User:RogersBA/Sandbox NY 1

Guide to Albany 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 Prince James, Duke of York, and of Albany. The County is located in the east-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Office of Albany County Clerk Most historical records for Albany County are at the Hall of Records. For further information about where the records for Albany County are held, see the Albany page.

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:

History Timeline

 * 7 May 1717: Albany County was adjusted to gain an indefinite amount of land from Dutchess County and other non-county lands.
 * 7 October 1763: King George III, King of England, as part of his proclamation, created new province of Quebec, implicity setting the northern limit of New York at the parallel of 45 degrees north latitude, from Atlantic-St.Lawrence watershed westward to the St. Lawrence River, but it was never mapped.
 * 20 July 1764: King George III established the boundary between New Hampshire and New York along the west bank of the Connecticut River, north of Massachusetts and south of the 45th parallel. Albany County implicitly gained present-day Vermont. Disputes broke out later and the dissatified colonists organized in opposition which led to the creation of Republic of Vermont in 1777 (lasted until Vermont joined in the American Revolutionary War.)
 * 13 July 1766: Cumberland County was partitioned from Albany County, covering all northern and eastern limits of the county, including what is now Windsor (VT) County, most of Windham (VT) County and parts of Bennington (VT) and Rutland (VT) counties in Vermont.
 * 26 June 1767: Albany County regained all of Cumberland County.
 * 19 March 1768: the county was repartitioned and Cumberland County restored.
 * 16 March 1770: the county was partitioned again to create Gloucester County (which includes all of present-day Orange (VT), Caledonia (VT) and Essex (VT) counties, most of Washington (VT) County, parts of Orleans (VT), Lamoille (VT), Addison (VT) and Chittenden (VT) counties in Vermont.
 * 12 March 1772: Albany County was partitioned again, into Albany, Tryon (now Montgomery) and Charlotte (now Washington) counties.
 * 24 March 1772: a partition of 50 sq miles was handed over to Cumberland County.
 * 9 March 1774: Ulster County was set off from Albany County.
 * 1 April 1775: a partition of 60 sq miles was handed over to Charlotte County who then exchanged a like parcel with Cumberland County.
 * 15 January 1777: 300 square miles was lost to the Republic of Vermont.
 * 26 January 1781: Bennington (VT) County, Vermont attempted to annex a portion of Albany County (today's portions of Washington and Rensselaer counties) to form "The West Union." The Confederation (before there was the US Constitution) arbitrated this annexation, and condemned it, with Vermont ceasing the attempts on 23 February 1783.
 * 4 Apr 1786: Columbia County was set off.
 * 7 March 1788: New York refusing to recognize the independence of Vermont, with Cumberland County eliminated, tried to adjust the line that separated Cumberland County from Albany in present-day Vermont, but to no effect.
 * 7 February 1791: Rensselaer and Saratoga counties were set off. On the same day, town of Cambridge was transferred to Washington County.
 * 1 January 1795: Schoharie County was set off.
 * 5 April 1798: Ulster County took 90 sq miles to add to it.
 * 25 March 1800: Greene County set off.
 * 3 March 1808: Havre Island turned over to Saratoga County with no net loss of land.
 * 7 March 1809: Schenectady County set off. From this day Albany County exists in its present shape.

Bible Records

 * 1581-1917 New York, Family Bible Records at Ancestry– ($); Index. This 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.
 * William A. Brinkman, Bible and Family Records (Guilderland, N.Y.: typescript, 1943). ; . 62 names, some with several families; surname index at back.
 * Miller, George Douglas. "Albany and New York Families: Genealogies from Old Dutch Bibles," The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 51 (1897):334-344; Vol. 53 (1899):118-120. Digitized by Internet Archive - free. Beeckman, De Peyster, Douw, Hansen family Bibles.

Biographies

 * 1630-1800 Albany County, New York: First Settlers, 1630-1800 at American Ancestors - index and images ($)
 * George Rogers Howell, Jonathan Tenny, and John H. Munsell, History of the County of Albany, N.Y., from 1609-1886: with Portraits, Biographies and Illustrations, Bi-centennial History of Albany (Microreproduction of original published: New York: W. W. Munsell, 1886).
 * Vol. 1 Google Books digital copy.
 * Vol. 2 Google Books digital copy.
 * Vol. 3 ..
 * Vol. 4 Google Books digital copy.


 * Rufus W. Clark, The Heroes of Albany: a Memorial of the Patriot-Martyrs of the City and County of Albany, Who Sacrificed Their Lives During the Late War in Defense of Our Nation, 1861-1865 (Albany, New York: S.R. Gray, 1867). Internet Archive digital copy.
 * Amasa Junius Parker, Landmarks of Albany County, New York (Syracuse, New York: D. Mason, 1897). Internet Archive digital copy.
 * Cuyler Reynolds, Hudson–Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1911). Schenectady Digital History Archive with free online index. Google Books digital copy.
 * A.J.F. Van Laer, Settlers of Rensselaerswyck, 1630-1658: with Index to Biographical Notices (Baltimore: Genealogical Pub., 1965). . Barnes and Noble ($).
 * Category:Biography list of 1400 short biographies in the Helderberg Hilltowns wiki.
 * People of Albany County Live Here in New York State Museum online collection of 3,100 biographies of colonial residents.
 * Fort Orange Recording Bureau, Prominent People of the Capital District (Albany, N.Y.: The Bureau, 1923). HeritageQuest PDF (LAR); ;.

