Death Records in Bradford County PA
Bradford County sits in northern Pennsylvania along the New York border, and its death records trace generations of families who settled this rural region. Local death registration began in 1893 at the Bradford County Courthouse in Towanda. The Bradford County Historical Society supplements the courthouse holdings with research materials and databases covering earlier periods. State vital records from 1906 onward are available through the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. This guide explains each source and how to access Bradford County death records efficiently.
Bradford County Quick Facts
Bradford County Courthouse Death Records
The Bradford County Courthouse in Towanda holds birth and death records registered locally from 1893 through 1905. These early volumes predate the statewide system that launched in 1906 under 28 Pa. Code Chapter 1, which established uniform vital statistics registration across all Pennsylvania counties. The Register of Wills office is the custody point for these pre-state records, along with marriage records dating to 1885.
Each death record from this period typically captures the name of the deceased, the date and location of death, the stated cause, the attending physician, and the informant who reported the death. Quality varies. Rural Bradford County entries from the 1890s can sometimes be less detailed than urban county records from the same era, but most provide enough information to confirm an individual's identity.
| Office | Bradford County Register of Wills Bradford County Courthouse, 301 Main Street Towanda, PA 18848 Phone: (570) 265-1702 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM |
| Records | Birth and death records 1893–1905; marriage records from 1885 |
Note: In-person visits to the Towanda courthouse are the most reliable way to inspect original Bradford County death records from the pre-1906 registration period.
Bradford County Historical Society Research Archive
The Bradford County Historical Society at 109 Pine Street in Towanda offers research resources that extend well beyond the official courthouse holdings. The Society's archive holds genealogical materials, local newspaper collections, and compiled indexes that researchers use to locate death information for Bradford County residents from the 19th century onward. The Society is open Wednesday through Friday from 10 AM to 4 PM and on the first Saturday of each month from 10 AM to 2 PM.
Newspaper death notices from Bradford County's local papers are among the most useful secondary sources available at the Historical Society. These notices often include biographical details -- birthplace, survivors, occupation, and church affiliation -- that do not appear in the official death certificates. For research on families who lived in Bradford County before formal death registration, newspaper sources can be essential.
The Society also holds cemetery records and transcriptions for Bradford County burial grounds. These records can help establish approximate death dates for individuals who died before 1893, when local registration began.
The image below, sourced from the Bradford County Historical Society's website, illustrates the scope of the genealogical research materials held in their Towanda archive.
Researchers visiting the Society can access original documents, microfilm, and compiled finding aids related to Bradford County death records and family history.
Ordering Certified Bradford County Death Certificates
Certified death certificates for Bradford County events from 1906 onward come from the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records, located at P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103-1528. The state charges $20 per certified copy. Orders can be placed by mail, in person, or online through mycertificates.health.pa.gov.
Pennsylvania law under 35 P.S. §450.801 restricts death records less than 50 years old to qualified requestors. These include the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased, as well as legal representatives acting on behalf of an estate. Records 50 or more years old are open for genealogical research without demonstrating a direct family relationship.
VitalChek is an authorized third-party ordering option for Pennsylvania death certificates, including Bradford County records. Using VitalChek adds a service fee but may be convenient for researchers who prefer online ordering with credit card payment.
State Archives Vital Statistics for Bradford County
The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds death certificates from 1906 through 1975 covering all Pennsylvania counties, including Bradford. These records are part of the Historical and Museum Commission's vital statistics collection. The Archives also maintains online death indices that allow you to search by name before requesting the actual certificate.
Bradford County's position in northern Pennsylvania near the New York state line means some families crossed the border frequently. If a Bradford County ancestor cannot be found in Pennsylvania records, the New York State Archives may hold records for related family members who lived across the state line. The CDC's Where to Write page for Pennsylvania provides federal-level guidance that can help coordinate multi-state research.
Note: Death indices available through the State Archives are searchable online and can confirm the existence of a Bradford County record before you pay for a certified copy.
Bradford County History and Death Record Context
Bradford County was created in 1810 from portions of Lycoming and Luzerne Counties. Settlement came primarily from New England, and the county's agricultural and lumber economy shaped the demographics that appear in its death records. By the time formal death registration began in 1893, Bradford County had already been a functioning county for 83 years, meaning generations of residents lived and died without any official government death record.
Church records fill part of this gap. Many Bradford County congregations kept burial registers going back into the early 1800s. The FamilySearch Pennsylvania Vital Records wiki identifies specific collections that cover Bradford County, including some church and cemetery records that have been digitized and indexed. These free resources are worth checking before pursuing paid ordering options.
The county's rural character also means that some deaths in remote townships were registered late or not at all in the early years of the 1893 system. If you expect a record to exist but cannot find it, consider searching nearby counties or checking the State Archives death index to rule out a recording error.
Nearby Counties
Bradford County shares borders with several Pennsylvania counties. Researchers who cannot locate a death record in Bradford County may find relevant records in an adjacent county, particularly for families who lived near county lines.