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United States Gotoarrow.png Pennsylvania Gotoarrow.png Beaver County

Beaver County, Pennsylvania genealogy and family history research page. Guide to genealogy, history, and courthouse sources including birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, wills, deeds and land records, Civil War records, Revolutionary War records, family histories, cemeteries, churches, tax records, newspapers, and obituaries.

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Online Records


Beaver County, Pennsylvania
Map
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Beaver County
Location in the state of Pennsylvania
Map of the U.S. highlighting Pennsylvania
Location of Pennsylvania in the U.S.
Facts
Founded March 12, 1800
County Seat Beaver
Courthouse
Beaver County, Pennsylvania Courthouse.jpg
Address Beaver County Courthouse
810 Third Street
Beaver, PA 15009
Beaver County Website
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Contents

Historical Facts

Beginning dates for major county records
Birth
Marriage
Death
Deeds
Probate
1893
1885
1893
1803
1800

Boundary Changes [3]

  • 1780: Future southern 1/3 of Beaver County was disputed between Virginia and Pennsylvania until Mason-Dixon Line was finalized.
  • 1785: Future northern 2/3 was not included in any county until 1785.
  • 27 January 1750: Future southern 1/3 was incorporated into Cumberland County when it was formed.
  • 9 March 1771: Future southern 1/3 became part of Bedford County when it was erected.
  • 26 February 1773: Future southern 1/3 became part of Westmoreland County when it was formed.
  • 28 March 1781: Future southern 1/3 became part of Washington County when it was formed.
  • 1783: Future northern 2/3 was designated as Depreciation Lands for Revolutionary War soldiers.
  • 1785: Future northern 2/3 was annexed to Northumberland County.
  • 24 September 1788: Nearly all of Beaver fell into Allegheny County when it was created. a small southern portion remained in Washington County.
  • 20 March 1849: Lawrence County was created, giving Beaver County its current boundaries. [1]

Resources

Bible Records

Cemeteries

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

Online Grave Transcripts Published Grave Transcripts County Cemetery Directories

Findagrave.com

Family History Library

Findagrave.com

Interment.net

WorldCat

Names in Stone

USGW-Tombstone Photos
USGW-transcripts

Billion Graves

Pennsylvania Genealogy

Epodunk

Pennsylvania Gravestones

Billion Graves

Names in Stone

Access Genealogy

Ancestry($)


See Pennsylvania Cemeteries for more information.


Census

For tips on accessing Beaver 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.

Beaver county pennsylvania churches.png

Moravians who came in the 1770s were perhaps the earliest religious group to arrive in the county, and they came to preach to the Indians. The early settlers were almost exclusively Scotch-Irish Presbyterians who arrived by 1785. Methodists arrived in the early 1800s. They kept very poor records. Episcopalians arrived around 1799. The minister of that church performed many of the early marriages in the county.[4]

Finding Church Records at Other Repositories

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

County-wide Database - Multi-denominational
Contains church records of:
  • Aliquippa: House of Prayer Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Beaver: First Presbyterian Church
  • Beaver Falls: Christ Lutheran Church; First United Methodist Church
  • Conway: Conway United Presbyterian Church
  • Freedom: First Presbyterian Church
  • Monaca: Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
  • New Brighton: Christ Episcopal Church
  • Rochester: Grace Lutheran Church
Catholic
  • "100 years of the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese 1843–1943". Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Quarterly, 17:1. FamilySearch Library book 974.8 B2wg. Contains chronolgy, map, county-by-county information.
  • The Archives of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh contains all sacramental records older than 70 years beginning in 1808 for parishes in the following counties of Pennsylvania: Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence and Washington. Sacramental records include baptismal, first communion, confirmation, marriage and death registers. The only records older than 70 years that ate open for research are death records.  They are released without restriction. The research can only be done by Archive staff. Research fees are charged at an hourly rate. For more information about obtaining records of the Diocese and its records click here. For records before 1808 researchers should contact:
    Diocese of Greensburg
    723 E. Pittsburgh Street
    Greensburg, PA 15601
    Telephone: (412) 837-0901
    Fax: (412) 837-0857
    Website: www.catholicgbg.org

Court Records

Beaver County, Pennsylvania court records are housed at the Beaver 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. Beaver County, Pennsylvania  has its own judicial district. 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 Beaver 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 Beaver County, Pennsylvania Prothonotary office information.

