Putnam County, New York Genealogy

United States New York  Putnam County

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

Parent County
12 June 1812: Set off from Dutchess County

Neighboring Counties
Dutchess· Orange· Rockland· Westchester· Connecticut county: Fairfield

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.

No subsequent set offs or border changes since 12 June 1812.

Record Loss
For a list of record loss in New York Counties see: New York Counties with Burned Courthouses

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.
 * Gentry, C. Historical Records of Enoch Crosby Chapter, National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties, New York (1991) [FHL 0860321]

Biography

 * Butterfield, Julia Lorrilard Safford. A biographical memorial of General Daniel Butterfield (New York: The Grafton Press, 1904).
 * Fish Family History and Documents (scroll down page)
 * Haacker, Frederick C. Records of early settlers of Putnam County and Cortlandt Manor, New York (the author, 1954). Ancestry.com ($)
 * Historical and Genealogical Record, Dutchess and Putnam Counties, New York (Poughkeepsie: A.V. Haight Co., 1912)
 * Livingston, William Farrand, Israel Putnam: Pioneer, Ranger, and Major-general,1718-1790 (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1901).
 * Peekskill, Fishkill, Matteawan and Cold Spring : their representative business men and points of interest.. (Newark, N.J.: Mercantile Pub. Co., 1892). Ancestry.com ($)
 * Pelletreau, William S. History of Putnam County, New York, with Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men (Philadelphia: W.W. Preston &amp; Co., 1886).
 * Putnam History Museum Genealogy Files Index

Business Records and Commerce
The County Archives holds these records:


 * 100 Stallion Records, 1887-1906, 1909
 * 101 Veterinary Medical Registry, 1894-1912
 * 102 Physicians and Surgeons Registry, 1880-1970
 * 103 Dentists and Dental Hygienists Registry, 1896-1969
 * 104 Assumed Names Registry (Business names), 1900-1938
 * 105 Architects Registry, 1923-1954
 * 106 Farm Names, 1913-1937
 * 108 Engineer or Land Surveyor Affidavits, 1924-1951

