Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Genealogy
Guide to Montgomery 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 Social Security Records
- 2.27 Tax Records
- 2.28 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 south-central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Montgomery County Courthouse
2 E Airy St
P.O. Box 311
Norristown, PA 19404-0311
Phone: 610-278-3224
Office of the Prothonotary Phone: 610-278-3360
Recorder of Deeds Phone: 610-278-3289
Register of Wills/Orphan's Court Phone: 610-278-3400
Montgomery County Website
Clerk of the Orphan Court has birth and death records 1893-1913 and marriage records from 1885
Register of Willshas probate records from 1784
Recorder of Deeds has land records from 1784
Prothonotary Office has divorce and court records from 1784[3]
Office of the Prothonotary is responsible for recording and filing a wide variety of legal papers such as: personal injury, medical malpractice, divorce, custody, protection from abuse, judgments, change of name, District Justice appeals, processes passport applications, Federal income tax liens, and administers oaths and affirmations. Orphan's Court issues marriage licenses and has charge over petitions for adoptions. Recorder of Deeds collects deeds, mortgages, and other land records for the county. Register of Wills probates wills processes intestate estates and is an agent for the Commonwealth in collecting inheritance taxes. Records of all persons born in Montgomery County between 1893 and 1915 can be found here; after 1915, records were filed with the Department of Health.
Montgomery 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 |
1893 | 1885 | 1893 | 1784 | 1784 | 1784 | 1790 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
No counties were formed from Montgomery County. 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]
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:[7]
Boroughs | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
Census-designated places | ||
Townships | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- Biographical Annals of Montgomery County Pennsylvaniacontaining genealogical records of representative families, including many of the early settlers and biographical sketches of prominent citizens. Ellwood Roberts, Editor. Courtesy USGenWeb Archives
- Biographies from Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (1904) published by T. S. Benham and The Lewis Publishing Co., are available free on the My Genealogy Hound website.
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
Additional Cemetery Resources
- ca.1700-ca.1950 - Pennsylvania Cemetery Records, ca. 1700-ca. 1950 at FamilySearch — index and images
- PA-Roots
- Names in Stone
Census Records[edit | edit source]
Historical populations | ||
---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± |
1790 | 22,918 | — |
1800 | 24,150 | 5.4% |
1810 | 29,703 | 23.0% |
1820 | 35,793 | 20.5% |
1830 | 39,406 | 10.1% |
1840 | 47,241 | 19.9% |
1850 | 58,291 | 23.4% |
1860 | 70,500 | 20.9% |
1870 | 81,612 | 15.8% |
1880 | 96,494 | 18.2% |
1890 | 123,290 | 27.8% |
1900 | 138,995 | 12.7% |
1910 | 169,590 | 22.0% |
1920 | 199,310 | 17.5% |
1930 | 265,804 | 33.4% |
1940 | 289,247 | 8.8% |
1950 | 353,068 | 22.1% |
1960 | 516,682 | 46.3% |
1970 | 623,799 | 20.7% |
1980 | 643,621 | 3.2% |
1990 | 678,111 | 5.4% |
2000 | 750,097 | 10.6% |
2010 | 799,884 | 6.6% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
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, Montgomery County, 1682-1800. Washington, D.C.: Humphrey Pub., 1993. FHL Book 974.812 K2h.
- Contains baptisms of Abington Friends Monthly Meeting, Lower Merion Friends, Abington Presbyterian Church, Gwynedd Friends Monthly Meeting, Lower Dublin or Pennypack Baptist, Augustus Evangelical Lutheran Church at Trappe, New Goshenhoppen Reformed, St. Paul's Lutheran at Red Hill, New Hanover Lutheran, Falkner Swamp Reformed, Horsham Friends Monthly Meeting, Old Goshenhoppen Lutheran, Indian Creek Reformed, Indianfield Lutheran, St. Luke's Reformed at Trappe, Wentz's Reformed, Boehm's Reformed, Old Goshenhoppen Reformed Church, St. Paul's Lutheran at Barren Hill, Trinity Reformed at Pottstown, St. Paul's Lutheran at Ardmore, St. John's Lutheran at Centre Square, Emanuel Lutheran at Pottstown, St. Peter's Lutheran in North Wales Township, St. Thomas Protestant Episcopal, Plymouth Friends Monthly Meeting, records of Rev. John Casper Stoever (Lutheran), and records of Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg (Lutheran).
