Dutchess County, New York Genealogy

United States Genealogy

New York

Dutchess County

Guide to Dutchess 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 Dutchess 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.

New York Online Genealogy Records

Dutchess County, New York
Map
Location in the state of New York, United States Genealogy
Location of New York in the U.S.
Facts
Founded	1683
County Seat	Poughkeepsie
Courthouse
Address	22 Market Street Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Albany, NY 12206-1324 Dutchess County Website
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Dutchess County New York Historical Facts

Description

The County was named for Mary of Modena, Duchess of York - the term Dutchess is an archaic form of the word duchess. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

Dutchess County, New York Record Dates

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1880	1908	1880	1730	1718	1752	1663
*Statewide registration for births and deaths started in 1880. General compliance for births by 1915 and deaths by 1890.

Parent County

1 November 1683: Created one of original 12 counties.

Neighboring Counties

Columbia  • Orange  • Putnam  • Ulster • Connecticut counties  • Fairfield  • Litchfield • Massachusetts county  • Berkshire

Boundary Changes

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.

• For a time, was annexed to Ulster County, separated in 1713. Records for the time period of 1683-1713 are in Ulster county.
• 1717, a portion of Albany County transferred to Dutchess County.
• 4 April 1786: the towns of Clermont and Germantown were transferred to Columbia County when the county was created.
• 12 June 1812: Putnam County was set off.

Record Loss

The county courthouse in Poughkeepsie was burned in an 1806 fire. No public records were destroyed.

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:

Cities
Beacon	Poughkeepsie (county seat)
Towns
Amenia Beekman Clinton Dover East Fishkill Fishkill Hyde Park	La Grange Milan North East Pawling Pine Plains Pleasant Valley Poughkeepsie	Red Hook Rhinebeck Stanford Union Vale Wappinger Washington
Villages
Fishkill Millbrook Millerton	Pawling Red Hook Rhinebeck	Tivoli Wappingers Falls
Hamlets
Amenia Annandale-on-Hudson Arthursburg Attlebury Bangall Brinckerhoff Barnegat Barrytown Castle Point Crown Heights DeWitt Mills Dover Plains Fairview Fishkill Plains Freedom Plains Glenham Gretna Haviland Hillside Lake	Holmes Hopewell Junction Hortontown Hughsonville Hyde Park Johnson Town Knapps Corner Lomala Mabbettsville (formely Flikentown) Myers Corner New Hackensack New Hamburg Norrie Heights Pecksville Pine Plains Pleasant Plains Poughquag Red Oaks Mill	Rudco Rhinecliff Salt Point Shenandoah Shekomeko Spackenkill Staatsburg Stanfordville Stissing Stormville Swartwoutville Titusville Wassaic Washington Hollow Wiccopee Willow Brook Wingdale Van Keurens Verbank
Native American communities
Shekomeko (Mahican)
Census-designated places
Amenia Arlington Brinckerhoff Crown Heights Dover Plains Fairview Freedom Plains	Haviland Hillside Lake Hopewell Junction Hyde Park Merritt Park Myers Corner Pine Plains	Pleasant Valley Red Oaks Mill Rhinecliff Salt Point Spackenkill Staatsburg Titusville

Dutchess County New York Genealogy 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.
  

Biography

Business Records and Commerce

Cemeteries

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

Cemetery Transcriptions for Dutchess county New York

• 1800-1965 - New York, Cemetery Abstracts, 1800-1965 at FamilySearch — index

Census

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	45,276	—
1800	47,775	5.5%
1810	51,363	7.5%
1820	46,615	−9.2%
1830	50,926	9.2%
1840	52,398	2.9%
1850	58,992	12.6%
1860	64,941	10.1%
1870	74,041	14.0%
1880	79,184	6.9%
1890	77,879	−1.6%
1900	81,670	4.9%
1910	87,661	7.3%
1920	91,747	4.7%
1930	105,462	14.9%
1940	120,542	14.3%
1950	136,781	13.5%
1960	176,008	28.7%
1970	222,295	26.3%
1980	245,055	10.2%
1990	259,462	5.9%
2000	280,150	8.0%
2010	297,488	6.2%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

For information and tips on using and accessing online census records, see New York Census.

