Search Southampton Genealogy

Southampton genealogy records stretch further back than most towns in New York. The Town Clerk holds vital records from 1881, but the town's colonial records go all the way to the 1600s. Eight volumes of historic town documents are available through the town website, covering land grants, court proceedings, and community records from the earliest days of English settlement on Long Island. Suffolk County provides land deeds, naturalization papers, and probate files from 1683. Between the town, the county, and state archives, Southampton gives genealogy researchers an unusually deep set of records to work with.

Southampton Town Clerk Genealogy Records

The Southampton Town Clerk keeps birth, death, and marriage records from 1881 to the present, with some earlier records also on file. The office is at Town Hall, 116 Hampton Road, Southampton, NY 11968. Phone is (631) 702-2238.

Southampton stands out because the town has preserved its "Books of Records of the Town of Southampton with other Ancient Documents of Historic Value." These eight volumes are available on the town website and cover colonial-era records going back to the town's founding around 1640. They include land transactions, court minutes, tax lists, and other documents that name early residents and their families. For anyone with deep Long Island roots, these books are a treasure.

Under Public Health Law Sections 4173 and 4174, birth certificates become available for genealogy after 75 years if the subject has died. Death records open after 50 years. Marriage records need 50 years and proof that both parties have passed away. You can request records in person or by mail. Include the full name, approximate date, and the type of record you need.

Suffolk County Records for Southampton Genealogy

The Suffolk County Clerk holds land records, court records, naturalization records, and business certificates for all of Suffolk County. Suffolk was one of the original 12 counties formed in 1683, so the record trail goes back centuries. The office is at 310 Center Drive, Riverhead, NY 11901. Phone is (631) 852-2000. Naturalization records are searchable online through the clerk's website.

The Suffolk County Surrogate's Court has probate records from 1683 to the present. Wills, estate inventories, and administration papers can reveal family relationships that other records don't capture. The court is at 320 Center Drive, Riverhead, NY 11901. Phone is (631) 852-1746.

The Suffolk County Historical Society in Riverhead holds an extensive collection that includes account books, deeds, wills, census records on microfilm, letters, diaries, maps, photographs, and family files. The Daughters of the Revolution collection within the society has genealogies, cemetery transcriptions, ancestor charts, and family Bible records. This is a strong resource for Southampton genealogy and broader Long Island family research in Suffolk County.

State Genealogy Resources for Southampton

The New York State Archives holds vital records indexes for all of New York outside New York City. Birth indexes run through 1937. Death and marriage indexes open after 50 years. Use the file number from the index to order a copy from the NYS Department of Health or from the Southampton Town Clerk.

The Department of Health fee is $22 for a three-year search. Processing takes eight months or longer. Going to the town clerk first is faster if you know the event happened in Southampton. The Patchogue-Medford Library on Long Island is one of the official repositories for the state vital records index microfiche, which is closer than traveling to Albany.

New York State Census records were taken in 1825, 1835, 1845, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, and 1925. These can capture details the federal census missed. Reclaim The Records makes the full New York State Death Index from 1880 to 2017 available for free download, including Southampton deaths.

Smithtown Library Genealogy Collection

The Smithtown Public Library at 1 North Country Road, Smithtown, NY 11787 holds the Richard H. Handley Collection of Long Island Americana. This is one of the best Long Island genealogy collections with thousands of books on local history, hundreds of maps, newspapers on microfilm, family files, and Suffolk County historical materials. Phone is (631) 265-2072. For Southampton families who had ties across the island, the Handley Collection can fill in links that town and county records miss.

The collection also includes church records, cemetery transcriptions, and personal papers from Long Island families going back to the colonial era. Since Southampton was one of the first English settlements on Long Island, the overlap between this collection and Southampton genealogy is strong. Even if your search starts and ends in Southampton, the Handley Collection may hold a family file or map that puts your ancestors in a broader context.

FamilySearch also has free New York records including census, church, and probate files for the Southampton area. Check for digitized town records and church records that might not be on the town website.

Nearby Cities for Genealogy

Long Island families moved between towns on the East End and across Suffolk and Nassau counties. These places may have records for your Southampton family lines.

State Genealogy Records for Southampton

The New York State Department of Health keeps birth, death, and marriage records from 1881 onward for areas outside New York City. Birth certificates open after 75 years if the person is known to be dead. Death records open after 50 years. Under Public Health Law Sections 4173 and 4174, direct-line descendants can request records sooner with proof of the family link. Fees start at $22 for a three-year search period. Going through the Southampton Town Clerk for local events is often much faster than the state office.

Reclaim The Records released the full New York State Death Index from 1880 to 2017, covering over 10 million records. Southampton genealogy researchers can search this free database for ancestors who died anywhere in the state. Names, death dates, ages, and state file numbers are all included. The FamilySearch catalog also has probate and church records for many Suffolk County towns, including Southampton. These free records can fill gaps that vital records leave behind.