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

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.

County Courthouse
Washington County Courthouse 1 South Main St. Washington, PA 15301 Washington County Website
 * 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

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

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 Records
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.

Genealogies

 * (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 Records
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.

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.

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.orgDigitized book from Historic PittsburghTranscription 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 and Gazetteers


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.

Military Records
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 $
 * 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 $

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 Washington

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)

Other Records
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 $
 * 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

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

Published Histories

Poorhouse, Almshouse %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes


 * 1683-1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry $
 * 1683-1994  at FamilySearch
 * 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.

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.

Tax Records

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

Birth

 * 1852-1930  index. Not complete for all years.
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Births Ancestry $

Marriage

 * 1626-2016 - Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at FindMyPast
 * 1677-1950  at FamilySearch
 * 1700-1821 Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry $
 * 1752-1976  index. Not complete for all years.
 * Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
 * 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

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

Death

 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry $
 * 1893-1906 Washington County Death Index 1893-1906 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch
 * 1947-2010  at FamilySearch

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:

Archives

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

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 :Visit main website (above) for all library locations, hours, services and available resources, or :Visit WCLS locations
 * The Research Library has some tools to help the researcher in the area of Washington County.

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)
 * Washington County Historical Society Museums 49 East Maiden St. Washington, PA 15301 Phone: 724-225-6740 Email: [mailto:wchspa@verizon.net wchspa@verizon.net]

Societies

 * They publish a newsletter about the history of the area.
 * The Society offers tours of the museums throughout downtown Washington. One house, the 199-year old LeMoyne House, was an Underground Railroad.
 * 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
 * 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. :Visit website for hours and services

Websites

 * Linkpendium - Washington County
 * Washington County PAGenWeb Genealogy Project
 * USGenWeb
 * Washington 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.