Niagara County NYGenWeb Project:
Niagara County Genealogy Resources

Research assistance

• Niagara County genealogy research lists at RootsWeb -- talk to hundreds of other folks researching ancestry in Niagara County!
  (NYNIAGAR concentrates on genealogy, including name-place-date queries, and Niagara County local history; NYNIAGAR-FOLKS is for those interested in sharing more details which flesh out their family stories.)
• The RootsWeb Surname List -- check your Niagara County surnames
• The WorldConnect Project at RootsWeb -- find others researching the same Niagara County ancestors here!
• GENDEX WWW Genealogical Index -- another way to connect with researchers of the same folks you're looking for

Genealogy resources -- New York and general

• Records in the New York State Archives Useful for Genealogical Research describes holdings of vital records indexes, military service records, census records, Indian records, property transfer and tax records, court records, naturalization records, marriage records, prison/reformatory records, poorhouse censuses, maps, and microfilmed local records.
• The New York State Library (housed in the same building as the Archives) holds printed histories on individual families; surname records; vital records; city directories; and a collection of lineage and vital records compiled by the DAR.
• The Family History Library's New York Research Outline is required reading for all New York genealogists.
• Cyndi's List -- New York. Simply the most comprehensive list of links imaginable, all neatly categorized by type; don't miss this page.
• Chris Andrle's Upstate New York Genealogy site. Note that:
  • Chris's Understanding New York State political divisions is especially helpful for researchers new to New York.
  • Also useful to beginners is Chris's article on Brick Walls and Dead Ends in New York State.
• United States Resources: New York (from the ROOTS-L folks)
• The NYGenWeb Project is our parent site, and has more state-wide resources this page can't begin to list.

Genealogy resources -- Western New York

• Cynthia Van Ness's Roots: The Buffalo, New York Genealogy Forum (covers the eight counties of Western New York) -- this is a don't-miss site!
• Western New York State Genealogy Research: Frequently Asked Questions
• Doing Genealogy Research in Western New York: Resources & Organizations, from the Western New York Library Resources Council
• The Seneca Nation of Indians: Genealogy Information

Genealogy resources -- Niagara-specific

• The LDS Church's Family History Library Catalog: New York, Niagara -- hundreds of microfilmed documents from Niagara County, available for borrowing by researchers!
• RootsWeb's resource page for Niagara County, NY -- links to a variety of databases
• The USGenWeb Project Archives -- Niagara County, NY

Baptismal lists

• St. Mary's German Church, Lockport, NY

Cemeteries

• Niagara (County), NY Cemeteries (describes locations of dozens of cemeteries; organized by town)
• The Political Graveyard: Niagara County, N.Y.

Niagara County cemeteries online

• St. Patrick's, Town of Hartland
• Oakwood-Presbyterian-Municipal, Village of Lewiston
• Mt. Calvary, Lockport
• Stahler, Lockport
• LeValley, Middleport [This cemetery listing appears to have been taken offline; information on any similar transcription would be appreciated.]
• Good Shepherd RC, Pendleton

Other cemetery resources

• Erie County, New York Cemeteries Past and Present
  
• Cemeteries of New York
• Saving Graves: New York
• Cemetery Junction: New York
• List of VA National Cemeteries from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Census records

Niagara County has a wealth of census records available for research. Since its formation in 1808, the county has participated in all federal censuses, so every decennial census from 1810 to 1920 is available (except the 1890, which burned). A few supplements to the federal census are also available for Niagara County:

• 1820: industrial schedules
• 1840: Revolutionary War pensioners
• 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880: agricultural, industrial, and mortality schedules
• 1890: Union Civil War veterans

Aside from the usual federal census indexes, there is an 1880 index done specifically for Niagara County; it can be borrowed on microfilm through an LDS Family History Center. (In 2001, the LDS church also published a national index of the 1880 census on CD-ROM.)

In addition, the various New York state censuses are available for Niagara County: these were done in 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, and 1925. All can be borrowed on microfilm through LDS Family History Centers; some can be found in well-stocked genealogical libraries. None, however, has been indexed.

At present, very few census transcriptions are online for Niagara County. Exceptions include:

• 1810 Federal Census -- Towns of Pomfret and Chautauqua, NY. (Pomfret is now in Chautauqua County, though it was in southern Niagara -- which then included present-day Erie County -- in 1810.)

A handful of census indexes have been made available for towns in Niagara County. These include:

• 1855 Index -- Town of Hartland
• 1875 Index -- Town of Newfane

For other partial (or fragmentary) census indexes between 1850 and 1875, see Niagara County, New York: Surname Census Index.

Genealogical societies

• Niagara County Genealogical Society
• Western New York Genealogical Society
• New York Genealogical & Biographical Society

Other genealogical societies, libraries, and museums, like the Niagara County Genealogical Society Research Library, are listed on the Niagara County genealogy society resources page. (For other types of libraries in Niagara County, see the "Historical resources" page.)

Home pages

• Genealogy-related home pages with Niagara County roots

Please contact [email protected] if you know of any home pages related to Niagara County that you would like to see linked from this site.

Land records/deeds

• The Holland Purchase of Western New York -- Deed. From the 1850 book Pioneer History of the Holland Purchase of Western New York, by Orsamus Turner, this "reflects the majority of the land purchases sold by the Holland Company to various individuals in New York" from 1801 to 1806, with some later purchasers listed as well. [This file has vanished from the NYGenWeb Archives; your coordinator is trying to track down its new location.]
• Holland Land Papers at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society

Ship passenger information

• Immigrants to Canada
• The Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild
• The ShipsList Home Page
• Cimorelli Immigration Manifests Online
• Immigrant Ship Information -- ship descriptions

Stories of Niagara County people

• Kim Alexis (supermodel/actor, born in Lockport)
• Lou Rosselli

Do you have a story regarding a person from Niagara County to tell -- past or present? Submit it today!

Vital Records

• Obtaining New York State Records for Genealogy Purposes


• Niagara County Clerk
  By mail: P.O. Box 461, Lockport, NY 14094-0461
  In person: Courthouse, 175 Hawley Street, Lockport
  Telephone: 716-439-7022
  Fax: 716-439-7066


• Niagara Falls City Clerk
  745 Main Street
  Niagara Falls, NY 14301

As of mid-1998, the fee for a copy of birth or death records is $10. The Niagara Falls City Clerk's Office does not accept personal checks for copies of birth or death records -- money orders only.

Wills

• SAMPUBCO provides photocopies of Niagara County wills (1820-1901) for as little as $8 per will. Check first to see whether a transcript has already been made and posted to the appropriate RootsWeb message board or USGenWeb Archive! Be sure, however, to read the search and order instructions carefully.

Copyright © 2000-2004 by Niagara County, NYGenWeb Project. All rights reserved.
Links last checked: October 2004