Somerset County Genealogy and Heritage Records
Somerset County genealogy records reach back to the county's founding in the 1790s, with probate records beginning in 1795 and birth and death records available from 1885 at the local level. Researchers searching for Somerset County ancestors can access records at the Register of Wills office in Somerset, the Somerset Historical Center, and through the Somerset County PAGenWeb project. The county seat is Somerset, and the courthouse holds the core genealogical documents for families who lived in this southwestern Pennsylvania county.
Somerset County Quick Facts
Somerset County Genealogical Records
Somerset County is named after Somerset in the United Kingdom, and its county seat shares the same name. The county was formed in the late 18th century and has accumulated a substantial collection of genealogical records over more than two centuries. Somerset County sits in southwestern Pennsylvania and borders Maryland and West Virginia, making it a gateway county through which many early settlers passed on their way west. Families with German, English, and Scots-Irish roots are well represented in Somerset County records.
The Register of Wills office at co.somerset.pa.us holds birth and death records from 1885 and probate records from 1795. This long span of probate records is one of the most complete in the region and provides a rich source for tracing Somerset County family lines. The courthouse is located at 111 East Union Street, Somerset, PA 15501. Phone: 814-445-1548. Staff can assist with searches for wills, estate files, and marriage records.
Note: Because Somerset County borders Maryland and West Virginia, some families who appear in Somerset records may also have records in those neighboring states, especially if they moved across the border over generations.
Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans Court
The Somerset County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans Court maintains probate records going back to 1795. This office is responsible for probating wills, granting letters of administration, and managing estate proceedings. For Somerset County genealogists, these records are essential because they document the transfer of property from one generation to the next and often name all surviving children, spouses, and other heirs of the deceased.
Under 65 P.S. §§ 67.101, these historical records are public and can be accessed by any researcher. Birth and death records from 1885 are also held at this office, predating the statewide requirement that began in 1893. This gives Somerset County researchers access to an earlier set of vital records than is available in many other Pennsylvania counties. For births and deaths after 1906, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health under 35 P.S. §450.801.
The Somerset County government website provides access to office contact details and record information for genealogical research in the county.
Somerset Historical Center Research Library
The Somerset Historical Center operates a research library that is one of the most important genealogical resources in the county. The library collects books, records, family files, and archival materials related to Somerset County history. Standard photocopies cost $0.25, microfilm copies are $0.50, and a photo license fee of $5.00 applies to image reproduction.
The Historical Center holds birth records on microfilm covering 1893 to 1908, cemetery records, census records, and church histories and records. Death records on microfilm are available for 1852 to 1853 and 1893 to 1908. Marriage records on microfilm span 1792 to 1802 and 1885 to 1968. Tax records include the 1798 Direct Tax and assessments from 1796 to 1879. These collections make the Somerset Historical Center a strong complement to the official courthouse records.
Church records are especially well represented, covering Amish Mennonite, Baptist, Brethren, Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, and Presbyterian congregations. Civil War records, including regimental rosters and biographical information, are also part of the collection. The Somerset County PAGenWeb project provides online access to many of these record types, including cemetery transcriptions, family histories, and tax records such as the Brothersvalley Township Tax Records from 1773, 1774, 1776, and 1779.
Vital Records in Somerset County
Somerset County has birth and death records available from 1885 at the Register of Wills office, which is earlier than the standard 1893 start date for most Pennsylvania counties. Marriage records are available from 1885 as well. The Historical Center holds microfilmed birth and death records going back to 1852 for some periods, providing an even earlier window into Somerset County vital events.
For events after 1906, the Pennsylvania Department of Health is the primary source. Under Act 127 of 2016, older vital records have become more accessible to genealogical researchers. Church records held by the Historical Center can fill gaps for events that predate official registration. Marriage records from 1792 to 1802 on microfilm at the Historical Center are among the oldest marriage records available for Somerset County and are particularly valuable for tracing early settler families.
Note: The Somerset Historical Center's church record collection is especially thorough and may provide birth, baptism, marriage, and burial data that complements the official county vital records.
Land and Probate Records in Somerset County
Probate records beginning in 1795 make Somerset County one of the stronger repositories for early Pennsylvania genealogy in the southwestern part of the state. The Register of Wills maintains wills, estate inventories, administrator bonds, and distribution records that document family relationships across generations. The Somerset County PAGenWeb project has transcribed many deeds, land records, probate records, and wills, making them searchable online for researchers who cannot visit in person.
Land records are a key source for tracing Somerset County families. Deeds document property transfers and often name spouses and other family members as parties to the transaction. The Historical Center holds tax records from 1796 to 1879, which can be used to track when a family arrived in or departed from a particular township. The 1798 Direct Tax is a particularly useful record because it lists property owners throughout the county at a fixed point in time. Under 37 Pa.C.S. § 305.3, these historical records are preserved for ongoing public access.
The Pennsylvania State Archives holds land warrant records and other pre-county documents that can help trace Somerset County families back to their original land grants. FamilySearch.org has digitized many Pennsylvania probate records, including some from Somerset County, that can be searched online at no cost.
Online Research for Somerset County Ancestors
Online resources have made Somerset County genealogy more accessible than ever. The Somerset County PAGenWeb project at somerset.pagenweb.org provides free access to cemetery records, census data, church records, court records, family histories, military records, newspaper resources, obituaries, and school records. The site includes special collections such as the Kenner's Mills Congregation Records from Southampton Township and records from Laurel Emanuel Lutheran Church.
The State Library of Pennsylvania offers online guides and database access for genealogical research across all Pennsylvania counties, including Somerset. FamilySearch.org has microfilmed and digitized many county records. The Pennsylvania Orphans Court system maintains records for adoptions, guardianships, and other family legal matters that may be relevant to Somerset County research.
Cities in Somerset County
Somerset County includes the borough of Somerset as its county seat, along with several other boroughs and townships throughout the county. All genealogical records for the county are housed at the courthouse and at the Somerset Historical Center.
Nearby Counties
Somerset County borders several Pennsylvania counties as well as Maryland and West Virginia. Families who moved across these borders may have records in multiple repositories.