Familysearch has a searchable online index, including many original images, of philadelphia city death certificates from 1803 to 1915. Pennsylvania is more than just the keystone stateit was also a key starting point for many immigrants on their way both south and west. About land records and deeds in pennsylvania deeds, mortgage documents, easements, liens, powers of attorney, and other document recordings are managed by the recorder of deeds in each pennsylvania county. These are yet more notes that i took, this time at the philadelphia city archives on market street, back in 1998 or 1999. Philadelphia historical land records and vitals site. The responsibility of the bucks county recorder of deeds office is to record and maintain for permanent record all documents related to real estate deed, mortgages, subdivision plans, etc.
In situations where a will does not name an executor, the register determines who is authorized to administer the estate of the deceased. Land records indices pennsylvania historical and pa. By using this service, in any form, the user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the philadelphia county and anyone involved in storing, retrieving, or displaying this information for any damage of any type that may be caused by retrieving this information over the internet. If you are a renter, or have moved into a relatives or friends house, it is clear that the home is owned by someone other than. After a property was patented it was then transferred at the county level through deeds. It stores contemporary land records, including deeds, sheriff deeds, mortgages, and land titles since 1974. This page lists public record sources in philadelphia county, pennsylvania. Philadelphia county genealogical society of pennsylvania. Research and explore your pennsylvania genealogy online with these online pennsylvania family history databases, indexes and digitized records collections many of them free. Philadox is an online database of documents filed with the city of philadelphia department of records. The deed book indices are grouped into two categories. Chester county deed book index 16811865 buyer grantee mackey george new london new london job darlington jr. Philadelphia county, pennsylvania public records directory. Contained within this system are digital images of philadelphia deed documents dating from 1683 through 1974 and some vital records types, such as births, deaths, marriage and naturalization records, from selected time periods between 1794 through 1915.
The patent indexes are actually composed of three separate series, which are as follows. For histories of some philadelphia neighborhoods, inquire at the social. Once a book and page number is identified the researcher can then use the deed book reels, located at the archives center, for viewing. Pa state archives rg17 series titles records of the. Additional resources can be found on our pennsylvania state public records page, on city pages, and on topic pages using the navigation above. Data is viewable as lists, tables and scanned images of the actual documents. Entries in the patent indexes are grouped alphabetically by first letter of patentees surname, thereunder grouped by volume number of patent book, and finally arranged chronologically by date of patent. Warrant and patent records are held at the pennsylvania state archives. The philadelphia county recorder of deeds, located in philadelphia, pennsylvania is a centralized office where public records are recorded, indexed, and stored in philadelphia county, pa. Lists land and probate records by states and gives county courthouse addresses.
Laws 1861 u6 47 deed buyer grantee mackey isaac west whiteland west whiteland edward shimer 1844 a5 516 deed. Philadox january 1, 1974 to the present, available with an expensive paid subscription, icris also avialable january 1, 1974 to the present and available for free at the city archives, and the philadelphia historical land and vital records paid subscription available, also available for free at the city archives. The index for the fairmount park properties will be available on the front table. Contained within this system are digital images of philadelphia deed documents dating from 1683 through 1974 and some vital records types, such as births, deaths, marriage and naturalization records, from selected time periods between 1794 through. Looking back on it, i have to say that i had no idea that i was that busy back then. Ohcd has long supported neighborhoodbased and citywide organizations offering housing counseling services to low and moderateincome people. Pennsylvania land records and deeds search directory.
Recorded documents are assigned a sequential identifying number known as the book and page number and are then scanned into the recorder offices computer system. The recorder of deeds can now be found on the 6th floor of the administration building four floors up from old location. They are arranged by the first initial of the last name followed by the first initial of the first name. Pas past misc philadelphia records deeds and court records source. One could blithely tell a researcher to find the date the house was built, discover the list of ownership and flesh out the details with architectural designs and photographs. To get started, click anywhere on the map, or type an address, intersection, property assessment account number, or department of records map registry number into the search box. Index to deeds, 16831916 fhl film 18501 first of 85 films. The philadelphia deed book indices provide the key to locating any recorded deed.
More information about each is available on the index page. Sheriffs deed book for the eastern district, 17961876 family history library. The philadelphia deed books date from 1683 to 1781. They prepare a deed andor forge the signatures of the current owners of the property. For more complicated searches, patrons should consult donna mungers pennsylvania land records. It stores contemporary land records, including deeds, sheriff deeds.
