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United States Pennsylvania Westmoreland County

Westmoreland 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.

Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Map
Location in the state of Pennsylvania
Location of Pennsylvania in the U.S.
Facts
Founded	February 26, 1773
County Seat	Greensburg
Courthouse
Address	Westmoreland County Courthouse 2 N. Main Street Greensburg, PA 15601 Westmoreland County Website
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Contents 1 Historical Facts 1.1 Boundary Changes 2 Resources 2.1 Bible Records 2.2 Biographies 2.3 Cemeteries 2.4 Census 2.5 Church Records 2.5.1 County-wide Database - Multi-denominational 2.5.2 Catholic 2.5.3 Lutheran 2.5.4 Presbyterian 2.6 Court Records 2.6.1 Court of Common Pleas 2.6.1.1 Clerk of the Courts 2.6.1.2 Prothonotary 2.6.2 Orphans' Court 2.7 Emigration and Immigration 2.8 Ethnic Groups 2.8.1 Germans 2.9 Gazetteers 2.10 Genealogy 2.11 History 2.11.1 Published Histories 2.12 Land and Property 2.13 Maps 2.14 Migration 2.15 Military 2.15.1 Revolutionary War 2.16 Naturalization and Citizenship 2.17 Newspapers 2.17.1 Obituaries 2.18 Occupations 2.18.1 Indentured Servants 2.19 Periodicals 2.20 Poorhouse, Almshouse 2.21 Probate Records 2.22  Repositories 2.22.1 Archives 2.22.2 Courthouse 2.22.3 Family History Centers 2.22.4   Libraries 2.22.5 Museums 2.22.6 Societies 2.23 School Records 2.24 Taxation 2.25 Vital Records 2.25.1 Birth 2.25.2 Marriage 2.25.3 Divorce 2.25.4 Death 3 Web Sites 4 Places 4.1 Populated Places 5 References

Historical Facts

Beginning dates for major county records
Birth	Marriage	Death	Deeds	Probate
1893	1885	1893	1773	1773

• Parent Counties: Formed from Bedford County 26 February 1773. ^[1]
• County Seat: Greensburg
  
• Neighboring Counties: Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania residents may also have records in ^[2]Armstrong (north)  • Fayette (south)  • Allegheny (west)  • Cambria (east)  • Washington (southwest)  • Somerset (southeast)  • Indiana (northeast)  • Butler (northwest)

Boundary Changes

Several counties were set off over the years. ^[1]

• 28 March 1781: Washington County
• 26 September 1783: Fayette County
• 24 September 1788: Allegheny County
• 12 March 1800: Armstrong County
• 30 March 1803: Indiana County

Resources

Bible Records

• Westmoreland County Bible Records courtesy USGenWeb Archives

Biographies

• Every Name Index to Old Westmoreland:A History of Western Pennsylvania During the Revolution courtesy USGenWeb Archives

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
USGenWeb-transcripts USGenWeb-tombstone photos		Billion Graves
Pennsylvania Genealogy		Epodunk
Pennsylvania Gravestones
Billion Graves
Names in Stone
Access Genealogy
Ancestry($)
See Pennsylvania Cemeteries for more information.

• Feightner Cemetery, Greensburg BillionGraves
• Union Cemetery, Arnold BillionGraves

The Mennonite Heritage Center
565 Yoder Road
Harleysville PA 19438-1020
215-256-3020
library@mhep.org
Hours: Tuesday thru Friday, 10am–5pm, Saturday, 10am–2pm

The Cemetery Database at the Mennonite Heritage Center includes 86,000 burial records from 125 local cemeteries.  Records cover cemeteries in the counties of Berks, Bucks, Butler, Chester, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, and Westmoreland. The database provides transcriptions from Mennonite, Brethren, Lutheran, Reformed, Union, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, community, and private cemeteries. Search the list of cemeteries and the alphabetical surname lists in Adobe PDF format.

Visit the Mennonite Heritage Center to search the cemetery database by various criteria. The transcriptions are available for further research at the MHC library.

Census

For tips on accessing Westmoreland 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.

