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Oneida County, New York Genealogy

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Guide to Oneida 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: Utica
Organized: March 15, 1798
Parent County(s): Herkimer
Neighboring Counties
Herkimer • Lewis • Madison • Oswego • Otsego
See County Maps
Courthouse
New York, Oneida County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Ny-oneida.png


County Information

Description

The county was named for the Oneida, one of the Five Nations of the Iroquois League or Haudenosaunee, which had long occupied this territory at the time of European encounter and colonization. The county is located in the central area of the state.[1]

County Courthouse

Oneida County Courthouse
200 Elizabeth St
Utica, NY 13501
Phone: 315-266-4200
Oneida County Website

The Oneida County Clerk's office has divorce, court, and land records. The Surrogate Court has probate records.

Oneida County, New York Record Dates

Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[2]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1880 1880 1880 1798 1791 1798 1663
*Statewide registration for births and deaths started in 1880. General compliance for births by 1915 and deaths by 1890.

Record Loss

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Boundary Changes

Populated Places

For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[5]

Cities
Towns
Villages
Hamlets
Census-designated places


History Timeline

  • 1801: Part taken to add to Clinton County.
  • 1804: Part taken to add to Chenango County
  • 28 March 1805: Jefferson and Lewis counties set off.
  • 1 March 1816: Oswego County set off
  • 1836: A part taken from Madison County to add to the county.

Resources

Bible Records

  • 1581-1917 New York, Family Bible Records at Ancestry – ($); Index. Database is a collection of genealogically important records taken from the Bibles of colony and state residents. Reveals the Bible's original owner, brief record of descendants,and a particular event such as birth or marriage as recorded in Bible.

Biographies

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Oneida 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. %±
1800 22,047 —
1810 33,792 53.3%
1820 50,997 50.9%
1830 71,326 39.9%
1840 85,310 19.6%
1850 99,566 16.7%
1860 105,202 5.7%
1870 110,008 4.6%
1880 115,475 5.0%
1890 122,922 6.4%
1900 132,800 8.0%
1910 154,157 16.1%
1920 182,833 18.6%
1930 198,763 8.7%
1940 203,636 2.5%
1950 222,855 9.4%
1960 264,401 18.6%
1970 273,037 3.3%
1980 253,466 −7.2%
1990 250,836 −1.0%
2000 235,469 −6.1%
2010 234,878 −0.3%
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.[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.

State

Source 1825 1835 1845 1855 1865 1875 1892 1905 1915 1925
Ancestry.com - - - Yes - Yes - - Yes Yes
FS Library Films - Yes Index - Yes Index Yes P-Index Yes P-Index - - Yes
FamilySearch Images - - - Yes Yes Yes - Yes Yes Yes
New York State Library Films - - - - - - - - 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.
  • 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


Congragational


Luthern and German Reformed


Methodist Episcopal

  • 1816-1877 Methodist Episcopal Church. Sauquoit Station(*) at FamilySearch Catalog - Contains names of preachers 1815-1877, records of members including deaths 1839-1843, class record 1846-1848, class record including baptisms and deaths 1847-1852, records of members including deaths 1843-1857.
  • 1839-1881 Methodist Episcopal Church, Vernon Village Station(*) at FamilySearch Catalog - Contains list of preachers 1839-1881, alphabetical list of members including baptisms and deaths, 1846-1860, alphabetical list of members and probationers including baptisms and deaths 1851-1866, record of deaths for 1871, marriages 1861-1865, baptisms 1846-1857. All lists that include baptisms should be searched because no single list with baptisms is a complete list of baptisms.


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.

Directories

Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

Funeral Homes

Genealogies

Guardianship

Land and Property Records

Online Land Indexes and Records
Original deeds in Oneida County county began in 1791. Deeds 1791–1885 are housed at the B–1 Records Center in Utica. Deed records 1886–present are housed at the Oneida.

Local Histories

Maps and Gazetteers

Oswego CountyLewis CountyHerkimer CountyOtsego CountyMadison CountyNY ONEIDA.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Migration

Early migration routes to and from Oneida County for European settlers included:[7]

Military Records

Civil War

Town registers. The New York town clerks kept a bound register of all soldiers from their town serving in the Civil War 1861-1865. Registers are arranged by county, and town. Some town registers are missing. The registers include an index at the start of each town.

Content. Many register entries include full name, residence, date and place of birth, parents names, marital status, date of enlistment and muster and rank, discharges, death, or promotion.

