Jefferson County New York Genealogy

Jefferson County, created in 1805 from Oneida County, was named in honor of President Thomas Jefferson. Settlement started as early as 1794. The economy has always been heavily supported by agriculture — particularly dairy farming — and by some of the oldest paper mills in the state. The county is located at the east end of Lake Ontario, in a region of New York called the “North Country.” It is bordered on the northwest by the St. Lawrence River, on the northeast by St. Lawrence County, on the east by Lewis County, and on the south by Oswego County. The only city is Watertown, population roughly 30,000, located about 80 miles north of Syracuse, Onondaga Co., New York. Today, the county features numerous historic and tourist attractions, including the Thousand Islands Region and Sackets Harbor, site of two battles during the War of 1812.

Jefferson County Map 1855
Jefferson County Map 1855

Jefferson County New York Genealogy is part of the New York History and Genealogy Project. My name is Dennis Partridge and I am the county coordinator. If you have information about this county you would like to place online, then please contact me using the contact form on this website. The American History & Genealogy Project (AHGP) is a group of like-minded individuals committed to providing free access to American genealogical and historical information online. Organized by locations, volunteers host states, counties, and sometimes town or city websites specializing in their areas of interest. Come join us today!

Townships of Jefferson County New York

Biographies of Jefferson County New York

Cemeteries in Jefferson County New York

Census Records for Jefferson County New York

  • Census Records for Jefferson County New York
    The first census specific to Jefferson County New York occurred in 1810. From 1810-1840 only the heads of household were indexed by name, along with the number of other members of the household, their sex and a range of ages which varied between each census. From 1850 onward you are able to find all members of a family listed along with their age given at the time of the census.

Church Records for Jefferson County NY

Directories of Jefferson County New York

Genealogy of Jefferson County New York

  • Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson County New York
  • Camp Genealogy of Jefferson County New York
    Provides genealogies of the Camp families: George Camp, Talcott H. Camp, and Walter B. Camp. These families settled in Sackett’s Harbor and Watertown New York.
  • Flower Genealogy of Jefferson County New York
    Provides genealogies of the Flower families: Nathan M. Flower, George W. Flower, Roswell P. Flower, Anson R. Flower, and Frederick S. Flower. These families resided in Theresa and Watertown New York.
  • Hungerford Genealogy of Jefferson County New York
    Provides genealogies of the Hungerford Families: Thomas Hungerford Family of East Haddam Connecticut; Thomas M. Hungerford Family of East Haddam, Connecticut; Benjamin Hungerford Family of Bristol, Connecticut; Timothy Hungerford Family of Watertown, New York; Timothy Hungerford Family of Watertown Center, New York; Edwin Hungerford Family of Evans Mills, New York; Elbert Hungerford Family of Evans Mills, New York; James Montrose Hungerford Family of Clayton, New York; Dexter Hungerford Family of Brownville, New York; General Solon Dexter Hungerford Family of Adams, New York; and Orville Hungerford Family of Watertown, New York.
  • Some descendants of Thomas Fortune (1821-1900) and Ann Hagan (1832-1902) of Jefferson County, New York
    Thomas Fortune (1821-1900), a son of Garrett and Elizabeth Fortune, immigrated from Balleygarrett, Wexford County, Ireland to Ogdensberg, New York in 1848; he immigrated chiefly because of the potato famine. He married Ann Hagan in 1850, and lived briefly in Rennselaer County before moving to Alexandria, Jefferson County, New York. Descendants and relatives lived in New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, Maryland, Florida, Tennessee, Oklahoma, California, Alaska and elsewhere.
  • Hubbard Genealogy and History
    Hubbard and related families of Jefferson County, New York by Thomas James Hubbard.Published in 1997. Thomas James Hubbard was apparently born in New York City in 1790 and later moved into Jefferson County. He married Nancy Brown in 1814. Most descendants stayed in New York. Includes Aubertine, Bearup, Benore, Constance, Cornaire, Edus, Margrey, O’Conner, Peck, Reinagle, Vautrin & White. Includes name index.
  • Descendants of the Laughlin Families of Wolfe Island, Ontario
    Laughlin Descendants Settled in: Jefferson County, New York; Frontenac County, Ontario; and Oconto County, Wisconsin. Published in May 1996 by Linda Longway Malinich of Rochester NY. James Laughlin was born in 1784 in Scotland. He married Susan Jones. They lived in Northern Ireland. In 1841, James and four of his children immigrated to Quebec and eventually settled on Wolfe Island, Ontario. James died in 1857. Includes Related Families of: Minnick, Parkinson, Putnam, and Van Ness.

