Yates County, New York Genealogy
Guide to Yates 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 Yates 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.
Yates County, New York | |
Map | |
![]() Location in the state of New York, United States Genealogy | |
![]() Location of New York in the U.S. | |
Facts | |
Founded | February 5, 1823 |
---|---|
County Seat | Penn Yan |
Courthouse | |
Address | Yates County Office Building 417 Liberty St. Penn Yan, NY 14527 Yates County Website |
Contents
- 1 Yates County New York Historical Facts
- 2 Yates County New York Genealogy Resources
- 3 Maps and Gazetteers
- 3.1 Genealogy
- 3.2 History
- 3.3 Land and Property
- 3.4 Maps
- 3.5 Migration
- 3.6 Military
- 3.7 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 3.8 Newspapers
- 3.9 Obituaries
- 3.10 Periodicals
- 3.11 Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.
- 3.12 Probate Records
- 3.13 Repositories
- 3.14 Social Groups Online
- 3.15 Taxation
- 3.16 Town Records
- 3.17 Vital Records
- 3.18 Voting Registers
- 4 Yates County New York Places
- 5 Yates County New York Genealogy Websites
- 6 Yates County New York Genealogy References
Yates County New York Historical Facts[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named for Joseph C. Yates, who as Governor of New York signed the act establishing the county. The County is located in the west central area of the state. [1]
Yates County, New York Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
1880 | 1908 | 1880 | 1788 | 1788 | 1823 | 1663 |
Parent County[edit | edit source]
5 February 1823: Yates County was formed from 310 square miles of Ontario County, including the area that included Vine Valley, Middlesex, Penn Yan, and Dresden, New York.[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.
1 January 1826: 60 square miles of Steuben County was partioned and added to Yates, which included Starkey, Dundee, and Lakemont, New York.
15 April 1828: 10 square miles was partioned from Yates, and passed to Seneca and Tompkins Counties, mostly in the forest.
17 March 1860: Ontario County was authorized to gain land from Yates, but it was never put into effect.
18 April 1946: Yates gained 10 square miles from Schuyler and Seneca Counties, which produced the current borders of Yates County.
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 | ||
Census-designated places | ||
Yates County New York Genealogy Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
- 1581–1917 New York, Family Bible Records at Ancestry– ($); Index. Database is a collection of genealogically important records taken from the Bibles of colony and state residents. Reveals the Bible's original owner, brief record of descendants,and a particular event such as birth or marriage as recorded in Bible.
- 1581–1917 New York, Family Bible Records at Ancestry– ($); 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]
- Aldrich, Lewis Cass. History of Yates County, N.Y.: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of the Prominent Men and Pioneers. Syracuse, New York: D. Mason, 1892. Digital version at Internet Archive; At other libraries (WorldCat); FHL film 844647 Item 2, book 974.782 H2a
- Powers, Frederick. Kashong, a History From the Ancient to the Modern: With Illustrations. Penn Yan, New York: JKM Printing, c1977. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 974.782/B1 H2p
- Wright, Berlin Hart. Memories of Local Naturalists. [Penn Yan, N.Y.?]: The Society, [193-?]. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL fiche 6061036 (1 fiche)
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* |
Yates Cemeteries Index* | 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. |
- 1800-1965 - New York, Cemetery Abstracts, 1800-1965 at FamilySearch — index
- Cleveland, Stafford C. Inscriptions From Three Abandonded [sic] Cemeteries in Yates County, New York: Friends Burying Ground, Stoddard Family Cemetery, Thomas Family Cemetery, with Index and Family History. [Middlesex, N.Y.? : s.n.], 1955. FHL Fiche 6071024
- Dumas, Frances. Yates County Cemeteries and Cemetery Burials. Penn Yan, New York : F. Dumas & S. Conybeare, 1996. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Books 974.782 V3d v. 1-6 The Cemetery list formerly located with the County Historian is now located here
- Spencer, Catherine Aspell. Those We Remember in Counties of Yates, Ontario, Schuyler, Steuben, New York State. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1986. FHL Film 1479822 Items 4-5
- Spencer, Catharine Aspell. Those We Remember in Yates, Ontario, Schuyler, Steuben, New York State. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1986. FHL Film 1255691 Items 4-6
- Stark, Helen. Gravestone Inscriptions From Some Yates County, N.Y., Cemeteries. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1941. FHL Film 18037 Item 1, another film 1421100 Item 8
Census[edit | edit source]
Historical populations | ||
---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± |
1830 | 19,009 | — |
1840 | 20,444 | 7.5% |
1850 | 20,590 | 0.7% |
1860 | 20,290 | −1.5% |
1870 | 19,595 | −3.4% |
1880 | 21,087 | 7.6% |
1890 | 21,001 | −0.4% |
1900 | 20,318 | −3.3% |
1910 | 18,642 | −8.2% |
1920 | 16,641 | −10.7% |
1930 | 16,848 | 1.2% |
1940 | 16,381 | −2.8% |
1950 | 17,615 | 7.5% |
1960 | 18,614 | 5.7% |
1970 | 19,831 | 6.5% |
1980 | 21,459 | 8.2% |
1990 | 22,810 | 6.3% |
2000 | 24,621 | 7.9% |
2010 | 25,363 | 3.0% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
For information and tips on using and accessing online census records, see New York Census.
