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The Western New York Genealogical Society's mission is to help preserve and encourage interest in Western New York's rich genealogical heritage - specifically Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, & Wyoming Counties. We focus on education and preservation. Image of Buffalo waterfront Source: Library of Congress Digital Collections Shared History We stern New York’s strategic location on the Great Lakes has made it both a terminus and a gateway of migration. First home to Native American communities, the region was later settled primarily by New Englanders following the Revolutionary War. The opening of the Erie Canal provided an easy route west, attracting the first of many waves of immigrants from Europe. Many people remained in the area and have been followed by others from around the world. Membership Experience everything membership has to offer - both in-person and online. JOIN Volunteer Make a difference by sharing your time, skills, and expertise with WNYGS. HELP Donate Support our work and mission by making financial contribution today. GIVE Recent Society Programs Family Tree Maker Special Interest Group (SIG) Virtual Meeting with Gabrielle Kandefer Nov 8, 2025 10:30a-12:00p EST Virtual Program - Zoom Annual Meeting & "Voting Records: Genealogy's Best Kept Secret" with Pam Vestal Nov 15, 2025 10:30a-12:00p EST Virtual Program - Zoom VIEW ALL Featured Resources SOCIETY LIBRARY June Partridge Zintz Memorial Library Collection DATABASE Buffalo New York Deaths Collection Index PUBLICATIONS Western New York Genealogist and Journal NEXTGEN SIG Connect Through Our Special Interest Group Collection Assistance Days Each month, WNYGS volunteers are on-site at the Central Library to assist researchers with the society's library collection and answer general research questions. Join us for these upcoming winter dates: Wed., December 3 12-4p Sun., December 7 12-5p Fri., December 12 9a-12p Tues., January 6 10a-1p Sun., January 11 12-5p m Thurs., January 29 12-4p Tues., February 3 10a-1p Sun., February 8 12-5p Wed., February 25 12-4p In addition to these special assistance days, the collection remains accessible to all members and patrons during regular library hours. Original Holland Land Company Vault (Mayville, NY) News and Updates Jan 1, 2025 : New and Returning Board Members Start Term May 16, 2024 : Buffalo and Erie County Public Library and the Western New York Genealogical Society's online exhibit, “Buffalo's Neighborhoods: Exploring Our Migrant and Immigrant Heritage," Named 2024 Winner of the National Genealogical Society Conference SLAM! Idea Showcase

June Partridge Zintz Memorial Library June Partridge Zintz (1927–2007) Founder & First President The Western New York Genealogical Society maintains an expanding reference library that serves as a repository of genealogical information pertaining to Western New York. The primary focus is the eight counties of Western New York - specifically Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming. However, the collection also contains information on New York State, New England, as well as other states and many foreign countries. The collection includes more than 3,000 books and 700 rolls of microfilm, family histories, periodicals, and card indexes. DONATE MATERIALS Collection Catalog As a reference library, collection materials are non-circulating. Books are arranged in a "modified" Dewey Decimal Classification system which is easily understood and usable. Items are catalogued by author, title and subject. SEARCH Library Chair: Rhonda Hoffman libra rian@wnygs.org For Download WNYGSCatalog-Web VITAL INDEX OF EARLY WESTERN NEW YORK FAMILIES Resource of approximately 120,000 index cards containing the birth, death, & marriage information for early Western New York families collected and complied from 75 sources. VITAL RECORDS & VITAL RECORD SUBSTITUTES Church R ecords Birth, Marriage, Death Records Cemetery R ecords Member-Submitted Bible and Marriage Records Published & Unpublished Record Manuscripts ANCESTOR CHARTS, FAMILY HISTORIES, & GENEALOGIES Collection of Member-Submitted Ancestor Charts Published & Unpublished Family Histories & Manuscripts Buffalo & Erie County Public Library & the Western New York Genealogical Society present "Buffalo's Neighborhoods: Exploring Our Migrant and Immigrant Heritage" View Digital Exhibit General Collection Holdings Atlases, Gazetteers, & Maps Immigration Resources Microfilmed Records Military Records & Resources Directories & Histories Guides & Indexes Periodicals How To Books Floor Plan Download WNYGS-ZintzMap Collection Assistance Days Each month, WNYGS volunteers are on-site at the Central Library to assist researchers with the society's library collection and answer general research questions. Join us for these upcoming winter dates: Wed., December 3 12-4p Sun., December 7 12-5p Fri., December 12 9a-12p Tues., January 6 10a-1p Sun., January 11 12-5p m Thurs., January 29 12-4p Tues., February 3 10a-1p Sun., February 8 12-5p Wed., February 25 12-4p In addition to these special assistance days, the collection remains accessible to all members and patrons during regular library hours. Have questions about this program? Email our volunteer coordinator at volunteers@wnygs.org to learn more. Research Requests & Referrals Research Assistance A s an all-vo lunteer organization, the s oci ety has neither the personnel nor the facilities to handle individual research requests . While the society does not recommend specific individu als, it encourages everyone seeking assistance to do their own research before hiring an outside professional. Locally, the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library and The Buffalo History Museum maintain lists of known researchers for hire. Additionally, several professional genealogy trade associations including the Association of Professional Genealogists , the Board for Certification of Genealogists , and the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists offer member directories; please note each organization is responsible for establishing its own membership requirements and professional/ethical standards. In addition to our Collection Assistance Days, the WNYGS Facebook Discussion Group offers society and community members the opportunity to post their questions for fellow researchers. With more than 3,500 members participating, you never know what you might learn o r find. B&ECPL Library Research Services The Grosvenor Room offers select research services. A summary of services can be found on the library’s website . Collection Location The Zintz Collection is housed at the following location: Buffalo & Erie County Public Library - Central Branch Grosvenor Room (Special Collections & Local History) 1 Lafayette Square Buffalo, NY 14203 Click to view current library hours . Grosvenor Room Policies See the Grosvenor Room’s Visiting Us webpage for information on the library’s policies and amenities. Collection Guides The Grosvenor Room's collection finding guides include many WNYGS resources. Duplication: Duplication of library materials is restricted to small quantities for personal research. Written permission from WNYGS is required to reproduce more than a small portion (a few images) of an item from the WNYGS collection.

