Fulton County, PennsylvaniaEdit This Page

• Neighboring Counties: Fulton County, Pennsylvania residents may also have records in ^[2]Huntingdon (north) • Franklin (east) • Bedford (west) • Allegany County, Maryland (southwest)  • Washington County, Maryland (south)

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Fulton County Pennsylvania Genealogy Resources

Bible Records

Cemeteries

Cemetery records often reveal birth, marriage, death, relationship, military, and religious information.

Census

For tips on accessing Fulton County, Pennsylvania Federal (or United States) census records online, see: Pennsylvania Census.

There are no county or state census records available for Pennsylvania. County and city tax records can be used as a substitute when census records are not available.

Church Records

Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. In Pennsylvania, church records are often used as a substitute for birth, marriage, and death information. For general information about Pennsylvania denominations, view the Pennsylvania Church Records wiki page.

For a good history concerning early churches of Fulton County, see "Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania" ^[3]. Each township section has a religion part discussing the denominations in that particular township.

Additional church records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Fulton County, Pennsylvania Church Records  in online catalogs like:

• Historical Society of Pennsylvania
• WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
• Family History Library Catalog (For instructions see FHL Catalog Place-name Search).

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.com – $; 7,542,774 entries. This database is incomplete for all counties.

Contains church records of:

• Burnt Cabins: United Methodist Church
• Hustontown: United Methodist Church

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Blue Ridge District of the Eastern States Mission comprised church members living in southeastern Pennsylvania. District headquarters were in Lancaster, with branches located in Bucks, Fulton, Lancaster, and York counties.

• Record of Members, [1929]-1944, FHL film 1979

Lutheran

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, McConnellsburg

• 1805-1930 - Saint Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, McConnellsburg, Fulton County, Pennsylvania; Parish Registers, 1804-1930 at Ancestry ($).
• 1806-1875 - St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, McConnellsburg, Baptism Index 1806-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C504091.^[4]
• 1849-1906 - St. Paul's Lutheran Church records, 1849-1906 at Ancestry ($).
• 1869-1880 - St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, McConnellsburg, Marriage Index 1869-1880 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch M504091.^[4]

Presbyterian

Presbyterian Church of Green Hill

• 1865-1875 - Presbyterian Church of Green Hill Baptism Index 1865-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch C538771.^[4]
• 1865-1895 - Presbyterian Church of Green Hill Marriage Index 1865-1895 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch M538771.^[4]

Court Records

Fulton County, Pennsylvania court records are housed at the Fulton County, Pennsylvania Courthouse. For many counties copies of court records may be found at the Pennsylvania State Archives and in the FamilySearch collection. Note that within these collections some films may contain the same records, but have different titles. Other titles are not duplicates. See Finding Court Records at other repositories within this section for links to the online catalogs for these two collections. Films at the Pennsylvania State Archives are not available for inter-library loan. If court records are available FamilySearch films may be ordered at a local Family History Center.

Court of Common Pleas

The Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of Pennsylvania. Major civil and criminal cases are heard in these courts. Judges also decide cases involving adoption, divorce, child custody, abuse, juvenile delinquency, estates, guardianships, charitable organizations and many other matters. The Common Pleas courts are organized into 60 judicial districts. Fulton County, Pennsylvania shares its judicial district with Franklin County. Judges of the Common Pleas courts are elected to 10-year terms. A president judge and a court administrator serve in each judicial district.^[5]

Clerk of the Court

The Clerk of Courts prepares and maintains the records for the Criminal Division of the Court of Common Pleas. The Clerk signs and affixes the Seal of the Courts to all writs and processes, administers oaths and affirmations, and assumes custody of the seal and records of the Courts. The Clerk certifies and distributes orders of the Court. The Clerk also certifies and prepares bills of costs for the defendants and utilizes the computerized financial management system to disburse fines, costs and restitution.^[6] For the Fulton County, Pennsylvania Clerk of Courts address see the Courthouse section on this page.

Prothonotary

The office of the Prothontary is the custodian of all civil matters in the county. This includes naturalization, immigration, equity actions, judgements, federal and local tax leins, city liens, family court, arbitrations, license suspension appeals, appeals to higher court, commercial code filings, applications for passports and divorce proceedings. See the Courthouse section on this page for the Fulton County, Pennsylvania Prothonotary office information.

Orphans' Court

Finding Court Records at Other Repositories

Additional court records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Fulton County, Pennsylvania Court Records in online catalogs like:

• Historical Society of Pennsylvania
• WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
• Do a Fulton County, Pennsylvania Place-name search for these and other records in the Family History Library Catalog (For instructions see FHL Catalog Place-name Search).

Emigration and Immigration

For information about emigration into Pennsylvania, see the Pennsylvania Emigration and Immigration page.

Ethnic Groups

Germans

Gazetteers

Genealogy

History

Published Histories

Land and Property

Land records in Fulton County began in 1850. These records are filed with the Prothonotary/Recorder office in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania.

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts, indexes, mortgages, leases, grants, sheriff sales, land patents, and maps. Property records include liens as well as livestock brands and estray records.

