Oneida County, New York Genealogy

Guide to Oneida 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 the Oneida, one of the Five Nations of the Iroquois League or Haudenosaunee, which had long occupied this territory at the time of European encounter and colonization. The County is located in the central area of the state.

Parent County
15 March 1798: Created from Herkimer County.

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.


 * 1801: Part taken to add to Clinton County.
 * 1804: Part taken to add to Chenango County
 * 28 March 1805: Jefferson and Lewis counties set off.
 * 1 March 1816: Oswego County set off
 * 1836: A part taken from Madison County to add to the 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.

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

For cemeteries within or nearest to these populated places, please refer to them.


 * 1800-1965 - at FamilySearch — index

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

State

 * P-Index is only partial index

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

The NYGenWeb references mentioned below are found on their website categorized as either Birth, Marriage, Death, Miscellaneous, or Town records.


 * 1843-1880 - West Leyden Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed Parish Marriages, courtesy: NYGenWeb.
 * 1843-1883 - West Leyden Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed Parish Baptisms, courtesy: NYGenWeb.
 * 1844-1868 - West Leyden Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed Parish Confirmations, courtesy: http://www.nygenweb.net/ NYGenWeb].
 * 1854-1896 - Rev. Edward Davies Record Book With a List of Marriages 1854-1896, courtesy: Upstate New York Welsh Heritage.
 * West Leyden Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed Parish Families, courtesy: NYGenWeb.
 * 1816-1877 Methodist Episcopal Church. Sauquoit Station Contains names of preachers 1815-1877, records of members including deaths 1839-1843, class record 1846-1848, class record including baptisms and deaths 1847-1852, records of members including deaths 1843-1857.
 * 1839-1881 Methodist Episcopal Church. Vernon Village Station Contains list of preachers 1839-1881, alphabetical list of members including baptisms and deaths, 1846-1860, alphabetical list of members and probationers including baptisms and deaths 1851-1866, record of deaths for 1871, marriages 1861-1865, baptisms 1846-1857. All lists that include baptisms should be searched because no single list with baptisms is a complete list of baptisms.

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 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.

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

Online

Like other New York counties, Oneida County land records are available online at familysearch.org in the New York, Land Records collection. But they are filed under Herkimer County, not under Oneida County. There are two series of land records filed under Herkimer County. The one that begins in 1791 covers Oneida County, plus (during the early years after 1791) Herkimer County and probably other areas that belonged to those counties during the 1790s. The other series, which begins in 1804, covers Herkimer County only. Essentially, the early deed book series for Herkimer County was continued in Oneida County after it was created, and a new series was started for Herkimer County.

Microforms



Books



Original deeds in county began in 1791. Deeds 1791–1885 are housed at the B–1 Records Centerin Utica. Deed records 1886–present are housed at the County Clerk's Office.

Online Land Databases


 * George Washington: His Land Purchases Made the Empire State. Utica, N.Y.: n.p., 1931?. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Original Land Records on Microfilm


 * 1791-1901 – Deeds – Includes index

Maps



 * Maps of New York (1683-1915)

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


 * pre-historic
 * Mohawk or Iroquois Trail about 1722
 * Great Genesee Road 1794
 * Erie Canal 1825

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index

Available towns. Registers are available for: Annsville· Augusta· Bridgewater· Florence· Floyd· Marcy· Marshall· Remsen· Rome· Sangerfield· Steuben· Trenton· Vernon· Verona· Vienna· Westmoreland· Whitestown.

Regiments Service men in Oneida 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 Oneida County:


 * - 1st Battalion, New York Light Artillery, Battery A.
 * - 1st Regiment, New York Light Artillery, Battery A.
 * - 7th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company H.
 * - 8th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company I.
 * - 11th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company C.
 * - 13th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company F.
 * - 14th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, E, F and G.
 * - 15th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies K and M.
 * - 20th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies G, I and M.
 * - 22nd Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies B, C and M.
 * - 24th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies B, F, L and M.
 * - 57th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company B.
 * - 78th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company D.
 * - 81st Regiment, New York Infantry,
 * - 97th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, C, E, H and K.
 * - 101st Regiment, New York Infantry, Company E.
 * - 117th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and K.
 * - 141st Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A and B.
 * - 146th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and K.
 * - 161st Regiment, New York Infantry, Company B.
 * - 164th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company H.
 * - 179th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company C.
 * - 189th Regiment, New York Infantry, 1st and 2nd Companies K.
 * - 192nd Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C and E.
 * - 193rd Regiment, New York Infantry, Company A.
 * - Oneida Independent Company, New York Cavalry

