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.

New York Online Genealogy Records

Description
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.

Parent County
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.

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.

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

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.

Biography

 * 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);
 * Powers, Frederick. Kashong, a History From the Ancient to the Modern: With Illustrations. Penn Yan, New York: JKM Printing, c1977. ;
 * Wright, Berlin Hart. Memories of Local Naturalists. [Penn Yan, N.Y.?]: The Society, [193-?]. ;

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


 * 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.
 * Dumas, Frances. Yates County Cemeteries and Cemetery Burials. Penn Yan, New York : F. Dumas &amp; S. Conybeare, 1996. ;  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.
 * 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.
 * Stark, Helen. Gravestone Inscriptions From Some Yates County, N.Y., Cemeteries. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1941.

Census
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
1810


 * Adelaide Bell Baggerly Chase, Index of U. S. census, 1810, Ontario County, New York including Steuben, Wayne &amp; Yates counties (Washington: A. B. B. Chase, 1946.),


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

Church Records
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.

List of Churches and Church Parishes


 * FamilySearch Places

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..

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.

Court Records

 * Bastardy papers, 1828-1879
 * Court minutes, 1823-1877, 18 volumes
 * Lis pendends [sic], 1832-1950, 9 volumes
 * Minutes, 1835-1895, 5 volumes 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)
 * Surrogate Court Records, This database covers most 19th century and very early 20th-century estates and guardianships. http://yates.nygenweb.net/srrogate.html#table

Directories

 * 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),
 * Bootes, Fenton E., Mrs., Index to business directory, New historical atlas of Yates County, New York, Everts, Ensign &amp; Everts (pub. 1876): includes name, date of settlement, nativity, (Microreproduction of original published: [S.l. : s.n.], 1955. 9 leaves),
 * History and Directory of Yates County, Volume 1 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)
 * 1873 History And Directory of Yates County (1873) at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1906-1942 at FamilySearch — index and images

Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups

 * The Danes of Yates County: the history and traditional arts of an ethnic community in the Finger Lakes region of New York State

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places



Genealogy

 * Rootsweb message board for 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
 * 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


 * Sources of clues, Yates County, New York

History

 * Americana in Drumlin Square
 * The Beddoe tract: 7,000 acres in central western New York state : it's history from 1792 to 2004
 * Changes &amp; returns: chapters in our county's history
 * A good country, a pleasant habitation, an outline of history of Yates County
 * History and directory of Yates County: containing a sketch of its original settlement
 * History of Yates County, N.Y.: with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers
 * Keuka Lake memories: the champagne country, 1835-1935
 * The student's handbook of Yates County
 * History and Directory of Yates County, Volume 1 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)
 * 1873 History And Directory of Yates County (1873) at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)

Land and Property
Original land records in began in [?dateyear?]. These records are housed at the [?repository?] in [?town?].

Online



Microforms


 * 1823-1965 Deed Records 1823-1910 - Index included: 1823-1965
 * 1823-1852 Mortgage Records 1823-1852 - Index included: 1823 - 1885
 * 1832-1850 Lis Pendens Lis Pendens are pending lawsuits regarding land.
 * 1851-1907 Homestead Records

Books




 * 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 FamilySearch Library:


 * Deed records, 1823-1910; index, 1823-1965
 * 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
 * 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
 * Lis pendends, 1832-1950
 * Miscellaneous records, 1823-1913 (3 volumes)
 * 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 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

Maps

 * Maps of New York (1683-1915)
 * Combination atlas map of Yates County, New York (pub. 1876)
 * Combination atlas map of Yates County, New York (reprint 1992)
 * Yates County, New York land ownership maps, 1855 and 1865
 * Highway map of Yates County, New York, 1990

Military

 * 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 timePenn Yan, N.Y. : Express Book and Job Printing House, 1895. Digital Images


 * Soldiers discharge, 1863-1943

Civil War
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.


