Westchester 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 ∣

Westchester 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 Westchester Co., ancestors. Begin by building a Free Family Tree.

Westchester County

Westchester County was created on November 1, 1683 as One of 12 original counties created in the New York colony. This particular county was named for the city of Chester in England .

The Westchester County Seat can be found in White Plains and in addition the county government website is www3.westchestergov.com/

Regions neighboring Westchester County include Putnam County (north), Fairfield County, CT (northeast), Bergen County, NJ (southwest), Rockland County (west), Bronx County (south).

Cities and Towns to be found in Westchester County consists of Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Peekskill, Rye, White Plains, Yonkers, Bedford, Cortlandt, Eastchester, Greenburgh, Harrison, Lewisboro, Mamaroneck, Mount Kisco, Mount Pleasant, New Castle, North Castle, North Salem, Ossining, Pelham, Pound Ridge, Town of Rye, Scarsdale, Somers, Yorktown. Villages include Ardsley, Briarcliff Manor, Bronxville, Buchanan, Croton-on-Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, Elmsford, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Ossining, Pelham, Pelham Manor, Pleasantville, Port Chester, Rye Brook, Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, Tuckahoe. Communities include Amawalk, Armonk, Baldwin Place, Banksville, Bedford, Bedford Hills, Bedford Village, Chappaqua, Cortlandt Manor, Crompond, Cross River, Croton Falls, Crugers, Eastchester, Eastview, Fairview, Golden's Bridge, Granite Springs, Greenville/Edgemont, Hartsdale, Hawthorne, Heritage Hills, Jefferson Valley-Yorktown, Katonah, Lake Mohegan, Lincolndale, Millwood, Montrose, Peach Lake, Pocantico Hills, Purchase, Purdys, Salem Center, Scotts Corners, Shenorock, Shrub Oak, Somers, South Salem, Thornwood, Tompkins Corners, Valhalla, Verplanck, Vista, Waccabuc, Yorktown Heights

Westchester County does have Federal Census Schedules to help in looking into your family tree. United states federal Population Schedules are present for 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940. Westchester Co. Mortality Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Westchester Co. Industry and Agriculture is available for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Westchester 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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Westchester County Societies and Family History Resources

A list of Westchester 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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Westchester County Courthouse and Government Records

Researchers frequently overlook the significance of Westchester 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 Westchester 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 specifics denotes whatever birth, death, marriage, land, probate, and legal records will be in Westchester County. The years pointed out listed below tend to be the first known records in this county.

  • Westchester County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
    • Address: 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, White Plains, NY 10601
    • 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.
  • Westchester 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. Records, with indexes for 1680—1897, are held at the Records Center and Archives. Later deed records are with the county clerk
    • Phone: 914-995-3080
    • Land Records: 1683 (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: 1683
    • 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.
  • Westchester 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.
    • Address: 140 Grand Street 8th Floor, White Plains, NY 10601
    • Phone: 914-824-5656
    • Probate Records: 1775 (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)
  • Westchester County Treasurer is responsible for the collection of taxes.
  • Westchester 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: 2199 Saw Mill River Road, Elmsford, NY 10523
    • Phone: 914–592-4323
  • 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.
New York Historical Records - Databases include New York Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; New York Birth, Marriage & Death Records; New York Voter Lists & Census Records; New York Immigration & Emigration Records; New York Obituary Records; New York Military Records; New York Family Tree Records; New York Pictures; New York Stories, Memories & Histories; New York Directories & Member Lists and much more....
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Westchester County Genealogy Links

The following are web links to Family history and genealogy, Records and Resources relevant to Westchester 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 Westchester County genealogy or family history related sites.

Westchester Co. NY Books, Newspapers & Publications

Westchester Co. NY Birth, Marriage & Death Records

Westchester Co. NY Court, Probate Land and Tax Records

Westchester Co. NY Census Records

Westchester Co. NY Cemeteries & Graveyards

Westchester Co. NY Church & Bible Records

Westchester Co. NY Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

Westchester Co. NY General and History Websites

Westchester Co. NY Immigration & Naturalization

Westchester Co. NY Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

Westchester Co. NY Military Records

Westchester Co. NY Schools & Directories

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