• 1735-1772 - Scott, Kenneth. "Some Dutchess County, New York, Early Residents, 1735-1772," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 73 (1985):44-52. Digital version at National Genealogical Society website ($); FHL Book 973 B2ng v. 73 (1985).

• 1761-1763 - Scott, Kenneth. "Some Dutchess County, New York, Residents, 1761-1763," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 74 (1986):128-149. Digital version at National Genealogical Society website ($); FHL Book 973 B2ng v. 74 (1986).

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 FHL Films 1415128–42.

• The 1890 Census is lost. For a substitute, see directories.
  

State

Source	1825	1835	1845	1855	1865	1875	1892	1905	1915	1925
Ancestry.com	-	-	-	-	-	Yes	Yes	-	Yes	Yes
Family History Library	-	-	-	-	Yes	Yes	Yes	-	Yes	Yes
FamilySearch Images	-	-	-	-	Yes	Yes	Yes	-	Yes	Yes
New York State Library	-	-	-	-	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

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

• FamilySearch Places

Dutch Reformed

• 1757-1906 - Tower, Maria Bockee Carpenter. The Records of the Reformed Dutch Church of New Hackensack, Dutchess County, New York. 1932. Digital version at World Vital Records ($).
  

• 1758-1891 - Martins, Bob. Hopewell Reformed Church Baptisms 1758-1891, courtesy: NYGenWeb.
  

• 1766-1882 - Martins, Bob. Marriages in Hopewell Reformed Church 1766 through 1882, Index, courtesy: NYGenWeb.
  

• 1766-1827 - "Marriages in the Dutch Reformed Church in Hopewell, Dutchess County, New York," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1766-1817: Vol. 78, No. 4 (Oct. 1947):161-166; 1818-1827: Vol. 79, No. 1 (Jan. 1948):17-19. Digital version at New York Family History ($); FHL Book 974.7 B2n v. 78-79.
  

• 1778-1825 - Marriages and Deaths Dutchess County, New York 1778 - 1825 at World Vital Records ($).

Presbyterian

• First Presbyterian Church at New Hamburg, Dutchess, New York FHL film 860334 Item 5 These are part of the DAR collection and are a transcription.
  

Quaker

• Cox, John, Jr., comp. Quaker Records: Nine-Partners Monthly Meeting, Dutchess Co., N.Y. Digital version at Ancestry ($). Births, marriages, deaths on more than 4,200 individuals.
• Frost, Josephine S.C. Quaker meeting records, state of New York: Ulster County, Columbia County, Albany County, Clinton County Other Libraries; FHL Book 974.733 K28
• Quaker Marriages from the Oblong Monthly Meeting at The American Local History Network - free.
  

• Quaker Deaths from the Oblong Monthly Meeting at The American Local History Network - free.
  

Additional Church Records

Additional church records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Dutchess 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

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

Directories

Emigration and Immigration

• 1906-1942 - New York Book Indexes to Passenger Lists, 1906-1942 at FamilySearch — index and images

Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups

Maps and Gazetteers

• FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Genealogy

• Rootsweb message board for Dutchess 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

Prior to the Anglo-Dutch incursion, what is today Dutchess County was a leading center for the Wappani. They had their council-fire at Fishkill Hook and also held gatherings along the Danskammer. (source:Wikipedia)

Land and Property

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.

Online

Microforms

• 1718-1950 Deed Records 1718-1901 FHL film 565253 (first of 191 films) - Index included: 1718-1950
  
• 1754-1950 Mortgage Records 1754-1857 FHL film 565278 (first of 80 films - Index included: 1754 - 1950
  
• 1771-1882 Records of the Loan Office 1771-1882 FHL film 565219 (first of 8 films - Index included. Records include Accounts, mortgages, loan ledgers, and deeds.
  

Books

Additional land records can sometimes be found using these catalogs:

• WorldCat using the search phase: Dutchess 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.)

• The Patents, in the twelve years 1685-1697 lawful patents had been granted securing for their purchasers every foot of Hudson River shoreline in the original county. Three additional patents, to 1706, laid claim to the remaining interior lands. They were:
  • Rombout, 1685
  • Minisink, 1686
  • Kip, 1686
  • Schuyler, 1688 (Poughkeepsie)
  • Schuyler, 1688 (Red Hook)
  • Aertsen-Roosa-Elton, 1688
  • Pawlings-Staats, 1696
  • Rhinebeek, 1697
  • (Great) Nine Partners, 1697
  • Philipse, 1697
  • Cuyler, 1697
  • Fanconnier, 1703
  • Beekman (Back Lots), 1703
  • (Little) Nine Partners, 1706

• The Settlers of Beekman Patents, 13 volumes available on CD $. Books and microtex available at American Ancestors ($).