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


 * Brewster, NY, Cemetery Inscriptions (FHL 17862)
 * Brinkman, William A. A Memorial: Records of early burial places on the farms in the town of Guilderland, N.Y. and surrounding towns (Altamont, N.Y., 1940). Includes burials at Settlers Hill in Putnam County.
 * Buys, Barbara S. Old Graveyards of Putnam County, New York (Baltimore: Gateway Press, 1975)
 * Eardeley, William Applebie. Putnam County, New York, Cemeteries: 1794-1914 (Brooklyn, N.Y.: the author, 1917). Ancestry.com ($)
 * Fisher, Floyd. They All Rest Together; burial sites of early settlers -- southern Dutchess and Putnam Counties (1972).
 * Foley, Janet Wethy. Early Settlers of New York State, Vols. 5, 6, 7, 8 (mostly Carmel)
 * Foster, Emma J. and Livingston, Julia R. "Inscriptions in Milltown Cemetery, Southeast, N.Y.," NYGBR, Vol. 38 (1907), 273-277, Vol. 39 (1908), 42-46. Part 1, Part 2
 * Four Cemeteries in Putnam County, N.Y. (typescript, 1941) (FHL 17862) Inscriptions from two Cold Spring cemeteries, Presbyterian Church Cemetery (Mahopac Falls) and Methodist Church Cemetery (Union Valley).
 * Frost, Josephine C. Inscriptions from ten cemeteries in Putnam County (typescript). Contains Barrett Cemetery, Bailey Cemetery, Williams Cemetery, Crane Cemetery, Cole Cemetery, Carver Cemetery, King Cemetery (near Tilley Foster Reservoir), Pardee Cemetery, Hughson Cemetery, Patterson Village Cemetery. (FHL 17862)
 * Frost, Josephine C. Inscriptions from 13 old cemeteries in Putnam County, N.Y. (typescript, 1912). Includes cemeteries in Brewster, Carmel, Kent, Patterson and Towners.
 * Frost, Josephine C. Putnam County Cemetery Inscriptions (typescript, 1910). Includes cemeteries in Carmel, Kent Cliffs and Ludingtonville.
 * Genealogy Trails, Transcripts of Carver Cemetery in Carmel and two Cold Spring cemeteries
 * Gentry, C. Historical Records of Enoch Crosby Chapter, National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties, New York (1991) [FHL 0860321]
 * Horton, W.P. Graveyard Inscriptions: Putnam County, N.Y., New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 49 (1918), 76-82, 177-181, 303-307, 363-365. Includes transcripts for Peekskill Hollow Cemetery; Baxter Cemetery (Wicopee); Methodist Cemetery at Adams Corners (Peekskill), Bryant Hill Cemetery (Peekskill Hollow), Lafayette Avenue Cemetery (Peekskill), Selleck Cemetery (Crafts Corners), Hadden Cemetery (Peekskill), Wood Street Cemetery (Jefferson Valley), Tomkins Corners Cemetery (Putnam Valley), Entrott Cemetery (Peekskill) and Lane Plot (Shrub Oak).
 * Horton, W.P., "Graveyard Inscriptions, Methodist Churchyard, South Highlands [Garrison], Putnam County, N.Y.," NYGBR, Vol. 55 (1924), 185-190.
 * Horton, W.P., "Graveyard Inscriptions, North Highlands [Cold Spring], Putnam County, N.Y.," NYGBR, Vol. 55 (1924), 190-192, 236-240.
 * Horton, W.P., "Graveyard Inscriptions, Methodist Churchyard, MeKeels Corners [Garrison], Putnam County, N.Y.," NYGBR, Vol. 55 (1924), 240-241.
 * Horton, W.P, "Graveyard Inscriptions, Putnam County, N.Y.," NYGBR, Vol 56 (1925), 68-73, 187-195, 288-294, 308-317. Includes Methodist Churchyard (Mahopac); Russell-Meed Cemetery, Smalley Ground, Kent-Fishkill Baptist Cemetery; Hughson Farm Plot; Horton Farm Plot; Cole Family Burial Plot; Hill Family Plot; Bailey Burial Plot; Crane, Baldwin &amp; Fowler Graveyard; Williams Burial Plot; Barrett Cemetery; Halstead Cemetery; Kent Cliffs Baptist Churchyard.
 * Horton, William P. Cemetery inscriptions of Putnam County, N.Y. : including the towns of Adams Corners, Carmel, Cold Spring, Doansburg, Farmers Mills, Fredericksburg, Hortontown, Kent, Kent Cliffs, Lake Mahopac, Lake Oscawana, Ludington, Mahopac Falls, Meads Corners, Mekeels Corners, Milltown, Patterson, Secords Corners, Tilley Foster, Towners Corners, and Union Valley (Peekskill, N.Y.: the author, 1928). Ancestry.com ($) Also transcribed here: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
 * Nicholson, William A. Inscriptions from Clift or Drew Cemeteries (Brewster and Southeast), NYGBR, Vol. 49 (1918), 326-329.
 * Wheeler, Glendon E. Index of gravestones for the people of Putnam County, New York (Rhinebeck: Kinship Books, 1997). ISBN 1560121505

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

Federal
1790 U.S. Census for Philipstown

Church Records
Parish Registers (Transcription)


 * 1839 - 1919, Cold Spring: St. Mary's Church in the Highlands (years only)
 * 1810 - 1811, Peekskill, St. Peter's Church
 * 1811 - 1911, Garrison, St. Philip's Church in the Highlands
 * Gentry, C. Historical Records of Enoch Crosby Chapter, National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties, New York (1991) [FHL 0860321]

Histories 


 * Chorley, E. Clowes, History of St. Philip's Church in the Highlands, Garrison, New York (New York: Edwin S. Gorham, 1912).
 * Floyd-Jones, Elbert. St. Mary's Church in the Highlands : Cold Spring-on-the-Hudson, New York : a history (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.: Frank B. Howard, 1920).