Orphan's Court

See Vital Records
The Orphans' Court is responsible for a wide range of matters. The name of the Court is derived from the more general definition of "orphan," that being a person or thing that is without protective affiliation or sponsorship. This would include those not capable of handling their own affairs, minors, incapacitated persons, decedents estates, nonprofit corporations and trusts. It is the role of the Court to ensure that the best interests of the person or entity are not compromised.

It is believed the name of this court was borrowed from the Court of Orphans of the city of London, England which had the care and guardianship of children of deceased citizens, in their minority.[7]

For Beaver County, Pennsylvania Orphans' Court contact information see the Courthouse section on this page.

Finding Court Records at Other Repositories

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

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 Beaver County began in 1800. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Beaver, 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

  • 1957–present Beaver County offers online access to indexes and images. Fees apply.

Land Records on Microfilm

Additional Resources

Note that the "Maps" section below includes maps related to land ownership.

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 Beaver County Pennsylvania Land in online catalogs such as:

Maps

  • Ancestor Tracks has posted free, downloadable images of the township maps showing landowners from Map of Lawrence and Beaver Counties from Actual Surveys by N.S. Ames which was published in 1860. 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 to commercially. We hereby give permission to use them strictly for personal use; please attribute to Ancestor Tracks.

Military

Revolutionary War

Men living in what is now Beaver County (then Washington and Westmoreland counties) served in the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment.[8]

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.
Naturalization records available for Beaver County, Pennsylvania include the following:
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records


Original Naturalization Records on Microfilm

Finding Naturalization Indexes at Other Repositories

Additional naturalization indexes can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Beaver County, Pennsylvania naturalization in online catalogs like:

Newspapers

Beaver 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 Beaver County

Online Newspapers

  • Beaver County Times - full-text of more than 11,000 issues spanning 1954-2007 available for free on Google Newspaper Archive.
  • Beaver Falls Tribune - more than 2,700 full-text issues spanning 1912-1928 available for free on Google Newspaper Archive
  • Beaver Times - full-text of close to 800 digital issues spanning 1900-1906 available for free on Google Newspaper Archive
  • Beaver Valley Times - full-text of more than 2,500 issues spanning 1946-1960 available for free on Google Newspaper Archive

Online Newspaper Abstracts

Newspaper Extracts and Abstracts

  • Foster, Nancy (compiler), Every-name Index to History of the Newspapres of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. (Cincinnati, Ohio:N.B. Foster, c1993) FHL book 974.8 A1 no. 543
  • Two books by Mark H Welchley, used together, provide abstracts from the Beaver County Argus newspaper from 1830 - 1858. Argus Genealogical Gleanings covers 1830-1838 FHL book 974.892 V28w and Beaver County, Pennsylvania Marriages from Beaver County Newspapers FHL book 974.892 V2w covers 1830-1878. Note that the content of these books do not overlap, despite the overlapping of the dates.
  • Clear, Helen G. Beaver County Deaths (abstracted from Warner's History) (S.I. : s.n., 19--) At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL book 974.892 V4c A list of deaths taken from newspapers. Death dates are 1817-1886.
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

Tip
 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

Occupations

Indentured Servants

Periodicals

Poorhouse, Almshouse

Probate Records

Probate matters in Beaver 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 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:

Complete Collection:

Beaver County Only:

Original Probate Records on Microfilm


Additional Probate Indexes and Abstracts

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

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

Beaver County Courthouse
810 Third Street
Beaver, PA 15009
Phone: (724) 728-5700
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Clerk of Court:
Room 207
Phone: (724)-770-4586

Orphans' Court
Phone: 724-770-4550

Prothonotary Office
Phone (724)-770-4570
Fax: 724-728-3360
Email: nwerme@beavercountypa.gov

Birth and death records are available from 1893 through 1906. You may obtain copies by sending in a written request to the Register of Wills. A $4.00 research fee (per name) is required at the time of the request. A check or money order should be made payable to “Register of Wills.” Also include a self-addressed stamped envelope. There is a maximum of 3 names per request. Courthouse staff will do the research and advise you if the information is available. The cost of a birth record is $4.00. Death records are $3.00. Send a check or money order and the information will be forwarded to you.