Upcoming and past member programs. Regional and national speakers. Meetings, webinars, field trips, and workshops - free and paid. For members and general public. Register online. Past event photo gallery. Member Meetings & Programs Upcoming Programs Past Programs Photo Gallery The Western New York Genealogical Society hosts a minimum of six member meetings a year. These meetings are generally held on the third Saturday of the month during March, April, May, September, October and November (unless special opportunities or conflicts arise). Occasionally, bonus webinars, trips, and workshops may be offered during the year. As a special benefit for members, videorecordings and digital handouts are made available whenever possible. Upcoming Society Programs No events at the moment Advanced registration is required for all programs. After registering for an online program, you will receive a Zoom confirmation email containing the meeting link. Help Us Spread The Word About Our Programs! Click the desired link below to download a copy of the program flyer: Schedule of 2026 program dates to be announced shortly. Questions or Suggestions? Have a question about an upcoming program? Do you have a suggestion for a program topic or speaker? Program Chair: Jeanette Sheliga progra ms@wnygs.org NextGen SIG Chair: Gabrielle Kandefer nextgen@wnygs.org Upcoming Programs Past Programs Photo Gallery Past Programs 2025 Programs [ VMA ] i ndic ates th e content is available for viewing in the Members Area. Nov 15, 2025: Annual Business Meeting & "Voting Records: Genealogy's Best Kept Secret" presented by Pam Vestal [ VMA ] [ Flyer ] Oct 18, 2025: "No OMPF? No Problem!" presented by Sara Cochran [ VMA ] [ Flyer ] Sep 20, 2025: "Ten Things Every Eastern European Genealogist Should Know" presented by Lisa Alzo [ VMA ] [ Flyer ] June 21, 2025: Spotlight on Cattaraugus County May 24, 2025: Community Event - Family History Day 2025 In-Person Event - Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Central Library, Buffalo, NY May 17, 2025: "Lure Your Ancestors Out of the National Register of Historic Places" presented by Michelle Spencer [ Flyer ] Apr 12, 2025: "From Local Militia to the Continental Line" presented by Bryna O'Sullivan [ Flyer ] Mar 15, 2025: "Sifting Through the Cookbooks for Our Female Ancestors" presented by Eleanor O. Brinsko [Flyer ] Feb 15 2025: "The Underground Railroad Run Through Here" presented by Janice Lovelace [ Flyer ] Jan 11 2025: "Analyzing Census Data Using Spreadsheets" presented by Tara Shymanski [ Flyer ] Click to learn more about our past NextGen and Family Tree Maker Special Interest Group programs. 2024 Programs [ VMA ] i ndic ates th e content is available for viewing in the Members Area. Nov 16 2024: Annual Business Meeting & Elections and "Twenty Years of Stuff - Now What Do I Do?" presented by Elissa Scalise Powell" [Flyer] Oct 5 2024: 50th Anniversary Founders Celebration featuring Thomas W. Jones and Karen Mauer Jones [ Flyer ] Sept 8 2024: “Brick by Brick: Tracing Your Home’s History”with Tina Beaird [ VMA ] [ Flyer ] Jul 13 2024: “Save Our Cemeteries" Workshop Jun 22 2024: “Birthplace and Crossroads of Western New York" Talk & Workshop Apr 20 2024: Members Meet-Up - Rochester Genealogical Society's "Genealogy in Bloom" Conference with Jeanette Sheliga Mar 16 2024 " Chautauqua County Poor Farm & the Emigrant Train" presented by Michele Henry [ VMA ] [ Flyer] Feb 17 2024: "Using AI for Genealogy" presented by Margaret M. McMahon [Flyer ] Jan 20 2024: "Wide World of Passports" presented by Debra Dudek [Flyer ] Prior Programs (2021-2023) Additional information on past member programs and trips here. Member Program Photo Gallery Buffalo History Museum "Buffalo Will See It Through" exhibit Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Society Workshop at Computer Learning Lab Family Discoveries BIGS Railroad Employee Record Collection BIGS Library Visit to the Buffalo Irish Genealogy Society City of Buffalo Inactive Records Talk and Private Tour of Facility at River Rock Library Love Members showing their support for the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library and all libraries throughout Western New York Tracing Our History WNY Genealogy Conference - Documenting Our Families' Journeys Continuing Education Society Program on Church Records Remembering Those Lost Erie County (NY) Casualties in WWI Veterans History Project Library of Congress Training - Documenting Veterans' Experiences Click any image to learn more about past WNYGS programs and events.

Special Interest Groups Our SIG's Mission & Purpose Created in 2024, the NextGen Special Interest Group aims to provide a place for younger individuals interested in genealogy to collaborate and meet one another while having fun doing it. Our objectives are: Bridge together digital and physical research to create a more complete picture of available genealogical records. Bring awareness to resources that are either free to use or more affordable to further accessibility. Actively listen to our members to ensure we are focusing on the areas and activities that interest them most. Virtual & In-Person Meetings Upcoming Meetings Schedule of 2026 meeting dates to be announced shortly. Past Meetings Family Tree Maker SIG Virtual Meeting Sat., November 8, 2025 NexGen SIG Virtual Meeting Sat., October 11, 2025 Family Tree Maker SIG Virtual Meeting Sat., September 27, 2025 Family Tree Maker SIG Meeting Sat., July 26, 2025 NextGen SIG Meeting: In-Person Meet-up Sat., June 21, 2025 Family Tree Maker SIG Meeting with Mark Olsen Thurs., March 20, 2025 NextGen SIG Meeting: "Digital Media and Organization Strategies" Sun., April 27, 2025 Family Tree Maker SIG Meeting with John Fassbender Sat., May 31, 2025 NextGen SIG Meeting: "Free Websites & How To Use Them" Sun., February 23, 2025 Your Feedback Thoughts on Future NextGen Events Click To Complete Short Survey via Google Forms Click above to view/download. Ideas or Suggestions? Have suggestions about this group's direction and activities? Do you have suggestions for topics for upcoming meetings? NextGen SIG Chair: Gabrielle Kandefer nextgen@wnygs.org EMAIL ME Family Tree Maker Savings Because the first objective of the NextGen SIG is the bridging together of digital and physical research, incorporating Family Tree Maker (FTM) in our research seemed like a natural second step. So, in addition to our NextGen Special Interest Group we’d like to add a Family Tree Maker Special Interest Group for our members. The NextGen SIG and FTM SIG would be held on alternate months. Some features of FTM include: Endless report generating capabilities The ability to merge data with existing Ancestry accounts (including media!) Can be saved to your personal computer Allows photos, documents and research notes to be added to profiles Special Family Tree Maker Offer: A new version of FTM is available for Windows and Mac users -- and now with more features than ever! MacKiev is offering an exclusive discount (up to $50 off) to any current or interested members of the WNYGS FTM Special Interest Group. Complete information on the offer including discount code are available on the Society website in the Members Area. To learn more about the product, visit the FTM page on MacKiev's website and the FTM Facebook users group .

Western New York Historian Project About the Project What is the Western New York Historian Project? In the summer of 2020, we reached out to the village, town, city, and county historians of the eight counties of WNY and asked them to participate in the society 's Western New York Historian Project. We did this by emailing or mailing a questionnaire to each of the historians for whom we had an email or address listed. We hoped they would share with us their response to our questions. What is the purpose of this Project? We wanted to learn from the historians, in their own words, about their job and role as the guardians of their municipality's history the historic records and collections within their village, town, city or county the means they use to provide this information to the community at large their goals, as historian, for the next four years, and how, and in what ways, WNYGS could help them in achieving these goals. Image: Genesee County History Department Research Library (Batavia, NY) WNY Historian Project Chair: Marie-Cecile Tidwell, PhD historianproject@wnygs.org What have we learned so far? The WNY historians are very dedicated and loyal keepers of history. Some are new to the task, while others have been in their role for as many as 45 years. They often fulfill their duties with little or no pay; even office and storage space can be limited, if any. Some historians work in conjunction with the county and town historical museums and societies, as well as with local government officials. Municipality websites may have sections devoted to local history and often include material presented by their local historians. What is our goal as a result of the Historian Project? Our goal is to share with our membership what we have learned through this project in order to help them with their family research of their WNY ancestors. It is our hope that in addition to learning more about the history of the eight counties of WNY, our membership, as well as others in the community, will volunteer with these local historians and societies in the preservation of these important and often irreplaceable pieces of family and local history. The mission of the Western New York Genealogical Society is to preserve public and historical records, and to encourage interest, knowledge, and research in the WNY region's rich genealogical heritag e. This is a mission we share with all local historians across WNY. Find A Government Historian Association of Public Historians of New York State (APHNYS) Government Appointed Historians of Western New York (GAHWNY) News & Events of Interest In Western New York Erie & Niagara Cou nt y : Elaine Timm & Concordia Cemetery Recognized with WNY German Culture Award Nov 13, 2025 Article in November-December issue of The German Citizen [p. 1, 3] discussing the award recipients' important work in Upstate New York. Society-Published Historian Profiles Click title t o download and view the PDF. The Role of a Town Historian: "In Her Own Words" WNYGS JOURNAL - Vol. 47, No. 4, p. 145-150 By Marie-Cecile O. Tidwell, PhD and Jeanne M est, Town of Sheldon Historian Historic "Gems" of Genesee County WNYGS JOURNAL - Vol. 48, No. 1, p. 7-12 By Marie-Cecile O. Tidwell, PhD The Historians of Erie County WNYGS JOURNAL - Vol. 48, No. 2, p. 52-56 By Marie-Cecile O. Tidwell, PhD The Historians & Treasures of Cattaraugus County WNYGS JOURNAL - Vol. 48, No. 3, p. 76-81 By Marie-Cecile O. Tidwell, PhD Orleans County: Its Historians and Treasures Western New York Genealogist , Vol. 49, No. 1, p. 13-16 by Marie-Cecile O. Tidwell, PhD Wyoming County: Its Historians and Treasures Western New York Genealogist , Vol. 49, No. 2, p. 35-42 by Marie-Cecile O. Tidwell, PhD Allegany County: Its Historians and Treasures Western New York Genealogist , Vol. 49, No. 3 , p. 52 -56 by Marie-Cecile O. Tidwell, PhD Niagara County: Its Historians a nd Treasures Western New York Genealogist , Vol. 50, No. 1 , p. 13-20 by Marie-Cecile O. Tidwell, PhD Chautauqua County: Its Historians a nd Treasures Western New York Genealogist , Vol. 50, No. 2 , p. 32-40 by Marie-Cecile O. Tidwell, PhD BE A MEMBER When you become a member, you'll receive this and other helpful content in The Western New York Genealogist .