Court Records
In its 2015 annual guide to the county's records, the archivist noted that "'The various series of court records held by the Putnam County Archives can be difficult to navigate. An 1823 critic noted that 'the records of the court [NY] have never been kept in a proper state for easy recurrence, preservation, and prompt and safe removal in case of necessity.' Not only did the courts themselves change as the nation matured, but the indexing and filing systems used in the county changed as well; and, without documentation of those changes, it is left to interpretation to describe the contents and connections among the various series. +++ Court records received by the archives had no obvious or easily discernible order. The fact that they were received piecemeal did not improve the situation. Tightly folded papers were securely bound in various packets, some with labels, most not. Box descriptions included discontinuances, old county clerk records (unidentified), transcripts, recognizances, motions, undertakings, petitions, bonds, injunctions, notice of appeals, court calendars, stenographer’s notes, court minutes, justice returns, and a favorite, “assorted papers” As different series of various courts each could contain some of the papers or actions just noted, it became an impossible task to know how rigorously to organize the various records for ease of access. Gathering all documents for a given case with all ancillary filings, motions, etc. was not usually feasible although in many instances, records of cases appealed from Common Pleas have been filed together. +++ Only two series have case numbers – 034 Surrogate’s Court Records, Probate, and 045 Judgment Records/Roll from the Courts of Common Pleas, Supreme Court, Oyer &amp; Terminer, and Putnam County. These records are reasonably easy to work with. Several other series – 013 Putnam County Court of Common Pleas, 1812-1848, 017 Putnam County Court Records, 046 Putnam County Court Orders and Rules, 047 Putnam County Supreme Court Civil Actions and related documents, 054 Orders of Discontinuances, are sometime possible to cross-reference. The records of the Court of Common Pleas have been indexed in COURTS.DTF and the names of the parties appear in the Names Access Database. +++ In general, it does not appear that case files containing the entire trail of actions were kept. In fact, many court records may be lost: in the 1980s many boxes of records of the court of common pleas were destined for a landfill until “rescued” by the then-county historian. Be aware that records that ought to be found in one series may have been filed in another. It will take many years to index and cross-index all the court series.'" The County Archives holds the following records:


 * 037 Jury lists, 1813-1952
 * 061 Indictments, 1839-1910
 * 062 Grand Jury Minutes, 1855-1922
 * 154 County Court Records (other), 1844-1932
 * 013 Court of Common Pleas, 1812-1848
 * 005 Commitments to County Jail, 1812-1850
 * 016 County Court, Court of Sessions records, 1812-1895
 * 018 Court of Oyer and Terminer records, 1814-1892
 * 061 Indictments 1839-1910
 * 068 Records of Convictions 1855-1916
 * 155 Criminal Court Records, 1843 – 1934, gaps
 * 156 Recognizances and other Criminal Papers, 1837-1919
 * 014 Supreme Court Records, 1846-1910
 * 015 Justice Court Records, 1813-1891
 * 045 Judgment Records, Court of Common Pleas, Supreme, Oyer &amp; Terminer, Putnam County Court, 1812-1913 (numbered cases)
 * 046 Orders and Rules, Supreme Court, 1878-1937 (vol. &amp; pg. no.)
 * 047 Putnam County Civil Actions &amp; related documents, 1819-1872 (vol. &amp; pg. no.)
 * 054 Orders and Discontinuances, 1878-1936
 * 057 Transcripts of Judgments, 1812-1935
 * 058 Index to Judgments, 1812-1954 (series 045)
 * 059 Assignments of Judgments, 1854-1936
 * 060 Satisfactions of Judgments, 1835-1937 (numbered files)
 * 063 Supreme Court Orders, 1859-1939
 * 064 Lis Pendens, 1824-1864
 * 065 Lis Pendens Index, 1812-1961
 * 066 Bail Book, 1812-1851
 * 067 Notes of Issue, 1878-1939
 * 079 Insolvent Assignments, 1814-1915
 * 088 Orders Appointing Receivers, Insolvency Cases, 1874-1906
 * 089 Court directed Moneys to County Treasurer, 1892-1923
 * 113 Putnam County Court Minutes, 1812-1935
 * 134 New York City vs. Putnam County Assessors, 1904-1937
 * 149 Justices Returns, 1850-1916
 * 174 Attachments, 1835-1891
 * 175 Assignees, 1861-1903
 * 153 Record of Old Estates, 1812 – 1875
 * 182 Survey of Historical Records in Putnam County, WPA project, 1936
 * 184 Letters of Guardianship, 1812-1975
 * 185 Guardian’s Bonds, Administrator’s Bonds, 1890-1948

Crime and Criminals
The County Archives holds the following records:


 * 004 Sheriffs’ Bond and Appointments 1812-1916, 1925
 * 005 Commitments to County Jail 1812-1850
 * 006 State Inspections of the County Jail 1905-1947
 * 066 Bail Book, 1812-1851
 * 068 Records of Convictions, 1855-1916

