Orleans County, New York Genealogy

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

This page describes sources of genealogical data about Orleans County, New York Genealogy families, including links to smaller localities at the bottom of this page. New York, United States Genealogy-related pages show useful statewide sources. United States Genealogy pages explain the terminology and contents of genealogical records.


Orleans County, New York
Map
Map of New York highlighting Orleans County
Location in the state of New York, United States Genealogy
Map of the U.S. highlighting New York
Location of New York in the U.S.
Facts
Founded November 11, 1824
County Seat
Courthouse
Address
Orleans County Website


Orleans County New York Historical Facts[edit | edit source]

Description[edit | edit source]

The County was named for the French Royal House of Orleans. The County is located in the west area of the state. [1]

Orleans County, New York Record Dates[edit | edit source]

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records[2]
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.

Parent County[edit | edit source]

11 November 1824: Created from Genesee County [3]

Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]

For animated maps illustrating New York County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation New York County Boundary Maps" (1683-1915) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss[edit | edit source]

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

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:[4]

Towns
Villages
Hamlets


Orleans County New York Genealogy 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.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Business Records and Commerce[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries[edit | edit source]

Cemetery records often reveal birth, death, relationship, military, and religious information.

Online Grave Transcripts Published Grave Transcripts County Cemetery Directories
Findagrave.com* Family History Library* Findagrave.com*
Interment.net* WorldCat* Tombstone Transcription Project*
Cemetery Site*   NYGenWeb Cemeteries*
New York Gravestones*   Names in Stone*
NYGenWeb Cemeteries*   Billion Graves*
Billion Graves*   FamilySearch Places
Names in Stone*    
Linkpendium*    
Ancestry*    
   *See the New York Cemeteries page for details about each site.

Census[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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 FHL Films 1415128–42.
State[edit | edit source]
Source 1825 1835 1845 1855 1865 1875 1892 1905 1915 1925
Ancestry.com - - - Yes - Yes Yes & Yes Yes Yes Yes
Family History Library Films - - - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 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 Family History Library line in the above State Census Chart.

Church Records[edit | edit source]

Church records are good substitutes for birth, marriage, and death information and are most often found on a local city/town or county level.  Published and manuscript church records can be found at public, university, and private libraries.

For a brief general history of denominations and a guide to finding various New York denomination's records, see New York Church Records Wiki page.
List of Churches and Church Parishes

Additional Church Records

Additional church records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Orleans County, New York Genealogy Church Records  in online catalogs like:

Court Records[edit | edit source]

Ancestors may have also been involved in municipal, state, or federal court cases. See also New York Court Records and United States Court Records.

Crime and Criminals[edit | edit source]

Directories[edit | edit source]

Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]

Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups[edit | edit source]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

  • Rootsweb message board for Orleans County, New York Genealogy has many information threads about families that resided in that county. There is a search engine that allows you to search by surname and topic.

History[edit | edit source]

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

Land and Property[edit | edit source]

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.

See New York Land and Property for more details, especially about the papers generated in New York State by large speculative land companies.

Original land records in Orleans County, New York Genealogy began in [?dateyear?]. These records are housed at the [?repository?] in [?town?].

Online


Microforms


Books


Additional land records can sometimes be found using these catalogs:

Additional resources

Additional resources for Orleans County, New York Genealogy land records may be found in the Orleans County, New York Genealogy – Land Records topic page of the FamilySearch Catalog . Copies of records on FHL microfilm and microfiche may be available for viewing at various Family History Centers. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the WorldCat Online Catalog.

Maps[edit | edit source]

Nyorleans.jpg

Migration[edit | edit source]

Early migration routes to and from Orleans County for European settlers included:[6]

Military[edit | edit source]

Civil War[edit | edit source]

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 Family History Library (FHL 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:[7]

- 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[edit | edit source]

Newspapers[edit | edit source]

Old Fulton NY Post Cards has the largest online collection of 400 New York 1795-2007 newspapers. The instructions for this quirky site are needed to get the most out of it.

