INTRODUCTION: Genealogical research, the tracking down of information about ancestors, can be a lifelong hobby of family-conscious individuals. The search can begin with existing material preserved by the nuclear family. Later steps will lead to public records offices and other document holding repositories such as archives, historical societies and libraries. Vital records in possession of immediate family members and relatives include inscribed Bibles; certificates of birth, marriage and death; estate inventories and wills. Other documents may relate to education, occupation, memberships in organizations and military service. Miscellaneous family papers, diaries, correspondence and photograph collections, especially with identified portraits, are also useful for reconstructing the lives and activities of predecessors. Interviews with members of older generations could also reveal helpful leads, provided that the related facts can be substantiated. Important genealogical information is available in a number of public offices. Of these, the most often consulted ones are: parish records, deed books, tax assessment rolls, insurance maps, passenger lists, immigration registers, cemetery records, tombstone inscriptions, and rosters of clubs, societies and other organized activities. In addition, the federal census schedules, and censuses of states, counties and other municipalities are essential sources for genealogists. Public repositories often contain helpful genealogical research material. Archives, museums, historical societies and libraries may house papers of families, businesses and organizations that were deposited for safekeeping and for use by the public. Ledgers, kept by land offices or owners of mills, stores, shops, factories and other places, are useful because they contain hundreds of names, year after year. Libraries usually have groups of books that are useful at some point in the research process. Reed Library (SUNY College at Fredonia) does not have a well-rounded collection to fulfill all needs of genealogists. There are some books that outline certain steps of research, while others list pertinent material in special repositories. Regional history and biography sources often list people in everyday walks of life, whereas state or nation-wide histories and biographies include only prominent and noteworthy individuals. Reed Library also houses microfilm reproductions of the records of the Holland Land Company and some other companies that sold land in New York State, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, between 1795 and the late 1880s.
The Library's Online Catalog While a HELP screen is available with detailed guidance, easy instruction sheets are at hand for finding material quickly. Reference librarians are also nearly always at the Information Desk to aid users.
SUBJECT HEADINGS: CENSUS GENEALOGY U.S. GENEALOGY U.S. GENEALOGICAL SOURCES and perhaps: BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARIES HERALDRY PEERAGE for regional records, you might look under: CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N.Y. -- CENSUS CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N.Y. -- BIOGRAPHY CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, N.Y.-- GENEALOGY ERIE COUNTY, N.Y. -- HISTORY and other similar headings.
REFERENCE MATERIAL: The following list contains a representative selection of reference books in Reed Library that are useful for genealogical research. For related material consult: RESEARCH GUIDE NO. 45; FAMILY HISTORY: BASIC RESEARCH METHOD For biographical sources consult: RESEARCH GUIDE NO. 4; BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: A GUIDE TO SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT PEOPLE For a general description of the Holland Land Company Collections consult: RESEARCH GUIDE NO. 56; THE ARCHIVES OF THE HOLLAND LAND COMPANY AND RELATED COLLECTIONS For books about the region consult: RESEARCH GUIDE NO. 53; CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY: PAST AND PRESENT
Biography and Genealogy Master Index 2nd ed. Ref/CT/214/B56/1980 8 vols. and supplement 1981-85, 5 vols. This is a consolidated index to more than 3,200,000 biographical sketches in over 350 current and retrospective biographical dictionaries. Suppl. 1: 1981-1985; 5 vols. Suppl. 2: 1986-1990; 3 vols., and forthcoming supplements.
Bremer, Donald A.: Compendium of Historical Sources. Ref/CS/49/B74/1983 This is another helpful book referring to research patterns, special repositories, different types of records and more. There are lists of counties, townships, insurance companies, maps and repositories of maps, among other not easy to find information. Examples of forms, a glossary and an index are found at the end.
Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives. Ref/CS/68/U5 An important research tool for family lineage. Explains how to find and use records relating to census information, land holding, military service and other vital genealogical elements.
Index of Revolutionary War Pension Applications. REF/CS/42/N43/no.32 The National Genealogical Society prepared this important register. Each entry gives veteran's name, state from which the service was rendered, and his file number. Further specification designates the nature of the pension claims.
