Fulton County, New York Genealogy

United States

New York

Fulton County

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

New York Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: Johnstown Organized: April 18, 1838 Parent County(s): Montgomery Neighboring Counties Hamilton • Herkimer • Montgomery • Saratoga See County Maps Courthouse Location Map

County Information

Description

The county was named for Robert Fulton, who is widely credited with developing the first commercially successful steamboat. The county is located in the east-central area of the state.

County Courthouse

Fulton County Courthouse
223 West Main St
Johnstown, NY 12095
Phone: 518-706-3290
Fulton County Website

The Fulton County Clerk's office has marriage, divorce, and court records. The Surrogate court has probate records.

Fulton 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
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1880	1900	1880	1838	1838	1838	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

Parent County(s): Create from Montgomery County, on 18 April 1838. County Seat: Johnstown New York Individual County Chronologies - Newberry Library list of all boundary changes by county New York Historical Borders - Map at Newberry Library Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; Also at: mapofus.org - animated maps illustrating New York 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:

Cities
Gloversville	Johnstown (county seat)
Towns
Bleecker Broadalbin Caroga Ephratah	Johnstown Mayfield Northampton Oppenheim	Perth Stratford
Villages
Broadalbin Dolgeville	Mayfield	Northville
Hamlets
Kingsboro
Census-designated places
Caroga Lake

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

• Reynolds, Cuyler. Hudson–Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1911. Free online index.Various LibrariesFS Library Film 1000229; Book 974.74 D3r 4 vols. Master index FS Library Book 974.74 D3r index

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Fulton County, New York online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	BillionGraves Find A Grave Interment.net New York Gravestones NYGenWeb Tombstone Project
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	FamilySearch Library WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the County	Find A Grave FamilySearch Places
See New York Cemeteries for more information.

• 1800-1965 New York, Cemetery Abstracts, 1800-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Census Records

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1840	18,049	—
1850	20,171	11.8%
1860	24,162	19.8%
1870	27,064	12.0%
1880	30,985	14.5%
1890	37,650	21.5%
1900	42,842	13.8%
1910	44,534	3.9%
1920	44,927	0.9%
1930	46,560	3.6%
1940	48,597	4.4%
1950	51,021	5.0%
1960	51,304	0.6%
1970	52,637	2.6%
1980	55,153	4.8%
1990	54,191	−1.7%
2000	55,073	1.6%
2010	55,531	0.8%
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.
• 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 is lost. For a substitute, see Fulton.
  
• 1849-50, 1859-60, 1869-70, 1879-80 See Mortality Schedule information in the Federal Census section of Census for death information.
  

State

Source	1825	1835	1845	1855	1865	1875	1892	1905	1915	1925
Ancestry.com	-	-	-	Yes	-	Yes	-	-	Yes	Yes
FamilySearch Library	-	-	Yes	-	Yes
FamilySearch Images	-	-	-	Yes	Yes	Yes	-	Yes	Yes	Yes
New York State Library	-	-	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 Marriages Extracted from the 1865 Census for Fulton County at NYGenWeb - free. Arranged by bride.
  
• 1874-5 Marriages Extracted from the 1875 Census for Fulton County at NYGenWeb free. Arranged by bride.

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.
  
• 1864-5 Deaths - 1865 State Census, Mortality Schedule, Fulton County, New York at Mortality-Schedules.com free.
  
• 1864-5 Death Records Extracted from the 1865 Census of Fulton County at NYGenWeb free.
  
• 1874-5 Deaths - 1875 State Census, Mortality Schedule, Fulton County, New York at Mortality-Schedules.com free.
  
• 1874-5 Death Records Extracted from the 1875 Census of Fulton County at NYGenWeb free.
  

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
• 1778-1803 Baptism and Marriage Records as Recorded by Rev. James Dempster 1778-1803, courtesy: NYGenWeb.
  

Catholic

• Local Catholic Church and Family History Genealogical Research Guide lists the parishes of Fulton County, years parishes were created, contact information. Fulton is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Albany.
  

Methodist Episcopal

• 1863-1886 Methodist Episcopal Church Marriage Records
• 1877-1911 Methodist Episcopal Church. Ephratah and Rockwood Charge FS Library film 1293949 Item 2 Includes baptisms, 1877-1890, marriages, 1877-1894, funerals, 1886-1888, 1910-1911, and an alphabetical record of members.
• Fulton County, New York Churches at NYGenWeb

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places

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.

Emigration and Immigration

• 1906-1942 New York Book Indexes to Passenger Lists, 1906-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Funeral Homes

A. G. Cole Funeral Home Inc. in Johnstown Amico Funeral Home in Gloversville Barter & Donnan Funeral Home in Johnstown Betz, Rossi Bellinger & Stewart Family Funeral Home in Gloversville John W. Finocan Funeral Home in Gloversville Miller-Plonka Funeral Home in Dolgeville Northville Funeral Service Inc. in Gloversville Northville Funeral Service Inc. in Northville Robert M. Halgas Funeral Home, Inc. in Johnstown Roberts Funeral Home in Dolgeville

Land and Property Records

• See New York Land and Property for more resources.

