Westchester County, New York Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for the city of Chester, England. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

Parent County
1683 Westchester County (with what later became the Bronx) was created as an original county from the North Riding of Yorkshire in the Province of New York, earlier part of New Netherland.

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.

1664 Yorkshire became the first large government unit (not actually a county) organized by New York after the English took control from the The Netherlands. It was divided into three ridings including North Riding (Westchester (including the Bronx), New York (Manhattan), Nassau and part of Queens counties). 1683 New York ended Yorkshire, creating Westchester County including the Bronx from part of Yorkshire.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters 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

 * Reynolds, Cuyler. Genealogical and Family History of Southern New York and the Hudson River Valley: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Building of a Nation, Volume 3 (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1914) Download a copy in PDF format from Google Books.

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


 * 1800-1965 - at FamilySearch — index
 * New York Family History research - contains lists of cemeteries in the New York City and surrounding areas (and lots of other research info and links).
 * The New York Family History Centers
 * The Political Graveyard: Westchester

In 2011, The Cemeteries of Westchester County by Patrick J. Raftery was published by The Westchester County Historical Society.

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


 * 1698 - Randolph, Howard S.F. "The Census of 1698 for Mamaroneck, Morrisania, and New Rochelle, Westchester County, New York," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 59, No. 2 (Apr. 1928):103-107. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.


 * 1776-1784 - Sypher, F.J. "Rent Roll of Col. Frederick Philips's Estate (Philipse Manor) 1776-1784," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 108, No. 2 (Apr. 1977):74-78. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Federal

 * The 1890 Census is lost. For a substitute, see directories. However, one page does exist for a family in the town of Eastchester.

State

 * Westchester County NYGenWeb's Census Page

Church Records
Records of the Dutch Reformed Church at Cortlandt begin in 1741. Quaker marriages at Harrison begin in 1742.


 * 1660-1889 - The Presbyterian Church Within the Field of the Presbytery of Westchester, Synod of New York, 1660-1889].
 * 1879-1930 Central Methodist Episcopal Church, Pleasantville. . Church record, 1879-1883 Members Marriages 1890-1929 Baptisms 1890-1925; 1907-1929 Minutes, Earnest Workers Society, ca. 1921-1930; Minutes of the Official Board, 1924-1930.
 * 1891-1948 First Methodist Episcopal Church (Pleasantville, . Pastors, membership records 1901-1942 Marriages 1942, 1902-1941 Baptisms 1902-1945. The film following contains several items with minutes and other business-type records from this church.
 * 1724-1908 - Eardeley, William Applebie. Amawalk, Westchester County, New York, Friends Monthly Meeting Records: Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1724-1908. Brooklyn, N.Y., 1914. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * 1752-1823 - "Records of the Church of Christ in Salem, Westchester Co., N.Y.: The First Church in the Town, With Some Places Adjacent," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Membership Lists 1750s-early 1800s, Marriages 1752-1771: Vol. 31, No. 2 (Apr. 1900):82-89; Marriages 1771-1781: Vol. 31, No. 3 (Jul. 1900):174-177; Marriages 1781-1795: Vol. 31, No. 4 (Oct. 1900):238-242; Marriages 1795-1806, Baptisms 1752-1759: Vol. 32, No. 1 (Jan. 1901):12-16; Baptisms 1759-1769: Vol. 32, No. 2 (Apr. 1901):71-76; Baptisms 1769-1778: Vol. 32, No. 3 (Jul. 1901):164-168; Baptisms 1778-1789: Vol. 32, No. 4 (Oct. 1901):241-244; Baptisms 1789-1804, Deaths 1767-1776: Vol. 33, No. 1 (Jan. 1902):38-42; Deaths 1776-1804: Vol. 33, No. 2 (Apr. 1902):113-118; Dismissals and Membership Lists early 1800s: Vol. 33, No. 3 (Jul. 1902):161-164; Dismissals 1810s, Baptisms 1805-1809: Vol. 33, No. 4 (Oct. 1902):208-211; Baptisms 1809-1820, Marriages 1805: Vol. 34, No. 1 (Jan. 1903):50; Marriages 1805-1811: Vol. 34, No. 2 (Apr. 1903):89-93; Marriages 1811-1821: Vol. 34, No. 3 (Jul. 1903):221-223; Marriages 1820-1822, Deaths 1804-1812: Vol. 34, No. 4 (Oct. 1903):295-298; Deaths 1812-1823, Dismissals and Session Proceedings early 1800s: Vol. 35, No. 1 (Jan. 1904):20-24; Session Proceedings early 1800s: Vol. 35, No. 2 (Apr. 1904):136-137. Digital version at New York Family History ($); . Internet Archive has digitized Vol. 31, Vol. 32, Vol. 33, Vol. 34, and Vol. 35 - free.
 * Bolton, Robert. History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the County of Westchester, from Its Foundation, 1693, to 1853. New York: Stanford and Swords, 1855. Digital version at Internet Archive - free.

