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 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

Genealogy and History of Adams New York

Biographies of Jefferson County New York

Biographies of Adams New York
- Biographies of Adams, Jefferson County, New York
  These 123 biographies and biographical sketches were extracted from the Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y., 1685-1890, History of Jefferson County, New York, With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, 1878, and Seventh Day Baptist Yearbook, 1922.
Biographies of Alexandria New York
Biographies of Antwerp New York
Biographies of Brownville, Jefferson County, New York
These 91 biographical sketches were extracted from the Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y., 1685-1890.
Biographies of Watertown, New York
- Life Sketch of William Huntington (1784-1846)

Cemeteries in Jefferson County New York

Adams
- Adams Rural Cemetery, Adams Village, New York
Alexandria
Antwerp
- Old Cemeteries of Antwerp New York
Brownville
- Luther Hill Cemetery

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

Funerals from the Records of Rev. J. Stewart, 1864 Only
North Country Methodists
Selected Preacher Records, Principally from Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties 1839 – 1907
Adams
- Adams Center
  - The Seventh-Day Baptist Church of Adams Center NY
- Adams Village
- North Adams
  - History of the Second Congregational Church in North Adams NY
Alexandria Bay
- Historical sketch of the Reformed Church of the Thousand Isles, Alexandria Bay, N.Y.. Alexandria Bay, N.Y.?: unknown, 1986. $$
Antwerp
- History of the First Congregational Church of Antwerp
- History of St. Paul’s Church, Antwerp, New York
Evans Mills Charge
- Methodist Circuit Accounts – 1878 – 1880
Hammond Charge
- Methodist Circuit Accounts – 1878 – 1880
Lafargeville
- Church Records of the Evangelical Association, 1853-1903
  Spoken of as the “German Evangelical Church.” This Church Was Located 3 miles South of Lafargeville in Jefferson County, N. Y.
Oxbow
- Presbyterian Church from approx. 1857-1912
Plessis Charge
- Methodist Circuit Accounts – 1882-1888
Watertown
- The Black River Conference Memorials
  - The Black River conference memorial
    Containing sketches of the life and character of the deceased members of the Black River conference of the M.E. Church by Gorrie, P. Douglass (Peter Douglass), 1813-1884.
  - Black River and Northern New York conference memorial
    Second series. Containing sketches of the life and character of the deceased members of the above conferences, not included in the former work. Brought down to the present time, 1800, by Gorrie, P. Douglass (Peter Douglass), 1813-1884.
- 1920 Year Book $$
  Arlington Street Church of Christ, Arlington near Franklin, Watertown.
- Years of Faith $$
  Kimball, Frederick H.. Years of faith: a history of the First Presbyterian Church of Watertown, New York, 1803-1953. Watertown, N.Y.: Hungerford-Holbrook, 1953.

Directories of Jefferson County New York

Child’s Gazetteer and directory of Jefferson County, New York, for 1866-7 $$
Digital black and white copy of the business directory of Jefferson County NY published by Child in
- 1866 Jefferson County Business Directory
  Transcription of the list of businesses operating in Child’s directory above.
Businesses in Jefferson County 1867-1868
Transcribed from the Northern New York Business Directory 1867-68 published by Waite Brothers & Co.
1879 Kimball’s Jefferson county New York directory
Digital copy. Containing a classified business directory of the entire county, an alphabetical list of assessed farmers and property owners, the number of acres for which they were assessed, with their post office address; also much general information, interspersed with a few advertisements of the most liberal and extensive dealers.
Watertown, NY, 1888. Watertown, NY: M.M. Kimball, 1888. $$
Watertown, NY, 1889-90. Watertown, NY: M.M. Kimball, 1889. $$
Child’s Gazetteer and directory of Jefferson County, New York, for 1890
- 1890 Business Directory of Adams New York
- 1890 Business Directory of Brownville New York
Watertown, NY, 1891. Watertown, NY: J. C. Kimball, 1891. $$
Watertown, NY, 1892. Watertown, NY: J. C. Kimball, 1892. $$
1893 Kimball’s Jefferson county New York directory
1918 Jefferson County Farm Directory and Reference Book

