Allegany County, Maryland
Allegany County was created in 1789 (Chapter 29, Acts of 1789) and was formed from Washington County. The County was named from the Lenape Indian word oolikhanna, which means "beautiful stream.". The County Seat is Cumberland. A courthouse fire in 1893 destroyed marraige records for 1791-1847 and naturalizations for 1892-93
Pioneers in covered wagons followed an ancient Native American trail through the Cumberland Narrows, a 1,000-foot-high gap that forms the main pass through the Allegheny Mountains to the west. English settlers came in the mid-18th century and began mining and establishing towns and farms.
The city of Cumberland was established in 1785 and became the county seat when the county was chartered in 1789. George Washington spent part of his early career at Fort Cumberland and at a log cabin he used as his headquarters during the French and Indian War. The headquarters is now located at Riverside Park in Cumberland.
Counties adjacent to Allegany County are Somerset County, Pennsylvania (north), Bedford County, Pennsylvania (north), Fulton County, Pennsylvania (north), Washington County (east), Morgan County, West Virginia (south), Hampshire County, West Virginia (south), Mineral County, West Virginia (south), Garrett County (west).
Allegany County Cities Include Cumberland and Frostburg. (Unincorporated areas are also considered as towns by many people and listed in many collections of towns, but they lack local government.) Towns Include Barton, Lonaconing, Luke, Midland, Westernport. Communities Include Amecelle, Barrelville, Bier, Boden Shaft, Carlos, Clarysville, Corriganville, Danville, Dawson, Detmold, Dickens, Eckhart Mines, Evitts Creek, Flintstone, George's Creek, Klondike, Little Orleans, Midlothian, Mowcow, Narrows Park, Nikep, Oldtown, Pekin, Pinto, Rawlings, Shaft, Spring Gap, Town Creek, Vale Summit, Woodland, Zihlman.
Various organizations, such as the United States Census Bureau, the United States Postal Service, and local chambers of commerce, define the communities they wish to recognize differently, and since they are not incorporated, their boundaries have no official status outside the organizations in question. The Census Bureau recognizes the following census-designated places in the county: Cresaptown-Bel Air, La Vale.
County Court, Probate and Tax Records
Government records of Allegany County are available in original, microfilm and digital formats from the Maryland State Archives The Official County website is located at http://www.gov.allconet.org/.See also Courthouse History.
NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time. The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time. A courthouse fire in 1893 destroyed marraige records for 1791-1847 and naturalizations for 1892-93
Allegany County Register of Wills/ Clerk of Orphan's Court has Probate Records from 1790 and is located at 59 Prospect Square 1st floor, Cumberland, MD 21502 ;ph: (301) 724-3760, (888) 724-0148
The Register of Wills is responsible for appointing personal representatives to administer decedents estates and for overseeing the proper and timely administration of these proceedings. We also perform the following duties: assist and advise the public in the preparation of all required forms; maintain and preserve the permanent record of all proceedings; serve as the Clerk to the Orphans Court; track estates and refer delinquent matters to the Court; determine and collect inheritance taxes and probate fees/court costs; audit accounts of personal representatives and guardians; and, verify compliance with court orders.
Allegany County Circuit Court Clerk has Land Records from 1791 and Marriage Records from earliest to 1919 and is located at 30 Washington Street, Cumberland, Maryland 21502; Phone (301) 777-5922, Fax (301) 777-2100
The Clerk's responsibilities include supervising Clerk's office personnel in the civil, criminal, courtroom clerks, business license, marriage license, land records, and juvenile units.
There are a few online databases for Court, Land and Probate Records which include: Maryland Calendar of Wills, Maryland Marriages, 1655-1850 and Maryland Marriages, 1667-1899.
The earliest tax records are to be found among the proprietary papers, dating from the 1630s. At the Maryland State Archives is a tax list for St. Anne's Parish, Anne Arundel County, 1764-66. Also here are the surviving 1798 U.S. direct tax records, for Anne Arundel County (indexed), Baltimore County and City, and the counties of Caroline, Charles, Harford, Prince George's, Queen Anne's, Saint Mary's, Somerset, and Talbot.
Below is a list of online resources for Allegany County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Allegany County Court Records by clicking the link below:
County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records
Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.
Division of Vital Records Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, 6550 Reisterstown Rd., Reistertown Road Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21215; (410) 764-3038 or (800), 832-3277, Fax: (410) 358-0738. The Division of Vital Records of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issues certified copies of birth, death, fetal death, and marriage certificates for events that occur in Maryland. The Division also provides divorce verifications. The Division provides information on procedures to follow for registering an adoption, legitimation, or an adjudication of paternity.
Allegany County Health Department has Births, Death and marriage records after 1919, P.O. Box 1745, 12500 Willowbrook Road SE, Cumberland, Maryland 21501-1745; (301)777-5600
RECORDS AVAILABILITY AND COST
- Birth Certificates: The state of Maryland began issuing certificates for births since Aug 1898. Birth certificates for individuals born in Maryland after 1939 are also available for same day service at local health departments in all jurisdictions except Montgomery County, Baltimore City, and Baltimore County. The State of Maryland Archives has Birth certificates since 1875 for Baltimore City and 1898 for Maryland counties.
- Cost is $25.00 per certificate, payment is payable to the Division of Vital Records. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $12.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
- Death Certificates:The state of Maryland began issuing certificates for deaths since since 1969. Within 30 days of a death, copies of the record may also be obtained from the local health department in which the funeral director filed the death certificate, with the exception of Baltimore City and Baltimore County health departments. You must apply in person at the appropriate local health department. The State of Maryland Archives has Death certificates prior to 1969.
