Montgomery County, New York Guide

Situated in Central New York, Montgomery County is located just 27 miles west of Albany in the Mohawk Valley. It is bordered by Fulton County to the north, Saratoga County and Schnectady County to the east, Schoharie County to the south, Ostego County to the southwest, and Herkimer County to the west. ​

County Formed: 1772 (Originally named Tryon County, name changed to Montgomery on April 2, 1784)

Parent County: Albany

Daughter Counties: Ontario 1789, Herkimer 1791, Otsego 1791, Tioga 1791, Hamilton 1816, Fulton 1838

Major Land Transactions: Kayaderosseras Patent 1708; Stone Arabia Patent 1723

 

Montgomery County Map
Map of Montgomery County

 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

History

Montgomery County, previously named Tryon County, has roots that trace back to the 1600s when Dutch settlers, and later Palatine German settlers, first came the region. The county is situated in an area known as the Mohawk Valley, which, as the name denotes, was originally and primarily occupied by the Mohawk people, along with several other Native American tribes. However, upon the arrival of the Europeans, the native populations began to suffer. Where they had once fished, farmed, and hunted, the Dutch were now fishing and farming and hunting. The two distinct groups had too many differences to live in harmony.  Trading would sometimes lead to conflict, and the conflict would ensue in intermittent warfare between the two parties.

Although it had been inhabited for over a century, it was not until the year 1772 that this land was officially separated from the county of Albany and given its own name, Tryon. This new identity would not last for long. After the American Revolution, the county was renamed after Richard Montgomery, a general who played a key role in the capture of several Canadian regions and who died in 1775 during the Battle of Quebec.

During the Industrial Revolution, Montgomery County reached its peak. The newly constructed Erie Canal instigated an increase in immigration, industrialization, and ingenuity. Merchants were flocking to the county in search of the prime real estate along the canal to settle and to prosper off of the great commerce. Numerous towns were developing along the manmade waterway, and in order to keep up with other towns in close proximity to the canal, the county seat was moved from Johnstown to Fonda.

The Industrial Revolution influenced Montgomery County in more ways than spurring expansion. Ever since the colonial period, Montgomery County had been a major producer of all sorts of grains. But once the Erie Canal was built, the focus of local farmers shifted from grains to milk. There was no longer much of a purpose for it as grains could be transported from western farms. Then, after the introduction of the New York Central Railroad in the 1800s, the emphasis on milk production changed once more to satisfy new shipping limitations. Due to the fact that the first railroads were not refrigerated, they could not transport milk without having the milk expire. The farmers in Montgomery County then decided to stick with the dairy industry, but instead pursued the field of cheese making.
Trade was also booming at the time -- the addition of both the Erie Canal and the railroad made it much easier to transport goods in New York. Not only was it more convenient to import or export products, but the many factories that suddenly sprung up in Montgomery were able to manufacture a greater variety of merchandise in a more efficient manner. Amsterdam became one of the most prominent trading centers, as it produced large volumes of high-quality carpets, as well as underwear, buttons, and brooms.

To this day, much of Montgomery County is rooted in its history. Many of the old Dutch barns used for farming in past centuries still stand today as a reminder of the lives of the ancestors of current Montgomery County inhabitants. Many family companies still exist, continuing the legacy of past generations. Visitors sail along the Erie Canal on cruise tours, long after the waterway’s significance as a trade route has greatly dimished. As they travel amongst the scenic route, learning about and experiencing the historical landmarks along the way, they are transported back in time to the 1600s when it all began. 

 

Further Reading:

 

 

 

Repositories, Resources, and Societies – County

Montgomery County Clerk 

Website: Montgomery County Clerk

Address: County Office Building, 64 Broadway, PO Box 1500, Fonda, NY 12068

Phone: (518) 853-8124

Court records, land records, naturalization records 1810–1955, and Montgomery County originals of the New York state censuses for 1825, 1835, 1845, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, and 1925.

