Bedford County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

United States

Pennsylvania

Bedford County

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

Pennsylvania Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: Bedford Organized: March 9, 1771 Parent County(s): Cumberland Neighboring Counties Blair  • Fulton  • Somerset  • Allegany (MD)  • Huntingdon  • Cambria See County Maps Courthouse Location Map Adoption Adopt-a-wiki page This page adopted by: PA Roots and its members who welcome you to contribute. Adopt a page today

County Information

Description

It is named from the Fort Bedford. It is located in the South-Central section of the state.

County Courthouse

Bedford County Courthouse
200 S Juliana St.
Bedford, PA 15522-1714
Phone: (814) 623-4812
Clerk of the Court/Orphan's Court: 814-623-4833
Prothonotary: 814-623-4833, Fax: 814-623-4831, Email: bcproth@pennswoods.net
Bedford County Website

Prothonotary has birth and death records 1852-1854 and 1893-1906, marriage records 1852-1854 and from 1885, divorce records from 1804, probate and court records from 1771

Bedford County, Pennsylvania Record Dates

Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1852	1852	1852	1771	1771	1771	1790
Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1906. General compliance by 1915.

Record Loss

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

Boundary Changes

Formed from Cumberland County 9 March 1771. County seat: Bedford 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 at the MapofUS.org website.

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:

Boroughs
Bedford Coaldale Everett Hopewell Hyndman	Manns Choice New Paris Pleasantville Rainsburg	St. Clairsville Saxton Schellsburg Woodbury
Census-designated places
Defiance	Earlston	Stonerstown
Townships
Bedford Bloomfield Broad Top Colerain Cumberland Valley East Providence East St. Clair Harrison Hopewell	Juniata Kimmel King Liberty Lincoln Londonderry Mann Monroe	Napier Pavia Snake Spring South Woodbury Southhampton West Providence West St. Clair Woodbury

Resources

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

Indentured Servants

• Immigrant Servants Database hosted by Price Genealogy - Includes indentured/imported servants and transported convicts who served labor terms in Colonial York County, Pennsylvania.

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Bedford County, Pennsylvania online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Findagrave.com PA Cemeteries PAGenWeb Archives PA-Roots BillionGraves PAGenWeb
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	Family History Library WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the County	Findagrave.com BillionGraves Linkpendium PAGravestones Interment FamilySearch Places
See Pennsylvania Cemeteries for more information

 

Additional Cemetery Resources

The usage of "Mormon" and "LDS" on this page is approved according to current policy.

• ca.1700-ca.1950 - Pennsylvania Cemetery Records, ca. 1700-ca. 1950 at FamilySearch — index and images
• Pennsylvania Genealogy LDS Genealogy

Census Records

For links and tips on using Federal (or United States) census records online for Bedford County, see: Pennsylvania Census.

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.

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
• 1790 Federal Census of Bedford County is a resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
• 1800 Federal Census of Bedford Countyis a resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
• 1810 Federal Census of Bedford Countyis a resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
• 1820 Federal Census of Bedford County is a resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
• 1830 Federal Census of Bedford County is a resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
• 1840 Federal Census of Bedford Countyis a resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
• 1850 Federal Census of Bedford Countyis a resource from USGenWeb containing both an index and a transcript of the original census pages.
• 1860 Federal Census of Bedford Countyis a 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 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.

Church Records

Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. For members, they may contain: age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage date and maiden name; death/burial date. For general information about Pennsylvania denominations, see Pennsylvania Church Records.

Bedford County Pennsylvania Churches.png

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 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 and 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 built in Schellsburg in 1806 is the oldest one in the county.

• Trinity Lutheran Church records 1819-1868 transcripts for Bedford County, Pennsylvania.

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 ($).

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places
  

Court Records

For information about records kept in the Orphan's court, Prothonotary Court, Court of Common Pleas, and other courts in counties of Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Court Records Wiki page.

