Cortland County, New York Genealogy
Guide to Cortland County, New York ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information
Description
The county was named for the Cortland apple. The county is located in the central area of the state. [1]
County Courthouse
Cortland County Courthouse
46 Greenbush St
Cortland, NY 13045-2765
Phone: 607-218-3320
Cortland County Website
The Cortland County Clerk's office has marriage, divorce, court, land and naturalization records. The Surrogate Court has probate records.
Cortland 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.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1880 | 1910 | 1880 | 1808 | 1808 | 1808 | 1663 |
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 | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline
- 1777 The county is named after Pierre Van Cortlandt, president of the convention at Kingston that wrote the first New York State Constitution in 1777, and first lieutenant governor of the state.
Resources
Bible Records
- 1581-1917 New York, Family Bible Records at Ancestry ($) – Index. Database is a collection of genealogically important records taken from the Bibles of colony and state residents. Reveals the Bible's original owner, brief record of descendants,and a particular event such as birth or marriage as recorded in Bible.
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
- 1800-1965 New York, Cemetery Abstracts, 1800-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1810 | 8,869 | — |
| 1820 | 16,507 | 86.1% |
| 1830 | 23,791 | 44.1% |
| 1840 | 24,607 | 3.4% |
| 1850 | 25,140 | 2.2% |
| 1860 | 26,294 | 4.6% |
| 1870 | 25,173 | −4.3% |
| 1880 | 25,825 | 2.6% |
| 1890 | 28,657 | 11.0% |
| 1900 | 27,576 | −3.8% |
| 1910 | 29,249 | 6.1% |
| 1920 | 29,625 | 1.3% |
| 1930 | 31,709 | 7.0% |
| 1940 | 33,668 | 6.2% |
| 1950 | 37,158 | 10.4% |
| 1960 | 41,113 | 10.6% |
| 1970 | 45,894 | 11.6% |
| 1980 | 48,820 | 6.4% |
| 1990 | 48,963 | 0.3% |
| 2000 | 48,599 | −0.7% |
| 2010 | 49,336 | 1.5% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For information and tips on using and accessing online census records, see New York Census.
Federal
U.S. Census Mortality Schedules for New York, 1850-1880:
- Available online at Ancestry ($).
- 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, 1879-80 See Mortality Schedule information in the Federal Census section of Census for death information.
- The 1890 Census is lost. For a substitute, see Cortland.
State
| 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 | Link | Link |
| New York State Library Microfilm | Yes | Yes | Part | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- 1864-5, 1874-5 See Marriage Schedule information in the State Census section of Census for marriage information for 1864-5, and 1874-5.
- 1864-5 Vital Records for Cortlandville District 1 from 1865 Census at NYGenWeb - free.
- 1864-5 Vital Records for Cortlandville District 3 from 1865 Census at NYGenWeb - free.
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 Mortality Schedule information in the State Census section of Census for death information for 1864-5, and 1874-5.
Church Records
- See New York Church Records for more resources
- 1640-1962 New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1795-1952 New York Deaths and Burials, 1795-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Cornell University's Study Center for Early Religious Life in Western New York has an online guide to Cortland County church records in their library.
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
- 1906-1942 New York Book Indexes to Passenger Lists, 1906-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Funeral Homes
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Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
- See New York Land and Property for more resources.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1808-1962 Deed Records 1808-1916 FS Library film 841216 (first of 92 films) - Index included: 1808-1962
- 1808-1909 Mortgage Records 1808-1851 FS Library film 843766 (first of 13 films - Index included: 1808-1909
Books
- The Military Tract: A Bit of Early History of Cortland County, New York, courtesy: NYGenWeb.
- Bounty Land Deeds in Cortland Co., courtesy: NYGenWeb.
Local Histories
Eastern New Yorkers and New Englanders, wanting new land to farm, welcomed the opening of this frontier. The first white settlement in the county was made in 1791 by Amos Todd, Joseph Beebe and Rhoda Todd Beebe, emigrants from Connecticut who paddled up the Tioughnioga River from Windsor, to live near the head of navigation in the Town of Homer. Following them came a flood of settlers who, in 1808, petitioned the State Legislature for county status. Thus, Cortland County was created from the southern half of Onondaga County as part of the Boston Ten Towns on April 8, 1808.
- Pioneer History of Cortland County. Hermon Camp Goodwin, (New York : A.B. Burdick, 1859). Online at:
FamilySearch Digital Library; also at Google Books online copy.
- Index to Pioneer History of Cortland County; Berkshire Family History Association at FamilySearch.org FamilySearch Catalog
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- Maps of New York (1683-1915)
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
Civil War
- 1861-1865 New York, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch —How to Use this Collection; index & images at partner site
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 ($).
Available towns. Registers are available for: Cincinnatus · Harford · Scott · Solon · Taylor · Virgil · Willet.
Regiments. Service men in Cortland County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county.[7]
- - 6th Regiment, New York Heavy Artillery, Company I.
- - 10th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies A, L and M.
- - 12th Independent Company, New York Infantry, Company D.
- - 23rd Regiment, New York Infantry, Company H.
- - 76th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, E, F and G.
- - 93rd Regiment, New York Infantry, Company E.
- - 114th Regiment, New York Infantry
- - 156th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company H.
- - 157th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies C, D, E, H and K.
- - 175th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies D and E.
- - 194th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company H.
Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1791-1980 New York, County Naturalization Records, 1791-1980 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1872-1878 New York, Record of Naturalized Voters Registered, 1872-1878 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Newspapers
- 1800-1855 New York Marriage Notices at Ancestry ($) – index. This database is a collection of marriage notices published in newspapers around the state. Contains name of bride and groom, marriage date, marriage location, residence, and newspaper found in.
- 1801-1880 Barber Collection- Newspaper Marriages at Ancestry ($)– index. Information extracted from the "Brooklyn Eagle" and the "New York Evening Post."
- 1813–1850 Fred Q. Bowman, 10,000 Vital Records of Central New York, 1813-1850 (Baltimore, MD:Genealogical Pub. Co., 1986). Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 974.7 V2bf. Abstracted from newspaper marriage and death columns.
- 1856-1863 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at Ancestry ($) – index. These newspaper notices refer to people up and down the East Coast as well as midwesterners and persons from as far west as the State of California. Also browsable.
Obituaries
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
Probate records (wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distributions) for New York are held in the office of the county Surrogate Court beginning in 1787, or when the county was formed. Prior to 1787, most are housed at the New York State Archives.
Content: Probate Records may give the decedent's date of death, names of spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.
Probate Petitions In 1830, state law required the Surrogate Court clerk to issue a probate petition for a deceased individual with property. This petition, unique to New York, usually lists the deceased's death date. It also lists the heirs, their relationship to the deceased, and their residence. These petitions are often found in the estate files.[8]
See New York Probate Records for online resources, details, links, and more.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1799-1905 Listed as "Estate Files" FS Library Film 1819656(first of 27 films). How to use FamilySearch Catalog
- 1626-1836 Calendar of Wills On File and Recorded in the Offices of the Clerk of the Court of Appeals, of the County Clerk at Albany, and of the Secretary of State, 1626-1836 at FamilySearch Digital Library; Also at: Ancestry ($), American Ancestors ($)
- 1629-1971 New York Probate Records, 1629-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
- 1659-1999 New York Wills and Probate Records 1659-1999 at Ancestry ($) — index & images
- 1787-1835 Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787-1835 at American Ancestors ($)
- 1832-1908 SAMPUBCO Free online browsable index of testators of wills. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Fiche 6002840; Film 2055179 Item 11.
- 1866-1923 New York, Kings County Estate Files, 1866-1923 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1629-1971 New York Probate Records, 1629-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
- 1808-1070 Probate records, 1809-1935; indexes, 1808-1970 FS Library Film 846125 (55 films).
- 1810-1893 Estate files (by file number) FS Library Film 1819656 (27 films).
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
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
- See New York Vital Records for more databases and information about obtaining 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 1910 until 1935.[9] 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
- 1640-1962 New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1881-1942 New York, Birth Index, 1881-1942 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1881-1942 Reclaim the Records: New York State Birth Index at Internet Archive - images of index
Marriage
- 1639-1962 New York, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($) — index
- 1664-1784 New York. Secretary of State, Names of Persons for Whom Marriage Licenses Were Issued By the Secretary of the Province of New York, Previous to 1784 (Albany, New York: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1860). At Cornell University digital library-free; Internet Archive - free; Ancestry edition($); At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Film 514675 Item 1 or 930131 Item 2. Marriage bonds issued in the State of New York prior to 1784, and the earliest record dating 1664.
- 1686-1980 New York Marriages, 1686-1980 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1847-1848;1908-1936 New York, County Marriages, 1847-1848; 1908-1936 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1881-1964 Reclaim the Records: New York State Marriage Index at Internet Archive - images of index
- 1908-1935 Marriage records and license index and licenses FS Library film 843875 Item 2 (first of 14 films)
- 1908-1935 New York Marriages, 1908-1935 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
Death
- 1795-1952 New York Deaths and Burials, 1795-1952 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1824-1962 New York, Church and Civil Deaths, 1824-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1880-1956 New York, State Death Index, 1880-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1880-1956 New York, Death Index, 1880-1956 at Ancestry ($) — index only
- 1880-1956 Reclaim the Records: New York State Death Index at Internet Archive - images of index
- 1957-1963 New York State Health Department, Genealogical Research Death Index, 1957-1963 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
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
- 1872-1878 New York, Record of Naturalized Voters Registered, 1872-1878 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Research Facilities
Archives
- See New York Archives and Libraries for state-wide archive facilities.
Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in Cortland County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1984). Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
County Historian
Cortland County Historian
Phone: (607) 753-5049
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
- Cortland New York FamilySearch Center
- Ithaca New York FamilySearch Center
- Onondaga County Public Library - an affiliate library
- Steele Memorial Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
- See New York Archives and Libraries for state-wide library facilities.
Cortland Free Library
32 Church St.
Cortland, NY 13045
Phone: (607) 753-1042
Hours: Mon-Thur 9:30am-8pm; Fri 9:30am-5:30pm; Sat 9:30am-4:30pm
Website
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Cortland County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see New York Societies.
Central New York Genealogical Society[10]
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.
Cortland County Historical Society
25 Homer Avenue
Cortland, NY 13045
Phone: (607) 756-6071
Website
- The Kellogg Memorial Research Library houses maps, census data, city and county directories, cemetery records, genealogies, histories, military records, photographic files and other resources to assist with research.
Websites
- Cortland NYGenWeb, part of NY GenWeb
- Cortland USGenWeb Archives
- Cortland County Genealogy
- FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides
References
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Cortland, New York" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortland_County,_New_York accessed 19 Nov 2018
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Cortland 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FSC Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Cortland County, New York," in "Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortland_County,_New_York, accessed 19 December 2019.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Central New York Genealogical Society at http://cnygs.org/ (accessed 17 June 2018).