Chester County, Pennsylvania Genealogy
Guide to Chester County, Pennsylvania ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 Resources
- 2.1 Bible Records
- 2.2 Biographies
- 2.3 Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- 2.4 Cemeteries
- 2.5 Census Records
- 2.6 Church Records
- 2.7 Court Records
- 2.8 Directories
- 2.9 Emigration and Immigration
- 2.10 Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
- 2.11 Funeral Homes
- 2.12 Genealogies
- 2.13 Guardianship
- 2.14 Land and Property Records
- 2.15 Local Histories
- 2.16 Maps and Gazetteers
- 2.17 Migration
- 2.18 Military Records
- 2.19 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 2.20 Newspapers
- 2.21 Obituaries
- 2.22 Other Records
- 2.23 Periodicals
- 2.24 Probate Records
- 2.25 School Records
- 2.26 Tax Records
- 2.27 Vital Records
- 3 Research Facilities
- 4 Societies
- 5 Websites
- 6 Research Guides
- 7 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county is located in the Southeast section of the state.[1]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Chester County Courthouse
201 W. Market St, Suite 1400
West Chester, PA 19380
Phone: 610-344-6135
Fax: 610-344-4465
Prothonotary Phone: 610-344-6300
Recorder of Deeds Phone: 610-344-6330
Register of Wills/Orphans Court Phone: 610-344-6335
Chester County Website
Chester County, Pennsylvania Record Dates[edit | edit source]
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.
Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
1852 | 1852 | 1852 | 1681 | 1716 | 1714 | 1790 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
14 October 1728: West part set off to form LancasterCounty. [5] 26 September 1789: Southeast part set off to form DelawareCounty. [6]
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[edit | edit source]
The following are locations in Chester County, Pennsylvania:
City
- Coatesville
Boroughs
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Townships
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Communities
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History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- Biographies by Surname at Chester County Archives Index, part of USGenWeb Archives.
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
- Indentures from Early Court Records 1697-1700s at PAGenWeb
- Indentured Servants Complaints, 1700-1855
- List of imported servants and transported convicts from Europe. Online at: Immigrant Servants Database. Includes list of imported servants and transported convicts who served labor terms in Colonial York County, Pennsylvania.
Slavery and Bondage
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
For links and tips on using Federal (or United States) census records online for Chester County, see: Pennsylvania Census.
- 1842 Originals
- 1857 Originals and Index
Chester County Archives:
- Septennial Census Returns, 1793-1856
Church Records[edit | edit source]
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.
County-wide Database - Multi-denominational
- 1682-1800 - Humphrey, John T. Pennsylvania Births, Chester County, 1682-1800 Washington, D.C.: Humphrey Publications, 1994. FHL Book 974.813 K2h.
- Contains Quaker monthly meeting records from Kennett, Bradford, Goshen, Nottingham, New Garden, Sadsbury, Uwchlan, Londongrove, Birmingham, and Fallowfield. Includes baptisms from Zion's Lutheran Church in Pikeland Township; East Vincent Reformed Church in Vincent Township; Brownbacks German Reformed Church in Coventry Township; Forks of the Brandywine Presbyterian Church; Faggs Manor Presbyterian Church; and records of Rev. John Casper Stoever.
- 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:
- Chester Springs: St. Matthew's United Church of Christ; St. Peter's Pikeland United Church of Christ
- Coatesville: Friendship United Methodist Church; Presbyterian Church; The Presbyterian Church of Coatesville
- Compass: St. John's Episcopal Church
- Downingtown: Central Presbyterian Church; Messiah Lutheran Church; St. James Church; St. James Episcopal Church; St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church; United Methodist Church
- East Coventry: Coventry Mennonite Cemetery
- Elk Ridge: Elk Ridge Methodist Episcopal Church
- Kerford: Oak Grove Cemetery
- Landenberg: United Methodist Church
- New London: New London Methodist Episcopal Church; Protestant Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist; St. John's Episcopal Church
- Oxford: Oxford Circuit Methodist Episcopal Church; St. Andrew's Church
- Paoli: Salem Methodist Episcopal Church
- Parkesburg: First United Presbyterian Church of Parkesburg
- Philadelphia: Norris Square Methodist Episcopal Church
- Phoenixville: St. Peter's Chapel; St. Peter's Episcopal Church; United Church of Christ - Hungarian Reformed
- Salem: Salem Methodist Episcopal Church
- Spring City: Vincent Mennonite Cemetery
- West Bradford: Marshallton United Methodist Church
- West Chester: Church of the Holy Trinity; Oakland Cemetery; St. Agnes' Roman Catholic Cemetery
- West Marlborough: St. James Church
- West Nantmeal: Goodwill United Methodist Church
- West Vincent: St. Matthew's United Church of Christ
- West Whiteland: Grove United Methodist Church
- Church Histories, Members and Images at The USGenWeb Archives Includes births, baptisms, marriage, funerals, deaths and burials.