• 1783 - Returns of Taxables for the Counties of Bedford (1773 to 1784), Huntingdon (1788), Westmoreland (1783, 1786), Fayette (1785, 1786), Allegheny (1791), Washington (1786) and Census of Bedford (1784) and Westmoreland (1783). (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 22). Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Google Books - free.

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.

The Westmoreland County Historical Society's library has church records and histories. You can look at them at their library for free if you are a member or for a minimal fee if you are not. Check their webpage for current prices. You can also have research in the records by mail. Instructions are under "Genealogy and Research" on their Internet site.

Additional church records can be located at Linkpendium and by searching the Family History Library Catalog. The FHLC has a plethora of church recordsfor Westmoreland County, many are limited in the time frame they cover. When searching the FHL catalog, be sure to also search at the town and township level.

Finding Church Records at Other Repositories

Additional church records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Westmoreland 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 the church records of:

• Burrell: Bethesda Lutheran Church
• Greensburg: Christ Episcopal Church
• Hempfield: Herold's Reformed Church
• Irwin: Covenant United Presbyterian Church; First Presbyterian Church; First United Church of Christ
• Larimer: St. John's United Church of Christ
• Latrobe: Latrobe Methodist Church; United Brethren in Christ
• Ligonier: St. James Lutheran Church
• Murrysville: Christ's Lutheran Church
• Schuylkill: St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church
• Trafford: Trinity United Methodist Church
• Vandergrift: First United Methodist Church; First United Presbyterian Church

• Westmoreland County Church Records courtesy USGenWeb Archives
  Including records of:

Brookland Congregation, 1822-1865

Greensburgh Presbyterian Church

Fairfield and Union Presbyterian Church

Salem Regular Baptist Church

St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church

Catholic

• 1843–1943 "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.

Lutheran

• 1792–1753 Births, Baptisms of the First Lutheran Church, Westmoreland County, Greensburg, Pennsylvania at Ancestry.com - $; typescript only

Presbyterian

• Inscriptions of the Unity Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Unity Township, Westmoreland County, PA. at Ancestry.com - $; index only

Court Records

Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania court records are housed at the Westmoreland 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. Westmoreland 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.^[3]

Clerk of the Courts

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.^[4] For the Westmoreland 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 Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Prothonotary office information.

Orphans' 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.^[5]

For Westmoreland 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 Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Court 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).

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 Westmoreland County began in 1773. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Greensburg, 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

• 1850–present The Recorder of Deeds offers online access to land records. The online indexes are free but fees apply for copies.

Land Records on Microfilm

• 1773-1886 Deeds and Index FHL film 929096 (first of 114 films)

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 Westmoreland 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.)

Maps

Click the image to view an enlarged version

• Ancestor Tracks has posted free downloadable images from the Map of Westmoreland Co. Pennsylvania from Actual Surveys by D.J. Lake & N.S. Ames, published by Wm. J. Barker in 1857
• Ancestor Tracks also has an Atlas of the Township Warrantee Maps of Westmoreland County and a Companion Scans of Township Warrantee Maps plus Current Road Overlay CD ($).  They show precise outlines in metes and bounds of each original tract and all surrounding tracts in each township, giving the names of the warrantee and patentee; dates of the warrant, survey, and patent; and the patent and survey book and page of each recorded patent.
• The 1867 Atlas of Westmoreland County has been posted at USGenWeb Digital Map Library.
• Westmoreland County Maps courtesy USGenWeb Archives

1867 Atlas

1872 Outline Map

United States Geological Survey Township Map

Migration

Military

Revolutionary War

Local men served in the Westmoreland County Militia. A guide at the Pennsylvania State Archives website identifies townships where specific companies recruited soldiers, see Revolutionary War Militia Battalions and Companies, Arranged by County.

