Search Rockland County Genealogy

Rockland County genealogy research draws on records that reach back to 1798 when the county was formed from Orange County. The county seat is New City, where the clerk's office and archives hold an impressive set of documents for family history work. Because Rockland sits just north of the New Jersey border and west of the Hudson River, many families here had ties to both states. The county archives have digitized marriage records and naturalization papers, making some research possible from home. Land records trace back even further through Orange County deeds from 1703 to 1798 that the archives also maintain.

Rockland County Clerk Genealogy Records

The Rockland County Clerk at the Rockland County Courthouse, 1 South Main Street, New City, NY 10956 is the starting point for most genealogy searches in this county. Phone is (845) 638-5070.

The clerk holds court records from 2002 to the present, land records (deeds) from 1798 to the present, and mortgages from 1931 forward. Business certificates, incorporation records, and subdivision maps from 1827 to 2002 are also on file. Transcriptions of deeds and mortgages starting in 1798 have been indexed and are searchable online, which saves you a trip to the courthouse if you know the name you are looking for.

Naturalization records span from 1907 to 1960, with declarations of intent going back to 1884. The clerk also has New York State Census records for 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, and 1925. Marriage licenses cover 1908 to 1935. All of these can help piece together the lives of immigrant families who settled in Rockland County during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Rockland County Archives for Genealogy

The Rockland County Archives at the Pomona Health Complex, Building S, 50 Sanatorium Road, Pomona, NY 10970 holds an even deeper set of records than the clerk's main office. Call (845) 364-3670 for hours and access.

The archives collection is extensive. It includes federal census records from 1830 to 1880 for the five towns of Clarkstown, Haverstraw, Orangetown, Ramapo, and Stony Point. State census records are here for 1855 through 1920. Orange County deeds from 1703 to 1798 cover the period before Rockland became its own county. Rockland County deeds run from 1798 to 1936, and mortgages from 1798 to 1948.

Marriage records from 1908 to 1935 have been digitized, as have marriage licenses from 1926 to 1935. Naturalization oaths from 1836 to 1896 include 1,828 records on microfilm. The full naturalization collection has 24,718 records from 1812 to 1991, and these have also been digitized. Will indexes in book form and on microfilm cover 1798 to 1957. Surrogate court estate files span 1800 to 1939, and wills run from 1798 to 1965.

Court records from 1798 to 2001 and tax and assessment rolls from 1855 to 1964 for all towns round out the collection. A search kiosk at the archives lets you look up naturalization records, marriage records, grantee and grantor deeds, wills, surrogate court records, court indexes, and judgments.

Probate Records in Rockland County

The Rockland County Surrogate's Court at 1 South Main Street, New City, NY 10956 keeps official probate records from 1798 to the present. Call (845) 483-8300 for details.

Wills, estate files, and guardianship records are filed here. The archives also hold duplicate probate material going back to 1800, which can be easier to access for casual research. Probate files are indexed by the name of the deceased person. You will need the decedent's name and an approximate date of death to request a search.

New City Library Rockland Room Genealogy

The New City Library at 220 North Main Street, New City, NY 10956 houses the Rockland Room, a local history and genealogy collection.

The Rockland Room has local histories and genealogies, census materials, maps, newspapers on microfilm from 1847 to the present, and telephone books going back to 1883. Print materials, vertical files, and the Rockland County Messenger from 1847 to 1898 are also available. Documents about the history of the Town of Clarkstown from 1752 to 1789 can be accessed online through the library. Call (845) 634-4997 for more details on their genealogy holdings.

Rockland County Vital Records for Genealogy

The NYS Department of Health holds vital records for Rockland County from the state registration period. Birth records over 75 years old are available if the person is deceased. Death records open after 50 years, and marriage records after 50 years with proof that both spouses have died. Fees start at $22 for a three-year search.

For earlier records, church registers in Rockland County towns are often the best source. The county had a mix of Dutch Reformed, Presbyterian, and other congregations that kept baptism, marriage, and burial records well before the state required registration. The New York State Archives in Albany also holds census, military, and land records that cover Rockland County.

Rockland County Genealogy Research Tips

The connection to Orange County is important for early Rockland County research. Before 1798, all records for this area are in Orange County. Land deeds, court records, and probate files for what became Rockland are held in the Orange County Clerk's office in Goshen. The Rockland County Archives do have copies of Orange County deeds from 1703 to 1798, which saves you a trip.

The five towns of Rockland County, Clarkstown, Haverstraw, Orangetown, Ramapo, and Stony Point, each have their own town clerks who may hold local records. Town-level vital records, meeting minutes, and property assessments can supplement what the county offices have. The border with New Jersey means some Rockland County families crossed back and forth, so checking Bergen County, New Jersey records can sometimes turn up connections that the New York records miss.

Cities in Rockland County

These towns in Rockland County have their own genealogy resource pages.

Nearby Counties

Counties near Rockland County with their own genealogy record collections.