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

Description
The County was named for the Mohawk language word meaning "on the other side of the pine lands," a term that originally applied to Albany. The County is located in the east central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Schenectady County Courthouse 612 State St Schenectady, NY 12305 Phone: 518-285-8401 Schenectady County Courthouse

The Schenectady County Clerk's office has marriage, divorce, court and land records as well as maps and city directories. The Surrogate Court has probate records.

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

 * 1800-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

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

 Federal

 State


 * See also Using the Census to find other records about ancestors

Church Records
Catholic Ann Mensch's Local Catholic Church and Family History and Genealogical Research Guide is a free online resource that identifies the parishes of Schenectady County, years parishes were created, contact information, as well as links to online records and research tips. Schenectady County parishes fall under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Albany.

Variety A variety of local church records and histories from the Baptist, Christian, Dutch, Episcopal, Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Reformed, and Roman Catholic faiths are available online at NYGenWeb.
 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry ($) — index & images
 * 1600s-1i872 Schenectady Baptisms from Pearson's Genealogies, courtesy of Ancestral Things

 List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Directories

 * 1857 The Schenectady city directory : containing the names and residences of the citizens; also, a business directory - 1857. by William Boyd, Directory Publisher, Schenectady, 1857. Online at:FamilySearch Digital Library


 * 1864-1865 Schenectady City and County Directory ... 1864-5. Online at:Don's List.


 * 1870-1871 Gazetteer and business directory of Albany & Schenectady Co., N.Y., for 1870-71'', Hammilton Child Publisher, Syracuse, NY. 1870 Online at:FamilySearch Digital Library

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1906-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Genealogies

 * 1662-1800 S0chenectady NY First Settlers 1662-1800. Online at:Schenectady, NY: First Settlers, 1662-1800 at American Ancestors ($) — index & images


 * 1662-1800 Centennial address relating to the early history of Schenectady, and its first settlers : delivered at Schenectady, July 4th, 1876. by John Sanders, Van Benthuysen Publisher, Albany, NY. 1876. Online at:FamilySearch Digital Library

Land and Property Records
A guide at NYGenWeb explains how to use this database: For more recent sales, a subscription site can help: NYDeeds.com ($).
 * Original land records in Schenectady County began in 1809. These records are housed at the Schenectady County Courthouse in Schenectady, New York.
 * The Schenectady County Clerk has put a deed index online.
 * Schenectady County, New York Property Assessments and Land Records

Local Histories

 * 1662-1800 Schenectady, NY: First Settlers, 1662-1800 at American Ancestors ($) — index & images
 * Schenectady Digital History Archive includes: "Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs: Index to Families".

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of New York (1683-1915)
 * 1870-71 Child, Hamilton. Gazetteer and business directory of Albany and Schenectady Co., N. Y. for 1870-71. Ann Arbor, Michigan: University Microfilms International - Books on Demand, 1989. ;
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Migration
Early migration routes to and from Schenectady County for European settlers included:
 * pre-historic
 * pre-historic
 * pre-historic
 * pre-historic
 * prehistoric
 * Lake Champlain Trail pre-historic
 * Mohawk or Iroquois Trail 1722
 * Forbidden Path or Catskill Turnpike
 * Greenwood Road
 * Old Connecticut Path
 * Champlain Canal 1823
 * Erie Canal 1825
 * Chambly Canal 1843

Military Records
 Civil War Online Civil War Indexes and Records
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch —How to Use this Collection; Index/Images at partner site

Available towns. Registers are available for: Duanesburg· Glenville· Niskayuna· Rotterdam. Regiments. Service men in Albany County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county.
 * - 7th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company C.
 * - 18th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A and E.
 * - 18th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company E.
 * - 25th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies D, L and M.
 * - 30th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company C.
 * - 43rd Regiment, New York Infantry, Company G.
 * - 91st Regiment, New York Infantry, Company G.
 * - 134th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, F, H and I.
 * - 175th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies D and E.
 * - 177th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 192nd Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies D, E, F, G, H and I.

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1791-1980 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Newspapers
The Library of Congress U.S. Newspaper Directory shows 100 newspapers published in the county since settlement.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1626-1836 Calendar of Wills On File and Recorded in the Offices of the Clerk of the Court of Appeals, of the County Clerk at Albany, and of the Secretary of State, 1626-1836 at FamilySearch Digital Library; Also at: Ancestry ($), American Ancestors ($)
 * 1629-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
 * 1659-1999 New York Wills and Probate Records 1659-1999 at Ancestry ($) — index and images
 * 1787-1835 Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787 - 1835 at American Ancestors ($).
 * 1809-1917 SAMPUBCO Browsable index of testators of wills.
 * 1809-1845 Barber, Gertrude A. Abstracts of Wills of Schenectady County, N.Y.: Copied from the Original Records at the Surrogate's Office, Schenectady, N.Y. unknown, 1989. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * 1866-1923 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1629-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
 * 1809-1929 Probate Records: Administration bonds 1890-1901; General index 1809-1916; Guardianship bonds 1890-1929; Letters of administration 1809-1921; Letters of guardianship 1809-1907; Letters of testamentary 1839-1918; Probate records 1871-1917; Will and letter index 1809-1830; Wills 1806-1917.

