Huntington, New York Genealogy

Huntington genealogy records benefit from the town's long history. Huntington was first settled in 1653, making it one of the oldest communities on Long Island. The town clerk keeps birth, death, and marriage records from 1881 to the present. The Huntington Historical Society holds local history collections, family papers, and photographs. Suffolk County adds land deeds, naturalization papers, court files, and probate records dating to 1683 when the county was formed. Before 1872, Huntington also covered what is now the Town of Babylon, so early Huntington records may include ancestors from that area as well.

Huntington Town Clerk Vital Records

The Huntington Town Clerk maintains birth records, death records, and marriage records from 1881 to the present. The office is at Town Hall, 100 Main Street, Huntington, NY 11743.

You can visit in person to search indexes and get copies. Mail requests are accepted too. Include the full name, date or approximate date, type of record, and a statement that this is for genealogy. Fees are typically $10 to $20 per copy. Under state law, birth certificates open for genealogy after 75 years if the person is known dead. Death certificates are available after 50 years.

Huntington's records may also include some vital events from the brief 1847 to 1849 period when New York asked school districts to collect statistics. Those early files are scarce, but the town's long settlement history means other sources can sometimes fill in before 1881.

Huntington Historical Society Genealogy

The Huntington Historical Society maintains local history collections, family papers, photographs, and a research library. The society is based in Huntington, NY. For a town with roots going back to 1653, the historical society is a valuable complement to official records.

Family papers, old photographs, and local histories at the society can break through dead ends that government records leave behind. Early Huntington was a farming and fishing community, and records from churches, cemeteries, and local organizations sometimes capture details that official files do not.

The Huntington Public Library also has a local history collection with newspapers, genealogy resources, and other materials that help with Huntington family research.

Suffolk County Records for Huntington Genealogy

The Suffolk County Clerk holds land records including deeds, mortgages, and liens, along with naturalization records, court records, and business certificates. Suffolk County was one of the original New York counties formed in 1683. Naturalization records are searchable through the clerk's office website. The office is at 310 Center Drive, Riverhead, NY 11901. Phone is (631) 852-2000.

The Suffolk County Surrogate's Court has probate records from 1683 to the present. Wills, estate files, and guardianship records are on file. The court is at 320 Center Drive, Riverhead, NY 11901. Phone is (631) 852-1746. Probate files often show family relationships and property transfers that other records miss.

The Suffolk County Historical Society in Riverhead holds account books, deeds, wills, census records on microfilm, letters, diaries, photographs, maps, and family files. The Daughters of the Revolution collection includes genealogies, cemetery transcriptions, ancestor charts, and Bible records. The address is 300 West Main Street, Riverhead, NY 11901. Phone is (631) 727-2881.

Long Island Genealogy for Huntington

The Smithtown Library Richard H. Handley Collection is one of the premier Long Island genealogy collections. It holds thousands of Long Island history and genealogy books, hundreds of maps, newspapers on microfilm, and family files. The library is at 1 North Country Road, Smithtown, NY 11787. Phone is (631) 265-2072. The collection covers all of Suffolk County including Huntington.

Before 1872, Huntington included what is now the Town of Babylon. If your ancestors were in the southern part of old Huntington, records may now be split between the two towns. Checking with the Babylon Town Clerk for post-1872 records from that area can fill gaps.

For broader Suffolk County genealogy, the county historian and local town historians can provide guidance on locating records.

Church records are another important source for Huntington genealogy. Many Huntington families attended churches that kept their own baptismal, marriage, and burial registers. Some of these church records go back to the 1600s and 1700s, well before any government vital records. Cemetery transcriptions for Huntington-area burial grounds are available through genealogy groups and FamilySearch. Old Huntington graveyards can provide names, dates, and family connections that no other source preserves.

State Resources for Huntington Genealogy

The New York State Archives in Albany holds vital records indexes on microfiche for births from 1881, marriages from 1881, and deaths from 1880. The Patchogue-Medford Library is the closest official repository for these indexes on Long Island. Index entries include names, dates, places, and state file numbers.

The NYS Department of Health charges $22 for a three-year search, going up to $202. Processing takes eight months or longer. The Huntington Town Clerk is usually faster.

The New York State Census was taken in 1825, 1835, 1845, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, and 1925. For a town settled in 1653, these state census records add valuable data points between the federal counts. They can list details like years of residence that federal census takers did not ask about. The records are at the State Archives and on Ancestry.com, free for New York residents.

Reclaim The Records released the full New York State Death Index from 1880 to 2017 for free. Over 10 million records are available, including Huntington deaths with names, dates, ages, and file numbers. FamilySearch has also microfilmed many Suffolk County probate and land records, and some are digitized and available free online.

Nearby Cities for Genealogy

Long Island families moved between towns often. These nearby places may hold records on your Huntington ancestors.