Genealogy of Jefferson County New York

Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson County New York
- Vol 1
- Vol 2
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

Jefferson County New York Prior to 1797
1854 A history of Jefferson County in the state of New York
1878 History of Jefferson County NY – Everts and Holcomb
- History of Adams New York
Child’s Geographical Gazetteer of Jefferson County, N.Y., 1685-1890
- Adams New York History from Childs 1890 Gazetteer
- Brownville New York History from Childs 1890 Gazetteer
The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894
Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, 1898
Jefferson County New York centennial, 1905: speeches, addresses and stories of the towns
The History of Penet Square
And herein a brief sketch of the life, character and operations of Peter Penet: an address delivered on the occasion of the observance of the centennial of Jefferson County, New York, at Watertown, N.Y., on June 22, 1905.
The North Country
A history embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin Counties, New York.
- Volume 1
- Volume 2
- Volume 3
Folk-stories of the northern border. By Frank D. Rogers.
“Annals of the American settlers of the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario regions, once popularly known as the Black River country.”–Pref. The localities mentioned appear to be mainly in Jefferson County, N.Y.
The Sapbush Run, an informal history of the Black River & Utica Railroad.
Cape Vincent and its History
Casler, Nelie Horton. Cape Vincent and its history. Watertown, N.Y.: Hungerford-Holbrook, 1906.
A brief historical sketch of Carthage, New York $$
A brief historical sketch of Carthage, New York. Carthage, N.Y.?: Carthage Chamber of Commerce, 1986.
150 Years of Watertown $$
Landon, Harry F. 150 years of Watertown. Watertown, N.Y.: Watertown Daily Times, 1950. The history has been prepared largely from original sources, from old journals and recollections of the pioneers but principally from Watertown newpapers from 1817 to date.
Outline of the object, work, condition, and needs of the society $$
Some historic facts and pictures of Jefferson County and the city of Watertown. Watertown, N.Y.?: A.W. Munk, 1928.
Watertown, N.Y.
A history of its settlement and progress, with a description of its commercial advantages: as a manufacturing point, its location, its unsurpassed water power, its industries and general features of attraction to capitalists and manufacturers.
Watertown and its mile of saloons $$
An economical and scientific study of a local matter of vital interest. Waterford, N.Y.: Hungerford-Holbrook, 1915?
Through Eleven Decades of History $$
Monroe, Joel Henry. Through eleven decades of history: Watertown, a history from 1800 to 1912 with illustrations and many incidents. Watertown, N.Y.: Hungerford-Holbrook, 1912.
Memories of the Old Homestead
Lyman, Henry H. Memories of the old homestead. Oswego, N.Y.: R.J. Oliphant, 1900.
A souvenir of the Thousand Islands of the St. Lawrence River from Kingston and Cape Vincent to Morristown and Brockville
With their recorded history from the earliest times, their legends, their romances, their fortifications, and their contests: including both the American and Canadian channels. Alexandria Bay, N.Y.: J.A. Haddock, 1896.
1000 Island House, season of ’86 $$
Alexandria Bay, River St. Lawrence. New York?: unknown, 1886.
Historical Sacket [sic] Harbor museum and Madison Barracks $$
Located at the eastern end of Lake Ontario on the Roosevelt Highway. Watertown, N.Y.?: unknown, 1986. First published in 1948.