Court Records
Many court records are available at the Westchester County Archives which is open to the public two days a week.

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1906-1942 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Maps and Gazetteers

 * French, J. H. Gazetteer of the State of New York. 2 vols. [Syracuse, NY: R. Pearsall Smith, c. 1860]

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

 * Baird, Charles W. Chronicle of a border town: history of Rye, Westchester county, New York, 1660-1870, including Harrison and the White Plains till 1788. (Anson D.F. Randolph and Company, 1871) Download a copy in PDF format from Google Books.
 * Bolton, Robert. A guide to New Rochelle and its vicinity: Pelham, West Chester, West Farms, Morrissania, Fordham, Yonkers, East Chester, White Plains, Mamaroneck, and Rye (Reprinted Harbor Hill Books, 1976)
 * Bolton, Robert. A History of the County of Westchester, from Its First Settlement to the Present Time. 2 vols. (Alexander S. Gould, 1848) Volume 1 Volume 2 Download a copy in PDF format from Google Books.
 * Bolton, Robert. History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the county of Westchester, from its foundation, 1693, to 1853. (Stanford &amp; Swords, 1855) Download a copy in PDF format from Google Books.
 * Dawson, Henry Barton. Westchester County, New York, during the American Revolution (s.n., 1886) Download a copy in PDF format from Google Books.
 * De Lancey, Edward Floyd Origin and history of manors in the province of New York and in the county of Westchester (s.n., 1886) Download a copy in PDF format from Google Books.
 * French, Alvah P. History of Westchester county, New York 5 volumes. (Lewis historical publishing company, inc., 1927)
 * Hall, Edward Hagaman. Philipse Manor Hall at Yonkers, NY: The Site, the Building and Its Occupants. (c. 1925) Download a copy in PDF format from Google Books.
 * Jones, Thomas. Editor: Edward F. De Lancey. History of New York During the Revolutionary War and of the Leading Events in the Other Colonies. Volume 1 (New York: The New York Historical Society, 1879). Download a copy in PDF format from Google Books.
 * Judd, Jacob and Philip Van Cortlandt. The Revolutionary War memoir and selected correspondence of Philip Van Cortlandt. (Tarrytown, NY: Sleepy Hollow Restoration) Download a copy in PDF format from Google Books.
 * Morris, Fordham. The borough town of Westchester: An address delivered By Fordham Morris on the 28th day of October, 1896, before the Westchester County Historical Society in the Court House at White Plains, N. Y. (White Plains: The Eastern State Journal, printer; 1895) Download a copy in PDF format from Google Books.
 * Scharf, J. Thomas History of Westchester county: New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York city, 2 vols. (L. E. Preston &amp; co., 1886) Volume 1, Volume 2 Download a copy in PDF format from Google Books.
 * Shonnard, Frederic History of Westchester County, New York: from its earliest settlement to the year 1900, Part 1 (New York History Co., 1900) Download a copy in PDF format from Google Books.

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

Online



Microforms



Books


 * 1720s-1810s - Lustenberger, Anita A. "Unrecorded Deeds, Westchester County," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 139, No. 4 (Oct. 2008):283-284. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.
 * 1778-1783 - Lustenberger, Anita A. "Tenants of Commissioners of Sequestration in Westchester County 1778-1783," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 123, No. 4 (Oct. 1992):203-206; Vol. 124, No. 1 (Jan. 1993):30-33. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.


 * 1600s-1700s - Bristol, Theresa Hall. "Genealogical Gleanings from Land and Probate Records at White Plains and Rye, New York," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 49, No. 2 (Apr. 1918):170-176; Vol. 49, No. 3 (Jul. 1918):292-303; Vol. 49, No. 4 (Oct. 1918):381-389. Digital versions at Internet Archive - free; New York Family History ($); . Includes map of early landowners.


