Albany County, New York Genealogy Guide
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Albany County, New York (Map It) created on November 1, 1683 as one of 12 original counties created in the New York colony. The county was named in honor of James II of England (James VII of Scotland) (1633–1701), who was Duke of York (English title) and Duke of Albany (Scottish title) before becoming King of England, Ireland, and Scotland.
Albany County Cities and Towns include Albany, Altamont, Berne, Bethlehem, Town of Colonie, Village of Colonie, Cohoes, Coeymans, Green Island, Guilderland, Knox, Menands, New Scotland, Ravena, Rensselaerville, Voorheesville, Watervliet, Westerlo.
Albany County, New York Courthouse Records
Albany County, NY Courthouse
The Albany County Courthouse is located in Albany, New York. 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. Learn More About State of New York Court, Tax, Land and Probate Records.
Please contact the each clerk's department to confirm mailing address, hours, fees and other information before visiting or requesting information because contact information sometimes changes. The Clerk's Office DOES NOT DO RESEARCH. The documents are available to interested parties, barring confidential issues. Most staff will assist people in finding the materials, but it is up to the individual to do the research.
The following dates indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in Albany county. The date listed for each category of record is usually the earliest registration filed. The earliest date does not indicate that there are numerous records for that year and does not mean that all such events were actually registered.
- Albany County Clerk has Land Records from 1656, Court Records from 1656 and 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. The 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.
- Albany County Surrogate Court Clerkhas Probate Records from 1787. 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. The 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.
- Albany County Treasurer is responsible for the collection of taxes.
- Albany 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.
Albany County, New York Census Records
- Learn More: State of New York Census Records
- U.S. Federal Population Schedules: 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragmented), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940
- U.S. Census Reconstructed Records: 1660-1820
- State Population Schedules: 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, 1925
- Other State Census Schedules: Census of Inmates in Almshouses and Poorhouses, 1830-1920, Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880, Non-Population Schedules 1850-1880
- U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
- Selected U.S. Federal Census Agriculture Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
- Selected U.S. Federal Census Industry Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
- Union Veterans Schedules: 1890
Albany County, New York Vital Records
- Learn More: State of New York Vital Records
- Birth and Death Records: from 1880 to present
- Marriage Records: from 1880 to present
- Divorce Records: from January 1963 to present. Earlier Records are in the County Clerk's Office.
- Locations: New York State Dept of Health, Vital Records Section
- Vital Records Online: USAVital or Social Security Death Index
- Vital Records by Mail: Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate, Genealogy Applications.
- In Person: New York State Dept of Health, Vital Records Section, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237; (518) 474-3077, (518) 474-3038 Information
Albany County, New York Resources
- State of New York Archives and Societies
- RAOGK Volunteers for New York
- Albany County Hall of Records
- New York Genealogy Research Community
- Albany County, New York Message Boards
- Albany County, New York Genealogy Forum
Albany County, New York External Links
- Historical Newspapers from New York (1719 - 1992)
- Albany authors : a list of books
- Albany County, New York Books - Amazon
- Proceedings of the Legislature of the state of New York
- Minutes of the Court of Rensselaerswyck, 1648-1652
- Albany, New York State Census, 1915
- New York: State Census of Albany County Towns in 1790
- Albany Co., New York - FindaGrave
- Albany, New York Church Records, 1683-1700
- Members of the Fourth Presbyterian Church in the city of Albany, 1836
- Fourth Presbyterian Church
- A collection of historical records of the State Street Presbyterian Church of Albany, New York
- Rensselaerswyck, New York Settlers, 1630-58
- The Berne Historical Project
- Early Albany County, NY History
- Collections on the history of Albany : from its discovery to the present time, with notices of its public institutions, and bio
- The history of the city of Albany, New York
- History of the Albany Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 1852-1927
- Albany County, New York Links - Cyndi's List
- Albany Co. NYGenweb
- Troy, New York City Directory, 1890
- Albany, New York Directories, 1889-91
- Union College masters and undergraduate theses relating to the Capital district of New York State, and to the state government
- Albany County, New York Ancestry Database Collections
- Albany's part in the World War
- Albany County, New York Military Records