Physical (Offline) Resources

Archives and Libraries

The following archives, libraries, and societies have major collections or services that may be helpful to genealogical researchers.

The USGenWeb Project also maintains an online archive with user-donated materials. Visit the Maryland USGW Archives or the Garrett County, MD USGW Archives to see what file contributions are available for downloading.

Maryland Libraries

Enoch Pratt Free Library
400 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201-4484

George Peabody Library
John Hopkins University
17 East Mount Vernon Place
Baltimore, MD 21201

Western Maryland Regional Library
100 South Potomac Street
Hagerstown, Maryland 21740

The Whilbr collection includes

Map of Military Lots assigned to soldiers, Garrett County, Maryland. 1787 -
The List of persons, copartnerships and corporations assessed in the County Tax, ordered by the County Commissioners of Allegany County, Maryland, for the year 1872 includes Garrett.
Oakland High School, Oakland, Maryland, 1930 yearbook
Photographs of Mountain Lake Park
Photographs from Accident - Mary Strauss collection
Coal Talk- The Coal Talk Oral History project includes stories and memories from Western Maryland coal communities, from Garrett College library. Additional interviews are being added.

Garrett County Libraries

Ruth Enlow Library of Garrett County
6 N. Second Street
Oakland, MD 21550-1393
Tel. (301) 334 - 3996

Accident Branch
P.O. Box 154
Accident, MD 21520-0154
Tel. (301) 746 - 8792

Friendsville Branch
P.O. BOX 57
Friendsville, MD 21531-0057
Tel. (301) 746 - 5663

Grantsville Branch
P.O. Box 237
Grantsville, MD 21536-0237
Tel. (301) 895 - 5298

Kitzmiller Branch
P.O. Box 100
Kitzmiller, MD 21538-0100
Tel. (301) 453 - 3368

Societies and Associations

The Garrett County Historical Society
107 South Second Street
Oakland, MD 21550
Tel. 301-334-3226

Friend Family Association's National Heritage Museum and Library
Maple Street, Friendsville, Maryland
Tel. 301-746-5615
Open May through November, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 12-3 PM, or by appointment.
700 Genealogical books and files, mostly on local families in addition to the Friend Family.

Courts

Maryland courts have kept records that may have some genealogical value.

Date	Court and Responsibilities
1637-1805	The Provincial Court (later called the General Court) was a state-wide court that ruled on capital crimes, land disputes, and other civil matters.
1637-1851	County Courts were country-wide courts that had jurisdication over criminal and civil cases.
1668-1851	The Chancery Court was a state-wide court with jurisdiction over equity cases, such as divorces, name changes, mortgage foreclosures, civil damage suits, and guardianships.
1776-present	The Court of Appeals is the highest court in the state with jurisdication over criminal, civil and probate appeals.
1800-present	District Courts have jurisdiction over lesser criminal and civil cases. There are 12 judicial districts.
1851-present	Circuit Courts have county-wide jurisdiction over major criminal and civil cases. These courts replaced the county courts.

The Maryland State Archives has all the records and indexes of the Provincial, General and Chancery courts. The archives also has many records and indexes of the county, circuit, and district courts and the court of appeals.

All Maryland land was first owned by the Calvert family proprietors who obtained it from the Crown. From 1633 to 1683 they issued headrights, or land grants, in return for transporting themselves and others to Maryland. The names of individuals transported for headright grants are found in Gust Sjorda's, Early Settlers of Maryland: An Index to Names of Immigrants Compiled from Records of Land Patents, 1633-1680 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1968; FHl 975.2 W2s). In the late 1600's the headright system was replaced by cash sales of proprietary lands. The grantee had to pay a semi-annual fee or land use tax to the proprietor and later to the royal govenors. Land Use Tax records exist for some areas (1639-1762). During the Revolutionary War, Maryland offered land as a bounty to entice recruits to fill Maryland enlistment rolls. The lots, located west of Fort Cumberland (in Allegany and Garrett counties) are transcribed and indexed at the Maryland State Archives.
The Maryland State Archives has the original land office records dating from 1634 to the present. Land records include patents, surveys, grants, warrents, and proprietary rent rolls and debt books. After land was transferred to private ownership, deeds and mortgages were filed with the local county clerk. You can obtains copies by writing to the county clerk at the courthouse in Garrett County.