To obtain an old marriage license, mail your request to the Register of Wills. There is a $4.00 research fee per marriage with a maximum 3 marriages per request. Make check or money order payable to “Register of Wills.”

Please provide the following:

  • Your name
  • Check or money order for the research fee payable to “Register Of Wills”
  • Your email address
  • Self-addressed stamped envelope
  • Daytime telephone number
  • The name of the Groom and Bride (maiden name) and the date of the marriage (within 5 years if you do not know the exact date)

A notification will be sent by email of the results of the search and additional fees for copies. A certified copy of a marriage license is $5.00. A copy of a license application is $1.00.

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 Beaver County, Pennsylvania is the Beaver Valley Pennsylvania Family History Center. For additional nearby Family History Centers, search online in the FHC directory.

Libraries

Beaver County Library System
109 Pleasant Drive, Suite 101
Aliquippa, PA 15001
Phone: (724) 378-6227
Hours: M-F 8:30 am -4:30 pm

The Beaver County library system consists of nine libraries.

Museums

Beaver Area Heritage Museum
1 River Road
Beaver, PA 15009
Phone: (724) 775-7174

Air Heritage Museum & Aircraft Restoration Facility
Beaver County Airport
35 Piper Street
Beaver Falls, PA 15010
Phone: (724) 843-2820

Societies

Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-4080
Phone: (412) 687-6811

Library Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Friday - Saturday: 10:00 am - 5:30 pm
Sunday: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Email: info@wpgs.org

Beaver County Genealogy History Center
1301 Seventh Avenue
Beaver Falls, PA 15010
Phone: (724) 847-9253
E-mail: beavercountyresearch@yahoo.com

Hours:
Monday – 10-4
Saturday 10-2
Friday and Sunday CLOSED

Beaver Falls Historical Society and Museum
1301 7th Ave.
Beaver Falls, PA 15010
Phone: (724) 846-4340

Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame
1 Campus Drive
Monaca, PA 15061
Phone: (724) 869-9684

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.

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

Early births 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. See the heading Court Records on this page for contact information.

Indexes for Pennsylvania birth records are available through the Department of of Health for 1906 and 1907. Once an individual is located in the index a non certified Birth certificate can be obtained by writing and sending $3.00 to:

Division of Vital Records
ATTN: Public Records
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103

  • 1852-1854 – Pennsylvania Births Ancestry.com – ($) Index with images.
Marriages

Pennsylvania marriages are located at the county level. Contact the Beaver County, Pennsylvania clerk's office for these records.

  • 1700-1821 - Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties.
  • Pre-1810 – Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties. Includes 35,000 marriage records from vol. VIII of of the second series of the Pennsylvania Archives.
  • 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.
  • 1852-1854 - Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) Index with images.
  • 1885-1950 - Pennsylvania County Marriage, 1885-1950 Extracted marriage records – free. 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.

Deaths

Early deaths 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. See the heading Court Records on this page for contact information.

Indexes for Pennsylvania death records are available through the Department of Health for 1906 through 1962. Once an individual is located in the index a non certified death certificate can be obtained obtained by writing and sending $3.00 to:

Division of Vital Records
ATTN: Public Records
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103


Finding Vital Records at Other Repositories

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

Web Sites

Places

Populated Places

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 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. ↑ Pennsylvania line : a research guide to Pennsylvania genealogy and local history, 1990 ed. (Laughlintown, Pa.: Southwest Pennsylvania Genealogical Services, 1990), [FHL book 974.8 D27p 1990].
  4. ↑ The History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania : including its early settlement, its erection into a separate county, its subsequent growth and development, sketches of its boroughs, villages and townships. . . (Evansville, Indiana : Unigraphic, 1980) FHL book 974.892 H2h 1980.
  5. ↑ The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania http://www.pacourts.us/T/CommonPleas/accesssed 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. ↑ The Philadelphia Courts at http://www.courts.phila.gov/common-pleas/orphans/ accessed 10 July 2012
  8. ↑ 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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