Pioneer Library, Bedford County Historical Society:
Alms House Records ($)
Divorce Records ($)
Orphan Court Records: 1771-1900 ($)

Emigration and Immigration

For online resources, passenger lists, and specific groups coming to Pennsylvania, see Pennsylvania Emigration and Immigration.

Indentured Servants

• Immigrant Servants Database hosted by Price Genealogy - Includes indentured/imported servants and transported convicts who served labor terms in Colonial York County, Pennsylvania.

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

For groups that came, see People section of the Pennsylvania Emigration page.

Guardianship

The Orphan's Court ensures the best interests of those not capable of handling their own affairs: minors, incapacitated persons, decedents' estates, and more.

• 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.

Land and Property Records

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a specific location and reveal family relationships. Records include: deeds, abstracts, indexes, mortgages, leases, grants, sheriff sales, land patents, maps and more. For more information, see Pennsylvania Land and Property.

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

Online Land Indexes and Records

• 1771 -1905 Deed Book. FHL films 331362-331422 - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
• 1771 -1963 Mortgage Book, 1830-1900; Index, 1771-1963. FHL films 331423-331433 - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
• Bedford County offers online access to images. Fees apply.

Land Warrants 1771-1893

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

Local Histories

• History of Bedford County, Pennsylvania. 19--?. By I. Daniel Rupp. Laughlintown, Pennsylvania : Southwest Pennsylvania Genealogical Service. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; At various libraries (WorldCat). Reprinted from Rupp's 1848 History of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, Perry, Somerset, Cambria, and Indiana Counties.
• History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania. 3 volumes. 1983. By E. Howard Blackburn and William H. Welfley. Marceline, Missouri : Walsworth Publishing Company. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol. 3 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol. 3 - Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat). Reprint. Originally published: New York, New York : Lewis Pub., 1906.
• History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania. 1884. Chicago, Illinois : Waterman, Watkins. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Google Books; At various libraries (WorldCat).
• A History of the Juniata Valley. 3 volumes. 1936. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania : National Historical Association, Inc. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol. 3 - FamilySearch Digital Library.
• The History and Topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry Counties (Pennsylvania). 1846. By I. Daniel Rupp. Lancaster, Pa. : Gilbert Hills. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Google Books, Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat). Index: FamilySearch Digital Library.

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Maps

• Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
• Ancestor Tracks has posted downloadable images from the 1861 Map of Bedford County, PA Surveyed, Drawn & 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.
• FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Military Records

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
Local men served in the Bedford County Militia. A guide at the Pennsylvania State Archives website identifies townships where specific companies recruited soldiers, see Revolutionary War Militia Battalions and Companies, Arranged by County.

Bedford County men also served in the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment,, possibly the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment, and the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment.

Civil War

• 1861-1865 - Pennsylvania, Register of Military Volunteers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index

Naturalization and Citizenship

Naturalization records can contain information about immigration and nativity. Prior to 1906, it is rare to find the town of origin in naturalization records. For more information, see Pennsylvania Naturalization

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

• 1802 -1934 Naturalization Papers FHL film 1465908 (first of 5 films) - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
• 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 $
• 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.

Newspapers

Newspapers may contain obituaries, births, marriages, deaths, anniversaries, family gatherings, family travel, achievements, business notices, engagement information, and probate court proceedings. Newspapers are often found in local or university libraries, historical or genealogical societies, or state archives in the area where the newspaper was published. See Pennsylvania Newspapers for more information.

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

• 1947 -2010 Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Collection, 1947-2010 at FamilySearch
• USGenWeb Bedford County Newspaper Articles
• PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Bedford County.

Obituaries

Obituaries are generally found in local newspapers where the person died or where family members lived. Local libraries or societies may have indexes or other sources.

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) FHL book 974.87 V4c volume 1-66 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) FHL book 974.871/B2 B38m

Probate Records

Probate matters in Bedford County are handled by the Orphans' Court and start when the county was created.

In addition to wills and administrations, the Orphans' Court also handles: audits of accounts of executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians; distribution of estates; appointments of guardians; adoptions; appeals from the Register of Wills; inheritance tax appeals, and various petitions and motions.