Few naturalizations were required in the colonial period since most immigrants came from the British Isles. The legislature and the Governor and Council naturalized some foreigners, but most persons were naturalized in the later colonial period under the 1740 Act of Parliament. The Maryland State Archives has several indexes to colonial naturalizations found in the Provincial and General Court, General Assembly, and the Governor and Council records of 1634 to 1776. After 1790, under federal naturalizations law, foreigners could declare their intent to become citizens and later be naturalized by any federal, county or city court. Naturalization records are stored by the county circuit court.

The Circuit court of Garrett County would have divorce records and marriage records.

Garrett County Circuit Court
203 S. 4th Street, Room 209
P.O. Box 447
Oakland, Maryland 21550
Hours of Operation: 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M

Churches

Maryland was established as a refuge for Roman Catholics from England (under the act of toleration, 1649 to 1654), but most settlers were Protestant. Members of the Society of Friend's were in the Chesapeake Bay as early as 1657. The Anglican church was established as the official church in 1692 and continued as such until 1776. During the 19th century, Methodism was the dominant protestant religion.

The Maryland Historical Society has about 200 indexed transcripts of early church records. The Maryland State Archives also has a complete set of Parish records from the Diocese of both the Western and Eastern Shores. The FHC has some copies of Episcopal records, Friends, and Presbyterian records.

Church Archives

Roman Catholic
Archives of the Archdiocese of Baltimore
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

United Methodist Historical Society
Baltimore Conference
2200 St. Paul Street
Baltimore, MD 21218

Historical Room
Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware
1313 York Road
Lutherville, MD 21093

Archives of the Maryland Synod Church in America
7604 York Road
Towson, MD 21204

Local Churches in Garrett County

APOSTOLIC
Apostolic Church of Oakland
Rev. Greg Cummings, Pastor.

ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Crellin Assembly of God
Rev. Bruce Craig, Pastor.

Glendale Assembly of God Church
David P. Goldizen, Pastor.

Rocky Drean Assembly of God
Bray School Rd.
Rev. William C. Skipper, Pastor.

Lakeside Assembly of God,
Rev. Robert Culler, Pastor.

Kitzmiller Assembly of God.
Rev. Samuel Calhoun, Pastor.

Maranatha Assembly of God,
176 Spring Rd., Grantsville,
Rev. Joseph Snodgrass.

Walnut Bottom Assembly of God,
Rev. Christopher Crawford, Pastor.

Hiway Assembly of God,
Star Rt., Kitzmiller.
Rev. Gail K. Hixon, Pastor.

Mt. Top Christian Assembly,
Rt. 135, Mtn. Lake Park.
Rev. David Johnson.

Terra Alta Assembly of God,
Rev. Robert Travis, Pastor.

BAPTIST
Deep Creek Baptist Church,
Don Wilson, Pastor.

Ferndale Baptist Church,
Rt. 219, 3 mi. N. of Oakland.

Harvest Baptist Church,
off Rt. 495, Jennings Rd.
Alan Birkby, Pastor.

Little Meadows Baptist Church,
Chestnut Ridge Rd., near Grantsville.
Pastor Rick High, 304-788-2844.

Mtn. Lake Independent Baptist Church,
1005 Broadford Rd.
Dennis L. Leatherman, Pastor.

New Testament Baptist Church,
710 Dung Hill Rd., Grantsville,
Tony Wilburn, Pastor, 301-895-4001.

Pleasant View Baptist Church,
2 mi. S. of Oakland, Rt. 219.
Wally Weeks, Pastor.
Youth Pastor, Mark Watkins, 301-334-8515.

Rush Baptist Church,
1985 Old Morgantown Rd.West,
near Friendsville.
Steven Rose, Pastor.

Victory Baptist Church,
3 miles W. of Oakland ,
Rt. 39, near Crellin.

BRETHREN
Oak Park Church of the Brethren,
Rev. Mel Menker, Pastor.

Bethesda Church of the Brethren,
6 mi. S. of Grantsville on Rt. 495.
Rev. Edwin Moore, Pastor.

Oak Grove Church of the Brethren,
Sang Run Rd., McHenry.
Pastor Donald Matthews, 387-7502.

Bear Creek Church of the Brethren,
Brethren Church Rd.,
Tom Wegman, Pastor.

Pine Grove Church of the Brethren,
Swallow Falls,
Owen Preston, Pastor.

Fairview Church of the Brethren,
4 mi. off Rt. 50.
David C. Moon, Pastor.

Maple Spring Church of the Brethren,
Rev. J. Rogers Fike, Pastor.

Mt. Grove Church of the Brethren.
Rev. Curtis Ketterman, Pastor.

Brookside Church of the Brethren.
Rev. Donald Knotts, Pastor.

Gortner Union Church of the Brethren-Mennonite.
Rev. Steven Sauder, Pastor.

Cherry Grove Church of the Brethren,
Chestnut Ridge Rd.
Henry Elsea Jr., Pastor.

Maple Grove Church of the Brethren,
Maple Grove Rd. Rev. Curtis Ketterman, Pastor.

Laughlin Church of the Brethren,
Amish Rd., Grantsville.

Grace Brethren Church,
3 mi. S. of Accident on Bumble Bee Rd.

Laurel Glen Church of the Brethren,
Old Mill Rd., Cranesville.
Berma and Carol Yerkey, Pastors.

Asher Glade Church of the Brethren,
Rt. 42, 6 miles N. of Friendsville,
Sam Moon, Pastor.

CHURCH OF CHRIST
Oakland Church of Christ,
Russ McConnell, Minister, 301-334-0710.

EPISCOPAL
St. Matthew's Episcopal,
2nd & Liberty St., Oakland.
"Church of Presidents."
Rev. Chip Lee, Rector.

St. John's Episcopal Church,
Rt. 135, Deer Park.
Rev. Chip Lee,

Our Father's House,
Rt. 135 at Altamont (Summer only).

EVANGELICAL FREE
Faith Evangelical Free Church,
1009 Maryland Hwy, Mtn. Lake Park.,
301-334-4172. Rev. David R. Martin.

GOSPEL CHURCH
Independent Full Gospel Revival Center,
Loch Lynn Hts.

Savage River Full Gospel Church,
Rev. Charles Braithwaite, Pastor.

CHURCH OF GOD
Loch Lynn Church of God,
Rev. Ivan R. Ackerman, Pastor.

Jennings Church of God.
Rev. Rev. George Plants, Pastor.
Laurel Run Church of God,
Friendsville,
(affiliated with Anderson, Ind., and CBH)
Pastor Cathy Harman, 301-746-5320.

Gorman Church of God,
7301 GW Hwy, Oakland.
301-533-4449.
pastor.

Sand Spring Church of God.
Fearer Rd., Friendsville,
746-5675,
Nevin Umbel, Int. Pastor

INDEPENDENT
Creation for Christ Min.,
301-334-3133,
Rt. 219 S.
Glenes Dumire, Pastor.

Freedom Chapel,
Bear Creek Rd. near Friendsville,
301-746-4419.
Philip Smith, Pastor.

Deer Park Family Worship Center,
301-334-3877,
Billy Vanhoosier, Pastor.

Emmanuel Family Church,
Mosser Rd., McHenry, MD
John Legeer, Pastor.

First Christian Church,
Friendsville.
Galen Beitzel, Evangelist.

Grace Bible Church,
28099 Garrett Highway, Accident.
746-8635.
Larry Glotfelty, Pastor,

Western Md. Christian Center,
827 1st Ave., Friendsville,
301-746-5715.
Mike Robinson, Pastor.

Mercy Chapel,
Mill Run, 5 mi N of Friendsville.

New Life Christian Church,
3 mi. N of Oakland, off Rt. 219 on Nest Lick Acres
Rev. Richard Sisler, Pastor.

Sang Run Christian Center,
Sang Run Rd.,
301-387-6142.
Joe Spiker, Pastor.

World Lighthouse Worship Center,
Grantsville.
301-895-3868
Dewayne Johnson, Pastor,

Zion Tabernacle,
326 Zion School Rd., Grantsville.
301-895-5978
Guy Stanton, Pastor.

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses,
Weber Rd., Oakland,
301-334-8301.
N. Oakland Congregation,
Delmus Evans, presiding overseer.

S. Oakland Congregation,
Donald Stull, presiding overseer
.
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness,
Locker La., Grantsville.

LATTER-DAY SAINTS
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
1022 John Dr., Oakland.
Jackson C. Hamrick, Br. Pres.,
Home: 304-259-5565, Office: 301-334-9552.

LUTHERAN
St. John's Lutheran Church,
Red House, Rev.
Wm. V. Connelly, phone 334-4778.

Bittinger Lutheran Parish,
Pat Pittsnogle, Pastor.
301-245-4202.

St. John's Meadow Mt.; Emmanuel, Bittinger; and Zion, Jennings.

St. Mark's Lutheran Church,
6 S. Second St., Oakland.
Mike Robinson, Pastor.

Christ Lutheran Church
Grantsville.
David E. Fetter, Pastor.

Zion Lutheran Church (LCMS),
Accident.
Wilfred Karsten, Pastor.

Accident Evangelical Lutheran Parish,
Roland E. Nairn III, Pastor;
St. John's, Cove; Grace, Friendsville; St. Paul's, Accident.

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Mo. Synod,
Cove Rd., Accident.
Rev. Douglas Kabell, Pastor.

MENNONITE
Cherry Glade Mennonite Church,
4 mi. E.of Accident on Accident-Bittinger Rd.
Oren Bender, Pastor;
Anthony Lehman, Youth Pastor.

Glade Mennonite Church,
Accident-Bittinger Rd. & Rock Lodge Rd.
Alan Kauffman and Chester Yoder, Pastors.

Gortner Union Church of the Brethren-Mennonite.
Rev. Steven Sauder, Pastor.

Maple Glen Mennonite Church,
Grantsville.
Pastor Phil Moser.

Meadow Mountain Mennonite Church,
Rt. 495 near Dry Run & Glendale Rd.
Duane Frederick, Pastor.

Oak Grove Mennonite,
Zehner Rd, 3 mi. W. of Grantsville off Rt. 40.
Pastor Tim Fetterly

NAZARENE
Church of the Nazarene,
207 S 8th St., Oakland
301-334-9161
Pastor Art Evans

PENTECOSTAL
Calvary Tabernacle,
Accident.
Rev.Shirland Hardman, Pastor.

Apostolics of Oakland,
Rev. Greg Cummings, Pastor.

Friendsville United Pentecostal Church,
Rev. Joseph H. Smith, Pastor.

PRESBYTERIAN
First United Presbyterian Church,
Terra Alta.
John Zuercher, Pastor.

REFORMED
Grace Reformed Church,
301-334-5635;
Will now meet at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church building at S. 2nd and Liberty Streets, Oakland.
Pastor Robert Bonser

ROMAN CATHOLIC
St. Peter's the Apostle Catholic Church,
Oakland, with Masses also in McHenry on Mosser Rd: St. Peter's Lake Center;
301-334-2202
Rev. Donald J. Parson

St. Anne's Catholic Church,
Rt. 40, Grantsville;
301-895-5877.

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST
Seventh-Day Adventist Mt. Top Church,
Between Deep Creek Lake & Oakland,
301-387-9532.
Gene Melanshenko, Pastor.

UNITED BRETHREN
Underwood United Brethren Church,
334-8361
David Kisamore, Pastor

Crellin United Brethren in Christ,

Michael Mudge Sr. Pastor, 301-334-9795,
Tom Crotts, Youth Pastor, 301-334-1563.

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
St. John's United Church of Christ,
Grantsville.

