Cattaraugus County Genealogy

Cattaraugus County genealogy records go back to 1808 when the county split from Genesee County in western New York. The county seat is Little Valley, with a satellite clerk office in Olean. Researchers can search land deeds, court files, naturalization papers, marriage records, and state census rolls through the county clerk. The historian, surrogate's court, and a county museum round out the local resources for family history work. Genealogy societies covering the tri-county area also help with cemetery records and research guides for Cattaraugus County and its neighbors.

Cattaraugus County Clerk Records

The Cattaraugus County Clerk has two offices. The main one is at 303 Court Street, Little Valley, NY 14755. A satellite office sits at 1 Leo Moss Drive, Olean, NY 14760. Land records from 1808 to the present include deeds, mortgages, and liens. Court records from the same year cover Supreme Court and County Court cases. Marriage records run from 1908 to 1935. Naturalization records span 1814 to 1972.

Land records are indexed by grantor and grantee. An online search is available through the county website. Copy fees are $0.65 per page with certification at $5.00 per document. Pay by cash, check, or money order. Phone is (716) 938-2226. New York State Census records for Cattaraugus County cover 1825 through 1925, filling in between the federal census years with details like birthplace and occupation.

Cattaraugus County Genealogy Collections

The Cattaraugus County Historical Museum at 9824 Route 16, Machias, NY 14101 has photographs, documents, and artifacts from across the county. The research library is open by appointment.

Contact the museum at (716) 353-8200 to arrange a research visit. The collections can help put your family tree in context with the local area.

The Cattaraugus County Historian at 303 Court Street, Little Valley keeps cemetery records, church records, family genealogies, local history files, maps, and town histories for every town in the county. Basic help is free, with copy fees for reproductions. The historian can point you to town historians who sometimes have records not kept at the county level. Phone is (716) 938-2227.

Cattaraugus County Vital Records

The NYS Department of Health holds Cattaraugus County vital records from 1881 onward. Birth certificates are available after 75 years if the person is dead. Death records open after 50 years. Marriage records need 50 years with both spouses deceased. Fees start at $22 for a three-year search.

Processing takes eight months or more. Under Public Health Law Sections 4173 and 4174, direct descendants can get records sooner with proof of the family link and proof of death. Sending a request straight to the town clerk where the event happened is often faster than going through the state. Early compliance with statewide registration was spotty, so some records from the 1880s and 1890s may be missing.

Probate Records in Cattaraugus County

The Cattaraugus County Surrogate's Court at 303 Court Street, Little Valley, NY 14755 holds probate records from 1808 to the present. Wills, estate administrations, and guardianship records are all available. Under the Surrogate's Court Procedure Act, the surrogate's court proves wills and handles estate settlement for county residents.

Probate records are indexed by the decedent's name. Visit in person or send a written request by mail with the decedent's name and date of death. The court does not accept email requests. Call (716) 938-2939 for the current fee schedule. The FamilySearch catalog may have microfilmed surrogate's court records for Cattaraugus County that you can browse online or at a FamilySearch center.

Genealogy Societies for Cattaraugus County

The Painted Hills Genealogy Society covers Cattaraugus, Allegany, and Steuben counties. They keep cemetery transcriptions, census records, family genealogies, and research guides for the tri-county area. A quarterly newsletter shares findings and updates. Contact them at PO Box 681, Angelica, NY 14709.

These local societies can be a real help when your research hits a wall. Members often have knowledge of family connections and local sources that do not show up in official records. They know the cemeteries, the old church records, and the family files that may hold the missing piece for your Cattaraugus County genealogy.

Land and Military Records

Land deeds from 1808 are at the county clerk. The NYS Archives has state land sale records from 1786 to 1927 that may include Cattaraugus County parcels from early settlement days. Land records name buyers and sellers and describe property, which helps trace family connections when vital records are thin.

Military records at the NYS Archives cover conflicts from the colonial era through World War I. Civil War muster roll abstracts and pension records can confirm dates, units, and service details for Cattaraugus County ancestors. New York residents can access many of these records free through Ancestry's New York partnership.

Note: Online land record searches through the county website can save a trip to Little Valley or Olean.

FamilySearch and Ancestry for Cattaraugus County Genealogy

FamilySearch has microfilmed many Cattaraugus County records. Check the catalog under "New York, Cattaraugus" for probate files, church records, and town clerk records. Federal census records from 1810 to 1950 are indexed and free. New York residents also get free access to colonial wills and state census data through Ancestry.com New York. The county has a satellite clerk office in Olean at 1 Leo Moss Drive, which is more convenient for researchers coming from the south.

Reclaim The Records released the full New York State Death Index from 1880 to 2017 for free after a 2025 court win. This covers Cattaraugus County deaths with names, dates, ages, and state file numbers you can use when ordering copies.

Nearby Counties

Counties near Cattaraugus County with their own genealogy record pages.