History

Montgomery County was created on September 10, 1784, from part of Philadelphia County, and named for General Richard Montgomery. Norristown, the County Seat, was laid out in 1784, and incorporated as a Borough on March 31, 1814. It was named for Isaac Norris, who owned land there.

Historical Deeds

Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, First Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds, Speaker’s House
Owned by The Speaker’s House Inc. , March 30, 2004

Pennypacker Mills*
Owned by Montgomery County, June 24, 1981

Peter Wentz Farmstead*
Owned by Montgomery County, 1969

Pottsgrove Manor,* 1952 opened as a museum
Owned by Montgomery County

John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove*
Owned by Montgomery County, 1951

Sunrise Mill*
Owned by Montgomery County, 1971

*Properties are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Montgomery County Recorders of Deeds^

  • Jeanne Sorg, 2016 - present
  • Nancy Becker, 2004 - 2015
  • Maryann Rickenback, 1988 – 2003
  • Elizabeth M. Butler, September 1987 – December 1987 (acting)
  • James Price, 1984 – 1987
  • Sullivan J. Asko, Jr., 1972 – 1983
  • Paul E. Lederach, November 1968 – 1971 (appointed)
  • Anthony Lochetto, 22 July 1968 – October 1968 (acting)
  • Merrill A. Bucher, 1968 – 13 July 1968
  • John S. Magill, 1960 – 1967
  • William J. Boden, 1952 – 1959
  • John E. Marshall, 1940 – 1951
  • William G. Hower, 1928 – 1939
  • B. Paul Sheeder, 1920 – 1927
  • T. Darlington Buckwalter, 1912 – 1919
  • Henry T. Hunsicker, 1908 – 1911
  • William J. Wells, 1906 – 1908
  • Earl A. Jenkins, 1903 – 1905
  • Horace B. Righter, 1900 – 1902
  • William H. Murphy, 1897 – 1899
  • George W. Keys, 1894 – 1896
  • George W. Pawling, 1891 – 1893
  • Benjamin Thomas, 1888 – 1890
  • Aaron Weikel, 1885 – 1887
  • Henry W. Kratz, 1882 – 1884
  • John W. Schall, 1876 – 1881
  • John W. Schall, 22 March 1875 (appointed)
  • George W. Neiman, 1873 – 1875
  • Henry Bernard Nace, 1870 – 1872
  • Christopher Wyckoff, 1867 – 1869
  • Henry Unger, 1864 – 1866
  • Thomas G. Rutter, 1861 – 1863
  • William H. Hill, 1858 – 1860
  • George Lower, 1855 – 1857
  • Rufus B. Longaker, 1852 – 1854
  • Henry G. Hart, 1849 – 1851
  • Henry Drake, 1846 – 1848
  • Daniel Fry, 1843 – 1845
  • Tobias Sellers, 1840 – 1842
  • Tobias Sellers, 17 February 1839
  • Robert Iredell, 5 January 1839
  • Robert Iredell, 28 January 1836
  • James Wells, 11 June 1834
  • Samuel D. Patterson, 23 February 1833
  • William Powell, 12 February 1830
  • John Markley, 21 December 1826
  • John Markley, 8 January 1824
  • Jacob Hubley, 21 November 1822
  • Jesse Roberts, 7 February 1821
  • George Wack, 25 January 1818
  • Archibald Darrah, 21 January 1803
  • Thomas Potts, 6 January 1800
  • William R. Atlee, 5 March 1799
  • Thomas Craig, 8 August 1795
  • James Morris, 24 September 1791
  • Robert Loller, 14 September 1790
  • Robert Loller, 10 September 1789
  • Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, 21 September 1784 (First Recorder of Deeds, appointed)

^Pennsylvania Constitution, 1968: Recorder of Deeds elected, four-year term

Amendment, Nov. 2, 1909 to Pennsylvania Constitution 1874; Recorder of Deeds elected, four-year term

Pennsylvania Constitution, 1874: Recorder of Deeds elected, three-year term

Pennsylvania Constitution 1838: Recorder of Deeds elected, three-year term

Pennsylvania Constitution, 1790: Recorder of Deeds appointed by the Governor

Pennsylvania Constitution, 1776: Recorder of Deeds appointed by the General Assembly