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Cattaraugus County, New York Genealogy

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Guide to Cattaraugus County, New York ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Facts
County seat: Little Valley
Organized: March 11, 1808
Parent County(s): Allegany Genesee
Neighboring Counties
Allegany • Chautauqua • Erie • McKean (PA) • Warren (PA) • Wyoming
See County Maps
Courthouse
New York, Cattaraugus County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Ny-cattaraugus.png


County Information

Description

The county was named for a Seneca word for "bad smelling banks," and was named for the "odor of natural gas leaking from rock seams." The county is located in the southwest area of the state. [1]

County Courthouse

Cattaraugus County Courthouse
303 Court St
Little Valley, NY 14755
Phone: 716-379-6636
Cattaraugus County Website

The County Clerk's office has marriage, military, naturalization, divorce, court and land records. The Surrogate Court office has probate records.

Cattaraugus County, New York Record Dates

Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[2]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1880 1908 1880 1850 1808 1800 1663
*Statewide registration for births and deaths started in 1880. General compliance for births by 1915 and deaths by 1890.

Record Loss

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Boundary Changes

Populated Places

For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[5]

Cities
Towns
Villages
Hamlets
American Indian Communities
Census-designated places


History Timeline

Resources

Bible Records

  • 1581-1917 New York, Family Bible Records at Ancestry – ($); Index. Database is a collection of genealogically important records taken from the Bibles of colony and state residents. Reveals the Bible's original owner, brief record of descendants,and a particular event such as birth or marriage as recorded in Bible.

Biographies

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Cattaraugus County, New York online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
See New York Cemeteries for more information.

Census Records

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1820 4,090 —
1830 16,724 308.9%
1840 28,872 72.6%
1850 38,950 34.9%
1860 43,886 12.7%
1870 43,909 0.1%
1880 55,806 27.1%
1890 60,866 9.1%
1900 65,643 7.8%
1910 65,919 0.4%
1920 71,323 8.2%
1930 72,398 1.5%
1940 72,652 0.4%
1950 77,901 7.2%
1960 80,187 2.9%
1970 81,666 1.8%
1980 85,697 4.9%
1990 84,234 −1.7%
2000 83,955 −0.3%
2010 80,343 −4.3%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

For information and tips on using and accessing online census records, see New York Census.

Federal Census Records
U.S. Census Mortality Schedules for New York, 1850-1880:

  • Available online at Ancestry ($).
  • Deaths are included for the 12 months prior to the census, 1849-50, 1859-60, 1869-70, and 1879-80 beginning 1 June and ending 31 May of the census year.[6]
  • Basic contents of the records include: Name, sex, age, color, marital status, place of birth, month of death, occupation, and cause of death. 1870 also has parents' birthplace. 1880 lists how long a resident of the county.
  • Also on FS Library Films 1415128–42.

1890: Census records were damaged and destroyed prior to the establishment of the National Archives and Records Service (NARA). Even though the census is lost, through directories, it is possible to reconstruct the population.
1849-50, 1859-60, 1869-70, 1879-80 See Mortality Schedule information in the Federal Census section of Census for death information.

State Census Records

NY State Census 1825 1835 1845 1855 1865 1875 1892 1905 1915 1925
FamilySearch - - - Link Link Link Link Link Link Link
Ancestry - - - Link - Link Link - Link Link
FamilySearch Catalog Link Link Link Link Link Link Link Link
New York State Library Microfilm Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

New York State 1865 and 1875 Census Marriage, Mortality; and 1865 Soldier Mortality records:

  • Images available online at New York State Census, 1865 and New York State Census, 1875. Click on the link to go to the page, then click on the ‘Browse through images’ link and select your county, then select an ancestor's town and browse to the end of the population schedule until you find the Marriage, Mortality, and 1865 soldier mortality schedules.
  • Includes marriages and deaths for the 12 months prior to the census, ending 1 June of the census year.
  • Marriage entry content: Husband's name, wife's name, ages and previous marital status, month and day and place of marriage, and church or civil ceremony.
  • Death entry content: Name, age, sex, color, marital status, month and day of death, native state or country, occupation and cause of death.
  • 1865 deaths of officers and enlisted men entry content: Name, age, marital status, citizenship status, enlistment date, original regiment, original rank, regiment at death, rank at death, promotions, death date and place, manner of death, surviving associates, and burial place.
  • Also on microfilm. See the FamilySearch Library line in the above State Census Chart.
  • 1864-5, 1874-5 See Marriage Schedule information in the State Census section
  • 1849-50, 1859-60, 1869-70, 1879-80 See Mortality Schedule information in the Federal Census section of Census for death information.

Church Records

Methodist Episcopal

  • 1855-1969 Porterville FS Library film 1381557 Baptisms 1855-1926, marriages 1855-1929, record of probationers including deaths 1854-1930, alphabetical record of members in full connection including deaths 1863-1953, class record 1857-1878, record of pastors 1884-1969, record of official members 1885-1886
  • 1868-1888 Hamlet Charge Church FS Library film 1437513 Item 11 Includes baptisms, marriages, membership lists, and class records.

Salem Welch Church

Church Histories

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Court Records

Ancestors may have been involved in municipal, state, or federal court cases and actions. See also New York Court Records and United States Court Records.

Directories

Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

Funeral Homes

Genealogies

Guardianship

Land and Property Records

Online Land Indexes and Records

Books

  • 1804-1824 Livsey, Karen E. Western New York Land Transactions, 1804-1824. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1991. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
  • 1825-1835 Livsey, Karen E. Western New York Land Transactions, 1825-1835. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1996. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Local Histories

Maps and Gazetteers

Erie CountyWyoming CountyAllegany CountyMcKean CountyWarren CountyChautauqua CountyNY CATTARAUGUS.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources
FreedomFarmersvilleLyndonFranklinvilleMachiasIschuaHinsdalePortvilleOleanAlleganyHumphreyCarrolltonGreat ValleyEllicottvilleAshfordYorkshireEast OttoMansfieldLittle ValleyOttoNew AlbionNapoliPersiaSalamancaRed HouseColdspringSouth ValleyRandolphConewangoLeonDaytonPerrysburgNycattaraugus-townmap.jpg

Migration

Catskill Turnpike.png

Migration routes for early European settlers to and from Cattaraugus County included:[7]

Military Records

Revolutionary War
Revolutionary Soldiers Buried in Cattaraugus County, New York. by Julia G. Pierce and Maud D. Brooks. FS Library Fiche: 6061377

Civil War

Town registers. The New York town clerks kept a bound register of all soldiers from their town serving in the Civil War 1861-1865. Registers are arranged by county, and town. Some town registers are missing. The registers include an index at the start of each town.

Content. Many register entries include full name, residence, date and place of birth, parents names, marital status, date of enlistment and muster and rank, discharges, death, or promotion.

Access. The original registers are at the New York State Archives in Albany, New York. Microfilm copies are found at the FamilySearch Library (FS Library Film 1993401-37). They are also indexed and available at Ancestry.com ($). Available towns. Registers are available for: Allegany · Ashford · Coldspring · Conewango · East Otto · Ellicottville · Farmersville · Franklinville · Freedom · Hinsdale · Humphrey · Ischua · Leon · Lyndon · Mansfield · Otto · Portville · Randolph · Salamanca · South Valley · Yorkshire.

Regiments. Service men in Cattaraugus County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county.[19]

- 2nd Regiment, New York Mounted Rifles, Company B.
- 6th Independent Battery, New York Light Artillery, Company I.
- 6th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company I.
- 9th Regiment, New York Cavalry , Companies B and E.
- 10th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies L and M.
- 37th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies H and I.
- 64th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, F, I and K.
- 71st Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies H and I.
- 85th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A and K.
- 100th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B and E.
- 105th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company K.
- 116th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company F.
- 122nd Regiment, New York Infantry, Company C.
- 154th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, F, G, H, I and K.
- 160th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company K.
- 179th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies D and H.
- 194th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company F.

