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Ontario County, New York Genealogy

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Guide to Ontario 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: Canandaigua
Organized: January 27, 1789
Parent County(s): Montgomery
Neighboring Counties
Livingston • Monroe • Seneca • Steuben • Wayne • Yates
Courthouse
New York, Ontario County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Ny-ontario.png


County Information

Description

The county was named for Lake Ontario. The county is located in the west-central area of the state.[1]

County Courthouse

Ontario County Courthouse
27 North Main St
Canandaigua, NY 14424
Phone: 585-412-5300
Ontario County Website

The Ontario Records Management Officer has marriage, divorce, probate, court land, Revolutionary War, naturalization records as well as state census and county maps.

Ontario 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 1908 1880 1789 1789 1789 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:[4]

Cities
Towns
Villages
Hamlets
Census-designated places
  • Port Gibson


History Timeline

  • 18 March 1796: Steuben County set off.
  • 30 March 1802: Genesee County set off.
  • 1814: A part taken from Steuben County.
  • 23 February 1821: Livingston and Monroe counties set off.
  • 5 February 1823: Yates County set off.
  • 11 April 1823: Wayne County set off.

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 Ontario 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. %±
1790 1,075 —
1800 15,218 1315.6%
1810 42,032 176.2%
1820 88,267 110.0%
1830 40,288 −54.4%
1840 43,501 8.0%
1850 43,929 1.0%
1860 44,563 1.4%
1870 45,108 1.2%
1880 49,541 9.8%
1890 48,453 −2.2%
1900 49,605 2.4%
1910 52,286 5.4%
1920 52,652 0.7%
1930 54,276 3.1%
1940 55,307 1.9%
1950 60,172 8.8%
1960 68,070 13.1%
1970 78,849 15.8%
1980 88,909 12.8%
1990 95,101 7.0%
2000 100,224 5.4%
2010 108,085 7.8%
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.[5]
  • 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 Yes
FS Library Films - - - Yes - Yes
FamilySearch Images - - - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
New York State Library Films - - - 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.
  • 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

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
The Ontario County Records and Archives Center has placed many of their historical records on-line including various court records.

Directories

Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

Funeral Homes

Genealogies

Guardianship

Land and Property Records

Original land records in Ontario County began in 1789.These records are housed at the Record and Archives Center,3051 County Complex Drive in Canandaigua, New York, 14424.

Online Records

  • The indenture was procured from Chiefs and Warriors of the Five Indian Nations inhabiting this land by “fee or right of soil” in July of 1789. Nathan Gorham of Charlestown, Massachusetts and Oliver Phelps claimed title and began their development of this New York land from that date forward while never establishing residence in that State.
  • The original records for the Holland Land Company are in Holland. SUNY (State University of New York) at Fredonia microfilmed the records and they are in SUNY Brockport, New York.
  • Also available at familysearch.org "Holland Land Company Records"
  • The Ontario County Records and Archives Center has placed many of their historical records on-line including the following:
1789-1845 Real Property Deeds for the period 1789-1845.
1830'3-1860's Chattel Mortgages 1830's-1860's
1840'3-1870's Chattel Mortgages 1840's-1870's

Local Histories

Long House Iroquois
  • The original owners of this land were men of Massachusetts and Connecticut, Nathan Gorham and Oliver Phelps.
  • They were trustees for thirteen Dutch investors in Amsterdam. Trustees were needed because aliens were not then permitted to own land. This tract was later known as The Holland Purchase.
  • The legal transactions and recordings were conducted in Massachusetts by the General Court assembled and passed in that House of Representatives and Senate. It was approved byJohn Hancock, the governor of Massachusetts, before it was recorded in New York. Many transactions thereafter recorded include the grantors Nathan Gorham of Massachusetts and Oliver Phelps of Connecticut. A deed in 1817 from Oliver Phelps daughter, Mary, granted land to the school commissioner of Connecticut.
  • More about Bristol and Our History, by the Town of Bristol, has a fairly lengthy history of the town (accessed 19 October 2011).
  • New York Indexes (many counties) at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

Monroe CountyWayne CountySeneca CountyYates CountySteuben CountyLivingston CountyNY ONTARIO.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Migration

Early migration routes to and from Ontario County for European settlers included:

Military Records

General

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: Bristol · Canadice · Canandaigua · East Bloomfield · Gorham · Hopewell · Naples · Phelps · Richmond · Seneca · Victor · West Bloomfield.