Genesee County Vital Records Dates of First Vital Statistics Records (as published in the Western New York Genealogical Society Journal ) Click the county below to view individual town and village record information: Allegany County Cattaraugus County Chautauqua County Erie County Genesee County Niagara County Orleans County Wyoming County This map shows each Western New York county's founding date and the name of its parent county. Town and Date Births Marriages Deaths Notes ALABAMA - Incorporated 17 Apr 1826 2 Mar 1882 17 July 1882 27 May 1882 ALEXANDER - Incorporated 8 June 1812 30 Sept 1893 11 Dee 1893 27 Aug 1893 ALEXANDER - VILLAGE All records included with the Town records BATAVIA - Incorporated 30 Mar 1802 21 Jan 1882 7 Jan 1882 18 Feb 1882 BATAVIA - CITY 5 Nov 1887 5 Nov 1887 5 Nov 1887 BERGEN - Incorporated 2 Apr 1814 6 July 1883 7 Dec 1889 1 Jan 1883 BERGEN - VILLAGE All records included with the Town records BETHANY - Incorporated 8 June 1812 16 Feb 1882 15 Feb 1882 9 Feb 1882 BYRON - Incorporated 4 Apr 1820 20 Jan 1882 30 Mar l882 4 Jan 1882 CORFU - VILLAGE 27 Dec 1890 3 Oct 1891 6 Nov 1890 All records included with the Town records DARIEN - Incorporated 10 Feb 1882 26 Jan 1882 11 Jan 1882 23 May 1882 ELBA- Incorporated 14 Mar 1820 31 Jan 1882 7 Jan 1882 16 Mar 1882 ELBA - VILLAGE All records included with the Town records LEROY - Incorporated 8 June 1812 22 Feb 1882 15 Feb 1882 11 Jan 1882 LEROY - VILLAGE - Incorporated 6 May 1834 15 Feb 1882 26 Jan 1882 19 Feb 1882 OAKFIELD - Incorporated 11 Apr 1842 4 July 1885 23 Sept 1882 6 Mar 1892 OAKFIELD - VILLAGE All records included with the Town records PAVILION - Incorporated 19 May 1842 30 Jan 1882 13 Feb 1882 23 Feb 1882 PEMBROKE - Incorporated 8 June 1812 1847 -1849; 3 Apr 1882 1847 -1849; 19 Apr 1882 1847 -1849; 26 Apr 1882 STAFFORD - Incorporated 24 Mar 1820 1 Feb 1882 18 Jan 1882 10 Jan 1882 Source: WNYGS JOURNAL , Vol. 1, No.4, March 1975 In cases where data is not available, it can be assumed that the dates of records are similar to the other towns in the county.

