Genealogy Research: York County Pennsylvania

There are several good sources for genealogycounty officers.
research in York County Pennsylvania, if you don'tYork County Heritage Trust / York County
mind doing the legwork of hands-on research. TheHistorical Society, 250 East Market St., York, PA
bulk of the information is located around the City17401; 717-848-1587. Hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00
of York itself. This article will discuss the physicalPM, Tuesday-Saturday. These two organizations
locations for research, not on-line resources. As inhave combined. They have over 7500 Surname
most Pennsylvania counties there is not anFiles, containing clippings of weddings, obituaries
overwhelming amount of material in any oneand engagements, short genealogies, family group
place, nor at the county or local libraries. To findand pedigree sheets and copies of documents and
more material, once the following resources havephotos. Each Surname File has five index cards
been exhausted, research can be done at thewhich include abstracts from church records,
Pennsylvania State Library and Pennsylvaniacemetery records, Will books, pre-1800 tax
Archives, located in Harrisburg, not far from York.records, and some other sources. The have a
Here are the York County resources and whatlarge library of published family books, published
they contain. The listed Market Street and Georgeindexes, local and church histories and back issues
Street resources are not far apart, and withinof genealogy publications.
walking distance of each other. The first fourYork County Archives, 105 Pleasant Acres Road,
sources are the most valuable to genealogistsYork, PA 17402; 717-840-7224. Hours are 8:00
who are researching York records.AM to 4:30 PM, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and
York County Register of Wills and Clerk of theFriday.
Orphans' Court, York County Judicial Center, 45They have some duplicate information available
North George Street, York, PA 17401;also at the above locations. They have Estate
717-771-9607. Hours are 8:00AM to 4:30 PM,Files, Marriage Records, Naturalization Records,
Monday-Friday.Tax Records, Birth Records, Bond Books, Clerk of
They have Probate and Marriage records fromCourt Dockets, Death Records and many more
1749.records.
York County Prothonotary / Clerk of Court ofYork County Library System. There are many
Common Pleas, York County Judicial Center, 45local libraries in York County but most have very
North George Street, York, PA 17401;little genealogy information. Some may have local
717-771-9611. Hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM,history information or newspapers on microfilm.
Monday-Friday.Several have uncataloged items, so call ahead to
They have Court Records from 1749, includingfound out. Two of the better libraries to check
unpaid debt complaints, malpractice actions,out are:
mortgage foreclosures, personal injury cases,• Martin Library, 159 East Market Street,
equity actions, district justice civil judgmentYork, PA 17401; 717-846-5300. Hours vary, call
appeals, license suspension appeals, administrativeahead.
agency appeals, condemnation proceedings, family• Guthrie Memorial Library, 2 Library
court matters such as divorce, child custody andPlace, Hanover, PA 17331; 717-632-5183. Hours
protection from abuse cases and Liens againstvary, call ahead. They have a Pennsylvanian
real estate and personal property.Reading Room, for genealogy, with Hanover and
York County Recorder of Deeds, AdministrativeYork newspapers 1815-present, on microfilm, as
Center, 28 East Market St., York, PA 17401-1590;well as area tax lists 1818-1849, Sanborn
717-771-9644. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM,insurance maps 1886-1949, York County Will
Monday-Friday.Index 1749-1940, and York County Census
They have Land Records from 1749 and somerecords from 1790-1930, including 1890.
other records, including Deeds, mortgages,LDS Family History Center, 2100 Hollywood Drive,
releases, easements (rights-of-way), subdivisions,York, PA; 717-846-4539.
restrictions, Notary Bonds and Commissions,Hours are M, W, Th 9AM-1PM, T, W 7PM to 9PM,
Military Service Discharges, public and electedTh 5:30PM-8PM, Sat 9AM-3PM.