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

 * Albany County Savings Bank, Fifty years of service, 1874-1924 (Microreproduction of original published: Albany: Albany Co. Savings Bank, 1925?) ..

Cemeteries

 * Cemetery records often reveal birth, death, relationship, military, and religious information.
 * Albany County Jewish Cemeteries (($)) JewishData.com
 * -1900-2002 Jewish People's Cemetery
 * -1850- 2001 Temple Israel, Sons of Abraham, Ohav Sholom Cemetery
 * -1894-2002


 * 1800-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * Some Albany County area cemetery records 18 alphabetical sets of gravestone transcripts and 1 death notices list.
 * Early Settlers of New York State 17 tombstone transcripts of Bethlehem, NY in Ancestry.com
 * The Albany County Clerk's Office Hall of Records has cemetery records from 1787 to 1997 for Albany Almshouse Internments, Evangelical Protestant Cemetery Plot Plan, Rensselaerville Cemetery, and Weterlo Cemetery on microfilm in their Historical Records.
 * Individual cemeteries
 * BillionGraves

Census Records
For information and tips on using and accessing online census records, see New York Census.
 * The 1890 Census is lost. For a substitute, see Albany.

 Federal Censuses

Dr. Davenport discovered that a page from the 1850 Census of the City of Albany was missed by NARA microfilmers:
 * 1679 Albany Householders (Colonial Albany) - Includes annotated biographies.
 * 1697 Albany Householders (Colonial Albany) - Includes annotated biographies.
 * 1714 A List of the Inhabitants and Slaves in the City and County of Albany (Colonial Albany)
 * 1756 British Army Inventory of City Households (Colonial Albany) - Includes annotated biographies.
 * 1763 Scott, Kenneth. "The Freeholders of the City and County of Albany, 1763," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 48 (1960):171-182; Vol. 65 (1977):203..
 * 1790 Rensselaerville census (Rootsweb)
 * 1790 Rensselaerville census index (RootsWeb)
 * Watervliet census (Rootsweb)
 * 1790 Watervliet census index (Rootsweb)
 * 1790 Watervliet census (Colonial Albany)
 * 1800 City of Albany census (Colonial Albany)
 * 1810 Ronald Vern Jackson, Computer index to Albany County, New York 1810 census (Bountiful, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1973). . Heads of house only.
 * 1850 Davenport, David Paul. "City of Albany, New York Missing Page from Microfilm Copy of the 1850 Census," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 117, No. 3 (Jul. 1986):162. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

 Colonial or State Censuses


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

Church Records
 List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

 General
 * Diane Snyder Ptak, Lost and found, Albany (NY) Area Church and Synagogue Vital Records, 1654-1925 (Albany, N.Y.: D.S. Ptak, 1993). . . Church and synagogue record inventory for Albany and Rensselaer counties arranged by denomination and county. Lists houses of worship, contact information, record types, years covered, and sources.
 * Albany County (New York), County Clerk, Church Patents with Index (Microreproduction of manuscript at the County Courthouse, Albany, N.Y., 1968). . State legal certifications 1784-1880 naming some of each denomination's leaders at their founding.

 Baptist
 * Emmanuel Baptist Church of Albany: 100th Anniversary. 1934?. Ancestry ($)
 * A Catalogue of the Officers and Members of the Pearl Street Baptist Church of the City of Albany, March 1, 1866. Ancestry ($); Betty Fink (free).
 * The True Glory of Zion: An Historical Discourse Reviewing Thirty-five Years of Work and Worship in the Meeting House Formerly Standing at the Corner of State and High Streets, Albany, N.Y. Ancestry ($)

 Catholic Ann Mensch's Local Catholic Church and Family History &amp; Genealogical Research Guide is a free online resource that identifies the parishes of Albany County, years parishes were created, contact information, as well as links to online records and research tips. Albany County parishes fall under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Albany.
 * Sevier, Christine. History of the Albany Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 1852-1927. Albany: Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 1927. Ancestry ($)
 * 1797, A Historical Sketch (Illustrated) St. Mary's Parish, Albany, N.Y. and Souvenir of Its Centennial Celebration: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 5th, 6th and 7th, 1897. Ancestry ($)
 * St. John the Baptist, Green and Westerlo Sts., Albany, N.Y. Ancestry ($)

