Sullivan County Death Records
Sullivan County is one of Pennsylvania's least populated counties, a rural stretch of north-central Pennsylvania with Laporte as its modest county seat. The county holds historical death records from 1893 through 1905 at the local level, with state records beginning in 1906. What sets Sullivan County apart for genealogical research is the Sullivan County Historical Society and Museum, which maintains an obituary list spanning from 1800 to 2019. That collection of more than 219 years of obituary records gives researchers a nearly continuous documentary thread of death notices that predates and extends far beyond the formal government registration system. Few Pennsylvania counties can match this level of obituary coverage.
Sullivan County Quick Facts
Sullivan County Death Records at the Prothonotary Office
The Sullivan County Prothonotary and Register of Wills maintains the county's historical vital records. Death registrations from 1893 through 1905 are on file at the Laporte courthouse. Birth records cover the same period. Marriage records go back to 1885, and probate records date from 1847 when the county was established. Land records from 1848 are also maintained by this office. The combination of death, birth, marriage, and probate records held at the courthouse gives researchers a solid starting point for Sullivan County family research from the mid-nineteenth century onward.
Sullivan County was created in 1847, so probate records from that year forward document estates and deaths across the county's entire history as an independent jurisdiction. Before 1847, this area was part of Lycoming County, and researchers tracing families prior to Sullivan County's formation should look at Lycoming County records. The county phone number is 570-946-5020.
| Office | Sullivan County Prothonotary / Register of Wills Main Street, Laporte, PA 18626 Phone: 570-946-5020 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM |
| Records | Death and birth records 1893–1905; marriage from 1885; probate from 1847; land records from 1848 |
Sullivan County Historical Society Obituary Records
The Sullivan County Historical Society and Museum in Laporte maintains one of the most extensive obituary collections of any county historical society in Pennsylvania. The obituary list covers deaths from 1800 through 2019, a span of more than 219 years. This collection is remarkable because it begins nearly a century before formal death registration at the county level and extends well into the twenty-first century. For Sullivan County researchers, the obituary list can provide a death record when no formal certificate exists, confirm dates and relationships noted in other records, and supply family details that are not found in government documents.
The Historical Society can be reached by phone at 570-946-5020 and by email at museum@scpahistory.com. Researchers who cannot visit in person can contact the Society to ask about remote access to the obituary records or to request a lookup. Staff and volunteers are familiar with the county's genealogical resources and can often direct researchers to sources they might not think to check on their own.
The image below is from the Sullivan County Historical Society and Museum website, which provides access to the obituary list and other genealogical resources for Sullivan County research.
Sullivan County Historical Society and Museum maintains an obituary list spanning 1800 to 2019 and other genealogical collections for death records research.
The obituary collection is one of the longest-running county-level death notice archives in Pennsylvania and is a key resource for Sullivan County genealogists.
Note: Sullivan County obituaries from 1800 to 2019 fill the gaps that exist before formal death registration began in 1893 and provide death documentation for the full span of the county's history.
Pennsylvania State Death Certificates for Sullivan County
Deaths in Sullivan County from 1906 onward are documented in state death certificates held by the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. Certified copies cost $20 each. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. Phone orders are placed at (724) 656-3100. Online orders are accepted through the MyCertificates portal or through VitalChek.
The Pennsylvania State Archives holds Sullivan County death certificates from 1906 through 1975. The online death indices are searchable at no charge and allow researchers to confirm a death before ordering a certified copy. Pennsylvania residents can access Ancestry free of charge through the State Archives program.
Sullivan County Death Research Before 1893
For Sullivan County deaths before 1893, the obituary list maintained by the Historical Society is the most accessible source. Before the county was formed in 1847, this area was part of Lycoming County, so deaths from the early nineteenth century may appear in Lycoming County records or in church registers from congregations that served both areas. Church records from Sullivan County's rural communities are among the few formal sources for deaths in the period between the county's formation and the start of formal registration in 1893.
Federal census mortality schedules from 1850 through 1880 recorded deaths in the twelve months before each census. These are available through Ancestry and FamilySearch and provide partial coverage for deaths in Sullivan County during the mid-to-late nineteenth century. They are not complete but they document many individuals who would otherwise have no formal death record. The Sullivan County Prothonotary's probate records from 1847 onward can also confirm deaths through estate filings for that period.
The Sullivan County Prothonotary office page provides current contact information and details about what records are held locally. This is a useful reference before making a written request or planning a visit to Laporte.
Online Resources for Sullivan County Death Records
FamilySearch provides free access to digitized and indexed records from Pennsylvania counties. Searching the FamilySearch catalog for Sullivan County will show what collections are currently available online. Church records, probate files, and some vital record indexes may be accessible without making the trip to Laporte. The FamilySearch Pennsylvania Vital Records wiki describes what types of records exist statewide and how to find them.
Cemetery transcriptions from Sullivan County have been submitted by volunteers to several genealogical websites. These cover many of the rural burial grounds in the county and provide burial location information that complements the formal death certificates and obituary records. Checking cemetery records alongside other death documentation can confirm dates and identify family relationships that are not always evident from a single source.
Nearby Counties
Sullivan County borders several north-central Pennsylvania counties. Researchers tracing families in this region often find records spread across adjacent jurisdictions.