Pennsylvania Church Records

Pennsylvania Wiki Topics

Beginning Research

Guided Research Research Strategies Record Finder

Record Types

Adoption Bible Records Biography Cemeteries Census Church Records Colonial Records Correctional Institutions Court Records Crime and Punishment Directories Emigration & Immigration Genealogies Institutional Records Land & Property Military Records Naturalization & Citizenship Newspapers Obituaries Occupation & Business Records Online Collections Periodicals Probate Records Slavery Taxation Vital Records Voter Records

Pennsylvania Background

Biography Further Reading Gazetteers Historical Geography History Law & Legislation Maps Migration

Cultural Groups

African Americans Indigenous Peoples Cultural Groups Swedish American

Local Research Resources

Archives & Libraries Societies Find a FamilySearch center

United States

U.S. Church Records

Pennsylvania

Church Records

For greater success, use all the Wiki Articles in this series: What Can I Find in U.S. Church Records? Determining the Church Your Ancestor Attended How to Find Church Records in the United States Searching for Church Records by Denomination Searching for Church Records by U.S. State

---

Historical Background

Pennsylvania was founded as a place of refuge and religious freedom for many diverse groups from Great Britain and Europe. Important religious groups in colonial Pennsylvania were the Society of Friends (Quakers), the German Lutheran, German Reformed, Presbyterian, Episcopal/Anglican/Church of England, Baptist, and Roman Catholic churches, and the German Pietist groups, including the Brethren (Dunkard), Mennonites, and Moravians.

The beginning of the Catholic faith in Pennsylvania can be dated back to French explorers who visited the area in the seventeenth century. The first Catholic church was a chapel built in Fort Duquesne in 1754. In 1808, the Diocese of Philadelphia was organized. It covered the entire state. It was split in 1843 when the Diocese of Pittsburgh was erected to oversee Western Pennsylvania. Other dioceses were erected at later dates.

Only a small percentage of Colonial Pennsylvania's population belonged to the Church of England. Of 26 Episcopalian churches established in Pennsylvania before 1800, 12 have surviving parish registers covering that period.

Information Found in the Records

To effectively use church records, become familiar with their content. Click on these links to learn about a specific record type:

Baptisms or Christenings Marriages

Funerals or Burials Membership Lists

Minutes or Historical Narrative

Finding the Records

Look for online records.

Online databases are incomplete. This can lead to two common errors: Near matches: Researchers might mistakenly accept an entry very similar to their ancestor, thinking it is the only one available. Only use information that matches your ancestor in date, place, relationships, and other details. Stopping research: Researchers might assume the database proves church records do not exist. Actually the record is still out there, just not in this incomplete collection of records. Keep searching!

---

FamilySearch Indexes

• 1512-1989 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Marriage Records, 1512-1989 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images; abstracts taken from various Pennsylvania Church Records
• 1520-1999 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Births and Baptisms, 1520-1999 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images; abstracts taken from various Pennsylvania Church Records
• 1620-1991 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Congregational Records, 1620-1991(*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1709-1950 Pennsylvania, Births and Christenings, 1709-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index.
• 1709-1940 Pennsylvania, Marriages, 1709-1940 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index.
• 1720-1999 Pennsylvania Deaths and Burials, 1720-1999 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index.
• 1856-1971 Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Deaths and Burials, 1856-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images; abstracts taken from various Pennsylvania Church Records

FamilySearch CD-Rom

• 1680-1800 Birth index; southeastern Pennsylvania, 1680-1800 This collection must be used at the FamilySearch Library.

Findmypast Indexes

• Historical Society Of Pennsylvania, Births & Baptisms, index, incomplete($)
• 1709-1760 Pennsylvania Baptisms 1709-1760, index, incomplete($)
• Historical Society Of Pennsylvania, Marriages, index, incomplete.
• Historical Society Of Pennsylvania, Deaths & Burials, index, incomplete($)
• Philadelphia Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms, index & images ($).
• Philadelphia Roman Catholic Parish Marriages, index & images ($).
• Philadelphia Roman Catholic Parish Registers Browse, images ($).

