Herkimer County, New York Genealogy

United States New York Herkimer County

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

Herkimer County, New York
Map
Location in the state of New York
Location of New York in the U.S.
Facts
Founded	February 16, 1791
County Seat	Herkimer (village)
Courthouse
Address	109 Mary Street Suite 1111 Herkimer, NY 13350 Herkimer County Website

Historical Facts

Parent County

• Created 16 February 1791 from Montgomery County.

Neighboring Counties

Fulton · Hamilton · Lewis · Madison · Montgomery · Oneida · Otsego · St. Lawrence

Boundary Changes

Three partitions over the years set off these counties:

• 5 March 1794: Onondaga
• 15 March 1798: Oneida
• 15 March 1798: Chenango

Resources

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.

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*
New York Gravestones*		epodunk*
NYGenWeb Cemeteries*		Billion Graves*
Billion Graves*		Names in Stone*
Names in Stone*
Linkpendium*
Ancestry*
*See the New York Cemeteries page for details about each site.

Census

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

Federal

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.
• 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.

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

State

Source	1825	1835	1845	1855	1865	1875	1892	1905	1915	1925
Family History Library	Yes Index	Yes Index	Yes Index	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
FamilySearch Historical Records	-	-	-	-	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	-	-
New York State Library	-	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ancestry.com	-	-	-	-	-	-	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

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.

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

• 1823-1878 - Herkimer County, NY Marriages from Universalist Sources, courtesy: NYGenWeb - free.
  

• 1823-1878 - Herkimer County, NY Deaths from Universalist Sources, courtesy: NYGenWeb - free.
  

• 1840-1855 - Herkimer/Montgomery Marriages at Old Trinity Episcopal Church, Utica, NY at NYGenWeb - free.
  

• 1854-1886 - Marriages at the Old Corn Hill Methodist Church, Utica, N.Y., 1854-1886 at NYGenWeb - free.
  

• 1888-1889 - Marriages Performed by Rev. Samuel Call, 1888-1889 at NYGenWeb - free.
  

• 1895 - New York Baptist Annual, 1895. 1895. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
  

Court Records

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

History

Additional Resources

• Early Herkimer County History

Land and Property

Additional resources

Additional resources for Herkimer County, New York Genealogy land records may be found in the Herkimer 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.

Migration

Early migration routes to and from Herkimer County for European settlers included:

• Mohawk River pre-historic
• Mohawk or Iroquois Trail 1722
• Great Genesee Road 1794
• Erie Canal 1825

Military

Civil War

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: Columbia · Frankfort · German Flatts · Litchfield · Little Falls · Manheim · Norway · Ohio · Russia · Salisbury · Schuyler · Stark.

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

- 115th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company A and K

- 121st Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, G, H, I

- 152nd Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, I and K

- 153rd Regiment, New York Infantry: Company B

 

Probate Records

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): 57.

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

The petitions for Herkimer County, New York Genealogy are also available on microfilm at the Family History Library and its centers:

• 1792–1900 Listed as "Estate papers" FHL Film 847496(first of 300 films) Filed by Last letter of Surname. How to use Family History Library Catalog
  

Online Probate Indexes and Abstracts

• 1787-1835 Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787 - 1835 at New York Ancestors ($); includes Herkimer County, New York Genealogy.
  

• 1792-1917 - SAMPUBCO Browsable index of testators of wills.
  

Additional Probate Indexes and Abstracts

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

• WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
• FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Place-name Search).

Repositories

Cornell University, Guide to Historical Resources in Herkimer County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1984). At various libraries; FHL Book 974.761 A3g. Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

Archives, Libraries and Museums

Libraries

• Frank J. Basloe Public Library
  245 N. Main Street
  Herkimer, NY 13350
  Phone: 315-866-1733
  Email: LPaul@midyork.org
  Online obituary index. The Evelyn Dexter Arthur Collection is housed in th the Basloe Genealogy Room. The collection includes local files,historical maps, city directories, and the Herkimer Evening Telegraph newspaper on microfilm 1945-present. Ancestry and HeritageQuest are available.

• Ilion Free Public Library
  78 West Street
  Ilion, New York 13357
  Phone: 315-894-5028
  Local history room. Call ahead to confirm schedule.

Museums

Herkimer's Historic Four Corners
400 North Main Street
Herkimer, New York 13350
Phone: 315-866-6413
E-mail: Herkimerhistory@yahoo.com
Hours: Monday - Friday 10 am - 4 pm
July and August also on Saturdays from 10 am - 3 pm

The Historic Four Corners is composed of the 1884 Herkimer County Historical Society Suiter Building Museum, the 1834 Herkimer County Jail, the 1873 Herkimer County Courthouse and the 1834 Herkimer Reformed Church.

County Historian's Office

James M. Greiner, Historian
318 Margaret Street
Herkimer, New York 13350
Phone: 315-866-1398

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 Herkimer 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 Herkimer County are held, see the Herkimer County Courthouse page.

Family History Centers

Family History Centers (FHCs) are branches of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and are located all over the world. Their goal is to provide resources for family history research.

The main FHC for Herkimer County, New York Genealogy is the Herkimer New York Family History Center. For additional nearby Family History Centers, search online in the FHC directory.

