Northumberland County Family History Records
Northumberland County genealogy records are among the oldest in the state. The county was formed in 1772 from parts of Lancaster, Cumberland, Berks, Bedford, and Northampton Counties, and its records reach back to that founding year. The courthouse in Sunbury holds land records, probate files, marriage licenses, birth and death records, and court documents that span more than two and a half centuries of family history in central Pennsylvania.
Northumberland County Quick Facts
Northumberland County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds
The Northumberland County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds maintains combined records at the courthouse in Sunbury. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. This office holds marriage licenses from 1885 to the present, birth and death records from 1893 to 1905, wills and probate records from 1772, and land records from 1772. The depth of records here is remarkable given the county's 1772 founding date.
Northumberland County was a very large county when first formed in 1772. Many of today's central Pennsylvania counties were carved out of it over the decades that followed, including Lycoming, Montour, and others. This means early records for families in those counties may be found in Northumberland County court records and deed books before those counties were formed. Researchers working on families in Union, Snyder, Lycoming, or Montour counties should always check Northumberland County's early records.
The Pennsylvania State Archives holds statewide collections that include Northumberland County materials, particularly Revolutionary War records and colonial-era land warrant applications relevant to this early-formed county.
Northumberland County Birth, Death, and Marriage Records
County-level vital records in Northumberland County cover 1893 to 1905 for births and deaths. Marriage licenses from 1885 are held at the Register of Wills. For vital records before 1885, church registers and court minutes are the primary sources. Northumberland County had active German Lutheran, German Reformed, and other congregations whose registers date to the late 1700s.
For birth and death records after 1906, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of Vital Records. Under 35 P.S. §450.801, the state issues certified copies to qualified applicants. The state system covers births and deaths from 1906 forward. Older records require a visit to the Northumberland County courthouse in Sunbury or a review of church records held at local archives or FamilySearch.org.
Northumberland County Probate and Estate Records
Probate records in Northumberland County date from 1772. Will books, estate inventories, administration bonds, and guardianship records document family relationships across more than two centuries. Estate inventories are particularly useful because they list household goods, farm equipment, tools, and livestock, giving a picture of how an ancestor lived. Administration bonds name next of kin who guaranteed the estate would be properly settled.
The Pennsylvania Orphans' Court in Northumberland County handles all probate matters. Guardianship records document minor children and can identify parents, grandparents, and other relatives. Adoption records are restricted. For families who settled in the Northumberland County area before 1800, estate records are often the best primary source available, as vital registration had not yet begun and census records only go back to 1790.
Note: Northumberland County probate records from 1772 to the early 1800s are some of the oldest surviving county-level genealogy records in Pennsylvania and are well worth examining even for families you can trace through other sources.
Local History and the Joseph Priestley House
Northumberland County has a rich history tied to early American science and settlement. The Joseph Priestley House in Northumberland was the home of the English chemist who discovered oxygen and emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1794. The site has connections to early settlers and maintains some materials on families in the region. As a Pennsylvania State Historic Site, it also links researchers to the broader network of Pennsylvania historical resources.
The State Library of Pennsylvania maintains research guides covering Northumberland County genealogy including tips on accessing the county's long record collection. FamilySearch.org holds digitized church registers for congregations active in the Sunbury and surrounding area. The Library of Congress Pennsylvania genealogy guide provides additional context for researching families in this early-settled region.
Accessing Northumberland County Records
Most Northumberland County records are public. Under 65 P.S. §§ 67.101, Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law provides access to government records including those held by county offices. Land records, probate files, court documents, and marriage licenses can all be requested during business hours. Staff at the courthouse in Sunbury can guide you to the right office and record type for your research.
Online access to some Northumberland County records is available through the county portal at northumberlandco.org. FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com both hold collections relevant to Northumberland County. The 37 Pa.C.S. § 305.3 framework at Justia ensures that older Northumberland County records are preserved for future researchers.
Nearby Counties
Northumberland County sits at the center of Pennsylvania and borders seven other counties. Many neighboring counties were formed from Northumberland, so early family records often appear in Northumberland County archives.