World War II

Naturalization and Citizenship

Newspapers


  • Ellicottville NY American Union 1855-1863
  • Ellicottville NY Cataraugus Republican 1834-1859
  • Ellicottville NY News 1884-1901
  • Ellicottville NY Post 1884-1969
  • Olean NY Times Herald 1932-1985
  • Olean NY Herald 1933, 1935, 1938, 1941, 1980
  • Randolph NY Register 1842-2003
  • Randolph NY Weekly Courant 1879-1891
  • Salamanca NY Republic Press 1874-1993 (misc.)
  • Salamanca NY Pennysaver 1994-2001

Obituaries

Other Records

Periodicals

Probate Records

Probate records (wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distributions) for New York are held in the office of the county Surrogate Court beginning in 1787, or when the county was formed. Prior to 1787, most are housed at the New York State Archives.
Content: Probate Records may give the decedent's date of death, names of spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.
Probate Petitions In 1830, state law required the Surrogate Court clerk to issue a probate petition for a deceased individual with property. This petition, unique to New York, usually lists the deceased's death date. It also lists the heirs, their relationship to the deceased, and their residence. These petitions are often found in the estate files.[20] See New York Probate Records for online resources, details, links, and more.

Online Probate Indexes and Records

School Records

Social Security Records

Tax Records

Town Records

Town records in New York may include early births, marriages, deaths, divorces, local histories, selected military records, and town meeting minutes. Vital records from 1880/1882 are kept by town and village clerks, although some (Kent’s and Putnam Valley’s) are available in the County Historian’s Office. See:

  • New York Towns, Villages, and Cities: A Guide to Genealogical Sources by Gordon L. Remington. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2002. FS Library Book 974.7 D27r; At various libraries (WorldCat); Alphabetical list including date founded, if a town history exists, church and cemetery sources, and if a Civil War register (TCR) exists.

Vital Records

Vital records of birth, marriage or death were first recorded at the local level in the village clerk, town clerk, or city clerk’s ledger book. In 1880, town clerks were to record the marriage and a copy was sent to the New York State Department of Health (state level). The marriages in this county were recorded by the county clerk from Cattaraugus until 1908.[21] If you know where a birth, marriage or death took place, a copy of the certificate or record may be obtained by writing to the town, village or city clerk.

Birth

Marriage

Death

Divorce

Divorce judgment papers often include date and place of the marriage and the names and birthdates of any children. Local newspapers may publish notices of divorce actions.

  • Pre–1787 All divorces were granted by the governor or legislature and were very rare.
  • 1787–1847 All divorces were granted by the court of chancery. These records are found in the New York State Archives or for the New York City area at the New York County Clerk's office.These divorces were granted only on the grounds of adultery.
  • 1847–present All divorces are handled by the county Supreme Court where the divorce was granted. Divorce files in New York are sealed for 100 years. Contact the County Clerk for information about divorce records.

Voting Records

Research Facilities

Archives

County Historian
Sharon Fellows
9824 Route 16
P.O. Box 352
Machias, NY 14101
Phone: 716-353-8200
Email: sfellows@cattco.org
Cattaraugus County Museum and Research Library
Cattaraugus County Historian

The County Historian may provide access to obituaries, vital records, church records, maps, and family files or journals. Some historians provide search services for their office records and others may refer you to local genealogists who research in the area.

Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in Cattaraugus County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1984). At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 974.794 A3g and film 1425056 Item 8. Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

FamilySearch Centers

FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries

  • FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
  • FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

Libraries


Allegany Public Library
90 West Main Street
Allegany, NY 14706
Phone: 716-373-1056

Delvan-Yorkshire Public Library
P.O. Box 185
28 School Street
Delevan, NY 14042
Phone: 716-492-1961

Gowanda Free Library
56 West Main Street
Gowanda, NY 14070
Phone: 716-532-3451
Website
Memorial Library of Little Valley
110 Rock City Street
Little Valley, NY 14755
Phone: 1-716-938-6301

Ellicottville Memorial Library
1 Washington Street
Ellicottville, NY 14731
Phone: 716-699-2842

King Memorial Library
Town Hall, Roszyk Hill Road
Machias, NY 14101
Phone: 716-353-9915
Website

Myers Memorial Library
P.O. Box 559
26 Ivory Street
Frewsburg, NY 14738
Phone 716-569-5515
Website

Seneca Nation Library-Cattaraugus Branch
1490 Route 438
Irving, NY 14081
Phone: 716-532-9449
Website

Museums

Cattaraugus County Historical Museum and Research Library
9824 Route 16
PO Box 352
Machias, NY 14101
Phone: 716-353-8200
Website

