Washington County Genealogy Records
Washington County genealogy records are held at the county courthouse in Washington, Pennsylvania, and at the Washington County Historical Society on East Maiden Street. The county was formed from Westmoreland County on March 28, 1781, making its records among the oldest in western Pennsylvania. Researchers can access birth and death records, marriage licenses, wills, land deeds, and court documents through county offices. The historical society maintains rare documents, church records, and military materials dating back to the 1700s, giving families over two centuries of Washington County family history to explore.
Washington County Quick Facts
Washington County Genealogy Records Overview
Washington County was carved from Westmoreland County on March 28, 1781, during the American Revolution. Its courthouse records begin from that founding date. The county borders West Virginia to the south and west, which means many families in Washington County had ties to what became a separate state after 1863. Researchers tracing Washington County lines may need to look at both Pennsylvania and West Virginia records depending on the generation they are studying.
The primary record types for Washington County genealogy research include marriage licenses from 1885 forward, birth and death records from 1893 to 1905, wills and probate records from 1781 to the present, and land deeds also from 1781 forward. Marriage records before 1885 are generally found in church registers held by local congregations or at the Washington County Historical Society. Census records covering Washington County run from 1790 through 1940 and are accessible on microfilm and through genealogy databases. These records form the core of any serious Washington County family history search.
The Washington County government website provides contact details for all courthouse offices. Staff at the Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds can assist researchers during regular business hours.
Washington County Historical Society Archives
The Washington County Historical Society at 49 East Maiden Street in Washington, PA 15301 is a key stop for any genealogy researcher. The phone number is 724-225-6740. The society maintains over 250 years of historical records for the region. Collections include rare church records, land deeds, military records from the 1700s, digital archives, and online resources. The Lemoyne House historic site is also part of the society's holdings.
The society's archives hold birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, property deeds, wills, and special collections. Professional research services are available for those who cannot visit in person. The CEO, Clay Kilgore, leads a staff that can assist with both in-person and remote research requests. The digital archives allow access to selected records without traveling to Washington. Church records at the historical society can often fill gaps in the official civil record series, especially for marriages and baptisms before formal county registration began.
Note: Washington County's proximity to the Virginia/West Virginia border means some families appear in multiple states' records, and the historical society can often point researchers to cross-border resources.
Washington County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds
The Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds are the two most important courthouse offices for Washington County genealogy research. The Register of Wills holds marriage licenses from 1885 to the present, birth and death records from 1893 to 1905, and all wills and probate records from 1781 forward. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Probate records in Washington County often list spouses, children, grandchildren, and other heirs by name. This makes them a rich source for building out a family tree. Estate inventories can reveal the economic lives of ancestors and the physical possessions they owned at death. Administration records for intestate estates can also identify family members and their legal shares. When searching for ancestors who may have died without a will, these administration files are often the best available documentation of a family unit.
The Recorder of Deeds holds land records going back to 1781. These deed books document property transfers across more than two centuries and can trace families as they moved within or out of Washington County. Grantee and grantor indexes help researchers pinpoint when ancestors bought or sold land in specific townships. Some of these records are available through the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's partnership with Ancestry.com.
The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds microfilm and digital copies of many Washington County records as part of the statewide preservation program.
Vital Records in Washington County
Vital records for Washington County fall under two systems based on the date of the event. Before 1906, birth and death records were kept at the county level. Washington County has birth and death records from 1893 to 1905 at the Register of Wills office. For births and deaths from 1906 forward, the Pennsylvania Department of Health maintains statewide records through its Division of Vital Records.
Under 35 P.S. §450.801, birth records are restricted for 105 years and death records for 50 years. This makes birth records through 1921 and death records through 1976 currently available to the public at the State Archives. Marriage records in Washington County go back to 1885 at the Register of Wills. Before 1885, church registers are often the only surviving source for marriage dates. Many Washington County congregations kept detailed baptismal and marriage registers going back to the late 1700s. The historical society holds some of these church records and can direct researchers to others still held by individual parishes.
Land and Probate Records in Washington County
Washington County land records began in 1781 when the county was created. The Recorder of Deeds maintains deed books, mortgage records, and related documents tracking property ownership from that first year. These records often contain detailed property descriptions tied to specific townships and boroughs across Washington County. When land passed between family members, deeds sometimes name the relationship, adding genealogical value beyond a simple transaction record.
Probate records at the Register of Wills go back to 1781. Wills frequently list all children of the deceased, sometimes giving their married names and places of residence at the time the will was written. An estate inventory can reveal what your ancestor owned and help estimate their economic standing. The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. §§ 67.101 ensures that most court records are presumed public, giving genealogists broad access to historical documents in Washington County.
Note: Washington County deed records from 1781 and many probate files are part of the Pennsylvania State Archives Ancestry.com partnership, which provides free access to Pennsylvania residents.
Pennsylvania Archives and Online Resources
The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds microfilm copies of many Washington County records along with state-level military, land, and vital records. The ARIAS database provides free online access to over 1.5 million military records including Revolutionary War and Civil War materials. Washington County residents who served in Pennsylvania units appear in these records. The State Archives also holds Land Warrant Registers from 1733 to 1957, arranged by county, which document early land grants in Washington County territory.
The State Library of Pennsylvania genealogy collection includes census records for Pennsylvania from 1790 to 1930 on microfilm, city directories, county histories, and published family histories. Under 37 Pa.C.S. § 305.3, records more than 75 years old held by the State Archives are generally open to public research, meaning a large portion of Washington County's historical records are freely accessible today. FamilySearch also provides free access to many Washington County records through its indexed collections, making it possible to begin research from home before visiting in person.
The Library of Congress Pennsylvania genealogy guide provides additional direction under Act 127 of 2016, which updated access rules for older vital records in Pennsylvania. This law affects how genealogists request and receive certain older birth and death records at the state level.
Nearby Counties
Washington County borders several other southwestern Pennsylvania counties. Families frequently moved between neighboring counties, so genealogy research often requires checking records in more than one location.