|
Birth and Death Records
The early records are in the Probate
Office at the courthouse. A volume with the title
"Births, Deaths and Marriages" located in the marriage
department, contains these records for a one year
period: 1 April 1856 through 31 March 1857. Births and
deaths were not recorded again until 1 April 1864. The
records were kept by the County until 20 December1908.
After 20 December 1908 they were recorded at the County
Health Department.
In Mahoning County the records (after 20 December 1908
until the present time) are available at the City of
Youngstown Vital Statistics Office, Located at the
Renaissance Center on Oak Hill Ave.
The pre-1908 births and deaths were reported by the
attending physician (if there was one) a neighbor, a
parent, a friend, whoever might be going to town and
would stop at the court house and tell the clerk of the
event. The law about recording these events was not
enforced THERE ARE / WERE NO CERTIFICATES! prior to 20
December 1908.
Eventually (in the 1880s) the Tax
Assessor of each township started recording the births
and deaths. While he was going around assessing
properties he would ask if anyone had been born or had
died in the last year in the family. If no-one was home,
the birth or death wasn't recorded, so there are many
cases where there is NO RECORD, although you know a
person was born or died here. The assessor wrote the
information on whatever piece of paper he had handy.
When he arrived at the courthouse he gave it to the
clerk, who recorded the information in large volumes.
Each entry was written across two pages and the large
books are impossible to photocopy. If the tax assessor
or clerk had poor handwriting, or the clerk was very
busy, mistakes were made in the transcribing. The
mistakes made may only be corrected by the individual
concerned. If that individual is deceased, the mistake
stands. The clerk cannot change it now. Errors are still
made today, when vital statistics are recorded.
Early death records seldom mention parents' names. They
were not required unless the deceased was an unnamed
infant.
In the 1930s the WPA indexed the ledgers and the data on
the ledger pages was entered on 3x5 cards. The index
cards make it easier to check the records. Because of
poor handwriting, faded ink, or unfamiliarity with the
names, some times an indexer couldn't decipher a name.
In which case there was no card made for the entry and
that persons' name/event did not make the card file.
Plus, in the years since the cards were generated some
researchers have taken cards, so please respect those
researchers who will follow you and return the cards to
their proper place. You must be aware of the possibility
of mistakes and use the records carefully. Be sure to
allow for variant spellings. If you know the approximate
date of the event, the ledgers can be checked. The
information in the ledgers was entered chronologically,
not alphabetically, so you must have a month and year
date at least. If an index card is found with the
information you need, you will receive a copy of that
card. The copies are accepted by most lineage societies.
From 1892 to 20 December 1908, Youngstown City deaths
were recorded by the City Health Department and can be
found in the Vital Statistics Office, in Youngstown.
County deaths from 1922 will also be found in the City
Health Department.
The City of Campbell started their Board of Health in
1932. This office was closed in 2002 and the records
transferred to Youngstown. Struthers and Sebring opened
their Boards of Health in 1909. All records are kept to
date. Sebring did have a fire and some of their early
records were destroyed.
Marriage Records
Marriage records have been kept by the county since its
beginning in 1846. Please be aware, in Ohio, parents
names were not required until 1 January 1899. If either
the bride or groom was under age, parents or guardians
were required to give their consent. Infrequently, the
parent's names were recorded. But usually the record
just says, "Parent's consent given in open Court,"
without naming them. The one exception before 1899, is
the little book mentioned earlier, Births Deaths and
Marriages, which sometimes names the parents.
MARRIAGE LICENSES WERE NOT REQUIRED UNTIL 1945. A couple
could be married by any licensed clergyman if "Bans"
were published in the church three times before the
marriage. If the officiating clergyman didn't 'return'
the marriage to the courthouse - THERE IS NO RECORD at
the official level.
Guardianships,
Adoptions and Probate Records
Guardianship records are in the Probate Office, from
1846 to date.
ADOPTIONS ARE SEALED AND ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR RESEARCH.
Probate records (Wills and Estates) have been kept from
the time of the county's formation and are available on
microfilm and microfiche. Copies may be made from the
reading machine and are 5 cents each page. The original
Probate Records (1846 though ca 1900) are at the
Mahoning Valley Historical Society Archival Library,
behind the Arms Museum, and may be copied there.
Land Records, Service Discharges - Grave Registrations -
Naturalizations
Soldier's Discharges (which date from the Civil War) may
be photocopied from the ledgers and the copies are free.
They are found in the Clerk of Courts Office at the
Court House.
The deeds, for the land that became Mahoning County,
were copied from the original records in each of the
parent counties. Deed copies are 5 cents per page and
are made from the microfilm. If the staff is busy, you
may have to order the copies and return for them
later. They are found in the Clerk of Courts Office at
the Court House.
We do not recommend phone calls to the various
departments. The clerks are busy with today's business
and can't be much help over the phone. There are
volunteers from the local genealogical society in the
courthouse on most Thursdays. They will be glad to help
you locate the records you are seeking. The courthouse
is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm
and is closed on all government holidays.
Naturalization information is in the Clerk of Courts
Office in the County Annex Building, at 2801 Market
Street, Youngstown.
Other Places for Research
We
have provided addresses for the libraries, etc. that
have genealogical research material within their
holdings.
The Maag Library at Youngstown State University does not
have a "Genealogical Section," but you would do well to
check their microfilm holdings and they have most
volumes of the published Pennsylvania Archives and the
published New Jersey Archives.
The Youngstown Public Library [main branch] has an
extensive genealogical collection in the 2nd floor
Reference
Room. They have old newspapers [not indexed], various
census years and city directories [all on microfilm] and
a fine collection of other research helps. A Chapter
volunteer is there each Thursday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.
The Mahoning Valley Historical Society Library has the
actual city directories, the original Probate Files from
February 1846 through 1900, and many other original
manuscripts. They do charge a small fee for using the
library, but it is well worth it.
The Youngstown Historical Center of History and Labor,
[Ohio Historical Society] has the early birth and death
records of Ohio, The Youngstown Sheet and Tube
Newsletter and various other research materials. There
is no charge when visiting the genealogical section of
the museum.
All these facilities are a short distance from downtown
Youngstown and parking is usually not a problem. Each
place is handicapped accessible.
|