Seneca-Iroquois National Museum
814 Broad St
Salamanca, NY 14779
Phone: 716-945-1760
Website

Societies

Listed below are societies in Cattaraugus County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see New York Societies.
Cattaraugus Area Historical Society
23 Main Street
Cattaraugus, NY 14719
Phone: 716-257-3429 or 716-257-3971
Website

Central New York Genealogical Society[22]
Box 104, Calvin Station
Syracuse, New York 13205
Email: CNYSG@yahoo.com
Website

Member queries; surname research list; online resources; six meetings/year; publication: Tree Talks (At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 974.7 B2t) quarterly with annual index.
Counties served: Albany, Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Oreleans, Oswego, Otsego, Rensselaer, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Washington, Wayne, Warren, Wyoming, and Yates.

Western New York Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 338
Hamburg, New York 14075-0338
Email: info@wnygs.org
Directory
Website

Focus is on eight Western New York counties - Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Wyoming, Orleans, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany - which comprise the area of the original Holland Land Company purchase.

Painted Hills Genealogy Society
Mary E. Bryant: Founder and President
Email: paint@paintedhills.org
Website

This Society covers the Painted Hills Area of Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania, particularly the counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Steuben in New York and the Pennsylvania counties of McKean and Potter .

Websites

Research Guides

Cattaraugus County Historical Museum and Research Library
9824 Route 16
P.O. Box 352
Machias, NY 14101
Phone: (716) 353-8200
Website

This is a genealogy/research center, operated by the county. They will perform research requests for a fee. Some the records include: county census, Civil War rolls, cemetery stone abstracts, marriage records (1908-1925 only) and obituary abstracts

References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Cattaraugus, New York" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattaraugus_County,_New_York accessed 19 Nov 2018
  2. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Cattaraugus County, New York. Page 488-493 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 490-492.
  3. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 488. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  4. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FSC Book 973 D27e 2002.
  5. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Cattaraugus County, New York," in "Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattaraugus_County%2C_New_York, accessed 16 December 2019.
  6. ↑ Arlene Eakle, and Johni Cerni, The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1984), 103. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27ts.
  7. ↑ Handybook, 847-61.
  8. ↑ List of turnpikes in New York in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia (accessed 6 November 2014).
  9. ↑ Ancram Turnpike in Routes in the Northeastern United States: Historic Trails, Roads and Migration Routes (accessed 6 November 2014). The Ancram Turnpike went from Springield, MA to Catskill, NY; and was called the Catskill Road.
  10. ↑ Almira E Morgan, The Catskill Turnpike: A Wilderness Path (Ithaca, N.Y.: DeWitt Historical Society of Thompkins County, 1971), 5. Online digital copy.
  11. ↑ Catskill Turnpike in Routes in the Northeastern United States: Historic Trails, Roads and Migration Routes (accessed 6 November 2014). The Catskill Turnpike went west from Catskill, NY to Bath, NY; the east part was called the Susquehanna Turnpike.
  12. ↑ Huntting, 97-99.
  13. ↑ List of turnpikes in New York in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia (accessed 1 November 2014).
  14. ↑ Anastassia Zinke, The Susquehanna Turnpike and America's Frontier History in Catskill Mountain Foundation (accessed 1 November 2014).
  15. ↑ Joan Odess, The Susquehanna Turnpike (pdf accessed 1 November 2014).
  16. ↑ Paul A. W. Wallace, Indian Paths of Pennsylvania (Harrisburg, Pa.: PA Historical and Museum Commission, 1971), 46-48. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 974.8 H2wp.
  17. ↑ Handybook, 850.
  18. ↑ Handybook, 850-51.
  19. ↑ Frederick Phisterer, New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. (Albany, N.Y.: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912). Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Film 1486494-96; Fiche 6083559-64; Book 974.7 M2p.
  20. ↑ Alice Eichholz, Red Book: American State, County and Town Sources, 3rd ed. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry Pub., 2004), 479. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27rb 2004. Henry B. Hoff, "Navigating New York Probate," American Ancestors 12 (Fall 2011): 54.
  21. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 488-493. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  22. ↑ Central New York Genealogical Society at http://cnygs.org/ (accessed 23 May 2018).
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