Access. The original registers are at the New York State Archives in Albany, New York. Microfilm copies are found at the FamilySearch Library (FS Library Film 1993401-37). They are also indexed and available at Ancestry.com ($). Available towns. Registers are available for: Annsville · Augusta · Bridgewater · Florence · Floyd · Marcy · Marshall · Remsen · Rome · Sangerfield · Steuben · Trenton · Vernon · Verona · Vienna · Westmoreland · Whitestown.

Regiments Service men in Oneida 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 Oneida County:[9]

- 1st Battalion, New York Light Artillery, Battery A.
- 1st Regiment, New York Light Artillery, Battery A.
- 7th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company H.
- 8th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company I.
- 11th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company C.
- 13th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company F.
- 14th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, E, F and G.
- 15th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies K and M.
- 20th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies G, I and M.
- 22nd Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies B, C and M.
- 24th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies B, F, L and M.
- 57th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company B.
- 78th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company D.
- 81st Regiment, New York Infantry,
- 97th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, C, E, H and K.
- 101st Regiment, New York Infantry, Company E.
- 117th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and K.
- 141st Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A and B.
- 146th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and K.
- 161st Regiment, New York Infantry, Company B.
- 164th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company H.
- 179th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company C.
- 189th Regiment, New York Infantry , 1st and 2nd Companies K.
- 192nd Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C and E.
- 193rd Regiment, New York Infantry, Company A.
- Oneida Independent Company, New York Cavalry

Naturalization and Citizenship

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

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 – ($); Index. Information extracted from the "Brooklyn Eagle" and the "New York Evening Post."
  • 1808-1850 Fred Q.Bowman, 7000 Hudson-Mohawk Valley, (NY), Vital Records, 1808-1850 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1997). At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 974.7 V2bo. Abstracts from newspapers filed at the New York State Library in Albany.
  • 1813-1850 Fred Q. Bowman, 10,000 Vital Records of Central New York, 1813-1850 (Baltimore, MD:Genealogical Pub. Co., 1986). Ancestry ($); 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.
  • 2002-2004 Miscellaneous Death Notices 2002, 2003, 2003/2004 at Genealogy Buff
  • Grimes, Marilla R. Some Newspaper References to Irish Immigrants in Oneida Co. New York. Death notices of Irish Immigrants in various newspapers within Oneida Co. New York State. covering years 1825-1865 The Irish Ancestor, vol.VI. no.2. 1974, pages 97-98. FamilySearch Library Ref. 941.5 B2i v5-6
  • New York Newspapers Online at Old Fulton New York Post Cards - index & images
  • Boonville NY Black River Herald 1860-1866
  • Boonville NY Herald & Tourist 1872-2004
  • Boonville NY Ledger 1853-1855
  • Clinton NY Advertiser 1906-1913
  • Clinton NY Signal
  • Rome NY Citizen 1840-1903
  • Rome NY Telegraph 1834-1837
  • Utica NY Daily Gazette 1846-1847
  • Utica NY Daily Observer 1848-1989
  • Utica NY Daily Press 1882-1987
  • Utica NY Daily Union 1895-1896
  • Utica NY Friend of Man 1836-1842
  • Utica NY Herald Dispatch 1899-1927
  • Utica NY Liberty Press 1848
  • Utica NY Mechanics Press 1829-1830
  • Utica NY Morning Herald 1859-1900
  • Utica NY Observer 1916
  • Utica NY Oneida Morning Herald 1848-1851
  • Utica NY Oneida Weekly Herald 1851-1855
  • Utica NY Oneida Whig 1834-1841
  • Utica NY Saturday Globe 1899-1927
  • Utica NY Sentinel Gazette 1825-1830
  • Utica NY Sunday Journal 1894-1906
  • Utica NY Sunday Tribune 1877-1921
  • Utica NY Telegram 1919-1922
  • Utica NY Weekly Herald 1860-1897
  • Waterville NY Times 1855-2007

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

Online Probate Indexes and Records
Case files to 1890 have been both microfilmed and scanned by the Surrogate's Court. A good index is available at the court which gives the file number and the microfilm roll number for each file. Microfilms are not on open shelves, but staff will retrieve a given roll number. The Surrogate's Court attempted to give custody of the original paper files to institutions in each Oneida County town, but reports are that some towns refused to take them. The scans of the estate files in the OnBase system can be viewed over the Internet with a login which takes 24-48 hours to receive. The quality of the scans is poor and using the microfilm is preferable when possible.