- Chester County Churches at PAGenWeb. Information and records about Baptists, Christians, Dunkers, Episcopalians, German Reformed, Lutherans, Mennonites, Methodists, Prebysterians, Roman Catholics, and some active churches in the area.
Brethren
Episcopalian
The earliest of the Episcopal churches is St. John's Pequra Episcopal church in Compassville.[7]
St. John's Church, New London
Early registers are lost. Surviving records begin in 1824.[8]
Trinity Church, Oxford
Early registers are lost.[8] For a history, see:
- Fisher, George Harrison. "Trinity Church, Oxford, Philadelphia," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 27 (1903):279-295. For online access, see WeRelate.
Lutheran
Zion's or Old Organ Lutheran Church, East Pikeland Township
- 1760-1875 - Zion's or Old Organ Lutheran Church, East Pikeland Township, Baptism Index 1760-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C535491
Presbyterian
Brandywine Manor Presbyterian Church
- 1869-1887 - Brandywine Manor Presbyterian Church Baptism Index 1869-1887 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C530891
- 1869-1887 - Brandywine Manor Presbyterian Church Baptism Index 1869-1887 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M530891
Faggs Manor Presbyterian Church aka New Londonderry Presbyterian Church
- 1781-1872 - Faggs Manor Presbyterian Church Baptism Index 1781-1872 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batches C524352.
- 1790-1793, 1823-1829 - Faggs Manor Presbyterian Church Marriage Index 1790-1793 and 1823-1829 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batche M524351.
Fairview Presbyterian Church, Glenmoore
- 1845-1877 - Fairview Presbyterian Church, Glenmoore, Marriage Index 1845-1877 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M524421
Forks of the Brandywine Presbyterian Church
- 1761-1781 - Forks of the Brandywine Presbyterian Church Baptism Index 1761-1781 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C524391
- 1761-1773 - Forks of the Brandywine Presbyterian Church Marriage Index 1761-1773 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M524391
Kennett Square Presbyterian Church
- 1862-1884 - Kennett Square Presbyterian Church Baptism Index 1862-1884 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C524571
- 1862-1884 - Kennett Square Presbyterian Church Marriage Index 1862-1884 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M524571
Penningtonville Presbyterian Church, Atglen
- 1852-1875 - Penningtonville Presbyterian Church, Atglen, Baptism Index 1852-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C523931[9]
- 1862-1885 - Penningtonville Presbyterian Church, Atglen, Marriage Index 1862-1885 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M523931
Quaker
Quakers did exist in the Chester County area prior to the arrival of William Penn. William Edmundson, minister of the Society of Friends, met with Robert Wade in about 1675 and held a meeting. The first official meeting did not occur until 1681 at the home of Mr. Wade. This meeting, held at Mr. Wade's house would eventually become the Chester Monthly Meeting. Meetings were first held in members homes but as the congregation grew separate meeting houses were built. The earliest meetings in what is now Chester County were: Goshen, Uwchlan, Caln, Kennett, Birmingham, Nottingham, West Nottingham, New Garden, London Grove Bradford and Valley.[10]
Early Quaker monthly meetings (with years established):
- Concord Monthly Meeting (1684) also known as Chichester Monthly Meeting. Hinshaw published the early records: FHL Book 974.8 K2w.[11]
Reformed
Reformed Church, East Vincent
- 1784-1798, 1821-1833 - Reformed Church, East Vincent, Marriage Index 1784-1798 and 1821-1833 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M516641
Vincent Reformed Church, East Vincent Township
- 1733-1880 - Vincent Reformed Church, East Vincent Township, Baptism Index 1733-1880 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C536741
- 1784-1880 - Vincent Reformed Church, East Vincent Township, Marriage Index 1784-1880 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M536741
Court Records[edit | edit source]
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.