 * 1763 - Freeholders of Mamaroneck, 1763, courtesy: Olive Tree Genealogy


 * Prior to 1700 - Land Owners in Mamaroneck Prior to 1700, courtesy: Olive Tree Genealogy

Maps

 * Maps of New York (1683-1915)

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


 * the Atlantic Ocean
 * Long Island Sound
 * with connections to:
 * Mohawk River
 * with connections to Richelieu River, Chambly Canal and St. Lawrence River
 * Lake Champlain Trail pre-historic
 * Champlain Canal 1823
 * Erie Canal 1825
 * King's Highway (or Boston Post Road, or New York-Philadelphia Post Road) 1664
 * Albany Post Road (or Queen's Road, or King's Road) 1669
 * Hudson River Path

Revolutionary War
Westchester County men served in the 2nd New York Regiment.


 * Scott, Kenneth. "Westchester County, N.Y., Loyalists, 1777," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 64 (1976):125-127..

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index

Available towns. Registers are available for: Bedford· Pound Ridge.

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


 * - 5th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 5th Regiment, New York Infantry (Duryee Zouaves), Companies F, G and H.
 * - 6th Regiment, New York Heavy Artillery, Companies A, B, D, E, F, I, K, L and M. (NYGenWeb)
 * - 7th Veteran Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 9th Regiment, New York Infantry (New)
 * - 11th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company A.
 * - 16th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies K, L and M.
 * - 17th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B and F.
 * - 25th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies I, L and M.
 * - 27th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company A.
 * - 32nd Regiment, New York Infantry, Company H.
 * - 38th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies E and G.
 * - 48th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company B.
 * - 49th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company C.
 * - 59th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 65th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company B.
 * - 95th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies I and K.
 * - 135th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, E,F, H, I, K and M.
 * - 146th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company B.
 * - 164th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies G and I.
 * - 168th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company E.
 * - 176th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies D and G.
 * - 186th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 189th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company K.
 * - 191st Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A and B.
 * - 192nd Regiment, New York Infantry, Company K.

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.


 * 1808-1955 - Naturalization Records, 1808-1955 - Personal Name Index at Westchester County Archives - free.


 * 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
Old Fulton NY Post Cards has the following Westchester newspapers online for free:


 * Ardsley NY Tribune 1897
 * Dobbs Ferry NY Register 1896-1970
 * Dobbs Ferry NY Greenburgh Register 1884-1894
 * Dobbs Ferry NY Sentinel 1926 -1969
 * Hastings NY on the Hudson Enterprise 1980-1988
 * Hastings NY On the Hudson Echo 1899-1925
 * Mount Kisco NY Recorder 1877-1891
 * Mount Vernon NY News 1896-1900
 * Mount Vernon NY Chronicle 1875-1898
 * New Rochelle NY Pioneer 1882-1919
 * Ossining NY Reminder Weekly News 1970-1975
 * Yonkers NY Herald Statesman 1922-1985

The Journal News covers Westchester county today in addition to other smaller, local newspapers.

Obituaries
For current obituaries, see The Journal News.

Periodicals

 * The Westchester Historian, published by the Westchester County Historical Society.
 * Westchester Connections, published by the Westchester County Genealogical Society.

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


 * 1775–1900 Listed as "Estate tax files, 1775–1900".

