Greene County, New York Genealogy

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

New York Online Genealogy Records

Description
The County was named for the American Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

Parent County

 * Set off 25 March 1800 from Albany County.

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.


 * 1801: 90 square miles (Prattsville, Vly Mountain, Halcott Center, Bushneville, Highmount, Shandaken, Lanesville and Pine Hill) transferred from Delaware and Ulster counties.
 * 26 May 1812: a portion (Pine Hill, Highmount and Shandaken) was transferred back to Ulster County.
 * 15 April 1814: the county borders were re-surveyed with no change in area but Prattsville was found to be inside Greene County.
 * 23 April 1822: the border was again re-surveyed, and the Hudson River border with Columbia County realigned.
 * 3 March 1836: 30 square miles (Manorkill) lost to Schoharie County.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

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.

Biography

 * Reynolds, Cuyler. Hudson–Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1911. Free online index. Master index

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


 * 1800-1965 at FamilySearch — index

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

Federal

 * The 1890 Census is lost. For a substitute, see directories.

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

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


 * 1854-1855 New York Baptist Union for Ministerial Education, Greene, New York, courtesy: USGenWeb Archives.
 * 1761-1867 Society of Friends. Coeymans Monthly Meeting (Orthodox) Births and deaths 1812-1867, Marriages 1829-1867, Men's monthly meetings 1828-1867, Women's monthly meetings 1828-1861.
 * Years vary Church records of Greene County churches Includes holographic manuscripts of baptisms, 1798-1831, and marriages, 1833-1843, from Prattsville Reformed Church, baptisms, 1830-1833, marriages, 1842-1868, and members, 1830-1833, from Cairo Presbyterian Church, baptisms, 1799- 1888, and members, 1792-1888, from the First Presbyterian Church at Durham.
 * Years vary RootsWeb Church Records in Greene County.
 * 1852-1861 RootsWeb Marriages from the Journal of John Berrien Fish.
 * 1826-1901 RootsWeb First Reformed Church, Athens, NY. Baptisms and Marriages.
 * 1842-1937 RootsWeb Kiskatom Reformed Church: Baptisms 1843-1930. Marriages 1842-1937, Deaths 1848 - 1929, Members and Dismissions.
 * 1804-1844 RootsWeb The Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Leeds in the town of Catskill, Greene County, N. Y. people who were or had been members of the Catskill baptist church.
 * 1732-1833 RootsWeb Records of the Reformed Dutch Church of Catskill in the Town of Catskill, Greene County, New York: Marriage records for 1732 - 1735, 1754 - 1762, and 1798 - 1833, List of Pews and Owners Names, Baptisms 1732 - 1833, History of the Church and Pew Ownership 1733.
 * 1860-1961 RootsWeb Coeymans Methodist Church Greene County Residents (Only):  Marriages.

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1906-1942 at FamilySearch — index and images

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

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.

History

 * Greene County town and county historians.

Schenectady Digital History Archive includes "Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs: Index to Families" includes people from Greene County.

Land and Property
Original land records in began in [?dateyear?]. These records are housed at the [?repository?] in [?town?].

Online



Microforms


 * 1800-1922 Deed Records 1800-1901 - Index included: 1800-1922

Books



Maps

 * Maps of New York (1683-1915)

Migration
Migration routes for early European settlers to and from included:


 * Hudson River a navigable river stretching from north of Albany then flowing south to empty into the Atlantic Ocean at New York City
 * Albany Post Road from New York City to Albany, New York 1669
 * Alford and Egremont (MA) Turnpike 1812
 * Ancram (NY) Turnpike 1805, also sometimes called the Catskill Road, from Salisbury, Connecticut to Catskill, New York
 * Catskill Road 1750s from Springfield, Massachusetts to Catskill, New York
 * Catskill Turnpike  (aka Susquehannah Turnpike ) from Catskill, NY to Unadilla, NY; route travelled by Europeans by 1792; toll booths opened by 1804.
 * Columbia (NY) Turnpike 1799
 * Great Barrington and Aford (MA) Turnpike 1812
 * Greenwood Road 1799 from Hartford, Connecticut to Albany, New York
 * Hampden and Berkshire (MA) Turnpike 1826
 * Hillsdale and Chatham Turnpike 1805 from Alford, Massachusetts to Albany, New York
 * Housatonic River (MA) Turnpike 1809
 * Massachusetts 10th Turnpike 1800
 * Massachusetts 12th Turnpike 1812
 * Minsi Path 1766 from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Kingston, New York
 * Rensselaer and Columbia (NY) Turnpike 1799
 * Salisbury and Canaan (CT) Turnpike 1801-1829
 * Ulster and Delaware Turnpike 1802 from Salisbury, Connecticut to Bainbridge, New York

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index

Available towns. Registers are available for: Ashland· Athens· Cairo· Catskill· Coxsackie· Durham· Greenville· Halcott· Hunter· Jewett· Lexington· New Baltimore· Prattsville· Windham.

