Find Somerset County Genealogy Records

Somerset County genealogy records date back to 1666, covering the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland. The Circuit Court in Princess Anne holds land records, marriage licenses, and civil case files going back to the county's founding. This guide walks through the main sources for birth, death, marriage, probate, and land records in Somerset County and explains how to access each one.

Somerset County Circuit Court

The Circuit Court Clerk in Princess Anne maintains the core genealogy records for Somerset County. Land records, marriage licenses, civil case files, and business licenses are all handled at this office. The clerk's office has been the central record keeper since Somerset County was established in 1666, so the holdings cover a very long span of local history. Staff can help with record lookups during regular business hours.

Marriage licenses are available at the clerk's office in Princess Anne. Standard Maryland requirements apply: each party must provide a copy of their government-issued birth certificate, and a 48-hour waiting period applies after the license is issued. The license is valid for six months and only in Somerset County. If you were previously married, you will need to provide the date and location of the divorce or death of the prior spouse.

Note: It is worth checking both Somerset County records and neighboring Wicomico and Worcester county records for families from the lower Eastern Shore, since Wicomico County was formed from Somerset and Worcester in 1867.

The Somerset County Circuit Court page lists current contact information, hours, and record services for genealogy researchers.

Birth and Death Records in Somerset County

Vital records in Somerset County follow the same split as all Maryland counties. The Maryland State Archives holds birth records from 1898 to 1921 and death records from 1898 to 2011. The Maryland Department of Health handles records after those cutoff dates. For genealogy research focused on the colonial or 19th-century period, the MSA is the primary source.

The Maryland Death Index at the MSA covers deaths statewide from 1898 to 2010 and is searchable online at msa.maryland.gov. Church records from Somerset County's many early congregations often predate civil registration and can provide birth and death information for families going back into the 1700s. FamilySearch has Maryland Deaths and Burials from 1877 to 1992, which includes Somerset County entries. For recent vital records, contact the Somerset County Health Department or the Maryland Department of Health at 410-764-3038 or health.maryland.gov/vsa.

Marriage Records in Somerset County

Marriage records in Somerset County date back to 1666. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains original marriage license records. The Maryland State Archives holds a statewide marriage index that covers Somerset County entries going back to the earliest years, searchable at msa.maryland.gov.

Early marriage records from Somerset County also appear in church registers. The county had several active congregations in the colonial period, and their records can supplement the civil record base. The Reclaim The Records collection at archive.org includes marriage indexes and some actual marriage certificates for Somerset County from various years, all available free without an account or login.

Wills and Probate Records

The Register of Wills office in Princess Anne handles all probate matters in Somerset County. Colonial probate records from 1666 onward are at the Maryland State Archives, and many are indexed and accessible through the MSA's online tools. Probate files can include wills, inventories of property, account filings, and guardianship records, all useful for family history research.

The statewide Register of Wills portal at registers.maryland.gov provides online access to current probate filings across all Maryland counties including Somerset. For colonial-period records, the Archives of Maryland Online at aomol.msa.maryland.gov has testamentary proceedings and estate records from the earliest period of the county's existence. These records are free to search and view online.

Land Records in Somerset County

All Somerset County land records are free online through MDLandRec.net at mdlandrec.net. This system covers recorded deeds, mortgages, plats, releases, and other instruments. Free account registration is all that is required. The system goes back several decades for name searches, and older records can be browsed by book and page. Maryland is the only state in the country that makes all land records freely available online.

For the oldest Somerset County land records, including colonial land patents and early grants, the Maryland State Archives holds the original documents. The Early Settlers Database at earlysettlers.msa.maryland.gov covers 17th-century land patents and can help trace families who first settled on the lower Eastern Shore in the late 1600s.

Research Resources for Somerset County Genealogy

Several organizations support genealogy research in Somerset County. The Somerset County Historical Society maintains local records and historical materials specific to this part of the Eastern Shore. Their collections include materials not found at state-level repositories and are worth contacting for research tied to specific families or communities within the county.

The Somerset County Library in Princess Anne at 11767 Beechwood Street has a local history section with books, periodicals, and other resources for genealogy research. The Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore at mdhistory.org holds broader manuscript collections that include materials from Somerset County families. For free online records, the Reclaim The Records collection at archive.org has over 5 million vital records from Maryland, including many from the Eastern Shore counties.

Using the Maryland State Archives for Somerset County Research

The Maryland State Archives at 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, holds the largest collection of Somerset County genealogy records from the colonial period through the mid-20th century. You can call 410-260-6400 or search their holdings at msa.maryland.gov. The research guide at guide.msa.maryland.gov lists the most requested records by county and record type.

Under Maryland Code, General Provisions sections 4-101 and following, most public records in Maryland are open to inspection. Death records are legally public after 10 years under Maryland Code, Health-General section 4-214. Birth records are restricted for 100 years under section 4-208. Marriage records are public. Land records are fully open. Most of the genealogy records you need from Somerset County can be accessed without restriction through the MSA or the Circuit Court Clerk in Princess Anne.

Cities in Somerset County

Somerset County does not have any incorporated cities that meet the qualifying population threshold for individual pages. Princess Anne is the county seat. All genealogy records for communities throughout Somerset County are held at the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Princess Anne and at the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis.

Nearby Counties

Somerset County borders Wicomico County to the north and Worcester County to the east. Wicomico was created from portions of Somerset and Worcester in 1867, so researchers looking at families before that year will need to check Somerset County records even for families who later lived in Wicomico.