Additional resources

Additional resources for Dutchess County, New York Genealogy land records may be found in the Dutchess 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

• Maps of New York (1683-1915)

Migration

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

• Hudson River a navigable river stretching from north of Albany then flowing south to empty into the Atlantic Ocean at New York City
• Albany Post Road from New York City to Albany, Albany County, New York Genealogy 1669
• Alford and Egremont (MA) Turnpike 1812
• Ancram (NY) Turnpike 1805, also sometimes called the Catskill Road, from Salisbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut Genealogy to Catskill, Greene County, New York Genealogy
• Catskill Road 1750s from Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts Genealogy to Catskill, Greene County, New York Genealogy

• Catskill Turnpike  (aka Susquehannah Turnpike ) from Catskill, NY to Unadilla, NY; route travelled by Europeans by 1792; toll booths opened by 1804.

• Columbia (NY) Turnpike 1799
• Great Barrington and Aford (MA) Turnpike 1812
• Greenwood Road 1799 from Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut Genealogy to Albany, Albany County, New York Genealogy
• Hampden and Berkshire (MA) Turnpike 1826
• Hillsdale and Chatham Turnpike 1805 from Alford, Berkshire County, Massachusetts Genealogy to Albany, Albany County, New York Genealogy
• Housatonic River (MA) Turnpike 1809
• Massachusetts 10th Turnpike 1800
• Massachusetts 12th Turnpike 1812
• Minsi Path 1766 from Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Genealogy to Kingston, Ulster County, New York Genealogy
• Old Connecticut Path 1630 from Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Genealogy to Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut Genealogy
• Rensselaer and Columbia (NY) Turnpike 1799
• Salisbury and Canaan (CT) Turnpike 1801-1829
• Ulster and Delaware Turnpike 1802 from Salisbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut Genealogy to Bainbridge, Chenango County, New York Genealogy

Military

Revolutionary War

Dutchess County men served in the 2nd New York Regiment and the 4th New York Regiment.

Civil War

• 1861-1865 - New York, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index

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: Beekman · East Fishkill · Fishkill · Hyde Park · LaGrange · Milan · North East · Pawling · Pine Plains · Pleasant Valley · Poughkeepsie · Red Hook · Stanford · Union Vale · Washington.

Regiments. Service men in Dutchess County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were formed in Dutchess County:

- 1st Regiment, New York Jackson Heavy Artillery, Company F.

- 3rd Regiment, New York Infantry

- 5th Regiment, New York Infantry

- 5th Regiment, New York Infantry (Duryee Zouaves), Company C.

- 6th Independent Battery, New York Light Artillery, Companies F and H.

- 6th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies F and H.

- 7th Veteran Regiment, New York Infantry

- 9th Regiment, New York Cavalry , Companies A and H.

- 9th Regiment, New York Infantry

- 9th Regiment, New York Infantry (New)

- 17th Veteran Regiment, New York Infantry

- 18th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company G.

- 18th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company C.

- 20th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies D and G.

- 25th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company I.

- 30th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company E.

- 38th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company G.

- 47th Regiment, New York Infantry

- 47th Regiment, New York State Militia (3 months, 1862)

- 57th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies H, I and K.

- 65th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company B.

- 87th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies F and G.

- 128th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies B, C, D, F, H, I and K.

- 143rd Regiment, New York Infantry, Company B.

- 150th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and K.

- 157th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies F and I.

- 159th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies D, E, G and I.

- 168th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies B, F, H and K.

- 176th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company C.

- 187th Regiment, New York Infantry

- 188th Regiment, New York Infantry

- 192nd Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies D, E, F, H and I.