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.
 * NYGenWeb: Putnam County
 * NYPUTNAM-L email discussion list
 * Daughters of the American Revolution, Enoch Crosby Chapter, Carmel
 * Putnam County Historian.A Handbook for Putnam County History and Genealogy (Brewster, N.Y.: Office of the County Historian, 2015). 77 pages. Chapters cover basic sources, the archives, wills and deeds, researching prior to the county's formation in 1812, libraries and history repositories, historical societies, church records and a list of available publications. $10 postpaid from Putnam County Historian, 68 Marvin Avenue, Brewster, NY 1050. A scan of the 2001 edition can be viewed here.
 * USGenNet: Putnam County Resources
 * Genealogy Trails: Putnam County

History
Books


 * Barber, John W. and Howe, Henry. "Putnam County," Historical Collections of the State of New York (New York: S. Tuttle, 1842), 448-452.
 * Blake, William J. The history of Putnam County, N.Y. : with an enumeration of its towns, villages, rivers, creeks, lakes, ponds, mountains, hills, and geological features, local traditions, and short biographical sketches of early settlers, etc. (New York: Baker &amp; Scribner, 1849).
 * Brewster through the years : 1848-1948, history and folklore (unknown, 1949?). Ancestry.com ($)
 * Cheli, Guy. Putnam County : Images of America (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.: Arcadia Publishing, 2004). ISBN 0738536563
 * Cranston, Henry. The Hudson Highlands (New York: Henry Cranston, 1883).
 * French, J.H., "Putnam County," Gazetteer of the State of New York (Syracuse: R. Pearsall Smith, 1860), 540-543. Footnotes
 * Grace, Trudie A. Around Cold Spring : Images of America (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.: Arcadia Publishing, 2011). ISBN 0738575976
 * Grace, Trudie A. and Forlow, Mark. West Point Foundry: Images of America (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.: Arcadia Publishing, 2014). ISBN 1467120642
 * Historical and Genealogical Record, Dutchess and Putnam Counties, New York (Poughkeepsie: A.V. Haight Co., 1912)
 * Peekskill, Fishkill, Matteawan and Cold Spring : their representative business men and points of interest.. (Newark, N.J.: Mercantile Pub. Co., 1892). Ancestry.com ($)
 * Pelletreau, William S. History of Putnam County, New York, with Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men (Philadelphia: W.W. Preston &amp; Co., 1886).
 * Putnam County History Workshop (Patterson, N.Y.?: Putnam County Historical Society?, 1954-1957). Ancestry.com ($)
 * Thirty Years of Early History of Cold Spring and Vicinity (Newburgh: Schram Printing House, 1886).

Digital Archives

Livingston-Svirsky Archive (LiSA) at Desmond-Fish Library, Garrison. Includes a collection of documents related to Hamilton Fish, Daniel Butterfield, William Dominick Garrison and local history.

Land and Property
Online


 * 1812-1963, Putnam County Deeds and Mortgages (index). Familysearch.org
 * 1812-1901, Putnam County Deeds Familysearch.org
 * 1812-1929, Putnam County Mortgages Familysearch.org
 * National Register of Historic Places in Putnam County

Microfilm


 * 1824-1885, Lis pendens (real estate lawsuits), Putnam County (FHL 931879), from original records at Putnam County Courthouse
 * 1885-1894, Lis pendens (real estate lawsuits), Putnam County (FHL 931879)

The County Archives has the following land and property records:


 * 009 Deeds and Indentures filed with the County Clerk, 1791-1932
 * 012 Mortgages (including chattel) filed with the County Clerk, 1791-1859, 1812-1859, 1859-1932
 * 019 Field Books and Land Surveys, 1813-1832
 * 056 Satisfactions of Mortgages, 1817-1914
 * 072 Title Searches by Putnam County, 1850-1936
 * 080 Town of Putnam Valley Assessment Roll 1932
 * 081 Grantee Index for Deeds 1870-1929
 * 082 Grantor Index for Deeds 1870-1929
 * 083 Grantor/Grantee Index for Deeds 1850(s)-1911
 * 084 Mortgage Index 1812-1917
 * 087 Assignment of Mortgages 1906-1908
 * 124 Commissioners of Forfeitures 1780-1786
 * 133 Town Assessment Maps 1995, 1998
 * 134 New York City vs. Putnam County Assessors 1904-1937
 * Box 13 assessment rolls Southeast, Box 15 assessment rolls Philipstown
 * 153 Record of Old Estates, 1812 - 1875
 * 164 Mortgage Tax Collection Letters, 1924-1935
 * 181 Land Parcels and Value, 2003
 * 183 Real Estate Orders (Transfers), 1813-1958