- 1697-1710 - Lists of constables 1697-1710 at PAGenWeb
Chester County Court Abstracts
- Chester County Court Records at Chester County, Pennsylvania PAGenWeb Archvies - online
- 1681-1761 Dorothy B. Lapp, Records of the courts of Chester County, Pennsylvania (Danboro, Pennsylvania Richard T. and Mildred C. Williams, 1972) FHL Fiche 6044956 (15 fiche); Book 974.813 P29L. Transcripts with each volume indexed.
Chester County Archive Online Indexes
- Affidavits, Depositions, Interrogatories, 1781-1834
- Assigned Estates, 1821-1942
- Equity Cases, 1844-1940
- Inquisitions and Executions, 1700-1800
- Insolvent Debtor's Petitions, 1724-1850
- Letters of Attorney, 1774-1845
- Gaol (Jail) Keepers' Docket, 1804-1857
- Languishing Prisoner Petitions, 1718-1790
- Oyer & Terminer, 1802-1910
- Prison Discharges, 1843-1872
- Quarter Sessions Indictments, 1681-1870
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
For online resources, passenger lists, and specific groups coming to Pennsylvania, see Pennsylvania Emigration and Immigration.
- 1680s-early 1700s "Some Early Arrivals: Settlers in Chester County, Pa.," Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, Vol. 4, No. 3 (Mar. 1911):281-304. For online access, see WeRelate; the Family History Library also has this series in its collection: FHL Book 974.8 B2p.
- Hunting, Morgan. "The Names of the Early Settlers of Darby Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 25 (1900):182-186. Digital version at Internet Archive. Hunting prepared a map and a list of those who settled in Darby Township up through 1760.
- Immigration Records of Chester County at Chester County, Pennsylvania PAGenWeb Archives including Early Chester Arrivals; index of names 1681-1687
- List of imported servants and transported convicts from Europe. Online at: Immigrant Servants Database. Includes list of imported servants and transported convicts who served labor terms in Colonial York County, Pennsylvania.
- Indentures from Early Court Records 1697-1700s at PAGenWeb
- Indentured Servants Complaints, 1700-1855
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
For groups that came, see People section of the Pennsylvania Emigration page.
African Americans
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
- Genealogical manuscripts up to 1968 (Salt Lake City, Utah Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1968) Chester County Historical Society (West Chester, Pennsylvania). FHL Film 563394 Item 2
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
The Orphan's Court ensures the best interests of those not capable of handling their own affairs: minors, incapacitated persons, decedents' estates, and more.[12]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
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 Chester County began in 1688. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1628 -1920 Mortgage Records, 1774-1852; Mortgage Index, 1628-1920. FHL films 556709–558025 - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- 1688 -1922 Deeds 1688-1903; Index, 1688-1922. FHL film 20874 (first of 165 films) - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- 1688 -1875 The Chester County Archives offers the following online indexes:
- 1733-1858 Warrantees of Land, Chester County PA, 1733-1858 at PAGenWeb
- 1775 -1905 Sheriff's Deeds. FHL films 558033–558037 - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- 1960–present Chester County offers online access to records since 1960. Fees may apply. View the website for current records availability and fees.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
Maps
- Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
- Ancestor Tracks has posted downloadable images from the Breou's Official Series of Farm Maps, Chester County published by W.H. Kirk, 1883 courtesy of the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society. 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 Tacks.
- Chester County Archives - Atlases and Maps
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Revolutionary War
Local men served in the Chester 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.