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


 * - 25th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company A
 * - 65th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company B
 * - 120th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies D, F and K
 * - 156th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company C

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1791-1980 at FamilySearch — index and images


 * 1824–1941 at FamilySearch – free; Index.


 * 1917-1950 at FamilySearch – free; Index.

Newspapers

 * Catskill NY Recorder 1805-1951
 * Catskill NY Western Constellation 1800-1805

Probate Records
The petitions for are also available on microfilm at the Family History Library and its centers:


 * 1800–1883+ Listed as "Estate papers".

Online Probate Indexes


 * 1629-1971 at FamilySearch.org — index and images
 * 1659-1999 New York Wills and Probate Records 1659-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1787-1835 Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787-1835 at American Ancestors ($)
 * 1800-1924 SAMPUBCO Browsable index of testators of wills.
 * 1800-1900 - Sawyer, Ray C. Abstract of Wills of Greene County, New York. 3 vols. 1988. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * 1866-1923 at FamilySearch.org — index and images

Probate Records on Microfilm


 * 1800–1883+ Estate papers (Petitions)
 * 1800–1923 Wills, index 1800–1930
 * 1804–1848 Letters of Administration
 * 1830–1917 Letters Testamentary
 * 1890–1906 Guardianship

Repositories
Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in Greene County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1988). ; . Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

Archives, Libraries and Museums
Mid-Hudson Library System 103 Market Street Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Phone: 845-471-6060 Website For additional information on member libraries: Greene County New York Public Libraries, Mid-Hudson member libraries

County Historian's Office
Greene County Historian David Dorpfeld 71 Sutton Place Coxsackie, NY 12051 Telephone: (518) 320-8545

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.

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

Family History Centers

 * Albany New York Family History Center
 * Kingston New York Family History Center
 * Oneonta New York Family History Center
 * Schoharie Valley New York Family History Center


 * Elting Memorial Library/Haviland-Heidgerd Historial Collection - an affiliate library
 * Fairview Public Library - an affiliate library
 * New York State Library and New York State Archives - an affiliate library

Museum
Durham Center Museum (open by appointment) Route 145, P.O. Box 192 East Durham, NY 12423 Phone: (518) 239-8461 or (518)239-4081 Email: DurhamCenterMu@aol.com
 * The museum has two major collections of records known as the Rossi records and the Staats records. They also have cemetery records, family Bibles, family files, church records, Scrapbooks, local history books, board of supervisor’s rolls, assessment rolls, genealogical newsletters, pictures, maps and more. Records focus on Green, Albany, and Columbia Counties.

Societies
Capital District Genealogical Society Empire State Plaza Station PO Box 2175 Albany, NY 12220-0175 Website
 * Counties served: Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, and Washington.

Central New York Genealogical Society Box 104, Calvin Station Syracuse, NY 13205 Email: [mailto:CNYGS@yahoo.com CNYSG@yahoo.com] Website
 * Member queries; surname research list; online resources; publication: Tree Talks ; quarterly with annual index in which you can search for people by county.
 * 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, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Rensselaer, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Washington, Wayne, Warren, Wyoming, and Yates.

Greene County Historical Society P.O. Box 44 90 County Route 42 Coxsackie, NY 12051 Phone: 518-731-6490 Website Facebook Vedder Research Library, email: [mailto:archivist@gchistory.org archivist@gchistory.org]
 * Collections include historical records, documents, books, paper maps, manuscripts, letters, journals, relics and things which may establish or illustrate the history, growth and progress of the County of Greene and its surroundings.
 * Vedder Research Library of the Society has a non-circulating collection containing historical and genealogical material and publishes a quarterly Journal for Society members.

Social Groups Online

 * New York Genealogy Research Community (FamilySearch on Facebook)

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 – 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

 * 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 and 1908–1936 at FamilySearch — index and images


 * 1881-1964 Reclaim the Records: New York State Marriage Index at Archive.org - images of index


 * 1908–1924 at FamilySearch – free; Index.

Marriage Substitutes


 * 1686-1980 at FamilySearch – 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 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."


 * 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
Death Indexes
 * 1824-1962 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1880-1956 at FamilySearch — index and 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 — Index only

Death Substitutes


 * 1795–1952 at FamilySearch – 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.


 * 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.

Additional Resources

Greene County New York Genealogy Websites

 * Greene County, NY History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * New York Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * New York Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * The Greene County NYGenWeb Project, an member of The NYGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Greene County.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Greene County. (Mirror site)
 * Greene County Genealogy