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

Brownville Co. K 35th Regiment New York Infantry
Jefferson County in the World War
A record of the activities of the various organizations and individuals who devoted their energies to the cause of freedom in the great conflict of 1914-1918, compiled by George W. Reeves. (Watertown, N. Y.: Hungerford-Holbrook, 1920)

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 Ives Seminary, Antwerp, New York

The 1888 Birds Eye View of Antwerp NY has a cutout showing Ives Seminary as it was in 1888. Ives Seminary, located in Antwerp village, is an outgrowth of two previously-existing educational enterprises, – the Antwerp Liberal Literary Institute and the Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary. The last-named institution was incorporated April 5, 1828, and was successfully conducted as a grammar-school until 1837, when it was placed under the patronage of the Black River conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, and became their conference seminary, with Rev. Jesse T. Peck as principal. It remained under the patronage of…

Biography of Abraham Cooper

Abraham Cooper was the son of John Cooper, and was born at Southampton, Long Island, on the 18th day of June, 1781, where some of the family settled as early as 1640. About 1795, Abraham accompanied his father’s family to Utica. He received but a limited common school education, having been obliged to leave study, and assist his father in the business of hauling goods from the boats to the stores, etc. This was severe labor for the young man, but being naturally of an industrious temperament, he succeeded finely in his new vocation. While thus engaged he went with…

Biography of Henry S. White

Henry S. White was born in the town of Antwerp, Jefferson County, May 16, 1812. His parents, like the majority of the early settlers of the county, were poor, and at an early age he was thrown upon his own resources; when sixteen years of age, he went to Pittsford, Vt., where he resided with a maternal uncle until he was twenty. He then was engaged by a merchant by the name of Addison Bush as clerk; he remained with Mr. Bush one year; and then went to Shoreham, Vt., and entered the employ of Birchard & Wright. After a…

Biography of Azariah Walton

Azariah Walton Azariah Walton was born in Chesterfield, New Hampshire, August 20, 1781. His family were of English extraction. But little, however, is known of its history previous to the birth of our subject. Like most of the youth of that day, his opportunities for education were extremely limited, and his knowledge was obtained from the bitter school of experience. He early evinced in decided taste for mechanics, learned the trade of a blacksmith, and became an expert machinist. To this fact is attributable his emigration to Jefferson County previous to he War of 1812. At this time Brownville was…

Biography of Thomas Benton Marshall

Romeo W. Marshall, the father of the subject of this sketch, a native of Connecticut, was born in the year 1788. He moved to Herkimer, this State, in 1806, and after a few years removed to Trenton Falls, Oneida county, where he engaged in the mercantile trade. He settled in the present town of Alexandria in 1838, where he purchased and cleared up the farm upon which he resided till his death, in 1874, at the age of eighty-six years. Thomas Benton Marshall, the youngest son, was born in Trenton Falls on March 25, 1834. On April 5, 1855, he…

Biography of Chauncey Westcott

Chauncey Westcott comes of Massachusetts and Rhode Island ancestry, his mother having been born in the town of Cheshire, Massachusetts, September 20, 1781, and his father, Henry Westcott, in Rhode Island, October 15, 1778. Henry moved with his father’s family to Oneida county, New York, and was married to Amy Dexter Cushing in 1803. He died October 24, 1855; his wife, October, 1870. Chauncey Westcott was born in the town of Deerfield, Oneida county, New York, December 10, 1804. In the month of January following his father moved into Jefferson County. Chauncey resided in the county until January, 1831, when…

Biography of Lawrence Weston

The subject of this sketch, Lawrence Weston, was born in Mason, Hillsborough county, New Hampshire, November 19, 1795. Early in life he was an apprentice in the tannery business, and continued to follow the same till he was twenty-eight. He married Miss Jane Humphrey, of Herkimer county, New York, July 21, 1822. She was born in Herkimer county, December 4, 1798. Seven children were born to them, — six sons and a daughter. One son — was drowned in New Orleans January 3, 1867, and one son — John — was a soldier in the Rebellion, and lost his life. In…

Biography of Elijah Houghton

The subject of this sketch, Elijah Houghton, was born in Harvard, Wooster county, Massachusetts, June 12, 1800, and in company with his parents emigrated to the town of Le Ray, in 1810. His father died two years later, and Elijah went to live with one of the older members of the family, remained two years, and then served as an apprentice to the tanner and currier trade till he was of age. In 1823 he purchased his first piece of land in Antwerp, but did not settle permanently upon it till 1826. On the 20th of October, 1826, he married…

