Adams County Genealogy Records

Adams County genealogy records are held at the courthouse in Gettysburg and at the Adams County Historical Society. The county was formed on January 22, 1800, and its records span more than two centuries of family history in south-central Pennsylvania. Researchers can find birth and death records, marriage licenses, wills, land deeds, and court documents through the Register of Wills, Recorder of Deeds, and Prothonotary offices in Adams County.

Adams County Genealogy Records Overview

Adams County was carved from York County on January 22, 1800, and its courthouse records begin from that date. The county contains rich genealogy resources because of its long agricultural and military history. Gettysburg, the county seat, is known for its Civil War battlefield, which draws many researchers seeking records of soldiers and civilians from that era. The county's records are well-preserved and largely intact, giving genealogists access to more than 225 years of family history documents.

The primary record types available for Adams County genealogy research include marriage licenses from 1885 forward, birth and death records from 1893 to 1905, wills and probate records from 1800 to the present, and land deeds also from 1800 forward. Marriage records before 1885 may appear in church registers held at local congregations or the Adams County Historical Society. Census records covering Adams County are available from 1790 through 1940 on microfilm and through online databases. These records form the backbone of any Adams County family history search.

The Adams County government website provides contact information for all courthouse offices. Staff at the Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds can assist researchers during business hours. A public research room is available at the courthouse for in-person searches. Online record searches are accessible through in-office computer terminals.

Adams County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds

The Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds are two of the most important offices for Adams County genealogy research. The Register of Wills maintains marriage licenses from 1885 to the present, birth and death records from 1893 to 1905, and all wills and probate records from 1800 forward. Probate files often list the names of spouses, children, grandchildren, and other heirs, making them a key source for building out a family tree in Adams County.

The Recorder of Deeds holds land records dating back to 1800, when the county was formed from York County. These deed books document property transfers and can trace the movement of families into and out of Adams County over generations. Grantee and grantor indexes help you find when ancestors acquired or sold land in specific townships. Some of these records have been indexed and are available through the Ancestry.com partnership with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC).

Adams County Historical Society

The Adams County Historical Society is a key resource for genealogists researching Adams County families. Located at 368 Springs Avenue in Gettysburg, the society maintains extensive archives including family histories, cemetery records, church records, county histories, manuscript collections, and photographs. The photograph collection contains images of Adams County people, places, and events from many periods of local history. Special collections related to the Battle of Gettysburg make this society particularly valuable for Civil War era research.

The society offers research services for those who cannot visit in person. Research fees apply for non-members. Membership provides free research access and a quarterly newsletter. Contact the society at (717) 334-4723 or info@achs-pa.org to arrange a research visit or request remote research help. Research hours are by appointment or during posted hours. The society also maintains personal papers, business records, and organizational records that can reveal family connections not found in government documents.

Note: The Adams County Historical Society holds Civil War materials and pension records that can be especially useful for families with ancestors who served during the Gettysburg campaign or at other Civil War engagements.

Vital Records in Adams County

Vital records for Adams County fall under two systems depending on the date of the event. Before 1906, birth and death records were kept at the county level. Adams County has birth and death records from 1893 to 1905 at the Register of Wills office. For births and deaths from 1906 forward, the Pennsylvania Department of Health maintains statewide records. Under 35 P.S. § 450.801, birth records are restricted for 105 years and death records for 50 years, making birth records through 1913 and death records through 1968 publicly available at the State Archives.

Marriage records in Adams County go back to 1885 at the Register of Wills. Before 1885, researchers must turn to church registers, which are often the only surviving source for marriage dates. Many Adams County churches kept detailed registers of baptisms, marriages, and burials going back to the 1700s. The Adams County Historical Society holds some of these church records. FamilySearch also has indexed many Pennsylvania church records that cover Adams County congregations. The Pennsylvania Department of Health does not maintain marriage records; those remain exclusively at the county level.

Land and Probate Records in Adams County

Adams County land records began in 1800 when the county was created. The Recorder of Deeds maintains deed books, mortgage records, and related documents that track property ownership across more than two centuries. These records often include detailed property descriptions tied to specific locations in Adams County townships, which can help identify where ancestors lived. When land was transferred between family members, deeds sometimes name the relationship, adding another layer of genealogical value.

Probate records at the Adams County Register of Wills go back to 1800 as well. Wills frequently list all children of the deceased, sometimes identifying their married names and places of residence at the time the will was written. Estate inventories can reveal the economic circumstances of your ancestors and the possessions they owned. Administration records for intestate estates (where there was no will) can also identify family members and their shares of the estate. Many of these Adams County wills and probate records are available through the Pennsylvania State Archives Ancestry.com partnership covering wills and probate records from 1683 to 1993.

The Adams County Prothonotary at (717) 337-9838 also holds divorce records from 1800 and naturalization records from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Naturalization records can reveal an immigrant ancestor's country of origin and date of arrival in Adams County. Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101, most court records are presumed public and available to any researcher.

Pennsylvania Archives and Online Resources

The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds microfilm copies of many Adams County records along with state-level military, land, and vital records collections. The ARIAS database provides free online access to over 1.5 million military records including Revolutionary War and Civil War materials. Adams County residents who served in Pennsylvania units appear in these military records. The State Archives also holds Land Warrant Registers from 1733 to 1957, arranged by county, which document early land grants in Adams County territory.

The State Library of Pennsylvania genealogy collection includes census records for Pennsylvania from 1790 to 1930 on microfilm, city directories, county histories, and family histories. The Pennsylvania POWER Library gives Adams County residents access to MyHeritage Library Edition and other genealogy databases through their local public library. The Adams County Public Library also provides access to several genealogy databases for cardholders. Under 37 Pa.C.S. § 305.3, records more than 75 years old held by the State Archives are generally open to public research, meaning a large portion of Adams County's historical records are freely accessible.

Note: Adams County land warrants and early property records are indexed in the State Archives Warrant Registers and can be searched online through the PHMC Ancestry partnership at no cost to Pennsylvania residents.

Nearby Counties

Adams County borders several other south-central Pennsylvania counties. Families often moved between neighboring counties, so genealogy research may require checking records in more than one location.

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