Ancestry.com

• 1700-1821 Pennsylvania, Marriage Records, 1700-1821 ($)
• 1708-1985 Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 ($)
• 1664-1902 Pennsylvania, Published Archives Series, 1664–1902, images ($)

I Dream of Genealogy

• Pennsylvania Church Records, indexed transcripts organized by county

Catholic

Catholic Heritage Archive($)

Church of the Brethren

• Every name index, A history of the Church of the Brethren of Southern District of Pennsylvania, e-book
• Index of names, A history of the Church of the Brethren in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, e-book
• Index of names, History of the Church of the Brethren of the Western District of Pennsylvania, e-book
• Surname index to History of the German Baptist brethren, e-book
• 1884-1902 Church records, 1884-1902 [Pennsylvania Conference United Brethren in Christ, images

Congregational

• Historical Society Of Pennsylvania, Congregational Records, index, incomplete($)

Dutch Reformed

• 1769-1800 Church records of the Dutch Reformed, 1769-1800, images
• 1639-1989 U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989, index and images, incomplete.($)
• 1701-1995 U.S., Selected States Dutch Reformed Church Membership Records, 1701-1995, index and images, incomplete.($)

Episcopal/Anglican

• 1600s-1900s Pennsylvania, Episcopalian Congregational Records at Findmypast - index & images ($)
• 1600s-1900s Pennsylvania, Episcopalian Births and Baptisms at Findmypast - index & images ($)
• 1600s-1900s Pennsylvania, Episcopalian Marriages at Findmypast - index & images ($)
• 1600s-1900s Pennsylvania, Episcopalian Deaths and Burials at Findmypast - index & images ($)
• 1759-1970 Pennsylvania, U.S., Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania Church Records, 1759-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1911-1950 Diocesan confirmation registers, 1911-1950, Episcopal Church. Diocese of Pennsylvania, images

Jewish Records

• 1850-1900 US Hochheimer Marriage Records, 1850-1900 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Lutheran

• 1781-1969 - U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969, index and images, incomplete.($)
• 1680-1800 Birth Index; Southeastern Pennsylvania, 1680-1800. Humphrey, John T. n.p.: Brøderbund, 1998. FS Library Collection CD-ROM no. 9 pt. 196. WorldCat
• 1730-1799 Pennsylvania, Lutheran Baptisms and Marriages, 1730-1799($), index
• 1800-1947 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Swedish American Church Records, 1800-1947, index and images, incomplete.($)

Mennonite

• 1750-2014 Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Mennonite Vital Records, 1750-2014, index and images from book, incomplete. ($)

Presbyterian

• 1701-1970 U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970, index and images, incomplete.($)

Quaker (Society of Friends)

• U.S., Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, index, at Ancestry ($). Incomplete.
• 1680-1940 U.S., Hinshaw Index to Selected Quaker Records, 1680-1940, index, at Ancestry ($). Incomplete.
• 1681-1935 U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, index & images ($). Incomplete.
• U.S., Surname Index to Quaker Records, index, at Ancestry ($). Incomplete.
• 1682-1750 Quaker Arrivals at Philadelphia 1682-1750, index and e-book($).
• "The Early Welsh Quakers and Their Emigration to Pennsylvania," Levick, James J. The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 17 (1893):385-413.

Look for digital copies of church records in the FamilySearch Catalog.

FamilySearch Library
Salt Lake City, Utah

• The FamilySearch Library (FS Library) has a substantial collection of original church records and transcripts on microfilm for churches in the United States.
• Online church records can be listed in the FamilySearch Catalog under the state, county, or town.
• If you find a record that has not yet been digitized, see How do I request that a microfilm be digitized?
• Some records might have viewing restrictions, and can only be viewed at a FamilySearch Center near you, and/or by members of supporting organizations.
• To find records:

a. Click on the records of United States, Pennsylvania.

b. Click on Places within United States, Pennsylvania and a list of counties will appear.

c. Click on your county if it appears.

d. Click on the "Church records" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.

e. Click on Places within United States, Pennsylvania [COUNTY] and a list of towns will appear.

f. Click on your town if it appears, or the location which you believe was the parish which served your town or village.

g. Click on the "Church records" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.

h. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the listing for the record. . The magnifying glass indicates that the record is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the records.

---

Consult available finding aids.

These aids generally provide lists of records that are known to exist and information on their location.

---

• Inventory of Church Archives in Pennsylvania

Dutch Reformed

• Inventory and digest of early church records in the library of the Holland Society of New York, e-book.

German Churches

• Proceedings and addresses (Pennsylvania German Society) at FamilySearch.
• Charles H. Glatfelter, Pastors and Peoples, 2 vols. (Breingsville, PA: Pennsylvania German Society, 1980 and 1981) as vols. 13 and 15 of The Publications of the Pennsylvania German Society in the FS Library Collection. To check for a copy nearest you, search WorldCat.

