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Archiver > NJHUNTER > 2005-03 > 1109709588


From: Nancy Janyszeski <>
Subject: Re: [NJHUNTER] help with PA research
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2005 12:39:48 -0800 (PST)
In-Reply-To: <20050301042326.94620.qmail@web51409.mail.yahoo.com>


This might help.
http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/faq.htm

On January 1, 1906, birth and death records began to be officially recorded by the Commonwealth.
Prior to 1906, records were not required to be maintained except in a few exceptional cases.
During the years 1852 to 1854, the Register of Wills for each county was required by law to keep
records and indexes of births, deaths and marriages. Copies from 49 of the 64 counties existing at
that time are maintained at the Archives; however, returns are not inclusive for these years.
There are no returns for Blair, Clarion, Clinton, Crawford, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Fulton,
Jefferson, Lebanon, Philadelphia, Pike, Potter, Sullivan, or Wyoming County. From 1893 to 1906,
birth and death records were recorded and maintained by the Clerk of the Orphans Court at the
various county courthouses; however, many individuals failed to comply with this law. The Clerk of
the Orphans Court or the County Marriage License Clerk has kept marriage licenses since September
30, 1885. (Some vital records from this period may be reviewed on microfilm at the State Archives
but State Archives staff cannot search them.)
County records, or unofficial sources such as newspaper files, church registers, family Bibles,
and gravestone inscriptions must be used to obtain data for earlier years.

For Birth and death records, 1906-present, contact the Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1528,
101 South Mercer Street, New Castle, PA 16103; telephone (724) 656-3100.

--- john newman <> wrote:

> I know this is off-topic, but I can't seem to get the info I am looking for by doing web
> searches.
>
> I am at a brick wall with my own surname The only thing that I know is that my grandfather's
> father was born in Pennsylvania and his parents were William and Mary (or Ellen). No town, no
> county known. I can't find any good leads from the census either. This info (the state of PA)
> was gather from birth and death records of my grandfather's siblings and parents. I am hoping
> that my grandfather's grandparents left a will.
>
> What I want to know is:
>
> (1) does PA have a calendar or index of Wills like NJ? If so, what dates would such a book
> cover?
>
> (2) What years can you review Wills in PA at the state archives?
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
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>
>
> ==== NJHUNTER Mailing List ====
> Visit the Updated Hunterdon County GenWeb page at:
> http://www.rootsweb.com/~njhunter
>
> ==============================
> Jumpstart your genealogy with OneWorldTree. Search not only for
> ancestors, but entire generations. Learn more:
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>
>


=====
Nancy Janyszeski
Bucks County & Northampton History and Genealogy http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~buckscounty/
http://www.pa-roots.com/~northampton/http://www.nockamixon.us
http://rootsweb.com/~pabucks






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