New York, Wills and Deeds - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains an index and images of will and deeds from various counties in New York, for the years 1700 to 2017.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in this record:
 * The names of individuals
 * Dates of death
 * Dates of land transaction
 * The names of relatives or heirs
 * Descriptions of land

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The names of the individual
 * The date of probate
 * The date of the land transaction

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Search for vital records in the county or state, such as birth, marriage, and death
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional land, probate and immigration records
 * Search for the family in federal and state census records
 * Search local newspapers for information the family

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of New York.
 * New York Guided Research
 * New York Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step New York Research, 1880-Present

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * New York Probate Records, 1629-1971
 * New York, Bronx Probate Estate Files, 1914-1931
 * New York, Orange County Probate Records, 1787-1938
 * New York, Queens County Probate Records, 1785-1950

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.