Lebanon County Genealogy Archives
Lebanon County genealogy research taps into records from a Pennsylvania German heartland county with a rich history going back to 1813. The county was formed from parts of Dauphin and Lancaster Counties on February 16, 1813, and its official records begin with that founding year. Researchers tracing Lebanon County family lines will find wills, deeds, marriage licenses, and vital records at the county courthouse in Lebanon. The Lebanon County Register of Wills and the Recorder of Deeds are the primary offices for genealogical research. The Lebanon County Historical Society's Hauck Research Archives provides additional depth for local family history investigations.
Lebanon County Quick Facts
Lebanon County Genealogy Records
Lebanon County records available at the courthouse include wills from 1813 to the present, estate records, birth records from 1893 to 1905, death records from 1893 to 1905, and marriage licenses from October 1885 to the present. The Register of Wills office is located at Room 102, Municipal Building, 400 S. 8th St., Lebanon, PA 17042. The phone number is (717) 228-4415. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Recorder of Deeds office holds land records from the county's founding in 1813. This office is in Room 107 of the same Municipal Building. The Recorder of Deeds can be reached at (717) 228-4447. Recording hours run Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Online deed searching is available through the Landex system at www.landex.com/remote. Before Lebanon County was formed, records for this region are found in Dauphin and Lancaster Counties, both of which have deep record sets going back into the 18th century.
The Lebanon County Historical Society Hauck Research Archives at 924 Cumberland Street provides research access to collections that extend well beyond what the courthouse holds. Under 65 P.S. §§ 67.101, most county records are public and accessible upon request.
Register of Wills and Orphans Court
The Register of Wills is the central office for probate research in Lebanon County. Wills filed in Lebanon County from 1813 forward are on record here. Estate files accompany the wills and often contain inventories of personal property, lists of debts, and the names of heirs. These documents can reveal family relationships not found in any other record type. Guardianship records are also maintained by this office for cases involving minors.
Marriage licenses begin in October 1885 and run to the present day. Early birth and death records for the county from 1893 to 1905 are also held here. Adoption records are generally sealed at the Orphans' Court level and require a court order for access. Under 35 P.S. §450.801, genealogical researchers have somewhat relaxed access requirements for vital records. Requests must state the genealogical purpose and include proof that the subject is deceased. The state Division of Vital Records handles certified copies of birth and death records from 1906 to the present for a fee of $20 each.
| Register of Wills |
Room 102, Municipal Building 400 S. 8th St., Lebanon, PA 17042 Phone: (717) 228-4415 |
|---|---|
| Recorder of Deeds |
Room 107, Municipal Building 400 S. 8th St., Lebanon, PA 17042 Phone: (717) 228-4447 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
Lebanon County Historical Society
The Lebanon County Historical Society maintains the Hauck Memorial Library at 924 Cumberland Street, Lebanon, PA 17042. Phone: 717-272-1473. Email: office@lchsociety.org. Research fees apply for non-members: $25 per hour with a two-hour minimum. Members pay $20 per hour. These fees include postage for mail requests. The Hauck Memorial Library houses an extensive Pennsylvania German research collection and is one of the primary genealogy resources for this region.
Society holdings include an original deeds collection, a county deed records index on microfilm from 1813 to 1932, church records for Lutheran and Reformed congregations, cemetery records for Bethel and Swatara Townships, family genealogy files, local history books and manuscripts, maps and atlases, and photograph collections. Special collections include the papers of Revolutionary War general John Philip de Haas, marriage records extracted from the German-language newspaper Der Libanon Demokrat covering 1832 to 1864, and the King George Hotel records from 1762 to 1773. The collection on Tulpehocken Valley history is particularly rich for tracing early Pennsylvania German settlers.
Church records from Lebanon County's many historic Lutheran and Reformed congregations are among the best sources for pre-1813 family research in this area. Many church registers predate the county's formation by decades. The State Library of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania State Archives both hold microfilm copies of many Lebanon County church records as well.
Note: The Hauck Research Archives holds a Newspapers.com access subscription, giving researchers on-site access to digitized historical newspapers from Lebanon County and beyond.
Vital Records in Lebanon County
Lebanon County follows the statewide pattern for vital records. Birth and death records from 1893 to 1905 are at the county courthouse. For all births and deaths from January 1, 1906 forward, the Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of Vital Records is the source. Certified copies cost $20 per record. A multi-year search costs $25 and is available for genealogical requests when the exact year is unknown. The state office in New Castle handles requests by mail, online through VitalChek, and in person at their regional offices including Scranton.
Marriage licenses in Lebanon County begin in October 1885. For earlier marriage records, German-language newspapers and church registers are often the best alternative. The Lebanon County Historical Society holds marriage records extracted from Der Libanon Demokrat from 1832 to 1864, which fills part of the gap between early church records and the 1885 start date for civil marriage licenses. The Lebanon County PAGenWeb project at www.lebanon.pagenweb.org provides links and resources for courthouse records, wills, deeds, orphans' court abstracts, and tax lists.
Land and Deed Records
Deed records in Lebanon County begin in 1813 and run to the present. The Recorder of Deeds office maintains these records and offers online searching through the Landex system. The deed index on microfilm from 1813 to 1932 is also available at the Lebanon County Historical Society. Deed research is a powerful tool for genealogists. It can trace property through multiple generations, place an ancestor in a specific township, and reveal family relationships through land transfer documents where one family member sells to another.
For land in Lebanon County before 1813, researchers must look in Dauphin and Lancaster Counties. Lancaster County records go back to 1729 and contain the earliest land patents for much of south-central Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania State Archives holds land warrant registers from 1733 to 1957 organized by county. These registers document the original colonial land grants and are essential for research in areas settled before Pennsylvania's county system was fully established. Under 37 Pa.C.S. § 305.3, these older records remain accessible to the public.
Searching Lebanon County Records Online
Online tools for Lebanon County genealogy include the Landex deed search system and the Pennsylvania State Archives website. FamilySearch.org holds marriage license dockets and birth records for Lebanon County. The state's digitization partnership with Ancestry.com has brought many county records online. The Library of Congress guide to Pennsylvania local history and vital records is a useful reference for understanding what record types exist and where to find them. The PAGenWeb project for Lebanon County at www.lebanon.pagenweb.org hosts church records, cemetery transcriptions, courthouse record abstracts, and Bible records contributed by researchers over many years.
Communities in Lebanon County
Lebanon is the county seat and largest city in Lebanon County. Other communities include Palmyra, Annville, Myerstown, and Cleona. Township and borough records from these communities, along with local church archives, can fill gaps in courthouse record sets for Lebanon County genealogy research.
Nearby Counties
Lebanon County is surrounded by Dauphin, Lancaster, Berks, and Schuylkill Counties. Families that lived near county boundaries often appear in the records of more than one county. Checking records in these adjacent counties is especially important for researchers tracing lines that predate the 1813 formation of Lebanon County.