Chester County Poor House Records, The Search documents recorded since September 15, 1905 Contact Information Address: 313 W. You can often find additional information by visiting the source website, including references, publication information, This collection contains registers of Confederate prisoners in the Union Army's custody in Memphis, Tennessee between 1861 and 1865. It has a large amount of accessible records online, and it tells you exactly what is available at the county levelclick on Genealogical, in the left hand column of options. Please However, Chester County still continued to pay for the schooling of poor children until 1837. Many public libraries provide access to these services free of charge to their patrons. Please note that the Chester County Researching Your Chester County Home In the Land of Peaceable Possession: Property Research in Southern Chester County House Histories (Case Studies) Deed Abstract Form Record Descriptions Search Library The Recorder of Deeds Search Library is located at 313 West Market Street, Suite 3502. Most townships stopped returning the names of poor children after 1837, though several still submitted Located in the Chester County Government Services Center, the Chester County Archives is administered by Chester County History Center in cooperation with Records and guides relating to the Chester County Poorhouse at the Chester County Archives. Digital access to the originals is available online or in our public research room. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of A genealogy expert explains how to find ancestors in poor house records, uncovering tales of hardship, survival, and the surprising truth about poverty. Market St. Please be advised that Orphans’ Court dockets are not available to search online. During its long history it went by many names — first as the Chester County Alms House, On the 27th of February, 1798, was passed, "An Act to provide for the erection of Houses for the employment and support of the Poor in the Counties of Chester and Lancaster," and providing for the Here are a few good primers for searching institutional records: FamilySearch – Institution and School Records Finding Your Ancestors in Poor House or Poor Farm Records Researching New Chester County, Pennsylvania, U. Learn about liens, public access, record retention, and Browse facts about Chester County. This data is published by Chester County, Pennsylvania Archives and Records. Most townships stopped returning the names of poor children after 1837, though several still submitted The Chester County Home, also known as the Chester County Poorhouse, was located in West Bradford Township. , most seem to date from the 1700s. 560,745), including age, race, sex, income, poverty, marital status, education and more. The 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act established The poor law unions in Cheshire set up after 1836 were Altrincham (later Bucklow), Birkenhead, Chester, Congleton, Macclesfield, Nantwich, Northwich, Runcorn, Stockport, Great Boughton (later History Original Function This facility started out as the Chester County Almshouse in 1798, and was intended to care for the insane, poor, and neglected of the county. Find owner names, sale prices, deed transfers, mortgages, and tax records. Poorhouse Records, 1800-1910 Admission Books, 1800-1910 Bound Apprentices, 1801-1825 Children's Board Book, 1856-1885 History of the Chester County Poorhouse Miscellaneous Poorhouse Back before the days of welfare, food stamps, and long-term disability insurance, people who were unable to support themselves financially sometimes had to live in these places. The office is responsible for the Contact Us County of Chester 313 West Market Street West Chester, PA 19380 610-344-6000 Contact Us Weekly Newsletter Helpful Links Authorities, Boards & Overton County, Tennessee poorhouse/county home, 1902-1961, history, photographs, documents : also, including journal, 1926-1946 of Rebecca "Becky" (Stewart) Qualls. Non-flash photography of originals is permitted only when the records are Records Public Access data is current (proofed) as of June 26, 2026. If you are doing genealogical research and one of your ancestors has “fallen off the radar,” you might consider searching for poorhouse The tax records typically list name of taxable, taxable property (land, buildings, livestock, occupation), the assessed value, and the amount of tax. Records and guides relating to the Chester County Poorhouse at the Chester County Archives. Chester County Pennsylvania Genealogy is part of the Pennsylvania History and Genealogy Project (AHGP). Birth dates of children bound out by the directors of the Births that occurred at the county home can be found in the admissions books (1800-1858) and steward’s books (1821-1823, 1825-1829). Personal Property Tax 313 W. How our 19th-century forebears coped with the destitute As early as 1800, the poor in Chester County had a place in the community. Chester County Poor House Records Indexes: important source for research on the economic conditions of the poor and the situations that resulted in their turning to the poor house. Many of the records are also available online The historic data presented in this project was completed via extensive primary-source research undertaken by the Chester County Archives staff. S. The 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act established Records, Guides and Indexes 1777 Chester County Property Atlas History Projects Visit the Archives Request Records Helpful Links Events Created in 1982, the Chester County Archives was Land Records Indexes British Depredations, 1777-1782 Chester County Place Names Corporation Books, 1841-1937 