Historical Newspapers in Jefferson County NY

History of Jefferson County New York

Transactions of the Jefferson County New York Historical Society

  • 1886-7 Transactions
    Some Causes of the War of 1812 – Sackets Harbor and the war of 1812 – Hon. Joseph Mullins – Mounds at Perch Lake, Jefferson County – Paper on “early Rutland” – Champion: Historical Incidents – Historical Reminiscences – The Aborigines – Hon. Moses Eames – Local and Economical Geology – Reminiscences of Adams – Early History of Adams – Jason Fairbanks
  • 1895 Transactions
    Recollections of Capt. Bortell Minor – Battle of Big Sandy – A Participants Recollections of Big Sandy – Reforesting since the Glacial Epoch – Swinestone – Intersting Pot-hole find – Glacial grooving – Gas and Oil Wells – Flying Squirrel and Owl Pipes – Indian Villages in Jefferson County – Odd Form of an Oneida Indian Pipe – Early Watertown – Mr. and Mrs. John A. Sherman

Photos of Jefferson County, New York

Military Records of Jefferson County New York

Old Houses of the North Country

Articles written by David F. Lane about the old homes and the families who built and lived in them; published in the Watertown (NY) Daily Times, 1941-1956 in a series titled Old Mansions of the North Country (No. 1-87), Old Homes of the North Country (No. 91-99, 103), and Old Houses of the North Country. Placed online by the Genealogy Department of Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library, Watertown, NY.

Yearbooks of Jefferson County New York

History of Agriculture in Adams New York

Agriculture has from the first been the leading industry of the people of Adams, and some of the cereals, especially barley, here produced are widely noted for their excellence. But it was not generally known, until about 1850, that the soil and climate of the town were especially favorable to the growth of vegetables, such as peas and beans. Its situation on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario gives the town the benefit from the precipitation of moisture in the form of heavy dew, which seem more essential to the perfect maturity of the above vegetables than any other condition.…

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Roads, Railroads, and Telegraph Lines of Adams New York

1864 Map of Adams New York shows the route of the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburgh Railroad as it traversed through Adams. The first settlers of the town had only blind paths through the woods for roads; and when streams were reached, they had to be forded or crossed on foot-logs felled across the narrow channels. But roads were located be-tween the different settlements at an early day, and in 1802 the Sandy creek was bridged at Smith’s mill. In the spring of 1804, the State road to Rome, via Redfield, was opened, and ten years later,…

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The Military History of Adams New York

The Military History of the town includes the names of a number who served in the war for American independence: Peter Doxtater, who was taken prisoner by the Mohawk Indians and kept three years, served as a scout in the Revolution and received a pension from Congress in 1834. He died at Adams, Dec. 1, 1842. Others on the pension-roll were John Merriam, Abel Bassett, Danforth Doty, Lucy Thompson, and Cynthia White. Paul Stickney was a sailor under Paul Jones, and Preserved Redway was one of Washington’s bodyguard. He was also present, as corporal of the guard, at, Gen. Burgoyne’s…

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Civil Government of Adams New York

The first town meeting was held at the house of Eliphalet Edmonds, and at the election held March 1, 1803, the following officers were chosen: Supervisor, Nicholas Salisbury; Clerk, Phineas Keith; Assessors, D’Estaing Salisbury, John W. Smith, David Grommon, Thomas White; Collector, Isaac Baker; Overseers of the Poor, Thomas White, David Comstock; Commissioners of Highways, Paul Stickney, Jacob Kellogg, Simeon Hunt; Constables, Isaac Baker, Anson Moody; Fence-viewers, David Comstock, David Smith, George H. Thomas, George Cooper; Pound-keepers, Jacob Kellogg, Benjamin Thomas; Overseers of Highways, Abraham Ripley, James Perry, Enan Salisbury, John Cowles, Consider Law, Solomon Robbins, Hezekiah Tiffany, Thomas White,…

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The Lisk and Wright Settlements of Adams New York

The Lisk and Wright Settlements were farther above Smith’s Mills. At the former place settled Eliphalet Edmonds, at whose house the first town-meeting was held, and who afterwards became a prominent citizen; Francis McKee and Bradford Lisk, who had a tannery in operation many years; a Mr. Munn, who had a tavern at the same point; Priam Thompson, Elijah Fox, Appleton McKee, Myron Cooper, and others, whose descendants became prominent in the town. Here, also, lived the Fox brothers, Samuel and Daniel, the former of whom cleared the first ground in the town; the latter lived on the farm he…

