Yates County (N.Y.) Clerk's Office County, Town, and Village records

Arranged by type of record.

A4466-95: Microfilmed records include town clerk's record books and in some cases highway survey books or other records for the following towns (date spans in parentheses): Barrington (1942-1992), Benton (1806-1989), Italy (1862-1992), Jerusalem (1798-1993), Middlesex (1901-1992), Milo (1852-1992), Potter (1810-1992), Starkey (1826-1991), and Torrey (1852-1988); and village clerk's minute and record books for the following villages (date spans in parentheses): Dresden (1893-1992 with gaps), Dundee (1848-1900, 1952-1992), Penn Yan (1833-1992), and Rushville (1876-1993).

The collection also includes microfilmed tax assessment rolls for the towns of Barrington (1890-1946), Benton (1866-1930), Italy (1866-1939), Jerusalem (1866-1921), Middlesex (1890-1939), Milo (1890-1921), Potter (1868-1936), Starkey (1890-1926), and Torrey (1890-1939).

Microfilmed records of the Yates County county clerk's office include the books of miscellaneous records, containing oaths of office, peddlers' licenses, county jail inspections, powers of attorney, enrollment of men eligible for military service (1917), and many other filed or recorded documents. Microfilmed Surrogate's Court records include recorded wills (1821-1950), probate case files, and various indexes to Surrogate's Court records and files.

A4466-96: This accretion contains the following records for Yates County and several of its municipalities: tax assessment rolls; county chattel mortgage records (1849-1955); county conditional sales index books (1926-1964); town chattel mortgage books (1849-1964); town conditional sales index books (1922-1964); immigration and naturalization records; County Supervisors' and Legislature's proceedings (1857-1993 with gaps); town court records; cemetery records; school records; town election records and oaths of office; records of Overseers of the Poor; and other town and village historical records.

The tax assessment rolls record assessments on property and show the amount of tax levied, whether taxes were paid, and date. Resident and non-resident property owners within each town are included. Some assessments describe buildings and land use; some list exempt properties such as churches, schools, and cemeteries. Tax assessment rolls are included for the following localities: Barrington (1947-1972); Benton (1931-1972); Italy (1940-1972); Jerusalem (1922-1972); Middlesex (1940-1972); Milo (1922-1972); Potter (1937-1972); Starkey (1927-1972); Torrey (1940-1972), and the Village of Penn Yan (1841-1886).

Yates County immigration and naturalization records include: naturalization papers; naturalization of aliens; petitions and records; records of final applications; and naturalization certificates.

Naturalization papers (1848-1964) were created or filed during the process of naturalization to prove the good character and period of residence of aliens seeking to become citizens. These are mostly the original declarations of intent and the petition for final citizenship. Later years may also include affidavits and certificates of arrival that were filed with the final petition, and some records indicate place of birth, age, date of arrival, and other information.

Naturalizations of aliens (1855-1899) are one page documents for each alien, containing an affidavit of good character (signed by two friends), the oath of allegiance, and the judge's order admitting the applicant to citizenship.

Declarations of aliens record the statements of the intention of aliens to become citizens. Each page contains one or two records, which may include a physical description of the applicant, his place and date of birth, and name and birthplace of spouse as well as an oath of intention to permanently reside in the U.S. and to become a good citizen. Petitions and records (naturalization) (1906-1956) also record declarations by aliens of their intention to become citizens and other records leading up to naturalization. Each page contains one record which may include a physical description of the applicant, his place and date of birth, name and birthplace of spouse, and oath of intention to permanently reside in the U.S. and become a good citizen. Some records contain a photograph of the applicant.

Certificate of naturalization stubs (1907-1926) contain the stubs of detached naturalization certificates. Information may include the names and dates of birth of spouse and children, and place of birth.

Cemetery records typically contain name and occupation of lot owner, fiscal information, maintenance information, names of family members, and dates and details of death and burial. Cemetery records for the following localities are included: Village of Dresden (1826-1995); Village of Dundee (1927-1994); and Village of Rushville (1902-1959).

Court records in the accretion consist primarily of civil and criminal justice dockets and typically show names of parties, nature of offense or lawsuit, and disposition. Dockets are included for the following localities: Village of Rushville (1931-1988); Town of Milo (1896-1991); Town of Middlesex (1962-1985); Town of Jerusalem (1903-1979); Town of Torrey (1830-1982); Town of Potter (1891-1991); Town of Italy (1848-1948, 1968-1990); Town of Barrington (1952-1987); and Town of Benton (1892-1989).

School district records typically consist of information on boundaries of districts, school tax records, payments to teachers, and activities of school commissioners. Records of school districts for the following localities are included: Town of Jerusalem (1932-1933); Village of Rushville (1870-1871); Town of Italy (1930-1968); and Town of Barrington (1927-1942).

Records of officeholders may include election records, nominations for office, expenses of candidates, and oaths of office. The following localities are documented: Village of Rushville (1907-1987); Town of Jerusalem (1899-1995); Town of Italy (1927-1995); Town of Torrey (1898-1966); Town of Barrington (1980-1985); and Town of Benton (ca 1892-1917).

Records of the Overseers of the Poor document a locality's support of indigent citizens (usually payments made for food and professional services). Most are fiscal records which typically consist of vouchers, invoices, and summaries. The following localities are documented: Town of Italy (1928-1966); and Town of Milo (1876-1891).

The accretion also includes town historical records. The following localities and records are included: Village of Penn Yan deed records (1805-1961); Town of Jerusalem town records (1857-1969) including stray animals, bonds and undertakings, railroad records, resignations, franchise information, dance hall licenses, taxbook, and bandstand and liberty pole information; Town of Torrey civil war service records (1861-1865); and Village of Rushville lease agreements (1903-1908).

Microfilm is available for use at the New York State Archives or through interlibrary loan.

Microfilm 262 rolls; 16 and 35 mm. Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund Grant Project Microfilm.

The published guide by Frances Dumas, comp., Yates County Records Management Project Archival Film Series: Guide to Microfilmed Records (Penn Yan: n.d.) is available at the repository.

This microfilm was produced by grants awarded and administered by SARA's Local Government Records Services for the 1994 and 1995 grant cycles. Grantees submitted two copies of each roll of project film: a silver copy for secure storage at the State Records Center; and a duplicate copy, containing only non-restricted records, for public use at the State Archives research room.

Use copies of rolls containing restricted records are not maintained by the Archives, and are withdrawn from public use at time of accessioning. Security copies of such rolls are held at the State Records Center and are subject to restrictions under law.

A4466-95:Restricted film was marked and use copies were weeded at time of accession; 126 rolls of master negatives (security copy) were sent to the State Records Center (TL 95-41, 42).

A4466-96:Restricted film was marked and use copies were weeded at time of accession; 210 rolls of master negatives (security copy) were sent to the State Records Center (TL96-69, 70). Sometimes restricted and non-restricted vital records (pre- and post-1880) appear on the same film roll; since the records cannot be accessed separately, all such rolls are restricted. Also, not all restricted records were weeded at accession, and some use copies, such as rolls containing sealed records within post-1976 criminal case dockets, are restricted.

Access to select vital records and post-1976 criminal case dockets is restricted. Use with assistance of archivst.