Yates County, New York Genealogy

United States New York  Yates County

Parent County
5 February 1823: Yates County was formed from 310 square miles of Ontario County, including the area that included Vine Valley, Middlesex, Penn Yan, and Dresden, New York.

Neighboring Counties
Ontario· Schuyler· Seneca· Steuben

Boundary Changes
1 January 1826: 60 square miles of Steuben County was partioned and added to Yates, which included Starkey, Dundee, and Lakemont, New York. 15 April 1828: 10 square miles was partioned from Yates, and passed to Seneca and Tompkins Counties, mostly in the forest. 17 March 1860: Ontario County was authorized to gain land from Yates, but it was never put into effect. 18 April 1946: Yates gained 10 square miles from Schuyler and Seneca Counties, which produced the current borders of Yates 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.

Biography

 * Lewis Cass Aldrich, History of Yates County, N.Y.: with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers (Syracuse, New York: D. Mason, 1892); Internet Archive; WorldCat Other Libraries;
 * Frederick Powers, Kashong, a history from the ancient to the modern: with illustrations (Penn Yan, New York: JKM Printing, c1977);
 * Berlin Hart Wright, Memories of local naturalists ([Penn Yan, N.Y.?]: The Society, [193-?])

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


 * Helen Stark, Gravestone inscriptions from some Yates County, N.Y., cemeteries, (Penn Yan, New York, in 1915),
 * Cleveland, Stafford C., Inscriptions from three abandonded [sic] cemeteries in Yates County, New York: Friends Burying Ground, Stoddard Family Cemetery, Thomas Family Cemetery, with index and family history, ([Middlesex, N.Y.? : s.n.], 1955);
 * Catharine Aspell Spencer, Those we remember in counties of Yates, Ontario, Schuyler, Steuben, New York State, 
 * Catharine Aspell Spencer, Those we remember in Yates, Ontario, Schuyler, Steuben, New York State,
 * Dumas, Frances, Yates County cemeteries and cemetery burials (Penn Yan, New York : F. Dumas &amp; S. Conybeare, 1996),

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

Federal
1810


 * Adelaide Bell Baggerly Chase, Index of U. S. census, 1810, Ontario County, New York including Steuben, Wayne &amp; Yates counties (Washington: A. B. B. Chase, 1946.),

Church Records
An impressive list of church records and church histories of Yates County is available at NYGenWeb.


 * 1823 - First Presbyterian Church, Penn Yan NY Register of Church Members Feb 18, 1823, courtesy: NYGenWeb.
 * 1826-1828 - First Presbyterian Church, Penn Yan NY Register of Members 3 Dec 1826 - 22 Aug 1828, courtesy: NYGenWeb.
 * 1841-1855 - First Free Congregational Church Penn Yan 1841-1855, courtesy: NYGenWeb.
 * 1842-1888 - St John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Potter, Yates County, NY Record Book and Index (Baptisms, Marriages, Deaths), courtesy: NYGenWeb.
 * 1854-1855 - Yates County Members of the New York Baptist Union for Ministerial Education 1854-1855, courtesy: USGenWeb Archives.
 * Jackson, Linda J. Aspiring Christians: Histories of Yates County Churches. L.J. Jackson: 1998..
 * "Early Church Records, First Baptist Church at Benton Center, Yates County," Early Settlers of New York State, Vol. I, courtesy: Ancestry ($).
 * "Early Church Records, First Presbyterian Church, Penn Yan," Early Settlers of New York State, Vol. II, courtesy: Ancestry ($).
 * Membership List, First Methodist Episcopal 100th; Penn Yan, Yates Co., New York, courtesy: USGenWeb Archives.

Cornell University's Study Center for Early Religious Life in Western New York has an online guide to Yates County church records in their library.

Court Records

 * Bastardy papers, 1828-1879
 * Court minutes, 1823-1877, 18 volumes
 * Lis pendends [sic], 1832-1950, 9 volumes
 * Minutes, 1835-1895, 5 volumes Each volume contains records of several different courts: Courts of Oyer and Terminer, Court of General Sessions of the Peace and County Court.
 * Miscellaneous records, 1823-1913 (3 volumes)

Directories

 * American agriculturist farm directory of Yates, Schuyler, Tompkins and Seneca counties, New York, 1914: a rural directory and reference book including a road map of the four counties covered (New York: Orange Judd Co., 1914),
 * Bootes, Fenton E., Mrs., Index to business directory, New historical atlas of Yates County, New York, Everts, Ensign &amp; Everts (pub. 1876): includes name, date of settlement, nativity, (Microreproduction of original published: [S.l. : s.n.], 1955. 9 leaves),

Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups

 * The Danes of Yates County: the history and traditional arts of an ethnic community in the Finger Lakes region of New York State

Genealogy

 * History and directory of Yates County: containing a sketch of its original settlement
 * History and directory of Yates County: containing a sketch of its original settlement by the Public Universal Friends, the Lessee Company and others, with an account of individual pioneers and their families; also of other leading citizens, including church, school and civil history and a narrative of the Universal Friend


 * Sources of clues, Yates County, New York

History

 * Americana in Drumlin Square
 * The Beddoe tract: 7,000 acres in central western New York state : it's history from 1792 to 2004
 * Changes &amp; returns: chapters in our county's history
 * A good country, a pleasant habitation, an outline of history of Yates County
 * History and directory of Yates County: containing a sketch of its original settlement
 * History of Yates County, N.Y.: with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers
 * Keuka Lake memories: the champagne country, 1835-1935
 * The student's handbook of Yates County

Land and Property

 * Land and Real Estate Records, courtesy: Yates County Office of Public History. Includes:
 * Index to Deeds Transmitted from Ontario County 1788-1823
 * Index to Deeds Transmitted from Steuben County 1796-1826
 * Index to Mortgages Transmitted from Ontario County 1788-1826

Materials available through the Family History Library:


 * Deed records, 1823-1910; index, 1823-1965
 * Grantor Index 1823-1965 (10 volumes)
 * Grantee Index 1823-1965 (10 volumes)
 * Deed records 1823-1905 (94 volumes)
 * Deeds transmitted from Steuben and Ontario counties, 1790-1855; index 1800-1823
 * General Index 1800-1823 (2 volumes)
 * Deeds, Steuben and Yates 1796-1854 (2 volumes)
 * Deeds, Ontario and Yates 1790-1855 (5 volumes)
 * Homesteads, 1851-1907
 * Lis pendends, 1832-1950
 * Miscellaneous records, 1823-1913 (3 volumes)
 * Mortgages, 1823-1852; index, 1823-1883
 * Mortgagee Index 1823-1881 (2 volumes)
 * Mortgagor Index 1823-1833 (2 volumes)
 * Mortgages 1823-1852 (16 volumes)
 * Honor Roll of Century Land in Yates Co., State of New York, 1953 This includes a list of original land owners and dates of purchase for land which has had continuous owner- ship for 100 years.
 * United States loan mortgage, 1837-1902

Maps

 * Combination atlas map of Yates County, New York (pub. 1876)
 * Combination atlas map of Yates County, New York (reprint 1992)
 * Yates County, New York land ownership maps, 1855 and 1865
 * Highway map of Yates County, New York, 1990

Military

 * The military history of Yates County, N. Y.: comprising a record of the services rendered by citizens of this county in the army and navy, from the foundation of the government to the present time
 * Soldiers discharge, 1863-1943

Civil War 

Available towns. Registers are available for:Barrington· Benton· Italy· Potter· Starkey· Torrey.

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


 * - 126th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 148th Regiment, New York Infantry


 * Yates County's "boys in blue", 1861-1865: who they were and what they did
 * Diary of Royal George Kinner, a Civil War soldier

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * Naturalization of aliens over 18 years, 1898-1899
 * Naturalization of aliens under 18 years, 1865-1898
 * Naturalization records, 1823-1958; index, ca. 1823-1956
 * Card Index 1823-1956
 * Loose papers 1820-1913 (not in chronological order before 1851)
 * Declarations of Intent 1855-1906 (old style)
 * Declarations of Intent 1906-1958 (Federal)
 * Petitions for Naturalizations 1906-1958 (Federal)

Newspapers

 * Genealogical gleanings abstracted from the early newspapers of Penn Yan, Yates County, New York, 1823-1833 and 1841-1855
 * Yates County miscellany, newspaper clippings

Periodicals

 * The Union record Contains information also on the Ball family. published by Ball International Union and Keuka College
 * Index to Tree talks county packet, Yates County, New York
 * Yates past: newsletter of the Yates County Genealogical Historical Society
 * Index to Tree talks county packet, Yates County, New York

Probate Records
A project is underway to index and transcribe the 30 books of Wills recorded in Yates County since 1823. See the Every-Name index to Yates County Will Books for those currently on line.

