Hamilton County, New York Genealogy
Guide to Hamilton 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[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named for Alexander Hamilton. The county is located in the central area of the state. [1]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Hamilton County Courthouse
102 County View Dr
Lake Pleasant, NY 12108
Phone: 518-648-5411
Hamilton County Website
The Hamilton County clerk's office has divorce, court and land records. The Surrogate Court has probate records.
Hamilton County, New York Record Dates[edit | edit source]
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 | 1880 | 1880 | 1797 | 1797 | 1861 | 1663 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
|
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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Populated Places[edit | edit source]
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]
| Towns | ||
| Villages | ||
| Hamlets | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
- Attached to Montgomery County until 1838 when it was reassigned to Fulton County.
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
- 1581-1917 New York, Family Bible Records at Ancestry ($); Index. Database is a collection of genealogically important records taken from the Bibles of colony and state residents. Reveals the Bible's original owner, brief record of descendants,and a particular event such as birth or marriage as recorded in Bible.
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
- 1800-1965 New York, Cemetery Abstracts, 1800-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1820 | 1,251 | — |
| 1830 | 1,325 | 5.9% |
| 1840 | 1,907 | 43.9% |
| 1850 | 2,188 | 14.7% |
| 1860 | 3,024 | 38.2% |
| 1870 | 2,960 | −2.1% |
| 1880 | 3,923 | 32.5% |
| 1890 | 4,762 | 21.4% |
| 1900 | 4,947 | 3.9% |
| 1910 | 4,373 | −11.6% |
| 1920 | 3,970 | −9.2% |
| 1930 | 3,929 | −1.0% |
| 1940 | 4,188 | 6.6% |
| 1950 | 4,105 | −2.0% |
| 1960 | 4,267 | 3.9% |
| 1970 | 4,714 | 10.5% |
| 1980 | 5,034 | 6.8% |
| 1990 | 5,279 | 4.9% |
| 2000 | 5,379 | 1.9% |
| 2010 | 4,836 | −10.1% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For information and tips on using and accessing online census records, see New York Census.
Federal
U.S. Census Mortality Schedules for New York, 1850-1880:
- Available online at Ancestry ($).
- 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.
- The 1890 Census is lost. For a substitute, see Hamilton.
- 1849-50, 1859-60, 1869-70, 1879-80 See Mortality Schedule information in the Federal Census section of Census for death information. See also indexes at NYGenWeb.
State
| Source | 1825 | 1835 | 1845 | 1855 | 1865 | 1875 | 1892 | 1905 | 1915 | 1925 |
| Ancestry.com | - | - | - | - | - | - | Yes | - | Yes | Yes |
| FamilySearch Library | - | - | - | - | - | - | Yes | Yes | ||
| FamilySearch Images | - | - | - | - | Yes | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| New York State Library | - | - | - | - | - | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Church Records[edit | edit source]
- 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
- 1835-1856 Marriage Records of Joseph F. Spier Northville Methodist Episcopal Church 1835-1856, courtesy: NYGenWeb.
- 1867-1915 Catholic Church. St. Joseph Olmstedville FS Library film 1450551 Items 4-6 Baptisms, marriages, burials 1867-1911, communions, confirmation 1879-1893 (Olmstedv.) Baptisms 1890-1915 Confirmations 1890-1915 (various) Marriages 1891-1899, 1903-1915 Deaths 1890-1915
- 1762-1876 Eglise catholique. Saint-François-Régis (Saint-Régis, Québec) and Huntingdon County Catholic Parishes FS Library film 11031635-1031638 Includes baptisms, marriages, burials and confirmations. Text in French, English, Latin and Indian.
- FamilySearch Places
Court Records[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
- 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[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
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Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
- See New York Land and Property for more resources.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1797-1959 Deed Records 1797-1901 FS Library film 550024 (first of 31 films) - Index to deeds and mortgages included: 1797-1959
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
- New York Indexes (many counties) at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
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 ($).
Available towns. Registers are available for: Lake Pleasant · Long Lake · Morehouse · Wells.
Regiments. Service men from Hamilton County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Hamilton County.[7]
- - 61st Regiment, New York Infantry, Company C
- - 115th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company K
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1791-1980 New York, County Naturalization Records, 1791-1980 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1872-1878 New York, Record of Naturalized Voters Registered, 1872-1878 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- 1777-1834 Fred Q. Bowman, 10,000 Vital Records of Eastern New York, 1777-1834 (Baltimore,MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1987). Online at: Ancestry ($); MyHeritage ($); At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 974.7 V2bfq. Abstracted from newspaper marriage and death columns.
- 1800-1855 New York Marriage Notices at Ancestry($); 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."
- 1856-1863 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at Ancestry ($); Index. These newspaper notices refer to people up and down the East Coast as well as mid-westerners and persons from as far west as the State of California. Also browsable.
- 1893-1993 Vitals from the Hamilton County News (incomplete) at NYGenWeb - free. Births, marriages, obituaries.
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- Hamilton County obituaries at NYGenWeb free.
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Probate records (wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distributions) for New York are held in the office of the county Surrogate Court beginning in 1787, or when the county was formed. Prior to 1787, most are housed at the New York State Archives.
Content: Probate Records may give the decedent's date of death, names of spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.
