St. Lawrence County, New York Genealogy

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

New York Online Genealogy Records

Description
The County was named for the Saint Lawrence River. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

Parent County
Created in 1791 from Clinton, Herkimer, and Montgomery counties.

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.

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.

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.

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places


 * Ogdensburg Diocese Archives 622 Washington Street P.O. Box 369 Ogdensburg, New York 13669 Phone: 315-393-2920 Email: jvotraw@dioogdensburg.org Hours: Monday - Friday 9 am - 4 pm Holds archival material of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg and of its churches and institutions.

A variety of local church records from the Baptist, Congregational, Episcopal, Methodist, and Presbyterian faiths is available at Church Records of St. Lawrence County, NY.


 * 1823-1874 - Rev. Noah Barrell's Record of Marriages, 1823-1874, courtesy: NYGenWeb - free.


 * 1840s-1890s "Record of Marriages by Rev. Gorham Cross," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, (Jan. 1919):55-58. Free online index at NYGenWeb; digital versions of Record at Google Books (free) and NYGBS ($).

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.

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

Online



Microforms



Books



Maps

 * Maps of New York (1683-1915)

Civil War
Available towns. Registers are available for: Brasher· Canton· Colton· De Kalb· De Peyster· Edwards· Fine· Fowler· Gouverneur· Hammond· Hopkinton· Lawrence· Lisbon· Louisville· Macomb· Morristown· Norfolk· Oswegatchie· Parishville· Pierrepont· Pitcairn· Potsdam· Stockholm· Waddington.

Regiments. Service men in St. Lawrence County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in St. Lawrence County:


 * - 1st Battalion, New York Light Artillery, Battery D.
 * - 6th Independent Battery, New York Light Artillery, Companies I and K.
 * - 6th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies I and K.
 * - 7th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company D.
 * - 9th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company L.
 * - 11th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies D, I, L and M.
 * - 12th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company B.
 * - 13th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies G and H.
 * - 16th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies A, E and F.
 * - 16th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, D, F, G and H.
 * - 18th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies L, M and K.
 * - 18th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 20th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies H and I.
 * - 24th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company C.
 * - 24th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 60th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, F, G, H, I and K.
 * - 92nd Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 100th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company A.
 * - 102nd Regiment, New York Infantry, Company K.
 * - 106th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and K.
 * - 142nd Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, E, G, H, I and K.
 * - 164th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company A.
 * - 169th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company F.
 * - 193rd Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies B, F and G.

Naturalization

 * 1791-1980 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers
Online Digital Newspapers


 * Northern New York Historical Newspapers; Search historical newspapers for St. Lawrence Co. in years ranging from 1861 - 2007.


 * North Country Catholic, 1946-2006 at Northern New York Historical Newspapers - Free.

Probate Records
Online Abstracts and 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 by NEHGS ($).
 * 1830-1916 - SAMPUBCO Browsable index of testators of wills.
 * 1866-1923 at FamilySearch.org — index and images


 * - St. Lawrence County: Administration index 1800-1955; Bonds 1890-1915; Dower records 1830-1871; Letters of administration, Letters of testamentary 1831-1917; Letters of guardianship 1830-1927; Minutes, Orders 1830-1919; Sales 1842-1904; Will index 1800-1955; Wills 1830-1916

Probate Records on Microfilm Probate records described in Online Probate Records above are also found on microfilm as follows:


 * 1830–1955 Index of Wills and Proceedings
 * 1830–1919 Probate Records: Wills, 1830–1916; Letters of testamentary and administration, 1831–1917; Guardianship 1830–1927; Minutes and orders 1830–1919


 * 1830–1916 Samuelson, W. David. St. Lawrence County, New York, Will Testators Index, 1830–1916. Salt Lake City, Utah: Sampubco, 1995.

Repositories
Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in St. Lawrence County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1987). ; . Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

Archives, Libraries and Museums
Libraries


 * Massena Public Library 41 Glenn St. Massena, New York 13662 Phone: 315-769-9914


 * Ogdensburg Public Library 312 Washington Street Ogdensburg, New York 13669 Phone: 315-393-4325


 * St. Lawrence University Library Owen D. Young Library - University Archives and Special Collections 23 Romoda Drive Canton, New York 13617 Phone 315-229-5476 Email: mcm@stlawu.edu Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Collection includes manuscripts, documents and other materials regarding the history the Northern New York area.


 * Southworth Library at the State University of New York at Canton Cornell Drive Canton, New York 13617 Phone: 315-386-7058 Email: bucher@canton.edu Library has material relative to the history and conditions of the college.


