Sullivan County, New York Genealogy

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

This page describes sources of genealogical data about Sullivan County, New York Genealogy families, including links to smaller localities at the bottom of this page. New York, United States Genealogy-related pages show useful statewide sources. United States Genealogy pages explain the terminology and contents of genealogical records.


Sullivan County, New York
Map
Map of New York highlighting Sullivan County
Location in the state of New York, United States Genealogy
Map of the U.S. highlighting New York
Location of New York in the U.S.
Facts
Founded 1809
County Seat Monticello
Courthouse
New York, Sullivan County Courthouse.png
Address 100 North Street
Monticello, New York 12701
Sullivan County Website


Sullivan County New York Historical Facts[edit | edit source]

Description[edit | edit source]

The County was named for Major General John Sullivan, who was a hero in the American Revolutionary War. The County is located in the southwest area of the state. [1]

Sullivan County, New York Record Dates[edit | edit source]

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records[2]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1880 1908 1880 1809 1809 1811 1663
*Statewide registration for births and deaths started in 1880. General compliance for births by 1915 and deaths by 1890.
Parent County[edit | edit source]

Created 27 March 1809 from part of Ulster County.[3]

Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Fire.png

1909 A fire destroyed Will volumes 1-7, but all or most of the files survived.

For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:


Populated Places[edit | edit source]

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:[4]

Towns
Villages
Hamlets
Census-designated places


Sullivan County New York Genealogy Resources[edit | edit source]

Bible Records[edit | edit source]

  • 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[edit | edit source]

Business Records and Commerce[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries[edit | edit source]

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

Online Grave Transcripts Published Grave Transcripts County Cemetery Directories
Findagrave.com* Family History Library* Findagrave.com*
Interment.net* WorldCat* Tombstone Transcription Project*
Cemetery Site*   NYGenWeb Cemeteries*
NYGenWeb Cemeteries*   Billion Graves*
Billion Graves*   Names in Stone*
Names in Stone*   FamilySearch Places
Linkpendium*    
Ancestry*    
   *See the New York Cemeteries page for details about each site.

Census[edit | edit source]

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1810 6,108 —
1820 8,900 45.7%
1830 12,364 38.9%
1840 15,629 26.4%
1850 25,088 60.5%
1860 32,385 29.1%
1870 34,550 6.7%
1880 32,491 −6.0%
1890 31,031 −4.5%
1900 32,306 4.1%
1910 33,808 4.6%
1920 33,163 −1.9%
1930 35,272 6.4%
1940 37,901 7.5%
1950 40,731 7.5%
1960 45,272 11.1%
1970 52,580 16.1%
1980 65,155 23.9%
1990 69,277 6.3%
2000 73,966 6.8%
2010 77,547 4.8%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

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

Federal[edit | edit source]

U.S. Census Mortality Schedules for New York, 1850-1880:

  • Available online at Ancestry ($).
  • Deaths are included for the 12 months prior to the census, 1849-50, 1859-60, 1869-70, and 1879-80 beginning 1 June and ending 31 May of the census year.[5]
  • Basic contents of the records include: Name, sex, age, color, marital status, place of birth, month of death, occupation, and cause of death. 1870 also has parents' birthplace. 1880 lists how long a resident of the county.
  • Also on FHL Films 1415128–42.
State[edit | edit source]
Source 1825 1835 1845 1855 1865 1875 1892 1905 1915 1925
Ancestry.com - - - Yes - Yes - - Yes Yes
Family History Library Films - - - Yes - Yes - - Yes Yes
FamilySearch Images – – – Yes Yes Yes – Yes Yes Yes
New York State Library Films - - - Yes - Yes - - Yes Yes

New York State 1865 and 1875 Census Marriage, Mortality; and 1865 Soldier Mortality records:

  • Images available online at New York State Census, 1865 and New York State Census, 1875. Click on the link to go to the page, then click on the ‘Browse through images’ link and select your county, then select an ancestor's town and browse to the end of the population schedule until you find the Marriage, Mortality, and 1865 soldier mortality schedules.
  • Includes marriages and deaths for the 12 months prior to the census, ending 1 June of the census year.
  • Marriage entry content: Husband's name, wife's name, ages and previous marital status, month and day and place of marriage, and church or civil ceremony.
  • Death entry content: Name, age, sex, color, marital status, month and day of death, native state or country, occupation and cause of death.
  • 1865 deaths of officers and enlisted men entry content: Name, age, marital status, citizenship status, enlistment date, original regiment, original rank, regiment at death, rank at death, promotions, death date and place, manner of death, surviving associates, and burial place.
  • Also on microfilm. See the Family History Library line in the above State Census Chart.