Societies

• Herkimer County Historical Society
  400 North Main Street
  Herkimer, New York 13350
  Phone: 315-866-6413
  E-mail: Herkimerhistory@yahoo.com
  The society houses a genealogy collection including directories, biographies, cemetery files, local newspapers, family genealogies,and a will index. The society has a research fee policy listed on their website.
  
  

• Little Falls Historical Society
  319 South Ann Street
  Little Falls, NY 13365
  Phone: 315-823-0643
  E-mail: lfhistor@ntcnet.com
  
  

• Central New York Genealogical Society
  Box 104, Calvin Station
  Syracuse, New York 13205
  E-mail: CNYSG@yahoo.com

Member queries; surname research list; online resources; six meetings/year; publication: Tree Talks (At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 974.7 B2t) 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.

Social Groups Online

• Herkimer County Historical Society - Facebook.
  

• New York Genealogy Research Community (FamilySearch on Facebook)

Town Records

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.
• Journal of the Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors of Putnam County for the Year 1904 (New York: Martin B. Brown, 1905)
  
• Journal of the Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors of Putnam County for the Year 1922 (Poughkeepsie: Lansing Broas, 1923)
• List of Town Clerks, Record Managers and Historical Societies
  

The County Archives has the following records:

• 031 Petitions, Licenses, and recognizance to sell liquor (Tavern licenses) 1813-1878
• 139 Monthly Reports of Hunting and fishing licenses, 1908-1938
• 165 Certificates of Qualifications as Examiner in Lunacy, 1883-1947
  

Vital Records

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

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

• 1640–1962 New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.
  

• 1808–1850 Fred Q.Bowman, 7000 Hudson-Mohawk Valley, (NY), Vital Records, 1808-1850 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1997). At various libraries; FHL Book 974.7 V2bo. Abstracts from newspapers filed at the New York State Library in Albany.
  

• See Town Clerks' Registers of Men who Served in the Civil War in the Civil War section of Military for birth information.
  

• 1847–1848 Vital records FHL film 845911 These records are listed in individual towns in Herkimer County, and the towns are listed alphabetically. The births list name, parents name and date of birth.

• 1864-5 1000 Vital Records from 1865 Herkimer Co., NY Census at NYGenWeb - free.
  

• 1902-3 Birth & Death Notices, 1902-1903 from the Herkimer Democrat Newspaper at NYGenWeb - free.
  

Marriage

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 1934.

• 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($); At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Film 514675 Item 1 or 930131 Item 2. Marriage bonds issued in the State of New York prior to 1784, and the earliest record dating 1664.
  

• 1847–1848 Vital records FHL film 845911 These records are listed in individual towns in Herkimer County, and the towns are listed alphabetically. The marriages are listed by Bride list or Groom list and have the day the marriage took place. No parents are listed.

• 1908–1927 Marriages records(to 1927), and Index (to 1935) FHL film 845869 (first of 4 films)
  

• Herkimer County New York Marriage Record Vol. 1, pages 1-500 at USGenWeb Archives - free; includes abstracts.

Marriage Substitutes

• 1686-1980 New York Marriages, 1686–1890 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."
  

• 1808–1850 Fred Q.Bowman, 7000 Hudson-Mohawk Valley, (NY), Vital Records, 1808-1850 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1997). At various libraries; FHL Book 974.7 V2bo. Abstracts from newspapers filed at the New York State Library in Albany.
  

• 1818-1834 Marriages from the Cherry Valley Gazette 1818-1834 at NYGenWeb - free.
  

• 1849-50 The 1850 US Mortality Schedule - Herkimer County, NY at NYGenWeb - free.
  

• 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 browseable.
  

• 1864-5, 1874-5 See Marriage Schedule information in the State Census section of Census for marriage information for 1864-5, and 1874-5.
  

• 1864-5 1000 Vital Records from 1865 Herkimer Co., NY Census at NYGenWeb - free.
  

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

• 1847–1848 Vital records FHL film 845911 These records are listed in individual towns in Herkimer County, and the towns are listed alphabetically. The deaths list the name, age at death and date of death.

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 Substitutes

• 1795–1952 New York Deaths and Burials, 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."
  

• 1808–1850 Fred Q.Bowman, 7000 Hudson-Mohawk Valley, (NY), Vital Records, 1808-1850 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1997). At various libraries; FHL Book 974.7 V2bo. Abstracts from newspapers filed at the New York State Library in Albany.
  

• 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 browseable.
  

• 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.
  

• 1864-5 1000 Vital Records from 1865 Herkimer Co., NY Census at NYGenWeb - free.
  

• 1902-3 Birth & Death Notices, 1902-1903 from the Herkimer Democrat Newspaper at NYGenWeb - free.
  

• 2000-present Obituaries -- J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home: Serving Otsego and Herkimer Counties Since 1912 - free.
  

Additional Resources

Additional resources for Herkimer County births, marriages and deaths may be found in the New York, Herkimer– 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.

Websites

• The Herkimer County NYGenWeb Project, an member of The NYGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
• The USGenWeb Archives Project for Herkimer County.
• The USGenWeb Archives Project for Herkimer County. (Back up site)

To access available information, first log into FamilySearch.

Family History Library

International Genealogical Index (FamilySearch) - free