Milford Genealogy Records

Milford genealogy research is well-served by local and regional resources. The Milford Historical Society offers genealogy research services and maintains an indexed collection of local obituaries. Church records going back to the 1820s are available through FamilySearch for several Milford congregations. Milford straddles the Kent and Sussex county lines, so researchers may need to check both counties for vital records, land records, and probate files. The Delaware Public Archives and Office of Vital Statistics in Dover handle state-level records for Milford residents.

Milford Historical Society Genealogy Services

The Milford Historical Society offers genealogy research assistance and can be reached at genealogy@milfordhistory.org. The society has indexed local obituaries from 1929 through 1949, and the index is available online. You can request searches through the Milford Public Library at http://milfordlibrary.info/find-information/milford-times-obituary-request.

The society publishes member-contributed stories and articles researched and written by its members. A historic pictures project sells prints of historic Milford area photographs from the museum collection, available in sizes from 10 inches to 24 inches, priced from $30 to $120. Contact the museum at Photos@milfordhistory.org for information about the photograph collection. The society is also active on Facebook and Instagram.

The Milford Public Library at 11 SE Front St, Milford, DE 19963 provides library cardholders with access to online databases, historical newspapers, and Delaware government records. Reference staff can help locate court records, property records, and vital records.

Milford Genealogy Church Records

Milford has an unusually rich set of church records available at the FamilySearch Library. Several congregations have records spanning the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s, which fills the gap between older courthouse records and the modern vital records system. These church registers are among the most detailed local records available for Milford genealogy.

Church records available at the FamilySearch Library include Mispillion Presbyterian Church records from 1826 to 1874, First Presbyterian Church records from 1852 to 1887, St. John the Apostle Catholic Church records from 1911 to 1970, the Register and Index of First Methodist Protestant Church from 1910 to 1940, the Register of Christ Church from 1880 to 1914, and the Register of Milford Presbyterian Church from 1849 to 1888. These registers typically include baptisms, marriages, and burials and can contain information not found anywhere else for this period.

Milford Newspapers and Historical Maps

Several newspapers serve Milford genealogy research. The Milford Beacon runs from November 2010 to current at GenealogyBank. An early edition from 1854 is at Newspapers.com. The Milford Chronicle runs from January 2007 to current at GenealogyBank, with abstracts of births, marriages and deaths from 1901 to 1904 at WorldCat. The Diamond State ran from 1855 to 1857 at Newspapers.com. The Peninsular News and Advertiser ran from August 1861 to February 1863 and September 1872 to June 1877 at GenealogyBank and Newspapers.com. The Sussex Post runs from January 2007 to current at GenealogyBank.

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps for Milford are available at the Library of Congress. These maps cover July 1891, July 1897, May 1885, May 1910, November 1919, and September 1904. Sanborn maps show the layout of buildings and properties at a given point in time, which helps researchers understand where families lived and what structures existed on property they owned.

Record categories available through genealogy databases for Milford include birth, cemetery, census, church, city directories, death, histories and genealogies, immigration, land, marriage, newspapers and obituaries, probate, and school records.

Milford Vital Records and County Offices

Milford straddles the Kent-Sussex county line, so the county that applies depends on which side of town a record was created. For vital records, the Office of Vital Statistics central office at 417 Federal Street, Dover, DE 19901, (302) 744-4549, handles records from the entire state. Certified copies cost $25 each. Online ordering is available through VitalChek.com and GoCertificates.com.

For marriage licenses, Sussex County residents go to the Sussex County Clerk of the Peace at 2 The Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947, (302) 855-7850. The fee is $50. Both parties must appear in person with valid ID. No waiting period or blood test is required. The license is valid for 30 days. The Georgetown Historical Society at 510 S. Bedford Street, Georgetown, DE 19947, (302) 855-9660, serves the Milford area. The Sussex County Genealogical Society also serves Milford researchers.

The Delaware Public Archives in Dover at 121 Duke of York Street, (302) 744-5000, maintains historical records for Milford. Delaware residents can access many digitized records free through the Digital Ancestry Partnership. Under Delaware Code Title 16, Chapter 31, the access thresholds are 72 years for births, 40 years for deaths, and 50 years for marriages.

Note: Several funeral homes serve Milford including Bennie Smith Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Berry-Short Funeral Homes, Cartwright Family Mortuary, Lofland Funeral Home, McPherson Funeral Services, and Rogers-Hovatter Funeral Home. These homes may hold historical records including obituaries and burial information. Contact them directly regarding older records.

Nearby Delaware Cities

Several other Delaware cities have genealogy resources that can help with research in the Milford area.

Milford genealogy records are split between Kent County and Sussex County depending on the location of the record.