New York Marriages Previous to 1784. REF/F/118/N45 Listed are all marriage certificates issued by the Secretary of the Province of New York up to about 1783.
The New York Times Obituaries Index, 1858-1968. REF/CT/213/N47 1969-1978 Suppl. REF/CT/213/N47/1980 (for updates use the N.Y. Times Index) A key to obituaries of prominent personalities.
Index to American Genealogies and to genealogical material contained in all works such as town histories, county histories, local histories, historical society publications, biographies... and other kindred works, alphabetically arranged. REF/Z/5313/U5/I5/1966. Smith, Frank A Genealogical Gazetteer of England. REF/DA/640/S6 An alphabetical dictionary of places, with their locations, ecclesiastical jurisdiction, population, and the date of the earliest entry in the registers of every ancient parish in England.
U.S. Library of Congress American and English Genealogies in the Library of Congress. REF/Z/5319/U5/1967 This important bibliography lists genealogies published in separate form up to 1910.
White, J. Todd Fighters for Independence. REF/Z/1238/W45 A guide to sources of biographical information on soldiers and sailors of the American Revolution.
WESTERN NEW YORK COLLECTION: (Housed in the Archives and Special Collections Room)
The following books contain biographical information on residents of western New York, more particularly of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties. A number of other useful books are also available here.
The Centennial History of Chautauqua County: A Detailed and Entertaining Story of One Hundred Years of Development. 2 vols. WNY/F/127/C7/C4, 1901 The intended purpose of this history is well illustrated in its title. Rich in biographical sources. The table of contents also serves as a name index.
Cutter, William B. Genealogical and Family History in Western New York. 3 vols. WNY/F/118/C992, 1912 This set concentrates on prominent families and their contributions to the development of the region. There is an alphabetical name index.
Dilley, Butler F. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York. WNY/F/127/C7/D57, 1891 A useful, but highly selective, guide to early County residents with sketches of their families. A separate name index was published in 1974 by the Fenton Historical Society.
Doty, William J. Historic Annals of Southwestern New York. 3 vols. WNY/F/119/D68, 1940 One copy circulates. The third volume of this set contains biographical information on prominent families and personalities who resided in Southwestern New York. A comprehensive name index enhances the usefulness of this source book.
Downs, John P. History of Chautauqua County, N.Y. and Its People. 3 vols. WNY/F/127/C7/D75, 1921 The third volume is an extensive, but far from complete, biographical dictionary of the County's noteworthy citizens. A name index is located at the end of this volume.
Edson, Obed. History of Chautauqua County, New York. WNY/F/127/C7/E2, 1894 The evolution of the County is reviewed in 85 chronologically arranged chapters that contain hundreds of names. The biographies occasionally include portraits.
History of Cattaraugus County, New York. WNY/F/127/C4/E4, 1879 This one-volume county history also includes biographical sketches of some of its prominent citizens. There is a biographical index.
Kates, Frederick Ward Patriot Soldiers of 1775-1783: The Veterans of the War of Independence of Chautauqua County. WNY/E/263/N6/K3/1981 One copy circulates. Contains over 300 biographies of soldiers who were either buried in or were residents of the County. Indexed.
The Men of New York: A Collection of Biographies and Portraits of Citizens of the Empire State Prominent in Business, Professional, Social and Political Life During the Last Decade of the Nineteenth Century. Volume 2 only. WNY/F/118/M53, 1898 This statewide biographical source does contain several men from Chautauqua County. In the alphabetical synoptic index, which outlines each of the biographies in the two volumes, the "W" code refers to Western New York.
Smith, Perry History of the City of Buffalo and Erie County. 2 vols. WNY/F/127/E6/S6 This set is another typical county history rich in names and biographical sketches. A separate comprehensive name index is available.
Turner, Orsamus Pioneer History of the Holland Purchase of Western New York. WNY/F/127/H7/T7/1849; reprinted in 1974 This fairly comprehensive historical account is filled with facts, quotes, sketches, and anecdotes about events and people. The reprint volume contains a valuable name index.
