Pike County, Pennsylvania Genealogy
Guide to Pike County, Pennsylvania ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
The county was named for Zebulon Pike. It is located in the northeastern tip of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Pike County Courthouse
412 Broad Street
Milford, PA 18337
Phone: 570-296-3556
Fax: 570-296-6054
Register of Wills Phone: 570-296-3508 extension 1160
Record of Deeds Phone: 570-296-3508 extension 1160
Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts/Orphan's Court Phone: 570-296-7231 extension 1210
Pike County Website
Clerk Comm has birth, death, and burial records 1893-1905, marriage records from 1885, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1814[3]
Pike County, Pennsylvania Record Dates
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1893 | 1885 | 1893 | 1814 | 1814 | 1814 | 1790 |
Record Loss
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes
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Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[7]
| Boroughs | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
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| Townships | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
- Cemetery records often reveal birth, marriage, death, relationship, military, and religious information.
Additional Cemetery Resources
- ca.1700-ca.1950 Pennsylvania Cemetery Records, ca. 1700-ca. 1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Cemetery Abstracts at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images (incomplete)
Census Records
Federal Census
- 1850-1880 Pennsylvania Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1820 | 2,894 | — |
| 1830 | 4,843 | 67.3% |
| 1840 | 3,832 | −20.9% |
| 1850 | 5,881 | 53.5% |
| 1860 | 7,155 | 21.7% |
| 1870 | 8,436 | 17.9% |
| 1880 | 9,663 | 14.5% |
| 1890 | 9,412 | −2.6% |
| 1900 | 8,766 | −6.9% |
| 1910 | 8,033 | −8.4% |
| 1920 | 6,818 | −15.1% |
| 1930 | 7,483 | 9.8% |
| 1940 | 7,452 | −0.4% |
| 1950 | 8,425 | 13.1% |
| 1960 | 9,158 | 8.7% |
| 1970 | 11,818 | 29.0% |
| 1980 | 18,271 | 54.6% |
| 1990 | 27,966 | 53.1% |
| 2000 | 46,306 | 65.6% |
| 2010 | 57,369 | 23.9% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Church Records
- More information and resources are found on Pennsylvania Church Records.
- Visit Pike County, Pennsylvania Church Records for information about church denominations and records in Pike County.
Court Records
For information about records kept in the Orphan's court, Prothonotary Court, Court of Common Pleas, and other courts in counties of Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Court Records Wiki page.
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
For online resources, passenger lists, and specific groups coming to Pennsylvania, see Pennsylvania Emigration and Immigration.
- 1798-1828 Pennsylvania Landing Reports of Aliens, 1798-1828 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Alphabet index then by numbered entry
- 1900-1923 Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Case Files of Chinese Immigrants, 1900-1923 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only (by county)
- 1952-1957 Pennsylvania, Crew Lists arriving at Erie, 1952-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
For groups that came, see People section of the Pennsylvania Emigration page.
Funeral Homes
- Stroyan Funeral Home, Inc. in Milford
Genealogies
Guardianship
The Orphan's Court ensures the best interests of those not capable of handling their own affairs: minors, incapacitated persons, decedents' estates, and more.[8]
Land and Property Records
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a specific location and reveal family relationships. Records include: deeds, abstracts, indexes, mortgages, leases, grants, sheriff sales, land patents, maps and more. For more information, see Pennsylvania Land and Property.
Land records in Pike County began in 1814. These records are filed with the Recorder of Deeds office in Milford, Pennsylvania.
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Note that the "Maps" section below also includes maps related to land ownership.
Local Histories
- History of Wayne, Pike and Monroe Counties, Pennsylvania. 1886. Ed. by Alfred Mathews. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : R.T. Peck. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive.
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
Maps
- Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
- Ancestor Tracks has a CD of the First Landowners of PA: Warrantees of Wayne & Pike Counties, Map & Index by Jason Torrey, 1814 ($). The CD contains first landowner names and tracts, the warrant register index for Northampton County (the source for both Pike and Wayne Counties), and the warrant registers for both counties.
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Early migration routes to Pike County for European settlers included:
- Minsi Path from Kingston, New York to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Delaware River.
Military Records
See more databases at Pennsylvania Military Records and US Military Records.
Civil War
- 1861-1865 Pennsylvania, Register of Military Volunteers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1865-1936 Pennsylvania, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records, 1865-1936 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
World War II
- 1933-1947 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, World War II Casualty Cards, 1933-1947 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Naturalization and Citizenship
Naturalization records can contain information about immigration and nativity. Prior to 1906, it is rare to find the town of origin in naturalization records. For more information, see Pennsylvania Naturalization
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1795-1931 Pennsylvania, Eastern District Petitions for Naturalization, 1795-1931 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1795-1952 Pennsylvania, Eastern District Naturalization Indexes, 1795-1952 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1901-1930 Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. Circuit and District Courts for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 1906-1930; and 1901-1906 on Fold3.com - ($), indexed, National Archives publication M1622, Middle District court was created in 1901, for earlier dates try the Eastern and Western District court records
- 1901-1930 Middle District, US Circuit and District Courts: Naturalization petitions, 1906-1930 located in U.S. Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1795-1972 (World Archives Project) database on Ancestry $
- 1901-1991 Pennsylvania, Middle District Court, Naturalization Records, 1901-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Newspapers
Newspapers may contain obituaries, births, marriages, deaths, anniversaries, family gatherings, family travel, achievements, business notices, engagement information, and probate court proceedings. Newspapers are often found in local or university libraries, historical or genealogical societies, or state archives in the area where the newspaper was published. See Pennsylvania Newspapers for more information.
