Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania Genealogy
Guide to Lackawanna 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 was named for the Lackawanna River. The county is located in the Northeast corner of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Lackawanna County Courthouse
200 North Washington Avenue
Scranton, PA 18503
Phone: 570-963-6773
FAX: 570-963-6477
Register of Wills / Clerk of Orphan's Court Phone: 570-963-6702
Recorder of Deeds Phone: 570-963-6775 Email: mcnultye@lackawannacounty.org
Lackawanna County Website
Lackawanna 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 |
bef 1906 | 1878 | bef 1906 | 1878 | 1878 | 1878 | 1790 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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. |
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
The following are locations in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania:
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Additional Cemetery Resources
Census Records[edit | edit source]
For links and tips on using Federal (or United States) census records online for Lackawanna County, see: Pennsylvania Census.
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
- 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:
- Carbondale: Clarks Green United Methodist Church; First Presbyterian Church; Peckville United Methodist Church
- Jermyn: Trinity Church Carbondale and St. James Church; Worth Baptist Church
- Newton: United Methodist Church
- Scranton: Dallas United Methodist Church; Elm Park United Methodist Church; Emmanuel Lutheran Church; Hyde Park Presbyterian Church; Petersburg Presbyterian Church; Providence United Methodist Church; St. David's Episcopal Church; St. John's Lutheran Church; St. Luke's Episcopal Church; St. Mary's Greek Catholic Church; Westminster Presbyterian Church
Because Lackawanna County was not formed until 1878, many early congregations are discussed in the Luzerne County church records.
Baptist
The Baptist church was first organized in Scranton in 1859.
Catholic
An early church and cemetery was built near Roaring Brook. Later the congregation moved to Scranton in the Hyde Park area. The Cathedral was erected in 1865. The property included a convent and college. [6]
- Diocese of Scranton: Parish directory, and a Directory of diocesan cemeteries.
Northeast Pennsylvania Genealogical Society, Inc. has digitized the Sacramental Records of every chapel, church, mission, and parish within the Diocese of Scranton, now open and closed. This includes over three hundred churches encompassing eleven counties in northeastern Pennsylvania.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Scranton
- Scranton Dist
Episcopal
Early services were conducted by the Wilkes-Barre leaders. A congregation was organized in 1851, with service in the Methodist church. A frame church was built in Scranton in 1853 and, later a new edifice was completed in 1871. [7]
- 1894-1910 Baptisms, marriages, and burials of St. David's Episcopal Church, West Scranton, Pa. at The USGenWeb Project
Lutheran
- 1897-1933 Baptisms and deaths of Immanuel Lutheran Church, North Scranton, Pa. at The USGenWeb Project
Methodist
Methodism was first introduced into Luzerne County in about 1787. Meetings were held in homes and shops. By 1800, monthly meetings were held in Providence. he first meetinghouse was erected in 1828 in Carbondale. Most early preaching was done by traveling circuit-riding ministers. Later congregations were found in Hanover, Newport and the Plains. [8]
In the 1840's the Methodist congregation built a church in Scranton. This building was used every other week for Methodist services and for various other congregations the other weeks. [9]
- 1851-1913 Baptisms and marriages of Providence Methodist Church at The USGenWeb Project
- Primitive Methodist Church, Taylor, Pennsylvania, most records before 1936 were destroyed. See History for more information about this church.
Presbyterian
Presbyterians met in Scranton in the Methodist church in the 1840's. In 1845 they moved their meetings to the Odd Fellow's Hall. A new building was completed in 1852. [10]
Presbyterian Church, Baldmount
- 1842-1876 Presbyterian Church, Baldmount, Baptism Index 1842-1876 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C524021[11]
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.
- 1995–present Clerk of Judicial Records' dockets for both Civil and Family Courts are available online.
Directories[edit | edit source]
- Scranton Directory (1859) - via the Internet Archive
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
For online resources, passenger lists, and specific groups coming to Pennsylvania, see Pennsylvania Emigration and Immigration.
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
For groups that came, see People section of the Pennsylvania Emigration page.
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
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 Lackawanna County began in 1878. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Online Land Records
- The Recorder of Deeds offers online access to land records. Log in is required. (IQS Lackawanna County web access technical support 800-320-2617.)
- Merrifield, Edward. "The Territory of Scranton Immediately Prior to the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Co. Purchase." Lackawanna Institute of History and Science. Historical series, no. 4. Scranton, 1896. Digital version at Internet Archive. At various libraries (WorldCat)
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
- Early History of Scranton and The First Presbyterian Church (1948) - via the Internet Archive
- Founders of Scranton (1916) - via the Internet Archive
- History and directory of Newton and Ransom townships, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania (1912)
- History of Scranton Post Office (1901) - via the Internet Archive.