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1791-1980 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers
Grimes, Marilla R. Some Newspaper References to Irish Immigrants in Oneida Co. New York. Death notices of Irish Immigrants in various newspapers within Oneida Co. New York State. covering years 1825-1865 The Irish Ancestor, vol.VI. no.2. 1974, pages 97-98. Family History Library Ref. 941.5 B2i v5-6


 * Boonville NY Black River Herald 1860-1866
 * Boonville NY Herald &amp; Tourist 1872-2004
 * Boonville NY Ledger 1853-1855
 * Clinton NY Advertiser 1906-1913
 * Clinton NY Signal 
 * Rome NY Citizen 1840-1903
 * Rome NY Telegraph 1834-1837
 * Utica NY Daily Gazette 1846-1847
 * Utica NY Daily Observer 1848-1989
 * Utica NY Daily Press 1882-1987
 * Utica NY Daily Union 1895-1896
 * Utica NY Friend of Man 1836-1842
 * Utica NY Herald Dispatch 1899-1927
 * Utica NY Liberty Press 1848
 * Utica NY Mechanics Press 1829-1830
 * Utica NY Morning Herald 1859-1900
 * Utica NY Observer 1916
 * Utica NY Oneida Morning Herald 1848-1851
 * Utica NY Oneida Weekly Herald 1851-1855
 * Utica NY Oneida Whig 1834-1841
 * Utica NY Saturday Globe 1899-1927
 * Utica NY Sentinel Gazette 1825-1830
 * Utica NY Sunday Journal 1894-1906
 * Utica NY Sunday Tribune 1877-1921
 * Utica NY Telegram 1919-1922
 * Utica NY Weekly Herald 1860-1897
 * Waterville NY Times 1855-2007

Probate Records
Unlike most other New York counties, early Oneida County probate records are mostly not available on familysearch.org and not available on microfilm through the Family History Library. When the Genealogical Society of Utah came through in the 1970s to microfilm Oneida County probate records, the will books were the only early records filmed in their entirety. The early case files, guardianship records, letters of administration books, and letters testamentary books were not filmed. Thus these records are only viewable today in person at the Oneida County Surrogate's Court and in part through its online OnBase system. The abstracts of the earliest probates (to 1835) made by Gertrude Barber are a useful alternative.

Case files to 1890 have been both microfilmed and scanned by the Surrogate's Court. A good index is available at the court which gives the file number and the microfilm roll number for each file. Microfilms are not on open shelves, but staff will retrieve a given roll number. The Surrogate's Court attempted to give custody of the original paper files to institutions in each Oneida County town, but reports are that some towns refused to take them. The scans of the estate files in the OnBase system can be viewed over the Internet with a login which takes 24-48 hours to receive. The quality of the scans is poor and using the microfilm is preferable when possible.

The Surrogate's Court holds 16mm microfilm of the letters of administration and letters testamentary books. The original books have been destroyed. These microfilms are not held by the Family History Library. A good index is available on site.

The Surrogate's Court holds the original will books on open shelves, but these are also available online at familysearch.org.

Early guardianships are available at the Surrogate's Court in 16mm microfilm. A good index is available on site.

The Surrogate's Court is located on the 8th floor of the Oneida County office building at 800 Park Avenue. Most staff have only a modest familiarity with older records so it is useful to come prepared.

Some Oneida County probate records that are available on FHL microfilm are not available digitally on FamilySearch: For example, the Supreme Court wills (https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/95138) and the 13 rolls of Notices to Heirs with case numbers in the 4000s (https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/295100).

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


 * 1867–1965 Listed as "Probate Proceedings".

Online Abstracts and Indexes


 * 1787-1835 - Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787-1835 at American Ancestors ($)
 * 1798-1848 - Barber, Gertrude A. Abstracts of Wills of Oneida County, N.Y.: Copied from the Original Records at the Surrogate's Office, Utica, N.Y. 6 vols. 1939. Digital version at Ancestry ($); NYGenWeb (free).
 * 1798-1900 - SAMPUBCO Browsable index of testators of wills.


 * - Oneida County: Administration accounts, Executor accounts, 1830-1900; Administration bonds, 1893-1900; Administration bonds, Inventories, Petitions, 1870-1875; Appraisal appointments, 1844-1856; Appraisal records, 1856-1891; Case file index, 1867-1965; Guardianship accounts and bonds, 1884-1901; Guardianship records, 1830-1898; Guardianship records, Real estate records, 1853-1884; Letters of guardianship, 1844-1889; Will index, 1798-1909; Wills, 1798-1900

Probate Records on Microfilm

Probate records found at Historical Records and described in Online Probate Records above are also found on microfilm as follows:


 * 1798–1909 Will Book Index
 * 1798–1900 Will Books
 * 1867–1965 Probate Proceedings (Petitions, first film is index to this record)
 * 1830–1900 Executors and Administrators Accounts
 * 1870–1933 Guardianship Records and Index
 * 1844–1901 Guardianship Accounts and Bonds
 * Guardianship Records, Alphabetically Arranged
 * Guardianship, Heirs and Notices to Dead Soldiers, from 1800

Repositories
Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in Oneida 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.