 Dutch Reformed ''A Historical Discourse on the Reformed Prot. Dutch Church of Albany. New York: Board of Publication of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church''], 1988. Ancestry.com ($) For further information about the Dutch settlers of Albany County, visit Albany NY Dutch Sources.
 * 1683-1779 Albany Dutch Reformed Church Records, Year Book of the Holland Society of New York. 1683-1690s Membership Lists, Baptisms 1683-1700: (1904):1-106; Marriages 1700-1725, Baptisms 1700-1725: (1905):1-139; Marriages 1725-1748, Baptisms 1725-1749: (1906):1-174; Marriages 1750-1764, Baptisms 1750-1764: (1907):1-120;Marriages 1765-1771, Baptisms 1765-1771: (1908):1-71. 1771-1779: (1922-1923). 1904-1908 volumes are available at Internet Archive. For access, see WeRelate.
 * Early Church Membership of the Reformed Prot. Dutch Church
 * Albany Dutch Reform Church Baptisms 1683-1724 Courtesy Genealogytrails.com
 * Albany, New York Church Records, 1683-1700 This database predominately contains records of baptisms, marriages and deaths from the Dutch Reformed Church in the city of Albany as well as a list of members of the Holland Society who died between 1800-1904. Ancestry.com ($)
 * Records of the Reformed Dutch Church of Albany, New York, 1683-1809: Marriages, Baptisms, Members, etc. . Free viewing site at Clarku.edu
 * Albany Baptisms of the Dutch Reformed Church of Albany, New York, 1683-1724
 * Baptisms, Jerusalem Reformed Dutch Church, Feura Bush, Albany Co., NY 1793-1801, courtesy: Betty Fink.
 * Baptisms Recorded at the Helderbergh Reformed Dutch Church, Guilderland, New York 1786-1807, courtesy: Betty Fink.
 * Marriages of the Dutch Churches of Helderbergh, Jerusalem, New Salem and Princetown, NY 1794-1829, courtesy: Betty Fink.
 * Marriages by Robert J. Blair, Pastor of Helderbergh and Princetown Reformed Churches 1841-1845, courtesy: Betty Fink.
 * Baptisms, Onesquethaw Reformed Church, Clarksville, Albany Co., NY 1840-1850, courtesy: Betty Fink.
 * Marriages, Onesquethaw Reformed Church, Clarksville, Albany Co., NY 1840-1874, courtesy: Betty Fink.
 * Excerpts from Dutch Reformed Churches of Albany, Dutchess and Ulster counties of NY,
 * Record of Marriages and a Few Baptisms, 1822-1877,
 * Reformed South Church (Albany County, New York) Members, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths: 1844-1904 [Albany County, New York]
 * Rogers, E. P. A Historical Discourse on the Reformed Prot. Dutch Church of Albany. New York: Board of Publication of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, 1988. Ancestry.com ($)
 * Rogers, E. P. "A Historical Discourse on the Reformed Prot. Dutch Church of Albany. New York: Board of Publication of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church'', 1958 Google Books
 * Statistics of the North Dutch Church: Since the Settlement of the Present Pastor. Albany: C. Van Benthuysen, 1861. Ancestry.com ($)
 * One Hundred Years of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Albany, New York. Ancestry ($)
 * Commemorating the 300th Anniversary of the First Church in Albany: Established as the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, 1642. Ancestry ($)

 Episcopal
 * 1771 Church of England Membership List (Colonial Albany)
 * DeMille, George E. Pioneer Cathedral: A Brief History of the Cathedral of All Saints, Albany. Albany?: unknown, 1967. Ancestry ($)
 * History of Grace Church, Cor. Clinton Ave. and Robin St., Albany, N.Y. Ancestry ($)
 * Additional Statement of the Condition of the Finances of St. Peter's Church: With a Prospective Plan of Revenue and Support. Ancestry ($)

 Evangelical
 * Year Book and Church Directory: Calvary Evangelical Church. 1930. Ancestry ($)

 Lutheran
 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)
 * Lutheran Church, Albany, Baptisms, 1774-1799 Rev. Wilson served in Albany County between 1831-1835.
 * Marriages, Lutheran Churches; Berne, Guilderland, Knox and Surrounding Areas 1828-1842, courtesy: Betty Fink.
 * Marriages Solemnized by the Reverend Adam Crounse at the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Knox, Guilderland, Albany County, New York on October 4, 1848, courtesy: Betty Fink.
 * Dern, John P., Simon Hart, Sibrandina Geertruid Hart-Runeman, Harry J. Kreider The Albany protocol, Wilhelm Christoph Berkenmeyer's chronicle of Lutheran affairs in New York Colony, 1731-1750 ;
 * Sprecher, Samuel P. and Thomas Spencer Lloyd. The Manual of the First Lutheran Church in the City of Albany. Albany, N.Y.: J. Munsell, 1871. Digital version at Internet Archive.