Lutheran

• "The Founding of the German Churches of Pennsylvania," Dubbs, Joseph Henry. The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 17 (1893):241-262.

Presbyterian

• Inventory of the church archives of Pennsylvania Presbyterian Churches. Historical Records Survey (Pennsylvania)

Quaker (Society of Friends)

• Inventory of church archives, Society of Friends in Pennsylvania, e-book
• A list of the records of the meetings constituting the yearly meeting of the Society of Friends held at 16th and Race Streets, Philadelphia and Index
• Locality list of Friends Meeting records, 1904
• Guide to the Records of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (Philadelphia, PA: Haverford College, Records Committee of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Jack Eckert. Swarthmore College, 1989; available in the FS Library Collection. It also contains a bibliography, a glossary, and the record location for the other yearly meetings throughout the United States and Canada. The yearly meeting includes the monthly and quarterly meeting records, etc., under its jurisdiction. To locate a copy of the book nearest you, use WorldCat.
• The William Wade Hinshaw Index to Pennsylvania Quaker Meeting Records. 8 vols. (Kokomo, Indiana: Selby Publishing & Printing, 1990; available in the FS Library Collection. To locate copies nearest you, use WorldCat.
• The William Wade Hinshaw Index to Quaker Meeting Records in the Friends Library in Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania FS Library Collection.

United Church of Christ

• Church and pastoral records in the archives of the United Church of Christ and the Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society, Lancaster, Pa., e-book.

---

Correspond with or visit the actual churches.

Some records are still held in the local churches. Contact the current minister to find out what records are still available.

• Make an appointment to look at the records. Or ask the minister of the church to make a copy of the record for you.
• To find church staff available, you might have to visit on Sunday.
• Ask for small searches at a time, such as one birth record or a specific marriage. Never ask for "everything on a family or surname".
• A donation ($25-$40) for their time and effort to help you would be appropriate.
• If the church has a website, you may be able to e-mail a message.
• See the Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy for help with composing letters.
• Each denomination page offers an online address directory of local churches for that denomination.

Check the church records collections in archives and libraries.

Some church records have been deposited for preservation in government archives or in libraries. Watch for links to digitized, online records offered by the archives. Some archives provide research services for a fee. For others, if you cannot visit in person, you might hire a researcher.

Here you will find archive information unique to the state. Many more archives are kept by denomination. For denominational archives, go to Searching for Church Records by Denomination.

---

Baptist

• 1750-1899 U.S., Southern Baptist Church Records, 1750-1899 at Ancestry - index & images ($)

Episcopal/Anglican/Church of England

Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem
333 Wyandotte Street
Bethlehem, PA 18015-1527

Phone: (610) 691-5655

• Churches that are not closed should be contacted for their records.
• The Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem has records for closed parishes of the 14 counties in Pennsylvania to the north and west of Philadelphia.

---

Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania
101 Pine Street
Harrisburg, PA 17108

Phone: (717) 236-5959
Email: info@diocesecpa.org
Mail: PO Box 11937, Harrisburg, PA 17108 Fax: (717) 236-6448

• Churches that are not closed should be contacted for their records.
• The Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania has records for closed parishes.

---

Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania
The History Committee
240 S. 4th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Telephone: (215) 627-6434
Fax: (215) 627-7550

• Churches that are not closed should be contacted for their records.
• This diocese has records for churches that are now closed for Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties only.

---

Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh
325 Oliver Avenue, Suite 300
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2403

Phone: (412) 721-0853
E-mail: info@episcopalpgh.org

• Churches that are not closed should be contacted for their records.
• The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, founded in 1865, covers the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania. This diocese has records for churches that are now closed for the current counties of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland.

---

Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania
145 West 6th Street
Erie, PA 16501

Phone: (814) 456-4203

• Churches that are not closed should be contacted for their records.
• The Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania has records for closed parishes of the 13 counties in the northwestern part of the state of Pennsylvania.

---

Lutheran

• Archives hold records for closed churches. For open churches write directly to the local church.

