Clinton County, New York Genealogy

United States New York  Clinton County

Guide to Clinton County New York genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, military, immigration and naturalization records.

Parent County

 * 7 March 1788: Set off from Washington County.

Neighboring Counties
Essex· Franklin· Vermont counties: Chittenden· Franklin· Grand Isle· Quebec counties: Huntingdon· Missisquoi· Saint-Jean

Boundary Changes

 * 1 March 1799: Essex County set off
 * 3 March 1805: part taken to form Saint Lawrence County.
 * 1801: a part transferred to Oneida County.
 * 11 March 1808: west part of the county set off to form Franklin 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 records often reveal birth, death, relationship, military, and religious information.

Clinton County Tombstone Transcription Project

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

Federal

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

Latter-day Saints (Mormons)

 * 1938–1941 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Champlain District.

Quakers

 * Frost, Josephine S.C. Quaker meeting records, state of New York: Ulster County, Columbia County, Albany County, Clinton County ;

Roman Catholic

 * 1762–1876 Registres Paroissiaux  Quebec Catholic Parish Registers. Has Baptisms, marriages, burials, and confirmations. Record data is in French. Digital indexed version available at


 * 1864–1881 Virginia Easley DeMarce, Baptisms and Burials: St. Edmund's, Ellenburg, New York, St. Philomene's, Churubusco, New York, St. James, Cadyville, New York, Clinton County, 1864-1881 (Plattsburgh, N.Y. (P.O. Box 1256, Plattsburgh 12901): The Society, 1990). ; .Includes indexes to godfathers, godmothers, and maiden names of mothers. Includes notes from cemetery, St. James, Cadyville.

Court Records

 * 1789–1847 Proceedings


 * 1824–1900 Lis pendens Includes index.

Directories
Hamilton Child, Gazetteer and Directory of Franklin and Clinton Counties: With an Almanac for 1862-3, Embracing the Names of Business Men, County Officers, Distances, Interest Tables, Census Returns, and Much Other Valuable Statistical Information (Ann Arbor, Michigan: University Microfilms International, 1987). ; . Includes index.

Gazetteers
Hamilton Child, Gazetteer and Directory of Franklin and Clinton Counties: With an Almanac for 1862-3, Embracing the Names of Business Men, County Officers, Distances, Interest Tables, Census Returns, and Much Other Valuable Statistical Information (Ann Arbor, Michigan: University Microfilms International, 1987). ; . Includes index.

Genealogy
Rootsweb message boardfor Clinton county 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.

Guardianship

 * 1830–1969 Guardian records index


 * 1830–1907 Guardian records


 * 1885–1921 Miscellaneous civil records

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

Online



Microforms


 * 1788-1966 Deed Records 1788-1900 - Index included: 1788-1966
 * 1788-1855 Mortgage Records - Index included: 1788 - 1855
 * 1824-1900 Lis Pendens - Index included: 1824 - 1900

Books




 * 1739-1802 - Landholders of Northeastern New York 1739-1802, courtesy: Ancestry ($); World Vital Records ($)


 * 1788–1966 Deed records index


 * 1788–1900 Deed records


 * 1788–1855 Mortgage records and index


 * 1824–1900 Lis pendens Includes index.

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


 * Hudson River pre-historic
 * Lake Champlain pre-historic
 * Lake Champlain Trail pre-historic
 * Champlain Canal 1823
 * Erie Canal 1825
 * Chambly Canal and the Richelieu River 1843

War of 1812
Riddlell, William Renwick, A Canadian's view of the battle of Plattsburgh ; a Canadian's view of the battle of New Orleans ; the century of peace and its significance (Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1987) pages 42.

Civil War

Available towns. Registers are available for: Altona, Au Sable, Beekmantown, Black Brook, Champlain, Chazy, Dannemora, Ellenburgh, Mooers, Peru, Plattsburgh, Saranac, and Schuyler Falls.

Regiments. Service men in Warren County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county.


 * - 118th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 153rd Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 175th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 192nd Regiment, New York Infantry

Naturalizations and Citizenship
Clinton County, New York Clerk's Office. Originals are at the The National Archives at New York City (Northeast Region) Records include:


 * Index to Petitions for Naturalization, 1851-1906 - ItalianGen.org 1865-1906; German Genealogy Group 1865-1906
 * Petitions for Naturalization, 1851-1906

Newspapers
Search historic Clinton County newspapers 1811 - to present at Northern New York Historical Newspapers


 * Cardinal Points of SUNY Plattsburgh 1940-2006 
 * Plattsburgh Daily Press 1931-1942 
 * Plattsburgh Press-Republican 1942-1992 
 * The Press Republican - 2007 to the present
 * Plattsburgh Republican 1811-1820
 * Plattsburgh Sentinel 1866-1931

Periodicals
Central New York Genealogical Society has indexed Tree Talks periodicals according to counties, surnames, and given names. Use this index onlineto search for ancestors in the Clinton County area.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes


 * 1787-1835 – Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787 - 1835 at New York Ancestors ($); includes.
 * 1790–1969 – Probate Records Indexes are at the beginning of each volume. Includes letters testamentary and of administration, guardianships, orders and decrees, dower books, real estate sales, and minutes.
 * 1807-1902 - SAMPUBCO - Browsable index of testators of wills.
 * 1807–1902 – Will books