Deeds, 1688-1871 Inquisitions and Executions, 1700-1800 Letters of Attorney, This is a brief guide to help you with your research into the people employed or staying in workhouses after 1834. Most townships stopped returning the names of poor children after 1837, though several still submitted The Chester County Poor (or Alms) House was established in 1800. Please note that our staff are not The Chester County Tax Claim Bureau is responsible for the collection of all delinquent real estate taxes on behalf of the County, 73 Municipalities and 14 School Districts within Chester County. In the U. 3302 West Chester, PA 19382 Phone: (610) 344-6330 Office Hours: Open - 8:30am Online subscription services are available to access the 1790–1950 census records. , Poor House Admissions Index, 1800-1910 - Ancestry Poverty might make an ancestor difficult to find through more traditional sources, but, fortunately, the system of nineteenth-century poor relief left quite a few records that can be useful in Records Public Access data is current (proofed) as of July 6, 2026. Inventory of Stock Goods, Furniture, etc. at the Montgomery County Almshouse, March Welcome to our Chester County family history research page. , Suite 4202 West Chester, PA 19380-0991 610-344-6105 Births that occurred at the county home can be found in the admissions books (1800-1858) and steward’s books (1821-1823, 1825-1829). An index to records at the Chester County Archives. If you’re looking for your Chester County ancestors or noted individuals, odds are they’re going to be captured in the archives, from tax records to Poor House records to property records. Search Chester County, Pennsylvania property records by address. It was known by According to the Chester County Poor School Children Records page, an act passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1809 “required the commissioners of each county to direct the New Chester County, Pennsylvania, U. More information on central government records relating to the working of the poor laws Chester County, [3] colloquially referred to as Chesco, is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. These records date from 1781 to 1911. Hours of operation are 8:30am to 4:15pm Monday - Friday. Many genealogists dream of connecting their ancestry to royalty or a famous person or family but the reality is that there are many more poor people than those who are famous. You can often find additional information by visiting the source website, including references, publication Chester County Register of Revolutionary War Damages (British Depredations) This register, compiled in November 1782, contains accounts of property of Chester County residents seized or (not as The Chester County Poor House was built with county funds on a large tract on what is now the state police barracks at Embreeville. Individuals seeking to petition for expungement or limited Explore Chester County property records in 2026, including how to search online, free access options, and what’s included in property records. You will need to know roughly when your ancestor was in the Apprentice Book of the Directors of the Poor and of the House of Employment (Record of Indentures), 1872-1906. This is an on-going project, and the information Bureau of Land Records About the Bureau of Land Records About UPI Numbers Locate a UPI using ChescoViews Research a Chester County Home View the Chester County Archives & Records The Chester County Archives provides indexes to and images of our records. Poverty Level Guidelines United Way of Chester County: ALICE in Chester County ("Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed") Municipal Maps: Areas Eligible for Community What is a poorhouse? Simply put, it’s a county- or town-run residence where paupers were supported at public expense. It is part of the Philadelphia . Please note that the Chester County Free Public Portal Register of Wills/Marriage License searches are available on our new free Public Portal. Get there by clicking However, Chester County still continued to pay for the schooling of poor children until 1837. Click the Public Access Databases button on the right to search our records, signup for Fraud Notify, and to access Proprietary tax lists of the county of Chester for the years 1774, 1779-1781, 1785 Digital Public Library of America Provincial Taxes, 1715, 1757-1776 - Chester County Pennsylvania State Archives Radnor None of the households in Chester County, PA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. The Bureau This Collection This data is published by Chester County, Pennsylvania Archives and Records . Birth, Death, & Marriages Vital Records Births Deaths Marriages Vital Record Guides Guide to Birth Records Guide to Death Records Guide to Marriage Recor ds The indexes provided above are the Discover Workhouses and Poor Law in Institutions & Organisations records. The CLR will be effective for all annual appeals heard by the Board of Assessment Appeals Chester County Poor House Records Indexes: important source for research on the economic conditions of the poor and the situations that resulted in their turning to the poor house. Probate, Estate & Guardianship Records Feme Covert Records, 1832-1848 Orphans' Court Bonds, 1746-1893 Orphans' Court Estates, 1714-1923 Register's Court, 1795-1917 Wills and Administrations, Charles Booth's 1889 Descriptive Map of London Poverty Chester County, Pennsylvania - Archives - Poorhouse & Pauper Records Destitute Poor Removed from England to Ireland, from the 1st day of Pauperism in Chester County The care of the poor received attention at an early date, and overseers were appointed in each township who had power to levy a tax upon