Biography of Hiram T. Nutting

The subject of our sketch, Hiram T. Nutting, was born at Hartford, Connecticut, in 1816. His father was a native of the same place, and was born in 1782, and emigrated to the town of Antwerp in 1820, in company with his wife and two children, Hiram T, and Mary. He died in 1827, and his wife in 1837. Hiram T. Nutting, was reared a farmer, which occupation he still follows. He commenced life very poor, but, by industry and frugality he has acquired a competency. He married Mary Ann Gates, daughter of E. Gates, in 1843. She died in 1862,…

Lewis Family of Antwerp New York

Among the pioneer families of this county the Lewis family may be mentioned. In November, 1810, Mr. Lewis and wife and little daughter, nine months old, emigrated from Petersburg to Antwerp. They located on what is known as the “Lewis Farm.” Their first cabin was twelve by fourteen feet without fire-place. At one end of the cabin was a stone wall, against which the fire was built, the end of the cabin being left open to let the smoke escape, and every night it rained or snowed it would put out the fire, and the family was obliged to go…

Biography of Leonard A. Bacon

Among the esteemed citizens whose names grace the pages of this history may be mentioned the subject of this sketch, Leonard A. Bacon. His father was a native of Massachusetts, and was born in April, 1783. Was a carpenter and joiner, and assisted in building the first farm building ever built in Watertown. He married Miss Lucy Morton, about 1805, by whom he had ten children. She was born in Massachusetts, in 1787. While a young man, Mr. Bacon emigrated to Lowville, Lewis county. About 1821 he settled in Antwerp, on the farm now owned by Smith Fuller. After coming…

Jefferson County New York Genealogy

Jefferson County Genealogy is part of the New York American History and Genealogy Project (AHGP). This website features free genealogy and history concerning Jefferson County New York. Biographies, cemeteries, directories, genealogy, history, military records, newspaper records, old homes, and yearbooks.

Biography of Colonel Hiram B. Keene

Of all the pioneers and worthy citizens of Jefferson County none deserves a better mention upon the pages of our county history than Colonel Hiram B. Keene. He was born in Pompey, Onondaga county, New York, June 17, 1810. His parents, Job and Nancy Keene, reared thirteen children to industry and frugality, and all of them except two became heads of families. The colonel is one of that large family, and was reared to know the value of time and money. His early advantages for an education were of the most limited character, as he had attended but fifteen months…

Biography of Caleb G. Hall

The subject of this sketch is the son of Havers and Amy Hall, and was born at Exeter, Rhode Island, September 10, 1813. In 1820 he removed, in company with his parents, to Antwerp, Jefferson County, New York. He remained with his parents till he twenty-five years of age. On the 29th of November, 1838, he married Miss Catherine Jane Lewis, of Antwerp. She was born February 11, 1819, at Petersburg, Rensselaer county, New York, and settled in Antwerp with her parents when but nine months of age. As a result of said marriage, six children have been born, five…

Biography of E. A. Carpenter

E. A. Carpenter, son of Thomas and Ann C., was born in Antwerp, Jefferson County, New York, June 25, 1828. His father was a native of Florida, Montgomery County, New York, and was born September 30, 1796, and followed farming for a living. He married Miss Ann Wright, of De Wainesburg, Montgomery county, November 13, 1919. Twelve children were born to them, six of whom still live. In march, 1820, he emigrated to Antwerp, and settled on the farm now owned by his son, E. A. Mr. Carpenter and wife were members of the Protestant Methodist church. He died October…

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6 thoughts on “Jefferson County New York Genealogy”

jackie foley
January 23, 2019 at 4:17 pm
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
Jeff Record
February 21, 2019 at 12:03 am
Great web site – lots of sources for information. You are a credit to the county!
Retha Chase Doane
September 25, 2019 at 8:29 pm
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
Gunther Schaller
January 8, 2020 at 10:50 am
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.
Lisa Bishop
October 11, 2020 at 8:12 pm
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
Scott Tribe
July 12, 2022 at 5:00 pm
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.