Church Records[edit | edit source]

Church records are good substitutes for birth, marriage, and death information and are most often found on a local city/town or county level.  Published and manuscript church records can be found at public, university, and private libraries.

For a brief general history of denominations and a guide to finding various New York denomination's records, see New York Church Records Wiki page.
List of Churches and Church Parishes

  • Barber, Gertrude A. Records of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Sandburgh, Sullivan County, N.Y. 1990. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Additional Church Records

Additional church records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Sullivan County, New York Genealogy Church Records  in online catalogs like:

Court Records[edit | edit source]

Ancestors may have also been involved in municipal, state, or federal court cases. See also New York Court Records and United States Court Records.

Crime and Criminals[edit | edit source]

Directories[edit | edit source]

Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]

Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups[edit | edit source]

Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]

Delaware CountyUlster CountyOrange CountyPike CountyWayne CountyNY SULLIVAN.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources


Genealogy[edit | edit source]

  • [hhttps://www.ancestry.com/boards/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.sullivan/mb.ashx Rootsweb message board ] for Sullivan County, New York Genealogy 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[edit | edit source]

There is an every name index to the History of Sullivan County, New York by James Eldridge Quinian published by G. M. Beebe and W. T. Morgans in 1873, and republished by Fallsburg Printing Company in 1965-6, and 1975 online. Indexed was compiled by Cathy L. O'Connor in 2011.

Land and Property[edit | edit source]

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.

See New York Land and Property for more details, especially about the papers generated in New York State by large speculative land companies.

Original land records in Sullivan County, New York Genealogy began in [?dateyear?]. These records are housed at the [?repository?] in [?town?].

Online

Microforms

Books

Additional land records can sometimes be found using these catalogs:

Additional resources

Additional resources for Sullivan County, New York Genealogy land records may be found in the Sullivan County, New York Genealogy – Land Records topic page of the FamilySearch Catalog . Copies of records on FHL microfilm and microfiche may be available for viewing at various Family History Centers. Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the WorldCat Online Catalog.

Maps[edit | edit source]

Nysullivan.jpg

Migration[edit | edit source]

Early migration routes to Sullivan County for European settlers included:

Military[edit | edit source]

Civil War[edit | edit source]

Town registers. The New York town clerks kept a bound register of all soldiers from their town serving in the Civil War 1861-1865. Registers are arranged by county, and town. Some town registers are missing. The registers include an index at the start of each town.

Content. Many register entries include full name, residence, date and place of birth, parents names, marital status, date of enlistment and muster and rank, discharges, death, or promotion.

Access. The original registers are at the New York State Archives in Albany, New York. Microfilm copies are found at the Family History Library (FHL Film 1993401-37). They are also indexed and available at Ancestry.com ($).

Available towns. Registers are available for: Bethel · Callicoon · Cochecton · Fallsburg · Forestburgh · Fremont · Highland · Liberty · Lumberland · Mamakating · Neversink · Rockland · Thompson.

Regiments. Service men in Sullivan County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county.[6]

- 1st Regiment, New York Jackson Heavy Artillery, Company F.
- 2nd Regiment, New York Mounted Rifles, Company G.
- 5th Regiment, New York Heavy Artillery, Company F.
- 15th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company L.
- 18th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company D.
- 25th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies A, B and C.
- 28th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company H.
- 56th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies F, H, I, K and L.
- 143rd Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, E, F, G, H, I K.

Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]

Indexes[edit | edit source]

The Family History Library has also acquired this comprehensive index for the years 1792 through 1906 on microfilm: FHL Film 1419807 (1st of 294 films). The courts this index covers are:

  • City Court of Brooklyn, 1836-1894
  • Kings County Court, 1806-1906
  • New York City Marine Court, 1806-1849
  • New York County Common Pleas Court, 1792-1895
  • New York County Superior Court, 1828-1895
  • New York City and County Supreme Court, 1868-1906
  • Queens County Court, 1799-1906
  • Queens County Surrogate Court, 1888-1898
  • Richmond County Court, 1869-1906
  • U.S. Circuit Court Southern District, 1846-1876
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District, (Kings, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties), 1865-1906
  • U.S. District Court Southern Court Southern District, (New York, Bronx and also Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Richmond, Rockland, Sullivan and Westchester counties), 1824-1906[7]

Newspapers[edit | edit source]

Sullivan County Democrat -- 1891 thru present.