- Indexes to Yates County censuses (Federal and State) from 1790 to 1925 are available from the here.
- A consolidated spreadsheet of Yates Censuses from 1790 to 1845, with connections for many families from 1790 to 1825/30 can be found here.
Federal[edit | edit source]
1810
- Adelaide Bell Baggerly Chase, Index of U. S. census, 1810, Ontario County, New York including Steuben, Wayne & Yates counties (Washington: A. B. B. Chase, 1946.), FHL Film 813656 Item 5
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.
- The 1890 Census is lost. For a substitute, see directories.
State[edit | edit source]
Source | 1825 | 1835 | 1845 | 1855 | 1865 | 1875 | 1892 | 1905 | 1915 | 1925 |
Ancestry.com | - | - | - | Yes | - | Yes | Yes | - | Yes | Yes |
Family History Library Films | Yes | Yes | Yes | 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 | - | 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]
Jemima Wilkinson established the Universal Society of Friends in Penn Yan, New York in Yates county. Her teachings were closely tied to the Quaker religion.
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
An impressive list of church records and church histories of Yates County is available at NYGenWeb.
- NY GenWeb is now the web location for the (former) Historian records: including Censuses & indexes, Cemetery indexes, Local Municipal records from the various towns in Yates County; Deed Indexes; Tax records, Newspaper records, etc. The link above provides a more complete list.
- Census: A complete collection of federal and state censuses from 1790 to 1925, all indexed; some of these indexes are on-line;
- Land records: Deeds, mortgages and survey maps from 1788 to present, all indexed;
- Cemetery records: A computer database of all known cemetery burials in the County and a few from neighboring towns in other counties; the database has been published in a series of six volumes;
- Tax rolls: A complete set of existing town tax rolls, some starting as early as the 1790s, most from the 1860s, all from the 1890s to present;
- Military records: The 1863 Civil War draft roll is extant for all nine towns; so is the 1917 World War I militia roll. Discharge papers recorded with the County Clerk have been filed by veterans since the 1860s. The County Historian has some pension rolls as well, from the Revolution and the War of 1812.
- Newspapers: Microfilm or original copies of most Yates County newspapers from 1823 to present; genealogical references in Penn Yan papers 1823-1867 can be looked up on-line;
- Court records: Complete set of records from all county courts, including the Surrogate Court, which handles estates and guardianships; and other civil and criminal courts from 1823-present;
- Immigration and naturalization records: Complete set of records filed by aliens seeking citizenship, from 1823-1965 when federal courts took over the function from local courts;
- Microfilm: A large and growing collection of town and village records on microfilm, including minutes, vital records, road surveys, district school records, and much more.
- Reference books: A small collection of local and regional references. The best 19th century history of Yates County for genealogical purposes is Stafford Canning Cleveland's History and Directory of Yates County of 1873. A name index with some subject references is on line.
- 1854-1855 - Yates County Members of the New York Baptist Union for Ministerial Education 1854-1855, courtesy: USGenWeb Archives.
- Jackson, Linda J. Aspiring Christians: Histories of Yates County Churches. L.J. Jackson: 1998. FHL Book 974.782 K2j.