---

Among the files of the Region 7 archives at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia are those of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, which was the first North American Lutheran church body, founded in 1748.
For all synods except the Slovak-Zion Synod:
Lutheran Archives Center at Philadelphia
7301 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19119-1794
Phone: 215-248-6383
Email: info@lacphila.org

---

For Slovak Zion Synod:
Slovak Zion Synod
P.O. Box 1003
Torrington, CT 06790-1003
Phone: 860-482-6100

---

Older material in the Tri-Synod Archives collection relates to the former Pittsburgh Synod of the General Council.
For Western Pennsylvania:
Tri-Synod Archives
Thiel College
75 College Avenue
Greenville, PA 16125
Phone: 724-589-2131

---

For Central Pennsylvania:
A.R. Wentz Library
United Lutheran Seminary
61 Seminary Ridge
Gettysburg, PA 17325-1795
Phone: 717-339-1313

• Also housed in the Gettysburg Seminary's archives are the records of the first large confederation of American Lutheran synods, namely the General Synod. This archives also has significant personal papers collected by the Lutheran Historical Society. The A. R. Wentz Library records are not available to the general public, but the FamilySearch Library has filmed many of their church records.

---

Mennonite

Mennonite Heritage Center Historical Library and Archives
565 Yoder Road
Harleysville, PA
19438-1020
Phone: 215-256-3020
E-mail: info@mhep.org

• Website
• Genealogy Resources
• Cemetery Database
• Online Collections Database

---

Moravian

The Northern Province Moravian Archives
41 West Locust Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018
Phone: 610.866.3255
E-mail: info@moravianchurcharchives.org

• Website
• Bethlehem Digital History Project
• Digital Resources
• Search Our Church Registers Index
• Inventory of Church Registers
• Online Finding Aid
• Schedule a Visit
  

Presbyterian

Presbyterian Historical Society
425 Lombard Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Phone: (215) 627-1852
Fax: (215) 627-0509

• Online Index for their collection. This includes a Congregation Vertical Files Index, a Biographical Vertical Files Index and Hall's Index of American Presbyterian Congregations.
• Hall's Index of American Presbyterian Congregations
• CALVIN: Online Catalog Search Engine
• Church Record Surveys
• Genealogy Research Service

---

Reformed

Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society
Lancaster Theological Seminary
555 W. James Street
Lancaster, PA 17602
Phone: (717) 290-8734
E-mail:info@erhistoricalsociety.org

• Website

The Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society holds a variety of church records for church congregations that originated in the former Reformed (German) Church in the United States, Evangelical (German) Synod of North America, the Evangelical and Reformed Church, and the present United Church of Christ. Many of these record collections contain original documents, whereas others include photocopies, digitized scans, or transcriptions of the original documents.

• Click on your state in the clickable map to see records available for each state. Covers 800 individual churches.
  

---

Roman Catholic

Archdiocese of Philadelphia Historical Reseach Center
100 E. Wynnewood
Wynnewood, PA 19096
Telephone: (610) 667-3394

• Sacramental (baptismal and marriage) records up until 1919 have been digitized and are available through Findmypast.com.
  • Philadelphia Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms, index & images ($).
  • Philadelphia Roman Catholic Parish Marriages, index & images ($).
  • Philadelphia Roman Catholic Parish Registers Browse, images ($).
• Records from 1920-1945 can be obtained through the CHRC. Use the Research Request Form.
• For records after 1945, contact the local parish.
  
• Also, please note that CHRC does not hold death or burial records, with two exceptions: Holy Trinity: Death Registers: 1790-1836, 1848-1872 and Old St. Mary’s: Burial Registers: 1823-1878; Funeral Registers: 1856-1874; Death Registers: 1837-1856 (Lists cause of death)

The diocese (erected 1808) consists of the counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia.

---

Diocese of Allentown
4029 W. Tilghman St.
P.O. Box F
Allentown, PA 18105-1538
Phone: (610) 437-0755
Fax: (610) 433-7822

• Contact the local parish for information and records.

The diocese consists of the counties of Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Schuylkill.

---

Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
2713 West Chestnut Avenue
Altoona, PA 16601-1720
Phone: (814) 695-5579
Fax: (814) 949-8234
E-mail: tdegol@dioceseaj.org

• Contact the local parish for information and records.
  

The diocese consists of the counties of Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset.

---

Diocese of Erie
St. Mark Catholic Center
429 East Grandview Blvd.
Erie, PA 16504

• Contact the local parish for information and records.
  

The diocese coonsists of the of counties of Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Mercer, McKean, Potter, Venango and Warren.

---

Diocese of Greensburg
723 East Pittsburgh St.
Greensburg, PA 15601
Phone: (724) 837-0901

• Location of records from former parishes
• Contact the local parish for information and records.
  