Online Probate Abstracts and Indexes


 * 1600s-1700s - Bristol, Theresa Hall. "Genealogical Gleanings from Land and Probate Records at White Plains and Rye, New York," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 49, No. 2 (Apr. 1918):170-176; Vol. 49, No. 3 (Jul. 1918):292-303; Vol. 49, No. 4 (Oct. 1918):381-389. Digital versions at Internet Archive - free; New York Family History ($); . Includes map of early landowners.
 * 1629 - 1971 at FamilySearch.org — index and images
 * 1659 - 1999 New York Wills and Probate Records 1659-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1664-1784 - Early Wills of Westchester County, New York, from 1664 to 1784: A Careful Abstract of All Wills (Nearly 800) Recorded in New York Surrogate's Office and at White Plains, N.Y., from 1664-1784 Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * 1707 - "Westchester County Administrations 1707," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 124, No. 2 (Apr. 1993):90-91. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.
 * 1775-1941 - Wills (Surrogate Records), 1775-1941 - Personal Name Index at Westchester County Archives - free. Updated web URL: Surrogate Records, 1775-1941 - Personal Name Index
 * 1775-1909 - Inventories (Surrogate Records), 1774-1951 - Personal Name Index at Westchester County Archives - free. Updated link: Surrogate Records, 1775-1941 - Personal Name Index
 * 1784-1830 - Old Wills of New Rochelle: Copies of Wills by Citizens of New Rochelle, N.Y., 1784-1830. New Rochelle, N.Y.: New Rochelle Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1991. Digital version at Ancestry ($); another Ancestry ($) version.
 * 1787-1883 - SAMPUBCO Browsable index of testators of wills.
 * 1775-1840 SAMPUBCO Browsable index of Estate Files.
 * 1787-1835 - Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787 - 1835 at New York Ancestors ($); includes.
 * 1787-1811 - Bristol, Theresa Hall. "Abstracts of Wills Recorded at White Plains, Westchester County, N.Y., Subsequent to May 1, 1787," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1787-1790s (Liber A): Vol. 55, No. 2 (Apr. 1924):143-154; 1790-1800 (Liber B): Vol. 55, No. 3 (Jul. 1924):262-269; 1791-1799 (Liber B): Vol. 55, No. 4 (Oct. 1924):330-338; 1793-1799 (Liber B): Vol. 56 126; 1800-1802 (Liber C): Vol. 57, No. 1 (Jan. 1926):5-10; 1802-1803 (Liber C): Vol. 57, No. 2 (Apr. 1926):102-107; 1803-1805 (Liber F): Vol. 57, No. 3 (Jul. 1926):248-253; 1805-1807 (Liber F): Vol. 57, No. 4 (Oct. 1926):320-325; 1807-1808 (Liber F): Vol 58, No. 1 (Jan. 1927):40-44; 1808-1811 (Liber E): Vol. 58, No. 2 (Apr. 1927):143-149; 1812 (Liber E): Vol. 58, No. 3 (Jul. 1927):202-208; 1812-1813 (Liber F), 1808-1809 (Liber G): Vol. 58, No. 4 (Oct. 1927):381-388; 1809-1811 (Liber G): Vol. 60, No. 2 (Apr. 1929):149-155. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.
 * 1787-1812 - Bristol, Theresa Hall. "Abstracts of Letters of Administration Recorded at White Plains, Westchester County, N.Y.," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1787-1800 (Liber A): Vol. 59, No. 1 (Jan. 1928):26-32; 1801-1812 (Liber B): Vol. 59, No. 2 (Apr. 1928):130-136. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.
 * 1866 - 1923 at FamilySearch.org — index and images

Probate Records on Microfilm


 * 1775-1900 – Estate Tax Files (includes Petitions)
 * 1777-1905 – Letters of Administration; 1787-1905 – Wills; 1802-1901 – Letters of Guardianship; 1813-1983 – Index to Wills

Repositories
Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in Westchester County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1991). - free; ; Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

Courthouses
The Westchester County Clerk's office has probate, divorce and court records. The County Archives has probate, land and naturalization records as well as military discharge records and maps. For further information about where the records for Westchester County are held, see the Westchester County Courthouses page.

Social Groups Online

 * Westchester County Historical Society - Facebook.
 * New York Genealogy Research Community (FamilySearch on Facebook)
 * Westchester Mailing List at Rootsweb
 * Westchester Message Board at Rootsweb

Taxation

 * 1699–1734 Tax assesment rolls New York Public Library; . These rolls are a great finding aid to locate someone that was a city resident and finding the ward they belonged to; includes renters and owners. There is a break in the years from 1710 to 1720. The rolls from 1721 to 1734 include Queens, Richmond, and Westchester as well as New York City.

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

 * 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


 * 1867-1873 Farrell, Charles. "Marriages by a Justice of the Peace in Morrisania, 1867-1873," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 129, No. 3 (Jul. 1998):189-190. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.


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


 * 1908-1935 Marriage Records, 1908-1935 - Personal Name Index at Westchester County Archives - free.

Marriage Substitutes


 * 1686-1980 at FamilySearch Historical Records – 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."


 * 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.

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
 * 1957-1963 - at FamilySearch — Index only

Death Substitutes


 * 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.


 * 1853-1881 Haacker, Frederick C. New Rochelle, New York Deaths, 1853-1881: Copied from the New Rochelle Press Almanacs, 1879-1882, and Records of Deaths in New Rochelle from Account Books of Cornelius Seacord, Coffin Maker. 1990. Digital version at 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.


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

Additional Resources 

Westchester County New York Genealogy Websites

 * Westchester County, NY History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * New York Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * New York Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Westchester County NYGenWeb site
 * Westchester County Resources in The NYG&amp;B Record
 * Mackenzie's Families of Philipsburgh
 * Westchester County NY Genealogy