Cornell University's Study Center for Early Religious Life in Western New York has an online guide to Yates County church records in their library.
Additional Church Records
Additional church records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Yates County, New York Genealogy Church Records in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Places Search).
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.
- Bastardy papers, 1828-1879 FHL films 1255691 Item 3
- Court minutes, 1823-1877, 18 volumes FHL films 838917-838923
- Lis pendends [sic], 1832-1950, 9 volumes FHL films 838910-838911, 838926-838927
- Minutes, 1835-1895, 5 volumes FHL films 1007100-1007101
Each volume contains records of several different courts: Courts of Oyer and Terminer, Court of General Sessions of the Peace and County Court. - Miscellaneous records, 1823-1913 (3 volumes) FHL films 838908-838909
- Surrogate Court Records, This database covers most 19th century and very early 20th-century estates and guardianships. http://yates.nygenweb.net/srrogate.html#table
Crime and Criminals[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
- American agriculturist farm directory of Yates, Schuyler, Tompkins and Seneca counties, New York, 1914: a rural directory and reference book including a road map of the four counties covered (New York: Orange Judd Co., 1914), FHL 812856 Item 4
- Bootes, Fenton E., Mrs., Index to business directory, New historical atlas of Yates County, New York, Everts, Ensign & Everts (pub. 1876): includes name, date of settlement, nativity, (Microreproduction of original published: [S.l. : s.n.], 1955. 9 leaves), FHL Fiche 6081210
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
- 1906-1942 - New York Book Indexes to Passenger Lists, 1906-1942 at FamilySearch — index and images
Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
- The Danes of Yates County: the history and traditional arts of an ethnic community in the Finger Lakes region of New York State FHL
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
for more resources
Genealogy[edit | edit source]
- Rootsweb message board for Yates 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 and directory of Yates County: containing a sketch of its original settlement FHL
- History and directory of Yates County: containing a sketch of its original settlement by the Public Universal Friends, the Lessee Company and others, with an account of individual pioneers and their families; also of other leading citizens, including church, school and civil history and a narrative of the Universal Friend FHL
- Sources of clues, Yates County, New York FHL
History[edit | edit source]
- Americana in Drumlin Square FHL
- The Beddoe tract: 7,000 acres in central western New York state : it's history from 1792 to 2004 FHL
- Changes & returns: chapters in our county's history FHL
- A good country, a pleasant habitation, an outline of history of Yates County FHL
- History and directory of Yates County: containing a sketch of its original settlement FHL
- History of Yates County, N.Y.: with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers FHL
- Keuka Lake memories: the champagne country, 1835-1935 FHL
- The student's handbook of Yates County FHL
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 Yates County, New York Genealogy began in [?dateyear?]. These records are housed at the [?repository?] in [?town?].
Online
Microforms
- 1823-1965 Deed Records 1823-1910 FHL film 836992(first of 70 films) - Index included: 1823-1965
- 1823-1852 Mortgage Records 1823-1852 FHL film 838667 (first of 12 films - Index included: 1823 - 1885
- 1832-1850 Lis Pendens FHL film 838910 (first of 4 films Lis Pendens are pending lawsuits regarding land.
- 1851-1907 Homestead Records FHL film 838924 Item 1
- 1823-1965 Deed Records 1823-1910 FHL film 836992(first of 70 films) - Index included: 1823-1965
Books
Additional land records can sometimes be found using these catalogs:
- WorldCat using the search phase: Yates County, New York Genealogy deeds. (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog.)
- FamilySearch Catalog using the search phrase: 1, New York - Land and Property. (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Places Search.)