Old Fulton NY Post Cards has the following Orleans County, New York Genealogy newspaper images:

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

Obituaries[edit | edit source]

Periodicals[edit | edit source]

Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.[edit | edit source]

Probate Records[edit | edit source]

Probate records including original estates and wills 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. See New York Probate Records for more information about using probate records.
Content:  Probate Records may give the decedent's date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.
Record types:  Wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distribution.
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. Alice Eichholz, Red Book: American State, County and Town Sources, 3rd ed. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry Pub., 2004), 479. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27rb 2004. Henry B. Hoff, "Navigating New York Probate," American Ancestors 12 (Fall 2011): 57.


These petitions are often found in the estate files and can be obtained from the county Surrogate Court.



Online Abstracts and Indexes


Online Probate Records

Original county-by-county New York, Probate Records, 1629-1971 are available free online at FamilySearch. To access these records, click Historical Records below, then click "Browse through 1,630,900 images". Then select the county name, and then the probate records and time of interest.

  • Historical Records - Orleans County: Bonds 1881-1903; Final Settlements 1854-1907; General index 1825-1926; Letters 1830-1902; Letters of administration 1853-1901; Letters of guardianship 1830-1911; Minutes 1881-1900; Orders 1830-1920; Real estate records 1840-1900; Wills 1825-1902

Probate Records on Microfilm
Probate records found at Historical Records and described in Online Probate Records above are also found on microfilm as follows:

Additional Probate Indexes and Abstracts

Additional probate indexes or abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Orleans County, New York Genealogy probate wills in online catalogs like:

Repositories[edit | edit source]

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; FHL Book 974.791 A3. Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

Archives, Libraries and Museums[edit | edit source]

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

  • Swan Library, Albion
  • Community Free Library, Holley
  • Yates Community Library, Lynconville
  • Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, Medina
County Historian's Office[edit | edit source]

Mr. C Wilson Lattin, Historian
3070 Gaines Basin Road
Albion, NY 14411
Phone: (585) 589-4174

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.

Courthouses[edit | edit source]

The Orleans County Clerk's office has divorce, court and land records as well as the state census. The Surrogate Court has probate records. For further information about where the records for Orleans County are held, see the Orleans County Courthouse page.

Family History Centers[edit | edit source]

Family History 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 family history center.

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

Family History Centers (FHCs) are branches of the Family History 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 FHC for Orleans County, New York Genealogy is the Brockport New York Family History Center. For additional nearby Family History Centers, search online in the FHC directory. The following centers are accessible to residents of Orleans County, New York:

Orleans County (Albion)

Brockport New York Family History Center 4088 Lake Rd Brockport, New York 1-585-637-2030 T 9am-3pm, 7pm-9pm; Th 7pm-9pm; F 10am-2pm; Sat 9am-12pm Call to verify hours

Rochester New York Family History Center 1400 Westfall Rd Rochester, New York 14618 1-585-271-5040 Tues 9am-3pm, 7pm-9:30pm; Wed 7pm-9:30pm; Thurs 9am-12pm; Fri 9am-3pm; Sat 9am-12pm Closures: Weather closures posted on local TV channels 8, 9, 10, 13 Call to verify hours

Buffalo New York Family History Center 1424 Maple Rd
Williamsville, New York 14221 1-716-688-2439 M, W 10am-2pm; T, Th 10am-9pm; Sat 10am-2pm Closed Holidays Call to verify hours

Societies[edit | edit source]

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
View listing of local historical publications

Central New York Genealogical Society[8]
Box 104, Calvin Station
Syracuse, New York 13205
E-mail: CNYSG@yahoo.com

Member queries; surname research list; online resources; six meetings/year; publishes Tree Talks (At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL 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.


Social Groups Online[edit | edit source]

Taxation[edit | edit source]

Town Records[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. For further details, try the links to individual town Wiki pages found in Places. See also:

The County Archives has the following records:

  • 031 Petitions, Licenses, and recognizance to sell liquor (Tavern licenses) 1813-1878
  • 139 Monthly Reports of Hunting and fishing licenses, 1908-1938
  • 165 Certificates of Qualifications as Examiner in Lunacy, 1883-1947

Vital Records[edit | edit source]

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. 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. See also How to order New York Vital Records or order electronically online.

