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Clinton County, New York Genealogy

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Guide to Clinton 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: Plattsburgh
Organized: March 7, 1788
Parent County(s): Washington
Neighboring Counties
Chittenden (VT) • Essex • Franklin • Grand Isle (VT) • Quebec (Canada)
See County Maps
Courthouse
New York, Clinton County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Ny-clinton.png


County Information

Description

The county was named for George Clinton, the first Governor of New York, who went on to become Vice President, having been a Founding Father who represented New York in the Continental Congress. The county is located in the northeastern area of the state.[1]

County Courthouse

Clinton County Courthouse
137 Margaret St
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Phone: 518-536-3870
Clinton County Website

The Clinton County Clerk's office has divorce records, land records and the state census. The Surrogate court has probate records.

Clinton 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 1880 1880 1788 1778 1788 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
Unincorporated communities
Census-designated places


History Timeline

  • 1 March 1799 Essex County set off
  • 3 March 1805 part taken to form St. Lawrence County.
  • 1801 a part transferred to Oneida County.
  • 11 March 1808 west part of the county set off to form Franklin County.

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 Clinton 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. %±
1790 1,615 —
1800 8,514 427.2%
1810 8,002 −6.0%
1820 12,070 50.8%
1830 19,344 60.3%
1840 28,157 45.6%
1850 40,047 42.2%
1860 45,735 14.2%
1870 47,947 4.8%
1880 50,897 6.2%
1890 46,437 −8.8%
1900 47,430 2.1%
1910 48,230 1.7%
1920 43,898 −9.0%
1930 46,687 6.4%
1940 54,006 15.7%
1950 53,622 −0.7%
1960 72,722 35.6%
1970 72,934 0.3%
1980 80,750 10.7%
1990 85,969 6.5%
2000 79,894 −7.1%
2010 82,128 2.8%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

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

Federal
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.
  • 1849-50, 1859-60, 1869-70, and 1879-80 See Mortality Schedule information in the Federal Census section of Clinton for death information for 1849-50, 1859-60, 1869-70, and 1879-80.

State

Source 1825 1835 1845 1855 1865 1875 1892 1905 1915 1925
Ancestry.com - - - - Lost Yes - Yes Yes
FS Library film - - - - - Lost Yes Yes
FamilySearch Historical Records - - - - Lost Yes Yes Yes Yes
New York State Library film - - - - Lost Yes Yes Yes Yes


Church Records


List of Churches and Church Parishes

Latter-day Saints (Mormons)

Green check.png
The usage of "Mormon" and "LDS" on this page is approved according to current policy.


Quakers

The majority of data relating to Clinton County, NY will be from the Peru meeting which has 1,414 listings with dates from 1761-1856.

Roman Catholic

  • 1864-1881 Virginia Easley DeMarce, Baptisms and Burials: St. Edmund's, Ellenburg, New York, St. Philomene's, Churubusco, New York, St. James, Cadyville, New York, Clinton County, 1864-1881 (Plattsburgh, N.Y. (P.O. Box 1256, Plattsburgh 12901): The Society, 1990). At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 974.754 K2c.Includes indexes to godfathers, godmothers, and maiden names of mothers. Includes notes from cemetery, St. James, Cadyville.
  • 1835-1925Church of the Immaculate Conception, Keeseville, New York : St. Catherine of Sienna - Mission, Clintonville, New York, 1835-[1925], marriages - births - deaths
  • Northern New York American-Canadian Genealogical Society [1] (fees charged)
Publications of church registers [mostly Roman Catholic] of marriages, births, & deaths and cemetery transcriptions varied years by locale 1830-1930.

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.

Online Court Indexes and Records

Directories

  • Hamilton Child, Gazetteer and Directory of Franklin and Clinton Counties: With an Almanac for 1862-3, Embracing the Names of Business Men, County Officers, Distances, Interest Tables, Census Returns, and Much Other Valuable Statistical Information (Ann Arbor, Michigan: University Microfilms International, 1987). At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library fiche 6061886. Includes index.

Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

Funeral Homes

Genealogies

Guardianship

Land and Property Records

Online Land Indexes and Records

Books

Local Histories

Maps and Gazetteers

Franklin CountyEssex CountyChittenden CountyGrand Isle CountyQuebecNY CLINTON.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources
NY Clinton map.png

Migration

Early migration routes to and from Clinton County for European settlers included:[8]

Military Records

Revolutionary War

  • New York in the American Revolution: A Source Guide for Genealogists and Historians by Eric G. Grundset; Washington, D.C. : National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, [2012].
This book provides detailed information on the availability of manuscript and archival material that exists for New York State for the period of the Revolutionary War along with listings of historical and genealogical studies that have been published and which supplement the original sources. It is the most extensive gathering of such information ever published, and researchers will find it an essential resource with which to identify materials and studies located in many scattered libraries and archives. The PDF comprises more than 700 pages including table of contents, text pages, map pages, and an index to the text.
This title is available in printed version or as a PDF download through the DAR Store, visit dar.org/darstore or call the store toll-free at 888-673-2732 to order.
  • Moses Hazen and the Canadian Refugees in the American Revolution, Allan S. Everest, Nw York State American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, Syracuse, N.Y. : Syracuse University Press, 1976.

