St. Lawrence County Genealogy

St. Lawrence County is the largest county by land area in all of New York State, and its genealogy records stretch back to 1802 when the county was formed from Clinton County. The county clerk in Canton keeps land deeds, court files, naturalization papers, and marriage records that cover more than two centuries of family history in the North Country. You can also search probate records at the surrogate's court and dig into local history through the St. Lawrence County Historical Association. If your ancestors settled along the St. Lawrence River or in the small towns scattered across this vast county, the records here can help you trace your roots.

St. Lawrence County Clerk Records

The St. Lawrence County Clerk at Building #2, 48 Court Street, Canton, NY 13617 is the main stop for genealogy research in the county. The clerk keeps land records from 1802 to the present, court records, business certificates, and survey maps. Naturalization records run from 1802 to 1906, and these can be a gold mine if your ancestors came from Canada, Ireland, or other countries and settled in the North Country.

Marriage records at the clerk's office cover 1908 through 1936. The office also holds the original 1905 New York State Census for St. Lawrence County. This is a big deal for genealogy work because the state census years fill gaps between the federal counts taken every ten years. The 1905 census can list names, ages, birthplaces, and occupations for each person in a household. You can call the clerk at (315) 379-2237 to ask about specific records before you visit.

Copy fees are $0.65 per page with certification at $5.00 per document. Land records use a grantor and grantee index system. Staff can point you to the right index but they will not do research for you. All records must be used on site during office hours.

Probate Records in St. Lawrence County

The St. Lawrence County Surrogate's Court at 48 Court Street, Canton, NY 13617 has probate records from 1802 to the present. These files include wills, letters testamentary, letters of administration, estate inventories, and guardianship papers. Under the Surrogate's Court Procedure Act, each county surrogate's court proves wills and handles estate settlements in New York.

Probate records are indexed by the name of the person who died. You need to send a written request by mail with the decedent's name and approximate date of death. The court does not take email requests for genealogy lookups. Call (315) 379-2238 for the current fee schedule. Colonial-era probate records from before 1802 would be at the Clinton County Surrogate's Court or at the New York State Archives in Albany, since St. Lawrence County did not exist as a separate county until 1802.

St. Lawrence County Historical Association

The St. Lawrence County Historical Association at 3 East Main Street, Canton, NY 13617 keeps an extensive collection for genealogy in the county. The association holds family papers, photographs, maps, local histories, and runs the Silas Wright House museum. Their research library has published genealogies and local town histories that can fill gaps left by official records.

You can reach the association at (315) 386-8133 to ask about their holdings or set up a research visit. Staff and volunteers can help you get started with local sources that are hard to find anywhere else.

The North Country has a unique settlement pattern that shapes St. Lawrence County genealogy. Many families came from Vermont and New England in the early 1800s. Others crossed the border from Canada. French Canadian, Irish, and English settlers all left records in church registers, town books, and county files. The historical association can help you sort through these different sources and figure out which ones are most likely to have records for your family.

St. Lawrence County Vital Records

Statewide vital records registration in New York started in 1880 for deaths and 1881 for births and marriages. The NYS Department of Health holds these records for St. Lawrence County. Birth certificates open after 75 years if the person is known to be dead. Death records open after 50 years. Marriage records need 50 years and proof that both spouses are dead.

Under Public Health Law Sections 4173 and 4174, direct-line descendants can request records sooner if they show proof of the family link and proof of death. Fees start at $22 for a three-year search. Processing can take eight months or more. For faster results, try the local town registrar where the birth, death, or marriage took place. Each town in St. Lawrence County keeps its own set of vital records, and some go back further than the state collection.

New York State Census records for St. Lawrence County are available for select years between 1825 and 1925. These fill gaps between federal census years and can list birthplace, occupation, and other details not found in vital records.

Note: The St. Lawrence County Clerk holds marriage records only for 1908 to 1936, so earlier and later marriages must be searched through town clerks or the state.

Land Records for St. Lawrence County Genealogy

Land records at the St. Lawrence County Clerk go back to 1802 when the county was formed. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and survey maps are all part of the collection. These records can name family members, neighbors, and property boundaries that help place your ancestors in a specific place and time. The NYS Archives land records collection also has state land sales and patents that cover the North Country from the late 1700s onward.

Under the Estates, Powers and Trust Law, property transfers at death follow set rules in New York. Land records often turn up when vital records are missing, making them a strong backup source for St. Lawrence County genealogy. Copy fees are $0.65 per page with $5.00 for certification at the clerk's office.

Nearby Counties

Counties near St. Lawrence County with their own genealogy record collections.