The River Reporter -- 1975 thru present.

Obituaries[edit | edit source]

Periodicals[edit | edit source]

Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.[edit | edit source]

Probate Records[edit | edit source]

Probate records including original estates and wills for New York are held in the office of the county Surrogate Court beginning in 1787, or when the county was formed. Prior to 1787, most are housed at the New York State Archives. See New York Probate Records for more information about using probate records.
Content:  Probate Records may give the decedent's date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.
Record types:  Wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distribution.

Probate Petitions

In 1830, state law required the Surrogate Court clerk to issue a probate petition for a deceased individual with property. This petition, unique to New York, usually lists the deceased's death date. It also lists the heirs, their relationship to the deceased, and their residence. Alice Eichholz, Red Book: American State, County and Town Sources, 3rd ed. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry Pub., 2004), 479. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27rb 2004. Henry B. Hoff, "Navigating New York Probate," American Ancestors 12 (Fall 2011): 54.


These petitions are often found in the estate files and can be obtained from the county Surrogate Court.



Online Abstracts and Indexes

Probate Records on Microfilm

  • 1876–1909 Gertrude A. Barber, Index of wills of Sullivan County, New York: this index includes the records of all wills admitted to probate from April, 1876, to the date of the fire, August 10, 1909: being Liber of Wills 8 to 16, inclusive: also the wills recorded pursuant to Chapter 219 of the Laws of 1910 in Book of Wills number one: will records one to seven, inclusive, were burned on August 10, 1909 (Ann Arbor, Michigan: University Microfilms International - Books on Demand, 1990). FHL Fiche 6081262

Additional Probate Indexes and Abstracts

Additional probate indexes or abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Sullivan County, New York Genealogy probate wills in online catalogs like:

Repositories[edit | edit source]

Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in Sullivan County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1988). ExLibris digital copy - free; At various libraries; FHL Book 974.735 A3g Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

Archives, Libraries and Museums[edit | edit source]

The libraries in Sullivan County, New York are part of the Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS) which through your library card you have access to some online history and genealogical databases from your home including: HRVH Historical Newspapers, and Hudson River Valley Heritage digital collections.

Fort Delaware - Museum of Colonial History[8]
6615 Route 97
North of Port Jervis
Narrowsburg, NY 12764
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 5012
Monticello, NY 12701-5192
Phone: 845–794–3459
Email: SCParks@co.sullivan.ny.us
Offers Genealogical services


County Historian's Office[edit | edit source]

Sullivan County Historian
John Conway P.O. Box 185
Barryville, NY 12719
Email: jconway52@hotmail.com

Genealogical Resources: 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[edit | edit source]

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

Family History Centers[edit | edit source]

Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries

  • Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
  • FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

Societies[edit | edit source]

Sullivan County Historical Society
265 Main Street
P.O. Box 247
Hurleyville, NY 12747–0247
Phone: 845–434–8044
Email: SCHS@SullivanCountyHistory.org
Facebook

Website lists county cemeteries that they have listings for, and county histories - on a town by town basis.

Genealogy Department offers searches for a fee.
Contact Barbara Viele
Phone: 845–434 - 8044
Email: Genealogy@scnyhistory.org

Social Groups Online[edit | edit source]

Taxation[edit | edit source]

Town Records[edit source]

Town records in New York may include early births, marriages, deaths, divorces, local histories, selected military records, and town meeting minutes. Vital records from 1880/1882 are kept by town and village clerks, although some (Kent’s and Putnam Valley’s) are available in the County Historian’s Office. For further details, try the links to individual town Wiki pages found in Places. See also:

  • Gordon L. Remington, New York Towns, Villages, and Cities: A Guide to Genealogical Sources (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2002). NEHGS online edition; At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 974.7 D27r. Alphabetical list including date founded, if a town history exists, church and cemetery sources, and if a Civil War register (TCR) exists.

Vital Records[edit | edit source]

Vital records of birth, marriage or death were first recorded at the local level in the village clerk, town clerk, or city clerk’s ledger book. If you know where a birth, marriage or death took place, a copy of the certificate or record may be obtained by writing to the town, village or city clerk. See also How to order New York Vital Records or order electronically online.

See the heading Places on this wiki page for links to local community wiki pages and their available records. See New York Vital Records for a discussion about beginning dates and availability of vital records in New York.

