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''How to Find United States Birth Records|How to Find United States Births'']] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] '''Pennsylvania Births'''''
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One of the original thirteen colonies, Pennsylvania was a late comer to the keeping of vital records on a state level. Between 1852-1855 Pennsylvania counties were directed to record births within their jurisdiction. However few counties complied. In 1893 counties were again required to record births within their jurisdiction. This law had a better response and remained in effect until 1906 when the state of Pennsylvania began to record births on a statewide level.
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== '''Next Step: When did the birth occur? ''' ==
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:'''Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's birth record:'''
:*'''[[User:BingamanTD/sandbox3#Births_1852-1855|Births 1852-1855]]'''
:*'''[[User:BingamanTD/sandbox3#Births_Between_1893_and_1905|Births between 1893 and 1905]]'''
:*'''[[User:BingamanTD/sandbox3#Births_After_1905|Births after 1905]]'''
:*'''[[User:HardestyPN/Sandbox Births Estimating|I don't know when the birth is]]'''
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'''[[User:BatsonDL/Sandbox 5|Learn more about U.S. Birth Records]]'''
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== '''Births Before 1852''' ==
Before 1852, no births were recorded by the county or state. You must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place.
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| align="center" colspan="3" | '''Records that give birth information:'''
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:[[Pennsylvania Vital Records#State_Records_of_Births_and_Deaths|Death Records]]
:[[Pennsylvania Cemeteries|Cemetery Records]]
:[[Pennsylvania Newspapers|Newspapers]]
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:[[Pennsylvania Church Records|Church Records]]
:[[Pennsylvania Census|Census]]
:[[Pennsylvania Military Records|Military Records]]
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[[User:BingamanTD/sandbox3#Next_Step:_When_did_the_birth_occur.3F|Return to Top: Finding Pennsylvania Birth Records]]
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== '''Births 1852-1854''' ==
Between 1852 and 1854 the counties of Pennsylvania attempted to record births which occurred in their jurisdiction. However, there were very few births recorded. Currently, the births, which were recorded, are not available online but can be viewed at the respective county courthouses or the Pennsylvania State Archives. Film copies of the birth records can also be found at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah [[Substitute Records For United States Birth Information|other records]].
Records may be found for the following 38 of the 67 counties:
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*[[Adams County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Adams]]
*[[Allegheny County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Allegheny]]
*[[Armstrong County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Armstrong]]
*[[Beaver County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Beaver]]
*[[Bedford County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Bedford]]
*[[Berks County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Berks]]
*[[Bradford County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Bradford]]
*[[Butler County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Butler]]
*[[Cambria County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Cambria]]
*[[Carbon County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Carbon]]
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*[[Chester County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Chester]]
*[[Cumberland County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Cumberland]]
*[[Dauphin County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Dauphin]]
*[[Delaware County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Delaware]]
*[[Elk County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Elk]]
*[[Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Huntingdon]]
*[[Indiana County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Indiana]]
*[[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Lancaster]]
*[[Lehigh County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Lehigh]]
*[[Luzerne County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Luzerne]]
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*[[Lycoming County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Lycoming]]
*[[McKean County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|McKean]]
*[[Mercer County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Mercer]]
*[[Mifflin County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Mifflin]]
*[[Monroe County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Monroe]]
*[[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Montgomery]]
*[[Northampton County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Northampton]]
*[[Northumberland County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Northumberland]]
*[[Perry County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Perry]]
*[[Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Schuylkill]]
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*[[Somerset County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Somerset]]
*[[Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Susquehanna]]
*[[Tioga County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Tioga]]
*[[Venango County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Venango]]
*[[Washington County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Washington]]
*[[Wayne County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Wayne]]
*[[Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Westmoreland]]
*[[York County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|York]]
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For births that exist during the time period, try the following databases.
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| align="left" colspan="3" | '''Includes Index and Digital Images'''
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| width="10%" | ''Try:''
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| width="25%" | [http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2349 1852-1854, Pennsylvania, Births at Ancestry.com]
| width="65%" | '''$,''' [http://www.ancestry.com/cs/offers/freetrial?o_iid=48816&o_lid=48816&o_sch=Web+Property To obtain a subscription to Ancestry]; Ancestry is often available through your local public library for free
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| align="left" colspan="2" | '''Can't find your ancestor in the index?'''
| [[Tips for Searching an Online Index|Tips for searching indexes]]
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| align="left" colspan="2" | '''No birth record for your ancestor?'''
| [[Substitute Records For United States Birth Information|Other records with birth information]]
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[[User:BingamanTD/sandbox3#Next_Step:_When_did_the_birth_occur.3F|Return to Top: Finding Pennsylvania Birth Records]]
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== '''Births Between 1893 and 1905''' ==
Between 1893 and 1905 Pennsylvania counties were required to record births within their jurisdiction. These records are not complete but should still be searched. Many of the birth records do not list the first name of the child. In those cases only the names of the parents may help to identify the correct child. Limited births maybe found in the following databases.
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| align="left" colspan="3" | '''Includes Index No Digital Images'''
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| width="10%" | ''Try 1st:''
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| width="25%" | [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1681005 1709-1950, Pennsylvania, Births
and Christenings at FamilySearch.org]
| width="65%" | '''Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries;''' [https://www.familysearch.org/locations Find your local FamilySearch Center] This is an incomplete database which includes county records as well as church records. Below are the counties included in the collection.