- Land and Real Estate Records, courtesy: Yates County Office of Public History. Includes:
- Index to Deeds Transmitted from Ontario County 1788-1823
- Index to Deeds Transmitted from Steuben County 1796-1826
- Index to Mortgages Transmitted from Ontario County 1788-1826
Materials available through the Family History Library:
- Deed records, 1823-1910; index, 1823-1965 FHL
- Grantor Index 1823-1965 (10 volumes)
- Grantee Index 1823-1965 (10 volumes)
- Deed records 1823-1905 (94 volumes)
- Deeds transmitted from Steuben and Ontario counties, 1790-1855; index 1800-1823 FHL
- General Index 1800-1823 (2 volumes)
- Deeds, Steuben and Yates 1796-1854 (2 volumes)
- Deeds, Ontario and Yates 1790-1855 (5 volumes)
- Homesteads, 1851-1907 FHL
- Lis pendends, 1832-1950 FHL
- Miscellaneous records, 1823-1913 (3 volumes) FHL
- Mortgages, 1823-1852; index, 1823-1883
- Mortgagee Index 1823-1881 (2 volumes)
- Mortgagor Index 1823-1833 (2 volumes)
- Mortgages 1823-1852 (16 volumes)
- Honor Roll of Century Land in Yates Co., State of New York, 1953 FHL
This includes a list of original land owners and dates of purchase for land which has had continuous owner- ship for 100 years. - United States loan mortgage, 1837-1902 FHL
Additional resources
Additional resources for Yates County, New York Genealogy land records may be found in the Yates 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]
- Maps of New York (1683-1915)
- Combination atlas map of Yates County, New York (pub. 1876) FHL
- Combination atlas map of Yates County, New York (reprint 1992) FHL
- Yates County, New York land ownership maps, 1855 and 1865 FHL
- Highway map of Yates County, New York, 1990 FHL
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military[edit | edit source]
- The military history of Yates County, N. Y.: comprising a record of the services rendered by citizens of this county in the army and navy, from the foundation of the government to the present time FHL
- Soldiers discharge, 1863-1943 FHL
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:Barrington · Benton · Italy · Potter · Starkey · Torrey.
Regiments. Service men in Yates County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county.[6]
- - 8th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company A
- - 15th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company C
- - 20th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company L
- - 22nd Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company A
- - 33rd Regiment, New York Infantry, Company I
- - 55th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A B and G
- - 76th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A B C D E F and G
- - 87th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company A
- - 126th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A B E and G
- - 148th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies B F and I
- - 179th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies C and F
- - 194th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies D and E
- Yates County's "boys in blue", 1861-1865: who they were and what they did FHL
- Diary of Royal George Kinner, a Civil War soldier FHL
- Jones, Paul.The Irish Brigade. (Gaithersburg, Maryland : Olde Soldier Books, [199-?]) FHL 973 M2ji
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
- Yates County Immigration and Naturalization Records at NYGenWeb - free.
- 1791-1980 New York, County Naturalization Records, 1791-1980 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1907-1966 New York, Western District Naturalization Index, 1907-1966 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.
- Yates County Immigration and Naturalization Records at NYGenWeb - free.
Family History Library Collection[edit | edit source]
- Naturalization of aliens over 18 years, 1898-1899 FHL
- Naturalization of aliens under 18 years, 1865-1898 FHL
- Naturalization records, 1823-1958; index, ca. 1823-1956 FHL
- Card Index 1823-1956
- Loose papers 1820-1913 (not in chronological order before 1851)
- Declarations of Intent 1855-1906 (old style)
- Declarations of Intent 1906-1958 (Federal)
- Petitions for Naturalizations 1906-1958 (Federal)
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 Yates County, New York Genealogy newspaper images:
- Penn Yan NY Democrat 1838-1948
- Penn Yan NY Democrat 1838-1948
Newspaper resources from the Family History Library collection:
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
- The Union record FHL
Contains information also on the Ball family. published by Ball International Union and Keuka College- Index to Tree talks county packet, Yates County, New York FHL
- Yates past: newsletter of the Yates County Genealogical Historical Society FHL
- Index to Tree talks county packet, Yates County, New York FHL
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 Probate Abstracts and Indexes
A project is underway to index and transcribe the 30 books of Wills recorded in Yates County since 1823. See the Every-Name index to Yates County Will Books for those currently on line.
Currently there is an online index for the first 180 boxes of probate files which includes an alphabetical index to principals and heirs and packet lists. See the Surrogate Court Records website for the online index
- SAMPUBCO Browsable index of testators of wills (1823-1903).