- 194th Regiment, New York Infantry

Migration

Migration routes for early European settlers to and from Dutchess County, New York Genealogy included:

• Hudson River a navigable river stretching from north of Albany then flowing south to empty into the Atlantic Ocean at New York City
• Albany Post Road from New York City to Albany, Albany County, New York Genealogy 1669
• Alford and Egremont (MA) Turnpike 1812
• Ancram (NY) Turnpike 1805, also sometimes called the Catskill Road, from Salisbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut Genealogy to Catskill, Greene County, New York Genealogy
• Catskill Road 1750s from Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts Genealogy to Catskill, Greene County, New York Genealogy Turnpike in Routes in the Northeastern United States: Historic Trails, Roads and Migration Routes (accessed 6 November 2014). The Catskill Turnpike went west from Catskill, NY to Bath, NY; the east part was called the Susquehanna Turnpike.</ref>
• Catskill Turnpike  (aka Susquehannah Turnpike ) from Catskill, NY to Unadilla, NY; route travelled by Europeans by 1792; toll booths opened by 1804.
• Columbia (NY) Turnpike 1799
• Great Barrington and Aford (MA) Turnpike 1812
• Greenwood Road 1799 from Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut Genealogy to Albany, Albany County, New York Genealogy
• Hampden and Berkshire (MA) Turnpike 1826
• Hillsdale and Chatham Turnpike 1805 from Alford, Berkshire County, Massachusetts Genealogy to Albany, Albany County, New York Genealogy
• Housatonic River (MA) Turnpike 1809
• Massachusetts 10th Turnpike 1800
• Massachusetts 12th Turnpike 1812
• Minsi Path 1766 from Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Genealogy to Kingston, Ulster County, New York Genealogy
• Old Connecticut Path 1630 from Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Genealogy to Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut Genealogy
• Rensselaer and Columbia (NY) Turnpike 1799
• Salisbury and Canaan (CT) Turnpike 1801-1829
• Ulster and Delaware Turnpike 1802 from Salisbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut Genealogy to Bainbridge, Chenango County, New York Genealogy

Naturalization and Citizenship

Ancestry.com is in the process of digitizing naturalization records stored at the Dutchess County Clerk's Office (1932-1989), see Mid Hudson News article.

Indexes

• 1791-1980 - New York, County Naturalization Records, 1791-1980 at FamilySearch — index and images

• 1792-1989 - Index to Petitions for Naturalization filed in New York City, 1792-1989 at Ancestry ($). This database is based on NARA's Soundex Index to Petitions for Naturalization filed in Federal, State, and Local Courts located in New York City, 1792-1989. All 5 boroughs are included.

• 1824-1941 - New York, Southern District Index to Petitions for Naturalization, 1828-1941 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.
  

• 1824-1946 - New York, Southern District, U.S District Court Naturalization Records, 1824-1946 at FamilySearch — index and images

• 1917-1950 - New York, Southern District Naturalization Index, 1917-1950 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.
  

The Family History Library has also acquired this comprehensive index for the years 1792 through 1906 on microfilm: FHL Film 1419807 (1st of 294 films). The courts this index covers are:

• City Court of Brooklyn, 1836-1894
• Kings County Court, 1806-1906
• New York City Marine Court, 1806-1849
• New York County Common Pleas Court, 1792-1895
• New York County Superior Court, 1828-1895
• New York City and County Supreme Court, 1868-1906
• Queens County Court, 1799-1906
• Queens County Surrogate Court, 1888-1898
• Richmond County Court, 1869-1906
• U.S. Circuit Court Southern District, 1846-1876
• U.S. District Court Eastern District, (Kings, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties), 1865-1906
• U.S. District Court Southern Court Southern District, (New York, Bronx and also Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Richmond, Rockland, Sullivan and Westchester counties), 1824-1906

Newspapers

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.

• Search engine for all 400 newspapers.
• List of 400 newspapers 1795-2007 at this site.

• Wiki instructions for finding ancestors in Old Fulton NY Post Cards newspapers.
• Site's FAQ instructions about how to do searches.

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

• Amenia NY Harlem Valley Times 1913-2007
• Amenia NY Times 1852-1914
• Millbrook NY Roundtable 1897-2000
• Pine Planes NY Register 1859-2005
• Poughkeepsie NY Daily Eagle 1861-1937
• Poughkeepsie Evening Star and Enterprise 1936-1941
• Poughkeepsie NY New Yorker 1941

Obituaries

Periodicals

Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

Probate Records

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): 54.