 

Montgomery County - City, Town, and Village Clerks 

Website: Montgomery County – City, Town, and Village Clerks

Birth, marriage, and death records are maintained by the clerk of the municipality in which the event occurred; see Introduction to County Guides for details of other records which may also be held by municipal clerks. Some municipal websites contain historical and genealogical information.

 

Montgomery County Surrogate's Court

Website: Montgomery County Surrogate’s Court

Address: 58 Broadway, PO Box 1500, Fonda, NY 12068

Phone: (518) 853-8108

Holdings include probate records from 1787 to the present.

 

Montgomery County Public Libraries

Website: Montgomery County Public Libraries

Montgomery is part of the Mohawk Valley Library System. Many maintain local history and genealogy collections. The Amsterdam Free Library holds city directories 1876–1988 (gaps), and Fort Plain Free Library holds cemetery and canal records. 

 

Montgomery County Department of History and Archives & County Historian

Website: Department of History and Archives

Address: Old Court House, 9 Park Street, PO Box 1500, Fonda, NY 12068-1500

Phone: 518-853-8186 or 518-853-8187

Collects information on all counties formerly in Montgomery County prior to their formation. Holdings include histories, biographies, cemetery records, census records, land records, directories and gazetteers, vital statistics, church records, civil records, military records, historical files, archives, newspapers, and pamphlets. Selected family genealogies are available on the website, along with a list of surnames. The Department operates an Underground Railroad Project.

 

Heritage & Genealogical Society of Montgomery County

Website: Heritage & Genealogical Society

Address: Old Court House, 9 Park Street, PO Box 1500, Fonda, NY 12068-1500

 

Montgomery County - All Municipal Historians

Website: Montgomery County – All Municipal Historians

While not authorized to answer genealogical inquiries, city, town, and village historians can provide valuable historical information and research advice; some maintain collections and webpages which may include transcribed records, local histories, and other genealogical material. 

 

 

 

Repositories, Resources, and Societies – Regional

Central New York Genealogical Society 

Website: Central New York Genealogical Society

Address: PO Box 404, Colvin Station, Syracuse, NY 13205 

Email: cnygs@yahoo.com

 

Fulton-Montgomery Community College: The Kenneth R. Dorn Regional History Study Center at Evans Library

Website:  The Kenneth R. Dorn Regional History Study Center

Address: 2805 State Highway 67, Johnstown, NY 12095

Phone: (518) 212 - 7685

Email: libinfo@fmcc.edu

 

 

 

Repositories, Resources, and Societies – Local

Alphabetized by location

Canajoharie Library and Art Gallery: Local History Room

Website: Canajoharie Library and Art Gallery: Local History Room

Address: 2 Erie Boulevard, Canajoharie, NY 13317

Phone: (518) 673-2314

Email: canlib@sals.edu

Family files and genealogies, books and periodicals, newspapers on microfilm, and yearbooks. Website contains digital local history exhibits.

 

Charleston Historical Society

Website: Charleston Historical Society

Address: 741 Corbin Hill Road, Esperance, NY 12066

Phone: (518) 922-5867

Holdings include family histories for the Town of Charleston as well as some federal and state census materials. Publishes Charleston Historical Society Newsletter.

 

Fort Plain Museum and Historic Park

Website: Fort Plain Museum and Historic Park

Street Address: 389 Canal Street, Fort Plain, NY 13339

Mailing Address: PO Box 324, Fort Plain, NY 13339

Phone: (518) 993-2527

Email: info@fortplainmuseum.org

Website includes information on the history and archaeology of Fort Plain, as well as maps, newsletters, photographs, and postcards.

 

Margaret Reaney Memorial Library & Museum

Website: Margaret Reaney Memorial Library & Museum

Address: 19 Kingsbury Avenue, St. Johnsville, NY 13452

Phone: (518) 568-7822

 Email: mrml@telenet.net

County and family histories; an obituary, marriage, and birth index; newspapers; cemetery records; and scrapbooks. The museum’s collection includes fine art, sculpture, memorabilia, military artifacts, and period rooms with a focus on Mohawk Valley history from the pre-Revolutionary period to the present.

