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

Description
The County was named for Daniel D. Tompkins, who served as Governor of New York and Vice President of the United States. The County is located in the south central area of the state.

County Courthouse
320 N. Tioga Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Tompkins County Website The Tompkins County Clerk's office has marriage, divorce, court and land records. The Surrogate Court has probate records. For further information about where the records for Tompkins County are held, see the Tompkins page.

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

 * 1800-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

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

 Federal

 State


 * See also Using the Census to find other records about ancestors

Church Records
Cornell University's Study Center for Early Religious Life in Western New York has an online guide to Tompkins County church records in their library. Presbyterian Baptist  List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * 1840s-1850s Pastor's Hand Book, Book A, courtesy of NYGenWeb - Marriages.
 * 1840s-1860s Original Marriage Records of Rev Levi Pitts, courtesy: of NYGenWeb.
 * 1850s-1880s Pastor's Hand Book, Book B, courtesy: NYGenWeb - Marriages.
 * 1854-1855 Tompkins County Members of the New York Baptist Union for Ministerial Education 1854-1855, courtesy of NYGenWeb
 * 1870 The Tabernacle Baptist Church, courtesy of NYGenWeb. Includes membership list.
 * 1880s-1940s The Snyder Hill Free Will Baptist Church, courtesy of NYGenWeb. Includes membership list.
 * Gross, Edna May. Unpublished Records of Births, Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages, Deaths. Ithaca, N.Y.: unknown, 1986. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * FamilySearch Places

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1906-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Land and Property Records

 * 1817-1860 Index to Deeds Tompkins County, NY 1817-1860 Inclusive, courtesy of NYGenWeb.

Local Histories
Tompkins County was formed by an act of the legislature, April 17, 1817 - taken from Cayuga and Seneca Counties. Its lineage extends back to Onondaga, Kerkimer, Montgomery, Tryon and Albany counties. It was named in honor of governor Daniel D. Tompkins. The county of Tompkins when formed contained the towns of Hector, Ulysses, and Covert taken from Seneca County, and the town of Dryden and a part of the towns of Locke and Genoa from Cayuga County. Tompkins County, as originally formed, had within its limits a good portion of Cayuga Lake and extended westward to the Seneca Lake. Tompkins County is bounded on the north by Cayuga and Seneca Counties, on the east by Cortland and Tioga, on the south by Tioga, Schuyler and Chemung, and on the west by Chemung and Schuyler. Its county seat is Ithaca. The County of Tompkins consists of nine townships: Caroline, Danby, Dryden, Groton, Enfield, Ithaca, Lansing, New field and Ulysses, along with many villages and hamlets. Some of the finest farming lands in the state are found in Tompkins County on the eastern and western shores of Cayuga Lake.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of New York (1683-1915)
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Migration
Migration routes for early European settlers to and from Tompkins County included:
 * 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 the 1750s; toll booths opened by 1804.
 * Forbidden Path, 1767 from Athens, Pennsylvania to Salamanca, New York
 * Lehigh and Lackawanna Paths 1766 from Unadilla, New York to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that is, from the Catskill Turnpike  to the Great Valley Road.
 * Ulster and Delaware Turnpike 1802 from Salisbury, Connecticut to Bainbridge, New York

Military Records
 Civil War Online Civil War Indexes and Records
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images at partner site

Available towns. Registers are available for: Caroline· Danby· Dryden· Enfield· Groton· Ithaca· Newfield· Ulysses. Regiments. Service men in Tompkins County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county.
 * - 15th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies G, H and K.
 * - 21st Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies B and M.
 * - 30th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company A.
 * - 32nd Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies E and I.
 * - 64th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company E.
 * - 109th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, F and G.
 * - 137th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies D, G, I and K.
 * - 138th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company F.
 * - 143rd Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies D and I.
 * - 179th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company I.

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1791-1980 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1818-1900 Listed as "Petitions, proof of wills, letters of administration, and estate papers".
 * 1626-1836 Calendar of Wills On File and Recorded in the Offices of the Clerk of the Court of Appeals, of the County Clerk at Albany, and of the Secretary of State, 1626-1836 at FamilySearch Digital Library; Also at: Ancestry ($), American Ancestors ($)
 * 1629-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
 * 1659-1999 New York Wills and Probate Records 1659-1999 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * 1787-1835 Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787 - 1835 at American Ancestors ($).
 * 1817-1903 SAMPUBCO Browsable index of testators of wills.
 * 1866-1923 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1629-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only