Young, Andrew W. History of Chautauqua County, New York. From Its First Settlement to the Present Time: With Numerous Biographical Sketches. WNY/F/127/C7/Y6, 1875; reprinted in 1974 Short biographical sketches, lists of municipal government officials, lists of early land purchasers and other useful supplements reveal the various activities of certain County residents. The reprint volume includes a name index.
City directories are also useful for genealogical research. The following ones are available in Reed Library:
Cattaraugus County Directory WNY/F/127/C4/C5/1874-75 Foster Co's Standard Directory of Jamestown WNY/125/J3/F6/1907
Manning's Dunkirk and Fredonia Directory WNY/F/125/D9/A182, 1972-1983 Polk's Dunkirk-Fredonia Directory WNY/F/125/D9/A18, 1925-1971
Polk's Jamestown City Directory WNY/F/129/J3/A18, 1932- Scattered volumes.
Polk's Westfield City Directory WNY/F/129/W4/P6/1963
Church and Cemetery Records of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties. 68 reels; Call Number varies. Inquire in the Archives and Special Collections Room.
Periodicals:
The Chautauqua Genealogist. WNY/CS/1/C4 volume 1, 1977 - date
Western New York Genealogical Society Journal WNY/CS/1/W4 volume 1, 1974 - date
CENSUS MATERIAL: Federal Census Schedules: (In Microforms Room) The U.W. Bureau of the Census makes available the population census schedules from the first census, taken in 1790, to the fourteenth census taken in 1920. Subsequent sets will be released as the 70 year Privacy Act restriction expires. Reed Library has the following census schedules: Microfilm/HA/210/A2.
- 1790, 1st census - 12 reels (some states may be wanting)
- 1800, 2nd census - 52 reels 1810, 3rd census - 71 reels
- 1820, 4th census - 141 reels 1830, 5th census - 201 reels
- 1840, 6th census - 580 reels
- 1850, 7th census - reel nos. 479 and 480, Cattaraugus County reel nos. 484 and 485, Chautauqua County
- 1860, 8th census - reel nos. 725 and 726, Cattaraugus County reel nos. 731 and 732, Chautauqua County
- 1870, 9th census - reel nos. 908 and 909, Cattaraugus County reel nos. 912 and 913, Chautauqua County
- 1880, 10th census - reel nos. 811, 812, 813, Cattaraugus County reel nos. 815 and 816, Chautauqua County
- 1890, 11th census - reel nos. 1, 2, 3 (fire damage claimed most of the rest) reel no. 56 on Civil War Veterans
- 1900, 12th census - reel nos. 1010 and 1011, Cattaraugus County reel nos. 1013, 1014 & 1015, Chautauqua County
- 1910, 13th census - reel nos. 926 and 927, Cattaraugus County reel nos. 929 and 930, Chautauqua County
- 1920, 14th census - reel nos. 1087 and 1088, Cattaraugus County reel nos. 1090, 1091 & 1092, Chautauqua County and forthcoming years
U.S. Bureau of the Census. Heads of Families at the First Census of the U.S. taken in the Year of 1790. REF/F/123/U5/1966; (bound volumes) One copy circulates.
State Census Records: (In Archives and Special Collections) New York State Census Records; Chautauqua County, 1825-1925 (In five to ten year intervals) WNY/Microfilm/HA/547/C7/C7 29 reels A useful addition to the federal census schedules. Not every municipality is covered systematically. Remember the date of incorporation of specific municipal units.
