Chautauqua County, New York Genealogy

∣ Societies and Family History Resources ∣ Government Records ∣ Genealogy Links ∣ Publications ∣ Census Records ∣
∣ Court, Probate, Land and Tax Records ∣ Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records and Death Records ∣
∣ Cemeteries & Graveyards ∣ Church & Bible Records ∣ County History ∣ Military Records ∣ Schools & Directories ∣

Chautauqua County, New York family history and genealogy research page. Uncover links to record collections, history, and genealogy information to help you you track your own Chautauqua Co., ancestors. Begin by building a Free Family Tree.

Chautauqua County

Chautauqua County was created on March 11, 1808 from Genesee County. This particular county was named for a Seneca word of uncertain meaning.

The Chautauqua County Seat can be found in Mayville and in addition the county government website is www.chautauqua-ny.com

Regions neighboring Chautauqua County include Erie County (northeast), Cattaraugus County (east), Warren County, PA (southeast), Erie County, PA (southwest).

Cities and Towns to be found in Chautauqua County consists of Dunkirk, Jamestown, Arkwright, Busti, Carroll, Charlotte, Chautauqua, Cherry Creek, Clymer, Dunkirk, Ellery, Ellicott, Ellington, French Creek, Gerry, Hanover, Harmony, Kiantone, Mina, North Harmony, Poland, Pomfret, Portland, Ripley, Sheridan, Sherman, Stockton, Villenova, Westfield. Villages include Bemus Point, Brocton, Cassadaga, Celoron, Cherry Creek, Falconer, Forestville, Fredonia, Lakewood, Mayville, Panama, Sherman, Silver Creek, Sinclairville, Westfield. Hamlets include Frewsburg, Laona, Hamlet, Irving, Maple Springs.

Chautauqua County does have Federal Census Schedules to help in looking into your family tree. United states federal Population Schedules are present for 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940. Chautauqua Co. Mortality Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Chautauqua Co. Industry and Agriculture is available for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Chautauqua Co. Union Veterans Schedules can be obtained for 1890. You can get free downloadable and also printable census forms that can help with your research.

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Chautauqua County Societies and Family History Resources

A list of Chautauqua County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See Also New York Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.

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Chautauqua County Courthouse and Government Records

Researchers frequently overlook the significance of Chautauqua County court, probate, and land documents as a resource of family history and genealogy details. Buried away in New York courthouses and archives just about everywhere could be the aspirations and worries of the many New York men and women.

The possibilities are excellent that your particular ancestors and forefathers have left a comprehensive document of at least a number of factors of their lives in the Chautauqua County court records. Even if your forebears is not discussed in a Court case, contemplate all of the other procedures that could have lead to him or her appearing in court records.

Please make sure to contact the clerk's office to verify hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics prior to visiting or inquiring information because of occasionally changing contact details. The Department Offices DO NOT DO RESEARCH. The files are readily available to interested parties, barring confidential issues. A good number of staff will help people in locating the resources, however it is up to the person to carry out the research.

The following indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in Chautauqua county. The dates indicated below are the first known records for each county. Chautauqua was attached to Niagara County until 1811, but records kept in Buffalo were burned by the British in 1813.

  • Chautauqua County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
    • Address: 3 North Erie, Mayville, NY 14757-1007
    • Also contact local Town Clerks. They are responsible for vast amounts of local information from deeds, property transfers, and genealogical materials. Research on place and road names, the history of property transfers and much more are available through your Town Clerk. They are a tremendous resources.
  • Chautauqua County Clerk  is the keeper of most civil and criminal trial court records for Supreme Court and County Court, naturalizations, marriages (1908–35), censuses (Some county clerks' offices hold duplicate copies of some of the State censuses taken periodically between 1825 and 1925 and copies of the federal census), as well as deeds and mortgages.
    • Address: 1 North Erie Street, PO Box 170, Mayville, New York 14757
    • Phone: 716 753-4331
    • Land Records: 1811 (Land conveyances, deeds and mortgages are recorded in the county clerks' offices or in the New York City Register's Office. Recording of deeds became mandatory statewide in 1840. Before that many deeds were not recorded)
    • Court Records: 1811
    • Naturalization Records: State court naturalization records remain in custody of the county clerks. Older court naturalization records have been transferred to the National Archives--Northeast Region.
  • Chautauqua County Surrogate Court Clerk maintain records of wills, letters testamentary, letters of administration, orders and decrees, and appointments of guardians; and filed papers, including original wills, petitions for probate (gives date of death and lists next of kin), performance bonds, property inventories (seldom found after ca. 1900), administrator's or executor's accountings, etc. Surrogate's Courts create comprehensive indexes to records and files.
    • Phone: 716 753-4339
    • Probate Records: 1811 (each county generally has records dating back to the establishment of the county or 1787, whichever was later. Record keeping was systematized by an 1830 statute)
  • Chautauqua County Treasurer is responsible for the collection of taxes.
  • Chautauqua County Historian maintains archival holdings for virtually every facet of the county’s history. In New York State, every municipality (town, city, village, county) must have an appointed historian. Most of the towns have their own historians as well and each can be contacted. 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.
    • Address: 1 North Erie Street, Mayville, New York 14757
    • Phone: 716-753-4857
  • New York Department of Health has copies of birth records after 1881 and death records after 1880, copies of marriage since 1881 (A marriage license may also sometimes be found in the office of the town or city clerk who issued the license) and a Divorce records since 1847 (Is handled in the supreme court for the county in which the divorce was heard. Divorce files, however, are sealed for one hundred years). There is a fee for each copy requested. Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.
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Chautauqua County Genealogy Links

The following are web links to Family history and genealogy, Records and Resources relevant to Chautauqua County. Most of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Business oriented Sites, Private Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some have to have a cost. This is simply a listing that has been compiled or submitted. I do not recommend or promote one genealogy site over another. Feel free to suggest your own favorite Chautauqua County genealogy or family history related sites.

Chautauqua Co. NY Books, Newspapers & Publications

Chautauqua Co. NY Birth, Marriage & Death Records

Chautauqua Co. NY Court, Probate Land and Tax Records

Chautauqua Co. NY Census Records

Chautauqua Co. NY Cemeteries & Graveyards

Chautauqua Co. NY Church & Bible Records

Chautauqua Co. NY Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

Chautauqua Co. NY General and History Websites

Chautauqua Co. NY Immigration & Naturalization

Chautauqua Co. NY Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

Chautauqua Co. NY Military Records

Chautauqua Co. NY Schools & Directories

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