Pennsylvania Genealogy: Historical Background

Chronology

1643

First permanent settlement by Swedes on the Delaware.

1681

William Penn receives Pennsylvania as royal grant.

1701

Philadelphia chartered as a city.

1714

The Amish begin settlement in Berks County.

1754

French establish Fort Duquesne at the forks of the Ohio.

French and Indian War begins with French and Indians fighting the British.

1758

French troops retreat and burn Fort Duquesne; British General Forbes occupies area and names it "Pittsbourgh."

1767

Mason/Dixon Line sets boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland.

1774

First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia.

1790

New state constitution for Pennsylvania.

Congress establishes Philadelphia as seat of federal government.

1792

Purchase of "Erie Triangle" to complete present state.

1794

Uprising against excise tax known as "Whiskey Rebellion."

1838

New state constitution.

1852-5

Pennsylvania counties keep vital statistics records.

1863

The Civil War Battle of Gettysburg is fought.

1867

First practical Bessemer steel made at Steelton.

1869

Pennsylvania Railroad reaches west to Columbus, Ohio.

1874

New state constitution.

1877

Railroad riots cause destruction and deaths.

1885

Marriage license applications begin in county records.

1893

Births and deaths recorded by counties.

1906

State records of births and deaths begin.

1985

State law closes access to original birth records held in the state depository.

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