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Erie County, New York Genealogy

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Guide to Erie 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: Buffalo
Organized: April 2, 1821
Parent County(s): Niagara
Neighboring Counties
Cattaraugus • Chautauqua • Genesee • Niagara • Wyoming • Welland[1]
Courthouse
New York, Erie County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Ny-erie.png


County Information

Description

The county was named for Lake Erie. The county is located along the western edge of the state and shares a border with Ontario, Canada.[2]

County Courthouse

Erie County Courthouse
25 Delaware Ave
Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: 716-845-9301
Erie County Website

The Erie County Clerk's office has some marriage, divorce, court and land records. The Surrogates Court has probate records.

Erie 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[3]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1880 1809 1880 1821** 1821** 1821** 1800
*After a failed attempt in 1847-1848 for which few records survive, statewide registration for births and deaths successfully began in 1880. General compliance for births by 1915 and deaths by 1890.
**Erie was created from Niagara County in 1821. The Buffalo Courthouse kept the Niagara County records up to that time. Thus, records in the area start earlier. However, records for Erie county did not start officially until 1821.

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:[6]

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 Erie 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. %±
1830 35,719 —
1840 62,465 74.9%
1850 100,993 61.7%
1860 141,971 40.6%
1870 178,699 25.9%
1880 219,884 23.0%
1890 322,981 46.9%
1900 433,686 34.3%
1910 528,985 22.0%
1920 634,688 20.0%
1930 762,408 20.1%
1940 798,377 4.7%
1950 899,238 12.6%
1960 1,064,688 18.4%
1970 1,113,491 4.6%
1980 1,015,472 −8.8%
1990 968,532 −4.6%
2000 950,265 −1.9%
2010 919,040 −3.3%
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.[7]
  • 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.
  • The 1890 Census was destroyed by a fire in the Commerce Building in Washington, DC in 1921. For a substitute, see Erie.

State

Source 1825 1835 1845 1855 1865 1875 1892 1905 1915 1925
Ancestry.com - - - Yes - Yes Yes - Yes Yes
FS Library Film - - - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
FamilySearch Images - - - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
New York State Library Film Some 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.

Church Records

Many Buffalo church records have been microfilmed and are available in the Grosvenor Room at the main branch of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, the Research Library of the Buffalo History Museum, and from any local FamilySearch Center.[8]

Catholic

Episcopal

Lutheran

Methodist Episcopal

  • 1867-1948 Methodist Episcopal Church. Williamsville and Bowmansville Charge FS Library film 1378858 Contains history of the church 1844-1946; record of probationers including a few deaths 1869-1925, 1930-1936; class record including deaths 1869-1909; alphabetical record of members in full connection including deaths 1873-1948; record of official members 1867-1889; baptisms 1869-1941; marriages 1869-1946; appendix with a few deaths 1881-1883, 1902-1904.

Presbyterian


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.

Online Court Indexes and Records

Directories

Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

African Americans

Hispanics

Irish Americans

Native Americans

Polish Americans

Funeral Homes

Genealogies

Guardianship

Land and Property Records

Online Land Indexes and Records
Original land records in Erie County began in 1800. These records are housed at the Erie County Clerk's office in Erie County Hall. Land sales in what are now Buffalo and Erie County began in 1801, courtesy of the Holland Land Company, which gained title to the eight counties of Western New York. Here is a timeline of their activities.

  • 1808-1964 Deed Records 1808-1927 FS Library film 812644 (first of 807 films) - Index included: 1808-1964
  • 1808-1856 Mortgage Records 1808-1856 FS Library film 825615 (first of 57 films - Index included: years undetermined.
  • 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

Chautauqua CountyCattaraugus CountyWyoming CountyGenesee CountyNiagara CountyOntarioNY ERIE.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Migration

Catskill Turnpike.png

Migration routes for early European settlers to and from Erie County included:[9]

Military Records

Revolutionary War

War of 1812

Civil War
Online Civil War Indexes and Records

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: Amherst · Aurora · Boston · Brant · Buffalo · Clarence · Colden · Eden · Elma · Evans · Grand Island · Hamburg · Holland · Lancaster · Marilla · Newstead · North Collins · Sardinia · Tonawanda · Wales.