- 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:
- Ambler: Calvary United Methodist Church; Trinity Episcopal Church
- Anconia Township: Anconia Mennonite Cemetery Gravestone Inscriptions; Salford Mennonite Church
- Ardmore: Methodist Episcopal Church; United Methodist Church
- Barren Hill: St. Peter's Lutheran Church
- Blue Bell: Boehm's Reformed Church (United Church of Christ)
- Bridgeport: Christ Church
- Collegeville: Skippack Brethren Cemetery; Trinity Christian Church; Trinity Reformed Cemetery
- Conshohocken: Calvary Church; Calvary Episcopal Church
- Eagleville: Lower Providence Presbyterian Church
- East Greenville: New Goshenhoppen United Church of Christ
- Elkins Park: Church of the Annunciation
- Fairview: Riton Brethren Cemetery
- Flourtown: David H. Kollock III Funeral Homes, Record Books; First Presbyterian Church
- Franconia: Indian Creek Reformed Church
- Harleysville: Vincent Mennonite Cemetery
- Lansdale: Plains Mennonite Cemetery
- Limerick: James Union Lutheran and Reformed
- Lower Salford Township: Salford Mennonite Church
- Marion: Westminster Cemetery Company
- Montgomeryville: Montgomery Square United Methodist
- New Hanover: New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Norristown: Christ United Church of Christ; St. John's Episcopal Church; St. John's Episcopal Church (2)
- Oaks: Germantown Ministry Church of the Brethren
- Obelisk: St. Luke's Lutheran Church
- Plymouth: Reverend L O Knipp Diary and Pastoral Record
- Potts Grove: Presbyterian Church
- Pottstown: Christ Episcopal Church; Trinity United Church of Christ
- Prospectville: Prospectville Methodist Episcopal Church
- Rockhill: Rockhill Mennonite Church
- Roxborough: St. Timothy's Episcopal Church; St. Timothy's Protestant Episcopal Church [sic]
- Schwenksville: Mennonite Cemetery
- Skippack: Charles M. Pool Undertaker Records; Lower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery; Neutralist Newspaper; Upper Skippack Mennonite Cemetery; Warren G. Bean Ministerial Records
- Towamencin Township: Towamencin Mennonite Cemetery Gravestone Inscriptions
- Trappe: Frank W. Shalkop Undertaker Records
- Upper Frederick Township: Riton Brethren Cemetery
- Upper Hanover: Gehman Family Papers
- Upper Providence: Providence Mennonite Cemetery
- Worcester: Worcester Mennonite Cemetery
Episcopalian
St. James's Church, Perkiomen
Early registers, which began in 1730, are lost. Surviving registers date from 1800.[8]
For a history, read:
- Barrow, A.J. "St. James's, Perkiomen," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 19 (1895):87-95. For free online access, see WeRelate.
St. Thomas's Church, Whitemarsh
Early registers "were destroyed in the Revolution."[8]
Lutheran
Augustus Evangelical Lutheran Church, Trappe
- 1712-1777 Augustus Evangelical Lutheran Church, Trappe, Marriage Index 1712-1777 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C504571[9]
Indianfield Lutheran Church, Franconia Township
- 1753-1838 Indianfield Lutheran Church, Franconia Township, Baptism Index 1753-1838 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C503941[9]
- 1753-1780 Indianfield Lutheran Church, Franconia Township, Marriage Index 1753-1780 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M503941[9]
Lutheran Church, New Hanover
- 1745-1809 Marriage Record of the Lutheran Church, New Hanover, Montgomery County, PA., 1748-1800 (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 2, Vol. 8, Part 7) at Ancestry ($); Google Books
Lutheran Church, Old Goshenhoppen
- 1751-1780 Lutheran Church, Old Goshenhoppen, Marriage Index 1751-1780 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M516611[9]
St. Peter's Yellow Church, North Wales Township
- 1787-1856 Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 1787-1856: St. Peter's Yellow Church, North Wales Township at Ancestry ($). Births, marriages, deaths.