 * College Libraries at the State University of New York at Potsdam 44 Pierrepont Avenue SUNY Potsdam, Potsdam, New York 13676 Phone: 315-267-3326 Email: subramjm@potsdam.edu Collection includes papers, photos and memorabilia relative to the history of Potsdam College (including the Potsdam Normal School) since 1869 and some material related to the earlier St. Lawrence Academy.


 * Clarkson University, Educational Resources Center, Library - Archives Box 5590 Potsdam, New York 13699-5590 Phone: 315-268-4268 Email: myoung@clarkson.edu Library has historical documents and materials of the University, history and genealogical records of the Clarkson family.

Museums


 * Potsdam Public Museum Civic Center Park Street Potsdam, New York 13676 Hours: Tuesday - Saturday from 2 -5 pm Contains material gathered by the St. Lawrence Valley Genealogical Society

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

Family History Centers

 * Lowville New York Family History Center
 * Potsdam New York Family History Center
 * Watertown New York Family History Center


 * Kawartha Lakes Public Library - Omemee Branch - an affiliate library

Societies

 * 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, Washington, Wayne, Warren, Wyoming, and Yates.


 * St. Lawrence County Historical Association 3 East Main Street P.O. Box 8 Canton, New York 13617-0008 Phone: 315-386-8133 Email: slcha@northnet.org Facebook Publications: The Quarterly Journal and The Wright House newsletter.


 * The St. Lawrence Valley Genealogical Society P.O. Box 205 Canton, New York 13617-0205 Publication: The SLVGS News - published four times a year.


 * Swe-kat-si Chapter, NSDAR Ogdensburg, New York Daughters of the American Revolution Email: kyle57@twcny.rr.com

Social Groups Online

 * New York Genealogy Research Community (FamilySearch on Facebook)

Vital Records

 * Card file of vital records, St. Lawrence County, New York.


 * 1844-2009 Northern NY Library Network Newspaper Search. Includes Canton Commercial Advertiser (1900-1952), Clarkson Integrator (1920-2007), Gouverneur Tribune-Press and others (1864-2004), Hammond Advertiser (1886-1949), Heuvelton Bee (1912-1923), Hill News of St. Lawrence University (1911-2008), Madrid Herald (1904-1918), Massena Observer (1891-1989), North Country Catholic (1946-2006), Norwood News (1879-1941), Ogdensburg Advance &amp; Ogdensburg Advance-News (1861-1962), Ogdensburg Journal (1857-1989), Ogdensburg Sentinel (1844-1858), Potsdam Courier-Freeman (1861-1989), Potsdam Herald-Recorder (1906-1951), Potsdam St. Lawrence Herald (1879-1904), Racquette of SUNY Potsdam (1927-2009), and Waddington Recorder (1894-1896).

Birth

 * 1847–1849 Births, marriages, and deaths.


 * 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 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

 * 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


 * 1847–1849 Births, marriages, and deaths.


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


 * 1908–1935 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free;.


 * Marriage Book, Volume 1 at USGenWeb Archives - 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 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."


 * 1804–1850 Fred Q. Bowman, 8000 More Vital Records of Eastern New York State, 1804-1850 (Rhinebeck, New York: Kinship Books, 1991). ; . Abstracts of newspaper marriage and death columns.


 * 1841–1891 William Whitfield, Record of Marriages, 1841–1891 (Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1981)..


 * Pre-1850 John M. Austin, Some Marriage and Death Notices Found in Pre-1850 Periodicals of St. Lawrence County, New York ([S.l. : J.M. Austin], 2003). ;.


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

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
 * 1957-1963 - at FamilySearch — Index only

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."


 * 1804–1850 Fred Q. Bowman, 8000 More Vital Records of Eastern New York State, 1804-1850 (Rhinebeck, New York: Kinship Books, 1991). ; . Abstracts of newspaper marriage and death columns.


 * 1847–1849 Births, marriages, and deaths.


 * 1849-50, 1859-60, 1869-70, 1879-80 See Mortality Schedule information in the Federal Census section of Census for death information.


 * Pre-1850 John M. Austin, Some Marriage and Death Notices Found in Pre-1850 Periodicals of St. Lawrence County, New York ([S.l. : J.M. Austin], 2003). ;.


 * 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 found in the Civil War section of Military for death information.


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

Additional Resources

St. Lawrence County New York Genealogy Websites

 * St. Lawrence County, NY History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * New York Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * New York Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * St Lawrence County NY Genealogy