Bedford County Death Records and Genealogy Resources
Bedford County death records reach back into the county's long history as one of Pennsylvania's earliest frontier communities. Established in 1771 from Cumberland County, Bedford County has maintained civil records for over 250 years. The county Register of Wills holds death registrations from 1893 through 1905, and the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records manages all records from 1906 forward. The Pioneer Historical Society of Bedford County adds an important layer of local research support for genealogists tracing family lines in this south-central Pennsylvania county.
Bedford County Quick Facts
Bedford County Register of Wills and Death Registrations
The Bedford County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds handles the official county-level records that are most relevant to historical death research. This combined office holds birth and death registrations from 1893 through 1905. It also maintains marriage records from 1885, land records, and probate documents going back centuries. The office is located in the Bedford County Courthouse on South Juliana Street in the borough of Bedford.
Bedford County was created in 1771 from Cumberland County. Researchers tracing ancestors who died before 1771 in this region will need to look at Cumberland County records. For the period between 1771 and 1893, no formal death registration system was in place at the county level. Church records, estate files, and cemetery records are the main sources for deaths in that 122-year gap.
| Office | Bedford County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds 203 S. Juliana St, Bedford, PA 15522 Phone: (814) 623-4836 Email: regrec@bedford.net |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM |
| Records | Birth and death records 1893–1905; marriage records from 1885; land and probate records |
Note: All death records from 1906 forward are held by the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records in New Castle, not by the Bedford County courthouse.
Pioneer Historical Society of Bedford County
The Pioneer Historical Society of Bedford County is located at 242 E. John Street in Bedford, just a short walk from the courthouse. Phone: 814-623-2011. The Society serves as a research center for genealogists and local historians, with collections that complement the official county records. Researchers who find a gap in the formal death record system often discover useful material at the Society's library, including cemetery transcriptions, newspaper indexes, church records, and local family histories.
Bedford County's rural character means that many of its early residents were buried in small family or church cemeteries rather than large public ones. The Pioneer Historical Society has worked to document these burial sites, and their holdings can be invaluable when formal records are absent. Staff and volunteers at the Society are knowledgeable about the county's record landscape and can often point researchers in the right direction when standard sources come up empty.
The Society is also a good place to check for records from neighboring Fulton County, which was carved out of Bedford County in 1850. Families who lived in what is now Fulton County before that date will appear in Bedford County records, so the Pioneer Historical Society's collections can be relevant to Fulton County research as well.
State Death Certificates for Bedford County
Pennsylvania's statewide death registration system began in 1906. Since then, all Bedford County deaths have been documented by the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. Certified copies of Bedford County death certificates from 1906 forward can be ordered online at mycertificates.health.pa.gov for $20 each, with a $10 online processing fee added. Mailing your request to P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103-1528 avoids the online surcharge. Phone inquiries can be directed to (724) 656-3100.
VitalChek is the state's authorized third-party online ordering service. Both VitalChek and the state portal require proof of eligibility for records covered by the 50-year restriction under 35 P.S. §450.801. For genealogy searches where the exact death year is unknown, the Division of Vital Records offers a 10-year mail search for $25.
Pennsylvania State Archives and FamilySearch for Bedford County
The Pennsylvania State Archives holds Bedford County death certificates for the period 1906 through 1975. Online death indices for this period allow researchers to search by name and confirm a death before requesting the full document. The Archives is located in Harrisburg and also offers remote access through online databases.
Pennsylvania residents have free access to Ancestry.com through the State Archives. This benefit covers a broad range of genealogical databases that include Pennsylvania death records and can be helpful for Bedford County research. The FamilySearch Bedford County genealogy page provides free access to many county-specific collections and lists what records are available online.
The image below is from the Pennsylvania State Archives vital statistics page, which holds Bedford County death records from the early statewide registration period through 1975.
Pennsylvania State Archives vital statistics maintains searchable death indices and certificate images for Bedford County covering 1906 through 1975.
The Archives' online tools let you search Bedford County deaths by name, which helps narrow down the correct certificate before you request a copy from the Division of Vital Records.
Bedford County Death Records Before 1893
For deaths before 1893 in Bedford County, researchers need to look beyond the formal registration system. Church records are often the best starting point. Bedford County's early settlers included Scottish-Irish Presbyterians, German Lutherans, and German Reformed congregations that kept detailed membership and burial records. Many of these records have been microfilmed and are accessible through FamilySearch or the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Estate records at the county Register of Wills go back to the county's formation in 1771. When a Bedford County resident died and left an estate, a probate case was opened. The case file typically contains the date of death, names of heirs, and sometimes an age at death. These details can serve as proxy death records when no church or cemetery record exists. The estate files are among the oldest surviving records in Bedford County and are valuable sources for research in the pre-1893 period.
Under 28 Pa. Code Chapter 1, Pennsylvania requires that death certificates be filed within 96 hours. This applies to modern records but did not govern the pre-1906 period, when county-level registration was more variable in its completeness.
The image below is from the Pennsylvania State Archives death indices page, which covers Bedford County and provides the death index data needed to request specific certificates.
Pennsylvania State Archives death indices include Bedford County records and can be used to verify a death before ordering a formal certified copy.
Searching the death index for Bedford County before ordering a certificate can save time and money, especially when you are not certain of the exact year of death.
Note: Deaths that occurred in what is now Fulton County before 1850 will appear in Bedford County records, since Fulton did not become a separate county until that year.
Nearby Counties
Bedford County is surrounded by rural south-central Pennsylvania counties. Many families in the region moved between these jurisdictions over generations, making it worthwhile to check death records in the neighboring counties listed below.