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Sussex County DEGenWeb is a free genealogical site about the history of the county. It is a member of DEGenWeb, which is a member of USGenWeb®. We hope you find helpful clues for your research of Sussex county ancestors.

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Are you familiar with the area? Do you have a family tree connection to the area? Please consider contributing your pieces of Sussex County family history. Corrections, updates, and additions to this site are always welcome. Our combined efforts can make this a great site for all who visit!

Co-County Coordinator: YOU? If you have a sincere interest in the genealogy of Sussex County, and if you are willing to help others along their family history journey, but website maintenance doesn't appeal to you, consider becoming a Co-CC. As Co-CC you would reply to email inquiries, contribute content, monitor the website, .... Contact us to give it a try.

County Coordinator: Norma Hass normahass01@gmail.com

State Coordinator: Linda K. Lewis webmaster@cottonhills.net

COUNTY FORMATION

Deale County was created in 1680. In 1682 Deale County, Delaware, along with a section of Maryland's Eastern Shore called Durham County, was renamed Sussex County, Delaware.

Sussex County is the southernmost county in Delaware. It is on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Sussex County is bordered on the north by Kent County; to the northeast lies Cape May County, New Jersey; and on the west and south by Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico, and Worcester counties, Maryland.

The boundary between Delaware and Maryland was long disputed. Until the 1760s and the Mason-Dixon survey, Maryland's claim extended well into what is now Sussex County. The border was undefined, but there were Somerset County MD land claims roughly up to the Indian River and beyond.

Lewes was the county seat, until in 1791, Georgetown became the county seat.