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Below are the counties included in the above collection.
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*[[Adams County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Adams]]
*[[Allegheny County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Allegheny]]
*[[Armstrong County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Armstrong]]
*[[Berks County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Berks]]
*[[Blair County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Blair]]
*[[Bucks County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Bucks]]
*[[Carbon County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Carbon]]
*[[Centre County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Centre]]
*[[Chester County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Chester]]
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*[[Clearfield County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Clearfield]]
*[[Crawford County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Crawford]]
*[[Dauphin County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Dauphin]]
*[[Delaware County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Delaware]]
*[[Franklin County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Franklin]]
*[[Greene County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Greene]]
*[[Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Huntingdon]]
*[[Indiana County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Indiana]]
*[[Jefferson County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Jefferson]]
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*[[Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Lackawanna]]
*[[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Lancaster]]
*[[Lebanon County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Lebanon]]
*[[Lehigh County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Lehigh]]
*[[Lycoming County, Pennsylvania|Lycoming]]
*[[Mercer County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Mercer]]
*[[Mifflin County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Mifflin]]
*[[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Montgomery]]
*[[Northampton County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Northampton]]
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*[[Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Philadelphia]]
*[[Potter County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Potter]]
*[[Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Schuylkill]]
*[[Somerset County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Somerset]]
*[[Tioga County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Tioga]]
*[[Venango County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Venango]]
*[[Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Westmoreland]]
*[[Wyoming County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|Wyoming]]
*[[York County, Pennsylvania#Vital_Records|York]]
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| ''Next try:''
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| align="left" colspan="3" |
|-
| align="left" colspan="2" | '''No birth record for your ancestor?'''
| [[Substitute Records For United States Birth Information|Other records with birth information]]
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|
|
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| align="left" colspan="2" | '''Can't find your ancestor in the index?'''
| [[Tips for Searching an Online Index|Tips for searching indexes]]
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==== '''Obtain the Certificate''' ====
With an exact date (from your records or the index above), you can order a copy of the birth record for a fee from the county of birth. You can also visit the Family History Library to obtain a copy of the birth record.
'''If you do not want to order the birth record, there are [[Substitute Records For United States Birth Information|Other records with birth information]] you can search.
'''
[[User:BingamanTD/sandbox3#Next_Step:_When_did_the_birth_occur.3F|Return to Top: Finding Pennsylvania Birth Records]]
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== '''Births After 1905''' ==
In 1906 Pennsylvania began to record births on a statewide level. Currently birth indexes are available for 1906 and 1907 only as there is a 105 year restriction on birth records. Indexes are available at the [http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=1086145&mode=2 Pennsylvania Department of Health] website.
'''STEP ONE: Find Birth Information'''
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| width="25%" | [http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=1086145&mode=2 1906-1907 Pennsylvania Birth Indices from the Pennsylvania Department of Health]
| width="65%" | '''Free''' to search. Future indexes will be released at one per year. There is a 105 year restriction on birth records.
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| align="left" colspan="2" | '''Can't find your ancestor in the index?'''
| [[User:Batsondl/Sandbox 7|Tips for searching indexes]]
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|-
| align="left" colspan="2" | '''No birth record for your ancestor?'''
| [[User:Mcbridelw/Sandbox 5|Other records with birth information]]
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==== '''STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate''' ====
With an exact date (from your records or the index above), you can order a copy of the birth record for a fee from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. For additional information concerning obtaining a birth certificate see the [http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/genealogy_requests/14125 Department of Health] website.
'''Mail your request to:'''
Division of Vital Records
ATTN: Public Records
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
'''''Restrictions for persons born within the last 105 years:'''''
Only certain people can request a birth certificate. You must be:
:*Person named on the birth certificate, who is 18 years of age or older (if under 18, immediate family member must apply)
:*Legal representative
:*Husband / wife
:*Parent / step-parent*
:*Brother / sister / half-brother / half-sister
:*Son / daughter / stepson* / stepdaughter*
:*Grandparent / great grandparent (specify maternal or paternal)
:*Grandchild / great grandchild
:*Power of Attorney (for person named on birth certificate or immediate family member listed above)
If the person named on the birth certificate is deceased, a family member who is not an immediate family member must submit a copy of the death certificate to be eligible to receive a certified copy of the birth certificate.
*A step-parent or step-child is required to submit parents' marriage record supporting their relationship.
'''If you do not want to order the birth record, there are [[Substitute Records For United States Birth Information|Other records with birth information]] you can search.
'''
[[User:BingamanTD/sandbox3#Next_Step:_When_did_the_birth_occur.3F|Return to Top: Finding Pennsylvania Birth Records]]
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=== Related Wiki Articles ===
:*[[User:BatsonDL/Sandbox 5|Learn more about U.S. Birth Records]]
:*[[United States Record Selection Table|United States Record Selection Table ]]
:*[[U.S. Vital Records Overview|U.S. Vital Records Overview]]
:*[[United States Vital Records|United States Vital Records]]
:*[[Locating United States Vital Records|Locating United States Vital Records]]
:*[[United States Death Records|United States Death Records ]]
:*[[United States Marriage Records|United States Marriage Records]]