Westmoreland County men also served in the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment,^[6] the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment^[7] and the 9th 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 Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania include the following:

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

• 1740-1773 – Pennsylvania Naturalizations, 1740-1773 on Ancestry.com - ($), incomplete for all counties
  

• 1820-1906 – Index to Declarations and Petitions in the Western District of Pennsylvania, US Circuit and District Courts located in US Naturalization Records Indexes, 1794-1995 database on Ancestry.com - ($), National Archives publication M1208
  

• 1820-1930 – Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. District Court, 1820-1930, and Circuit Court, 1820-1911, for the Western District of Pennsylvania on Fold3.com - ($), indexed, National Archives publication M1537, incomplete for all counties
  

• 1820-1930 - Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. District Court, 1820-1930, and Circuit Court, 1820-1911, for the Western District of Pennsylvania located in Selected US Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1790-1974 database on Ancestry.com - ($), indexed, National Archives publication M1537
  
  

Original Naturalization Records on Microfilm

• 1886-1903 - Declarations of intention, 1886-1903, FHL film 1316370 Items 4-5 and film 1316371
  

• 1802-1907 - Naturalization docket (Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania), 1802-1907; index, 1858, 1870, 1881-1896, FHL film 1316370 Item 3 (first of 4 films)

Finding Naturalization Indexes at Other Repositories

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

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

Newspapers

Westmoreland 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 Westmoreland 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.

Online Newspaper Abstracts

• PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Westmoreland County, Pennsvylvania.
• Death Notices Westmoreland County, Pennsvylvania Genealogy Project

Newspaper Excerpts and Abstracts

• Original research and additions by Della Reagan Fischer; compiled and typed by William L. Iscrupe, Marriage and Death Notices from Weekly Newspapers, 1818-1865, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Volume 1 (Laughlintown, PA:Southwest Pennsylvania Genealogical Services, c1977) FHL film 844896 item 2; book 974.881 B3f, 1977
• Originally compiled by Della R. Fischer, Death Notices from Weekly Newspapers, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, 1866-1900 (Laughlintown, PA:Southwest Pennsylvania Genealogical Services, c1983) At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL book 974.881 V4f
• Collected and arranged by Carmella Corcetti Shirley, Marriages & Anniversaries : Taken from the Leader Times Newspapers, 1922-1962-1997-1998-1999-2001 & the Vandergrift News, 1997-1998-1999-2001 (Chicora, Pennsylvania:Mechling Bookbindery, c2002) FHL film 2401877 item 8; book 974.88 V2sc

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 Westmoreland County, PA.
• Obituaries Westmoreland County, PA Genealogy Project
• Obituary Index created from their collection of obituaries of the years of individuals who resided in or had connections to Westmoreland County. Courtesy of Baltzer Meyer Historical Society.
• Westmoreland County Obituaries courtesy USGenWeb Archives

Obituary Excerpts and Abstracts

• Compiled by Yvonne L. Blair Morgan, Index of Census, Newspaper Obituary Files and Microfilm:Fayette, Green, Washington and Westmoreland Counties (Apollo, Pennsylvania:Closson Press, c2003) At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL book 974.88 V42m
• Copied by Della Reagan Fischer, Pa. Argus Marriages and Deaths, 10-17-1900 - 03-04 and 05 : Tribune - Review newspaper office, Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pa., copied from micro-film 2285, 2509 (McKeesport, PA:Fischer, 1976) FHL fiche 6099933; book 974.881/G1 V4f
• Compiled by Della Reagan Fischer, 7491 Death Notices, 1866-1900 : Old Newspapers, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Copied from Microfilms, the Tribune-Review Newspaper Office, Greensburg, Pa (1969) FHL film 1036655 item 2; book 974.881 V23f
• Compiled by Carmella Corcetti Shirley, Obituary Extractions Taken from The Vandergrift News, Vandergrift, Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, 1992-1996 (S.I.:C.C. Shirley, 1996?, c2002) FHL fiche 6006540 and 6006660; book 974.881 V1 V48s volume 1 and 2

Occupations

Indentured Servants

• List of imported servants and transported convicts from Europe who served labor terms in Colonial Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (work in progress), courtesy: Immigrant Servants Database.