- 1629 - 1971 New York Probate Records 1629-1971 at FamilySearch.org — index and images
- 1659 - 1999 New York Wills and Probate Records 1659-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
- 1787-1835 Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787 - 1835
- 1866 - 1923 New York Kings County Estate Files 1866-1923 at FamilySearch.org — index and images
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 - Yates County: • Administration bonds,orders 1880-1905; Decrees, Minutes, Orders, 1830-1901; Dower records, 1827-1879; Final settlements, 1828-1870; Guardianship records, 1823-1950; Letters of administration, Letters of testamentary, 1823-1891; Real estate records, 1824-1906; Real estate records, 1824-1906; Surrogate record index, 1823-1951; Wills, 1823-1903.
Probate Records on Microfilm The probate records described above also may be among those on microfilm including:
- 1823–1951 Probate records FHL Film 838928 (28 Films) These are the same probate records found online at FamilySearch and described above in Online Probate Records.
- 1823–1913 Miscellaneous records(3 volumes) FHL Film 838908–838909
- Partial Index to Will Books A–C. Bootes, Fenton E. Deans of Wantage, Morris Co., New Jersey and a partial index to will books, A-C, of Yates County, New York.Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1979. Manuscript on Film. FHL Film 1036357 Item 12
Additional Probate Indexes and Abstracts
Additional probate indexes or abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Yates County, New York Genealogy probate wills in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Places Search).
Repositories[edit | edit source]
Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in Yates County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1984). At various libraries; FHL Book 974.782 A3g and film 1425056 Item 9. Includes index. Includes sources for family history and genealogy.
Archives, Libraries and Museums[edit | edit source]
Libraries
- Penn Yan Public Library
214 Main St.
Penn Yan, New York 14527-1796
Phone: 315-536-6114
Hours: Monday - Friday 9 am - 7:30 pm
Saturday 9 am - 1 pm
The Penn Yan library holds a comprehensive collection of local newspapers and more.
Museums
- The Oliver House Museum and The L. Caroline Underwood Museum
107 Chapel Street
Penn Yan, New York 14527
Phone: 315-536-7318
ycghs@yatespast.org
County Historian's Office[edit | edit source]
Yates County Historian's Office |
Genealogical Resources:
|
Courthouses[edit | edit source]
The Yates County Courthouse is the home for the County Clerk, Surrogate's Court and Public County Historian. For further information about the records which are available and where the records are held, see the Yates County Courthouses 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 Yates County, New York Genealogy is the Fayette New York Family History Center. For additional nearby Family History Centers, search online in the FHC directory.
Societies[edit | edit source]
- Yates County Genealogical and Historical Society, Inc.
107 Chapel Street
Penn Yan, New York 14527
Phone: 315-536-7318
Email: ycghs@yatespast.org
Some of the genealogical resources available through the Yates County Genealogical and Historical Society are:
- County maps from 1790 - 1969
- Marriage and death records, 1820's - 1990's taken from newspapers, genealogies and other records
- Census indexes, 1790-1865
- Penn Yan County directories, 1879-1990
- Local history
- Special collections including photogarphs
- Cemetery records
- County history
- School records
- and more...
Central New York Genealogical Society[7]
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, Oreleans, Oswego, Otsego, Rensselaer, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates.
Social Groups Online[edit | edit source]
- Yates County Genealogical and Historical Society facebook page.
- New York Genealogy Research Community (FamilySearch on Facebook)
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:
- Gordon L. Remington, New York Towns, Villages, and Cities: A Guide to Genealogical Sources (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2002). NEHGS online edition; At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 974.7 D27r. Alphabetical list including date founded, if a town history exists, church and cemetery sources, and if a Civil War register (TCR) exists.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors of Putnam County for the Year 1904 (New York: Martin B. Brown, 1905)
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors of Putnam County for the Year 1922 (Poughkeepsie: Lansing Broas, 1923)
- List of Town Clerks, Record Managers and Historical Societies
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.
- 1881-1942 Reclaim the Records: New York State Birth Index at Archive.org - images of index
Birth Substitutes
- 1640–1962 New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.
- 1640–1962 New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.
- 1899-1941 Penn Yan Democrat Births, Marriages and Deaths Index(Missing 1905,1906, 1920, 1929)Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb
- 1899-1941 Penn Yan Democrat Births, Marriages and Deaths Index(Missing 1905,1906, 1920, 1929)Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb
- See Town Clerks' Registers of Men who Served in the Civil War in the Civil War section of Military for birth information.
