Dorchester County, Maryland Records

Dorchester County, Maryland (Map It) was created on May 27, 1668 from unorganized territory. This county was named for Dorchester in Dorset, England; the Earl of Dorset was a friend of the Calvert family ..

Dorchester County is bordered by Caroline County (north), Sussex County, Delaware (northeast), Wicomico County (east), Somerset County (southeast), Talbot County (northwest).

Dorchester County Cities and Towns include Cambridge (incorporated 1793), Brookview (incorporated 1953), Church Creek (incorporated 1867), East New Market (incorporated 1832), Eldorado (incorporated 1947), Galestown (incorporated 1951), Hurlock (incorporated 1892), Secretary (incorporated 1900), Vienna (incorporated 1833).

A Map of Dorchester County, Maryland contains detailed information about roads and boundaries, these maps may include rural communities, churches, and cemeteries. Also view Maryland Town / Municipal Maps.

Dorchester County, Maryland Courthouse Records

The Dorchester County Courthouse is located in Cambridge, Maryland. There are gaps in the court records. Some were probably lost in a fire in 1852. Learn More About State of Maryland Court, Tax, Land and Probate Records.

The Clerk's Office DOES NOT DO RESEARCH. Most staff will assist people in finding the materials, but it is up to the individual to do the research.

The following dates indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in Dorchester county. The date listed for each record is usually the earliest registration filed. The date does not indicate that there are alot records for that year and does not mean that all such events were actually filed with the clerk.

• Dorchester County Circuit Court Clerk has Marriage Records from 1669 and Land Records from 1669. The County Circuit Court Clerk is responsible for recording documents related to property. Documents recorded consist of, but are not limited to, deeds, mortgages, restrictions, notaries, public and elected county officers. Other documents, such as Military Service Discharges, foreign birth certificates, as well as obscure documents like cattle brands, are also recorded here.
• Dorchester County Register of Wills/ Orphan's Court Clerk has Probate Records from 1852. The County Register of Wills/ Orphan's Court Clerk responsibilities include supervising Clerk's office personnel in the civil, criminal, courtroom clerks, business license, marriage license, land records, and juvenile units.
• Dorchester County Government Records are available in original, microfilm and digital formats from the Maryland State Archives.

Dorchester County, Maryland Census Records

• Learn More: State of Maryland Census Records
• U.S. Federal Population Schedules: 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragmented), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940
• U.S. Census Reconstructed Records: Census Substitutes Index, 1772-1890
• State Population Schedules: 1776, 1776 and 1778 Indexes
• U.S. Federal Census Slave Schedules: 1850 and 1860
• U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Agriculture Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Industry Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Union Veterans Schedules: 1890

Dorchester County, Maryland Vital Records

• Learn More: State of Maryland Vital Records
• Birth and Death Records: from August 1898  to present
• Marriage Records: from January, 1990 to present. Earlier Records are in the County Clerk of Circuit Court.
• Divorce Records: from January, 1992 to present. Earlier Records are in the County Clerk of Circuit Court.
• Locations: Maryland Office of Vital Records, Maryland State Archives
• Vital Records Online: USAVital or Social Security Death Index
• Vital Records by Mail:  Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Verification, Death Certificate Applications.
• In Person:  Division of Vital Records Division of Vital Records & Mental Hygiene, 6550 Reisterstown Rd., Reistertown Road Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21215, (410) 764-3038 or (800) 832-3277

Dorchester County, Maryland Resources

• State of Maryland Archives and Societies
• RAOGK Volunteers for Maryland
• Dorchester County Historical Society
• Upper Shore Genealogical Society
• Dorchester County, Maryland Message Boards

Dorchester County, Maryland External Links

• Maryland Historical Newspapers - Newspapers.com
• Dorchester County, Maryland Books - Amazon
• Dorchester Co., Maryland - FindaGrave
• Maryland Indexed Historical Records - Familysearch
• Dorchester County, Maryland Overview & History
• Dorchester County, Maryland Links - Cyndi's List
• Historical Newspapers from Maryland (1719 - 1931)
• Dorchester Co. MDGenweb
• Dorchester County, Maryland Ancestry Database Collections
• Dorchester County, Maryland Military Records