Armstrong County Genealogy Records

Armstrong County genealogy records span more than 225 years of family history in western Pennsylvania. The county was formed on March 12, 1800, from parts of Allegheny, Westmoreland, and Lycoming Counties. Kittanning serves as the county seat, and local offices there maintain marriage licenses, wills, land deeds, and court documents. The Armstrong County Historical Society provides additional genealogical materials including family histories, church records, cemetery transcriptions, and newspaper archives.

Armstrong County Genealogy Records Overview

Armstrong County came into existence on March 12, 1800, created from portions of Allegheny, Westmoreland, and Lycoming Counties. The county's records date from that year, giving researchers access to more than two centuries of Armstrong County family history. The county sits in the Allegheny River valley region of western Pennsylvania, an area settled largely by Scots-Irish, English, and German families in the late 1700s and early 1800s.

Key genealogy records for Armstrong County 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. Church records and cemetery transcriptions at the Armstrong County Historical and Genealogical Society fill gaps in the early period before civil registration. Census records from 1790 through 1940 are available through the State Archives and online platforms. The Armstrong County government website provides current contact information for courthouse offices.

Armstrong County Records Offices

The Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds maintain the core genealogy records at the Armstrong County Courthouse in Kittanning. The Register of Wills holds marriage licenses from 1885 to the present. Birth and death records from 1893 to 1905 are also available here. Wills and probate records dating to county formation in 1800 are maintained by this office. Estate files frequently identify children, spouses, and grandchildren of the deceased, making probate records a rich source for Armstrong County family research.

The Recorder of Deeds holds land records from 1800 forward. These deed books track property transfers across Armstrong County's many townships over more than two centuries. Grantee and grantor indexes allow researchers to locate when ancestors purchased or sold land in the county. Some of these records may be available through the PHMC Ancestry partnership, which has digitized Pennsylvania wills and probate records from 1683 to 1993 and land warrants from 1733 to 1987. Online records search terminals are available at the courthouse for in-person research.

Armstrong County Historical and Genealogical Society

The Armstrong County Historical and Genealogical Society maintains archives and research materials for genealogists working on Armstrong County family history. Located at 300 North McCullough Street, Kittanning, PA 16201, the society holds family histories, cemetery records, church records, and county histories. Newspapers on microfilm allow researchers to search for obituaries, marriage announcements, and other family news from Armstrong County's past. A photograph collection documents the county's history from the late 19th century forward.

Research hours vary, so it is best to call ahead or check for current schedules. Research fees apply for non-members. The society at (724) 548-7747 can also assist researchers who are unable to visit in person. Church records held at the society can be particularly valuable for Armstrong County genealogy because civil vital registration was incomplete before 1906. German Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist congregations in the county kept detailed registers of baptisms, marriages, and burials going back to the early settlement period.

Note: Armstrong County church records and cemetery transcriptions at the historical society may be the only surviving documentation for many families who lived in the county before the 1880s.

Vital Records in Armstrong County

Armstrong County vital records fall under different systems depending on the time period. Birth and death records were kept at the county level during two periods: 1852 to 1854 and 1893 to 1906. The records from 1893 to 1905 are held at the Armstrong County Register of Wills. These early records are not always complete. For births and deaths after January 1906, the Pennsylvania Department of Health holds statewide records. Under 35 P.S. § 450.801, birth records are restricted for 105 years and death records for 50 years, meaning records through 1913 and 1968 respectively are now publicly available at the State Archives.

Marriage records in Armstrong County begin in 1885 at the Register of Wills. For marriages before 1885, researchers should check church registers and family bibles. The Armstrong County Historical Society has collected some early marriage records through its research activities. The Clerk of the Orphans Court at the Armstrong County Courthouse also holds adoption records, though these are sealed. Under Act 127 of 2016, eligible adoptees may apply for original birth certificate access through the Department of Health.

Land and Probate Records

Armstrong County land records at the Recorder of Deeds go back to 1800. These records document the original acquisition of land from the Commonwealth and subsequent transfers between private parties. The Pennsylvania State Archives holds Land Warrant Registers for Armstrong County going back to 1733, which cover territory that would later become the county. These warrant registers serve as an alphabetical index by surname to the warrant, survey, and patent process. They are available as digitized images through the State Archives land records guide.

Probate records at the Armstrong County Register of Wills span from 1800 to the present. Wills name heirs and often describe family relationships in detail. Estate inventories document the possessions of deceased Armstrong County residents. Administration records for those who died without a will can also identify surviving family members. Many of these Armstrong County probate records are available through the Ancestry.com Pennsylvania digitized collections covering wills and probate from 1683 to 1993. Under 65 P.S. § 67.101, Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law presumes all government records are public, supporting researcher access to Armstrong County court and property records.

Pennsylvania Archives and Online Resources

The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds state-level records relevant to Armstrong County genealogy. Military records in the ARIAS database cover Revolutionary War and Civil War soldiers from Armstrong County. The Civil War Veterans Card File documents Armstrong County men who served in Pennsylvania regiments. The Archives also holds county records on microfilm and unfilmed transcripts from historical societies. Under 37 Pa.C.S. § 305.3, records more than 75 years old at the State Archives are generally open to public access.

The State Library of Pennsylvania maintains a genealogy collection with census records from 1790 to 1930 on microfilm, along with county histories, church records, and family histories. On-site access to Ancestry.com, HeritageQuest, and Fold3 is available at the State Library. Pennsylvania residents can also access the POWER Library's MyHeritage Library Edition through their local public library, which serves Armstrong County residents through the Kittanning area library.

Nearby Counties

Armstrong County borders several western Pennsylvania counties. Many families moved between these areas, so checking records in neighboring counties may expand your Armstrong County research.

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