Proudly Celebrating 50 Years Our Anniversary (1974-2024) With a proud history dating back to 1974, the Western New York Genealogical Society is excited to celebrate our work, our impact, and the dedication and passion of our members and volunteers. 50th Anniversary Memories As we look back over the past fifty years of the Western New York Genealogical Society, we all have our own memories of how we became interested in genealogy and of our time in the Society. Please share with us any special or unforgettable memories you have. Submissions: Send them to 50Memories@wnygs.org . We will share them throughout the coming year. Shared Memories July-September Memories Memory 27: Pamela Bouquin (#3378) [7/3/2024] Memory 28: Suzanne Scripter Harris (#3520L) [7/10/2024] Memory 29: Dennis Gates (#1508) [7/17/2024] Memory 30: Peter Ames (#3375) [7/24/2024] Memory 31: Dr. John R. Schmidt (#3699L) [7/31/2024] Memory 32: Lois Lane (#3782L) [8/7/2024] Memory 33: Lois Lane (#3782L) [8/14/2024] Memory 34: Becky Burke (#3790F) [8/21/2024] Memory 35: Kay White (#3974) [8/28/2024] Memory 36: Fred Kester (#364) [9/4/2024] Memory 37: Fred Kester (#364) [9/11/2024] Memory 38: P. Marthia (#3970) [9/18/2024] Memory 39: P. Richard (Dick) Kreitner (#3756) [9/25/2024] Back to Main 50th Anniversary Page Memory 39: Richard (Dick) Kreitner (#3756) While I was born and grew up in Niagara Falls, I moved to Connecticut after college, well before my interest in family history was kindled. It wasn’t until my wife and I became empty nesters that I started seriously researching my family roots in Niagara County, many ancestors having arrived directly from Europe almost 200 years ago, purchasing land from the Holland Land Company, and some others arriving even earlier, settling in the British colonies and eventually migrating to Western New York. As my research expanded, I started attending conferences and joining genealogy organizations outside of my local area, which eventually led me to discover and join the Western New York Genealogical Society. Even though I live too far away to attend meetings, the advent of Zoom has made it possible to participate. I also was able to attend in-person the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society conference in Buffalo, where I got to see first-hand the wonderful collections of the WNYGS. I was particularly excited this past year when the WNYGS sponsored a program on the Witmer Cemetery in the Town of Niagara, the burial place of many of my ancestors. This is a special place for our family which we visit almost any time we are back in Niagara Falls. While I couldn’t attend in-person, I have worked with the Town of Niagara Historian to provide information about the family members and have original deeds to some plots. It was great to see the interest in this cemetery and in keeping it preserved! Congratulations to the WNYGS on 50 years! ------------------------------ Memory 38: P. Martha (#3970L) When you're looking for your ancestor born in the US before birth certificates were required and with a unique surname and lots of family lore about how the name had been changed (but no one knows from what), you're left with quite a puzzle. Add to that finding him living as a young child in another household at the age of 6, and the mystery grows. Sure, you have his death certificate that lists his parents, but they do not seem to exist. But then you may have found your ancestor and his parents with a couple of siblings on an 1850 census only, but how do you know it's the right family? You share the story with Ned Schimminger at the Tonawanda Historical Society who helps you look. Eventually he asks you about a woman he found who appears to share the maiden name with your ancestor. That was the piece needed to not only verify you have the right family but also take the family back to a small town in France where she was born. All five children (ages 2 to 13) were living with different families in 1855. While we may never know what happened to the parents, it's amazing to know that they stayed in touch throughout their lives. We can see this through newspaper articles and records -- sisters living together, brothers as ushers during weddings, nephews serving as executors to their uncle's estate, death notices in the 1920s, etc. Oh, and that surname is just a little bit different than the original one from France, and it's spelled differently on the immigration records and that 1850 census records. Even with all that, all five children spelled it the same way as adults. ------------------------------ Memory 37: Fred Kester (#364) “A Revolutionary Discovery in ‘76” (Part 2) I was walking back to my car after spending about four hours in the Randolph Cemetery and was so excited about finding the grave of my 3-great-grandparents, when all of a sudden, it happened!!!...I nearly tripped…tripped over a small gravestone! When I looked down to determine the problem, my dismay turned to disbelief. It was the grave of “EZEKIEL/SCUDDER/1766-1853/REV.WAR” Next to it was the grave marker for “CYNTHIA/WIFE OF/EZEKIAL SCUDDER/DIED/JUNE 20, 1853/AGED 80 YEARS/”. I had to reach for my handkerchief when I realized they were my 4-great-grandparents. Ezekiel Scudder, I had readd, was born in Connecticut and served as a young man during the Revolutionary War. He married Cynthia Gould in 1971. Ezekiel was a pioneer in the Genesee Country and made his first dwelling in a Sycamore tree as protection from the wild animals until his more permanent home was built. He built the first gristmill and sawmill in the settlement called Scudderville. This town was renamed as Victor after Claudius Victor Boughton, a hero of the War of 1812. After occupying his farm for thirty-five years, Ezekiel began to long again for the freedom of the frontier. He sold his farm and removed to the Randolph, Cattaraugus County in 1827. There he lived with his large family until his death at age 87. Now I was standing next to his final resting place. I have discovered other Revolutionary War ancestors, some of whose graves I have found and others whose graves I hope to find someday, but to nearly stumble over the gravestone of my first Revolutionary War soldier in July 1976 was amazing! Maybe it was Ezekiel Scudder trying to get my attention, so that I could remember his story many years later, or maybe it was the ‘Spirit of ‘76’. ------------------------------ Memory 36: Fred Kester (#364) “A Revolutionary Discovery in ‘76 ” (Part 1) The year was 1976 and Bicentennial Fever was in the air. In January my Mom and Dad gave me a genealogy kit from Everton’s for my birthday. In March, Dad and I joined as members of the Western New York Genealogical Society. In May, I was doing genealogical research at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, downtown branch, when I discovered in the 1893 History of County, New York the names of some ancestors who had lived in Randolph, New York, where my grandfather and great grandmother were born. So, in July, I decided to take a couple days’ vacation to do research in Randolph. The Randolph Cemetery seemed like a good place to start. I slowly walked among the many rows of graves and stopped now and then to copy some of the inscriptions. Farther in the cemetery, I saw a tall obelisk monument. After reading the inscriptions on the opposite sides of it, I realized it was the grave marker for Joel and Hannah Scudder, my 3-great-grandparents. They had died on the same day, March 3, 1866, and were buried in the same casket. Between the inscriptions for each of them was an engraving showing two clasped hands and under it the word: “They were lovely and pleasant in their lives and in their deaths, they were not divided.” I was touched to read the words and to have found their final resting place. By then, however, it was late in the afternoon and having spent about four hours in the cemetery, I was tired and decided to leave. I was walking through the old section on the way back to my car, when all of a sudden, it happened!!!!... ------------------------------ Memory 35: Kay White (#3974) I joined only a few years ago. When I learned of your existence I immediately joined. My paternal 2nd great-grandfather came to Stafford, Genesee County from Yarnscombe, Devon, England via the Erie Canal in 1837. His son, my great-grandfather, James Karslake, moved 5 miles away and lived, worked and died in LeRoy. My grandfather and his sister attended the LeRoy Academic Institute. My grandfather went to Lafayette University in Pennsylvania, eventually earned his PhD and become a Chemistry University Professor until he moved back to Western NY to live in Buffalo from 1918 to 1953. Anna was able to attend college at Ingram University, right there in LeRoy, NY. She became an elementary school art teacher. After I joined, I learned WNYGS had a table in the Grosvenor Room in the downtown Buffalo library. I have been going once a year (in the summer) to the Grosvenor Room to do research and finally in 2022 (?) I talked to someone at the WNYGS desk. Thank you for what you do. ------------------------------ Memory 34: Becky Burke (#3790F) I originally joined WNYGS in May of 2017. I was not born here nor were my parents, we are the beginning ancestors in Western New York. I knew what amazing people were in the society from attending the free workshops they provided. I wanted to connect with them and find out more about my genealogy. My mom’s family had been here since the early days of America, migrating from the north ultimately to the south. My dad’s family only since the late 1890s, early 1900s, in the NYC/NJ area, depending on which of his parents. I love the detective work and hunt of genealogy research. Sadly, I ended up realizing I needed a little more time before I could dedicate myself to the full process of the society. During the interim years, I continued to attend the wonderful workshops the society provides, keeping in touch and working on going back farther than my grandparents. After my retirement in 2022, I rejoined the society. I knew our society had continued to be filled with amazing folks, who know so much of the ins and outs of researching, preserving, and organizing the history/genealogy of the local and larger community. I was ready to dive fully in. I decided to volunteer on the Index and Transcription Committee. I met many wonderful people and learned many things. In 2023, I took on the position of Registrar, interacting with all our wonderful society members. In addition, I am currently on the 50th Anniversary Celebration Committee, helping with all the events. I would encourage others to volunteer and get involved. I have to say, I am having a ball! And shameless plug, we have 2 wonderful events coming up in celebration of our 50th anniversary. The “Save our Cemeteries” on Saturday, July 13th and a full day conference and luncheon, with world renowned genealogical experts, Thomas and Karen Jones, as the speakers for the “Founders Celebration” on Saturday, October 5th. You can find all the details on our Meetings page . ------------------------------ Memory 33: Lois Lane (#3782L) In the last 50 years, I have become interested in Genealogy. I am not sure why, but it may have started when my cousin Ron Batt put out our Batt Genealogy around 1972 (with the assistance of Glenn Atwell). I was interested in finding out more about my mothers WALTER side of the family. It was a challenge as at that time, there was very little access to online information. My mother and I went to St. John's Church in Alden on Sandridge Road to look through the Birth, Marriage and Death records that were recorded in the old books. That was VERY interesting as I found my Aunt Ida on my Fathers side, listed for her first marriage and where it stated her mother as being a WALTER. I have since researched that line and found the connection to both my mother’s and father’s sides. The other Great Find was a paper that was given to my mother, Mary Louise Walter, by her first cousin, Celestine (Sally) Walter that listed a whole family with 22 children and explained how they were related. It showed that my Great Grandfather, Mathias Walter, first married a Widow, Josephine Girard (who was previously married to Bernardus Fix and had 2 daughters with him.) Then Mathias and Josephine had several more children (I Found some DNA Matches here) and she passed away in 1871. Then Mathias married another widow, Carolina Baumann, whose first Husband Peter Bachmann, had passed away after they had 5 children. Mathias and Carolina are my Biological Great Grandparents, where my Grandfather, Edward Martin Walter, was the youngest of the 22 children. It helped to explain the 1880 Census where there were FIX children, BACHMANN Children and WALTER Children all in one household. Thanks to my mothers single older cousin, who gave that paper to the right person who would pass it on to me to keep their story alive. This is the Best addiction to have and I never feel alone when I am with my fellow Genealogy nuts. History has also become more important to me and I wish that Genealogy was a part of the History classes we take in school (although I understand how it could be hard for those that are not with biological families). ------------------------------ Memory 32: Lois Lane (#3782L) During Covid I spent a LOT of time on the Internet (mostly late at night where my Internet usage was unlimited until 5 AM) researching my family Tree and my DNA Matches. I know it was during this time that I helped a couple of my DNA matches that were adopted to find their biological family connections. The first connection, I had two possibilities for the mother (living), so I looked at their Facebook accounts and almost immediately I saw the resemblance of the one woman. I don't recall HOW the actual introduction was made but I know initially when contact was made the bio mother was told to deny the adult person that was given up for adoption. Luckily she did not listen to that advice and she is now in touch with her first born. Her other children born since then with another father have also DNA tested where I now know of other distant cousins. There is Good communication with the family even though they live far apart. There is NO Shame in giving up a child for adoption when you are not prepared to give that child the life they deserve and the child put up for adoption was raised by a loving family and now has a family of her own with adult children and a loving husband. She just became a Grandmother so now her biological mother can claim the Great Grandmother status. All is well in their world, The other DNA connections were a daughter and her MOTHER who was put up for adoption. With the shared matches, I was able to narrow down the specific line in the family where the connection was and when told that this mother was born in the Syracuse area was able to find the part of my family in that line that lived in that area. Of course, there was no meet and greet as the bio family had long since been deceased but there is at least PEACE that they know where they came from and can further research their biological line. So now I have new family members that I welcome and have become facebook friends with. They live out West and have never met them but perhaps some day I will create the ultimate Family Reunion of all my DNA Matches. This is one of my 50 year memories. ------------------------------ Memory 31: Dr. John R. Schmidt (#3699L) Every Christmas I would head home to Western New York to visit my mother. December 2005 was like other trips, as I had to take her to the hospital to be “drained”. She was suffering for a very long time with congestive heart failure. On this occasion, when I returned to her house on Christmas Eve, I sat down with a pen and paper and asked her to tell me about the family. She died three months later. Returning to my home in Michigan following her funeral in April, I sat down at my computer. I looked on my shelf and noticed a CD for Family Tree Maker. I had purchased it a while ago as an outdated $5 software at Staples. I loaded it into my PC, not knowing if it would still work. Surprisingly, it went out to the Internet and downloaded the latest version! What a deal! I started entering the information that my mother had shared. It wasn’t long before the software warned me that I had entered 100 people and should probably save it. I was hooked! Probably about 10 years later, I attended my first New York State Family History Conference in Syracuse. There, at a booth, I met two wonderful people—Rhonda Hoffman and Jennifer Liber Raines, representing WNYGS. The rest is history. With a little help, I now have over 2700 relatives in my family tree. Oh, by the way, aren’t those stories from our relatives interesting? Some turn out to be correct while others . . . well, you know. I always knew my mom didn’t care for my father’s side of the family. ;) ------------------------------ Memory 30: Peter Ames (#3375) This is a memory that I will hopefully never forget, and it is what hooked me on genealogy. My father spent 20 years after he retired, tracing our family history and compiling 2 spiral bound binders. One contained names, dates and stories of our ancestors that he had information on. Now this was all done pre computer, so he accomplished this all the old-fashioned way by making phone calls, writing letters and visits to many different sources. The other binder contained entries from his journals which covered a period from 1933-1971 while we were all children growing up. He was a dog with a bone, so not being able to glean the following drove him nuts. My maternal grandmother would never divulge the story of her youth prior to marrying my grandfather and my grandfather wouldn't share her secret following her death. That piqued my interest, and what followed was a 9 year quest to figure it out. I hit many a brick wall and fell down numerous rabbit holes, but finally I struck gold. Ethel was listed in the 1911 Canadian Census, but I read her surname as UNKNOWN and I thought that it was a useless document. Fortunately, I sent the image to a friend in Toronto and she read it as WREN. I will never forget the day that she shared that information with me and the floodgates opened. Turned out that Ethel May Elizabeth Wren Taylor Hebdon Dovesmith was an orphan from London and shipped to Niagara On The Lake at the age of 6. She came with about 200 children under the care of Maria Rye and placed with a widow who did laundry. She was indentured until she was 18 and a few years later met Joseph Dovesmith, came to Niagara Falls, NY and got married. Her whole story is in a previous WNYGS Journal if you would like to read it. No wonder she would never share the secret of her childhood as she didn't want to relive it. I am sorry that this is so long, but I wanted to stress that research isn't always easy, but that is part of why I love it so much. Sometimes it takes a lot of twists and turns until one small clue can break it loose. What a feeling! ------------------------------ Memory 29: Dennis Gates (1508) In the mid 1990's, while working as an airline pilot, I had a long layover in Buffalo. I decided I would rent a car and visit Orleans County, where my Great Great Grandfather, Daniel Gates, had settled after leaving Vermont. I thoroughly enjoyed the drive around the county, getting a sense of place. The highlight of the trip was my stop at the County Clerk's office. I asked about any records for Daniel. The clerk was very helpful and located the probate records for Daniel and even made copies for me. I was incredibly grateful when she offered to make copies of the records for me. She went above and beyond, and it was a wonderful tie to my ancestors. ------------------------------ Memory 28: Suzanne Scripter Harris (3520L) My father grew up in Arcade, Wyoming, New York. He went to college in Michigan and lived in that state the rest of his life. I have always lived in Michigan. We would travel to New York for my Dad’s vacation every year. Many years ago, I got interested in genealogy and would gather information when I was in that state. My grandmother was a big help! She would gather information for me and have it ready for when I was in the area. In 2007 I made a genealogy trip to the area with someone that I met as she responded to a inquiry I put in the “Genealogical Helper” back in 1976 about the Sherwin family. We researched that family and the Scripter family in Holland, Batavia, Warsaw and Buffalo. We visited libraries and walked thru a few cemeteries. A great deal of information was gained at many of the places in Western New York, particularly in Buffalo. I am now a life member of the Western New York Genealogical Society and continue to get information on my family even though I haven’t been to that area for a few years. I attend as many of their zoom meetings as I can. ------------------------------ Memory 27: Pamela Bouquin (3378) I joined because my family history is deep in Buffalo. My great-great grandfather, Matthew (Matthais) Denz, came from Germany to Buffalo in 1859. He lived on Emilse and the family worshiped at St. Anne's Church. He was a clockmaker and very innovative on clocks for churches. He put the first clock in St. Peter and Paul church in Williamsville in 1867. The church had a "Pic-Noc" to help pay for the clock. The clock lasted until 1922 when a windstorm blew it out. It was repaired, and the tower that held it was repaired as well and it worked until 1925. Unfortunately, my g—g grandfather passed away at 59 in 1879, he had left his wife with 10 children who all lived to adulthood.