The Surrogate's Court holds 16mm microfilm of the letters of administration and letters testamentary books. The original books have been destroyed. These microfilms are not held by the FamilySearch Library. A good index is available on site.

Early guardianships are available at the Surrogate's Court in 16mm microfilm. A good index is available on site.

The Surrogate's Court is located on the 8th floor of the Oneida County office building at 800 Park Avenue. Most staff have only a modest familiarity with older records so it is useful to come prepared.

School Records

Social Security Records

Tax Records

Online Tax Indexes and 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. 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 Oneida until 1908.[11] If you know where a birth, marriage or death took place, a copy of the certificate or record may be obtained by writing to the town, village or city clerk.

Birth

Marriage

Death

Divorce

Divorce judgment papers often include date and place of the marriage and the names and birthdates of any children. Local newspapers may publish notices of divorce actions.

  • Pre–1787 All divorces were granted by the governor or legislature and were very rare.
  • 1787–1847 All divorces were granted by the court of chancery. These records are found in the New York State Archives or for the New York City area at the New York County Clerk's office.These divorces were granted only on the grounds of adultery.
  • 1847–present All divorces are handled by the county Supreme Court where the divorce was granted. Divorce files in New York are sealed for 100 years. Contact the County Clerk for information about divorce records.

Voting Records

Research Facilities

Archives

Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in Oneida County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1983). At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 974.762 A3g. Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

Historian
1608 Genesse Street
Utica, New York 13502
Phone: 315–735–3642
Historian

Genealogical Resources: The County Historian may provide access to obituaries, vital records, church records, maps, and family files or journals. Some historians provide search services for their office records and others may refer you to local genealogists who research in the area.

FamilySearch Centers

FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries

  • FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
  • FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

Libraries

Utica Public Library
303 Genesee St.
Utica, NY 13501
Phone: 315-735-2279
Website

Genealogical resources: Ancestry.com, censuses, obituaries, cemeteries, city directories, newspapers, telephone directories, published family histories. A look-up service for Oneida County obituaries is available for a fee.

Jervis Public Library
613 North Washington Street
Rome, New York 13440-4296
Phone: 315–336-4570
Website

Genealogical resources: Ancestry.com, censuses, obituaries, cemeteries, city directories, newspapers, telephone directories, published family histories. A look-up service for Rome and Oneida County records is available for a fee. Local Records Inventory

Waterville Public Library
206 White Street
Waterville, NY 13480
Phone: 315–841–4651
E–mail: director@watervillepubliclibrary.org
Website

Genealogical resources: Ancestry.com, censuses, obituaries, cemeteries, city directories, newspapers, telephone directories, published family histories. Online resources including Waterville Times Obituary Index 1856–1895.

MidYork Library System
Website

Museums

Societies

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

Oneida County History Center
1608 Genesee Street
Utica, NY 13502
Phone: 315-735-3642
Facebook
Website

Rome Historical Society
200 Church St
Rome, NY 13440
Phone: 315-336-5870
Website

William E. Scripture Memorial Library of the Rome Historical Society
The library offers a wealth of historical and genealogical information with extensive information about local people and businesses. Hard-to-find and out-of-print books line the shelves and focus on the early history of the region as well as more recent accounts of life in and around Rome.

Websites

Research Guides

References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Oneida County, New York" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oneida_County,_New_York, accessed 21 Nov 2018
  2. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Oneida County, New York. Page 488-493 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 490-492.
  3. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 490. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  4. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FSC Book 973 D27e 2002.
  5. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Oneida County, New York," in "Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oneida_County%2C_New_York, accessed 17 Feburary 2020.
  6. ↑ Arlene Eakle, and Johni Cerni, The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1984), 103. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27ts.
  7. ↑ Handybook, 847-61.
  8. ↑ 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).
  9. ↑ Frederick Phisterer, New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. (Albany, N.Y.: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912). Internet Archive digital copy; At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Film 1486494-96; Fiche 6083559-64; Book 974.7 M2p.
  10. ↑ Alice Eichholz, Red Book: American State, County and Town Sources, 3rd ed. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry Pub., 2004), 479. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27rb 2004. Henry B. Hoff, "Navigating New York Probate," American Ancestors 12 (Fall 2011): 54.
  11. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 488-493. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
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