Orleans County, New York Genealogy

United States

New York

Orleans County

Guide to Orleans 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: Albion Organized: 15 April 1825 Parent County(s): Genesee Neighboring Counties Genesee • Niagara • Ontario (Canada) See County Maps Courthouse Location Map

County Information

Description

The county was named for the French Royal House of Orleans. The county is located in the western area of the state.

County Courthouse

Orleans County Courthouse
1 South Main St
Albion, NY 14411-1497
Phone: 585-283-6622
Orleans County Website

The Orleans County Clerk's office has divorce, court and land records as well as the state census.
The Surrogate Court has probate records.

Orleans 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	1880	1880	1880	1826	1824	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): Created from Genesee county on 15 Apr 1825 County Seat: Albion 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:

Towns
Albion Barre Carlton Clarendon	Gaines Kendall Murray Ridgeway	Shelby Yates
Villages
Albion (county seat) Holley	Lyndonville	Medina
Hamlets
Ashwood Barre Center Brockville Childs County Line Eagle Harbor East Shelby	Fancher Hindsburg Hulberton Jeddo Kendall Mills Kenyonville Knowlesville	Kuckville Millers Millville Oak Orchard Sawyer Shelby Center Yates Center

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.
  

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Orleans County, New York online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Find A Grave BillionGraves Interment.net New York Gravestones NYGenWeb Cemeteries Names in Stone Tombstone Transcription Project Linkpendium
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.	%±
1830	17,732	—
1840	25,127	41.7%
1850	28,501	13.4%
1860	28,717	0.8%
1870	27,689	−3.6%
1880	30,128	8.8%
1890	30,803	2.2%
1900	30,164	−2.1%
1910	32,000	6.1%
1920	28,619	−10.6%
1930	28,795	0.6%
1940	27,760	−3.6%
1950	29,832	7.5%
1960	34,159	14.5%
1970	37,305	9.2%
1980	38,496	3.2%
1990	41,846	8.7%
2000	44,171	5.6%
2010	42,883	−2.9%
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.

State

Source	1825	1835	1845	1855	1865	1875	1892	1905	1915	1925
Ancestry.com	-	-	-	Yes	-	Yes	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	Yes

New York State 1865 and 1875 Census Marriage, Mortality; and 1865 Soldier Mortality records:

• Images available online at New York State Census, 1865 and New York State Census, 1875. Click on the link to go to the page, then click on the ‘Browse through images’ link and select your county, then select an ancestor's town and browse to the end of the population schedule until you find the Marriage, Mortality, and 1865 soldier mortality schedules.
• Includes marriages and deaths for the 12 months prior to the census, ending 1 June of the census year.
• Marriage entry content: Husband's name, wife's name, ages and previous marital status, month and day and place of marriage, and church or civil ceremony.
• Death entry content: Name, age, sex, color, marital status, month and day of death, native state or country, occupation and cause of death.
• 1865 deaths of officers and enlisted men entry content: Name, age, marital status, citizenship status, enlistment date, original regiment, original rank, regiment at death, rank at death, promotions, death date and place, manner of death, surviving associates, and burial place.
• Also on microfilm. See the FamilySearch Library line in the above State Census Chart.

Church Records

• 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
• 1824-1962 New York, Church and Civil Deaths, 1824-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index

Baptist Church

• 1854-1855 Orleans County members of the New York Baptist Union for Ministerial Education 1854-1855, courtesy: USGenWeb Archives.

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

Bogan & Tuttle Funeral Home in Lyndonville Bogan & Tuttle Funeral Home in Medina Cooper Funeral Home in Medina Mitchell Family Cremations & Funerals, Inc. in Albion Mitchell Family Cremations & Funerals, Inc. in Holley

Land and Property Records

• See New York Land and Property for more resources.

Local Histories

Every Name Index to Pioneer History of Orleans County, New York.Every Name Index compiled byCathy L. O'Connor, 2012; original text by Arad Thomas, 1871; reprinted by The Bookmark, 1977.EveryNameIndex.com

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
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

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

• Lake Ontario
• Great Genesee Road 1794
• Erie Canal 1825

Military Records

Civil War

• 1861-1865 New York, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to use this Collectiion; 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: Barre · Carlton · Clarendon · Gaines · Kendall · Murray · Ridgeway · Shelby · Yates.

