Venango County, Pennsylvania Genealogy
Guide to Venango 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
Venango County is located in the west-central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Venango County Courthouse
1168 Liberty Street
Franklin, PA 16323
Phone: 814-432-9500
Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts: 814-432-9577
Register and Recorder: 814-432-9539
Venango County Website
Clerk of Courts and Recorder of Deeds has birth and death records from 1893-1905, marriage records from 1885, probate and land records from 1806 and court records.[3]
Venango 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 | 1820 | 1806 | 1806 | 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]
| Cities | ||
| Boroughs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
| Townships | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
- Bibles at USGenWeb Archives
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)
- PA-Roots
- Names in Stone
- Ancestry ($)
Census Records
Federal Census
- 1850-1880 Pennsylvania Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1800 | 1,130 | — |
| 1810 | 3,060 | 170.8% |
| 1820 | 4,915 | 60.6% |
| 1830 | 9,470 | 92.7% |
| 1840 | 17,900 | 89.0% |
| 1850 | 18,310 | 2.3% |
| 1860 | 25,043 | 36.8% |
| 1870 | 47,925 | 91.4% |
| 1880 | 43,670 | −8.9% |
| 1890 | 46,640 | 6.8% |
| 1900 | 49,648 | 6.4% |
| 1910 | 56,359 | 13.5% |
| 1920 | 59,184 | 5.0% |
| 1930 | 63,226 | 6.8% |
| 1940 | 63,958 | 1.2% |
| 1950 | 65,328 | 2.1% |
| 1960 | 65,295 | −0.1% |
| 1970 | 62,353 | −4.5% |
| 1980 | 64,444 | 3.4% |
| 1990 | 59,381 | −7.9% |
| 2000 | 57,555 | −3.1% |
| 2010 | 54,984 | −4.5% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Church Records
- More information and resources are found on Pennsylvania Church Records.
- Visit Venango County, Pennsylvania Church Records for information about church denominations and records in Venango 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
- 1896-1897 Armstrong, Butler, Clearfield, Clarion, Cambria, Indiana, Jefferson, Venango, Westmoreland (Co., Pa.) Business Directory : Comprising a Complete List of Business and Professional Men, etc.(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 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
- Gardinier-Warren Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc. in Franklin
- Hile-Best Funeral Home, Inc. in Seneca
- Huff - Guthrie Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc. in Franklin
- Larry E. McKinley Funeral Home in Clintonville
- Morrison Funeral Home,Inc. in Oil City
- Reinsel Funeral Home & Crematory in Oil City
- Timothy E Hartle Funeral Home in Franklin
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 Venango County began in 1800. These records are filed with the Register and Recorder office in Franklin, Pennsylvania.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1800 -1925 Deeds, 1805-1889; Deed Index, 1800–1925. FS Library film 863691 (first of 108) - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
- History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its Past and Present. 1890. By Herbert C. Bell. Chicago : Brown, Runk. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat).
- Venango County Pennsylvania : her Pioneers and People. 1919. Prepared by Charles A. Babcock. Chicago : J.H. Beers. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library; Vols. 1 & 2 - Hathitrust; At various libraries (WorldCat).
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
Maps
- Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
- Ancestor Tracks has posted free, downloadable images of the 1857 Map of Venango County, Pennsylvania Compiled from Official Surveys by R. Irwin, C.H. Heydrick, and C. Heydrick and Hunt's Improved Map of Venango County Oil Regions, published by John P. Hunt in 1865. These maps located in the Library of Congress show major landowners and geographic sites at the dates of publishing. 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 commercially. We hereby give permission to use them strictly for personal use; please attribute to Ancestor Tracks.
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
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
- 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
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1806-1906 - Naturalization docket, 1806-1906, FS Library film 1315291 - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
- 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 $
- 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 $
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 Venango 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 Venango County, Pennsylvania.
- Newspaper Abstracts including abstracts from The News Herald, Oil City Blizzard, Oil City Derrick News, Plain Dealer Bellaire and Citizens Press
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
- 2008-2011 Venango Obituaries (PDF version)
Online Obituary Abstracts
- PA-Roots Obituaries for Venango County, Pennsylvania.
- Venango Pennsylvania Obituaries at USGenWeb.org
- Venango County Obituaries courtesy USGenWeb Archives.
Obituary Excerpts and Abstracts
- Venango County Genealogical Club, Rockland Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Church of Tionesta, Clapp Farm Cemetery and the Methodist Church of Franklin, Venango County Records, Volume 1 (Oil City, PA:Venango County Genealogical Club, 1984) FS Catalog book 974.896 H2v
- Romig, Nancy Byers, Scrips and Scraps; Scrapbook Abstracts, Venango County and Surrounding Areas (Apollo, PA:Closson Press, c1995) FS Library 974.896 H2r
- Collected by Sarah E. Milford, Carol H. Jamison and Marilyn Q. Gerhold, Obituaries from Venango and Butler Counties (S.I.:s.n., 2006) FS Catalog book 974.89 V4m Digital version available at catalog entry.
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
Probate matters in Venango 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
- 1800-1968 Venango County Probate Records at FamilySearch
- 1800-1968 Will Dockets, 1819-1916; Index to Wills, 1800-1968(*); Register of Wills at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1806-1870 Orphans' Court Records, 1806-1870(*); Orphans' Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- County of Venango, State of Pennsylvania, Will Book Number 1 at Ancestry ($)
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — 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 Venango 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 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 and image
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
- 1893-1905 Venango County Death Index 1893-1905 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free [9]
- 1906-1972 Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1972 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Divorce
Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary. The office of the Prothonotary is located in the courthouse building.
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Venango 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
- Franklin Pennsylvania FamilySearch Center
- Knox Pennsylvania FamilySearch Center
- Slippery Rock Pennsylvania FamilySearch Center
- Oil Region Library Association - multiple locations - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Venango County. For state-wide library facilities, see Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries.
Oil Region Library Association
Phone: 814-678-3072
Email: info@oilregionlibraries.org
Website
Facebook
- Operates three district libraries, with some locations having historical research rooms and genealogical research materials, including local family histories.
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Venango County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Pennsylvania Societies.
Venango County Genealogical Club
2 Central Ave
Oil City Library Heritage Room
Oil City, PA 16301-3122
Phone: 814-678-3074
Email: vengen@csonline.net
Website
Venango County Historical Society
307 S Park St
Franklin, PA 16323
Phone: 814-432-8260
Email: vchistory2019@gmail.com
Website
Facebook
- Research library operates limited hours, check website.
Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society
4400 Forbes Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-4080
Phone: 412-687-6811
Email: info@wpgs.org
Website
Facebook
Websites
- USGenWeb archives
- Venango 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
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.
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venango_County,_Pennsylvania 2/12/2017
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists : United States of America, 10th ed., (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002), p. 593.
- ↑ 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, "Venango County, Pennsylvania," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venango_County,_Pennsylvania, accessed 3 February 2020.
- ↑ The Philadelphia Courts at Common Pleas accessed 10 July 2012
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/2/20/Igipennsylvaniat.pdf.