Regiments. Service men served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Erie County:[23]

- 1st Battalion, New York Light Artillery, Battery I.
- 1st Battalion, New York Sharpshooters, 8th Company.
- 1st Regiment, New York Light Artillery, Battery I.
- 2nd Regiment, New York Mounted Rifles, Companies A, C, D, E, H, K and M.
- 8th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company M, 2nd Companies I and L, 3rd Company K.
- 9th Regiment, New York Infantry (New)
- 10th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies B, C, D, E, F, L and M.
- 11th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies L and M.
- 12th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies D, E, H, K, L and M.
- 13th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company I.
- 14th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies H and I.
- 16th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies B, C, D, E, G, H, I and L.
- 18th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company I.
- 21st Regiment, New York Infantry
- 23rd Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company A.
- 24th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies C, D, F, K and M.
- 26th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company K.
- 33rd Regiment, New York Infantry, Company G.
- 35th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company D.
- 36th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company A.
- 44th Regiment, New York Infantry, two companies.
- 49th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies B, D, E and F.
- 64th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company A.
- 69th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company K.
- 78th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company E.
- 93rd Regiment, New York Infantry, Company H.
- 100th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, C, D, E, G, H, I and K.
- 116th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and K.
- 132nd Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies D, G and H.
- 151st Regiment, New York Infantry, Company K.
- 155th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies I and K.
- 160th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company K.
- 164th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies B, C and D.
- 176th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies C, G and H.
- 179th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, D, E, F and G.
- 194th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies G and I.

Vietnam War

Naturalization and Citizenship

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

Newspapers

  • Blasdell NY Frontier Herald 1956-1966
  • Buffalo NY Daily Courier 1847-1888
  • Buffalo NY Evening Courier and Republic 1862-1884
  • Buffalo NY Polish Weekly Review 1929-1930
  • Buffalo NY Morning Express 1880-1924
  • Hamburg NY Front Page 1964-1979
  • Hamburg NY Photo News 1970-1976
  • Hamburg NY Erie County Independent 1875-1944
  • Hamburg NY Sun 1945-1988

New York State Historic Newspapers

Other Resources

Obituaries

Other Records

Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

  • Erie County Poorhouse Ledgers at the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. The collection consists of 15 ledgers recording children “bound out”/adopted (1863-1868), intake registers (children 1829-1841-1852, adults/families 1829-1845, 1861-1864, 1871-1889, 1908-1923), and hospital and death registers (1854-1867, 1897-1952). Nine of the ledgers have been digitized; the additional six acquired by the Library in 2019 are available in the Grosvenor Room.

Adoption Records

Effective January 1, 2020, adoptees born in New York State may request their original birth certificates from the New York State Health Department.

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.

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

Online Probate Indexes and Records

School Records

Online School Indexes and 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.

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

Published official lists of registered voters for the City of Buffalo (1919-1961; 1969-1971) and for Erie County towns (1926-1961; 1969-1971) are available in the Grosvenor Room at the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. The listings are arranged by city/town --> ward--> district --> street address. There is no alphabetical index. These are a great substitute for city directories for Erie County towns which didn't start having their own city directories until the 1950s or later.

Research Facilities

Archives

Erie County has more than 25 intriguing historical societies and museums. For a list, visit History Museums, courtesy of Visit Buffalo Niagara.

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

  • Buffalo History Museum
    1 Museum Court
    Buffalo, NY 14216
    Website
Genealogical Resources: Atlases, gazetteers, city and social directories, church records, cemetery records, censuses, compiled genealogies, histories, manuscripts and personal papers, maps, military indexes, newspapers, obituary index, periodicals, photographs, onsite access to full text Buffalo newspapers, 1811-1923, at Newspapers.com

Genealogical Resources: Local histories, census records, church and cemetery records, city directories, ethnic and immigration research, African American research, published family histories, maps and atlases, military records and history, vital records, yearbooks and school records. The website includes dozens of guides for topics such as: African-American Genealogy, Canadian Genealogy, German Genealogy, Irish Genealogy, Italian Genealogy, Jewish Genealogy, Native American Genealogy, and Polish Genealogy.

Genealogical Resources Atlases, gazetteers, directories, histories, church records, cemetery records, vital index, censuses, compiled genealogies, immigrant lists, military records, and periodicals.

