Delaware County Family History

Delaware County genealogy records date to 1789 when the county was formed from Chester County. The Delaware County Archives holds most administrative records from 1789 to 1950, covering wills, administrations, birth and death records, marriage licenses, and naturalization files spanning nearly two centuries. The county's location near Philadelphia and its long history as part of the original colonial settlement of Pennsylvania make Delaware County records especially valuable for researchers tracing early American families. The archives and a network of 26 member libraries support Delaware County genealogy research at every level.

Delaware County Archives Records

The Delaware County Archives is located at Building 19, Fair Acres Geriatric Complex. It houses most records created by Delaware County administrative offices from 1789 to 1950. The depth and breadth of this collection is remarkable. Wills are indexed from 1789 to 1945. Administrations, filed when someone died without a will, are available from 1790 to 1950 with a name index. Orphans' Court Estate Case Files covering 1789 to 1950 come with an online index, which means some records can be identified before your visit.

Birth records in the archives cover two periods: 1852 to 1854 and 1893 to 1906. The 1852-1854 records reflect an early Pennsylvania requirement that predates the modern vital records system. Death records follow the same two periods, 1852-1854 and 1893-1906, and include the name, race, sex, age, marital status, place of birth, occupation, date of death, and place of death. These details make Delaware County death records especially rich for genealogical purposes. Marriage records cover 1852-1854 and 1885-1950, including both licenses and applications. Naturalization records span an extraordinary range from 1795 to 1990, with a name index and both declarations of intention and petitions included.

Copy fees at the Delaware County Archives are $1.00 per page for in-house research. Mail requests carry a minimum fee of $10.00. Credit cards are not accepted, so bring cash or a check. The archives website at delcopa.gov provides more details on accessing the collection.

The depth and variety of the Delaware County Archives collection means that many family history questions can be answered within this single repository.

Delaware County History and Local Collections

The Delaware County History website at delawarecountyhistory.com was created by former State Representative Ron Raymond and historian Keith Lockhart. Lockhart is a lifelong Ridley Township resident who spent more than 45 years collecting Delaware County historical materials. The site is not the official Delaware County Historical Society website, but it is a substantial complementary resource that holds rare materials. The official Delaware County Historical Society is located at 408 Avenue of the States, Chester, PA.

The Municipalities section of the Lockhart site includes 18th and 19th century tax records, early censuses, cemetery lists, town directories, and maps. The Genealogical Resources section contains numerous books on Delaware County history from the 19th and early 20th century that have been digitized or transcribed. The tax and census records transcription work took more than two years of volunteer effort. Records are added regularly to the site. The depth of this collection makes it a useful supplement to the official county archives, especially for pre-1850 family research.

Note: Many of the rare Delaware County history books on the Lockhart site are not available in any other digital format, so this resource is especially valuable for pre-Civil War family research in the county.

Delaware County Library Genealogy Resources

Delaware County Libraries (DCL) is a federated system of 26 independent member libraries. It operates as an agency of county government with a council-appointed board of directors. The system provides access to 2.1 million print and online materials. Genealogy databases and historical records are accessible at member libraries throughout the county. Electronic resources through POWER Library and interlibrary loan services extend the reach of any single branch.

The library system website at delcolibraries.org describes the member libraries and their services. For genealogy research, libraries in the system typically provide access to Ancestry Library Edition and other databases that are not freely available at home. Researchers who need to access census records, newspaper archives, or statewide databases for Delaware County family history should check which libraries in the system offer genealogy-specific services and whether appointments are needed.

Delaware County Vital Records Access

Vital records in Delaware County are especially well-represented at the county level. Both the 1852-1854 period records and the 1893-1906 records are at the Delaware County Archives. For records from 1906 onward, the Pennsylvania Department of Health handles requests under 35 P.S. §450.801. Birth and death certificates can be ordered online through VitalChek or by mail to the Division of Vital Records at $20 per certificate.

Under Act 127 of 2016, discussed at the Library of Congress vital records guide, records more than 105 years old are open to any researcher. This covers a large portion of the Delaware County Archives' collection of birth, death, and marriage records. Naturalization records in the archives spanning 1795 to 1990 are also accessible under 65 P.S. §§ 67.101, which makes most county records public documents open to general access.

Delaware County Wills and Estate Records

Wills indexed from 1789 to 1945 in the Delaware County Archives form one of the most complete probate collections in southeastern Pennsylvania. These files document property transfers, family relationships, and estate distributions across more than 150 years of Delaware County history. Orphans' Court estate case files from 1789 to 1950 are complementary to the will indexes and cover contested estates and guardianship matters.

Administrations filed when someone died without a will are available from 1790 to 1950 with a full name index. These records name the administrator of the estate and typically identify the heirs. For researchers who cannot visit in person, the online index for Orphans' Court estate case files allows some remote identification of records before requesting copies. The Orphans' Court clerk's directory provides contact information for the Delaware County court office. Under 37 Pa.C.S. § 305.3, the State Archives preserves historical public records, and some Delaware County probate materials are also held at the state level as part of broader preservation efforts.

Cities in Delaware County

Delaware County includes the township of Upper Darby among its many municipalities. The county seat is Media, where the courthouse and most official genealogy records are maintained.

Upper Darby is one of the most populous municipalities in Delaware County. Records for Upper Darby residents are maintained at the Delaware County Archives and the county courthouse in Media.

Nearby Counties

Delaware County borders Chester County to the west, Montgomery County to the north, and Philadelphia County to the east. Many Delaware County families have records in neighboring counties, so cross-county research is common in this densely settled region.

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