Chautauqua County, New York Genealogy

Guide to Chautauqua 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 lone surviving remnant of the Erie language, a tongue lost in the Beaver Wars; its meaning is unknown and a subject of speculation." The County is located in the west area of the state.

Parent County
11 March 1808:  Created from Genesee 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.

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.


 * 1800-1965 at FamilySearch — index
 * Find a grave Chautauqua County Cemetery Map

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

Federal
1890


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

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

A variety of local church records representing the Baptist, Congregational, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Swedish Lutheran, United Brethren, Universalist, and Welsh Baptist faiths are available online at NYGenWeb.

Methodist Episcopal

 * 1835-1942 Includes Sinclairville, Gerry, and Charlotte. Contains minutes of meetings, baptisms 1862-1917, marriages 1860-1931, record of probationers including deaths 1863-1914, alphabetical record of members in full connection including deaths 1835-1942, class record 1887-1888, record of pastors 1890-1918, record of official members 1890-1902.
 * 1856-1867 Includes Villanova and Dayton. Contains baptisms, marriages, probationers, alphabetical list of members and class lists
 * 1884-1922 Includes Ashville, Blockville, Wattd Flats, and Celoron. Contains record of pastors 1884-1909, record of official members 1885-1913, Alphabetical record of members in full connection including deaths 1885-1922, record of probationers including deaths 1885-1922, marriages 1884-1915, baptisms 1885-1922, history 1818-1911.

Church Histories

 * Burgess, Chalon. The Churches and Clergy of the Pioneer Period in Chautauqua County. 1902. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Directories

 * Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness has located a volunteer willing to do lookups in the 1892-1893 Jamestown Directory.

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1906-1942 at FamilySearch — index and images

Maps and Gazetteers

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

Genealogy

 * Rootsweb message boardfor 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



Microforms


 * 1811-1917 Deed Records 1811-1908 - Index included: 1811-1917.

Holland Land Company delinquent contracts in Chautauqua County, N.Y. compiled by Lois M. Barris. ( [S.l.] : Chautauqua County Genealogical Society, c1991); Books




 * 1804-1824 - Livsey, Karen E. Western New York Land Transactions, 1804-1824. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1991. Digital version at Ancestry ($).


 * 1825-1835 - Livsey, Karen E. Western New York Land Transactions, 1825-1835. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1996. Digital version at Ancestry ($).



Maps

 * Maps of New York (1683-1915)
 * Map of Chautauqua County Towns -  Regional Knowledge Network
 * Chautauqua County Outline Overlays Google Map via NY Home Town Locator
 * NY Home Town Locator Chautauqua County Gazatteer By Name of Cities, Towns, Census Designated Places, Neighborhoods, Subdivisions &amp; Settlements

Migration
Migration routes for early European settlers to and from included:


 * 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
 * Lake Shore Path 1792 from Buffalo, New York to Sandusky County, Ohio
 * 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

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index

Available towns. Registers are available for: Arkwright· Busti· Carroll· Charlotte· Chautauqua· Cherry Creek· Clymer· Dunkirk· Ellery· Ellicott· Ellington· French Creek· Gerry· Hanover· Kiantone· Mina· Poland· Pomfret· Portland· Sheridan· Sherman· Stockton· Villenova.

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


 * - 1st Battalion, New York Sharpshooters, 7th Company.
 * - 9th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and K.
 * - 15th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company L.
 * - 21st Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 22nd Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies F and K.
 * - 49th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, G, I and K.
 * - 72nd Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies B, D, E, G, H and L.
 * - 90th Regiment, New York Infantry, First and second Companies H.
 * - 100th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies B, E and H.
 * - 112th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and K.
 * - 154th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies E, F, G and H.
 * - 156th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies H and I.
 * - 179th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company D.

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * SAMPUBCO Index of naturalization records
 * 1791-1980 at FamilySearch — index and images.
 * 1907-1966 at FamilySearch – index.

Newspapers

 * Cherry Creek NY News 1885-1945
 * Clymer NY Independent 1960-1969
 * Fredonia NY Censor 1843-1963


 * NYS Historical Newspapers - digital newspapers for Chautaugua County

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


 * 1841–1901 Listed as "probate of wills books" . How to use FamilySearch Catalog

Online Probate Indexes


 * 1629-1971 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1659-1999 - New York Wills and Probate Records 1659-1999 at Ancestry ($) — index and images.
 * 1787-1835 - Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787-1835 at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
 * 1830-1900 - SAMPUBCO - Browsable index of testators of wills.
 * 1830-1843 - Wills, Chautauqua County, Vol. 1, 1830-1843, courtesy: NYGenWeb.
 * 1842-1850 - Proceedings of Administration, Chautauqua County, Vol. 2, 1842-1850, courtesy: NYGenWeb.
 * 1844-1856 - Wills, Chautauqua County, Vol. 2, 1844-1856, courtesy: NYGenWeb.
 * 1851-1865 - Proceedings of Administration, Chautauqua County, Vol. 3, 1851-1865, courtesy: NYGenWeb.
 * 1866-1923 at FamilySearch — index and images.


