Dutchess County, New York Genealogy

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

New York Online Genealogy Records

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.

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:

Bible Records

 * 1581–1917 New York, Family Bible Records at Ancestry– ($); Index. Database is a collection of genealogically important records taken from the Bibles of colony and state residents. Reveals the Bible's original owner, brief record of descendants,and a particular event such as birth or marriage as recorded in Bible.

Cemeteries
Cemetery Transcriptions for Dutchess county New York


 * 1800-1965 - at FamilySearch — index

Census
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 ($);.


 * 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 ($);.

Federal

 * 1810 Dutchess County Census Records, 1810 at NYG&B - transcription ($)
 * 1850 Dutchess County Census Records, 1850 at NYG&B - transcription ($)
 * 1870 Dutchess County Census Records, 1870 at NYG&B - transcription; Town of Amenia only ($)


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

Church Records
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 ($);.


 * 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 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 ;
 * 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.

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1906-1942 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Maps and Gazetteers

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

Genealogy

 * Rootsweb message boardfor 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
Online

Microforms


 * 1718-1950 Deed Records 1718-1901 - Index included: 1718-1950
 * 1754-1950 Mortgage Records 1754-1857 - Index included: 1754 - 1950
 * 1771-1882 Records of the Loan Office 1771-1882 - Index included. Records include Accounts, mortgages, loan ledgers, and deeds.

Books




 * 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 $. Books and microtex available at American Ancestors ($).

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, New York 1669
 * Alford and Egremont (MA) Turnpike 1812
 * Ancram (NY) Turnpike 1805, also sometimes called the Catskill Road, from Salisbury, Connecticut to Catskill, New York
 * Catskill Road 1750s from Springfield, Massachusetts to Catskill, New York


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

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

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index

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 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, New York 1669
 * Alford and Egremont (MA) Turnpike 1812
 * Ancram (NY) Turnpike 1805, also sometimes called the Catskill Road, from Salisbury, Connecticut to Catskill, New York
 * Catskill Road 1750s from Springfield, Massachusetts to Catskill, New York 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.
 * 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, Connecticut to Albany, New York
 * Hampden and Berkshire (MA) Turnpike 1826
 * Hillsdale and Chatham Turnpike 1805 from Alford, Massachusetts to Albany, New York
 * Housatonic River (MA) Turnpike 1809
 * Massachusetts 10th Turnpike 1800
 * Massachusetts 12th Turnpike 1812
 * Minsi Path 1766 from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Kingston, New York
 * Old Connecticut Path  1630 from Boston, Massachusetts to Hartford, Connecticut
 * Rensselaer and Columbia (NY) Turnpike 1799
 * Salisbury and Canaan (CT) Turnpike 1801-1829
 * Ulster and Delaware Turnpike 1802 from Salisbury, Connecticut to Bainbridge, New York

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 - 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 - at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.


 * 1824-1946 - at FamilySearch — index and images


 * 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:. 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

 * 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

Probate Records
The petitions for are also available on microfilm at the Family History Library and its centers:


 * 1793–1868 Listed as "Probate Packets" Indexed in General index to surrogate records . How to use FamilySearch Catalog

Online Probate Abstracts and Indexes 


 * 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 ($). ;.
 * 1751-1903 - SAMPUBCO - Browsable index of testators of wills.
 * 1751-1832 - Extracts of Selected Wills, scroll down on page, courtesy: NYGenWeb.
 * 1786-1815 - SAMPUBCO - Browsable index of estates.
 * 1787-1835 - Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787-1835 at American Ancestors ($); includes.
 * 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 ($);.
 * 1812-1832 - Barber, Gertrude A. Index to Wills of Dutchess County, N.Y.: From 1812-1832. 1989. Digital version at Ancestry ($)..
 * 1866-1923 - at FamilySearch.org — index and images

Probate Records on Microfilm


 * 1721-1862 Ancient documents including probate records.
 * 1751-1934 General index to surrogate records.
 * 1751-1905 New York, Dutchess County wills and index.
 * 1787-1865 Letters testamentary and of administration.
 * 1793-1868 Probate packets.

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). ; . 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.

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

 * Poughkeepsie New York Family History Center

Social Groups Online

 * New York Genealogy Research Community (FamilySearch on Facebook)

Birth

 * 1881-1942 New York, Birth Index, 1881-1942 at Ancestry — index, ($)


 * 1881-1942 Reclaim the Records: New York State Birth Index at Archive.org - images of index

Birth Substitutes


 * 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.


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

Marriage

 * 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($); ; . 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 ($);.


 * 1847–1848 and 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 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.


 * 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.

Death
Death Indexes
 * 1824-1962 - at FamilySearch — 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 - 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.


 * 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

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