Currently there is an online index for the first 180 boxes of probate files which includes an alphabetical index to principals and heirs and packet lists. See the Surrogate Court Records website for the online index


 * Probate records, 1823-1951
 * Index to Surrogate's Records 1823-1951
 * Wills 1823-1903 (volumes A-S)
 * Guardianship records 1823-1950 (volumes 1-6)
 * Letters of Testamentary and Administrations 1823-1904 (volumes 1-7)
 * Administrative Orders 1863-1905 (volumes 1-2)
 * Administrative Bonds 1890-1901 (volumes 1-2)
 * Minutes, Orders, Decrees 1830-1901 (volumes 1-7)
 * Dowers 1827-1879 (volumes 1-2)
 * Final Settlements 1828-1870 (volumes 1-3)
 * Real Estate 1824-1906 (volumes 1-4)
 * Renunication 1852-1939 (volume 1)
 * Miscellaneous records, 1823-1913 (3 volumes)
 * SAMPUBCO Browsable index of testators of wills (1823-1903).

Repositories

 * Cornell University, New York Historical Resources Center, Guide to historical resources in Yates County, New York, repositories(Ithaca, New York: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, c1984)

Archives, Libraries and Museums
Libraries


 * Penn Yan Public Library 214 Main St. Penn Yan, New York 14527-1796 Phone: 315-536-6114 Hours: Monday - Friday 9 am - 7:30 pm Saturday 9 am - 1 pm

The Penn Yan library holds a comprehensive collection of local newspapers and more.

Museums


 * The Oliver House Museum and The L. Caroline Underwood Museum 107 Chapel Street Penn Yan, New York 14527 Phone: 315-536-7318 ycghs@yatespast.org

Courthouses
The Yates County Courthouse is the home for the County Clerk, Surrogate's Court and Public County Historian. For further information about the records which are available and where the records are held, see the Yates County Courthouses page.

Societies

 * Yates County Genealogical and Historical Society, Inc. 107 Chapel Street Penn Yan, New York 14527 Phone: 315-536-7318 Email: ycghs@yatespast.org

Some of the genealogical resources available through the Yates County Genealogical and Historical Society are:


 * County maps from 1790 - 1969
 * Marriage and death records, 1820's - 1990's taken from newspapers, genealogies and other records
 * Census indexes, 1790-1865
 * Penn Yan County directories, 1879-1990
 * Local history
 * Special collections including photogarphs
 * Cemetery records
 * County history
 * School records
 * and more...

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; publishes 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, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates.

Social Groups Online
Yates County Genealogical and Historical Society facebook page.

Birth
Birth Substitutes


 * 1640–1962 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.


 * 1899-1941 Penn Yan Democrat Births, Marriages and Deaths Index(Missing 1905,1906, 1920, 1929)Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb


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

Marriages

 * 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.


 * 1908-1926 Marriage Record of Yates County, New York


 * 1908-1935 Marriage Licenses, Applications and Certificates of Consent at FamilySearch Historical Records - free;


 * Marriage Substitutes


 * 1686-1980 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; 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 groon, 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."


 * 1813–1850  Fred Q. Bowman,10,000 Vital Records of Central New York, 1813-1850 (Balitimore, MD:Genealogical Pub. Co., 1986).Ancestry($);World Vital Records ($); ;. Abstracted from newspaper marriage and death columns.


 * 1855,1856,1861,1863,1864,1865 Marriage Record of Josiah S. Carr, J.P. Seven entries.Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb


 * 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.


 * 1864–5, 1874-5 See Marriage Schedule information in the State Census section of Census for marriage information for 1864–5 and 1874-5.


 * 1865 1865 Census Yates County, NY Marriages Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb


 * 1875 Census Yates County, NY Marriages Courtesy Yates County, New York GenWeb


 * 1899-1941 Penn Yan Democrat Births, Marriages and Deaths Index(Missing 1905,1906, 1920, 1929) Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb


 * 1908-1933 County Marriage Records Marriage Licenses (1908-1933)and Marriage Certificates (1908-1926) Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb


 * Yates County New York Marriage Records from various sources. Includes an alphabetical index for marriage and anniversary announcements. Courtesy www.genwed.com

Deaths
Death Substitutes


 * 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."


 * 1850-1880 U.S. Census Mortality Schedules, New York, Ancestry ($)


 * 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.


 * 1864–5, 1874-5 See Mortality Schedule information in the State Census section of Census for death information for 1864–5, and 1874-5.


 * 1865 1865 Census Mortality Schedules Officers and Enlisted Men Name Index. Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb


 * 1899-1941 Penn Yan Democrat Births, Marriages and Deaths Index(Missing 1905,1906, 1920, 1929)Courtesy Yates County, NYGenWeb


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

Additional Resources