 Probate Records on Microfilm The probate records described above also may be among those on microfilm including:
 * 1817-1932 Index 1818–1951, Probate Records: Wills 1817–1903, Index to wills 1818–1936, Minutes 1831–1914, Guardian 1829–1916, Letters of administration and testamentary 1823–1904
 * 1818-1900 Petitions, proofs, estate papers

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records

Vital Records
Tompkins County is considered a consolidated county because birth and death records were collected from the towns, cities and villages and are on file with the Office of Vital Records in Ithaca. See this link for information about obtaining copies of birth and death records for most towns from 1880 to the present. Towns with records beginning later than 1880 are listed on the Office of Vital Records website. Records may be ordered from the Tompkins County Office of Vital Records and must be requested by mail. Fees apply for both a record search and for a document copy. There is a 50-year restriction for deaths and a 75-year restriction for births. The restriction is waived if the applicant can prove the relationship to direct-line ancestors. Copies are also available at the New York State Department of Health in Albany. See New York Vital Records Wiki page for more information about ordering records from Albany. Marriage records are usually found at the office of the town, city, or village clerk where the marriage license was issued. See the heading Tompkins on this wiki page for links to local community wiki pages and their available records. Limited consolidated Tompkins County marriage records 1908-1935 are available at the FamilySearch Library. 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 Tompkins, Tompkins, Tompkins, Tompkins, and Tompkins.

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 — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 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.
 * 1847-1848;1908-1936 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1881-1964 Reclaim the Records: New York State Marriage Index at Archive.org - images of index
 * 1847-1848;1908-1936 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Marriage Substitutes
 * 1686-1980 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 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."
 * 1820s-1900s Miscellaneous Marriages of Tompkins County 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 — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1880-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/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 — How to Use this Collection; Index

Death Substitutes
 * 1640-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 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.

Archives
Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in Tompkins County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1983). ; . Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

 County Historian Historian Division 125 East Court Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Phone: 607-274-5551
 * Genealogical Resources: The County Historian may provide access to obituaries, vital records, church records, maps, and family files or journals. Some historians provide search services for their office records and others may refer you to local genealogists who research in the area.

FamilySearch Centers

 * Cortland New York FamilySearch Center
 * Elmira New York FamilySearch Center
 * Ithaca New York FamilySearch Center
 * Steele Memorial Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Tompkins County Public Library Attention: Nancy Stoehr 101 East Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Phone: 607-272-4556 Fax: 607-272-8111 Website
 * Genealogical Resources: Local history, newspapers, books

Thompkins County Research Guidelines Website Research Request Form Website John M. Olin Library Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 Website
 * Rare and Manuscript Collections
 * Genealogical resources: Website offers a guide to Genealogical Research at Cornell. Resources include compiled genealogies, local histories, biographical dictionaries, maps, censuses, newspapers, city directories, church records, periodicals, heraldry, manuscripts, land records, and alumni records.

The History Center 110 North Tioga Street (on the Ithaca Commons) Ithaca, NY 14850 Phone: (607) 273-8284 Fax: (607) 273-6107 Website Hours: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 11am-5pm (and by appointment) Closed: Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays (and on major holidays)
 * Genealogical Resources: Research and Reference Services County Timeline, Books, Maps, vital records, family name files, pictures, and much more.

Mary Williams Research Librarian Phone: 607-273-8284 x8 E-mail: library@thehistorycenter.net Donna Eschenbrenner,Archivist Phone:607-273-8284 x4 Email:archives@TheHistoryCenter.net

Museums
Tompkins County Museum 110 North Tioga Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Phone: (607) 273-8284 FAX: (607) 273-6107 Website

Societies
Finger Lakes Genealogical Society PO Box 581 Seneca Falls, New York 13148 Website Bristol Hills Historical Society 6547 State Rt.64 Naples, NY 14512 (585) 229-2400 Website Central New York Genealogical Society Box 104, Calvin Station Syracuse, New York 13205 E-mail: [mailto:CNYGS@yahoo.com CNYSG@yahoo.com] Website
 * Genealogical Resources: Member queries; surname research list; online resources; six meetings/year; publishes Tree Talks  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, Washington, Wayne, Warren, Wyoming, and Yates.

Crooked Lake Review 6877 Van Amburg Road Hammondsport, NY 14840 E-mail: editors@crookedlakeview.com Blog Website
 * Genealogical Resources: According to the website: "The Crooked Lake Review is a local history magazine for the Conhocton, Canisteo, Tioga, Chemung and Genesee river valleys, and for the Finger Lakes and Lake Ontario regions of New York State.". This website deals with stories, histories and information dealing with people, events, and places in relationship to the area.

Websites

 * Tompkins County NYGebWeb
 * Ancestry
 * Tompkins County Genealogy
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.