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Birth

 * 1881-1942 New York, Birth Index, 1881-1942 at Ancestry ($) — index
 * 1881-1942 Reclaim the Records: New York State Birth Index at Archive.org - images of index

Birth Substitutes
 * 1640-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; 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.
 * 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 ($) — index
 * 1664-1784 New York. Secretary of State, Names of Persons for Whom Marriage Licenses Were Issued By the Secretary of the Province of New York, Previous to 1784 (Albany, New York: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1860). At Cornell University digital library-free; Internet Archive - free; Ancestry edition($); ; . Marriage bonds issued in the State of New York prior to 1784, and the earliest record dating 1664.
 * 1847-1848;1908-1936 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1881-1964 Reclaim the Records: New York State Marriage Index at Archive.org - images of index
 * 1847-1848;1908-1936 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Marriage Substitutes
 * 1600s-1800s Schenectady Marriages from Pearson's Genealogies at Ancestral Things.
 * 1686-1980 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 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."
 * 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.
 * 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

 * 1824-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1880-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1880-1956 New York, Death Index, 1880-1956 at Ancestry ($) — index only
 * 1880-1956 Reclaim the Records: New York State Death Index at Archive.org - images of index
 * 1957-1963 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index

Death Substitutes
 * 1640-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1801-1890 Barber Collection- Newspaper Deaths at – ($) index. Information extracted from the "Brooklyn Eagle" and the "New York Evening Post."
 * 1808-1850 Fred Q.Bowman, 7000 Hudson-Mohawk Valley, (NY), Vital Records, 1808-1850 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1997). ; . Abstracts from newspapers filed at the New York State Library in Albany.
 * 1810-1843 Marie Hall Cormack, Transcript of books 118-121 of old records in the County Clerk's Office : ca. 1810-1843 (1939–1940)..
 * 1849-50, 1859-60, 1869-70, 1879-80 See Mortality Schedule information in the Federal Census section of Census for death information.
 * 1856-1863 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at Ancestry ($) – 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.

Archives
Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in Schenectady 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.  County Historian Schenectady County Historian c/o County Manager's Office 620 State Street Schenectady, NY 12305 E-mail: historian@schenectadycounty.com
 * Genealogical Resources: 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.

FamilySearch Centers

 * Albany New York FamilySearch Center
 * Schoharie Valley New York FamilySearch Center
 * Guilderland Public Library - an affiliate library
 * New York State Library and New York State Archives - an affiliate library

Libraries
Grems-Doolittle Library and Archives 32 Washington Ave. Schenectady, NY 12305 Website
 * Housed at the Schenectady County Historical Society. Collection includes Almshouse records, Bibles, City Directories, County Histories, Deeds, Newspapers, Wills, and more. The Library also accepts Research Requests.

Schenectady County Public Library System Central Library 99 Clinton St. Schenectady, NY 12305 Phone: 588.318.4500 Website
 * Includes ten branch libraries throughout Schenectady County. Also hosts Schenectady Digital History Archive and holds subscriptions to major genealogical websites.The Schenectady County Public Library is part of the Mohawk Valley Library System, a "a public library system serving 14 member libraries" in Fulton, Montgomery, Schenectady, and Schoharie Counties. Highlights from the historical and genealogical collections can also be found on The Documentarian

Schaffer Library Union College 807 Union St. Schenectady, NY Phone: 518.388.6620 Website
 * The Special Collections and The College Archives are housed on the third floor of the library. Resources include local history and manuscript collections.

Museums
Museum of Innovation & Science 15 Museum Drive Schenectady, NY 12308 Phone: 518.382.7890 Website
 * Formerly known as Schenectady Museum and Suits-Bueche Planetarium.
 * Museum of Innovation & Science incorporates educational components connected to STEM and NASA while continuing to house an "internationally significant collection" of records related to General Electric (GE).
 * Other records of Schenectady are also available.

Societies
Capital District Genealogical Society Empire State Plaza Station PO Box 2175 Albany, NY 12220-0175
 * Holds a monthly meeting, willing to publish non-member queries in their newsletter for $3. Society also staffs a genealogy support desk at the Town of Colonie Library.
 * Counties served include Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, and Washington.)

Central New York Genealogical Society Box 104, Calvin Station Syracuse, New York 13205 E-mail: [mailto:CNYGS@yahoo.com CNYSG@yahoo.com] Website
 * Member queries; surname research list; online resources; six meetings/year; publishes Tree Talks  ; quarterly with annual index.
 * Counties served include 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.)

Schenectady County Historical Society 32 Washington Avenue Schenectady, NY 12305 Phone: 518.374.0263 Website
 * The Historical Society also houses and maintains the Grems- Doolittle Library and Archives, the Schenectady County Historical Society Museum and more.

Schenectada Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution Email: [mailto:B1093@citlink.net B1093@citlink.net] Website

Websites

 * Schenectady NY GenWeb
 * Schenectady County Genealogy
 * Ancestry
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.