- 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. 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. The marriages in this county were recorded by the county clerk from 1908 until 1933.[8]
- 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($); At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Film 514675 Item 1 or 930131 Item 2. Marriage bonds issued in the State of New York prior to 1784, and the earliest record dating 1664.
- 1664–1784 New York. Secretary of State, Names of Persons for Whom Marriage Licenses Were Issued By the Secretary of the Province of New York, Previous to 1784 (Albany, New York: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1860). At Cornell University digital library-free; Internet Archive - free; Ancestry edition($); At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL 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.
- 1847–1848 and 1908–1936 New York, County Marriages, 1847-1848; 1908-1936 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1847–1848 and 1908–1936 New York, County Marriages, 1847-1848; 1908-1936 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1881-1964 Reclaim the Records: New York State Marriage Index at Archive.org - images of index
- 1908-1926 Marriage Record of Yates County, New York FHL film 838907
- 1908-1926 Marriage Record of Yates County, New York FHL film 838907
- 1908-1933 County Marriage Records at Yates County Government Site.
- 1908-1933 County Marriage Records at Yates County Government Site.
- 1908-1935 Marriage Licenses, Applications and Certificates of Consent New York County Marriages 1908–1935 at FamilySearch Historical Records - free;FHL films 1007109–1007113
- 1908-1935 Marriage Licenses, Applications and Certificates of Consent New York County Marriages 1908–1935 at FamilySearch Historical Records - free;FHL films 1007109–1007113
Marriage Substitutes
- 1686-1980 New York Marriages, 1686–1890 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index. Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.
- 1686-1980 New York Marriages, 1686–1890 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index. Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.
- 1800–1855 New York Marriage Notices at Ancestry– ($); Index. This database is a collection of marriage notices published in newspapers around the state. Contains name of bride and groon, marriage date, marriage location, residence, and newspaper found in.
- 1800–1855 New York Marriage Notices at Ancestry– ($); Index. This database is a collection of marriage notices published in newspapers around the state. Contains name of bride and groon, marriage date, marriage location, residence, and newspaper found in.
- 1801–1880 Barber Collection- Newspaper Marriages at Ancestry– ($); Index. Information extracted from the "Brooklyn Eagle" and the "New York Evening Post."
- 1801–1880 Barber Collection- Newspaper Marriages at Ancestry– ($); Index. Information extracted from the "Brooklyn Eagle" and the "New York Evening Post."
- 1813–1850 Fred Q. Bowman,10,000 Vital Records of Central New York, 1813-1850 (Balitimore, MD:Genealogical Pub. Co., 1986).Ancestry($);World Vital Records ($); At various libraries;FHL Book 974.7 V2bf. Abstracted from newspaper marriage and death columns.
- 1813–1850 Fred Q. Bowman,10,000 Vital Records of Central New York, 1813-1850 (Balitimore, MD:Genealogical Pub. Co., 1986).Ancestry($);World Vital Records ($); At various libraries;FHL Book 974.7 V2bf. Abstracted from newspaper marriage and death columns.
- 1855,1856,1861,1863,1864,1865 Marriage Record of Josiah S. Carr, J.P. Seven entries.Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb
- 1855,1856,1861,1863,1864,1865 Marriage Record of Josiah S. Carr, J.P. Seven entries.Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb
- 1856–1863 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at Ancestry– ($); Index. These newspaper notices refer to people up and down the East Coast as well as midwesterners and persons from as far west as the State of California. Also browsable.
- 1856–1863 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at Ancestry– ($); 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.
- 1864–5, 1874-5 See Marriage Schedule information in the State Census section of Census for marriage information for 1864–5 and 1874-5.
- 1864–5, 1874-5 See Marriage Schedule information in the State Census section of Census for marriage information for 1864–5 and 1874-5.