Volume 2 contains the original minutes of germantown town council known as the general court, an index for a philadelphia deed book, and an outline plan of the town of. West goshen isaac weaver 1827 a4 556 release weaver emmor t. Pennsylvania land and property genealogy familysearch wiki. The purpose of the recorder of deeds is to ensure the accuracy of philadelphia county property and land records and to preserve their continuity. Philadelphia county was established by william penn in 1682 as one of three counties in pennsylvania. How to research the history of a house researching the history of a house is a complicated, timeconsuming endeavor. The philadelphia archives deed book index is available on line, the index. Index to deeds, grantees, 16841919 bucks county pennsylvania state archives index to deeds, grantors. Index, 18031857, to sheriffs deeds, books a and vol. You are responsible, however, for verifying the accuracy of the information on this site by referring to the corresponding deeds.
With the exception of the exemplification record book series, all deed book indices prior to. Hess lancaster county, pa by logging in you accept the terms of the disclaimer. Deeds from 1683 to 1951 are in the city archives, and the recorder. Guide to philadelphia county, pennsylvania ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records. Search philadelphia county public property records online. From these sources the philadelphia department of streets developed and maintains its comprehensive survey of official road. First, individuals engaging in this type of fraud look for vacant and or abandoned properties involving forged deeds. Philadox property documents datasets opendataphilly. Deeds, wills, maps, and property histories ask free. Find register of deeds in pennsylvania on yellowbook.
Index of deeds recorded and unrecorded, mortgages and miscellaneous instruments uncalled for at the office of the recorder of deeds in and for the city and county of philadelphia. Deeds, mortgages, and other legal instruments left for recording and never picked up by the owners. An explanation of the map of the city and liberties of philadelphia source. Catalog 3,690 chew family papers 21 magdalen society of philadelphia records 5 germantown philadelphia, pa. Although there may be other types of property fraud, the records department has frequently seen the following type. The family history library has microfilms of county land records, such as deeds and mortgages, for most counties. Office of the recorder of deeds of philadelphia no author on. The minutes relate to civil suits, fines and the acknowledgment of deeds in the borough of germantown. There is also an index available if the name of the tract is known but not the name of the warrantee or patentee. Our ownership records are based on deeds as recorded with the city of philadelphia department of records dor, and we revise these records for currency as often as we are able. Philadelphia deeds from 1683 to 1974 are searchable in a subscription database at philadelphia historical land records and vitals. West chester banner conner 1847 d5 514 deed seller grantor weaver emmor t. How to research the history of a house free library of philadelphia.
Philadelphia county, pennsylvania genealogy genealogy. Online applications department of records city of philadelphia. Architectural research resources at the philadelphia city. Archival record retrieval montgomery county, pa official website.
Chester county deed book index 16811865 buyer grantee weaver elizabeth west chester et. The database is searchable by grantorgrantee names, address, or county record book and page. Deeds, wills, maps, and property histories ask free library. Index index to warrants, surveys and returns filed for lands in philadelphia county. Full length deeds are available online through three sources. The will and administration index books are housed in room 187.
Alabama alaska arizona arkansas california colorado connecticut delaware florida georgia hawaii idaho illinois indiana iowa kansas kentucky louisiana maine maryland massachusetts michigan minnesota mississippi missouri montana nebraska nevada new hampshire. Index volume also lists holders of offices of master of rolls and recorder of deeds and dates of their assuming office, 17531879. The city archives possesses the actual deeds and titles to all properties within fairmount park and to all properties outside of fairmount park acquired by the city of philadelphia between 1683 and 1951. This index was compiled from the original road records, docket books, jury. Its mind boggling how much research i got done back then. Architectural research resources at the philadelphia city archives. The database is searchable by grantorgrantee names. For example, an entry for benjamin franklin would be found in the. Philadelphia county recorder of deeds philadelphia, pa. Copied survey books official copies of original surveys filed in the land office. See links to philadelphia county online historical deed indexes below. Documents related to the ownership of real estate within the district are recorded at the recorder of deeds. The index supplies information pointing to a deed in the deed book. Bucks and chester counties index to warrants, surveys and returns filed for lands in bucks and chester counties, generally prior to 1733.
Some counties provide online access to recorded documents. The grantor index indexes the names of the seller of the land. It is complete and comes with linebyline instructions. The register of wills is an elected official, one of whose functions is to determine whether a document offered for probate should be received as the last will of the decedent. When most people think about what makes philadelphia unique, they likely think of cheesesteaks, cream cheese, or a cracked bell. Philadelphia county, pennsylvania genealogy source. Depending on the county, registration may be required to access the online database. This form is exclusive to philadelphia county and is required at the time of recording. A list of online pennsylvania death records indexes, full state and by county, including obituaries and cemeteries. Users should remember that the index is similar to a library card. The following indices to land records are available as online images. This index was compiled from the original road records, docket books, jury decisions, and surveys held by the philadelphia city archives.
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