1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1885-1907 Marriage License Dockets
 * 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.
 * 1885-1887 Marriage Licences, contributed by Barbara Lautherboren, PAGenWeb
 * Huntingdon County Marriage Applications, Licenses &amp; Certificates, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives
 * Huntingdon County Marriage Notices, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives

Divorce
Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary. The office of the Prothonotary is located in the courthouse building.

Death
Huntingdon County began recording deaths in 1893, although some were recorded from 1852–1854. These records are available in the County Courthouse in Huntingdon. You may request a death record from the Register and Recorder.


 * 1807-1827 Huntingdon County Deaths,1807-1827, PAGenWeb, extracted from J. Simpson Africa's History of Huntingdon and Blair Counties, Pennsylvania, 1883. (Free)
 * 1836-1846 Huntingdon County Deaths, 1836-1846, PAGenWeb, extracted from the Hollidaysburg Record, a weekly newspaper of Blair County. (Free)
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry.com – $ Index with images
 * Death Registers and Reports, 1894–1896 Partial listing of P surnames – USGenWeb Archives
 * 1852-1854 Deaths  The 1852-1854 county death records were microfilmed by FamilySearch. They are available through Family History Centers and at the Pennsylvania State Archives.

Pennsylvania death certificates become public records after 50 years. An annual index is released by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Records less than 50 years old are kept by the Division of Vital Records and are not public certificates. Only certain people can request a non-public death certificate. To order a non-public representative you must be:


 * Legal representative of decedent's estate
 * Immediate family member
 * Extended family member who indicates a direct relationship to the decedent
 * Power of Attorney (Please note that a Power of Attorney document is no longer valid upon the death of the individual)

See the Pennsylvania Department of Health website to obtain a copy of a non-public death certificate. Visit website for cost.

Indexes for Pennsylvania public death records are available online through the Department of Health for 1906 through 1961. Once an individual is located in the index a certificate can be obtained by writing to:


 * Division of Vital Records Attn: Public Records P.O. Box 1528 New Castle, PA 16103

Huntingdon County Pennsylvania Genealogy Websites

 * Huntingdon County, PA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Huntingdon County PA Genealogy