Genesee County Genealogy

Genesee County genealogy records go back to 1802 when the county was formed from Ontario County in western New York. The county seat is Batavia, and that is where the clerk's office, surrogate's court, and county historian are all based. Genesee County was once much larger than it is now. Several other counties were carved from it over the years, including Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming. If your ancestors lived in this part of the state before those splits, their early records may be in Genesee County files.

Genesee County Clerk Records

The Genesee County Clerk at 1 West Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 is the primary office for genealogy research in this county.

The clerk holds land records from 1802 to the present day, including deeds, mortgages, and liens. Court records from the same year cover both Supreme Court and County Court filings.

Marriage records are on file for 1908 through 1934. Naturalization records run from 1834 to 1962 and can help you trace immigrant ancestors who came through western New York. The New York State Census records for 1825 through 1925 are part of the collection too. These state counts fill in the years between federal censuses and often have more household detail.

The land records use a grantor and grantee index. Searching by name and date is straightforward. You can visit in person during regular hours or send a mail request. Copy fees are $0.65 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 each. Phone (585) 344-2550 for hours and more details.

Genesee County Historian and Genealogy

The Genesee County Historian at 1 West Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 keeps family files, cemetery records, church records, and local history materials. The historian can help point you to the right source if you are stuck. Call (585) 344-2551 to set up a time.

New York law requires each county to have a historian who collects and preserves local history. The Genesee County Historian has vertical files sorted by surname and by topic. Cemetery transcriptions are a big part of the collection and can help you find burial locations for ancestors. Church records held here may include baptisms, marriages, and deaths that pre-date civil registration. These are especially valuable for the early 1800s when government record-keeping was still getting started in this part of the state.

Genesee County Probate Records

The Genesee County Surrogate's Court at 1 West Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 holds probate records from 1802 to the present. These files cover wills, estate inventories, letters of administration, and guardianship records. Each county surrogate's court in New York has handled these matters since 1787.

Probate files often name family members you will not find in other records. A will can list a spouse, each child, grandchildren, and sometimes friends or business partners. Estate inventories describe what a person owned. Even if your ancestor did not leave a will, the court would have appointed an administrator, usually a close relative, and that record still exists. Send a written request by mail with the name and date of death. Call (585) 344-2552 for fees.

Vital Records for Genesee County Genealogy

The NYS Department of Health holds birth, death, and marriage records for Genesee County from 1881 onward. Early years had gaps in coverage. Birth records open after 75 years if the person is dead. Death records need 50 years. Marriages require 50 years and proof both spouses have died. Fees start at $22 for a three-year search.

Processing takes up to eight months. Going to the local town clerk can be faster. The New York State Archives in Albany has vital records indexes on microfiche. Finding the certificate number first will save you time and money with the state. New York State Census records for Genesee County cover 1825 through 1925 and can give you details that vital records miss, like occupation and birthplace. The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library also keeps copies of the state vital records indexes on microfiche and is an easy drive from Batavia.

Land Records in Genesee County

Land records at the clerk's office start in 1802. The Holland Land Company was the major landowner in this part of New York during the early 1800s, and many early deeds trace back to purchases from that company. The NYS Archives land records hold colonial patents and state land grants that cover the broader western New York region.

Because Genesee County was the parent county for so many others, early land records here may cover properties that are now in a different county. If you are researching family land in what is now Orleans, Wyoming, or Livingston County, check Genesee County records for the years before those counties were formed. Land deeds name buyers, sellers, and witnesses, making them useful when vital records have gaps.

State Genealogy Resources for Genesee County

The New York State Archives in Albany holds more than 200 million documents. For Genesee County, you can find vital records indexes, military service abstracts, land patents, and court records. The archives are free and no appointment is needed. Bring a photo ID. The New York State Library is in the same building and has the Local History and Genealogy section with family histories and reference guides. The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library at 1 Lafayette Square in Buffalo also has copies of the vital records indexes on microfiche. That location is closer to Genesee County than Albany for in-person research.

The Genesee County Historian at 1 West Main Street in Batavia keeps family files, cemetery records, church records, and local history materials. Phone is (585) 344-2551.

Nearby Counties

Counties near Genesee County with their own genealogy record collections.