Maps



 * Maps of New York (1683-1915)
 * Putnam County map of 1854
 * Western Putnam County Maps (scroll down page), including the original Philipse Patent, 1912 map of Cold Spring, 1867 map of Cold Spring and Nelsonville, 1829 map of Dutchess and Putnam counties, 1854 map of Cold Spring, 1854 map of Philipstown, 1838 map of Putnam County and an 1897 map of Garrison

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


 * Albany Post Road (or Queen's Road, or King's Road) 1669

Military
Revolutionary War

Extracts from an Orderly Book Kept by Sergeant L. Broome of Captain Simond's Company of the 4th Artillery Stationed at the North and Middle Redoubts Near West Point, N.Y., 1780-1781.

Civil War

Available towns. Registers are available for: Carmel· Kent· Patterson· Philipstown· Putnam Valley· Southeast.

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


 * - 6th Regiment, New York Heavy Artillery, Companies G and L.
 * - 59th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 65th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company B.
 * - 95th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company K.
 * - 135th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies G and L.
 * - 194th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company F.

Indexes

Bailey, Carol and Wargas, Catherine. Putnam County Men in the Civil War (Rhinebeck, N.Y.: Kinship, 2008). ISBN 1560123192. Purchase

General

Military Pensioners in 1883 in Putnam County, N.Y., transcribed by Sara Rice (Genealogy Trails)

[http://genealogytrails.com/ny/putnam/military/militaryindex.html Putnam County Veterans from Revolutionary, Civil War. WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam] (Genealogy Trails)

The County Archives holds these records:


 * 021 DB 1 Folder D, Oaths of Office 1813-1863
 * 021 DB 1 Folder Q, Military Pensions and bounty lands 1854-66
 * 051 Oaths of Office, Civil and Military 1815-1918
 * 136 Military Draft Notices, Patterson, 1863
 * 137 Enrollment roll for NYS militia, 1917
 * 163 Military Exemptions WW1, 1917

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1824–1941 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.
 * 1917-1950 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.
 * 1824-1946 - New York, Southern District, U.S District Court Naturalization Records (Digital scans from microfilm of originals at the National Archives Records Center, Bayonne, N.J.)
 * 1861-1906 - Declarations of Intention, Putnam County, N.Y. (FHL 1304714) Microfilm of original records in Putnam County Courthouse, Carmel, N.Y.
 * 1861-1895 - Naturalization Affidavits, Putnam County, N.Y. (FHL 1304714)
 * 1895-1906 - Record of final applications to be admitted to become citizens, Putnam County, N.Y. (FHL 1304714)

The County Archives holds these records:


 * 055 Naturalization, Declaration of Intention, 1842-1929
 * 115 Naturalization, Petition and Records, 1905-1939
 * 116 Naturalization, Final Application, 1840-1906
 * 117 Naturalization, Affidavits, 1861-1895
 * 126 Naturalization, Register of Oaths, 1861-1906

Indexes

 * 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.

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
Online

Mahopac Public Library Digital Archives - Putnam County Courier (1840-1930) - searchable by keyword with year selected

Old Fulton New York - PDF scans of various New York newspapers, including these from Putnam County. You can search the entire site by keyword from its main page.


 * Putnam Country Courier (Carmel), 1849-1988
 * Putnam Country Republican (Carmel), 1882-1946
 * Cold Spring Recorder, 1867-1934

Microfilm 


 * Putnam County Newspapers at New York State Library, Albany
 * Putnam History Museum, Cold Spring, has the Cold Spring Recorder / Putnam County News &amp; Recorder on microfilm, 1867 -1988, and paper copies from 1988 to present
 * Putnam County Newspapers at Various Libraries and Institutions, via Chronicling America

Poorhouses, Poor Law, Etc.
1876-1914 - Record of inmates, Putnam County poor house (FHL 1304714)

Records in the Putnam County Archives:


