Putnam County Genealogy Records

Putnam County genealogy records date back to 1812 when the county split from Dutchess County in the lower Hudson Valley. The county seat is Carmel, which is where the clerk and court offices are based. This is a small county with just six towns, but it has a long settlement history going back to the 1600s under Dutch and English colonial rule. The county clerk, county archives, surrogate's court, and Putnam County History Museum all hold records for family history work. State census records are mostly lost for this county, which makes other sources all the more important.

Putnam County Clerk Genealogy Records

The Putnam County Clerk at 40 Gleneida Avenue, Carmel, NY 10512 is the primary office for genealogy records in this county. Land records go from 1812 to the present, including deeds, mortgages, and liens. Court records from the same year cover Supreme Court filings and other county court matters. Marriage records are on file for 1908 through 1935. Naturalization records are also available.

State census records for Putnam County are mostly lost. The only surviving fragments are the 1825 census for the Town of Patterson (held at the Southeast Museum in Brewster) and the 1845 census for the towns of Kent and Philipstown (held at the New-York Historical Society in Manhattan). This makes other record types especially important for Putnam County genealogy.

Call (845) 808-1142 for hours and fee information. In-person research is welcome during business hours. Mail requests are accepted. Standard copy fees apply. Before Putnam County existed, records for this area were kept in Dutchess County, so you may need to check there for anything before 1812.

Putnam County Archives and Historian

The Putnam County Archives and County Historian at 68 Marvin Avenue, Brewster, NY 10509 manages the county's archival holdings. The archives keep historical records, offer genealogy help, and provide research services. Phone (845) 808-1420 or email historian@putnamcountyny.gov for an appointment.

The county historian can help guide your research and connect you with local sources. Putnam County is small enough that the historian often knows the local families and records well. They can tell you which town clerks have the best records and where to look for church and cemetery records. This kind of guidance can save you a lot of time, especially since the lost state census records mean you have to work harder to find other sources.

Putnam County History Museum Genealogy Resources

The Putnam County History Museum at 63 Chestnut Street, Cold Spring, NY 10516 is a strong resource for family history in this area.

The museum holds business records, photographs, Ludington and Kemble family papers, manuscripts, maps, newspapers, periodicals, and genealogy files on local families. Phone (845) 265-4010 for hours and access details.

The museum's genealogy files organized by family name can be a real find if your family has roots in the Cold Spring or Philipstown area. The Ludington and Kemble papers document prominent local families and their connections to the broader community. Old newspapers and periodicals can turn up obituaries, marriage notices, and legal advertisements that no other source captured. If you are stuck on a Putnam County family, the museum is worth checking.

Probate Records in Putnam County

The Putnam County Surrogate's Court at 44 Gleneida Avenue, Carmel, NY 10512 has probate records from 1812 to the present. Wills, letters testamentary, letters of administration, and estate inventories are filed here. Each county surrogate's court has handled estate matters since 1787.

Probate files name heirs and describe property. A will can list a spouse, children, and sometimes grandchildren. Estate inventories tell you what the person owned at death. If someone died without a will, the court appointed an administrator, usually a close relative. Send a written request by mail. Call (845) 208-7860 for current fees. For probate records from before 1812, check the Dutchess County Surrogate's Court since Putnam was part of Dutchess County before that date.

Vital Records for Putnam County Genealogy

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

Processing can take eight months or more. Town clerks in Putnam County's six towns may have copies and can often respond faster. The New York State Archives has vital records indexes on microfiche that you can use for free in Albany. Since the state census records for Putnam County are mostly lost, vital records and church records become even more important for filling in family details between federal census years.

State Resources for Putnam County Research

The New York State Archives in Albany holds vital records indexes, military records, and colonial court papers that can support Putnam County genealogy. The archives are free and open to the public. The New York State Library is in the same building with family histories and reference guides. The NYS Archives land records hold colonial patents and state land sales for the lower Hudson Valley region. FamilySearch has digitized many New York records for free access. Land records at the county clerk go back to 1812 with deeds, mortgages, and liens. For records before 1812, check Dutchess County since Putnam was part of Dutchess before that date.

Additional Putnam County Genealogy Resources

Since state census records are mostly lost for Putnam County, church records and cemetery transcriptions become critical for filling in family details. Many churches in the county kept baptism, marriage, and burial records that go back well before civil registration started in 1880. The Putnam County Archives and the Putnam County History Museum may have copies of these church registers.

Reclaim The Records released the full New York State Death Index from 1880 to 2017 for free download after a 2025 court ruling. This data set covers Putnam County deaths and gives you names, dates, ages, and state file numbers. Use those numbers to order copies from the Department of Health or a local town clerk. It saves you the broader search fee.

The county historian in Brewster can be reached at (845) 808-1420 or by email at historian@putnamcountyny.gov. For a small county with just six towns, the historian often has deep knowledge of local families and can point you to sources you might miss on your own.

Nearby Counties

Counties near Putnam County with their own genealogy record collections.