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FamilySearch Wiki:Wiki Project Pennsylvania/Tasks-Vital Records Intro

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Task

Wiki Project Pennsylvania Tasks - Vital Records Intro

Description

To add an introduction to the county page vital records heading, with subheadings and general information under the subheading.

Instructions

1. Under Vital Records and while in wiki text add the following template:

{{PA vitals}}

2. In wiki text add the following headings and templates:

===== Birth =====
{{PA birth}}
===== Marriage =====
{{PA marriage}}
===== Divorce =====
===== Death =====
{{PA death}}


3. In wiki text add the following sentence after the PA birth template and on the line below the template: *'''1852-1854''' – Pennsylvania Births [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2349 Ancestry.com] – $ Index with images.

4. In wiki text add the following sentence after the PA death template and on the line below the template: *'''1852-1854''' – Pennsylvania Deaths [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2487 Ancestry.com] – $ Index with images.

5. If any information is already posted on the county page for vital records, determine if it is introductory material or specific to birth, marriage, divorce or death.

6. While in wiki text, move any already-posted information under the correct heading. If possible, put record information in chronological order. This may not be possible if the record is included in the template.

7. Save the page and exit. The task is complete.



Example

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.


Berks County has placed a searchable index on-line for birth, marriage and death records.

Birth

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


Marriage

Pennsylvania marriages are located at the county level. Contact the Wiki Project Pennsylvania/Tasks-Vital Records Intro clerk's office for these records.

Divorce
Death

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


  • 1852-1854 – Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry.com – $ Index with images.

Example of Complete Vital Records Heading

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.

County-wide Database
  • 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.
Birth

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


Marriage

Pennsylvania marriages are located at the county level. Contact the Wiki Project Pennsylvania/Tasks-Vital Records Intro clerk's office for these records.

  • 1700-1821 - Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties.
  • 1725-1976 - Pennsylvania, Marriages, 1709-1940 - free index. Not complete for all years.
  • Pre-1810 – Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties. Includes 35,000 marriage records from vol. VIII of of the second series of the Pennsylvania Archives.


Divorce

Divorce records are handled by the office of the Prothonotary. While no on-line indexes or records are available, records may be obtained by visiting or writing to the Prothonotary at:

Office of the Prothonotary
PO Box 549
230 E. Market Street
Clearfield, PA 16830
Phone:(814) 765-2641

Death

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 Wiki Project Pennsylvania/Tasks-Vital Records Intro Vital Records in online catalogs like:

This website requires a paid subscription for full access. Some subscription websites are available for free at your local FamilySearch Center or Affiliate Library.

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