Online Land Indexes and Records

• 1772-1910 Deed Records 1772-1908 FS Library film 513920 (first of 73 films) - Index included: 1772-1910
  
• Kingsborough Patent rent rolls FS Library film 1276120 Item 2. The Kingsborough Patent, issued by the Royal Colonial Government in Albany in 1753 covered 20,000 acres of Forest land that had been purchased from the Mohawk Indians a year earlier. It included parts of the present towns of Johnstown, Mayfield and Ephratah and the future sites of the cities of Johnstown and Gloversville and the village of Mayfield.
  

Local Histories

Schenectady Digital History Archive includes "Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs: Index to Families" includes people from Fulton County.

• New York Indexes (many counties) at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• Maps of New York (1683-1915)
• Atlas of Montgomery and Fulton counties, New York : from actual surveys (1868) - freely available at the Internet Archive.
• FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

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: Bleecker · Broadalbin · Ephratah · Johnstown · Mayfield · Oppenheim · Perth.

Regiments. Service Men from Fulton County 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 Fulton County.

- 7th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company F

- 10th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company I

- 32nd Regiment, New York Infantry, Company C

- 77th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company K

- 115th Regiment, New York Infantry Companies E and K

- 153rd Regiment, New York Infantry Companies A, D, and F

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."
  
• 1801-1890 Barber Collection- Newspaper Deaths at Ancestry ($) Index. Information extracted from the "Brooklyn Eagle" and the "New York Evening Post."
  
• 1808-1850 Fred Q.Bowman, 7000 Hudson-Mohawk Valley, (NY), Vital Records, 1808-1850 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1997). At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 974.7 V2bo. Abstracts from newspapers filed at the New York State Library in Albany.
  
• 1830-1831 Marriage Records Extracted from Montgomery Republican, 1830-1831 at NYGenWeb
  
• 1834-1836 Marriage Records Extracted from Montgomery Republican, 1834-1836 at NYGenWeb
  
• 1834-1836 Death Records Extracted from Montgomery Republican 1834-1836 at NYGenWeb free.
  
• 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.
  
• 1847-1849 Births and deaths FS Library film 1029537 Items 3 (first of 2 films) from returns of Town Clerks.
  
• New York Newspapers Online at Old Fulton New York Post Cards - index & images

• Gloversville NY Daily Leader 1888-1903
• Gloversville NY Leader Herald 1955-1977
• Gloversville NY Leader Republican 1937-1954
• Gloversville NY Morning Herald 1913-1955
• Johnstown Broadalbin Herald 1908
• Johnstown NY Daily Republican 1890-1899
• Johnstown NY Fulton County Republican 1877-1909
• Valley News 1947-1999

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

Online Probate Indexes and Records

• 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 Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1789-1937 SAMPUBCO Browsable index of testators of wills.
  
• 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
• 1805-1939 General index and reference FS Library Film 811148 (5 films).
• 1830-1967 Probate records, 1789-1955; general index FS Library Film 521921 (33 films).

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

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 1900 until 1926. 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 Ancestry index ($)*1881-1942 New York, Birth Indexes Outside of New York City, 1881-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; 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
• 1847-1849, 1868–1871, 1875, 1889 Marriages FS Library film 1029537 Items 3 (first of 2 films) from returns of Town Clerks.
  
• 1847-1936 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 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 Fulton County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1984).
At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 974.747 A3g. Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

County Historian
Historian
County Office Building
223 West Main Street
Johnstown, NY 12095
Phone: 518–736-5667
Website
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

• Gloversville New York FamilySearch Center
• Schoharie Valley New York FamilySearch Center
• Guilderland Public Library - an affiliate library
• New York State Library and New York State Archives - an affiliate library

Libraries

• See New York Archives and Libraries for state-wide library facilities.

Fulton County is part of the Mohawk Valley Library System (MVLS).Holdings at these libraries include account books, business records & ledgers; atlases & maps; bibles; biography, surname & obituary files; census records; cemetery, marriage, military & pension records; church & county histories; city directories; DAR lineage books; diaries; ephemera; gazetteers; genealogical family charts; letters & personal papers; newspapers; notebooks; pamphlets; photographs; printed books; scrapbooks; watercolors & objets d'art. The focus of these collections are the historical persons and places in the libraries' service area.

Museums

Fulton County Museum
237 North Kingsboro Avenue
Gloversville, NY 12078-1428
Phone: 518-725-2203
Email: adimn@fultoncountymuseum.org
Website

Adirondack Museum Library
P. O. Box 99
Blue Mountain Lake, New York 12812
Phone: 518-352-7311
Email: jpepper@adkmuseum.org
Collections: include books, manuscripts, maps, periodicals, microforms, and ephemera related to the Adirondack Mountains. It is strongly encouraged to make an appointment.
Website

Societies

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

The Adirondack Genealogical – Historical Society - they have an obituary database extracted from the Adirondack Daily Enterprise and will search for you by phone. They also have some church records, census records on Franklin and surrounding counties, local directories, and cemetery information up to 2000. Phone: 518-891-0807.
Website

Capital District Genealogical Society
Empire State Plaza Station
PO Box 2175
Albany, NY 12220-0175
Website

Counties served: Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, and Washington.

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.

Fulton County Historian
19 N. William St.
Johnstown NY 12095
(518) 736-5667
Email: historian@fultoncountyny.gov
Website

Websites

• Fulton County NYGenWeb
• Fulton County USGenWeb Archives
• Fulton, New York Photos
• Fulton 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.