County Formation
Since Pennsylvania’s formation in 1682, the administrative division has
been by counties, townships, boroughs and districts.
* Taxes were collected by townships.
* Deeds were recorded in the county where property lay (There are
exceptions to this, so check surrounding counties)
* Probate (wills, administrations and guardianships) were filed in
the county of the person’s residence. (exceptions to this also)
* Marriages were applied for at the county’s Orphans’ Court, but the
couple could be married in any Pennsylvania county.
Changing boundaries during the formative years means you must pay
attention to your subject’s location. Your ancestor could be listed in tax rolls
in several different townships and never moved.
When Pennsylvania was formed, there were three original counties,
Philadelphia, Bucks and Chester. From these three counties we get the present-day
sixty-seven counties comprising Pennsylvania