 Presbyterian
 * Early Marriages at the Presbyterian Church, Albany, New York, courtesy: Betty Fink.
 * History of the First Presbyterian Church of Albany, N.Y.
 * Members of the Fourth Presbyterian Church in the City of Albany, 1836 Ancestry.com ($)
 * Fourth Presbyterian Church: Pastors, Elders, Deacons, Trustees, 1829-1904 Ancestry.com ($)
 * Blayney, J. McClusky. History of the First Presbyterian Church of Albany, N.Y.: Lists of Its Officers, and a Complete Catalogue of Its Members from Its Organization. Albany N.Y.: Jenkins &amp; Johnston, 1877. Ancestry ($)
 * The First Presbyterian Church founded in 1763, Albany, New York : commemorative discourses on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the dedication of the present edifice, corner State and Willett Streets, 23 May, 1909. Ancestry ($)
 * James, Robert C. A Collection of Historical Records of the State Street Presbyterian Church of Albany, New York: Compiled in Connection with the Semi-Centennial Celebration 1861-1911. Albany, N.Y.: Fort Orange Press, 1911. Digital version at Internet Archive.
 * The Church Family Called Clinton Square Presbyterian of Albany, N.Y.: A Historical Sketch. Ancestry ($)
 * Early Settlers of New York State, Vol. 11 Contains early church records for the First Presbyterian Church of Albany County, Vol. 1] Ancestry.com ($)
 * Early Settlers of New York State, Vol. 11 Contains early church records for the First Presbyterian Church of Albany County. Ancestry.com ($)

 Society of Friends (Quakers) The Albany County Clerk's Office Hall of Records has church records on microfilm in their Historical Records for towns and cities in Albany County 1683–1932 for the following churches: For details on these church records see the town or city wiki page.
 * Frost, Josephine S.C. Quaker meeting records, state of New York: Ulster County, Columbia County, Albany County, Clinton County ;
 * Albany First Lutheran 1794-1932
 * Albany First Presbyterian 1785-1841
 * Albany Methodist 1806-1884
 * Albany Saint Peter's Episcopal 1756-1883
 * Albany Second Presbyterian 1815-1870
 * Albany State Street Presbyterian 1859-1883
 * Berne Lutheran 1790-1875
 * Berne Reformed Dutch 1763-1877
 * Bethlehem First Reformed 1794-1924
 * Coeymans Reformed Protestant Dutch 1846-1877
 * Delmar Reformed 1848-1899
 * Guilderland Center Dutch Reformed 1794-1925
 * Jerusalem Reformed 1842-1890
 * Knowerville Lutheran 1785-1868
 * New Salem Dutch Reformed 1786-1899
 * Reformed Dutch of Albany 1683-1809
 * Unionville Dutch Reformed 1825-1932
 * West Sand Lake Lutheran 1785-1868
 * Wynantskill Reformed 1794-1889
 * Albany County Church Records on Linkpendium

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records

 Copies of Original Records
 * 1652-1723 Court minutes
 * 1665-1685 Proceedings, justices of the peace
 * 1676-1695 Proceedings of commissioners, 1676-1680; notarial papers, 1660-1695
 * 1702-1849 Albany treasurer record, 1702-1712; ledger, 1808-1849
 * 1763-1782 Albany County - Court of Sessions 1763-1782 Minutes
 * 1784-1880 Church patents, with index
 * 1827-1901 Lis Pendens, 1827-1901; index to maps, 1630-1904
 * 1849-1880 Judgement rolls
 * 1884-1919 Divorce decrees

 Abstracts
 * 1648-1652 [Minutes of the Court of Rensselaerswyck] available at Ancestry ($)
 * 1652-1656 Arnold J.F. Van Laer, Minutes of the Court of Fort Orange and Beverwyck, 1652 - 1656 (Albany, New York: Univ. of the State of NY, 1920). . . archive.org.
 * 1652-1660 New Netherland, Inferior Court of Justice (Beverwyck, New York), Fort Orange court minutes, 1652-1660 (Syracuse, New York: Holland Society of New York, c1990). ..
 * 1668-1685 Arnold J.F. Van Laer, Minutes of the court of Albany, Rensselaerswyck, and Schenectady, 1668- 1685 (Albany, New York: University of New York, 1926-1932). . . v.1 1668-1673 at myHeritage ($).
 * 1797 Arthur C.M. Kelly, Book of the freeholders, 1797, Albany County, New York: persons qualified to serve for struck juries (Rhinebeck, New York: Kinship Books, c2000). ..

 Crime and Criminals The Albany County Clerk's Office Hall of Records (ACHOR)has County Sheriff/Jail records from 1825 to 1967 in their Historical Records. These records include Criminal Records books; inmate booking ledger; inmate commitment books; and registers of inmates, prisoners, and female prisoners. The ACHOR also has Albany Police department's History of Arrests from 1865 to 1940 on microfilm.

Directories

 * 1829-1935 Troy (New York) City Directories
 * 1902-1903 Albany County Officials Illustrated Directory, 1902-1903
 * 1912 Directory of the Cities of Albany and Rensselaer: General Directory of the Citizens, Business Directory(Albany, N.Y.: Sampson &amp; Murdock Co., 1912.)

Emigration and Immigration

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

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
 Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups Jacob I. Hotchkiss, The Diverse Backgrounds of Old Albany: a Concise History of Nationality Groups from Albany's Beginnings to the Time of the Erie Canal (Albany, N.Y.: The Institute, 1964). HeritageQuest (LAR); ;.