Online Probate Indexes and Records

• 1683 -1994 Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994 at FamilySearch
• 1771 -1906 Will Book FHL film 331357 (first of 5 films) - images only; click on the camera icon to view images; Index included
• Complete Transcribed Wills for Bedford County - Abstracts, Not complete, but does contain many wills for residents of Bedford County.

Social Security Records

• 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index 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.

Tax Records

• 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

• 1779 - Cumberland Valley Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Tax Records at FamilySearch Digital Library.
• 1781 -1782 - Bedford Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Tax Records at FamilySearch Digital Library.
• 1788 -1789 - Elk Lick Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Tax Records at FamilySearch Digital Library.
• 1791 -1793 - Colerain Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Tax Records at FamilySearch Digital Library.
• 1791 -1793 - Cumberland Valley Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Tax Records at FamilySearch Digital Library.
• 1792 -1793 - Woodberry Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Tax Records at FamilySearch Digital Library.
• 1798 - Pennsylvania, U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798 at Ancestry ($).

Vital Records

Vital records are handled by the County Orphans' Court. Between the years 1852-1855 Pennsylvania made a failed attempt to record birth, marriage and death events at the county level. County marriage records were kept in earnest in 1885. Births and deaths, at the county level, were begun in 1893 and kept through 1905. For the most complete set of records, contact the County Orphans' Court.

Birth

Early births 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. For more information, see Pennsylvania Vital Records.

• 1852 -1854 Pennsylvania Births Ancestry $
• 1894 -1905, 1941 - 1963 Bedford County Birth Index 1894-1905 and 1941-1963 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch

Marriage

Pennsylvania marriages were created by county officials. Contact Bedford County Courthouse

• 1626-2016 Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at FindMyPast ($)
• 1677 -1950 Pennsylvania Civil Marriages, 1677-1950 at FamilySearch
• 1700 -1821 Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry $
• 1725 -1976 Pennsylvania, Marriages, 1709-1940 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 $
• 1852 -1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
• 1885 -1950 Pennsylvania County Marriage, 1885-1950 Extracted marriage records – This database is incomplete for all counties. May also contain marriage records earlier than 1885.

Death

Early deaths 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. For indexes and records, 1906 and later, see Pennsylvania Vital Records.

• 1720-1999 Pennsylvania Deaths and Burials, 1720-1999 at FamilySearch — index, some images
• 1850-1880 Pennsylvania Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images
• 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry $
• 1890-1905 Bedford County Death Index 1890-1905 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch

Divorce

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

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Bedford County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries.

• National Archives at Philadelphia
  14700 Townsend Road
  Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096
  Phone: 215-305-2044
  Fax: 215-305-2052
  website

Family History Centers

Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.

• Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator

Local Centers and Libraries

• Bedford Pennsylvania Family History Center

Libraries

Listed below are libraries in Bedford County. For state-wide library facilities, see Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries.

• Bedford County Library
  240 South Wood Street
  Bedford, PA 15522
  Phone: 814-623-5010
  Website

Societies

Listed below are societies in Bedford County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Pennsylvania Societies.

• Blair County Genealogical Society
  Roller-Hojeth Memorial Library
  431 Scotch Valley Rd.
  Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
  Phone: 814-696-3492
  Website
  Collection covers Blair and surrounding counties, particularly Huntingdon, Cambria, and Bedford Counties.
  

• Bedford County Historical Society
  6441 Lincoln Highway
  Bedford, PA 15522
  Phone: 814-623-2011
  Email: bedfordhistory@embarqmail.com
  Website

The Society has collected 4500 family histories and indexes to Alms House Records, Civil War Exemptions, Divorces, Naturalization Papers, Obituary\ies, Orphans Court (1771-1900), and Military Pension Files (Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, Spanish American War) of local residents.

• Directory of Pennsylvania Genealogical & Historical Societies
  Website
  

Websites

• 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
• FamilySearch Catalog – 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.

This website requires a paid subscription for full access.

Family History Library