 * - Clinton County: Decrees, Orders, 1842-1882; Dower records, 1807-1873; Guardianship records, 1830-1890; Letter index, 1807-1969; Letters of administration, Letters of testamentary, 1790-1908; Letters of guardianship index, 1830-1969; Minutes, 1856-1901; Sales, 1849-1886; Wills, 1807-1902

Probate Records on Microfilm

The probate records described above may also be on microfilms like these:


 * 1790-1969 Probate records
 * 1807-1902 Records of wills

Repositories
Cornell University. New York Historical Resources Center, Guide to Historical Resources in Clinton County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1987). - free; ; Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

Archives, Libraries and Museums
Clinton Essex Franklin Library System consists of 34 public libraries in the counties of Clinton, Essex, and Franklin. Each library has access to genealogical databases - especially newspaper sites. Many are accessible with your library card from home. A list of the libraries in this system and their website and contact information is found here.

Essex County Historical Society Brewster Memorial Research Library and Archives Adirondack History Center Museum 7590 Court Street P.O. Box 428 Elizabethtown, NY 12932 Phone: 518-873-6466 Open by appointment only Cemetery index, special collection library, some census on microfilm, maps, photographs, newspaper collection, and biographies.

Feinberg Library SUNY Plattsburgh 101 Broad St. Plattsburgh, NY 12901 Phone: 518-564-2000 The Special Collections room in the Feinberg library contains many letters, papers, and photographs for several families and businesses. It also includes school records and Civil War letters. Includes manuscript guides for the collections.

County Historian's Office
Clinton County Historian Anastasia Pratt Clinton County Government Center 137 Margaret Street, Suite 105 Plattsburgh, NY 12901 Office Hours: Tuesday &amp; Thursday 9 - 5 and by special appointment Phone: 518-565-4749 Email: Historian@co.clinton.ny.us

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.

Courthouses
The Clinton County Clerk's office has divorce records, land records and the state census. The Surrogate court has probate records. For further information about where the records for Clinton County are held, see the Clinton County Courthouse page.

Family History Libraries
Family History Centers (FHCs) are branches of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and are located all over the world. Their goal is to provide resources to assist in the study of genealogy.

The closest FHC in Clinton county is the Plattsburgh New York Family History Center. For additional Family History Centers, search this online FHC directory.

Societies
Northern New York American Canadian Genealogical Society 15 Vine Street P.O. Box 1256 Keeseville, NY 12944 Phone: 518-834-5401


 * Primarily a French Canadian collection. Church records, censuses, allied genealogical societies publications, genealogies, histories, cemetery records, and parish marriages in Quebec.

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; publication: 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.

Social Groups Online

 * New York Genealogy Research Community (FamilySearch on Facebook)
 * Clinton County Historical Association - Facebook.
 * Clinton Historical Society - Facebook.
 * Clinton Historical - Facebook.

Vital Records

 * 1811-2006 Northern NY Library Network Newspaper Search. Includes Cardinal Points (1940-2006), North Countryman (1928-1982), Plattsburgh Daily Press (1894-1942), Plattsburgh Press-Republican (1942-1998), Plattsburgh Republican (1811-1942), and Plattsburgh Sentinel (1866-1931) - free.


 * 1881-1894 Plattsburgh Morning Telegram Newspaper Index - 1881-1894 at NYGenWeb - free.

Birth
Birth Substitutes


 * 1640–1962 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.


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

Marriage

 * 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.


 * 1908–1935 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.


 * 1908–1935 Marriage Record Index


 * 1908–1926 Marriage Record

Marriage Substitutes


 * 1686-1980 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index. Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.


 * 1777–1834  Fred Q. Bowman,10,000 Vital Records of Eastern New York, 1777-1834 (Baltimore,MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1987). Ancestry($); World Vital Records($); ; . Abstracted from newspaper marriage and death columns.


 * 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."


 * 1830–1880 Benoît Pontbriand, Mariages, 1830-1880, comté de Clinton, New York = Marriages, 1830-1880, Clinton County, New York (Sillery [Quebec]: B. Pontbriand, 1984). ; Contains transcription of church records from the following localities: Plattsburgh (1830) Cooperville (1843) Ausable Forks (1849) Keeseville (1849) Redford (1853) Rouses Point (1856) Champlain (1860) Dannemora (1860) Mooers Forks (1861) Cadyville (1861) Ellensburg (1869) Churubusco (1872). In both English and French.


 * 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 browseable.


 * 1864–1881 Virginia Easley DeMarce, Baptisms and burials: St. Edmund's, Ellenburg, New York, St. Philomene's, Churubusco, New York, St. James, Cadyville, New York, Clinton County, 1864-1881 (Plattsburgh, N.Y. (P.O. Box 1256, Plattsburgh 12901): The Society, 1990). ; .Includes indexes to godfathers, godmothers, and maiden names of mothers. Includes notes from cemetery, St. James, Cadyville.

Death
Death Substitutes


 * 1777–1834  Fred Q. Bowman,10,000 Vital Records of Eastern New York, 1777-1834 (Baltimore,MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1987). Ancestry($); World Vital Records($); ; . Abstracted from newspaper marriage and death columns.


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


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

Additional Resources

Clinton County New York Genealogy Websites

 * The Clinton County NYGenWeb Project, an member of The NYGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Clinton County.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Clinton County. (Mirror site)