 * 023 Putnam County Almshouse Record of Inmates,1875-1914
 * 029 Overseers records and Indentures to Apprenticeship, 1813-1902
 * 036 Putnam County Department of Public Welfare records, 1936-1977
 * 039 Keeper of Poorhouse records, 1865-1914
 * 049 Putnam County Board of Child Welfare records, 1922-1938
 * 099 Committees: Lunatics, Incompetents, and Habitual Drunkards, 1848-1923
 * 112 Superintendent of the Poor records, 1830-1852

Probate Records
Online Abstracts and Indexes


 * 1787-1835 Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787 - 1835 at New York Ancestors ($); includes.
 * 1812-1865 - SAMPUBCO Browsable index of testators of wills.
 * 1812-1970 - General Index. Familysearch.org
 * 1890-1936 - Guardian Bonds
 * 1812-1905 - Letters of Administration
 * 1812-1898 - Letters of Guardianship
 * 1852-1904 - Letters of Testamentary
 * 1813-1902 - Orders
 * 1816-1901 - Wills
 * 1812-1875 - Wills and estates

Probate Records on Microfilm


 * 1812–1936 Probate Records: Index, 1812–1970; Wills, 1812–1901; Letters Testamentary 1830–1904; Letters of administration, 1812–1905; Guardianship 1812–1936.

The County Archives holds these original records:


 * 034 Probate, Surrogates’ Court Records, 1814-1915/18 (numbered cases)
 * 187 Index to Probate, 1812-1950
 * 053 Guardianships, Infancy Proceedings, 1857-1925
 * 071 Executors’ Oaths, 1868-1887
 * 076 Taxable Transfers, 1892-1965
 * 077 Taxable Transfers Index, 1920-1945
 * 078 Transfer Tax 1922-1943
 * 121 Surrogates’ Minutes, 1829-1955
 * 123 Surrogates’ Court Correspondence, 1919-1922
 * 141 Administrator’s Oaths, 1868-1941
 * 142 Administrators’ Bonds, 1895-1925
 * 143 Bonds of executors and trustees, 1915-1939
 * 144 Corporation Sureties, 1908-1933
 * 150 Wills, 1812 - 1931
 * 151 Letters of Administration, 1812 – 1905
 * 152 Letters Testamentary, 1830 - 1905

Repositories
See also a List of New York Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies


 * Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in Putnam County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1987). ; . (Digital version) Includes index. Includes sources for family history and genealogy.
 * Boyer, Donna. An introduction to the availability of the historical and genealogical primary sources in eastern Putnam County (Carmel: Kent Public Library, 1986).

Archives, Libraries and Museums
COUNTY ARCHIVES

Putnam County Office 40 Gleneida Avenue, 3rd Floor Carmel, New York 10512 PHONE: (845) 808-1001 FAX: (845) 808 -1901

Click for the 2015 guide to the holdings of the County Archives (PDF)

Records in the county archives incude:


 * Tax records (including bonds and surities)
 * Census records
 * Coroners records
 * Land records
 * Criminal records
 * Civil cases
 * Marriage records 1908-1935
 * Military records
 * Naturalizations
 * Some town records
 * Records of the poor

COUNTY CLERK

Putnam County Clerk's Office 40 Gleneida Avenue, Room 100 Carmel, NY 10512

COUNTY HISTORIAN

County Historian's Office 68 Marvin Ave Brewster NY 10509-1515 Telephone: 845-808-1420 FAX: 845-278-4865 E-mail: [mailto:historian@putnamcountyny.gov historian@putnamcountyny.gov]

Open for research weekdays 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Collections


 * The Document and Records Collection consists of a variety of papers such as family genealogy, correspondence, diaries, scrapbooks, directories, essays, personal papers of prominent private and political figures, business records of civic organizations, account books, indentures, deeds, certificates and historical reference.
 * The Map and Aerial Photograph Collection documents the history of land use and ownership in the county. The collection contains more than 800 maps, original and photocopies, from the American Revolution to present day and over 350 aerial photos. The more frequently utilized maps are by O’Connor (1854), Beers (1867), and T.H. Reed (1876). The aerials are dated 1933, 1963, 1986/7. The map collection is indexed.
 * The Photograph Collection contains over thousands of images dating from the mid-19th Century to present day, and includes a significant number from the files of The Patent Trader and The Putnam County Courier. The photography collection is indexed by subject, and many photos have been scanned.
 * The Publications and Pamphlets Collection (1862 to present) features government, civic, political party,
 * and tourism brochures and is accessible through a database.
 * The Cassette and Digital Recordings Collection (audio and video) consists of oral history, special events, local events, and special programs on a number of CDs and digital tapes, this part of the collection is expected to grow substantially. It is indexed in this directory.
 * Miscellaneous Artifacts, souvenirs, memorabilia, ordinarily related to archival collections.