- History and Geography of Scranton and its Vicinity (1957) - via the Internet Archive
- Reminiscences of The Early History of Dark Hollow, Slocum Hollow, Harrison Lackawanna Iron Works, Scrantonia and Scranton, Pa. (1889) - via the Internet Archive
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
Maps
Migration[edit | edit source]
The migration routes used by early European settlers to and from Lackawanna County included: [13]
- Lehigh and Lackawanna Paths 1766 from Unadilla, New York to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that is, from the Catskill Turnpike to the Great Valley Road.
- Minsi Path from Kingston, New York to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that is, from the Ulster and Delaware Turnpike to the Great Valley Road.
Military Records[edit | edit source]
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
Naturalization records for Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania include the following:
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1901-1930 Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. Circuit and District Courts for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 1906-1930; and 1901-1906 on Fold3.com - ($), indexed, National Archives publication M1622, Middle District court was created in 1901, for earlier dates try the Eastern and Western District court records
- 1901-1930 Middle District, US Circuit and District Courts: Naturalization petitions, 1906-1930 located in U.S. Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1795-1972 (World Archives Project) database on Ancestry $
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 Lackawanna 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.
- Chronicling America Scranton Tribune 1891-1910 Scranton, Pennsylvania.
- The Aquinas - The Student Newspaper of the University of Scranton
Online Newspaper Abstracts
- 1947-2010 Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Collection, 1947-2010 at FamilySearch
- PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania.
- USGenWeb Lackawanna County Newspapers
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
- PA-Roots Obituaries for Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania.
- USGenWeb Lackawanna County Obituaries
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Probate matters in Lackawanna 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 Records
- 1683 -1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry $
- 1878-1885 Lackawanna County Probate Records at FamilySearch
- 1878-1939 Will Indexes for Lackawanna County 1878-1939 at PAGenWeb
- 1878-1885 Lackawanna County (Pennsylvania) Probate Files FHL film 2315518 (first of 7 films) - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- 1878–present Searchable digital images of will and probate records are available online through the office of the Register of Wills
School Records[edit | edit source]
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
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.
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Births Ancestry $
- 1893-1905 Births (excluding city of Scranton) prior to 1906 at county government website
Marriage[edit | edit source]
Pennsylvania marriages were created by county officals. Contact Lackawanna 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-present Searchable digital images of marriage applications are available online through the office of the Clerk of the Orphans Court.
- 1885-1914 Lackawanna County Marriage Licenses Index at The USGenWeb Project
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.
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry $
- 1878-1905 Deaths for Scranton are located at the Lackawanna.
- 1893-1905 Deaths prior to 1906 at county government website
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary Lackawanna 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
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]
- Albright Memorial Library
500 Vine Street
Scranton, PA 18509
Phone: 570-348-3000
Website
- The Albright Library remains in its original 1893 building and has a genealogy research room which includes census records, vital records, newspapers, family surname files, a biographical index to their local history collection, some church records, and Scranton city directories.The library will do research for a fee. The library is housed in its original building built in 1893.
Museums[edit | edit source]
- Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum
22 Bald Mountain Road
McDade Park
Scranton, PA 18504
Phone: 570-963-4845
Website
Societies[edit | edit source]
- Lackawanna Historical Society
The Catlin House
232 Monroe Ave.
Scranton, PA 18510
Phone: 570–344–3841
Website
- Northeast Pennsylvania Genealogical Society, Inc(NEPGS)
57 North Franklin Street
Wilkes-Barré, PA 18701
Phone: 570-829-1765
Website
Email: nepgsmail@gmail.com
- The NEPGS is the archive of Teresa M. McAndrew Catholic Church Records Collection. NEPGS has digitized the Sacramental Records of every chapel, church, mission, and parish within the Diocese of Scranton, now open and closed. This includes over three hundred churches encompassing eleven counties in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Lackawanna County, PAGenWeb genealogical resources; part of the national USGenWeb Project
- Lackawanna Valley Digital Archives
- Lackawanna 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]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Pennsylvania.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lackawanna_County,_Pennsylvania accessed 2/12/2017
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Benjamin H. Throop, A Half Century in Scranton (Scranton, Pennsylvania : [Scranton Republican], 1895, 282-282 FamilySearch Digital Library Free online digital copy.
- ↑ Benjamin H. Throop, A Half Century in Scranton (Scranton, Pennsylvania : [Scranton Republican], 1895), 283-284. FamilySearch Digital Library Free online digital copy.
- ↑ Horace Hollister,History of the Lackawanna Valley (New York: C. A. Alvord, 1869), 322-326. FamilySearch Digital Library Free online digital copy}}
- ↑ Benjamin H. Throop, A Half Century in Scranton (Scranton, Pennsylvania : [Scranton Republican], 1895), 282-282. FamilySearch Digital Library Free online digital copy.
- ↑ Benjamin H. Throop, A Half Century in Scranton (Scranton, Pennsylvania : [Scranton Republican], 1895), 280-281 FamilySearch Digital Library Free online digital copy.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/9/92/Igipennsylvaniaf.pdf.
- ↑ The Philadelphia Courts at Common Pleas accessed 10 July 2012
- ↑ Handybook, 850-51.
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