Dutchess County, New York Genealogy

United States &gt; New York &gt; Dutchess County

County Courthouse
County Clerk 22 Market Street Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

History

 * Named for Mary of Modena, Duchess of York, second wife of future King James II of England.
 * Prior to the Anglo-Dutch incursion, what is today Dutchess County was a leading center for the Wappani. They had their council-fire at Fishkill Hook and also held gatherings along the Danskammer. (source:Wikipedia)

Parent County

 * Created 1 November 1683, one of original 12 counties.

Boundary Changes

 * For a time, was annexed to Ulster County, separated in 1713. Records for the time period of 1683-1713 are in Ulster county.
 * 1717, a portion of Albany County transferred to Dutchess County.

4 April 1786, the towns of Clermont and Germantown were transferred to Columbia County when the county was created.


 * 12 June 1812, Putnam County was set off.

Neighboring Counties
Columbia | Orange | Putnam | Ulster | Connecticut counties: Fairfield | Litchfield

Land

 * The Patents, in the twelve years 1685-1697 lawful patents had been granted securing for their purchasers every foot of Hudson River shoreline in the original county. Three additional patents, to 1706, laid claim to the remaining interior lands. They were:
 * Rombout, 1685
 * Minisink, 1686
 * Kip, 1686
 * Schuyler, 1688 (Poughkeepsie)
 * Schuyler, 1688 (Red Hook)
 * Aertsen-Roosa-Elton, 1688
 * Pawlings-Staats, 1696
 * Rhinebeek, 1697
 * (Great) Nine Partners, 1697
 * Philipse, 1697
 * Cuyler, 1697
 * Fanconnier, 1703
 * Beekman (Back Lots), 1703
 * (Little) Nine Partners, 1706

Web Sites

 * The Dutchess County NYGenWeb Project, an member of The NYGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Dutchess County.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Dutchess County. (Mirror site)
 * FamilySearch.org catalog for Dutchess County