- 1865 1865 Census Yates County, NY Marriages Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb
- 1865 1865 Census Yates County, NY Marriages Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb
- 1899-1941 Penn Yan Democrat Births, Marriages and Deaths Index(Missing 1905,1906, 1920, 1929) Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb
- 1899-1941 Penn Yan Democrat Births, Marriages and Deaths Index(Missing 1905,1906, 1920, 1929) Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb
- 1908-1933 County Marriage Records Marriage Licenses (1908-1933)and Marriage Certificates (1908-1926) Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb
- 1908-1933 County Marriage Records Marriage Licenses (1908-1933)and Marriage Certificates (1908-1926) Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb
- Yates County New York Marriage Records from various sources. Includes an alphabetical index for marriage and anniversary announcements. Courtesy www.genwed.com
- Yates County New York Marriage Records from various sources. Includes an alphabetical index for marriage and anniversary announcements. Courtesy www.genwed.com
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.
Deaths[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
- 1824-1962 - New York, Church and Civil Deaths, 1824-1962 at FamilySearch — index
- 1880-1956 - New York, State Death Index, 1880-1956 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1880-1956 - New York, Death Index, 1880-1956 at Ancestry — ($), index only
- 1880-1956 - Reclaim the Records: New York State Death Index at Archive.org - images of index
- 1957-1963 - New York State Health Department, Genealogical Research Death Index, 1957-1963 at FamilySearch — Index only
Death Substitutes
- 1795–1952 New York Deaths and Burials, 1795-1952 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index. The entries are primarily from the IGI along with some entries derived from compiled and original records such as Family Records, Church Records, and Civil Registration. There may be entries that cite a specific source.
- 1795–1952 New York Deaths and Burials, 1795-1952 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index. The entries are primarily from the IGI along with some entries derived from compiled and original records such as Family Records, Church Records, and Civil Registration. There may be entries that cite a specific source.
- 1801–1890 Barber Collection- Newspaper Deaths at Ancestry– ($); Index. Information extracted from the "Brooklyn Eagle" and the "New York Evening Post."
- 1801–1890 Barber Collection- Newspaper Deaths at Ancestry– ($); Index. Information extracted from the "Brooklyn Eagle" and the "New York Evening Post."
- 1813–1850 Fred Q. Bowman,10,000 Vital Records of Central New York, 1813-1850 (Baltimore, MD:Genealogical Pub. Co., 1986).Ancestry($); World Vital Records($); At various libraries;FHL Book 974.7 V2bf. Abstracted from newspaper marriage and death columns.
- 1813–1850 Fred Q. Bowman,10,000 Vital Records of Central New York, 1813-1850 (Baltimore, MD:Genealogical Pub. Co., 1986).Ancestry($); World Vital Records($); At various libraries;FHL Book 974.7 V2bf. Abstracted from newspaper marriage and death columns.
- 1850-1880 U.S. Census Mortality Schedules, New York, Ancestry ($)
- 1850-1880 U.S. Census Mortality Schedules, New York, Ancestry ($)
- 1856–1863 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at Ancestry– ($); 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.
- 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.
- 1864–5, 1874-5 See Mortality Schedule information in the State Census section of Census for death information for 1864–5, and 1874-5.
- 1864–5, 1874-5 See Mortality Schedule information in the State Census section of Census for death information for 1864–5, and 1874-5.
- 1865 1865 Census Mortality Schedules Officers and Enlisted Men Name Index. Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb
- 1865 1865 Census Mortality Schedules Officers and Enlisted Men Name Index. Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb
- 1899-1941 Penn Yan Democrat Births, Marriages and Deaths Index(Missing 1905,1906, 1920, 1929)Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb
- 1899-1941 Penn Yan Democrat Births, Marriages and Deaths Index(Missing 1905,1906, 1920, 1929)Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb
- See Town Clerks' Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War in the Civil War section of Military 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.
Additional Resources
Additional resources for Yates County births, marriages and deaths may be found in the New York, Yates– 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]
Yates County New York Places[edit | edit source]
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Yates County New York Genealogy Websites[edit | edit source]
- Yates County NYGenWeb
- Yates County, NY History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- New York Genealogy Network Community on Google+
- New York Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- Yates County NY Genealogy
Yates County New York Genealogy References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Yates, New York" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yates_County,_New_York accessed 26 Nov 2018
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Yates 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.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 493. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Yates County, New York," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yates_County,_New_York, accessed 2 March 2020.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Central New York Genealogical Society at http://cnygs.org/ (accessed 28 December 2018).
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 488-493. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.