Chester County men also served in the 5th Pennsylvania Regiment,[13] the 6th Pennsylvania Regiment,[14] and the 9th Pennsylvania Regiment.[15]
- Revolutionary War Regiments, Companies and Pensioners at Chester PAGenWeb Archives
- Veterans' Burials, 1885-1979
War of 1812
Civil War
- Pennsylvania, Register of Military Volunteers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
- Board of Relief Records (Civil War), 1861-1865
- Civil War Bounty Records, 1862-1865
- Civil War Equalization Bounty & Pension Records, 1863-1868
- Civil War Muster Rolls at Chester PAGenWeb Archives
World War I
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
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
- 1777-1785 Oaths of Allegiance and Fidelity FHL film 566521 - 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 Pennsylvania, Eastern District Petitions for Naturalization, 1795-1931 at FamilySearch
- 1795-1952 Pennsylvania, Eastern District Naturalization Indexes, 1795-1952 on FamilySearch.org, National Archives publication M1248, browsesable images of card index
- 1798-1906 Naturalization Records FHL film 1465853 (first of 5 films) - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- 1802-1929 Chester County Naturalization Records Index 1798-1935 on Offical Website of Chester County, Pennsylvania
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
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 Chester County
- Pennsylvania Newspapers
- Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory
- Daily Local News
- USGenWeb Newspapers
- Chester County Historical Society - largest extant collection of newspapers
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.
Online Newspaper Abstracts
- 1947-2010 Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Collection, 1947-2010 at FamilySearch
- PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Chester County.
- USGenWeb Newspapers
- Newspaper Articles of Chester County at Chester County, Pennsylvania PAGenWeb Archives. Includes birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, estate notices, family reunions, military related information, sale notices and other news.
- Record of Marriages from American Republican, 1815-1845 (SLC, Utah, 1947) FHL film 20993 item 4 - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
Newspaper Excerpts and Abstracts
- The Pennsylvania Genealogical Catalogue' (Malvern, Pennsylvania:Accessible Archives, c1993) FHL CD-Rom no. 6 Abstracts of newspaper articles from Chester County.
- Maxwell, Russelle Lane, Aunt Carrie's Scrapbook a collection of newspaper articles covering Chester Co., PA from 1874 to 1910, births, marriages, deaths, and misc.--indexed (Pueblo, Colorado:R.L. Maxwell, c2000) FHL CD-Rom no. 866
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
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
- USGenWeb Newspapers
- PA-Roots Obituaries for Chester County.
- Chester County Obituaries at Chester County, Pennsylvania PAGenWeb archives.
Obituary Excerpts and Abstracts
- Compiled and arranged by Michael J. Osiol, Pottstown Area Necrology (S.I.:M.J. Osiol, 19--?) FHL book 974.81 V4o volumes 1-2
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Poorhouse, Almshouse
- Board of Relief Records (Civil War), 1861-1865
- Poor School Children Records, 1810-1841
- Poorhouse Records, 1800-1910
- Poorhouse Bound Apprentices, 1801-1825
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Probate matters in Chester 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 Images
- 1683 -1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry $ - index and images
- 1700-1924 Chester County Probate Records at FamilySearch - images only, complete collection of probate records
- 1713-1810 Estate Papers FHL film 1429155 (first of 55 films) - Index included 1713-1850; images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- 1713-1825 Chester County, Pennsylvania Wills on Ancestry ($). Includes abstracts of the wills. The original records are at the Chester County Archives and Records Service, 117 West Gay Street, West Chester, PA 19380. See also the FamilySearch Catalog for FHL films 20844-20849.
- 1713-1850 Index to Chester County, Pennsylvania wills and intestate recordson Ancestry ($) Taken from Anderson, Bart. Index to Chester County, Pennsylvania wills and intestate records, 1713-1850. Danboro, Pa.: R.T. and M.C. Williams, "The Pennsylvania traveler", 1970.
- 1713-1854 Wills FHL film 20839 (first of 15 films) - Index included 1713-1923; images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- 1716-1810 Decedants' Estate Papers FHL film 1429174 (first of 19 films) - Index included: 1716-1880; images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- 1717-1820 Minors' Estate Papers FHL film 1429185 (first of 11 films) - Index included 1717-1880; images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- 1850-1924 Records of Wills FHL film 551519 (first of 14 films); images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- 1850-1947 Records of the Orphans Court FHL film 550721 (first of 42 films) - Index included 1882-1968; images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- Chester County Wills/Estate Records (by surname) at Chester County, Pennsvylvania PAGenWeb Archives.