Genealogies

 * Jonathan Pearson, Contributions to the Genealogies of the First Settlers of the Ancient County of Albany from 1630 to 1800. (Albany, N.Y.: J. Munsell, 1878). Internet Archive digital copy; Schenectady Digital History Archive; RootsWeb index A-B only; ; FamilySearch Digital Library;.
 * Albany County Sources A NYGenWeb list of printed genealogical sources in nearby libraries.
 * Fernow, B. "Genealogical Data Gathered from Albany County and New York City Records," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 21, No. 4 (Oct. 1890):170-172. Digital versions at Internet Archive - free; New York Family History ($);.
 * Schenectady Digital History Archive includes "Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs: Index to Families" for Albany County.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records Original land records in Albany County began in 1630. They are housed at the Albany County Hall of Records in Albany.

 Online
 * 1630-1894 New York: Albany County Deeds, 1630-1894 at American Ancestors - index and images ($)
 * 1730 Freeholders List for the city and county. Shows only the name and place.
 * 1980-now Albany County Clerk, Deeds and Mortgages Online database showing grantors, grantees, mortgagors, mortgagees, and filing date.

 Microfilms
 * 1630-1966 Index to State of New York deeds.
 * 1630-1904 Index to maps in Lis Pendens.
 * 1630-1894 Index to Mortgages.
 * 1652-1660, 1765–1894 Mortgages.
 * 1654-1901 State of New York deeds.
 * 1768-1771 Laura Penny Hulslander, Abstracts of Deeds and Wills of Albany County, New York (Mililani, Hawaii: Sleeper, 1992)..
 * 1775-1783 H. C. Burleigh, Confiscations, Albany, Charlotte, and Tryon Counties, New York (Toronto, Ontario: United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada, [1970]). ;.
 * 1827-1901 Lis Pendens.
 * 1854 Land ownership maps.
 * early to 1912 Van Rensselaer Manor papers East Manor, West Manor, Berne, and Knox community leases, mortgates, and account books.

 Books
 * 1656-1704 Arnold J.F. Van Laer and Jonathan Pearson, Early Records of the City and County of Albany and Colony of Resselaerswyck (Albany, New York: University of the State of New York, 1869-1919). ;.
 * 1730s-1810s Doherty, Frank J. "Early Leases in the Beekman Patent," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 117, No. 3 (Jul. 1986):146-151. Digital version at New York Family History ($);.

Local Histories

 * Albany Bi-centennial : Historical Memoirs. 1888. A. Bleecker Banks, Franklin M. Danaher, Andrew Hamilton. Albany, New York : Banks & Bros. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive.
 * The Annals of Albany. 10 volumes. 1850-1859. By Joel Munsell. Albany, New York : J. Munsell. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Vol. 1 - Internet Archive (scroll to bottom to access additional volumes).
 * Bi-centennial History of Albany : History of the County of Albany, N.Y., from 1609 to 1886. 1886. By George R. Howell, Jonathan Tenny, John H. Munsell.  New York : W. W. Munsell.  Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive;.
 * Landmarks of Albany County, New York. 1897. Edited by Amasa Junius Parker. Syracuse, New York : D. Mason. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive;.
 * The Origin, Progress and Vicissitudes of the Mohawk and Hudson Rail Road: and the First Excursion on it. By Joel Munsell. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University Microfilms, 1987. ;.
 * The Settlement of Manhattan in 1624. By Louis Effingham De Forest. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University Microfilms International-Books on Demand, 1989. ;.
 * New York Indexes (many counties) at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers
1870-71 Hamilton Child, Gazetteer and Business Directory of Albany and Schenectady Co., N. Y. for 1870-71 (Ann Arbor, Mich.: University Microfilms International - Books on Demand, 1989). :.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

1890: Changes in names of streets in Albany. Courtesy NYGenWeb.
 * Maps of New York (1683-1915)
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Migration
Migration routes for early European settlers to and from Albany County 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
 * Mohawk or Iroquois Trail  1722 from Boston, Massachusetts to Fort Oswego, New York
 * Rensselaer and Columbia (NY) Turnpike 1799
 * pre-historic
 * pre-historic
 * Champlain Canal 1823
 * Erie Canal 1825
 * Chambly Canal 1843
 * pre-historic
 * prehistoric
 * Lake Champlain Trail pre-historic

Military Records
 Revolutionary War Albany County men served in the 1st New York Regiment.