News & Announcements Read below for the latest information and updates from the Society. Member Announcements April 26, 2023: A Message from the WNYGS Website Team Invitation & Instructions for Accessing the New Online Members Area For more than fifteen years, the Western New York Genealogical Society’s website has been a valuable tool for sharing information about our programs, projects, and resources. Now, after more than a year of planning and implementation, we are pleased to announce the launch of our new website [www.wnygs.org ]. We encourage you to explore the site’s new look and expanded capabilities: Register online for upcoming programs and events . Discover society resources available both online and in the June P. Zintz Memorial Library (located at the Central Branch of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library). Use PayPal or check to purchase new memberships, renewals, and products through our online store . Support the society’s work with an online charitable donation. Review volunteer opportunities for a variety of rewarding positions and projects. Members can also sign up for the website’s new Members Area, which provides exclusive digital access to: All current and past issues of our publications, the Journal and the Western New York Genealogist , for viewing or download. Video recordings and handouts from past programs (by special arrangement with the speakers). Digital indexes, collections, and record sets. Special member announcements and updates. To request access: Visit our website at www.wnygs.org and click on ‘Member Log in’ (located near the main site menu). Click ‘Sign Up’ and, when prompted, enter the email address associated with your society membership and your desired password. You will receive a confirmation email from the administrator once your request has been approved. We hope you enjoy these enhancements and find your membership a valuable resource in your research. Sincerely, The WNYGS Website Team

