Westmoreland County Death Records
Westmoreland County was created in 1773 from Bedford County and is one of the original Pennsylvania counties, reflecting the early westward expansion of European settlement in the commonwealth. Greensburg serves as the county seat. Estate records at the Register of Wills date from 1773, giving researchers access to probate documentation for nearly the entire history of the county. Death records at the county level cover 1893 through 1905. The county is also home to Latrobe, birthplace of Arnold Palmer and Fred Rogers, giving it a cultural significance that has drawn national attention to its local history. Marriage records go back to 1885 and are held at the same office as the death records.
Westmoreland County Quick Facts
Westmoreland County Death Records at the Register of Wills
The Westmoreland County Register of Wills is the custodian of historical death records and estate files for the county. The phone number is 724-830-3177. Birth and death records from 1893 through 1905 are on file here. Marriage records go back to 1885 and run through the present day, covering more than 140 years of marriage documentation at the county level. Estate records from 1773 are among the older county-level probate collections in Pennsylvania and provide death documentation for the period from the county's founding through the start of formal registration in 1893.
Westmoreland County's estate records from 1773 are a particularly rich resource. A probate file from the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century can confirm when an individual died, name heirs and surviving relatives, and describe the decedent's property in considerable detail. For researchers working on Westmoreland County families from the Revolutionary era or the early republic, these estate files may be the only official documentation of a death. They are worth searching even when formal death certificates do exist, because the probate file often contains family information that the certificate does not include.
| Office | Westmoreland County Register of Wills Courthouse, Greensburg, PA 15601 Phone: 724-830-3177 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM |
| Records | Death and birth records 1893–1905; marriage 1885–present; estate records from 1773 |
Note: Estate records from 1773 are among the older collections in Pennsylvania and provide death documentation for almost the entire history of Westmoreland County, long before formal registration began.
Pennsylvania State Death Certificates for Westmoreland County
Deaths in Westmoreland County from 1906 forward are documented 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 ordering is available through the MyCertificates portal or through VitalChek.
The Pennsylvania State Archives holds Westmoreland County death certificates from 1906 through 1975. The online death indices allow researchers to search by name at no cost. Pennsylvania residents can access Ancestry at no charge through the State Archives program.
Westmoreland County Death Records and the Industrial Era
Westmoreland County's economy in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was driven by coal mining, steel production, and glass manufacturing. The county's proximity to Pittsburgh made it a natural extension of the industrial Monongahela Valley. Death records from this period document the hazards of industrial work and the diversity of the workforce, which included large communities of immigrants from Poland, Italy, Hungary, and other parts of Europe. Researchers tracing immigrant families in Westmoreland County often find that Catholic church records from ethnic parishes are the richest supplemental source for death information from the industrial era.
Latrobe in Westmoreland County has produced two of the most beloved cultural figures in American history. Arnold Palmer, the professional golfer, and Fred Rogers, the television host, were both born in Latrobe. Their connections to the community have made Westmoreland County a subject of broader cultural interest, and local historical societies in the Latrobe area maintain collections related to the county's notable residents. Researchers with no family connection to these individuals but who are working on Latrobe families from the same era may find that local historical society collections have useful context for the community in which their ancestors lived.
The Westmoreland County Register of Wills page on the county website provides current contact information and details about what records are held by the office. Checking this page before contacting the courthouse is always a good practice to confirm current hours and procedures.
Using Westmoreland County Estate Records for Death Research
Estate records from 1773 at the Westmoreland County Register of Wills are one of the most valuable resources for death research in this county. A complete estate file typically includes a will or administration petition, an inventory of property, and accounts of how the estate was distributed. These documents confirm the date of death, name surviving relatives, and describe the decedent's economic circumstances. For researchers working on deaths before 1893, the estate file may be the only official document that provides any of this information.
Searching the estate index at the Register of Wills is the standard way to locate a specific file. The index allows researchers to identify whether an estate was probated and to request the file for review. Some Westmoreland County probate records have been microfilmed and may be accessible through FamilySearch without a trip to Greensburg. Checking what is available online before planning an in-person visit can save time and help researchers focus on the records that are not yet digitized.
The image below is from the Westmoreland County Register of Wills page, which provides information about death records, estate files, and other vital record collections held by the county.
Westmoreland County Register of Wills maintains death records, estate files from 1773, and marriage records for Westmoreland County genealogy research.
The Register of Wills page is a useful reference for confirming what records are available and how to submit a request for historical documents.
Online Resources for Westmoreland County Death Records
FamilySearch provides free access to digitized and indexed records from many Pennsylvania counties. The FamilySearch catalog for Westmoreland County lists what collections are currently available online, including church records, probate files, and some vital record indexes. Searching the catalog before contacting the courthouse or the State Archives can identify which records are accessible remotely and which require a formal request or in-person visit.
Cemetery transcriptions for Westmoreland County have been compiled by local volunteers and are searchable online. These records cover many of the county's burial grounds and provide burial location information that supplements formal death certificates. Newspaper obituaries are another useful supplemental source for Westmoreland County deaths, and some historical editions of local papers have been digitized and indexed for online searching.
Nearby Counties
Westmoreland County borders several western Pennsylvania counties. Researchers tracing families in the Pittsburgh metro region and surrounding areas may find records in multiple county archives.