Museums

  • Buffalo History Museum
    1 Museum Court
    Buffalo, NY 14216
    Website
Genealogical Resources: Atlases, gazetteers, city and social directories, church records, cemetery records, censuses, compiled genealogies, histories, manuscripts and personal papers, maps, military indexes, newspapers, obituary index, periodicals, photographs, onsite access to full text Buffalo newspapers, 1811-1923, at Newspapers.com

Societies

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

Genealogical Resources: The GAAA Library Collection, Sons of Erin Indexing Project, Holy Cross Cemetery Records and Index, local history project.

  • Erie County Historical Federation
    11 Danforth Street
    Cheektowaga, NY 14227
    Website[25]
Genealogical Resources: "Loosely organized group of local historical societies and appointed town historians of Erie County, acting as a liaison between groups and providing a speakers bureau."

  • Western New York Genealogical Society
    P.O. Box 338
    Hamburg, N.Y. 14075-0338
    Website
Genealogical Resources:: Surname list, locality list, 1865 Census index, journal, research library.

  • Buffalo History at Groups: A successor to the Buffalo History Yahoo group
    Website
Erie County Legislature Proceedings, 1853-1926: are online in full text courtesy of HathiTrust.org. Prior to 1967, the County Legislature was known as the Board of SupervisorsWebsite

  • Erie County Historian
    95 Franklin Street
    16th Floor
    Buffalo, NY 14202
    Phone: 716–858–8500
    Email: doug.kohler@erie.gov
    Website
  • Archives and Special Collections
    E.H. Butler Library
    Buffalo State College
    1300 Elmwood Avenue
    Buffalo, NY 14222
    Phone: 716-878-6300
    Archivist Phone: 716-878-6308
    Fax: 716-878-3134
    Email: library@buffalostate.edu
    Website
Genealogical Resources: Besides College archive materials there is a collection of the "Edward H. Butler Family Papers" and the "Paul G. Reilly Indian Collection" which involved treaties between various Indian nations and with the United States Government. Some of the documents (photocopies of the original) are as early as 1789. Collections

  • Rev. J. Clayton Murray, S.J. Archives Special Collections
    Andrew L. Bouwhuis Library
    Canisius College
    2001 Main Street
    Buffalo, NY 14208-1098
    Phone: 716-888-8406
    Fax: 716-888-2525
    Email: delaneyk@canisius.eduWebsite
Genealogical Resources: Besides the College archive materials, there is a collection of medieval manuscripts, including early printed Bibles, the Joseph P. Desmond Collection of Irish literature, history and culture; and the history of the Jesuits. Collections

Buffalo and Erie County, New York History and Genealogy
Facebook

Websites

Research Guides

References

  1. ↑ Handybook, 478.
  2. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Erie County, New York" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_County,_New_York, accessed 19 Nov 2018
  3. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Erie 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.
  4. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 489. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  5. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FSC Book 973 D27e 2002.
  6. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Erie County, New York," in "Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_County%2C_New_York, accessed 7 January 2020.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ Buffalo, Erie County, New York Genealogy at http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/erie1/buffalo/buffalo.htm (accessed 17 November 2011).
  9. ↑ Handybook, 847-61.
  10. ↑ List of turnpikes in New York in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia (accessed 6 November 2014).
  11. ↑ [ 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.
  12. ↑ Almira E Morgan, The Catskill Turnpike: A Wilderness Path (Ithaca, N.Y.: DeWitt Historical Society of Thompkins County, 1971), 5. Online digital copy.
  13. ↑ 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.
  14. ↑ Huntting, 97-99.
  15. ↑ List of turnpikes in New York in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia (accessed 1 November 2014).
  16. ↑ Anastassia Zinke, The Susquehanna Turnpike and America's Frontier History in Catskill Mountain Foundation (accessed 1 November 2014).
  17. ↑ Joan Odess, The Susquehanna Turnpike (pdf accessed 1 November 2014).
  18. ↑ Erie Canal in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia (accessed 20 November 2014).
  19. ↑ Compare the more northerly route in Handybook, 849, with the more southerly route described in Wikipedia contributors, "New York State Route 5" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_State_Route_5 (accessed 28 June 2011).
  20. ↑ Handybook, 849.
  21. ↑ Handybook, 850.
  22. ↑ Handybook, 850-51.
  23. ↑ 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.
  24. ↑ 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.
  25. ↑ Erie County, New York Town Historians, Historical Societies and Historical Museums, Updated: 20 October 2004, http://wnyroots.tripod.com/index-historians.html (accessed 15 December 2011).
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