THE ARCHIVES OF THE HOLLAND LAND COMPANY, 1789-1869 Microfilm/HD/195/H64/H6 202 reels (In Microforms Room) Reel Number One contains an INVENTORY with reel number annotations and instruction to researchers. A paper copy of this reel is on top of the microfilm cabinet: Ref/HD/195/H64/S3
Paper copies of the INVENTORY OF THE ARCHIVES OF THE HOLLAND LAND COMPANY Ref/HD/195/H64/P532 with reel number annotations are also found there. (Also available for sale!) The ARCHIVES contain mostly manuscript records that were accumulated in several regional land offices of the Holland Land Company. The Company was organized in 1795 by six bankers in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, after they purchased over five million acres of land in central and western New York, and in northwestern Pennsylvania. The Dutch investors could not sell the tracts at wholesale, therefore, they sold most of it in small parcels to homestead-seeking settlers. In the mid-1830s the unsold lands and assets were contracted for by several domestic land speculators, who continued selling the lands until almost the end of the century. In New York State, the first Holland Land Company Office opened in Cazenovia in 1794. The 120,000 acre tract was situated in the present Hamilton and Chenango Counties. About 80,000 acres were in Oneida and Herkimer Counties. A land office was opened in 1797 in Oldenbarneveld, now called Trenton. On the Holland Purchase the central land office was established in Batavia in 1801. Later, three subagencies were opened: in 1810 in Mayville, Chautauqua County, in 1818 in Ellicottville, Cattaraugus County, and in 1826 in Buffalo, Erie County. The over three million acres were in the present Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming Counties. The one and a half million acres in Pennsylvania were opened for sale in 1795 in Meadville. The next land office opened in Kittanning in 1804. In 1809 the Instanter, and in 1812 the Lancaster offices were opened. The Company lands were situated east and west of the Alleghany River, in most Districts, in the present Armstrong, Beaver, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Indiana, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Venango, and Warren Counties. The Holland Land Company also held some land in New Jersey in Burlington and Salem Counties. When the Holland Land Company sold its holdings, the land sale ledgers were turned over to the new owners. Some of the Holland Land Company offices were kept open by new agents who continued using the land sale ledgers. Certain records were turned over to the State of New York by the Holland Land Company and the rest of the documents were sent to the Philadelphia headquarters. When that office closed in 1856, all accumulated documents were shipped to Amsterdam. Eventually, the Collection was turned over to the Municipal Archives of Amsterdam. There, it was organized, and the INVENTORY OF THE ARCHIVES OF THE HOLLAND LAND COMPANY was published in 1976. In 1983 the ARCHIVES was microfilmed for the Holland Land Company Project at the College at Fredonia on 202 reels. As it is indicated in the INVENTORY, the collection is divided into several major parts under which further subdivisions appear by type of documents, or by geographical locations. For genealogical research the most important division is: No. II "Archives of the Representatives in the United States of America" and its further subdivisions:
- "The Archives of the General Agent", that is, records at the Philadelphia headquarters;
- "Archives of the Agent in Batavia".
The groups of documents are arranged in a variety of ways. For instance:
- Correspondence in ledgers is usually in chronological order, with or without a name index.
- Correspondence in folders can also be alphabetically arranged by the location of the sender, no name index is available;
- The Holland Purchase land sale records are usually in order by Range, Township and Lot number under letter codes, which pertain to the separate purchase negotiations of Tracts. That is:
- P & Q stand for the first negotiation - M & O stand for the second negotiation - H stands for the third negotiation - T stands for 40,000 acres purchase by Willink - W stands for 300,000 acres purchase by Willink This method was maintained year after year. Chautauqua County, for instance is in TRACTS "H" AND "M". Records can also be in order by Ranges and Townships. For more exact locations of lots in towns consult the "Map of Morris' Purchase or West Geneseo" by Joseph Ellicott. (On display by the microfilm collection; also available for sale.) The Cazenovia land records are kept under:
The Utica region land records are under:
Pennsylvania land records are arranged a variety of ways under the major headings of East and West Alleghany. Subheadings could be by regional land offices, by names of counties, or by the numbered Districts, which are also designated by names of surveyors. The records could be further subdivided by chronological periods. For genealogical research the lists of warrants and patents are very important. However, researchers should be aware that land speculators assigned many fictitious names to early warrant numbers. The correct names can be verified with the names that appear on the so called "deed poll" lists, that contain actual warrantees. Of the many groups of documents that contain names in the ARCHIVES OF THE HOLLAND LAND COMPANY the following examples are of major interest to genealogists: "Report of land tables," a register of buyers of the tracts O, P, Q, M, H, W, R, and T, (The Genesee Purchase region) with reference to date, deed, surface area, purchase price and amount paid, 1804-1835, 29 volumes. These cumulative records were kept in the agent general's office in Philadelphia. Inventory nos. 484-513; Reel nos. 109-113
Livsey, Karen E. Western New York land transactions, 1804-1824: extracted from the Archives of the Holland Land Company. WNY/HD/H64/L5/1991; 2 volumes. This 2 volume computer generated name index consists of two parts. Part II, the name index is to be used first. There, page numbers refer to Part I where the original date of the initial land contract and exact location of the land in the Range, Township and Lot numbers is listed. Reference is also made to the document group item number and the page on which the contract entry can be found in the original ledgers. The listings are preceded by useful introductions with historical capsules of the Holland Land Company and its collections. The "How to Use This Book" and following sections must be read before using these two volumes. Reports for 1801-1803 are in: Inventory nos. 755-756; Reel no. 165. "Deed tables" for the same region.