Periodicals

Poorhouse, Almshouse

Probate Records

Probate matters in Westmoreland 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:

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

Westmoreland County Only:

• 1773–1917 – Westmoreland County Probate Records

Online Probate Abstracts

• Westmoreland County Wills and Estate Records courtesy USGenWeb Archives

Original Probate Records on Microfilm

• 1773–1917 Wills, includes Index 1773–1918. FHL film 1316409–1316417

Additional Probate Indexes and Abstracts

Additional probate indexes or abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Westmoreland 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

Westmoreland County Courthouse
2 North Main Street
Greensburg, PA 15601
Phone: 724-830-3734

Prothonotary
Suite 501
P.O. Box 1630
Greensburg, PA 15601
Phone: 724-0830-3502

Register of Wills
Clerk of Orphans' Court
Courthouse Annex, Suite 301
Phone: 724-830-3177
Fax: 724-850-3976
E-mail: row@co.westmoreland.pa.us
Hours: 8:15 AM–4:15 PM Monday, Wednesday–Friday
8:15 AM–6:00 PM Tuesday

The office has:

1852–1855 Birth, marriage, and death records. See Vital Records

1773 to present Estate records

1773 to present Orphans' Court records

The Clerk of Courts
Suite 203
Phone:724-830-3734
Fax: 724-850-3979

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

  Libraries

Westmoreland County Federated Library System consists of 25 public libraries in Westmoreland County. Each library has access to genealogical databases - especially newspaper sites. Many are accessible with your library card from home. A list of the libraries in this system and their website and contact information is found here.

• Greensburg Hempfield Area Library
  237 South Pennsylvania Ave.
  Greensburg, PA 15601
  Phone: 724-837-5620

The Genealogy and Local History Resources web page list their holdings. Their microfilmed newspapers for the area include dates from 1832 to the present. They also have censuses.

Museums

• Compass Inn Museum
  1382 US Route 30
  PO Box 167
  Laughlintown, PA 15655
  724-238-4983
  E-mail: jkoontz@compassinn.com
  The Museum is run by the Ligonier Valley Historical Society. They have costumed docents through out a small area including a barn, blacksmith shop and cookhouse.The museum is also on Facebook.
  

• West Overton Museums
  109 Overton Rd
  Mailing: West Oveton Village
  Scottdale, PA 15683
  724-887-7910
  E-mail: info@westovertonmuseums.org
  The museum is built around Henry Overholt distilling industry. Henry Clay Frick, a grandson of Henry Overholt, grew up around West Overton.
  

Societies

• Westmoreland County Historical Society
  362 Sand Hill Road Suite 1
  Greensburg, PA 15601
  724-532-1935
  Fax: 724-532-1938
  E-mail: history@westmorelandhistory.org
  Hours: Tuesday–Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  Evenings by Appointments

• Historical Society Members: No charge for using library; Photocopies, $0.20 per copy.
• Non-members: $3.00 per researcher per day to use library; Photocopies, $0.25 per copy.
• Tips for planning a visit

You may schedule research consultation with their researcher ahead of time. Members $30 per hour and Non-member $35 per hour.

Research by mail has varying charges. Read through the instructions on line and use the "Genealogical Research Request Form."

• Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society
  4400 Forbes Avenue
  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213-4080
  Library Hours: Monday - Thursday: 10:00am - 8:00pm, Friday - Saturday: 10:00am - 5:30pm, Sunday: 1:00pm - 5:00pm
  Tips for planning a visit
  The focus of the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society are the 26 counties west of Centre County. The Society is based out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and maintains its library and offices in the Pennsylvania Department of the Carnegie Library. The WPGS Library collection is complemented and augmented by the Pennsylvania Department's enormous holdings of local and family history information. It has extensive onsite resources for both in-library research, and out-of-town queries.
  

• Baltzer Meyer Historical Society
  642 Baltzer Meyer Pike
  Greensburg, PA 15601-9711
  724-836-6915
  E-mail: baltzermeyer@juno.com
  This society was founded in 1993 to preserve and study the history of Westmoreland families as well as those in Southwestern Pennsylvania. They maintain a library in a former church and a museum in a schoolhouse. They publish books which you can order from them.

• Research is $10.00 for each hour of research.
• Photocopy costs are $0.25 per page
• Cemetery look ups are $3.00 per Surname per Cemetery.