 * - 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


 * Diary of Royal George Kinner, a Civil War soldier


 * Jones, Paul.The Irish Brigade. (Gaithersburg, Maryland : Olde Soldier Books, [199-?])

World War I

 * Emmett De Villo Harrison, Yates County in the World War, 1917-1918 Penn Yan, New York : E.D. Harrison, 1921

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * Yates County Immigration and Naturalization Records at NYGenWeb - free.
 * 1791-1980 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1907-1966 at FamilySearch – free; Index.

FamilySearch Library Collection

 * Naturalization of aliens over 18 years, 1898-1899
 * Naturalization of aliens under 18 years, 1865-1898
 * Naturalization records, 1823-1958; index, ca. 1823-1956
 * 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

 * Penn Yan NY Democrat 1838-1948

Newspaper resources from the FamilySearch Library collection:


 * Genealogical gleanings abstracted from the early newspapers of Penn Yan, Yates County, New York, 1823-1833 and 1841-1855
 * Yates County miscellany, newspaper clippings

Periodicals

 * The Union record 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
 * Yates past: newsletter of the Yates County Genealogical Historical Society
 * Index to Tree talks county packet, Yates County, New York

Probate Records
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


 * 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.org — index and images
 * 1659-1999 New York Wills and Probate Records 1659-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images ($)
 * 1787-1835 Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787 - 1835 at American Ancestors ($).
 * 1866-1923 at FamilySearch.org — index and images
 * SAMPUBCO Browsable index of testators of wills (1823-1903).


 * - 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 These are the same probate records found online at FamilySearch and described above in Online Probate Records.
 * 1823–1913 Miscellaneous records(3 volumes)
 * 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.

Repositories
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). ; . Includes index. Includes sources for family history and genealogy.

Archives, Libraries and Museums
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

Courthouses
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.

FamilySearch Centers

 * Auburn New York FamilySearch Center
 * Fayette New York FamilySearch Center
 * Hornell New York FamilySearch Center
 * Palmyra New York FamilySearch Center
 * Pittsford New York FamilySearch Center
 * Rochester New York FamilySearch Center


 * Davie County Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County - an affiliate library

Societies

 * Yates County Genealogical and Historical Society, Inc. 107 Chapel Street Penn Yan, New York 14527 Phone: 315-536-7318 Email: ycghs@yatespast.org Facebook

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 Box 104, Calvin Station Syracuse, New York 13205 E-mail: [mailto:CNYGS@yahoo.com CNYSG@yahoo.com]


 * 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, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates.

Social Groups Online

 * Yates County Genealogical and Historical Society facebook page.


 * New York Genealogy Research Community (FamilySearch on Facebook)

Vital Records

 * 1723-2009 Yates County, New York, U.S., Swann Vital Records Collection, 1723-2009 at Ancestry - index and images ($)

Birth

 * 1881-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 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 – free; Index.


 * 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.

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 and 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


 * 1908-1933 County Marriage Records at Yates County Government Site.


 * 1908-1935 Marriage Licenses, Applications and Certificates of Consent at FamilySearch - free;

Marriage Substitutes


 * 1686-1980 at FamilySearch – 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.


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


 * 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.


 * 1865 1865 Census Yates County, NY Marriages Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb


 * 1875 Census Yates County, NY Marriages Courtesy Yates County, New York GenWeb


 * 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


 * Yates County New York Marriage Records from various sources. Includes an alphabetical index for marriage and anniversary announcements. Courtesy www.genwed.com

Deaths
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


 * 1795–1952 at FamilySearch – 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."


 * 1813–1850  Fred Q. Bowman,10,000 Vital Records of Central New York, 1813-1850 (Baltimore, MD:Genealogical Pub. Co., 1986).Ancestry ($); MyHeritage ($); ;. Abstracted from newspaper marriage and death columns.


 * 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.


 * 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


 * 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.

Additional Resources

Yates County New York Genealogy Websites

 * 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