 

The Palatine Settlement Society and Nellis Homestead & Tavern

Website: The Palatine Settlement Society

Address: PO Box 183, St. Johnsville, NY 13452

Email: pss.secretary@palatinesettlementsociety.org

Website includes issues of the Society’s newsletter and information on the Nellis Family.

 

 

 

Civil, Public, and Vital Records

Civil Records are those created, recorded and/or maintained by a governmental body and include births, marriages, deaths, censuses, property, and probate. NB: The New York State government began collecting vital record data in 1880. Birth, marriage, and death records from New York State (excluding the five boroughs of New York City) after 1880 on can be obtained from the New York State Department of Health. For vital records previous to 1880, consult the municipality in which the event took place. Learn more about New York's vital records in our online guide.

 

 

 

Federal Census Records

Population schedules: 1790-1940 (except 1890).

Online at Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and Findmypast.com (free to NYG&B members).

Access on Findmypast:

1790

1800

1810

1820

1830

1840

1850

1860

1870

1880

1900

1910

1920

1930

1940

 

 

 

State Census Records

  • County originals shared between Montgomery County Clerk’s Office and Montgomery County Department of History and Archives (MCDHA): 1825, 1835, 1845, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, 1925
  • State originals at the NYSA: 1915, 1925
  • Microfilm at the FHL, NYPL, and NYSL
  • Many years are online at FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com.
  • 1825, 1835 and 1845 are incomplete censuses, they have been indexed by the MCDHA and only include the following towns, 1825: Canajoharie, Florida, Minden, Palatine, and Root; also the towns (now in Fulton County) of Johnstown, Oppenheim, and Stratford; and the towns (from Hamilton County) of Hope, Lake Pleasant, and Wells; 1835: Oppenheim; 1845: Towns of Minden and Oppenheim

 

 

Online Resources

General Resources

Ancestry.com

There are vast numbers of records on Ancestry.com that pertain to people who have lived in New York State. A search of the online card catalog by county may reveal lesser known resources that pertain to a locality, such as town records, abstracts, transcriptions, city directories, and local histories.

FamilySearch.org

FamilySearch has extensive collections of New York records, including religious records, which are searchable by name and location, but not by county. The following collections include record images (browsable, but not searchable) that are organized by county.

NYGenWeb Project: Montgomery County

Part of the national, USGenWeb volunteer initiative, the website provides information and resources for county research.

 

Deaths and Burials

 

Maps

 

Military Records

 

Newspapers

 

Other Records

 

Religious Records

 

Transportation

 

 

 