The diocese consists of the counties of Armstrong, Fayette, Indiana and Westmoreland.

---

Diocese of Harrisburg
4800 Union Deposit Road
Harrisburg, PA 17111
Phone: (717) 657-4804

• Genealogy Research for Families.
• Location of records from former parishes

The diocese of Harrisburg consists of the counties of Adams, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, Union and York.

---

Diocese of Pittsburgh
111 Blvd. of the Allies
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: (412) 456-3000

• Contact the local parish for information and records.
  

The diocese (erected 1843) consists of the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence and Washington.

The Diocese of Pittsburgh originally included Catholic churches throughout Western Pennsylvania, including: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Butler, Cambria, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.

For a centennial history, see:

• "100 Years of the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese 1843–1943," Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 17, No. 1 (Summer 1990):9-33. FS Library Book 974.8 B2wg. Chronology, map, county-by-county information.

---

Diocese of Scranton
300 Wyoming Avenue
Scranton, PA 18593
Phone: (570) 207-2238

• Contact the local parish for information and records.
• The Northeast Pennsylvania Genealogical Society, Inc. has digitized the Digital Catalog of Sacramental Registers of the Diocese of Scranton. The collection encompasses over 300 churches in eleven counties. Registers 70 years and older are available for research at the Society headquarters:
  

Northeast Pennsylvania Genealogical Society
57 North Franklin St.
Wilkes Barre PA 18701
Phone:(570) 829-1765
E-mail: nepgsmail@gmail.com

The diocese consists of the counties of Bradford, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne, Wyoming.

---

For a listing of many vital records, see Albert H. Ledoux. Catholic Vital Records of Central Pennsylvania, 4 vols. (Altoona, PA: A. H. Ledoux, 1993-1996; see FS Library Collection. Also check WorldCat for a copy of the book nearest you.

---

Society of Friends (Quakers)

For Hicksite records:
Swarthmore College Friends Historical Library
500 College Avenue
Swarthmore, PA 19081
Telephone: 610-328-8496

• Website

Covers New York, Baltimore, PhiladelphiaEmail: friends@swarthmore.edu

• The William Wade Hinshaw Index to Quaker Meeting Records in the Friends Library in Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania FS Library Collection.

---

For Orthodox records:
Quaker Collection
Haverford College Library
Haverford, PA 19041
Telephone: 610-896-1175
Fax: 610-896-1102

• Website

---

Correspond with genealogical or historical societies.

Some church records have been given to historical societies. Also, historical societies may be able to tell you where the records are being held. To find a society near you, consult these lists:

Next, go to the Wiki article for your ancestors' denomination.

There are frequently additional, nationwide or regional archives and online collections for each denomination. Find the article for your ancestors' denomination and follow the instructions there to access these sources.

Major U.S. Religious Denominations
Adventist Amish Anabaptist Anglican Apostolic Christian Armenian Catholic Armenian Evangelical Armenian Orthodox Assemblies of God Baháʼí Baptist Buddhist Catholic Apostolic Church of the Brethren Community of Christ Confucianism Congregational	Coptic Orthodox Disciples of Christ Dutch Reformed Episcopal German Reformed Greek Orthodox Hinduism Huguenot Hutterites Jehovah's Witnesses Jewish The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) Lutheran Maronite Catholic Church Melkite Greek Catholic Methodist	Mennonite Moravian Muslim Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Pentecostal Presbyterian Roman Catholic Russian Orthodox Schwenkfelders Serbian Orthodox Sihkism Society of Friends (Quakers) Syriac Orthodox Church Ukrainian Orthodox United Church of Christ United Brethren in Christ Unitarian/Universalist

Carefully compare any record you find to known facts about the ancestor

You will possibly find many different people with the same name as your ancestor, especially when a family stayed in a locality for several generations, and several children were named after the grandparents or aunts and uncles. Be prepared to find the correct church records by organizing in advance as many of these exact details about the ancestor as possible:

• name, including middle name and maiden name
• names of all spouses, including middle and maiden name
• exact or closely estimated dates of birth, marriage, and death
• names and approximate birthdates of children
• all known places of residence
• occupations
• military service details

Carefully evaluate the church records you find to make sure you have really found records for your ancestor and not just a "near match". If one or more of the details do not line up, be careful about accepting the entry as your ancestor. There are guiding principles for deciding how to resolve discrepancies between records that are seemingly close. For more instruction in evaluating evidence, read the Wiki article, Evaluate the Evidence.