 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: Albany, Berne, Bethlehem, Coeymans, Knox, New Scotland, Rensselaerville, and Westerlo. Regiments. Service men in Albany County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed companies formed in Albany County:
 * - 1st Battalion, New York Light Artillery, Battery M.
 * - 1st Battalion, New York Sharpshooters, 9th Company.
 * - 2nd Regiment, New York Infantry, Company H.
 * - 3rd Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 6th Independent Battery, New York Light Artillery, Company E.
 * - 6th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies A and E.
 * - 7th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company E.
 * - 7th Veteran Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 9th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company F.
 * - 9th Regiment, New York Infantry (New)
 * - 12th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company B.
 * - 13th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies G H and I.
 * - 16th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company F.
 * - 17th Veteran Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 18th Regiment, New York Infantry Companies B, C, F, G, H, I, L and M.
 * - 20th Regiment, New York Infantry Companies D, G, K and M.
 * - 21st Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company F.
 * - 22nd Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 30th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 34th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 43rd Regiment, New York Infantry Companies A, B and D.
 * - 44th Regiment, New York Infantry, two companies.
 * - 61st Regiment, New York Infantry, 2nd Company I.
 * - 62nd Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 63rd Regiment, New York Infantry, Company K.
 * - 65th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company B.
 * - 91st Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, H, and I.
 * - 93rd Regiment, New York Infantry, Company B.
 * - 104th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company K.
 * - 113th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and K.
 * - 138th Regiment, New York Infantry Company L.
 * - 148th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 175th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B and C.
 * - 177th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 179th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 184th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 186th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 188th Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 189th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company B.
 * - 192nd Regiment, New York Infantry Companies A, B, C, E, F, G, H, I and K.
 * - 194th Regiment, New York Infantry


 * Robert Keating, Carnival of Blood : the Civil War Ordeal of the Seventh New York Heavy Artillery (Baltimore, Maryland: Butternut and Blue, 1998). ; History of the 7th New York Heavy Artillery from the time of its formation to disbanding in the summer of 1865. Contains a regimental roster which may list name, age, occupation, date of enlistment, status, date of death or discharge, wounds if any, and where buried if died during the war.
 * Rufus W. Clark, The Heroes of Albany : a Memorial of the Patriot-Martyrs of the City of Albany, Who Sacrificed their Lives During the Late War in Defence of Our Nation, 1861-1865, with a View of What was Done in the County to Sustain the United States Government, and also Brief Histories of the Albany Regiments (Albany, New York: S.R. Gray, 1867). ; and (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1992

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records Original naturalization records for Albany County are held in the Hall of Records. See New York Naturalization and Citizenship for more information.
 * Albany County Clerk's Office, Naturalization Indexes online 1821-1991 used to find citizenship records with place of residence and place of origin.
 * Naturalizations after 1991 are located: Office of Immigration and Naturalization U.S. Post Office and Federal Court House Room 220 Albany, NY 12207
 * 1791-1980 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1895-1906 Naturalization records(includes index, declarations, oaths and orders, and petitions)

Newspapers

 * 1826-1828 Albany Argus: Records of Deaths and Marriages, 1826-1828 at American Ancestors - index ($)
 * Albany NY Evening Journal 1830-1936

Obituaries
Rootsweb has an ongoing resource of indexing obituaries of individuals born in Albany, New York. Maiden names are included if known.

Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.
The Albany County Clerk's Office Hall of Records has county Almshouse Records from 1806 to 2004 on microfilm in their Historical Records. These records include deaths, widow and orphan benefits, register of state poor, and interments.

Voting Records
For details about the "Election Records" 1807-1969 including enrollments and results from 23 communities, see the Albany County Hall of Records' Historical Records (.pdf).

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records Original estates and wills for Albany County are held in the Surrogate Court. See New York Probate Records for more information about using probate 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 ($), American Ancestors ($)
 * 1629-1802 Index to record of wills.SAMPUBCO for the browsable index of old original will testators.
 * 1691-1905 SAMPUBCO Browsable index of testators of wills.
 * 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 $
 * 1662-1801 New York: Abstracts of New York County Wills, 1662-1801 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
 * 1866-1923 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1681-1765 Jonathan Pearson and Arnold J. F. Van Laer, Early records of the City and County of Albany and Colony of Resselaerswyck (Albany, New York: University of the State of New York, 1869-1919). (has Wills - translated from Dutch). Digital version at  archive.org.
 * 1780 to Dec. 1, 1895 Martin Conway, Index to Wills and to Letters of Administration ([Albany?: s.n.], 1895). FamilySearch Digital Library,
 * 1787-1835 Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787-1835 at American Ancestors ($).
 * 1787-1905 Index to wills, letters testamentary, letters of administration, orders. SAMPUBCO browsable index.
 * 1629-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only

 Probate Records on Microfilm The probate records described above also may be among those on microfilm including:
 * 1600s-1700s, 1700–1825 Original records of administrations of estates, inventories and accounts.
 * 1629-1828 Index to Record of wills recorded at Albany, New York
 * 1629-1802 Record of wills recorded at Albany, New York Most of the original wills were filed in what is now New York County prior to 1787 and recorded in that county's will books. The selections were retained and kept at Queens College in Flushing before transferred to state archives and filmed. See SAMPUBCO for the browsable index to this set of films.
 * 1691-1835 Wills
 * 1787-1796 Albany probate records
 * 1787-1902 Wills, letters testamentary, letters of administration, orders and index See SAMPUBCO for the browsable index to this set of films covering wills.
 * 1799-1848 Wills proved and recorded

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records The Albany County Clerk's Office Hall of Recordshas Tax Rolls for Albany County from 1813 to 1990 in their Historical Records for the following Municipalities: Albany (1813-1990), Berne, Bethlehem, Coeymans, Cohoes, Colonie, Knox, Green Island, Guilderland, New Scotland, Rensselaerville, Watervliet and Westerlo. See the town or city wiki page for details.
 * 1708-1709 Piwonka, Ruth. "Tax Lyste van d Stadt en County van Albany 1708/9 (Tax List of the City and County of Albany)," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol.
 * 1781-1789 Albany County Tax Records.
 * 1781-1790 Albany County ledger of state taxes.