• The Ligonier Valley Historical Society
  1382 US Route 30
  PO Box 167
  Laughlintown, PA 15655
  724-238-4983
  E-mail: jkoontz@compassinn.com
  The Society's mission revolves around the history of the Lignoier Valley area. They maintain a records and document room. Also, they maintain the Compass Inn Museum.

School Records

• Westmoreland County Education and School Records

Teachers Montly Reports of Independent School #3, Derry District, 1872-1877

New Kensington High Graduates, 1921

Mineral Villa School, Smithton, 1895/1896

Taxation

• 1783, 1786 - Returns of Taxables for the Counties of Bedford (1773 to 1784), Huntingdon (1788), Westmoreland (1783, 1786), Fayette (1785, 1786), Allegheny (1791), Washington (1786) and Census of Bedford (1784) and Westmoreland (1783). (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 22). Digital versions at Ancestry ($); Google Books - free.

• 1798 - Pennsylvania, U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798 at Ancestry ($).

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

• 1782-1930 - 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.
• 1852-1854 – Pennsylvania Births Ancestry.com – $ Index with images.

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

The Register of Wills have incomplete birth records from 1852 to 1855 and complete records 1893 to 1905. You may obtain the records from:

Register of Wills
2 N. Main Street, Suite 301
Greensburg, PA 15601
Phone: 724-830-3177
Fax: 724-850-3976
Email: row@co.westmoreland.pa.us
Hours: Monday, Wednesday to Friday 8:15 am to 4:15 am
Tuesday 8:15 am to 6:00 pm

Marriage

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

• 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.
• 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.

The Register of Wills have incomplete marriage records from 1852 to 1855 and complete records 1885 to the present. You may obtain the records from:

Register of Wills
2 N. Main Street, Suite 301
Greensburg, PA 15601
Phone: 724-830-3177
Fax: 724-850-3976
Email: row@co.westmoreland.pa.us
Hours: Monday, Wednesday to Friday 8:15 am to 4:15 am
Tuesday 8:15 am to 6:00 pm

In May 2012, the Register of Wills of the Orphan Court discovered marriages performed by District Judge, Raymond Tubbs from 1974 to 1989 had not been filed. This office is now trying to reconstruct the marriages. To learn about this problem visit their website. at http://www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/westmoreland/cwp/view.asp?a=1453&q=639334.

Divorce

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

Death

• 1852-1854 – Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry.com – $ Index with images.
• 1852-1853 - Westmoreland County Death Registrations courtesy USGenWeb Archives

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

The Register of Wills have incomplete death records from 1852 to 1855 and complete records 1893 to 1905. You may obtain the records from:

Register of Wills
2 N. Main Street, Suite 301
Greensburg, PA 15601
Phone: 724-830-3177
Fax: 724-850-3976
Email: row@co.westmoreland.pa.us
Hours: Monday, Wednesday to Friday 8:15 am to 4:15 am
Tuesday 8:15 am to 6:00 pm

Web Sites

• USGenWeb project.  Westmoreland County. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
• Family History Library Catalog
• An early history of the county published in 1906 and biographical sketches of early residents can be found in this transcription project: Westmoreland County History.

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. ↑ The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania http://www.pacourts.us/T/CommonPleas/ accessed 10 July 2012.
4. ↑ Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, Clerk of Courts in http://www.pacourts.us/T/CommonPleas/ClerksOfCourts.htm (accessed 25 Aug 2012)
5. ↑ The Philadelphia Courts at http://www.courts.phila.gov/common-pleas/orphans/ accessed 10 July 2012
6. ↑ John B.B. Trussell and Charles C. Dallas, The Pennsylvania Line; Regimental Organization and Operations, 1776-1783 (Harrisburg, Pa.: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1977). Digital version at Family History Archive.
7. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "8th Pennsylvania Regiment," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8th_Pennsylvania_Regiment, accessed 31 May 2012.
8. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "9th Pennsylvania Regiment," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_Pennsylvania_Regiment, accessed 31 May 2012.

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