Society Policies Policy on Recommendations Policy on Living Policy on Facebook Policy on Researcher Recommendations As an all-volunteer organization, the society has neither the personnel nor the facilities to handle individual research requests. While the society does not recommend specific individuals, it encourages everyone seeking assistance to do their own research before hiring an outside professional. Locally, both the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library and The Buffalo History Museum maintain lists of known researchers for hire. Additionally, several professional genealogy trade associations including the Association of Professional Genealogists , the Board for Certification of Genealogists , and the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists offer member directories; please note each organization is responsible for establishing its own membership requirements and professional/ethical standards. S ocial Media Policy Regarding Inquiries Involving The Living In its mission and in its efforts, the Western New York Genealogical Society (WNYGS) is committed to (1) fostering a collaborative, professional environment both in person and online; (2) providing and supporting continuing education; and (3) encouraging best practices among our members and the larger genealogical community. In an era of exploding genealogical research and evolving tools for genetic genealogy, it is important to think about ethics and privacy. We as genealogists and members of the Board of Directors have certain ethical responsibilities governing privacy and respectful consideration when dealing with the living, living descendants, and living relatives. Human experience is varied, and each person’s reaction to biological parentage can be highly sensitive and deeply personal. Private information and private correspondence are part of the research process, but how, where, and with what permissions we choose to publicly share that information are important considerations. Whether in the role of adoptee, biological parent, or biological relative, the research we undertake can have serious impacts. While we encourage members to inquire about research techniques and resources, we ask that researchers use caution and discretion and not post/publish specific situational details (known or speculated) with direct name associations to potentially living individuals. It is our view that by promoting respect and sound, ethical decisions, we all benefit in the long run. For more information on the ethics of genealogy, we encourage researchers to read Judy Russell's blog post on the topic. S ociety Guidelines for the WNYGS Facebook Discussion Group Thank you for joining the Western New York Genealogical Society (WNYGS) Discussion Group and agreeing to uphold our guidelines. This Facebook group’s mission is two-fold – (1) to further genealogical education and (2) to foster a professional and supportive environment. With this mission in mind, here are some important questions for all members to ask before posting content on our page: Do I adequately understand this record/resource and its source? Do I have the necessary information to properly cite the resource (both the original source and/or sharing party)? Can I verify the resource’s authenticity? Does the image/resource have the necessary credentials and documentation to qualify as a “satisfactory substitute for the original”? [https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/wp-content/uploads/NGS-Guidelines/Guidelines_CompTech2016-FINAL-29Sep2018.pdf ] Am I respecting the legal rights of the owner, “author, originator, compiler”, or any other authorized party? [https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/wp-content/uploads/NGS-Guidelines/Guidelines_SharingInfo2016-FINAL-30Sep2018.pdf ] Do I fully understand and observe the Terms of Agreement by which an image or resource may be bound? Have I received the necessary permissions to share this resource and/or information publicly? Have I properly identified and attributed “all ideas, information, and data from others”? Have I done all that is necessary to avoid and prevent potential plagiarism? As genealogists, professional standards and ethics should guide our every action - regardless of the format or medium. We would ask all group members to honor the concepts above. Through our posts, we can model best practices and share research techniques. Therefore: Group members are encouraged to make inquiries, recommend resources, and discuss potential research strategies, case studies, and brick walls. Attribution of sources is critical; whenever possible, individuals should include a direct link to the source, article, or post. Members shall not solicit or post copies of images from subscription databases unless allowable under the established Terms of Agreement. Also, please remember that this page is administered by volunteers who do not pre-read or clear the content. While the administrators reserve the right to remove content not within our guidelines, page members are solely responsible for what they post. If you observe content you feel is not within our guidelines, please alert the administrators. If you have questions about these guidelines and would like to discuss content before posting, please do not hesitate to contact us. For more on the professional and ethical standards for genealogists, members are encouraged to review the guidelines of the National Genealogical Society and the Association of Professional Genealogists. Thank you for making a page an inclusive, welcoming, and professional place for all who are interested in genealogy. Policy on Recommendations Policy on Living Policy on Facebook

Contact Us Contact Information Western New York Genealogical Society P.O. Box 338 Hamburg, New York 14075-0338 Email: info@wnygs.org For the fastest response to specific questions, please address all inquiries and requests to the appropriate officer or committee chairperson. Library Location June P. Zintz Memorial Library Collection Buffalo & Erie County Public Library - Central Branch Grosvenor Room (Special Collections & Local History) 1 Lafayette Square Buffalo, NY 14203 Click to view current l ibrary hours . President Marie-Cecile Tidwell, PhD president@wnygs. org Accounts Payable & Rec eivable Laury Lakas – Treasurer treasurer@wnygs.org Bible & Marriage Records biblerecords@wnygs.org Books for Review bookreviews@wnygs.org Community Outreach & Publicity Kaitlyn Pauley – Chair publicity@wnygs.org Library (Inquiries, Donations, & Acquisitions) Rhonda Hoffman – Chair librarian@wnygs .org Memberships (New, Renewal, & Address Changes) Becky Burke – Registr ar registrar@wnygs.org NextGen Special Interest Group (SIG) Gabrielle Kandefer nextgen@wnygs.org Preservation (Microfilming & Digitization) Vacant - Chair preservation@wnygs.org Programs & Events Jeanette S heliga – Chair programs@wnygs.org Publications: WNY Genealogist (formerly Journal ) (Article Submissions, Books Reviews, & Comments) Marie-Cecile Tidwell, PhD – Editor (Interim) editor@wnygs.org Society Clippings (Member News & Obituaries) Frederick Kester – Society Historian 1172 Woodstock Avenue, Tonawanda, NY 14150-4604 Transcriptions /Indexing Vacant – Chair transcriptio ns@wny gs.org Volunteers - General volunteers@wnygs.org Volunteers - Zintz Library Linda Kennedy – Coordinator libvolcoordinator@wnygs.org Website Jennifer Liber Raines – Webmaster webmaster@wnygs.org WNY Historian Project Marie-Cecile Tidwell, PhD – Chair historianproject@wnygs.org