- Cost is $25.00 per certificate, payment is payable to the Division of Vital Records. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $12.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
- Marriage Certificates: The state of Maryland began issuing certificates for marriage since since Jan 1, 1990. The State of Maryland Archives has Marriage certificates since 1640. Marriage Certificates are availible since before Jan 1, 1990 from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the license was issued.
- Cost: $25.00 from the Division of Vital Records, payment is payable to the Division of Vital Records. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $12.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail. Contact the Maryland Archives and the Clerk of the Circuit Court for fees.
- Divorce Certificates: The Division of Vital Records issues verification only since Jan 1961. Certified copies should be available from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the divorce was granted. Fees vary.
- Cost: $25.00 from the Division of Vital Records, payment is payable to the Division of Vital Records. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $12.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail. Contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court for fees.
ORDERING RECORDS
- Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.
- Order In Person: Birth certificates for individuals with valid, government-issued photo identification who were born in Maryland are available for same day service at the Division of Vital Records in Baltimore. Same day service is also available at local health departments in all jurisdictions except Montgomery County, Baltimore City, and Baltimore County for individuals born after 1939.
- Order By Mail: Turn around is estimated at 3 to 6 weeks from the day the request is received. However, people are urged to allow sufficient time for delivery for all birth/death records. Mail a check or money order of $12.00 for each certified certificate. Do not send cash. Mail to the following address: The Division of Vital Records, 6550 Reisterstown Road, Reisterstown Road Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21215. Please include return address on envelope and application form. Allow 3 to 6 weeks for the search by mail for Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records.
The Maryland State Archives maintains many records that are invaluable for biographical and genealogical research. These include birth records, adoption records, marriage records, divorce records, and death records, and some indices to these records.
Below is a list of online resources for Allegany County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Allegany County Vital Records by clicking the link below:
County Census Records
Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable
Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Allegany County, Maryland are 1790 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1910, 1920 and 1940.
Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Allegany County, Maryland are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.
Below is a list of online resources for Allegany County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Allegany County Census Records by clicking the link below:
County Maps & Atlases
Below is a list of online resources for Allegany County Maps. Email us with websites containing Allegany County Maps by clicking the link below:
County Military Records
Below is a list of online resources for Allegany County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Allegany County Military Records by clicking the link below:
- Submit a website for Allegany Co. Military Records
- Maryland: Muster Rolls & Other Records of Service of Maryland Troops in the American Revolution
- Maryland: History and Roster of Maryland Volunteers War of 1861-5 Volume 1
- Maryland: History and Roster of Maryland Volunteers War of 1861-5 Volume 2
- Maryland Society of Daughters of the American Revolution
- National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution,
- Maryland Society of Sons of the American Revolution,
- National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, 1000 South Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203; (502) 589-1776
- Maryland Military Men, 1917-18: This database is a massive collection of military records for men who served in the war from Maryland.
- Maryland Revolutionary War Records: This database is a collection of pension and bounty land claims on the state for military service in the war.
- Maryland Soldiers in the Civil War, Vol. 1: With over 36,000 records of soldiers, sailors and marines in the Union Army and Navy from 1861 to 1865, this database is of interest to anyone with ancestors from Maryland who served in the Civil War.
- Maryland Soldiers in the Civil War, Vol. 2: The second volume in a two-volume series, this volume embraces all of the sailors, marines and other troops from Maryland who served in the Union army or navy.
- Southern Claims - Barred and Disallowed from the State of Maryland (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents In the 1870s, southerners claimed compensation from the U.S. government for items used by the Union Army, ranging from corn and horses, to trees and church buildings.
- Civil War Veterans Organization Index of Pension Files from the State of Maryland (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Pension applications for service in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served.
- Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 from the State of Maryland
(The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
- Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War
(The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M881. Compiled service records of soldiers who served in the American Army during the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783 from the State of Maryland.
- Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files from the State of Maryland
(The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, from NARA publication M804.
- Allegany County, Maryland Military Books at Amazon.com
County Genealogical Addresses
Below is a list of online resources for Allegany County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Allegany County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:
- Submit a website for Allegany Co. Genealogical Addresses
- Whilbr (Western Maryland Historical Library) - Allegany County
- Western Maryland Historical Regional Library, 100 South Potomac Street, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740 - Historical documents and photographs from the libraries and historical societies of Allegany, Garrett and Washington Counties, Maryland
- Allegany County Historical Society, History House, 218 Washington St., Cumberland, MD 21502 - 2827, (301) 777-8678, e-mail: hhouse@allconet.org,
- Genealogical Society of Allegany County, Allegany College of Maryland Library, 12401 Willowbrook Road, SE, Cumberland, MD 21502-2596; Mailing Address: remains P. O. Box 3103, LaVale, MD 21504. Our hours are Monday, 9-4; Tuesday, 9:30-12; Wednesday, 9-12; Thursday and Friday, 10-2.
- Allegany Co Public Library, 31 Washington Str, Cumberland, MD 21502; Ph: 301-777-1200; Fax: 301-777-7299
- South Cumberland Library, 100 Seymour Str, Cumberland, MD 21502; Ph: 301-724-1607, Fax: 301-724-1504
- Maryland State Archives, 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401
- Maryland Genealogical Society, 201 W. Monument Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-4674.
Publishes the Maryland Genealogical Society Bulletin Quarterly.
- The Maryland Historical Society, 201 W. Monument Street, Baltimore MD 21201-4674
Has published a quarterly magazine Maryland Historical Magazinefor over 90 years
- Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
- Maryland Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
County County Cemeteries & Graveyards
There are many churches and cemeteries in Allegany County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Allegany County Tombstone Transcription Project.
Below is a list of online resources for Allegany County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Allegany County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:
County Church & Bible Records
Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits
The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.
When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Allegany County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Allegany County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below: