Delaware County Resources
This entry was originally written by Roger D. Joslyn, CG, FUGA, FGBS, FASG, in Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources.
Delaware has only three counties, the smallest number of any state. Most of the earlier records and many into the twentieth century have been transferred to the Delaware Public Archives, although some counties have microfilms of transferred material. Records of land conveyance are found in the county recorder of deeds' offices. Estates are in the office of the register of wills where files are maintained from 1925. The first column below indicates the map coordinate. The second column gives the name of the county and the mailing address of the recorder of deeds. The third column shows the date the county was created and from what county or district. The earliest date of recording of a county deed is listed in the fourth column. The fifth column shows the date the first estate was recorded, followed by the year the Orphans' Court records begin, and then the mailing address of the register of wills, if different from that of the recorder. The prothonotary is the clerk with custody of such records as divorces (to 1975), and civil and criminal court matters. For births, marriages, and deaths recorded by the counties, see Delaware Vital Records.
| Map | County | County Address | Date Formed | Parent County(ies) | Deeds | Orphans Court Register of Wills |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deale | 1670 (as Whorekill; renamed Deale, 1680; renamed Sussex, 1682) | |||||
| E6 | Kent | 414 Federal St, Dover 19901-3605 | 1680 (as St. Jones; renamed, 1682) | Whorekill | 1680 | 1681/1766 |
| A6 | New Castle | 800 French St., 4th Floor, Wilmington 19801-3590 | 1664( named New Amstel, 1672-73) | original | 1676 | 1682/1742 800 French St, 2d floor |
| St. Jones | 1680 (renamed Kent, 1682) | |||||
| G7 | Sussex | Courthouse on Cir. Rm 213/P.O. Box 505, Georgetown 19947-0505 | 1670 (as Whorekill; renamed Deale, 1680; renamed Sussex, 1682) | New Castle | 1693 | 1683/1728 P.O. Box 111 Georgetown 19947-0111 |
| Whorekill (Horekill) | 1670 (renamed Deale,1680;renamed Sussex, 1682 |