Society Membership Member Benefits Society Membership Membership Period A society membership runs annually from May 1st to April 30th and starts with the June issue of the Western New York Genealogist , regardless of the date on which you join. For all annual memberships, renewal is due on or before May 15th each year. For those joining mid-year, back issues of the Genealogist will be sent electronically. Member Benefits Meetings & Programs Minimum of six meetings (in-person and online) per year featuring speaker programs, workshops, and member field trips. Western New York Genealogist Four issues (June, September, December, and March) of our quarterly member publication, the Western New York Genealogist . Content includes topics such as research strategies and techniques, resource profiles, developments in the field of genealogy, and upcoming regional and national programs. June Partridge Zintz Memorial Library Use of the society's reference library located in the Grosvenor Room of the B&ECPL Central Library (downtown Buffalo). The Zintz Collection contains more than 3,000 books, 700 reels of microfilm, and hundreds of genealogical and historical periodicals. Our library also includes such unique society resources as the Vital Index of Early Western New York Families , bible and marriage records , and member-submitted ancestor charts. Website Members Area Access to the special "Members Area" of the society's website, which contains such resources as recorded programs, handouts, publication back issues, annual indexes, databases, and records. Community & Connection Share, learn, break down brick walls, and get the latest updates from the society via our website and private Facebook Discussion Group . Volunteer Opportunities Help the researchers of today and tomorrow by sharing your time, skills, and expertise with the society. Participate in ongoing society service opportunities including record transcription and indexing, microfilming and digitization, and community outreach. Annual Memberships INDIVIDUAL One Adult. Annual Dues: $30 JUNIOR Age 18 & Younger. Digital Version of P ublication. Annual Dues: $10 FAMILY Two Adults, One Household. Annual Dues: $35 SOCIETIES & LIBRARIES One Organization. Print Version of Public ation. Annual Dues: $30 Life Memberships LIFE One-Time Payment . Individual Dues : $350 Family Dues: $500 Supporting the Work Today & in the Future Your convenient one-time payment* entitles you to a lifetime of membership benefits. Full balance must be received within one year. * O ne-time and semi-annual payment op tions are availab le. The membership process just became even easier. Click the link below to join or renew online through our store. At checkout, simply select whether you will be paying by PayPal or check (to be mailed to address provided). JOIN OR RENEW ONLINE Prefer to submit your membership or renewal using a mailed paper form? WNYGSMembershipForm WNYGSRenewalForm Click the icon to print/download the appropriate membership form. When completing, please remember to include your zip code + four to help facilitate society mailings. Mail your completed form and check (payable to "WNYGS") to the address indicated on the form. Need Further Assistance? Have any questions about membership? Need additional information about the sign-up or renewal process? Need to update your contact information? EMAIL US Society Registrar: Becky Burke registrar@wnygs .o rg Mailing Address: P.O. Box 338 Hamburg, NY 14075

Volunteer Opportunities Open Society Positions As an all-volunteer, 501(c)3 non-profit organization, our work is not possible without the support of many dedicated volunteers. Help us have an even greater impact by serving in one of these roles: Board Publications Library Preservation Historian Project Board Leadership Dir ector Responsibilities : Be responsible for the fulfillment of the objectives of the Society by the collective performance of the Executive Board as set forth in the by-laws and policies. Attend the Executive Board meetings and actively participate in the management of the Society. Support the Society by regular attendance at the general meetings. Serve on one or more committees of the Society. Monitor the activities of committees for which the Board has assigned responsibility and report to the Executive Board. Commitment : A Director is a voting member of the WNYGS Board who is responsible for attending monthly Board meetings. This is a termed volunteer position. The individual must remain a WNYGS member in good standing. If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about this opportunity, please email president@wnygs.org . Publications Editor Responsibilities: The Editor plays an important role in helping the Society meet its objective to further genealogical knowledge and research through education. The Editor is responsible for the publication and distribution of the official quarterly periodical of the Society, The Western New York Genealogist . Key functions are to solicit the contribution of materials and articles, edit content submissions, and supervise the production and distribution of the Genealogist. Skills/Qualifications : Writing, editing, email, internet, leadership, dependability, flexibility, multitasking, detail-oriented, and the ability to work well with others. Technology Requirements : Computer, Microsoft Word. Commitment : The Editor is an ex officio, voting member of the WNYGS Board, and attends monthly board meetings. The Editor is primarily responsible for acquiring Genealogist content and editing submitted articles but is also the overall supervisor of the Genealogist. The Editor works on the Genealogist team which also consists of the Production Editor, contributing editors, proofreaders, and an indexer. The Genealogist meets four quarterly publishing deadlines (June 1, August 15, November 15, and February 15). The selected candidate must remain a WNYGS member in good standing. This is a permanent volunteer position. Publication Indexer If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about these opportunities, please email president@wnygs.org . Library Library Volunteers Responsibilities: Volunteer once or twice a month - or as your schedule allows - at the Central Library (Buffalo, NY) doing the following: Helping patrons in understand and use WNYGS' Zintz Collection and provide general research assistance where possible. Reshelving WNYGS Library materials used by patrons and new material additions. Maintaining proper order of materials on shelves and in drawers. Removing damaged books for repair and notifies the Library Chair on any needs using established procedures. Providing any patron or library staff feedback to the Library Chair. If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about this opportunity, please email Linda Kennedy, Library Volunteer Coordinator, at libvolcoordinator@wnygs.org . Preservation Preservation Chair Project Coordinator Indexer/Transcriber WNYGS members are involved in a variety of preservation and transcription/indexing projects, and volunteers are always very welcome to keep this work going. Volunteers may work locally as well as remotely via email. Some projects are carried out using original books/documents, and the information is transcribed directly into a spreadsheet. Project training and guidance are provided to all volunteers. If you are interested in learning more about our current opportunities, please email preservation@wnygs.org for more information. WNY Historian Project Historian Outreach Volunteer If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about this opportunity , please contact the Chair at historianproject@wnygs.org. Board Publications Library Preservation Historian Project

Regional and national continuing education opportunities. Genealogy and history. Sharing information at programs, webinars, classes, workshops, conferences, and institutes. Regional & National Programs Regional & National Conferences NYG&B: New York State Family History Conference ($) Sept 19-20, 2025: In person (Kingston, NY) Sept 3-Nov 16 2025: On-demand recorded sessions Sessions include topics about genealogy in the New Netherlands, researching Palatines in your family tree, colonial research, Black Loyalists, Jewish genealogy, researching Native American family history, and much more. Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG)—Virtual Fall Sessions 2025 ($) Sept-Nov 2025: Virtual These are generally held weekly over a period of several weeks and are especially for intermediate and advanced learners. New England Regional Genealogical Conference ($) Oct 29–Nov 1, 2025: In person (Manchester, NH) With over 70 sessions, 3 workshops, special interest groups, consultations, and an exhibit hall, there is something for everyone. Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG)—1-Week Course ($) Jan 26-30, 2026: Virtual These intensive courses are virtual and held all day every day for five days. Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG)—Virtual Spring Sessions 2026 ($) Feb-May 2026: Virtual SLIG offers virtual courses in intermediate and advanced genealogy education held weekly over a period of several weeks between February and May 2026. RootsTech Mar 5-7, 2026 Where: Salt Lake City, UT Virtual - Free In person ($) This annual genealogy conference is the largest genealogy conference in the world. It is a hybrid event, meaning you can participate online or in person. In-person RootsTech includes exclusive classes and personal interaction with exhibitors in the expo hall. Online attendees can enjoy hundreds of virtual sessions in many languages, and online participation is free! Keynote speakers will excite and motivate you in all things genealogy and family history. This conference covers an extensive variety of topics and is appropriate for all levels of genealogy researchers. Would you like to suggest a program or event for inclusion on this page? EMAIL US Western New York Genealogy & History Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Monthly Special Collections Tour [In-person event ] Take a guided tour of the Grosvenor Room, the Central Library’s Special Collections Department. Learn about the history of the library and get an inside look at our Local History, Genealogy, Map and Rare Book Collections, as well as the Mark Twain Room and other exhibits. Join library staff on the 4th Saturday of each month, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Meet in the Grosvenor Room, the Library’s Special Collections Department, located on the main floor of the Central Library, 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY 14203 An Afternoon with Erie Canal Expert Pamela J. Vittorio [In-person event - Ring of Knowledge, Central Library] Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025 Time: 1:00pm - 3:30pm Two free lectures by Erie Canal expert Pamela J. Vittorio: A Mighty Chain of Unfortunate Events: The 1825 Opening of the Erie Cana l 1 pm - 2 pm On October 26, 1825, the Erie Canal commissioners and dignitaries celebrated the canal's grand opening with a ride on a flotilla of the finest packet boats. It ended in NYC with a lavish spread, but only for a select few. Along the route, a series of unfortunate events took place: as cannons boomed, men were killed; canal laborers and boatmen were excluded from the festivities; some canal towns boycotted the event entirely. This presentation brings the passengers of the Seneca Chief and the events of the day to life, with eye-witness accounts from participants and residents along the canal corridor, and recognizes the "unsung" heroes of the day, including the first driver of canal boats. The Erie Canal and the Peopling of Western NY State 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm Did your ancestors arrive in the port of NY from 1820 to 1850? How did they travel? Discover more about the rise of boomtowns, early canal passenger lists, records of businessmen, farmers, mill or factory owners, and how our early nineteenth-century families took up residence along the canals. Complete event information here .