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

The petitions for Dutchess County, New York Genealogy are also available on microfilm at the Family History Library and its centers:

• 1793–1868 Listed as "Probate Packets" FHL Film 913728(first of 120 films) Indexed in General index to surrogate records FHL Film 913654(first of 4 films). How to use FamilySearch Catalog

Online Probate Abstracts and Indexes

• 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 $
• 1742-1839 - Cowen, Minnie. Abstracts of Wills of Dutchess County, New York. 13 vols. New York, 1939-1944. Digital version at Ancestry ($). At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Fiche 6078909 (27 fiche).
  
• 1751-1903 - SAMPUBCO - Browsable index of testators of wills.
  
• 1751-1832 - Extracts of Selected Wills, scroll down on page, courtesy: NYGenWeb.
  
• 1786-1815 - SAMPUBCO - Browsable index of estates.
  
• 1787-1835 - Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787-1835 at American Ancestors ($); includes Dutchess County, New York Genealogy.
• 1787-1805 - Canfield, Amos. "Abstracts of Wills Recorded at Poughkeepsie, Dutchess Co., New York," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1787-1790: Vol. 61, No. 1 (Jan. 1930):6-13; 1790-1792: Vol. 61, No. 2 (Apr. 1930):119-126; 1793-1795: Vol. 61, No. 3 (Jul. 1930):256-263; 1788-1797: Vol. 61, No. 4 (Oct. 1930):381-386; 1788-1805: Vol. 62, No. 1 (Jan. 1931):58-59. Digital version at New York Family History ($); FHL Book 974.7 B2n v. 61-62.
• 1812-1832 - Barber, Gertrude A. Index to Wills of Dutchess County, N.Y.: From 1812-1832. 1989. Digital version at Ancestry ($). FHL Fiche 6078906 (2 fiche).
• 1866-1923 - New York Kings County Estate Files 1866-1923 at FamilySearch.org — index and images

Probate Records on Microfilm

• 1721-1862 Ancient documents including probate records FHL 931616 (309 films).
• 1751-1934 General index to surrogate records FHL Film 913654 (4 films).
• 1751-1905 New York, Dutchess County wills and index FHL Film 913658 (36 films).
• 1787-1865 Letters testamentary and of administration FHL 913694 (7 films).
• 1793-1868 Probate packets FHL 913728 (120 films).

Additional Probate Indexes and Abstracts

Additional probate indexes or abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Dutchess 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

Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in Dutchess County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1990). At various libraries; FHL Book 974.733 A3g. Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

Archives, Libraries and Museums

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

There are some 30 public libraries in Dutchess County New York a number of which are branch library. They belong to the Mid-Hudson Library System that serves the communities of Columbia, Duchess, Greene, Putnam, and Ulster Counties. They share a catalog that includes a sizeable collection of Genealogical materials. The shared catalog is found on the library systems main page. For information on the individual libraries in Dutchess County, click here.

Adriance Memorial Library 93 Market St. Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 (845) 485-3445 x3311 Email form

Genealogical Resources: Census records, obituary index, Poughkeepsie Journal newspaper (starts 1785), published family histories, local histories, military records, immigration records, church records, New England Historical and Genealogical Register, New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, The Dutchess, information about Palatines and Huguenots.

Starr Library 68 West Market Street Rhinebeck, New York 12572 Telephone 845.876.4030 Fax 845.876.4030

Genealogical Resources: The Starr Library joined with the Consortium of Rhinebeck History to create a space for researchers of genealogy and general local history in the Starr Library. The room is open Tuesday and Thursday from 10 o’clock to 3 o’clock or Saturdays by appointment. It houses a large collection of church and cemetery records, abstracts of Ulster and Dutchess County wills, newspaper marriage and death information and notebooks compiled by respected historians and genealogists, family genealogies on CDs, the Rhinebck Gazette (1842 -1990), state and federal censuses, and rare documents of local and National interest on microfilm. Over a thousand maps drawn by Frank Teal, Rhinebeck surveyor during the early part of the 20th century, are being inventoried and scanned by members of the Rhinebeck Historical Society.

County Historian's Office

Dutchess County Historian c/o Dutchess County Historical Society 549 Main Street PO Box 88 Poughkeepsie, NY 12602 845-486-3669 Email: dchistory@co.dutchess.ny.us

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.