Inventory nos. 515-516; Reel no. 113. "Register of lots sold" in various parts of the Genesee Purchase. 1793-1839, 16 volumes.
nventory nos. 792-806; Reel nos. 177-180. Register of buyers, purchase price and surface area of lots issued in Cazenovia, 1793-1817, 4 volumes.
Inventory nos. 575-578; Reel nos. 126-127 Register of buyers, purchase price and surface area of lots issued in Oldenbarneveld and Kortenaer (Oneida County) 1793-1816, 2 volumes.
Inventory nos. 579-580, Reel nos. 127-128 Register of lands sold in the Six Districts in East Alleghany between 1804-1849.
Inventory nos. 602-604; Reel nos. 131-132 Inventory nos. 609-610; Reel nos. 134-135 Inventory no. 614 ; Reel no. 136 Inventory no. 617 ; Reel no. 136 Register of buyers, purchase price and surface area of lots issued in West Alleghany, in the Seven Districts, 1796-1802, 5 volumes.
Inventory nos. 621-625; Reel nos. 137-138 Register of buyers, purchase price, surface area and the date of the deed of conveyance of tracts situated in the Jersey lands, 1817-1834, 1 volume.
Inventory no. 614; Reel no. 136 Register of the names of settlers in Range 1, Township 1-14, 1811-1822; and Statement of payments in kind (cattle) concerning the Holland Purchase tracts O, M, P, Q, H, W and T, 1822-1829, 1 volume.
Inventory no. 662; Reel no. 146 List of expired contracts in the Holland Purchase, 1829-1830, 4 volumes. Inventory nos. 555-558; Reel no. 123 Lists for the contracts of Jacob LeRoy and Heman Redfield with references of expired contracts and outstanding debts in 1835.
Inventory no. 564; Reel nos. 124-125 Table of interest, lists of interest due on the contract for the lands M, O, P, Q, H, W, and T; 1822-1823.
Inventory no. 553; Reel no. 123. Besides these examples, there are many valuable land contract related sources which contain names. The CORRESPONDENCE in the ARCHIVES OF THE HOLLAND LAND COMPANY between the agents in the several land offices, and letters from and to settlers, can provide important information regarding land contracts, purchases, payments and problems encountered by settlers. The most useful letters are in the following groups: Correspondence in the Archives of the Agents in Batavia: Correspondence received, from 1821-1839.
Inventory nos. 718-741; Reel nos. 151-158 Copybooks of outgoing Correspondence, from 1821-1839. Inventory nos. 742-749; Reel nos. 158-164 NOTE: The "Joseph Ellicott Correspondence" from 1797-1821 is in the HOLLAND LAND COMPANY RECORDS at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society. Correspondence of the Subagents: Stanley N. Clarke, Subagent in Ellicottville, 1821-1835. Inventory nos. 786-787; Reel nos. 175-176 William Peacock, Subagent in Mayville, 1822-1836. Inventory nos. 788-789; Reel no. 176 Ira Blossom, Subagent in Buffalo, 1825-1837.
Inventory nos. 790-791; Reel nos. 176-177 An index is of vital importance when so many names appear in a large group of documents. Unfortunately, the ARCHIVES OF THE HOLLAND LAND COMPANY does not have a cumulative name index. Researchers must depend on occasional indexes, mostly at the beginning of ledgers. If a ledger contains a lot of names, but an index was not prepared for it, a "NO INDEX AVAILABLE" note should so indicate this fact. The "Report of land tables" is the only document group that has a cumulative name index. For information on the Holland Land Company and related records in New York State go to Part IV of Research Guide No. 56.