War of 1812
Riddlell, William Renwick, A Canadian's view of the battle of Plattsburgh ; a Canadian's view of the battle of New Orleans ; the century of peace and its significance (Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1987) pages 42.

  • A War of 1812 Death Register : "Whispers in the Dark" : K.I.A., M.I.A., P.O.W.'s, Wounded & Deaths in Vermont, New York & along the Canadian Border during the War of 1812. Soldiers from Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia & Washington DC : With a special chapter on the participants in "The Battle of Plattsburgh", American & British, by Jack Bilow, Plattsburgh, NY: 2011.

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: Altona, Au Sable, Beekmantown, Black Brook, Champlain, Chazy, Dannemora, Ellenburgh, Mooers, Peru, Plattsburgh, Saranac, and Schuyler Falls.

Regiments. Service Men in Warren County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county.[9]

- 8th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company I
- 9th Regiment, New York Cavalry , Company M
- 11th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies H and K
- 12th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company F
- 15th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company M
- 16th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies A, E, F, G, H and I
- 16th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies C, E and K
- 22nd Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company G
- 22nd Regiment, New York Infantry
- 25th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies L and M
- 26th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company G
- 34th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company D
- 60th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company H
- 72nd Regiment, New York Infantry, Company L
- 91st Regiment, New York Infantry, Company C
- 96th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies B, C, D, F and K
- 118th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, H, I and K
- 153rd Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies G, I and K
- 175th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies D and E
- 192nd Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies E, F, H and I

Naturalization and Citizenship

Newspapers

Obituaries

Other Records

Periodicals

Central New York Genealogical Society has indexed Tree Talks periodicals according to counties, surnames, and given names. Website

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.[10] See New York Probate Records for online resources, details, links, and more.

Online Probate Indexes and Records

School Records

Social Security Records

Tax Records

Online Tax Indexes and Records
1798 Tax Assessment for Northern New York, edited by David Kendall Martin, MA, FASG. [1798 Tax Assessment]


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 Clinton until 1909.[11] 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

Cornell University. New York Historical Resources Center, Guide to Historical Resources in Clinton County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1987).ExLibris digital copy - free; At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 974.754 A3g Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

County Historian
Clinton County Historian
Anastasia Pratt
Clinton County Government Center
137 Margaret Street, Suite 105
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 9 - 5 and by special appointment
Phone: 518-565-4749
Email: Historian@co.clinton.ny.us
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.

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

Brewster Memorial Research Library and Archives
Essex County Historical Society
Adirondack History Center Museum
7590 Court Street
P.O. Box 428
Elizabethtown, NY 12932
Phone: 518-873-6466
Email: research@adkhistorymuseum.org
Website

Clinton Essex Franklin Library System
Website

34 public libraries in the counties of Clinton, Essex, and Franklin. Each library has access to genealogical databases - especially newspaper sites.

Feinberg Library
SUNY Plattsburgh
2 Draper Ave
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Phone: 518-564-5182
Website

Museums

Adirondack History Center Museum
7590 Court Street
P.O. Box 428
Elizabethtown, NY 12932
Phone: 518-873-6466
Website

Houses the Brewster Memorial Research Library and Archives

Battle of Plattsburgh Association
31 Washington Rd
Plattsburgh, NY 12903
Phone: 518-566-1814
Website

Societies

Listed below are societies in Clinton County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see New York Societies.

Northern New York American-Canadian Genealogical Society
44 Emmons Street
Civic Center, Dannemora, NY
Phone: 518-492-4142
Facebook
Website

Primarily a French Canadian collection. Church records, censuses, allied genealogical societies publications, genealogies, histories, cemetery records, and parish marriages in Quebec.

Central New York Genealogical Society
Box 104, Colvin Station
Syracuse, NY 13205
Email: contact@cnygs.org
Web Contact Form
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, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Rensselaer, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Washington, Wayne, Warren, Wyoming, and Yates.

North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association
1131 Mace Chasm Rd
Ausable Chasm, NY 12911-1704
Phone: 518-834-5180
Email: ugr@frontier.com
Website

Saranac Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Plattsburgh, NY.
email: pameyers@verizon.net

Battle of Valcour Chapter of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution
Plattsburgh,NY
email: valcourbattlechapter@gmail.com

Clinton County Historical Association
98 Ohio Ave
Plattsburgh, NY 12903
Phone: 518-561-0340
Website

Websites

Research Guides

References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Clinton County, New York" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_County,_New_York, accessed 19 Nov 2018
  2. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Clinton 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, "Clinton County, New York," in "Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_County,_New_York, accessed 19 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. ↑ (accessed 13 October 2011), and Marc Albert Schindler, "South Shore Montréal" in Administrative Atlas of Canada, vol. II, Quebec (Gloucester, Ontario: Schindler-Spring Family Association, 1987), 6b, FS Library Film 1750799; Book 971 E7sm v. 2.
  8. ↑ Handybook, 847-61.
  9. ↑ Frederick Phisterer, New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. (Albany, N.Y.: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912). Internet Archive digital copy; At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Film 1486494-96; Fiche 6083559-64; Book 974.7 M2p.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ 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.
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