Regiments Service men in Ontario County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county.[7]

- 1st Battalion, New York Light Artillery, Battery K.
- 1st Regiment, New York Engineers, Company G.
- 8th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies A, D, G and M, 2nd Company L, and 3rd Company K.
- 9th Regiment, New York Cavalry , Companies F and M.
- 15th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company C.
- 18th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company G.
- 24th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies H and L .
- 28th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company E.
- 33rd Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies D and H.
- 38th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company H.
- 55th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies D, E, F, G, H and K.
- 85th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies B and G.
- 100th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company B.
- 126th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies D E, H and K.
- 138th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company F.
- 148th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, C, D, F, G, I and K.
- 154th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company H.
- 160th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company E.
- 179th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company E.
- 194th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies C, D and I.

The Ontario County Records and Archives Center has placed many of their historical records on-line which include the following military records:

  • Civil War Records
  • Civil War Pension Records
  • Military Commissions
  • Civil War Records from 1865 Census Records
  • Revolutionary War Pension Records

Naturalization and Citizenship

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

Newspapers

  • Canandaigua NY Ontario Repository 1817-1826
  • Naples NY Neopolitan 1840-1887
  • Naples NY News 1898-1943
  • Naples NY Record 1870-1960
  • Phelps NY Citizen 1877-1955
  • Phelps NY Country Editor 1963-1966
  • Geneva NY Advertiser 1841-1904
  • Geneva NY Courier 1831-1883
  • Geneva NY Daily Times 1895-1978
  • Geneva NY Expoiter 1806-1809
  • Geneva NY Finger Lake Times 1977-1988
  • Geneva NY Gazette 1809-1823
  • Geneva NY Gazette 1809-1914
  • Geneva NY Palladium 1825-1828

Obituaries

Other Records

Periodicals

Probate Records

Probate records (wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distributions) for New York are held in the office of the county Surrogate Court beginning in 1787, or when the county was formed. Prior to 1787, most are housed at the New York State Archives.
Content: Probate Records may give the decedent's date of death, names of spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.
Probate Petitions In 1830, state law required the Surrogate Court clerk to issue a probate petition for a deceased individual with property. This petition, unique to New York, usually lists the deceased's death date. It also lists the heirs, their relationship to the deceased, and their residence. These petitions are often found in the estate files.[8] See New York Probate Records for online resources, details, links, and more.

Online Probate Indexes and Records

  • Various Years Historical Records - Ontario County: Decrees, Minutes, Orders, 1862-1872; Guardianship records, 1814-1817, 1862-1876; Inventories, 1797-1822; Letters of administration, 1851-1864; Letters of administration, Letters of testamentary, 1838-1865; Letters of guardianship, 1830-1862; Letters, 1830-1838, 1864-1870; Orders, 1862-1874; Probate records, 1818-1851, 1862-1924; Real estate records, 1851-1883; Surrogate record index, 1789-1965; Wills, 1795-1823, 1830-1875

School 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. 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 1908 until 1933.[9] If you know where a birth, marriage or death took place, a copy of the certificate or record may be obtained by writing to the town, village or city clerk.

Birth

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 Ontario County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1984). At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 974.786 A3 and film 1597833 Item 4. Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

Ontario County Archives
3051 County Complex Drive
Canandaigua, NY 14424
Phone: (585) 396-4034
Website

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

Geneva Public Library
Local History and Genealogy Collection
Website

Has atlases, histories, city directories, and filmed newspapers.

Bloomfield Public Library
9 Church St, E Bloomfield, NY 14443
Phone: 585-657-6264
Website

Bristol Library
6750 County Rd 32 Canandaigua, NY 14424
Phone: 585)-229-5862
Website

Website explains about the local history and genealogy resources with information about the Town of Bristol Historian. Requests may made to the town historian

Ontario County Historian's Site
Website

Has information about veteran burials, cemeteries, and other historical records.

Ontario Public Library
1850 Ridge Rd
Ontario, NY 14519
Phone: 315-524-8381
Website

Covers Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, Livingston Counties (OWWL) Catalog

Ontario County Public Libraries
Website

Libraries in Ontario County with their addresses and links to their websites.

Pioneer Library System
Website

Has names and addresses of libraries in Ontario, Livingston, Wayne, and Wyoming counties.

Museums

Societies

Listed below are societies in Ontario 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.

Ontario County Genealogical Society
55 North Main Streets
Canandaigua, NY 14424
585-394-4975
Email: barbarah@ocgsny.net
Website

Western New York Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 338
Hamburg, New York 14075-0338
Email: info@wnygs.org
Directory
Website

Focus is on eight Western New York counties - Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Wyoming, Orleans, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany - which comprise the area of the original Holland Land Company purchase.

Websites

Research Guides

References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Ontario County, New York" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario_County,_New_York, accessed 21 Nov 2018
  2. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Ontario 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. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Ontario County, New York," in "Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario_County,_New_York, accessed 13 Feburary 2020.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ 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).
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ 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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