The office's Handbook for Putnam County History and Genealogy is updated annually and available for $10 postpaid from Putnam County Historian, 68 Marvin Avenue, Brewster, NY 10509.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

There are eight public libraries in Putnam County that belong to the Mid-Hudson Library System that serves a five-county area and shares a catalog that includes a sizeable collection of genealogical materials. For information on the individual libraries in Putnam County, click here.

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

Historical Societies
Putnam History Museum 63 Chestnut Street Cold Spring, NY 10516-2613 Phone: 845-265-4010 Research hours: Wed. 11-3, or by appointment

Southeast Museum 67 Main Street Brewster, NY 10509 Phone: 845-279-7500

Town of Carmel Historical Society P.O. Box 456 Mahopac, NY 10541 Phone: 845-628-0500

Kent Historical Society P.O. Box 123 Carmel, NY 10512 Phone: 845-225-8366 kenthistoricalsociety@gmail.co

Patterson Historical Society P.O. Box 534 Patterson, NY 12563

Putnam Valley Historical Society 301 Peekskill Hollow Road Putnam Valley, NY 10579 Phone: 845-528-1024

Taxation
The County Archives holds these records:


 * 077 Taxable Transfers Index, 1920-1945
 * 022 Taxation and Assessment records, 1859-1919
 * 024 Putnam County Directory and Tax Levy, 1948 – to present
 * 031 Petitions, Licenses, and recognizance to sell liquor (Tavern licenses), 1813-1878
 * 035 Petition for submission of Local Option Questions under Section 13, Liquor Tax, DB 1, 1917
 * 043 Tax Collector’s Books 1857-1907, all towns, and 1831 Carmel,
 * 076 Taxable Transfers, 1892-1965
 * 078 Transfer Tax, 1922-1943
 * 080 Town of Putnam Valley Assessment Roll, 1932

Vital Records
In Putnam County, vital records from dating back to 1880/1882 are kept by town and village clerks, although some (Kent’s and Putnam Valley’s) are available in the County Historian’s Office.

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

 * 1908–1935 Putnam County Marriages at – free; . Name index and images of records after state in 1908 began requiring counties to keep marriage records. The County Archives holds the originals (070 Marriage licenses &amp; certificates 1908-1935; 122 Marriage records 1918-1935 [index for series .070])


 * 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.

Marriage Substitutes


 * 1686-1980 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index. Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.


 * 1777–1834  Fred Q. Bowman,10,000 Vital Records of Eastern New York, 1777-1834 (Baltimore,MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1987). Ancestry($); World Vital Records($); ; . Abstracted from newspaper marriage and death columns.


 * 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."
 * 1849-1873 Wheeler, Glendon H., Carmel Newspapers, Putnam County, N.Y. : Marriages and Deaths, 1849-1873 (Rhinebeck, N.Y.: Kinship, 1998). ISBN 156012153X


 * 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 browseable.


 * 1683-1906 Marriages with dates taken from genealogical and church records in Westchester and Putnam Counties (FHL 17999)

Death
Death Substitutes


 * 1820 - 1973 Coroner Records in the Putnam County Archives: (1) 021 Coroner, Records Filed with County Clerk 1822-1896, DB #1, I; (2) 052 Coroner, Inquests, 1820-1913, (3) 069 Coroner, Inquests Index, 1820-1973


 * 1777–1834  Fred Q. Bowman,10,000 Vital Records of Eastern New York, 1777-1834 (Baltimore,MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1987). Ancestry($); World Vital Records($); ; . Abstracted from newspaper marriage and death columns.


 * 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.
 * 1849-1873 Wheeler, Glendon H., Carmel Newspapers, Putnam County, N.Y. : Marriages and Deaths, 1849-1873 (Rhinebeck, N.Y.: Kinship, 1998). ISBN 156012153X


 * 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 browseable.


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

Additional Resources

Putnam County New York Genealogy Websites

 * Putnam County, NY History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * New York Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * New York Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * The Putnam County NYGenWeb Project, an member of The NYGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.