Early Philadelphia Pennsylvania Church Records

Because the keeping of vital records began late in the history of Pennsylvania, church records play a major roll in family history research. It is important that the researcher know the religious affiliation of their ancestor and be able to identify the church or churches their ancestor attended. Ministers assigned to a particular church may have “rode the circuit’ to outlying areas to perform marriages, etc. for their followers. Records for itinerant (circuit riders) ministers may be recorded in their personal records or the records of the church where they are assigned. County histories may help to identify pastors who served in particular counties and what churches they were assigned too.

Christ Church
- Burial Account Book, 1772-1786
- Pew Rent Account Book, 1778 September
- Pew Rent Account Book, 1779 March
- Pew Rent Account Book, 1780 March
- Pew Rent Account Book, 1780 September
- Pew Rent Account Book, 1781 March
- Pew rent account book, Christ Church and St. Peter’s Church combined
- Register of Baptisms, 1763-1810
- Register of Baptisms, 1811-1831
- Register of Baptisms, 1829-1868
- Register of baptisms, marriages, and burials, 1709-1718
- Register of baptisms, marriages, and burials, 1717-1749
- Register of baptisms, marriages, and burials, 1750-1762
- Register of burials, 1832-1978 (partial; through 1870)
- Register of burials, Christ Church and St. Peter’s Church, 1763-1831
- Register of marriages, 1836-1979 (Partial; through 1870)
- Register of marriages, Christ Church and St. Peter’s Church, 1763-1835
- Steeple accounts, 1751-1755 Journal containing financial records beginning May 10, 1751, and ending May 9, 1755, that include the expenditures and disbursements for the construction of the steeple and bells at Christ Church. Title on first page: “The Steeple of Christ Church in Philadelphia, to Jacob Duché, Treasurer.”
- Subscription accounts for the building and steeple fund, 1739-1754 Christ Church Building and Steeple Fund 1739-1754 is a bound manuscript that records financial transactions for items/services sold and/or purchased for construction of Christ Church building and Steeple. Includes incoming and outgoing funds for services and goods, and names of individuals paying for and providing services for the construction of the church building and the steeple.
Congregation Mikveh Israel
First Baptist Church
First Presbyterian Church
- Bill of Burials, 1796-1797
- Burial List, 1799
- Burial List, 1800
- List of Subscribers for Rebuilding, 1796, vol 1
- List of Subscribers for Rebuilding, 1796, vol 2
- List of Subscribers for Rebuilding, 1796, vol 3
- Membership, 1774-ca 1803
- Pew Committee Records, 1774-1786
- Pew rent books, 1783-1785, v. 1
- Pew rent books, 1787, v. 2
- Pew rent books, 1789, v. 3
- Pew rent books, 1790, v. 4
- Pew rent books, 1791-1792, v. 5
- Pew rent books, 1793-1794, v.6
- Pew rent books, 1794-1795, v. 7
- Pew rent books, 1796, v. 8
- Pew rent books, 1798, v. 9
- Pew rent books, 1798-1799, v. 10
- Pew rent books, 1799-1800, v. 11
- Strangers buried, 1797-1798 Record of people buried at First Presbyterian Church who were unaffiliated with any parish between 1st of May 1797-1st of May 1798. Each burial listing includes the date, name of individual, and amount paid to First Presbyterian Church for burial.
Gloria Dei Church
- Baptismal Records, 1804-1878
- Funeral Records, 1803-1816
- Funeral Records, 1822-1927
- Marriages, Baptisms, and Burials, 1750-1789
- Marriages, Baptisms, and Burials, 1793-1795
- Marriage Records, 1791-1822
- Marriage Records, 1795-1799
- Marriage Records, 1799-1856
- Tombstone inscriptions, 1877 Bound manuscript records the information found on tombstones in the Gloria Dei Church Yard. Short description of deceased individuals date of death, birth year, occupation, and any related or surviving individuals.
Second Presbyterian Church
St. James Church
- Register of baptisms, 1811-1831
- Register of baptisms, 1829-1868
St. Paul’s Church
- Internment Records, 1811-1852
- Lottery Account Book, 1773
- Lottery Account Book, 1774
- Marriage Records, 1759-1835
- Marriage Register, 1760-1802
- Marriage Register, 1786-1813
- Parish Register, 1829-1865
- Parish Register, 1866-1888
- Receipt Book, 1794-1809
- Register of Burials, 1856-1869
- Parish Registers, Vol. 1, 1821-1829 Marriages (1821-1829); Funerals (1821-1829); Baptisms (1821-1829); Confirmations (1820-1826) Bound manuscript includes marriages, funerals, and baptisms from 1821-1829. Also includes confirmations from 1822-1826 and communions from 1821-1824. Each Baptism listed includes the date of baptism, the name of the person(s) receiving baptism, and date of birth. Each confirmation listed includes a list of names performed in a specific month and year. Communions include the names of communicants and date (day, month, year) of when admitted to the altar, where confirmed, their age, and any other remarks. Marriage listings include the date of marriage (date, month, year) and the names of individuals receiving holy matrimony. Funeral record listings include date of burial, name of person(s) receiving burial, and age upon death.
- Parish Registers, 1759-1835 Vestry 1760-1762; Marriages 1759-1804-1835; Deaths 1790-1812; Baptisms 1782-1834 The bound volume consists of Vestry Minutes from 1760-1762, Marriage Records from 1759-1835, Burial Records from 1790-1812, and Baptism Records from 1782-1834. Vestry minutes consist of a description of the meeting and members present. Marriage records include the date of the marriage ceremony and the names of the people receiving holy matrimony. Burial records consist of the age of death, date of death, and the name of the person who died. Baptism records include the name(s) of people receiving baptism and the date of the baptism.
St. Peter’s Burial Ground
Third Presbyterian Church

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