Methodist
- 1920 Directory, First Cheltenham Methodist Episcopal Church, Cheltenham, Pa. ... February, 1920 at Ancestry ($).
Presbyterian
Ashbourne Presbyterian Church, Elkins Park
- 1878-1919 Ashbourne Presbyterian Church, Elkins Park, Baptism Index 1878-1919 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C727451[9]
Presbyterian Church, Abington
- 1819-1864 Presbyterian Church, Abington, Baptism Index 1819-1864 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C524031[9]
- 1820-1862 Presbyterian Church, Abington, Marriage Index 1820-1862 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch M524031[9]
Reformed
Boehm's Reformed Church
- Directory, Boehm's Reformed Church ... Blue Bell Montgomery County, Pa., founded 1740 ... at Ancestry ($).
Indian Creek Reformed Church
- 1753-1851 Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 1753-1851: Indian Creek Reformed Church at Ancestry ($). Baptisms, marriages.
Reformed Church, Falkner Swamp
- 1748-1800 Marriage Record of the Reformed Church, Falkner Swamp, Montgomery County, PA., 1748-1800 (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 2, Vol. 8, Part 6) at Ancestry ($); Google Books
- 1748-1854 Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 1748-1854: Falckner Swamp Reformed Congregation at Ancestry ($). Births, marriages, deaths.
St. Paul's Memorial Church
- Directory, St. Paul's Memorial Church ... Oaks, Pa. ... Lent, 1926 at Ancestry ($).
Trinity Reformed Church, Pottstown
- 1770-1865 Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 1770-1865: Trinity Reformed Church of Pottstown at Ancestry ($). Births, marriages, deaths.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
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.
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.
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[edit | edit source]
For groups that came, see People section of the Pennsylvania Emigration page.
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
- All of the family biographies from The Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company are available free online on My Genealogy Hound.
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.[10]
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 Montgomery County began in 1850. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Abstracts of Early Deeds, 17 06:Philadelphia (many now Montgomery Co.), courtesy USGenWeb Archives
- 1784-1877 Deeds, 1784-1866; Index, 1784-1877. FHL film 21583 (first of 101 films) - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- 1784-1946 Mortgages, 1785-1822; Index, 1784-1946. FHL film 925001 (first of 42 films) - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- The Register and Recorder offers online access to land records (available years are unknown). The online indexes are free but fees apply for copies.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
- History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. 2 volumes. 1975. Edited by Theodore W Bean. Evansville, Ind. : Unigraphic. Online at: Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Vol. 1 - Google Books, Vol. 2 - Google Books. The original is a reprint of the 1884 ed. published by Everts & Peck, Philadelphia, 1884.
- History of Montgomery County within the Schuylkill Valley. 1859. By William J. Buck. Norristown, Pennsylvania : E. L. Acker. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Google Books; At various libraries (WorldCat).
- Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; a History. 3 volumes. c1923. By Clifton S. Hunsicker. New York, New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol. 3 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Vol. 1 - Internet Archive, Vol. 2 - Internet Archive, Vol. 3 - Internet Archive, Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat).
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
Maps
- Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
- Ancestor Tracks has posted free downloadable images from the 1868 Barnes' Driving Map of Philadelphia and Surroundings. This wall map located in the Library of Congress shows major landowner and geographic sites at the date of publishing. 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 Tracks.
- United States Geographic Survey Place Names - GNIS for Montgomery County(over 2000)
(may not always be present in alphabetic order on first try.) - FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Early migration routes to Montgomery County for European settlers included:
- Minsi Path from Kingston, Ulster County, New York Genealogy to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that is, from the Ulster and Delaware Turnpike to the Great Valley Road.
- Lehigh and Lackawanna Paths from Unadilla, Otsego County, New York Genealogy to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that is, from the Catskill Turnpike to the Great Valley Road.
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Revolutionary War
Local newspapers published obituaries on many Montgomery County Revolutionary War veterans. Summers abstracted these records and his article is available for free online:
- Summers, William. "Obituary Notices of Pennsylvania Soldiers of the Revolution," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 38 (1914):443-460. For free online access, see WeRelate.
Civil War
- 1861-1865 - Pennsylvania, Register of Military Volunteers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
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
- 1791 -1906 Naturalization Papers FHL Film 1376051 (first of 11 films) - 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.
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 Montgomery 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.
- Ambler Gazette Collection through Wissahickon Valley Public Library.
Online Newspaper Abstracts
- 1947-2010 Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Collection, 1947-2010 at FamilySearch
- PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
- Newspaper Clippings for Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
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 Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
- Index to Montgomery County Obituaries Death Notices and Funeral Notices (USGenWeb.com)
- Montgomery County Obituaries, courtesy USGenWeb Archives
Obituary Excerpts and Abstracts
- Marriages...Deaths from Der Nautralist, 1845-1854 (Trenton, New Jersey:NMI, Norton Micro-Images for the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania) FHL film 1723636 item 6
- Compiled and arranged by Michael J. Osiol, Pottstown Area Necrology (S.I.:M.J. Osiol, 19--?) At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL book 974.81 V4o volumes 1-2
- Summers, William. "Obituary Notices of Pennsylvania Soldiers of the Revolution," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 38 (1914):443-460. For free online access, see WeRelate.
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Probate matters in Montgomery 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
- 1683-1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry $
- 1683-1994 Pennsylvania Probate Records 1683-1994 at FamilySearch
- 1784-1850 Williams, Richard T. Index of Wills & Estate Settlements, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 1784-1850. Danboro, Pa.: R.T. and M.C. Williams, 1972. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
- 1784-1973 Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994 at FamilySearch . Includes Montgomery County Will Index (1784-1942), Will Books 1-34 (1784-1907); Administration Record Index (1784-1941); Estate Index A-Z (1784-1973); Orphan's Court Dockets Volumes 1-15 (1784-1866); Proceedings Index Volumes 1-45 (1784-1973).
- 1784-1941 Index to Administrations FHL film 21556 (first of 4 films) - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- 1784-1907 Wills FHL film 21552 (first of 25 films) - images only; click on the camera icon to view images; Index included: 1784-1942
- 1784-1973 Probate Records FHL film 925503 (first of 43 films) - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- Will Abstracts 1784-1823 and index, courtesy USGenWeb Archives
School Records[edit | edit source]
Pottstown, PA High School: 1941 Football Team Photo with names of individuals.
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
- 1798 Pennsylvania, U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798 at Ancestry ($).
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.
- The following records are available at the Montgomery County Records Department:
- 1841-1966 Delayed Birth Certificates
- 1852-1855 Birth, Marriage and Death Records
- 1885 to present Marriage Records, with bride and groom index
- 1893-1915 Birth and Death Records
Birth[edit | edit source]
Early births 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. For more information, see Pennsylvania Vital Records.
The following records are available at the Montgomery County Records Department:
- 1726-1930 Pennsylvania, Births and Christenings, 1709-1950 index. Not complete for all years. This collection is an 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.
- 1841-1966 Delayed Birth Certificates
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Births Ancestry $
- 1852-1855 Birth Records
- 1893-1895 Montgomery County Birth Index 1893-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.[9]
- 1893-1915 Birth Records
Marriage[edit | edit source]
Pennsylvania marriages were created by county officials. Contact Montgomery County Courthouse
The following records are available at the Montgomery County Records Department:
Marriage records older than 25 years are not available at the courthouse. These records need to be brought in from an off site storage facility. When the record has been brought to the courthouse, the patron will be notified and may pick up the record at that time.
Order records by completing the following form.
- 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 an electronic database of information. The entries are primarily from the International Genealogical Index (IGI) along with some entries derived from compiled and original records such as: Family Records, Church Records, Civil Registration. It may also include indexes generated by the internet indexing project sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
- 1812-1839 Van Booskirk, Mahlon. "Marriages from Squire Van Booskirk's Docket," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 30 (1906):437-444. For free online access, see WeRelate. Van Booskirk was a Justice of the Peace. Republished as: "Marriage Record of Mahlon Van Booskirk," Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, Vol. 4, No. 3 (Mar. 1911):305-311. For online access, see WeRelate; the Family History Library also has this series in its collection: FHL Book 974.8 B2p.
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
- 1885-1950 Pennsylvania County Marriage, 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.
- Index to Marriage Records at USGenWeb - Includes two indexes: the first is an alphabetical listing of brides and grooms in local newspapers, the second is a county marriage license search from the early 1990s to the presennt.
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.
The following records are available at the Montgomery County Records Department:
- 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 $
- 1852-1855 Death Records
- 1893-1915 Death Records
- 1894 Montgomery County Birth Index 1894 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.[9]
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary Montgomery County Courthouse.
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Montgomery 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
- Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center
105 Seminary Street
Pennsburg, PA 18073
Phone: 215–679–3103
Website
Email: info@schwenkfelder.com
- This organization has over "200 unpublished records from churches in Montgomery, Berks, Lehigh and Bucks County, from the Schwenkfelder, Reformed, Lutheran, Mennonite, Brethren, and Roman Catholic congregations." It also has many years of five local newspapers, family genealogies and files, local and county histories, diaries, printed fraktur, cemetery records, photographs, and other types of records.
- Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel
8339 Old York Road
Elkins Park, PA 19027
Phone: 215-887-8700
Fax: 215-887-1070
Website
- The Archives contains Jewish synagogue records from its founding in 1847 to the present.
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
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.
Local Centers and Libraries
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Montgomery County. For state-wide library facilities, see Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries.
- Montgomery Area Public Library
1 South Main Street
Montgomery, PA 17752
Phone: 570-547-6212
Website
The Montgomery Area Public Library is part of the Lycoming County Library System that holds genealogical, historical, and biographical items in their collection.
- Valley Forge National Historical Park Library & Archives
1400 North Outer Line Drive
King of Prussia, PA 19406
Office: 610-783-1034
Fax: 610-783-1060
Library: 610-296-2593
Website
This National Historic Park is staffed by The National Park Service and appointments are necessary. Contact Dona M. McDermott, Archivist.
Email: dona_mcdermott@nps.gov
Museums[edit | edit source]
- Valley Forge National Historical Park Museum
1400 North Outer Line Drive
King of Prussia, PA 19406
Phone: 610-783-1000
Website
- Temple Judea Museum
Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel
8339 Old York Road, (SE corner Township Line Road)
Elkins Park, PA 19027
Phone: 215-887-2027
Website
Email: TJMuseum@aol.com
The museum has collections of art works, political items, military information, music, history, and more.
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Montgomery County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Pennsylvania Societies.
- The Mennonite Heritage Center
565 Yoder Road
Harleysville, PA 19438-1020
Phone: 215-256-3020
Email: 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 treasure also cover the counties of Bucks, Chester, Berks, Lehigh, Northampton, and Philadelphia. The website provides a comprehensive overview of library resources, online cemetery database, manuscript collections, photo collections, archival collections, and more.
- The Lower Merion Historical Society
Lower Merion Academy
506 Bryn Mawr Ave.
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Website
The Society preserves historic resources of the Township of Lower Merion and the Borough of Narberth. They have a collection of online biographical sketches, burial records, early maps, and other historical items. In their library are countless records that can be identified by online searches.
- Historical Society of Montgomery County
1654 DeKalb Street
Norristown, PA 19401
Phone: 610-272-0297
Website
Established in 1881, the Society's library contains over thirty thousand titles including books, pamphlets, newspapers and archival materials, family files, censuses, city directories, maps, photographs, county and church records, and scrapbooks.
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Montgomery County USGenWeb Archives
- The Montgomery County PAGenWeb Project, a member of The PAGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
- Montgomery 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/Montgomery_County,_Pennsylvania accessed 2/12/2017
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists : United States of America, 10th ed., (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002) Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, p.591
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Montgomery County, Pennsylvania," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery_County,_Pennsylvania, accessed 28 January 2020.
- ↑ 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 free online access, see WeRelate.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/1/10/Igipennsylvaniall.pdf.
- ↑ The Philadelphia Courts at Common Pleas accessed 10 July 2012