New York State Census, 1865 - FamilySearch Historical Records/Known Issues

Question 1
Question 1: Why am I seeing images from the New York 1855 and 1875 Censuses? Answer 1: Images from the New York 1855 and 1875 Censuses were inadvertently added to this collection. The 1865 films can often be viewed by checking the catalog for the correct film # and ordering them to a local FamilySearch Center. See NOTE Above.

Question 2
Question 2: Why are there duplicates of some images? Answer 2: When the images were copied, every effort was made to obtain the best copy possible. Sometimes images were copied more than once for this reason. Also, be aware that what may appear to be a duplicate of a previously viewed name is actually from a different census year since the 1855, 1865 and 1975 census records are mixed together on some films.

Question 3
Question 3: I am unable to view images from some counties. How can I see the images? Answer 3: We currently do not have rights to publish these images online for the following films. You may order films as listed below: (See NOTE above)


 * Davenport, Delaware County – film #1533559 Item 2
 * St. Lawrence County - film #556597 on Items 2-3.
 * Suffolk County – film #2057294 has records for Southold, Riverhead, Huntington, and Islip; Film #2057295 has records for Brookhaven, and East Hampton; Film 2057296 has Vol 1-2 Suffolk County Census.

Question 4
Question 4: In E.D. 01 of Johnstown, Fulton County, some of the images are very faint. What can I do to view them better? Answer 4: The faint images in E.D. 01 of Johnstown, Fulton County can sometimes be viewed better by using the inverse function of the image viewer.

Question 5
Question 5: When searching Kings&gt; Brooklyn Ward 5, Ward 5 ED 1, ED 2, ED 3 I find that the records are a jumbled mess. There seems to be no pattern to how the records were copied and placed on line. Is there a simple way to find the correct records? Answer 5: Not really. By looking at the images one can tell that the condition of the original record is extremely poor. Many of the pages appear to have come loose from the binding and placed back into the book in a haphazard manner. The books were filmed as is; meaning no attempt was made to order the pages. Ward 5 (no ED given) appears to be mostly in order and contains records from ED 2 and ED 3.

Question 6
Question 6: In the village of Smithfield in Madison County there are Peterboro images. Can you explain this? Answer 6: The enumerator appears to have switched back and forth between the villages of Smithfield and Peterboro when taking his records. The Peterboro waypoint records seem to be accurate as posted with the exception that one page (image 9 in the Smithfield waypoint) does contain some Peterboro images and is not in the Peterboro waypoint. In the Smithfield waypoint images, the left and right sides wander between the two towns.

Question 7
Question 7: I am looking for the 1865 images for Niagara County, but get the 1875 Census instead. Can I see the 1865 images somewhere else? Answer 7: The 1865 and 1875 images for Niagara County are on the same Film #1577676. The 1865 images are not loaded online at this time but can be viewed by ordering this film. See NOTE above.

Question 8
Question 8: I am looking in Onondaga County for Cicero and other towns that do not seem to be available. Are they available for viewing somewhere else? Answer 8: Film 870759 in the catalog shows the towns of Elbridge, Fabius, Geddes, Lafayette, and Lysander. See film ordering NOTE above. Clay and Cicero are not listed. There are, however, three waypoints that are listed as an E.D. only in Onondaga County. Those waypoints may be searched for desired records.

Question 9
Question 9: How can I see images for the following towns in Oswego County- Hastings, Mexico, New Haven, Orwell, Oswego, Palermo and Parish? Answer 9: Privacy laws for records of genealogical value can differ by record type and geographic location. FamilySearch respects and strives to adhere to all privacy laws respective to preserving and providing access to genealogical records in its collection. FamilySearch is currently renegotiating the contract for these records to be available. In the meantime, film #857438 contains the records for Hastings, Mexico and New Haven. Film #857439 contains the records from Orwell, Oswego, Palermo and Parish. These can be ordered and viewed. See NOTE above.

Question 10
Question 10: When searching for records from Orangetown in Rockland County I find 1860 United States Census records. Are the 1865 states census records available? Answer 10: Yes, the 1865 state census records for Orangetown are found in the file for Rockland County and are labeled Orangetown ED 01, 02 and 03.

Question 11
Question 11: In Ulster County there are no records for any town with names beginning with letters O – Z. Are they missing? Answer 11: We do not have records for the missing towns either online or on microfilm. The original records for the State's pre-1915 census are kept at the county level and are not available at the New York State Library. You may wish to contact the county clerk's office to ascertain their availability and location if you would like to see if the records are available.

Question 12
Question 12: Why can’t I find the town of Kingsbury in Washington County? Answer 12: The images for Kingsbury, Washington County are missing from the films, and therefore are not available.

Question 13
Question 13: Do you have records for Wayne County? Answer 13: We do not currently have the Wayne County records online.


 * Go to the New York State Census, 1865 - FamilySearch Historical Records article
 * Go to the New York State Census, 1865 collection at FamilySearch.org