Vital Records
Albany births and deaths 1848, births 1866 to present, and deaths 1870 to the present can be obtained for a fee from: Registrar of Vital Statistics. There is a fifty year restriction on death and marriage records, and a seventy-five year restriction on birth records. There is the additional restriction that you prove all parties are dead to obtain a birth or marriage record. The year restrictions are waived for a direct line descendant.Some marriage records may be kept at the Albany County hall of Records from 1870-1946.

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

Marriage Substitutes
 * 1686-1980 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1777-1834 Fred Q. Bowman,10,000 Vital Records of Eastern New York, 1777-1834 (Baltimore,MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1987). Ancestry ($); MyHeritage ($); ; . Abstracted from newspaper marriage and death columns.
 * 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."
 * 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.
 * 1842 Misc Vital Stats, 1842, New York from the Albany Argus at USGenWeb Archives - free.
 * 1864-5, 1874-5 See Marriage Schedule information in the State Census section of Albany for marriage information for 1864-5, and 1874-5.

Death
Death Indexes For information about town vital statistics (including births and deaths) contact the the city, town or village clerk.
 * 1824-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1880-1956 Reclaim the Records: New York State Death Index at Archive.org - images of index
 * 1880-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1880-1956 New York, Death Index, 1880-1956 at Ancestry — ($), index only
 * 1957-1963 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1654-1883 William Vanderpoel Hannay, Early Albany County NY Death Records, 1654-1883 (Rhinebeck, New York: Kinship Books, 2000). ;.
 * 1777-1834 Fred Q. Bowman,10,000 Vital Records of Eastern New York, 1777-1834 (Baltimore,MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1987). Ancestry ($); MyHeritage ($); ; . Abstracted from newspaper marriage and death columns.
 * 1640-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1801-1890 Barber Collection- Newspaper Deaths at Ancestry– ($); 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.
 * 1849-50, 1859-60, 1869-70, 1879-80 See Mortality Schedule information in the Federal Census section of Albany 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.
 * 1864-5, 1874-5 See Mortality Schedule information in the State Census section of Albany for death information for 1864-5, and 1874-5.
 * See Town Clerks' Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War in the Civil War section of Albany for death information.

 City of Albany City Vital Statistics City Hall, Room 254M Albany, New York 12207 Phone: 518-434-5045 Birth, marriage and death records

 Town and village information
 * Altamont (village) (518) 861-8554
 * Berne (518) 872-1448
 * Bethlehem (518) 439-4955
 * Coeymans (518) 756-2100
 * Cohoes (City) (518) 237-7648
 * Colonie (518) 783-2734
 * Colonie (village) (518) 869-7562
 * Green Island (518) 273-0661
 * Green Is. (village)(518) 273-2201
 * Guilderland (518) 356-1980
 * Knox (518) 872-2551
 * Menands (village) (518) 434-2922
 * New Scotland (518) 439-4865
 * Ravena (village) (518) 756-8233
 * Rensselaerville (518) 797-3798
 * Watervliet (city) (518) 270-3810
 * Westerlo (518) 797-3111

Divorce

 * 1884-1919 Divorce decrees.

Archives
 County Historian Albany County Historian Albany County Office Building 112 State Street, Room 800 Albany, NY 12207 E-mail: [mailto:JTRAVIS@AlbanyCounty.com JTRAVIS@AlbanyCounty.com] Phone: 518-447-5516 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
 * Gloversville New York FamilySearch Center
 * Oneonta New York FamilySearch Center
 * Schoharie Valley New York FamilySearch Center
 * Fairview Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Guilderland Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Huntington Memorial Library - an affiliate library
 * New York State Library and New York State Archives - an affiliate library