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

Family History Centers

 * Utica New York Family History Center

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

Oneida County Historical Society 1608 Genesee Street Utica, NY 13502 Phone: 315-735-3642 Summer Hours of Operation: Monday - 1pm - 8pm, and Tuesday –Friday 10am – 4pm. Closed Saturday and Sunday

Rome Historical Society 200 Church St Rome, NY 13440 Phone: 315-336-5870 Hours: Tuesday–Thursday 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Firday 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Closed Saturday–Monday.


 * William E. Scripture Memorial Library of the Rome Historical Society


 * The library offers a wealth of historical and genealogical information with extensive information about local people and businesses. Hard-to-find and out-of-print books line the shelves and focus on the early history of the region as well as more recent accounts of life in and around Rome.

Social Groups Online

 * New York Genealogy Research Community (FamilySearch on Facebook)

Taxation

 * 1792 - Grimes, Marilla Racha. "Oneida County, N.Y., 1792 Tax List," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 67, No. 3 (Sep. 1979):175-176. Digital version at National Genealogical Society website ($);.

Birth
Birth Substitutes


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


 * 1808–1850 Fred Q.Bowman, 7000 Hudson-Mohawk Valley, (NY), Vital Records, 1808-1850 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1997). ; . Abstracts from newspapers filed at the New York State Library in Albany.
 * 1800s Oneida County Births at NYGenWeb - free.
 * 1830s Births in the Oneida County Poor House in the 1830's at NYGenWeb - free.


 * See Town Clerks' Registers of Men who Served in the Civil War in the Civil War section of Military for birth information.
 * 1847-1850 Oneida County Births at NYGenWeb - free.

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


 * 1847–1849 Licenses . Also includes one license in 1870, 1878, and 1887.


 * 1908–1930 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; . Index goes to 1935.

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 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."


 * 1805-1826 Danz, Elizabeth Nesbit. "Marriages Performed by the Honorable Prosper Rudd, 1805-1826," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 85, No. 3 (Jul. 1954):181-183. Digital version at New York Family History ($); . Rudd served as Justice of the Peace for Western, New York.


 * 1808–1850 Fred Q.Bowman, 7000 Hudson-Mohawk Valley, (NY), Vital Records, 1808-1850 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1997). ; . Abstracts from newspapers filed at the New York State Library in Albany.


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


 * 1847-1851 Oneida County Marriages 1847-1851 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.


 * 1864-5 1000 Vital Records from 1865 Oneida Co., NY Census at RootsWeb.


 * 1864-5 1865 Oneida County, NY Marriages at NYGenWeb - free.


 * 1874-5 Vital Records from 1875 Oneida Co., NY Census at RootsWeb.

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."


 * 1808–1850 Fred Q.Bowman, 7000 Hudson-Mohawk Valley, (NY), Vital Records, 1808-1850 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1997). ; . Abstracts from newspapers filed at the New York State Library in Albany.


 * 1813–1850  Fred Q. Bowman,10,000 Vital Records of Central New York, 1813-1850 (Baltimore, MD:Genealogical Pub. Co., 1986).Ancestry($); World Vital Records($); ;. Abstracted from newspaper marriage and death columns.
 * 1830s Oneida County Poor House Deaths 1830's at NYGenWeb - free.
 * 1847-1851 Oneida County Deaths at NYGenWeb - free.


 * 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.
 * 1864-5 1865 Census Oneida County Deaths and Veteran Deaths at NYGenWeb - free.


 * 1864-5 1000 Vital Records from 1865 Oneida Co., NY Census at RootsWeb - free.


 * 1874-5 Vital Records from 1875 Oneida Co., NY Census at RootsWeb - free.


 * 2002-4 Miscellaneous Death Notices 2002, 2003, 2003/2004 at Genealogy Buff - free.

Additional Resources

Oneida County New York Genealogy Websites

 * Oneida County, NY History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * New York Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * New York Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * The Oneida County NYGenWeb Project, a member of The NYGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Oneida County.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Oneida County. (Backup site)
 * Oneida County Genealogy - New York Genealogy