Perry County Death Records

Perry County death records are available from two distinct registration periods. The first covers 1852 to 1855, when Pennsylvania required counties to collect death returns. The second and more detailed period runs from 1893 to 1919, spanning both the county registration era and the early years of the statewide system. The county seat is New Bloomfield. The Clerk of Orphans' Court at the Perry County Courthouse holds these records. The PA State Archives also holds microfilm copies. For deaths from 1906 onward, the Division of Vital Records handles certified copy requests.

Perry County Deaths 1852-1855

Perry County is among the forty-nine Pennsylvania counties with surviving death records from the 1852 to 1854 registration period. Some sources list coverage through 1855. These early records were collected when Pennsylvania required county officials to gather death returns. The Register of Wills at the county courthouse received these returns and maintained them as part of the county's official records. The data included in these early returns varies by entry but often shows the name, age, cause of death, and residence of the deceased.

These 1852 to 1855 death records are the oldest formal death records in Perry County. They are a critical resource for genealogists researching families from the mid-nineteenth century. The records are held at the Perry County Courthouse in New Bloomfield and at the PA State Archives on microfilm. Some entries from this period have been digitized and are available through genealogical databases. The records cover the entire county, including all townships and boroughs that existed in Perry County during that time.

For genealogists working in the gap between 1855 and 1893, church records, cemetery records, and probate files are the main alternatives. The Perry County Courthouse holds estate records and probate files that often contain death dates and names of survivors. These records can bridge the gap when no formal death registration exists.

Note: The 1852 to 1855 death records are among the earliest vital records for Perry County. They predate the more consistent registration period that began in 1893 by nearly four decades.

Perry County Deaths 1893-1919

Perry County resumed formal death registration in 1893 as part of the Pennsylvania county-level vital records program. The record set runs through 1919, making it one of the longer county-level death record spans in central Pennsylvania. Most counties stopped their county-level registers when the state took over in 1906. Perry County continued maintaining local records through 1919, creating thirteen additional years of overlap with the statewide system.

Having two sets of records for the same death between 1906 and 1919 can be valuable for researchers. The county register and the state certificate may contain different details. The county record might note a physician's remarks or a local address that does not appear in the state form. Checking both sources for any death in this overlap period is a good research practice. The Perry County death indexes from 1893 to 1919 are searchable online through genealogical databases.

The Clerk of Orphans' Court in New Bloomfield holds the original records from 1893 to 1919. Researchers can visit or send a written request. The PA State Archives holds microfilm copies. Digital images of these records are available through Ancestry.com as part of the Pennsylvania vital records collection. The state death index at the PA State Archives also begins to cover Perry County from 1906 onward. Use the PA State Archives death indices page to search for Perry County names in the state index.

Note: Perry County deaths from 1906 to 1919 appear in both the county register and the state system. Check both sources for the most complete information during this overlap period.

Accessing Perry County Death Records

For deaths from 1852 to 1855 and from 1893 to 1919, contact the Perry County Courthouse in New Bloomfield. The Clerk of Orphans' Court is the right office. Provide the full name of the deceased and an approximate year. Staff can search the registers and provide a copy. Mail requests are accepted. The PA State Archives in Harrisburg also holds microfilm of Perry County registers and can help researchers who cannot travel to New Bloomfield.

For deaths from 1906 onward, the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records is the source for certified copies. The fee is $20 per certificate. Mail requests go to PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. Phone contact is available at 724-656-3100 or 844-228-3516. Online orders go through VitalChek at mycertificates.health.pa.gov. Walk-in service is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Harrisburg office, which is the closest walk-in site for Perry County. For deaths after 1974, visit the PA Department of Health vital records page.

Death certificates are public records 50 years after the date of death under Pennsylvania law. Before that point, only immediate family members and legal representatives can request a certified copy. The state death index is available to anyone for research purposes regardless of when the death occurred.

Perry County History and Vital Records

Perry County is located in south-central Pennsylvania just west of the Susquehanna River. New Bloomfield is the county seat, a small borough that has served that role since the county was formed. The county is largely rural and mountainous. It was named for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. The county's history reflects its agricultural roots and the small-town character that has persisted through the twentieth century.

The Clerk of Orphans' Court in New Bloomfield is the primary office for early vital records. The Register of Wills handles estate matters, and both offices have records reaching back to the county's founding. For families in Perry County before formal death registration, estate records, wills, and church records are the best alternatives. Perry County has a number of historic churches that maintained burial and death records going back to the early 1800s.

The statewide system that began in 1906 standardized death reporting across Pennsylvania. The PA State Archives death index covers Perry County from 1906 to 1975. Two indexing methods apply across that span. The Russell Soundex method is used for deaths from 1920 to 1924 and from 1930 to 1951. All other years use alphabetical order. The index is free to search online. Once you find the State File Number, you can order the certificate from the State Archives or the Division of Vital Records depending on the year of death.

Note: Perry County's combination of 1852-1855 records and the extended 1893-1919 county register gives researchers unusually good coverage of nineteenth and early twentieth century deaths compared to many other Pennsylvania counties.

Nearby Pennsylvania Counties

Perry County borders several counties in south-central Pennsylvania. Each county maintains its own death records. Search the right county for your ancestor's records.

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