The following are examples of available resources:

Online Land Records

• 1965–present Fulton County offers online access to records. Fees apply.

Land Records on Microfilm

• 1850–1937 Register of Deeds, 1850-1900, with Index to Grantors, and Grantees, 1850-1937 FHL film 323959 (first of 16 films)
  
• 1851–1899 Mortgage Book and Index FHL film 323975

Additional Resources

See Pennsylvania Land and Property for more information about using land records, especially about original land warrants, surveys, and patents filed at the state land office.

Additional resources can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Fulton County Pennsylvania Land in online catalogs such as:

• Historical Society of Pennsylvania
  
• WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog.)
  
• Family History Library Catalog (For instructions see FHL Catalog Place-name Search.)

Local Histories

Maps

Migration

Military

Revolutionary War

Men living in what is now Fulton County (then Bedford County) served in the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment.^[7]

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. See Pennsylvania Naturalization for more information about the types of records and availability.

Naturalizations granted at the county level were kept by the office of the Prothonotary. Naturalizations could also be granted on the Federal Court level.

Newspapers

Fulton County, Pennsylvania newspapers may contain genealogical value including obituaries, births, marriages, deaths, anniversaries, family gatherings, family travel, achievements, business notices, engagement information, and probate court proceedings.

To access newspapers, contact public libraries, historical/genealogical societies, college or university libraries, or state archives in the area where the newspaper was published.

For information on state-wide newspapers see Pennsylvania Newspapers

Newspapers of Fulton 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.

• The Fulton County News Archives 2008- present.

Online Newspaper Abstracts

• PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Fulton County.

Obituaries

Obituaries are generally found in local newspapers where the person died. However, sometimes an obituary is found in the location from which he or she originated. To find an obituary, see the information under the Newspaper heading

Sometimes the fastest way of finding obituaries is to call or email the local public library in the area where the person died. If the library does not have newspapers, a librarian often will know where they are kept. If a death date is known, and the newspapers are at the library, someone on staff will usually make a search for a small fee, or will indicate someone who will do the search.

Online Obituary Abstracts

• PA-Roots Obituaries for Fulton County.

Occupations

Indentured Servants

Periodicals

Poorhouse, Almshouse

Probate Records

Probate matters in Fulton County, Pennsylvania are handled by the Orphans' Court and start when the county was created. To obtain original probate records, contact the Orphan's Court in the County Courthouse.

In addition to wills and administrations, the Orphans' Court also handles: audits of accounts of executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians; distribution of estates of decedents, incompetents, and minors; appointment and control of guardians; adoptions; appeals from the Register of Wills involving probate matters; inheritance tax appeals and various petitions and motions.

Online Probate Indexes

• Fulton County Wills and Estate Records at Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives

Online Probate Records

Original probate records for some Pennsylvania counties are available free online as digital images at FamilySearch.org. The dates vary significantly for each county and not all counties are listed. Some counties may only have probate indexes. This Pennsylvania collection of images may be browsed through the links listed below:

• 1683-1994 - Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994 at FamilySearch.org
  

Fulton County Only:

• Fulton County Probate Records
  

Original Probate Records on Microfilm

• 1842–1908 Will Book FHL films 323976–323977 - includes surname index
• 1850–1937 Estate Inventory and Appraisements Lists FHL films 1465898–1465906 - records in alphabetical order
• 1851–1901 Probate Records FHL films 323979–323983 - includes index to register and orphans' court docket, 1851–1936
• 1851–1909 Administrators, Executors, and Guardian Accounts FHL films 323985–323987 - includes surname index
• 1863–1963 Widows' Appraisements FHL films 323988–323989 - part indexed
• 1865–1912 Orphans' Court Auditors Dockets FHL film 323984 - includes surname index

Additional Probate Indexes and Abstracts

Additional probate indexes or abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Fulton County, Pennsylvania probate wills in online catalogs like:

• Historical Society of Pennsylvania
• WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
• Family History Library Catalog (For instructions see FHL Catalog Place-name Search).

Repositories

Archives

• The Pennsylvania Archives collection contains county archive records that can be searched onsite. Currently the Archives' staff cannot provide research or make copies of these records. Their collections include Almshouse Registers; Tax records; Birth, Death and Marriage Indexes and Records; Midwife records; African American records; Wills; Deeds; Naturalizations; Coroner's inquests; and Orphan's Court dockets. A list of the Archive's county holdings are on Microfilm or Manuscript form.
  
  

Courthouse

Fulton County Courthouse
201 North Second Street
Mc Connellsburg, PA 17233-1019

Prothonotary
Patty Suders Fix
717-485-4212
Email: prothonotary@co.fulton.pa.us

The Prothonotary also serves as Clerk of Courts, Recorder of Deeds, Register of Wills, and Clerk of Orphans' Court.

Family History Centers

Family History Centers (FHCs) are branches of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and are located all over the world. Their goal is to provide resources for family history research.

The main FHC for Fulton County, Pennsylvania is the Chambersburg Pennsylvania Family History Center. For additional nearby Family History Centers, search online in the FHC directory.

• Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

Libraries

Museums

Societies

Rich in history, Fulton County, Pennsylvania contains a number of societies dealing with the history of the area.

• Fulton County Historical Society
  P.O. Box 115
  227 North First Street
  McConnellsburg, PA 17233
  (717 987-3757)
  Email: director@fultonhistory.org

The Fulton County Historical Society is housed in the Fulton County Library.

Taxation

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. While the records for that time period are available, there were few events recorded. County marriage records were kept in earnest in 1885. Births and deaths, at the county level, were begun in 1893 and kept through 1905. Abstracts and copies of vital records are available for some counties, but most are incomplete. For the most complete set of records, always contact the County Orphans' Court.

Use substitute records for birth, marriage and death information. These substitute records include Bible Records, Cemeteries, Church Records, Newspapers, and Probate Records.

Birth

Early births 1894–1906 are located at the County Courthouse. See the heading Court Records on this page for contact information.

Beginning in 1906 Pennsylvania birth records are available through the Department of of Health. Birth records become public after 105 years. A statewide index is available. Once an individual is located in the index a certificate can be obtained by writing to:

Division of Vital Records
ATTN: Public Records
PO Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103

The cost for an non-certified birth certificate is $3.00.

• 1726-1930 - Pennsylvania, Births and Christenings, 1709-1950 - free 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.
• 1894-1905 – Register of Births FHL film 323999 The births from 1894–1906 have been microfilmed. They are available at the Pennsylvania State Archives and through local Family History Centers.

Marriage

Fulton County marriages are maintained at the county courthouse. Fulton County began recording marriages in 1885 although some registrations took place from 1852–1854. To obtain a marriage record you may go to or mail the courthouse.

• 1700-1821 - Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties. 
• 1725-1976 - Pennsylvania, Marriages, 1709-1940 - free index. Not complete for all years. This index is not necessarily intended to index any specific set of records. This index is not complete for any particular place or region. This collection may include information previously published in the International Genealogical Index or Vital Records Index collections.
• Pre-1810 – Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties. Includes 35,000 marriage records from vol. VIII of of the second series of the Pennsylvania Archives.
• 1852-1854 - Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) Index with images.
• 1852-1854; 1885-1963 Marriage Registers, 1852-1854; Marriage License Dockets, 1885-1963 (Fulton County, Pennsylvania) – FHL films 323990-323998
• 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.

Divorce

Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary. The office of the Prothonotary is located in the courthouse building.

Death

Fulton County began recording deaths in 1895 although some were recorded from 1853–1854, and 1874–1881. These records are available in the County Courthouse in McConnelsburg. You may request a death record from the Clerk of Courts.

These county death records were microfilmed by FamilySearch. They are available through Family History Centers and at the Pennsylvania State Archives.

• 1852-1854 – Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry.com – $ Index with images
• 1852-54 - Deaths: Selected death records Fulton County USGenWeb Archives
  
• 1852-1854, 1874-1881, 1895-1905 – Fulton County Registers of Deaths FHL film 324001
• 1874-1881 - Fulton County Death Index 1874-1881 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.^[4]

Pennsylvania death certificates become public records after 50 years. An annual index is released by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Records less than 50 years old are kept by the Division of Vital Records and are not public certificates. Only certain people can request a non-public death certificate. To order a non-public representative you must be:

• Legal representative of decedent's estate
• Immediate family member
• Extended family member who indicates a direct relationship to the decedent
• Power of Attorney (Please note that a Power of Attorney document is no longer valid upon the death of the individual)

See the Pennsylvania Department of Health website to obtain a copy of a non-public death certificate. The cost is $9.

The cost for a non-certified public death certificate is $3.00. Indexes for Pennsylvania public death records are available online through the Department of Health for 1906 through 1961. Once an individual is located in the index a certificate can be obtained by writing to:

Division of Vital Records
ATTN: Public Records
PO Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103

Finding Vital Records at Other Repositories

Additional vital records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Fulton County, Pennsylvania Vital Records in online catalogs like:

• Historical Society of Pennsylvania
• WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
• Family History Library Catalog (For instructions see FHL Catalog Place-name Search).

Fulton County Pennsylvania Genealogy WebSites

• USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
• Family History Library Catalog
  

Fulton County Pennsylvania Places

Populated Places

Fulton County Pennsylvania Genealogy References

1. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), [FHL book 973 D27e 2002].
2. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Adams County, Pennsylvania" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adams_County,_Pennsylvania (accessed 17 July 2012).
3. ↑ WorldCat 7575757;FHL book 974.87 H2w
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/images/9/92/Igipennsylvaniaf.pdf.
5. ↑ The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania http://www.pacourts.us/T/CommonPleas/ accessed 10 July 2012.
6. ↑ Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, Clerk of Courts in http://www.pacourts.us/T/CommonPleas/ClerksOfCourts.htm (accessed 25 Aug 2012)
7. ↑ Harold Frederic, William C. Frederick III with William J. McMaster Sr., Path of Blood: The Untold Story of the Kittanning PA. Regiment in the American Revolution (Kittanning, Pa.: W.C. Frederick, 1998). FHL Book 974.8 M2ff

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