Regiments. Service men in Orleans 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 Orleans County:

- 2nd Regiment, New York Mounted Rifles, Companies E, L and M.

- 8th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company F.

- 21st Regiment, New York Infantry

- 22nd Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company F.

- 28th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company D.

- 90th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company I.

- 105th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company C.

- 129th Regiment, New York Infantry

- 151st Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, D and G.

- 154th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company A.

- 164th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company B.

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
• 1907-1966 New York, Western District, Naturalization Index, 1907-1966 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images at partner site

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."
  
• 1809-1850 Fred Q. Bowman,10,000 Vital Records of Western New York, 1809-1850 (Baltimore,MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1985). FS Library Book 974.7 V2b; At various libraries (WorldCat); Online at: Ancestry ($); MyHeritage ($); 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.
  
• New York Newspapers Online at Old Fulton New York Post Cards - index & images

• Medina NY Daily Journal 1805-1922
• Medina NY Tribune 1861-1945

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 at Ancestry — index & images($)
• 1787-1835 Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787 - 1835 at American Ancestors ($).
• 1825-1902 SAMPUBCO - Browsable index to testators of wills (1825-1902).
  
• 1825-1896 Will Book 1 (1825-1896) Index, courtesy: NYGenWeb.
  
• 1866-1923 New York, Kings County Estate Files, 1866-1923 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1897-1926 Will Book 2 (1897-1926) Index, courtesy: NYGenWeb.
  
• 1629-1971 New York Probate Records, 1629-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
• 1825-1926 Index to Probate Records FS Library Film 592793
• 1825-1920 Probate Records FS Library Film 592755 (45 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.

Birth

• 1640-1962 New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
• 1847-1849 Birth, Marriage and Death Returns from Various Towns(*) by Orleans County Town Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog - images
• 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 at Ancestry — 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 Names of Persons for Whom Marriage Licenses Were Issued By the Secretary of the Province of New York, Previous to 1784, by New York. Secretary of State. Albany, New York: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1860. FS Library Film 514675 Item 1 or 930131 Item 2; At various libraries (WorldCat); Online at: Cornell University, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($); Marriage bonds issued in the State of New York prior to 1784, and the earliest record dating 1664.
• 1686-1980 New York Marriages, 1686-1980 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
• 1840-1850 "Marriages by Justice Ammon Blair, Orleans County, 1840-1850," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 140, No. 4 (Oct. 2009):285-286. FS Library Book 974.7 B2n v. 140; Online at: New York Genealogical & Biographical Society ($)
• 1847-1849 Birth, Marriage and Death Returns from Various Towns(*) by Orleans County Town Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog - images
• 1847-1936 New York, County Marriages, 1847-1848; 1908-1936 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1686-1980 New York Marriages, 1686-1980 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
• 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 ($)
• Marriage Volume 1 at USGenWeb Archives - index
• Marriages and Anniversaries at NYGenWeb - index

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
• 1847-1849 Birth, Marriage and Death Returns from Various Towns(*) by Orleans County Town Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog - images
• 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
• 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 Orleans County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1984). At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 974.791 A3. Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

Orleans County Historian
3070 Gaines Basin Road
Albion, NY 14411
Phone: (585) 589-4174
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

• Brockport New York FamilySearch Center
• Hoag Public Library - an affiliate library
• Richmond Memorial Library - an affiliate library

Libraries

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

Nioga Library System
6575 Wheeler Rd
Lockport NY 14094
Phone: 716-434-6167
Website

• Swan Library, Albion
• Community Free Library, Holley
• Yates Community Library, Lynconville
• Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, Medina

Societies

Listed below are societies in Orleans County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see New York Societies.
Orleans County Genealogical Society
Albion Town Hall
3665 Clarendon Road
PO Box 103
Albion NY 14411

View resources in the society collection

Orleans County Historical Association
P.O. Box 181
Albion NY 14411
Website

View listing of local historical publications

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.

Websites

• Ancestry
• Orleans NY GenWeb
• Orleans County NY 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.