Libraries
Albany Public Library Main Library 161 Washington Avenue Albany, NY 12210 Phone: 518-427-4300 Call for hours. Albany History Room hours differ from regular library hours. Pruyn Collection of Albany History housed in the Albany History Room of the library. Collection includes city directories, newspapers, and census records on film and online. Website Guilderland Public Library 2228 Western Avenue Guilderland, New York 12084-9071 Phone: 518-456–2400 Collection includes online databases with surname search, church index, cemetery list and transcriptions and land search. Website Nassau Free Library–Genealogy 18 Church Street Nassau, NY 12123. Phone: 518-766-2715 Ralph Philllips Genealogical Collection. Online database of surnames. Website New York State Museum/People of Albany County Live Here Online collection of articles and pages about Albany County. Includes biographies of early residents, early laws, military records, county census transcriptions, church records, maps, and will transcriptions. Website New York State Archives Cultural Education Center 222 Madison Avenue Albany, NY 12230 Phone: 518-474-8955 archref@mail.nysed.govWebsite New York State Library–Genealogy Cultural Education Center 222 Madison Avenue Albany, NY 12230 518-74-5161 Local History/Genealogy desk Collection includes local histories, New Netherland Project, DAR records, church records, early newspapers, city directories, surname card files, and vital records. Website Rensselaer, New York City History Research Center Rensselaer City Hall 62 Washington St. Rensselaer, NY 12144 second floor. Phone: 518-694-3126 Collection includes city and county histories, directories, newspapers, local family manuscripts, church records, and local society and business records. Website Troy Public Library 100 Second Street Troy, NY 12180 Phone: 518-274–7071 The Troy Room Collection contains hundreds of books, pamphlets, and other local history and genealogy documents. Works by local authors, Troy City Directories, local newspapers, family histories, and census records are all part of this valuable collection. Website Upper Hudson Library System consists of 29 public libraries in the counties of Albany and Rensselaer counties. Each library has access to genealogical databases - especially newspaper sites. Many databases are accessible with your library card from home. A list of the libraries in this system and their Website and contact information is found here. Hudson River Valley Institute Marist College 3399 North Road Poughkeepsie, NY 12601-1387 E-mail: [mailto:hrvi@marist.edu hrvi@marist.edu] Phone: 845-575-3052 The Institute is the academic arm of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area. Its mission is to study and to promote the Hudson River Valley and to provide educational resources for heritage tourists and the general public. The Digital Library contains a collection of heritage sites, documents, organizations, and related links to guide you through the Hudson River Valley. Website
 * Melinda Yates, Gateway to America: genealogical research in the New York State Library, 2nd ed. (Albany, N.Y.: University of the state of New York, State Education Dept., New York State Library, 1982). ;.
 * New York State Library card catalog file of vital records in the History and Genealogy section ([Albany, New York : New York State Library, Photoduplication Department, 1979?]). ; . Microfiche of hand and typewritten cards.
 * New York State Library (Albany, New York), Surname card index ([Albany, New York: New York State Library, Photoduplication Unit, 1979?]). . Surname catalog of the American History and Genealogy section of the New York State Library.

 Societies Albany County Historical Association 9 Ten Broeck Pl. Albany, NY 12210-2524 Phone: 518-436-9826 FacebookWebsite Dutch Settlers Society of Albany 504 7th Ave Watervliet, NY 12189 E-mail: [mailto:cheryleM29@aol.com cheryleM29@aol.com] FacebookWebsite
 * Yearbooks, newsletters, tulip festivals, parades, calendar, links to New Netherland research sites.

Rensselaer County Historical Society Library Hart Cluett Museum 57 Second Street Troy, NY 12180 Phone: 518-244-6846 FacebookWebsite
 * Library, archives and research center.

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.
 * $3 for non-member queries in their newsletter. Monthly meetings. They staff a genealogy support desk at the Town of Colonie Library.

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; publication: 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.

American Italian Heritage Association 1227 Central Ave. Albany, New York 12205 Phone: 518-435-1979 FacebookWebsite
 * Museum including immigration room, newsletter, and events calendar.

Shaker Heritage Society of Albany, New York 25 Meeting House Rd Albany, NY 12211 FacebookWebsite
 * Teaching resources and programs, blog, craft fairs, and concerts on the grounds.

Jewish Genealogical Society of the Capital District P.O. Box 5002 Albany, NY 12205-0002 Phone 518-482-5295 or 800-626-8235 Repository Guidebooks. Guides to Albany County records and repositories include: Historical Records (.pdf) a complete eight-page inventory of the Albany County Hall of Records showing 55 record types, years covered, descriptions, and department or towns involved.Website
 * Cornell University,Guide to Historical Resources in Albany County, New York, Repositories (Ithaca, New York: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1985). ;.
 * New York State Archives, Guide to Records in the New York State Archives (Albany, New York: New York State Archives, 1993). ;.
 * Historical Records Survey and Works Progress Administration, Inventory of the County Archives of New York, no. 01, Albany County (Albany) (Albany, New York: Historical Records Survey, 1937). ; . Includes index.
 * Alexander J. Wall and Horatio Seymour, A Sketch of the Life of Horatio Seymour, 1810-1886, with a Detailed Account of his Administration as Governor of the State of New York During the War of 1861-1865 (Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1978) Digital Version at Hathi Trust Digital Library; ; . Includes a coat of arms, and Horatio, ancestry. "List of the [published] addresses, speeches and writings of Horatio Seymour": p. 87-111 (all items listed to be found in ". . . the Seymour scrapbooks in the New York State Library at Albany, N.Y.").
 * Tracy B. Grimm, World Our Fathers Made: a Survey of the Records of Local Governments in the County of Albany, New York, During the Constitutional Era, 1783-1815 (Albany, New York: Albany County Hall of Records, [1988?]) ;.

Websites

 * Albany County NYGenWeb
 * Albany County Genealogy  (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * – 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.