Use substitute records for birth, marriage, and death information. These substitute records include Bible Records, Cemeteries, Church Records, Newspapers, and Probate Records.

Birth[edit | edit source]

Early births were recorded on the town level and the years vary by town. (List of towns) The New York State Department of Health (state level) began recording births in 1881. Births were not recorded on the county level.

Birth Substitutes

  • See Town Clerks' Registers of Men who Served in the Civil War in the Civil War section of Military for birth information.
Marriage[edit | edit source]

Early marriages were sometimes recorded on the town level and the years vary by town. In 1880, town clerks were to record the marriage and a copy was sent to the New York State Department of Health (state level). Town clerks continue to record marriages. The marriages in this county were recorded by the county clerk from 1908 until 1933.[9]

Marriage Substitutes

  • 1800–1855 New York Marriage Notices at Ancestry– ($); Index. This database is a collection of marriage notices published in newspapers around the state. Contains name of bride and groom, marriage date, marriage location, residence, and newspaper found in.
  • 1845-1850 The Sullivan Whig, Published at Bloomingburgh, N.Y. 1990. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
  • 1864-5 See Marriage Schedule information in the State Census section of Census for marriage information for 1864-5.
Divorce[edit | edit source]

Pre–1787

All divorces were granted by the governor or legislature and were very rare.

1787–1847

All divorces were granted by the court of chancery. These records are found in the New York State Archives or for the New York City area at the New York County Clerk's office.These divorces were granted only on the grounds of adultery.

1847–present

All divorces are handled by the county Supreme Court where the divorce was granted. Divorce files in New York are sealed for 100 years. Contact the County Clerk for information about divorce records.

Divorce judgment papers often include date and place of the marriage and the names and birthdates of any children. Local newspapers may publish notices of divorce actions.


Death[edit | edit source]

Early deaths were recorded on the town level and the years vary by town. (List of towns) The New York State Department of Health (state level) began recording deaths in 1881. Deaths were not recorded on the county level.

Death Indexes

Death Substitutes

  • 1845-1850 The Sullivan Whig, Published at Bloomingburgh, N.Y. 1990. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
  • 1849-50, 1859-60, 1869-70, 1879-80 See Mortality Schedule information in the Federal Census section of Census for death information.
  • See Town Clerks' Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War 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

Additional resources for Sullivan County births, marriages and deaths may be found in the New York, Sullivan– Vital Records topic page of the FamilySearch Catalog . Copies of books found in the FamilySearch Catalog may be found in WorldCat catalog and ordered from your local library through interlibrary loan. Explore how to search the FamilySearch Catalog and the WorldCat Online Catalog.

Voting Registers[edit | edit source]

Sullivan County New York Genealogy Websites[edit | edit source]

Between the Lakes Group offers some free material as well as CDs or downloads for a fee.

Sullivan County New York Places[edit | edit source]

v • d • e
Municipalities and communities of
Sullivan County, New York
County seat: Monticello
Towns
Villages
Communities

Barryville · Bridgeville · Debruce · Ferndale · Grahamsville · Harris · Hurleyville · Kiamesha Lake · Lake Huntington · Lew Beach · Livingston Manor · Loch Sheldrake · Mongaup Valley · Minisink Ford · Mountain Dale · Narrowsburg · Parksville · Pond Eddy · Rock Hill · Roscoe · Smallwood · South Fallsburg · Spring Glen · Summitville · Unionville · White Lake · Woodbourne

Sullivan County New York Genealogy References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Sullivan, New York" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sullivan_County,_New_York accessed 22 Nov 2018
  2. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Sullivan County, New York. Page 488-493 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 490-492.
  3. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 492. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
  4. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Sullivan County, New York," in "Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sullivan_County,_New_York, accessed 1 March 2020.
  5. ↑ Arlene Eakle, and Johni Cerni, The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1984), 103. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27ts.
  6. ↑ Frederick Phisterer, New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. (Albany, N.Y.: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912). Internet Archive digital copy; At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Film 1486494-96; Fiche 6083559-64; Book 974.7 M2p.
  7. ↑ FamilySearch Catalog, FamilySearch, accessed 6 December 2011, http://www.familysearch.org.
  8. ↑ Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogist's Address Book: State and Local Resources, with Special Resources Including Ethnic and Religious Organizations, 6th ed. (Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Pub., 2009), 483. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D24ben 2009.
  9. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 488-493. At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
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Migration
Routes



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