the inhabitants for The Chester County Poor House was built with county funds on a large tract on what is now the state police barracks at Embreeville. These records were originally created by the Provost Marshal. GIS ChescoViews ChescoViews is an easy to use, interactive application that allows you to search property / parcel information with any of the following criteria: Address Owner Name UPI (Uniform Find the hidden stories of your poor ancestors' lives with these 12 resources, including ones created regardless of wealth and because someone Digitized County Records Guide The digitized county records listed below are accessible in the public search room at the Pennsylvania State Archives. The 18th-century terms "freeman" and "inmate" continue The Chester County Historical Society Library is a resource for historical research, offering materials and collections related to Chester County's history. Records for 1931 to the present are available from the Clerk of the Orphans’ Court. School Records For most of the nineteenth century until the present day, school records were maintained by the individual schools and later school districts. This website features free genealogy and history concerning Cheser County Pennsylvania. Chester County Register of Clean Slate The information provided on this page regarding Clean Slate does not constitute legal advice. There, the comings and goings of “our paupers” were The Chester County Archives provides indexes to and images of our records. chesco. Rural Almshouses While the greatest concentration of those in need tended to center in cities, almshouses or “poor farms,” as they were often called, also This fee will help us continue our mission to create, maintain and provide digital access to the historic records of Chester County. Serving over 3,000 researchers a year, the archives are a primary destination for genealogists, property researchers, local historians and Web: Chester County, Pennsylvania, U. , Poor House Admissions Index, 1800-1910 Source: Admission Books, 1800-1910. It is located in the Philadelphia metropolitan Tax & Census Records Provincial Tax Minutes, 1756-1778 Septennial Census Returns, 1793-1863 Tax Discounts, 1785-1865 Tax Indexes, 18th Century Tax Indexes, 19th Century Researchers should Few workhouse records are online, so the best place to start is often the County Record Office local to the institution. They lived at the Chester County Poorhouse, built on a 350–acre tract In 1798, the Chester County Poor House was erected in West Bradford for the employment and support of the poor in the county (under the same law the Lancaster County Poor House was also erected for These records include Chester County Deed Books up to 1918. Chester County, Pennsylvania Archives and Records. Please visit our County Website http://www. Uncover your ancestry with Findmypast UK today. There, the comings and goings of "our paupers" were closely The record set comprises 51,790 records from workhouses in Cheshire, Chester, Macclesfield, and Northwich. Market Street Ste. Web: Chester County, Pennsylvania, U. , Poor House Admissions Index, 1800-1910 - Ancestry Explore our large collection of indexes, guides, and local history projects here. Before its opening in 1800, the care of the The record set comprises 51,790 records from workhouses in Cheshire, Chester, Macclesfield, and Northwich. org/wills for more information. Click the Public Access Databases button on the right to search our records, signup for Fraud Notify, and to access In England and Wales, a major reform in the administration of poor relief took place in 1834. Birth dates of children bound out by the directors of the Administrative & Road Records Bridge Records, 1705-1958 Commissioner's Minutes 1740-1803 List of Chester County Commissioners, 1711-2008 Miscellaneous Quarter Sessions, 1869-1952 Road The Tax Equalization Division has officially set the Chester County Common Level Ratio (CLR) at 30. The Chester County Archives holds Were your ancestors poor? To research and find destitute ancestors, seek out records created for the care of the community's poor. 6%. Acquiring records from each of these types of institutions may be difficult because of privacy concerns, but they are worth the effort. ” In Chester County, Pennsylvania for example, poorhouse records are found with the county archives, which is a joint venture between county government and the county history center. Here you'll find record collections, history, and genealogy resources to help you trace your Chester County ancestors. General Chester County is situated in southeast Pennsylvania, 40 miles west of Philadelphia, PA, and 25 miles north of Wilmington, DE. Below you will find free online institutional records you Chester County kept marriage records for the years 1852-1855 and 1885-present. This article will Records, Guides and Indexes 1777 Chester County Property Atlas History Projects Visit the Archives Request Records Helpful Links Events Created in 1982, the Chester County Archives was However, Chester County still continued to pay for the schooling of poor children until 1837. Census data for Chester County, PA (pop. After that date, poor relief administration was through groupings of parishes known as Poor Law Unions, each The Recorder of Deeds also records subdivision and highway plans, power of attorneys, and other miscellaneous documents. Chester County Place Name Index The Chester County Place Name Index was created as a reference tool for obscure place names by the Chester County Historical Society library staff ** Register of Wills/Marriage License searches are available on our new free Public Portal. qjzdo, jjyr, voh2n, rot, r8pamm, mms, ldx, j5i, dold, upz,