Additional Resources:

Municipal Historians of Dutchess County

Courthouses

The Dutchess County Clerk's office has marriage, 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 Dutchess County are held, see the Dutchess County Courthouse page.

Family History Centers

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.

• Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

• Poughkeepsie New York Family History Center

Societies

Dutchess County Genealogical Society 204 Spackenkill Road P.O. Box 708 Poughkeepsie, NY 12602 (845) 462-4168 Facebook	Genealogical Resources: Family History Center, vital records, local records, maps, compiled genealogies, censuses, military records, Palatine immigration records. Online library guide.
Dutchess County Historical Society The Clinton House 549 Main Street Poughkeepsie, NY (845) 471-1630 dchistorical@verizon.net	Genealogical Resources: Family Bibles, cemetery records, local and church histories, city directories, more than 125 family histories, genealogy surname files, maps, newspapers, New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Year Books of the Holland Society of New York, Olde Ulster, probate records, school yearbooks. Historical Societies of Dutchess County.
Little Nine Partners Historical Society P.O. Box 243 Pine Plains, NY 12567 LNPHS@hotmail.com Facebook	Genealogical Resources: Roderic A. Davis's Bibliography and Web Guide is available online as a guide for genealogical researchers. Davis instructs readers how to find genealogical information about the Little Nine Partners, Great Nine Partners, and Dutchess County areas.

Hudson River Heritage P.O. Box 287 Rhinebeck NY 12572 (845) 876-2474 E-mail: office@hudsonriverheritage.org Facebook

Genealogical Resources: Preservation of architecture, rural landscapes and scenic views of the mid-Hudson Valley area.

Additional Resources:

Historical Societies of Dutchess County

Social Groups Online

• New York Genealogy Research Community (FamilySearch on Facebook)

Taxation

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. 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

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

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.
  

• 1778–1871 Dutchess County Historical Society. Card Index of Deaths, Marriages, and Some Births Collected from Local Newspapers. FHL film 940251(first of 12 films)

• See Town Clerks' Registers of Men who Served in the Civil War in the Civil War section of Military for birth information.
  

Marriage

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 1935.

• 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.
  

• 1763-1797 - "Record of Marriages by Roswell Hopkins, One of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Dutchess, State of New York," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 39, No. 2 (Apr. 1908):126-129. Digital versions at Internet Archive - free; New York Family History ($); FHL Book 974.7 B2n v. 39.
  

• 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

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.
  

• 1776-1805 Dutchess County, NY: Marriages, 1776-1805 at American Ancestors ($).
  

• 1777-1834 10,000 Vital Records of Eastern New York at World Vital Records ($).
  

• 1778–1871 Dutchess County Historical Society. Card Index of Deaths, Marriages, and Some Births Collected from Local Newspapers. FHL film 940251(first of 12 films)

• 1778-1825 Marriages and Deaths Dutchess County, New York 1778 - 1825 at World Vital 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 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."
  

• 1826-1851 Marriage Notices from Dutchess County, New York Newspapers 1826-1851 at NYGenWeb - free.
  

• 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.
  

Divorce

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

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

• 1778-1825 Marriages and Deaths Dutchess County, New York 1778 - 1825 at World Vital Records ($).
  

• 1778–1871 Dutchess County Historical Society. Card Index of Deaths, Marriages, and Some Births Collected from Local Newspapers. FHL film 940251(first of 12 films)

• 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."
  

• 1849-50, 1859-60, 1869-70, 1879-80 See Mortality Schedule information in the Federal Census section of Census for death information.
  

• 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.
  

• 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.
  

• 1872-present Indexes to Select Deaths from the Buffalo, NY Area - free.
  

• Old New York State Historical Newspaper Pages - free.
  

Additional Resources

Additional resources for Dutchess County births, marriages and deaths may be found in the New York, Dutchess– 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

Dutchess County New York Places

Dutchess County New York Genealogy Websites

• Dutchess County, NY History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
• New York Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
• The Dutchess County NYGenWeb Project, an member of The NYGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
• The USGenWeb Archives Project for Dutchess County.
• Dutchess County Genealogy

Dutchess County New York Genealogy References

This website requires a paid subscription for full access.

Family History Library

International Genealogical Index (FamilySearch) - free