Probate Petitions In 1830, state law required the Surrogate Court clerk to issue a probate petition for a deceased individual with property. This petition, unique to New York, usually lists the deceased's death date. It also lists the heirs, their relationship to the deceased, and their residence. These petitions are often found in the estate files.[8]
See New York Probate Records for online resources, details, links, and more.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1626-1836 Calendar of Wills On File and Recorded in the Offices of the Clerk of the Court of Appeals, of the County Clerk at Albany, and of the Secretary of State, 1626-1836 at FamilySearch Digital Library; Also at: Ancestry ($), American Ancestors ($)
- 1629-1971 New York Probate Records, 1629-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
- 1659-1999 New York Wills and Probate Records 1659-1999 Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1861-1908 Estate Papers(Petitions) FS Library Film 550037 (9 films)
- 1861-1908 SAMPUBCO Free browsable index of Estate Files
- 1861-1934 Probate Records FS Library Film 550035(2 films)
- 1861-1934 SAMPUBCO Free 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
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Town Records[edit | edit source]
Town records in New York may include early births, marriages, deaths, divorces, local histories, selected military records, and town meeting minutes. Vital records from 1880/1882 are kept by town and village clerks, although some (Kent’s and Putnam Valley’s) are available in the County Historian’s Office. See:
- New York Towns, Villages, and Cities: A Guide to Genealogical Sources by Gordon L. Remington. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2002. FS Library Book 974.7 D27r; At various libraries (WorldCat); Alphabetical list including date founded, if a town history exists, church and cemetery sources, and if a Civil War register (TCR) exists.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
- See New York Vital Records for more databases and information about obtaining vital records.
Vital records of birth, marriage or death were first recorded at the local level in the village clerk, town clerk, or city clerk’s ledger book.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1640-1962 New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1848-1851 Vital Records, 1849-1851 at NYGenWeb
- 1881-1942 New York, Birth Indexes Outside of New York City, 1881-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1881-1942 New York, Birth Index, 1881-1942 Ancestry — index ($)
- 1881-1942 Reclaim the Records: New York State Birth Index at Internet Archive - images of index
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 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($); At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Film 514675 Item 1 or 930131 Item 2. Marriage bonds issued in the State of New York prior to 1784, and the earliest record dating 1664.
- 1686-1980 New York Marriages, 1686-1980 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1847-1848;1908-1936 New York, County Marriages, 1847-1848; 1908-1936 at FamilySearch How to Use this Collection index & images
- 1848-1851 Vital Records, 1849-1851 at NYGenWeb
- 1881-1964 Reclaim the Records: New York State Marriage Index at Internet Archive Images of Index
- 1908-1935 New York Marriages, 1908-1935 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
Death[edit | edit source]
- 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
- 1848-1851 Vital Records, 1849-1851 at NYGenWeb
- 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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
- 1872-1878 New York, Record of Naturalized Voters Registered, 1872-1878 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
- See New York Archives and Libraries for state-wide archive facilities.
Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in Hamilton County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1984). At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 974.752 A3g. Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.
County Historian
Hamilton County Historian
Bill Zullo
102 County View Drive
P.O. Box 205
Lake Pleasant, N.Y. 12108
Phone: 518-548-5526
Email: historian@hamiltoncountyny.gov
Collection includes: Genealogy files. Maps, books and subject files, photos.
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. Hamilton County's collection includes: Genealogy files. Maps, books and subject files, photos.
FamilySearch Centers[edit | edit source]
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
FamilySearch Centers (FSCs) are branches of the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and are located all over the world. Their goal is to provide resources for family history research.
The main FSC for Hamilton County, New York Genealogy is the Gloversville New York FamilySearch Center. For additional nearby FamilySearch Centers, search online in the FSC directory.
FamilySearch Centers
- Gloversville New York FamilySearch Center
- Crandall Public Library - an affiliate library
Libraries[edit | edit source]
- See New York Archives and Libraries for state-wide library facilities.
Adirondack Museum Library
P. O. Box 99
Blue Mountain Lake, New York 12812
Phone: 518-352-7311
Email: jpepper@adkmuseum.org
Website
- Collections: include books, manuscripts, maps, periodicals, microforms, and ephemera related to the Adirondack Mountains. It is strongly encouraged to make an appointment.
- Collections: include books, manuscripts, maps, periodicals, microforms, and ephemera related to the Adirondack Mountains. It is strongly encouraged to make an appointment.
Hamilton County Public Libraries
13 Broad St
Hamilton, NY 13346
Phone: 315-824-3060
Website
Museums[edit | edit source]
Adirondack Museum Library
P. O. Box 99
Blue Mountain Lake, New York 12812
Phone: 518-352-7311
Email: jpepper@adkmuseum.org
Website
- Collections: include books, manuscripts, maps, periodicals, microforms, and ephemera related to the Adirondack Mountains. It is strongly encouraged to make an appointment.
- Collections: include books, manuscripts, maps, periodicals, microforms, and ephemera related to the Adirondack Mountains. It is strongly encouraged to make an appointment.
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Hamilton County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see New York Societies.
The Adirondack Genealogical – Historical Society
7590 Court St
Elizabethtown, NY 12932
Phone: 518-873-6466
Website
- 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
- 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.
Central New York Genealogical Society[9]
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.
Northeastern New York Genealogical Society
PO Box 4264
Queensbury, NY 12804-1422
Email: Robert and Barbara Green – rgbkg@capital.net; John Austin – jaqby@adelphia.neg
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Hamilton County NYGenWeb
- Hamilton USGenWeb Archives
- Hamilton 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[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Hamilton, New York" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_County,_New_York accessed 19 Nov 2018
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Hamilton 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), 489. 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, "Hamilton County, New York," in "Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_County,_New_York, accessed 13 January 2020.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Central New York Genealogical Society at http://www.cnygs.org/ (accessed 27 July 2018).