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The Thomas Settlement of Adams New York

1864 Map of Adams New York shows the Thomas Settlement in the bottom left quadrant along with the placement of houses in 1864. The Thomas Settlement, on Sandy creek, a few miles below Adams village, derives its name from the well-known Thomas family, who settled here in April, 1800. There were four brothers, William, Benjamin, Ezra, and Ira, who made the journey from Halifax, Vermont, by ox-team through the wilds. They immediately began clearings, and the ensuing year were followed by their mother and two younger brothers, Elihu and Joel. Many of the farms in this…

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Brownville New York Biographies – Part 9

The following 10 biographical sketches were extracted from the Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y., 1685-1890: Duncan Campbell, Phineas Osborn, John Ross, David Fluno, Robert Anderson, David Ryder, Adelbert Pettit, Seneca Rogers, Edward Soule, and Samuel McTaggart.
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Brownville New York Biographies – Part 8

The following 10 biographical sketches were extracted from the Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y., 1685-1890: William Crouch, Zephaniah Hubbs, John N. Cook, William Jackson, Abenezer Fish, David Lindley, William Elliott, Joseph Ryder, William O. Case, and Joel Kilborn.
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Brownville New York Biographies – Part 7

The following 10 biographical sketches were extracted from the Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y., 1685-1890: Herbert Whittemore, Augustus Devendorf, Mark Sanford, Vann N. Russell, James T. Outterson, Abel Greigg, Andrew Mallett, George Kissel, Ashahel Calkins, and John Vogt.
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Brownville New York Biographies – Part 6

The following 10 biographical sketches were extracted from the Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y., 1685-1890: Joseph Knowlton, William Brothers, Solomon Gould, Chauncy H. Fay, Col. Solomon Spafford, Daniel Gould, James Bauter, David Kennedy, John Lynch, and Richard Flansburg, Jr.
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Brownville New York Biographies – Part 5

The following 10 biographical sketches were extracted from the Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y., 1685-1890: Henry Fuller, Henry Fredenberg, Peter Christie, John Vandewalker, Jeremiah Wilson, Richard Van Allen, Capt. Francis Winn, William Adams, Henry Reeves, and David Knapp.
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Brownville New York Biographies – Part 4

The following 10 biographical sketches were extracted from the Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y., 1685-1890: James Cowan, Francis Williams, Terrance Farmer, John Adams, Hiram Steele, John Adams, Christian Walrath, William P. Smith, Joseph Underwood, and William Mackey.
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Brownville New York Biographies – Part 3

The following 10 biographical sketches were extracted from the Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y., 1685-1890: Newton B. Lord, Richard Buckminster, Ezekiel Conklin, Silas F. Spicer, Isaac Day, Horace Gilmore, George Bell, Ephraim Hoyt, William Seeber, and William T. Skinner.
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Brownville New York Biographies – Part 2

The following 10 biographical sketches were extracted from the Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y., 1685-1890: Aquilla Moffatt, Jonathan Elmer, William Penn Massey, Cyrus W. Giles, Charles Welch, Frederick Avery, Nathaniel Peck, Ebenezer Allison, Robert Gates, and Conkey Moffatt
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Brownville New York Biographies – Part 1

The following 10 biographical sketches were extracted from the Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y., 1685-1890: Samuel Plumb, John Cole, Jonathan Emerson, Benjamin Prior, Jacob Kilborn, Josiah Bonney, William Stow Ely, Cyrus Allen, Jacob Carpenter, and William Berry.
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Biography of Anson Potter of Brownville New York

Anson Potter and Abby Fall Anson Potter is an example of untiring industry, a pioneer of Hounsfield, and a present citizen of most honorable standing. Anson Potter has demonstrated qualities of high order and to acquire superiority in a chosen calling has put forth unremitted exertions. He was the second child in the family of John and Lydia (Holloway) Potter and was born in North Brookfield, Massachusetts, March 29, 1803. His father was a farmer of limited means and came with his family to Stowell’s Corners in the town of Hounsfield in 1805; here he remained for several years and…

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Brownville Co. K 35th Regiment

Organization and Roster of Company K, 35th NY Vols. On the occasion of the 1887 Reunion of the 35th, Col. Newton B. Lord, regimental commander during the war, wrote the following regarding how the regiment and Brownville’s Company K came to be organized. “The news came to Brownville, where I lived, that Fort Sumpter had been fired upon. In our little village a military company had been organized by me, which was called the Jefferson Greys. On the day of the arrival of the news that war had been declared by the south, I caused to be printed, on “Bill…

