Dear Listers, Relatively new to researching in the Washington, Greene, and Fayette Counties area. Can anyone offer any advice on researching early marriages (late 1700s to mid-1800s). Did the county government keep records or are records only available through churches and the like? Also, I hope to make a research trip to the area sometime in the next couple of months. Are most probate, land, and other vital records still located in the respective court houses or are they held by local genealogical societies? Thanks in advance to everyone. Rick Researching in the area: Wilson, Hill, Swinehart, Thornberry, Pettit, Swearingen, Riggs, Dains, Eckelberry, Wright, and others.
Rick, What areas of Washington County? Scenery Hill / Ten Mile area mostly?? You might find some limited info on my websites. (Limited because it depends on what has been submitted or what I have.) Government did not require marriage certs that early. Bonnie Malmat (on this List) has done a series of books called Abstracts of the Washington, PA, Reporter -- contact Closson Press, I believe. If a marriage appeared in the paper, Bonnie listed the info in her book. Otherwise, you'd need to write to one or more churches, if you know where the couple attended. Records -- visit the Court House offices--- BUT they have moved many originals OFF-SITE so you have have hours to a day or two to get the record. Make a list before you make the trip....leave 1 or 2 columns beside each one so you can note the citation of each, and note which ones you have requested. Visit there first and early in the day to maximize your time. While waiting for record returns, you might have time to drop down to Citizen's Library to do an overview of their holdings. Make sure you check the hours for the Historical Society if you plan to stop there. Wills Office I'd suggest looking for Accounts first- (microfilmed index) - the originals are off-site. Check Wills, Check OC Deed Office Prothonotary Check Juror service Judgements etc. Law Library -- for questions especially My website has a list of county offices and what records each has. Judy -- -- WASHINGTON COUNTY PA WEBSITES::: http://freepages.misc.rootsweb.com/~florian/ Coordinator of the Washington County PAGenWeb: http://www.rootsweb.com/~pawashin/ On Sat, Jun 27, 2009 at 12:36 PM, <RWilson7@aol.com> wrote: > Dear Listers, > > Relatively new to researching in the Washington, Greene, and Fayette > Counties area. Can anyone offer any advice on researching early marriages > (late > 1700s to mid-1800s). Did the county government keep records or are records > only available through churches and the like? > > Also, I hope to make a research trip to the area sometime in the next > couple of months. Are most probate, land, and other vital records still > located > in the respective court houses or are they held by local genealogical > societies? > > Thanks in advance to everyone. > > Rick > > Researching in the area: Wilson, Hill, Swinehart, Thornberry, Pettit, > Swearingen, Riggs, Dains, Eckelberry, Wright, and others. > **** > >