School Records[edit | edit source]
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
- 1677-1890 Tax and Landowner Lists, Petitions, etc at PAGenWeb
- 1765-1769, 1771 Proprietary Tax Lists of the County of Chester: For the Years 1765, 1766, 1767, 1768, 1769, 1771 (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 11). Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Google Books
- 1774, 1779-1781, 1785 Proprietary and Other Tax Lists of the County of Chester: For the Years 1774, 1779, 1780, 1781, 1785 (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 12). Digital version at Ancestry ($); FamilySearch Digital Library
- 1798 Pennsylvania, U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798 at Ancestry ($).
- Provincial Tax Minutes, 1756-1778
- Tax Discounts, 1785-1865
- Tax Indexes, 18th Century Tax Records
- Tax Indexes, 19th Century Tax Records
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
Early births 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. For more information, see Pennsylvania Vital Records.
- 1726-1930 Pennsylvania, Births and Christenings, 1709-1950 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.
- 1768-1874 Chester County Birth Index 1768-1874 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch[16]
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Births Ancestry $
- 1852-1855, 1893-1907 Births - Delayed Birth Records (Chester County Archives)
Marriage[edit | edit source]
Pennsylvania marriages were created by county officals. Contact Chester County Courthouse
- 1626-2016 Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at FindMyPast ($)
- 1677-1950 Pennsylvania Civil Marriages, 1677-1950 at FamilySearch
- 1690-1890 Marriage Contracts, Separations and Certificates, (Chester County Archives)
- 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.
- 1768-1874 Chester County Marriage Index 1768-1874 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch[17]
- 1793-1813 Harlan, Geo. Passmore. "Marriages by Moses Marshall, Esq., Marshalton, Pa.," Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Jun. 1908):190-196. For online access, see WeRelate; the Family History Library also has this series in its collection: FHL Book 974.8 B2p.
- 1795-1832 "Marriages by John Graves, Esquire, West Chester, Pa.," Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, Vol. 4, No. 1 (Mar. 1909):101-113. For online access, see WeRelate; the Family History Library also has this series in its collection: FHL Book 974.8 B2p.
- Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
- 1852-1855, 1885-1930 Marriages, (Chester County Archives)
- 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.
- Chester County Marriages (by groom surname) at Chester County PAGenWeb archives.
Death[edit | edit source]
Early deaths 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. For indexes and records, 1906 and later, see Pennsylvania Vital Records.
- 1720-1957 Coroners' Records, (Chester County Archives)
- 1768-1907 Chester County Death Index 1768-1907 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch[18]
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry $
- 1852-1855, 1893-1906 Death Records, (Chester County Archives)
- 1875-1893 Proof of Death Registers, (Chester County Archives)
- 1885-1979 Veterans' Burials, (Chester County Archives)
- 1893-1907 Chester County (Pennsylvania) Register of Deaths, Alphabetized listing of thousands of names including last name, first name, race, gender, age, marital status, place of birth, date and place of death, cause, volume and page number.
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary, Chester County Courthouse.
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
- National Archives at Philadelphia
14700 Townsend Road
Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096
Phone: 215-305-2044
Fax: 215-305-2052
website
- Chester County Archives
601 Westtown Road, Suite 080
West Chester, PA 19380-0990
Phone: 610-344-6760
Email: ccarchives@cc.org
Website
- The Chester County Archives holds birth and death records (1852-1855, 1893-1906), marriage records (1852-1855, 1885-1930), wills and administrations (1714-1923), deed books (1688-1982), tax records (1715-1939), and more. The Chester County Archives has published online indexes to birth, marriage and death records, civil court records, land records, military records, naturalization records, probate records, tax records, and more. It was established in 1982 and holds almost 3,000 volumes and nearly two thousand cubic feet of original records. The Chester County Archives is run by the Chester County Historical Society and the County of Chester.
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance and free access to premium genealogical websites. In addition, many centers have free how-to genealogy classes.