Trinity United Church of Christ,
New Germany,
Rev. Raymond Brown, Pastor.

UNITED METHODIST
The United Methodist Church,
Garrett Highland Charge,
Rev. Neil Parsons, Pastor.
Phone: 334-6207.
Services in Crellin, White Church, Deer Park, and Kurtz Chapel.

Bethel United Methodist Church,
Mtn. Lake Park,
Mark Hickman, Pastor.

Bloomington United Methodist Charge:
Rev. Donald Nelson, Pastor.
Services at Mt. Zion, Chestnut Grove, and Bloomington.

Cranesville United Methodist Charge.
Rev. Robert Muller Jr.,
Pastor; William A. Durst.
Parsonage, 304-789-2711.
Faith, 304-789-2332.

Deep Creek United Methodist Ministries:
Rev. R. Samuel Wachter, Pastor, 301-387-6832.
Hoyes Church, Hoyes Rd.;
Paradise Church, Sand Flat Rd.

Friendsville United Methodist
Rev. Robert Milliren, Pastor,
301-746-5251.
Services at Blooming Rose, Selbysport, and Friendsville

Grantsville United Methodist Charge.
Rev. Brenda Shreve, Pastor,
301-895-5201.
Services at Jennings; St. Paul's, Grantsville; and State Line, PA.

Kitzmiller Mt. Bethel United Methodist.
Rev. Meredith Ball, Pastor,

McHenry United Methodist Church,
Mosser & Bumblebee Rds.
Rev. Warren Friend, Pastor.
301-387-9059.

Northeast Garrett United Methodist Charge,
Rev. Stephen E. Lightner, Pastor,
301-689-9835.
Emmanuel, Pocahontas Rd. & Rt. 40. Services at the Casselman and Mt. Zion at Route 40 & Longstretch.

Otterbein United Methodist,
Swanton.
Rev. Meredith Ball, Pastor.

St. Paul's United Methodist Church.
4th & Oak Sts., Oakland.
Rev. Roger A. Harrison Sr., Pastor.
Ann W. Harrison, Assoc. Pastor.

Newspapers

The first newspaper published in Maryland was the Maryland Gazette, Annapolis, 1727. The best collections of newspapers can be found at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, the Maryland Historical Society and the Maryland State Archives.

Local newspapers are The Republican and Garrett County Week in Review

Periodicals covering the state of Maryland

The Maryland-Delaware Genealogist, 1959-present. Published by Raymond B. Clark, P.O. Box 352, St. Michaels, MD 21663 (FHL 975 B2m)
Maryland Genealogical Society Bulletin. 1969-present. Published by the Society, 201 West Monument St., Baltimore, MD 21201 (FHL 975.2 B2mb)
Maryland Historical Magazine, 1906-present. Published by the Maryland Historical Society, same address as above (FHL 975.2 H25m).

Schools

Accident Elementary
534 Accident Bittinger Rd
301-746-8603

Broadford Elementary
607 Harvey Winters Rd
Oakland, MD
301-334-9445

Crellin School
Crellin, MD
301-334-4704

Dennett Road Elementary
Dennett Road
Oakland, M
301-334-3452

Grantsville Elementary
Grantsville, MD
301-895-5173

Kitzmiller School
Kitzmiller, MD
301-453-3101

Loch Lynn School
Loch Lynn, MD
301-334-3334

Northern Garrett County High School
Accident, MD
301-746-8668

Northern Middle School
Accident, MD
301-746-8165

Route 40 Elementary School
17764 National Pike
Frostburg, MD
301-689-6132

Southern Garrett County Senior High School
1100 E. Oak Street
Oakland, MD
301-334-9447

Southern Middle School
903 Broadford Rd
Oakland, MD
301-334-8881

Swan Meadow School
Swan Meadow, MD
301-334-2059

Hospitals

Knowing where hospitals are located can help researchers pinpoint where an ancestor may have lived. Hospital records are not available. Garrett Community Hospital, now known as Garrett Regional Medical Center, is located at 251 N. 4th Street, in Oakland.