Birth & Death Records:
Between 1852-1855 Pennsylvania counties were directed to record births and deaths within their jurisdiction. However few counties complied.
Luzerne County births, marriages, and deaths for 1852-1854 on file at the State Archives of Pennsylvania are found on FamilySearch.org.
They are restricted records, but CAN be viewed at NEPGS as we are an affiliate library of FamilySearch.org. This collection includes records for present day Lackawanna County. Lackawanna County was a northern part of Luzerne County until its formation on August 13, 1878.
In 1893, counties were again required to record births and deaths within their jurisdiction. This law had a better response and remained in effect until 1906 when the state of Pennsylvania began to record births and deaths on a statewide level. Keep in mind for birth and death records from 1893 to prior to the State taking over registration in 1906, not everyone complied and recorded these life events, especially immigrants. You might not find your ancestors’ records.
Birth Records, 1893-1905, Luzerne County on FamilySearch.org – Click Here
Birth Registration Returns, 1895-1904, Luzerne County on FamilySearch.org – Click Here
Birth and Death Records, 1893-1906, Lackawanna County, on Lackawanna County, PA Public Access System – Click Here
Register of Deaths, 1893-1905, Luzerne County – Click Here
For those born prior to 1906 and in need of a birth certificate, delayed birth registrations were authorized by legislation in 1941 to provide proof of birth for individuals born prior to 1906.
The Delayed Birth Registrations for Luzerne County can be found in the Orphans Court records at the Luzerne County Courthouse, Register of Wills/Clerk of the Orphans Court. These records, unfortunately, are not online. They can be viewed at the Luzerne County Courthouse Annex, 153 North River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711. Phone: 570-825-1668
Delayed Birth Registrations for Lackawanna County are found on FamilySearch.org.
They can also be viewed on Lackawanna County Public Access System – Click Here
Original Pennsylvania birth certificates for 1906-1916 and death certificates for 1906-1971 are available at the State Archives. Digital copies of the 1906-1913 birth certificates and the 1906-1968 death certificates may be found on Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania residents can access these records free of charge through Ancestry.com Pennsylvania.
You may search the online birth and death indexes and order copies through the Pennsylvania
State Archives – Click Here
Useful Links:
• Pennsylvania Vital Records
• Pennsylvania Vital Statistics Records
• Luzerne County Records on FamilySearch.org
• Luzerne County Genealogy Resources
• Lackawanna County Records on FamilySearch.org
• Lackawanna County Genealogy Resources
Marriage Records:
Aside from 1852-1855, Pennsylvania did not require marriage licenses until October 1, 1885.
Marriage License Dockets, 1885-1950, Luzerne County – FamilySearch.org.
Luzerne County Marriage License Dockets, Volume 1 to Volume 286, LC Document Search – Click Here
Click on IQS E Film Reader ~ Log in as Guest ~ Click on Infodex ~ At Select Volume, click on blue up/down arrows ~ scroll to “Marriage Volumes listed below”
Lackawanna County Marriage License 1885 to present – LC Public Access System – Click Here
Deeds:
Luzerne County Deeds, 1786 – 1993 – Click Here
Click on IQS E Film Reader ~ Log in as Guest ~ Click on Infodex ~ At Select Volume, click on blue up/down arrows to select correct index. Record the volume and page number from Index and use EFilm Reader to view the document.
Luzerne County Deeds, 1787 – 1901, Indexes to Deeds, 1780 – 1907 – FamilySearch.org.
Lackawanna County Deeds – Lackawanna County Self Service Web Site – Click Here
Wills:
Luzerne County Register of Wills, 1787 – 1916, Indexes 1787 – 1918 – FamilySearch.org.
Wills dated after 1916 can be obtained from the Luzerne County Courthouse, Register of Wills. These records, unfortunately, are not online. They can be viewed at the Luzerne County Courthouse Annex, 153 North River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711. Phone: 570-825-1668
Lackawanna County Register of Wills/Orphans’ Court 1878 – 1994, 1995 – Present, Lackawanna County Public Access System – Click Here
Naturalizations:
Luzerne County, Court of Quarter Sessions, Court of Common Pleas, Admissions 1850-1906 ; Index 1850-1897 – Click Here
Luzerne County, Court of Quarter Sessions, Court of Common Pleas, Declarations of intentions 1850-1894 ; Index 1850-1906 – Click Here
Luzerne County, Court of Quarter Sessions, Court of Common Pleas, Naturalization docket and index, 1897-1906 – These records are not online and can be viewed at Luzerne County Courthouse, Prothonotary Office, 200 River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711. Phone : 570-825-1757
Luzerne County, Court of Quarter Sessions, Court of Common Pleas, Naturalization records 1830-1906 ; Index 1830-1906 – Click Here
Luzerne County, Court of Quarter Sessions, Court of Common Pleas, Petitions, 1912-1942; index 1912-1944 – Click Here
Lackawanna County Naturalizations, Index, 1851 to 1905 – Click Here
Lackawanna County Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. Circuit and District Courts for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 1906-1930; and 1901 – 1906 can be found on www.fold3.com. Middle District, US Circuit and District Courts: Naturalization petitions, 1906 – 1930 can be found on www.Ancestry.com in the database U.S. Naturalization Records – Original Documents, 1795-1972 (World Archives Project)