- For current information about a center near you, go to the Family History Center Map
Libraries[edit | edit source]
- Chester County Library System's Database Access
- Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore College (Quaker)
Website - The Mennonite Heritage Center - Library & Collections
565 Yoder Road
Harleysville PA 19438-1020
Phone: 215-256-3020
library@mhep.org
Website
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
- Chester County Historical Society
The History Center
225 N. High Street
West Chester, PA 19380-2658
Phone: 610-692-4800
Website
- The History Center includes a museum, library, photo archives, and museum shop. The Chester County Historical Society also jointly administers the County Archives (see above).
- Directory of Pennsylvania Genealogical & Historical Societies
Website
- Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania
2100 Byberry Road, Suite 111
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19116
Phone: 267-686-2296
Website
- Historical Society of Pennsylvania
1300 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: 215-732-6200 Fax: 215-732-2680
Website
- Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area
204 Church Street
Phoenixville, PA 19460
Phone: 610-935-7646
Email: hspa@verizon.net
Website
- Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society - also for Amish genealogy
2215 Millstream Road
Lancaster, PA 17602-1499
Phone: 717-393-9745 Fax: 717-290-1585
Email: lmhs@lmhs.org
Website
- Lutheran Historical Society of the Mid-Atlantic
c/o United Lutheran Seminary
61 Seminary Ridge
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Email: info@lutheranhistoricalsociety.com
Website
- Presbyterian Historical Society
425 Lombard Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Phone: 215-627-1852
Website
- The Mennonite Heritage Center
565 Yoder Road
Harleysville PA 19438-1020
Phone: 215-256-3020
library@mhep.org
Website
- The Mennonite Historians of Eastern Pennsylvania support the John L. Ruth Historical Library and Museum at the Mennonite Heritage Center. Located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania the records and resources of this center cover the counties of Bucks, Chester, Berks, Lehigh, Northampton, Philadelphia and provide a comprehensive overview of library resources, online cemetery database, manuscript collections, photo collections, archival collections, and more.
- The Mennonite Heritage Center includes 86,000 burial records from 125 local cemeteries. Records cover cemeteries in the counties of Berks, Bucks, Butler, Chester, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, and Westmoreland. The database provides transcriptions from Mennonite, Brethren, Lutheran, Reformed, Union, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, community, and private cemeteries. Search the list of cemeteries and the alphabetical surname lists in Adobe PDF format.
- United Methodist Church Archives
P. O. Box 127
Madison, NJ 07940
Phone: 973-408-3189
Email: gcah@gcah.org
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Chester County PA Genealogy
- 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.
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_County,_Pennsylvania accessed 2/1/2017
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Pennsylvania.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Pennsylvania.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Pennsylvania.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Pennsylvania.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Pennsylvania.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ W.W. Thomson "Chester County and Its People" (Chicago and New York: The Union History Company, 1898), 832. WorldCat 14691246; FHL book 974.813 H2t
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Philip Syng Physick Conner,"Registers of the Anglican Church in Pennsylvania prior to 1800," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 12 (1888):341-349. For online access, see WeRelate.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/2/23/Igipennsylvaniac.pdf.
- ↑ W.W. Thomson, "Chester County and Its People" (Chicago and New York: The Union History Company, 1898), 740-745, WorldCat 14691246; FHL book 974.813 H2t
- ↑ William Wade Hinshaw and Phyllis J. Selby, The William Wade Hinshaw Index to Pennsylvania Quaker Meeting Records (Kokomo, Ind.: Selby Publishing and Printing, 1990). Vol. 1. FHL Book 974.8 K2w
- ↑ The Philadelphia Courts at Common Pleas accessed 10 July 2012
- ↑ John B.B. Trussell and Charles C. Dallas, The Pennsylvania Line; Regimental Organization and Operations, 1776-1783 (Harrisburg, Pa.: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1977). Digital version at Family History Archive.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "6th Pennsylvania Regiment," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6th_Pennsylvania_Regiment, accessed 31 May 2012.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "9th Pennsylvania Regiment," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_Pennsylvania_Regiment, accessed 31 May 2012.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/2/23/Igipennsylvaniac.pdf.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/2/23/Igipennsylvaniac.pdf.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/2/23/Igipennsylvaniac.pdf.
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