Selected Bibliography

Abstracts, Indexes & Transcriptions

  • Becker, Edith Van Heusen (Mrs. Frank N. Becker). “Abstracts of Wills, Montgomery County, N.Y.” NYG&B Record, vol. 56 (1925) no. 2: 145–161, no. 4: 380–397; vol. 57 (1926) no. 2: 163–186, no. 3: 380–397. [NYG&B eLibrary]
  • Becker, Edith Van Heusen (Mrs. Frank N. Becker). “Cemetery Inscriptions in Mayfield, N.Y., Fulton Co. and Hagaman, Amsterdam, N.Y., Montgomery Co.” Typescript, ca. 1938. NYPL, New York. [NYG&B eLibrary]
  • Becker, Edith Van Heusen (Mrs. Frank N. Becker). “Cemetery Inscriptions: In the Vicinity of Montgomery and Fulton Counties, N.Y.” 5 vols. Typescript, 1923–1963. NYPL, New York.
  • Becker, Edith Van Heusen (Mrs. Frank N. Becker). “Cemetery Inscriptions, Montgomery County, New York.” Typescript. NYPL, New York. [NYG&B eLibrary] Information overlaps with some of the transcriptions published in the NYG&B Record (see below citation) and pertains to several cemeteries in the Town of Florida, Montgomery County.
  • Becker, Edith Van Heusen (Mrs. Frank N. Becker) and Melvin W. Lethbridge. “Tombstone Inscriptions, Montgomery County, N.Y.” NYG&B Record, vol. 56 (1925) no 4: 376–380; vol. 57 (1926) no. 2: 163–186, no. 3: 264–282; vol. 58 (1927) no. 1: 82–89, no. 2: 155–172; vol. 59 (1928) no. 1: 85–92, no. 2: 171–181, no. 3: 267–276, no. 4: 380–385; vol. 60 (1929) no. 1: 54–64, no. 2: 185–192, no. 3: 285–291, no. 4: 374–387; vol. 61 (1930) no. 1: 88–92, no. 2: 190–204, no. 3: 304–306, no. 4: 403–409; vol. 62 (1931) no. 1: 85–89, no. 3: 318–322, no. 4: 427–430; vol. 63 (1932) no. 1: 90–94, no. 4: 411–414; vol. 64 (1933) no. 1: 83–86, no. 2: 197–202, no. 4: 404–407; vol. 65 (1934) no. 3: 288–289, no. 4: 393–397; vol. 66 (1935) no. 1: 84–88, no. 2: 185–189, no. 3: 288–290, no. 4: 393–396; vol. 67 (1936) no 3: 281–284, no. 4: 388–390; vol. 68 (1937) no. 2: 182–186; vol. 69 (1938) no. 3: 292–295. Pertains to the Town of Florida. [NYG&B eLibrary]
  • Cormack, Marie N., and Katherine A. Furman. “New York State Cemetery Inscriptions: Albany County, Herkimer County, Montgomery County, Saratoga County, Schenectady County.” Typescript, 1940. [microfilm at FHL, NYSL]
  • County of Montgomery Abstracts. Syracuse: Central New York Genealogical Society, 2000. Abstracts for a range of genealogical records originally published in the quarterly Tree Talks.
  • Daughters of the American Revolution, comps. New York DAR Genealogical Records Committee Report. Since 1913 DAR volunteers have transcribed many thousands of unpublished cemetery, church, and town records throughout New York. The reports are at the DAR Library; copies are at the NYSL and the NYPL. The DAR has a searchable name index to all the GRC reports at http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search/?Tab_ID=6. See Jean Worden’s index below for a listing by county of the New York record sets that were transcribed by the DAR before 1998.
  • Hartley, Robert M. Marriage and Birth Records as Recorded by Rev. James Dempster, 1778–1803 . . . With a Complete Index of Names. Alexandria, VA: Sleeper Co., 1995.
  • Keefer, Donald A. “The Lost Baptisms of the Rev. John Calvin Toll of Canajorharie, Montgomery County.” NYG&B Record, vol. 127 (1996) no. 4: 205–208; vol. 128 (1997) no. 1: 25–28.
  • Keefer, Donald A. Records of the First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the Town of Glen: Organized as the First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Charlestown (Charleston), Montgomery County, New York, on March 18, 1795. Rhinebeck, NY: Kinship, 1990.
  • Kelly, Arthur C. M. Index to Tree Talks County Packet: Montgomery County. Rhinebeck, NY: Kinship, 2002.
  • Kelly, Arthur C. M., and Henry Barclay. Vital Records of Queen Anne Chapel (Episcopal) Fort Hunter, N.Y., Town of Florida, Montgomery County, 1735–1746. Rhinebeck, NY: Kinship, 2000.
  • Lethbridge, Melvin W. Montgomery County, N.Y., Marriage Records: Performed by Rev. Elijah Herrick, 1795–1844;  Also Records of Rev. Calvin Herrick, 1834–1876; Also Records of Rev. John Calvin Toll, 1803–1844. St. Johnsville, NY: Enterprise and News, 1922.
  • Montgomery County Department of History and Archives. Catalogue of Historical and Genealogical Material. Fonda, NY, 1982.
  • Montgomery County, NYG&B Church Surveys Collection. NYG&B, New York. [NYG&B eLibrary]
  • Vosburgh, Royden Woodward, ed. “Records of the First Reformed Dutch Church at Glen in the Town of Glen, Montgomery County, N.Y.: Formerly the First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church at Charleston.” Typescript, 1918. NYPL, New York. [NYG&B eLibrary]
  • Vosburgh, Royden Woodward, ed. “Records of the Reformed Dutch Church of Stone Arabia: In the Town of Palatine, Montgomery County, N.Y.” 3 vols. Typescript, 1916. NYPL, New York. [NYG&B eLibrary]
  • Vosburgh, Royden Woodward, ed. “Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Florida, in the Village of Minaville, Town of Florida, Montgomery County, NY and Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Duanesburgh, 1798-1804.” Typescript, n.d. NYPL, New York. [NYG&B eLibrary]
  • Vosburgh, Royden Woodward, ed. “Records of the United Presbyterian Church in the Town of Florida, Montgomery County, N.Y.” Typescript, n.d. NYPL, New York. [NYG&B eLibrary]
  • Wikoff, Helen Lyons. “Gravestone Inscriptions from Cemeteries in Montgomery and Otsego Counties, New York.” Typescript, 1931. NYPL, New York.
  • Worden, Jean D. “Book 1, Subject Index.” In Revised Master Index to the New York State Daughters of the American Revolution Genealogical Records Volumes. Zephyrhills, FL: J. D. Worden, 1998. The Subject Index includes a listing by county of the cemeteries, churches, towns, and other sources of records transcribed by the DAR.​