 * – Chautauqua County: Accounts, 1829-1903; Administration bonds, 1871-1901; Administration records, 1842-1901; Appraisal appointments, 1841-1915; Claims, 1866-1904; Dower records, 1829-1877; Guardianship bonds, 1871-1919; Guardianship records, 1830-1909; Hierships, 1880-1911; Index, 1811-1962; Letters of administration, 1818-1907; Letters of testamentary, 1841-1903; Minutes, 1830-1903; Miscellaneous records, 1811-1828; Real estate records, 1833-1907; Wills and Administrations, 1870-1911; Wills, 1830-1901

Probate Records on Microfilm

The probate records described above may also be on the following microfilms:


 * 1811-1962 Probate records, 1811-1901; index, 1811-1962.
 * 1818-1911 Probate records.

Repositories
Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in Chautauqua County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1982). ; . Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

Archives, Libraries and Museums
Fenton History Center 67 Washington Street Jamestown, NY 14701 Phone: 716-664-6256 The research center includes family name files, cemetery inscriptions, marriages and death extracted from 19th century newspapers, photographs, diaries and other sources associated with the county.

Chautauqua Institution Smith Memorial Library 21 Miller Ave P.O. Box 1093 Chautauqua, NY 14722 Phone: (716) 357-6332/6306 Fax: (716) 357-9014

Darwin R. Barker Library and Historical Museum 7 Day Street Fredonia, NY 14063-1891 Phone: (716) 672-8051 Fax: (716) 679-3547

Patterson Library 40 South Portage Street Westfield, NY 14787 Phone: (716) 326-2154 Fax: (716) 326-2554

Reed Library SUNY College at Fredonia Fredonia, NY 14063 Phone: (716) 673-3183 Fax: (716) 673-3185

Dunkirk Historical Museum 513 Washington Avenue Dunkirk, NY 14048 Phone: (716) 366-3797

County Historian's Office
Michelle Henry, Historian 1 North Erie Street Mayville, New York 14757 E-mail: HenryM@co.chautauqua.ny.us Phone: 716-753-4857

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. For a 17-page 2003 inventory of holdings, click here.

Courthouses
The office of the County Clerk has marriage, divorce, court and land records. The surrogate Court has probate records. For further information on where the records for Chautauqua County are held, see the Chautauqua County Courthouse page.

Family History Centers

 * Jamestown New York Family History Center


 * James Prendergast Library Association - an affiliate library

Societies
Chautauqua County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 404 Fredonia, NY 14063 Society's publication, The Chautauqua Genealogist, is published quarterly.

Chautauqua County Historical Society and McClurg Museum P.O. Box 7 Westfield, NY 14787 Phone: 716-326-2977

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.

Western New York Genealogical Society P.O. Box 338 Hamburg, New York 14075-0338 Email: info@wnygs.org Directory


 * Focus is on eight Western New York counties - Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Wyoming, Orleans, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany - which comprise the area of the original Holland Land Company purchase.

Social Groups Online

 * New York Genealogy Research Community (FamilySearch on Facebook)

Birth

 * 1881-1942 New York, Birth Index, 1881-1942 at Ancestry — index, ($)


 * 1881-1942 Reclaim the Records: New York State Birth Index at Internet Archive - images of index

Birth Substitutes


 * 1640–1962 at FamilySearch – 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; Internet Archive; 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 Internet Archive — images of index


 * 1908–1935 at FamilySearch — index; marriage indexes, records, and licenses.

Marriage Substitutes


 * 1686-1980 at FamilySearch – 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 New York, U.S., Marriage Newspaper Extracts, 1801-1880 (Barber Collection) at Ancestry ($); index. Information extracted from the "Brooklyn Eagle" and the "New York Evening Post."


 * 1809–1850  Fred Q. Bowman, 10,000 Vital Records of Western New York, 1809-1850 (Baltimore,MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1985). Ancestry ($); MyHeritage ($); ; . Abstracted from newspaper marriage and death columns.


 * 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 — 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 Internet Archive — images of index
 * 1957-1963 at FamilySearch — index only

Death Substitutes


 * 1795–1952 at FamilySearch – 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 New York, U.S., Death Newspaper Extracts, 1801-1890 (Barber Collection) at Ancestry ($) – index. Information extracted from the "Brooklyn Eagle" and the "New York Evening Post."


 * 1809–1850  Fred Q. Bowman, 10,000 Vital Records of Western New York, 1809-1850 (Baltimore,MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1985). Ancestry($); MyHeritage ($); ; . Abstracted from newspaper marriage and death columns.


 * 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.


 * 1918-1936 Coroners Reports at USGenWeb Archives.


 * 1927-1928 Almshouse Deaths During Year Ending September 30, 1928, Dewittville, Chautauqua County, NY at NYGenWeb.

Additional Resources

Chautauqua County New York Genealogy Websites

 * Chautauqua County, NY History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * New York Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * The Chautauqua County NYGenWeb Project, an member of The NYGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Chautauqua County.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Chautauqua County. (Mirror site)
 * My New York Genealogy Chautauqua County Site
 * Cyndi's List New York (Scroll down to Chautauqua County or word search for "Chautauqua" )
 * Chautauqua County Genealogy