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Old Cemeteries of Antwerp New York

The first graves in Antwerp were made in the old burial ground in the northeastern part of the village, upon the slope of the hill, near its top, and adjoining the schoolhouse and Baptist church lots. No one can now tell with certainty whose was the first interment here, but among the earliest were those of Richard McAllister and his wife, Susan, whose deaths occurred within less than three weeks of each other, his on the 11th of February, and hers on the 23rd of January, 1813, the land — one acre — was donated for burial purposes by David…

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History of the Village of Antwerp

The 1888 Birds Eye View of Antwerp NY The first settlement and improvements upon the site of the present village of Antwerp were made under the direction of General Lewis R. Morris. On the 23d of December, 1804, he had purchased a tract of forty-nine thousand two hundred and eighty acres of land within the present boundaries of the town, comprising more then two-thirds of its entire area, and including the location on which the village stands. It was not until the year 1808 that David Parrish became proprietor of a part of these lands, by…

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6 thoughts on “Jefferson County New York Genealogy”

  1. My grandmother who is now 97 years old typed me her manuscript and in it was some fascinating information about a childless couple named duane and gertrude Shampine who took her in during summers (as part of the fresh air fund) from Harlem NY from age 6-17, they would take no one else. They fell in love with my grandmother antoinette mennona (she was known to them as nettie) they stayed in contact and wrote letters all the time, she lost touch with them after duane died and gertie lost the farm. I believe the farm was located at 84 mccallister ave antwerp NY but am not 100% positive, I don;t believe that address exsists anymore. It would be a great joy to some how give her en picture of the farm she spent every summer at, or even if she could find long lost relatives of the shampines and maybe they have photographes?? thank you for listening to our beautiful family story

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  2. Great web site, but I had a g grandfather, John W. Chase, who died in Orleans, Jefferson county, and I have never been able to find out anything about his death or buriel. He died between 1800 and 1855. Seems those things are not posted. Would you know how I could find some records of cemeteries, Buriel places. or the like . My email address is rw90doane@comcast.net

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  3. Some of the recent pictures of houses listed under Mansions and Old Houses of the North Country” would benefit from a review. The color picture of the William Martin House in LaFargeville (#120) is a picture of the Rottier house (#68). The addition to the right of the structure in b/w is missing. I also wonder if #39 and #68 depict the same house, although I would not rule out that they had an architect in common.

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  4. I was directed to your site in hopes of possible help with my 5th Great Grandmothers family. My 5th Great Grandmother, Azubah Strickland, marrIed Richard Arthur on the 27 October 1796 in Westfield, Massachusetts. Richard and Azubah were living in Martinsburg, New York at the time of Richard Arthur’s death in 1841. The Arthur family lived in Lewis County, New York. The individual that referred me thought that since Jefferson and Lewis county are close and she had heard or been to Strickland Corners thought there possibly been a connection. I have found nothing on who Azubah’s parents were. The individual that referred me to you said that in Jefferson County, New York because there is, I believe, a large farm called Strickland Corners that possibly might be relatives of Azubah Strickland. I have unable to find any information other than it is on County Rd 29 and County Rd 30. I have also located on a 1855 historical map of land ownership in Jefferson County northwest of Lorraine a name of, R. Strickland. Azubah Strickland Arthur passed away on 10 February 1852 in Martinsburg, Lewis County, New York. This is obviously three years before this historical map.. I would be grateful with any assistance or direction to possibly locate information on Strickland Corners Latitude: 44.1153396 and Longitude: -75.7043751. Thank for any assistance in advance.
    Lisa Bishop

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  5. Greetings. I was wondering if you or someone else here could help me track down an ancestor of mine and her family. Her name was Elisabeth Smith (she was also known as Betsy or Betsey, likely a nickname), and she is listed as being born in 1818 (Feb 14 from some accounts) – Adams Center, Jefferson County, NY. I do not have a record of her parents. There is a possibility she had a sister by the name of Sarah, who was born around December 1815 or December 1816 and whose DOB is listed as being in Watertown, NY. I believe this family or some of this family emigrated to Canada West (now Ontario) in the 1830’s. Just wondered if anyone on here can point me in the right direction. I looked at the 1810 and 1820 Jefferson County Census and there are Smiths listed here, but alas, only the head of the family.

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