​​Other Resources

  • Beers, F. W. History of Montgomery and Fulton Counties. New York, 1878.
  • Capital District Genealogical Society Newsletter. Albany: Capital District Genealogical Society, 1982–present. [capitaldistrictgenea logicalsociety.org]
  • Child, Hamilton. Gazetteer and Business Directory of Montgomery and Fulton Counties, NY, for 1869–70. Syracuse, 1870.
  • Dailey, William Nelson Potter. The History of Montgomery Classis, R. C. A. To Which Is Added Sketches of Mohawk Valley Men and Events of Early Days, . . . Reformed Church in America, Doctrine and Progress, Revolutionary Residences, etc.  Amsterdam, NY: Recorder Press, 1916.
  • Donlan, Hugh P. Outlines of History, Montgomery County, State of New York, 1772–1972. Bicentennial ed. Amsterdam, NY: Noteworthy Co., 1973.
  • Frothingham, Washington. History of Montgomery County. Syracuse, 1891.
  • Greene, Nelson. History of the Mohawk Valley, Gateway to the West, 1614–1925; Covering the Six Counties of Schenectady, Schoharie, Montgomery, Fulton, Herkimer, and Oneida. Chicago: S. J. Clarke, 1925.
  • Kelly, Arthur C. M. The Mohawk. Rhinebeck, NY: Kinship, quarterly 1986–1998, annually 1999–2001.
  • Kelly, Arthur C. M. alley Quarterlies. Directory of articles (vols. 1–15) and every-name index to the Capital, the Columbia, the Mohawk, and the Saratoga. Rhinebeck, NY: Kinship, CD-ROM, 2000.
  • New Century Atlas of Montgomery and Fulton Counties, New York. Philadelphia: Century Map Co., 1905.
  • New York Historical Resources Center. Guide to Historical Resources in Montgomery County, New York, Repositories. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University, 1983. [books.FamilySearch.org]
  • Nichols, Beach. Atlas of Montgomery and Fulton Counties, New York: From Actual Surveys by and under the Direction of B. Nichols . . . . New York, 1867. [NYPL Digital Gallery]
  • Simms, Jeptha R. Frontiersmen of New York: The Frontiersmen of New York: Showing Customs of the Indians, Vicissitudes of the Pioneer White Settlers, and Border Strife in Two Wars.  Albany, 1882–1883.

 

The materials above are a compilation of resources available, with an emphasis on online resources, which might be useful to someone doing research within this county.  The inclusion of a link does not constitute an endorsement of its content or accuracy.  Please send any additions or corrections to webmaster@nygbs.org.