See the heading Places on this wiki page for links to local community wiki pages and their available records. See New York Vital Records for a discussion about beginning dates and availability of vital records in New York.

Use substitute records for birth, marriage, and death information. These substitute records include Bible Records, Cemeteries, Church Records, Newspapers, and Probate Records.

Birth[edit | edit source]

Early births were recorded on the town level and the years vary by town. (List of towns) The New York State Department of Health (state level) began recording births in 1881. Births were not recorded on the county level.

Birth Substitutes

  • 1847–1849 Birth, marriage and death returns from various towns FHL film 1010198.
  • See Town Clerks' Registers of Men who Served in the Civil War in the Civil War section of Military for birth information.
Marriage[edit | edit source]

Early marriages were sometimes recorded on the town level and the years vary by town. (List of towns) In 1880, town clerks were to record the marriage and a copy was sent to the New York State Department of Health (state level). Town clerks continue to record marriages. Marriages were recorded by the Orleans County clerk starting in 1908 and go until 1935.

Marriage Substitutes

  • 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.
  • 1847–1849 Birth, marriage and death returns from various towns FHL film 1010198.
  • 1864-5, 1874-5 See Marriage Schedule information in the State Census section of Census for marriage information for 1864-5, and 1874-5.
Divorce  [edit | edit source]

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.

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.

Death[edit | edit source]

Early deaths were recorded on the town level and the years vary by town. (List of towns) The New York State Department of Health (state level) began recording deaths in 1881. Deaths were not recorded on the county level.

Death Indexes

Death Substitutes

  • 1847–1849 Birth, marriage and death returns from various towns FHL film 1010198.
  • 1849-50, 1859-60, 1869-70, 1879-80 See Mortality Schedule information in the Federal Census section of Census for death information.
  • See Town Clerks' Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War in the Civil War section of Military for death information.
  • 1864-5, 1874-5 See Mortality Schedule information in the State Census section of Census for death information for 1864-5, and 1874-5.

Additional Resources

Additional resources for Orleans County births, marriages and deaths may be found in the New York, Orleans– Vital Records topic page of the FamilySearch Catalog . Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the WorldCat Online Catalog.

Voting Registers[edit | edit source]

Orleans County New York Places[edit | edit source]

v • d • e
Municipalities and communities of
Orleans County, New York
County seat: Albion
Towns

Albion · Barre · Carlton · Clarendon · Gaines · Kendall · Murray · Ridgeway · Shelby · Yates

Villages
Communities

Ashwood · Baldwin Corner · Barre Center · Bennetts Corners · Brockville · Burma Woods · Carlton · Childs · Clarendon · County Line · Eagle Harbor · Eagle Harbor Station · East Barre · East Gaines · East Shelby · Fancher · Five Corners · Gaines · Gaines Basin · Hinsburg · Honest Hill · Hulberton · Jeddo · Joens Beach · Kendall · Kendall Mills · kent · Kenyonville · Knowlesville · Knowlesville Station · Kuckville · Lakeside · Lomond Shore · Manning · Millers · Millville · Morton · Murray · North Ridgeway · Oak Orchard · Platten · Point Breeze · Richs Corners · Ridgeway · Rock Ledge Beach · Sawyer · Shadigee · Shelby Basin · Shelby Center · South Barre · Sunset Beach · Toms Landing · Waterport · Waterport Station · West Barre · West Gaines · West Kendall · West Ridgeway · West Shelby · Yates Center

Orleans County New York Genealogy Websites[edit | edit source]

Wikipedia
 Wikipedia has more about this subject: Orleans County, New York

Orleans County New York Genealogy References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Orleans, New York" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orleans_County,_New_York accessed 21 Nov 2018
  2. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Orleans County, New York. Page 488-493 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL 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); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
  4. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Orleans County, New York," in "Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orleans_County,_New_York, accessed 19 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); FHL Book 973 D27ts.
  6. ↑ Handybook, 847-61.
  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); FHL Film 1486494-96; Fiche 6083559-64; Book 974.7 M2p.
  8. ↑ Central New York Genealogical Society at http://cnygs.org/(accessed 31 Oct 2018).
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