Newspapers of Pike County
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.
- Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory.
- Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive
- Pennsylvania Newspapers
- 1800s-Current Pennsylvania, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Online Newspaper Abstracts
- PA-Roots Newspaper Articles for Pike County, Pennsylvania.
Obituaries
Obituaries are generally found in local newspapers where the person died or where family members lived. Local libraries or societies may have indexes or other sources.
- 1947-2021 Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Collection, 1947-2010 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1977-2010 Pennsylvania Obituaries, 1977-2010 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Online Obituary Abstracts
- PA-Roots Obituaries for Pike County, Pennsylvania.
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
Probate matters in Pike County are handled by the Orphans' Court and start when the county was created.
In addition to wills and administrations, the Orphans' Court also handles: audits of accounts of executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians; distribution of estates; appointments of guardians; adoptions; appeals from the Register of Wills; inheritance tax appeals, and various petitions and motions.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1683-1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry ($)
- 1683-1994 Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
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. County marriage records were kept in earnest in 1885. Births and deaths, at the county level, were begun in 1893 and kept through 1905. For the most complete set of records, contact the County Orphans' Court.
Birth
Early births 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. For more information, see Pennsylvania Vital Records.
- 1520-1999 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Births and Baptisms, 1520-1999 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1709-1950 Pennsylvania, Births and Christenings, 1709-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Births Ancestry $
- 1941-1976 Pennsylvania Delayed Birth Records, 1941-1976 at FamilySerch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Marriage
Pennsylvania marriages were created by county officials. Contact Pike County Courthouse
- 1512-1989 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Marriage Records, 1512-1989 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1626-2016 Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($)
- 1677-1950 Pennsylvania Civil Marriages, 1677-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1682-1976 Pennsylvania, Church Marriages, 1682-1976 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1700-1821 Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry $
- 1709-1940 Pennsylvania Marriages, 1709-1940 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- Pre-1810 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
- 1823-Onward Pennsylvania Marriages at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
- 1885-1950 Pennsylvania County Marriage, 1885-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection, Coverage Table; index & images; coverage may vary
- 1947-2010 Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Collection, 1947-2010 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Death
Early deaths 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. For indexes and records, 1906 and later, see Pennsylvania Vital Records.
- 1720-1999 Pennsylvania Deaths and Burials, 1720-1999 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, some images
- 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry $
- 1856-1971 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Deaths and Burials, 1856-1971 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1906-1972 Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1972 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Divorce
Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary Pike County Courthouse.
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Pike County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries.
National Archives at Philadelphia
14700 Townsend Rd
Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096
Phone: 215-305-2044
Fax: 215-305-2052
Email: philadelphia.archives@nara.gov
Website
Facebook
FamilySearch Centers
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Sparta New Jersey FamilySearch Center
- Middletown New York FamilySearch Center
- Barrett Paradise Friendly Library - an affiliate library
- Eastern Monroe Public Library - an affiliate library
- Northeast Pennsylvania Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Pike County. For state-wide library facilities, see Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries.
Pike County Public Library
119 East Harford St
Milford, PA 18337
Phone: 570-296-8211
Email: admin@pcpl.org
Website
Facebook
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Pike County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Pennsylvania Societies.
Northeast Pennsylvania Genealogical Society, Inc. (NEPGS)
Kirby Annex II
57 N Franklin St
Wilkes-Barré, PA 18701
Phone: 570-829-1765
Email: nepgsmail@gmail.com
Website
Facebook
Pike County Historical Society
608 Broad St
Milford, PA 18337
Phone: 570-296-8126
Email: tourguide@poconovacations.com
Facebook
Websites
- USGenWeb
- Pike County PA Genealogy
- FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides
Woodroofe's guide to Pike County "hidden sources" at The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania is available online:
- Woodroofe, Helen Hutchison. "A Genealogist's Guide to Pennsylvania Records," The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, Vol. 34, No. 3 (1986):239-240. Online at: WeRelate.
References
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Pennsylvania.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia accessed 2/12/2017
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists : United States of America, 10th ed., (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002) Pike County, Pennsylvania, p.592
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Pennsylvania.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Pennsylvania.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Pennsylvania.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Pike County, Pennsylvania," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_County,_Pennsylvania, accessed 31 January 2020.
- ↑ The Philadelphia Courts at Common Pleas accessed 10 July 2012