Privacy Policy Technology offers the Western New York Genealogical Society exciting tools that help us deliver on our mission and better serve our members and the larger genealogical community. Our Society takes privacy seriously. We will never sell, share, or otherwise provide your personal information to other people, companies, or entities without your knowledge or permission (unless required by law). Why We Collect Certain Data: We collect Non-Personal and Personal Information for the following purposes: 1. To support the work and mission of the Society; 2. To process requests, memberships, product/service orders, and donations by site users; 3. To provide our site users with ongoing customer and technical support; 4. To be able to contact our members and site users with general and personalized information, updates, and other promotional messages; 5. To create compiled statistical data and other aggregated and/or inferred Non-Personal Information, which we or our business partners may use to provide and improve our respective services; 6. To comply with any applicable laws and regulations. What Data We Collect: While providing information and services through its website, the Western New York Genealogical Society may ask you to disclose voluntarily certain information about yourself and, sometimes, your household. This “Personal Identifiable Information” (PII) consists of both information supplied by you (e.g., your name, email address, mailing address, and telephone number) and information collected about how you engage with our website. When logged into our website, we receive, collect, and store the Internet protocol (IP) address used to connect your computer to the Internet; login; email address; password; computer and connection information; purchase history (e.g., membership sign-ups/renewals, product/service purchases, and donations); and program registration information. The Society also collects other “Non-Personal Information,” which is anonymous and contains no specific names, contact information, credit card information, or other individual data. We use this data to measure and analyze aggregated user demographics, traffic and usage patterns, and session information, including page response times, length of visits to certain pages, page interaction information, and methods of browsing away from a page. In such cases, the data are used for internal analysis and improvement and shared only with the leadership team and relevant business partners. The Platform: The Society’s website is hosted on the Wix.com platform. Their software and technical infrastructure allow us to provide our memberships, products, services, and resources online. Your data may be stored on Wix.com’s data storage, databases, and general applications. All data is saved on secure servers behind a firewall. Financial Transactions: All direct payment gateways offered by Wix.com and used by WNYGS adhere to the standards set by PCI-DSS as managed by the PCI Security Standards Council, which is a joint effort of brands like Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. PCI-DSS requirements help ensure the secure handling of credit card information by our store and its service providers. As part of this processing, our website integrates with PayPal processing for its secure payment and donation transactions. External Links: While fulfilling our mission, WNYGS may share links to other organizations, entities, and resources on our website and in publications. The Society holds no responsibility for the privacy policies, practices, or content associated with these websites. Changes/Opt-Out: If you would like to: access, correct, amend, or delete any personal information we have about you, please contact us at webmaster@wnygs.org or mail a written request to: Western New York Genealogical Society Attn: Webmaster PO Box 338 Hamburg, New York 14075-0338 Modify/Change We reserve the right to modify this privacy policy at any time. Changes and clarifications will take effect immediately upon their posting on the website. If we make material changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated. Policy on Recommendations Policy on Living Policy on Facebook

About the Society Our Mission & Purpose Founded in 1974, The Western New York Genealogical Society's mission is to help preserve and encourage interest in the rich genealogical heritage of the eight counties of Western New York that were part of the original Holland Land Company Purchase - Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming. Our objectives are to: facilitate the collection and preservation of genealogical records relating to the history and peoples of Western New York's eight counties; make these records available to researchers; further genealogical knowledge and research through education; and foster record preservation by government agencies, organizations, and individuals. Society Policies Policy on Researcher Recommendations Social Media Policy Regarding Research Inquiries Involving The Living Society Guidelines for the WNY GS Facebook Discussion Group ( Credit and Attribution) News & Announcements CONTACT US Society Leadership Officers (Serving t wo-year term ) President: Marie-Cecile Tidwell, PhD (exp. 2026) Vice President: Joanne Clements - Interim ( exp. 2026) Secretary: Joanne Clements (exp. 2026) Treasurer: Laury Lakas (exp. 2025) Registrar: Rebekah E. Burke (exp. 2025 ) Directors (Serving three-year term) Elizabeth M. Benson (exp. 2026 ) Gabrielle Kandefer (exp. 2027) Kaitlyn Pauley (exp. 2027 ) Jeanette Sheliga (exp. 2 026 ) Vacant (exp. 2025) Vacant (exp. 2025)

Allegany County Vital Records Dates of First Vital Statistics Records (as published in the Western New York Genealogical Society Journal ) Click the county below to view individual town and village record information: Allegany County Cattaraugus County Chautauqua County Erie County Genesee County Niagara County Orleans County Wyoming County This map shows each Western New York county's founding date and the name of its parent county. Town and Date Births Marriages Deaths Notes ALFRED - Incorporated 11 March 1808 9 Oct 1877 14 Apr 1882 22 Apr 1882 ALLEN - Incorporated 31 January 1823 Nov 1887 Sep 1883 Feb 1888 ALMA - Incorporated 23 November 1854 1877 1884 1884 ALMOND - Incorporated 16 March 1821 AMITY - Incorporated 22 February 1830 ANDOVER - Incorporated 28 January 1824 ANGELICA - Incorporated 25 February 1805 14 Jul 1887 29 Apr 1908 7 Jul 1887 Earlier records destroyed in fire BELFAST - Incorporated 24 March 1824 1847-1848, 1882 1847-1848, 1882 1847-1848, 1882 BIRDSALL - Incorporated 4 May 1829 1877 1887 1888 BOLIVAR - Incorporated 15 February 1825 BURNS - Incorporated 17 March 1826 CANEADEA - Incorporated 11 March 1808 1886 1886 1886 CENTERVILLE - Incorporated 15 January 1819 Nov 1902 Nov 1902 Nov 1902 Earlier records destroyed in fire CLARKSVILLE - Incorporated 11 May 1825 28 Oct 1890 26 Apr 1888 23 Feb 1890 CUBA - Incorporated 4 February 1822 16 Feb 1882 2 Feb 1882 1 Feb 1882 FRIENDSHIP - Incorporated 24 March 1815 29 May 1882 Jun 1882 Jun 1882 GENESEE - Incorporated 16 April 1830 1883 1885 1885 GRANGER - Incorporated 18 April 1838 1888 1888 1888 GROVE - Incorporated 8 March 1827 1887 1887 1908 HUME - Incorporated 20 February 1822 2 Sep 1886 2 Nov 1886 8 Sep 1886 INDEPENDENCE - Incorporated 16 March 1821 17 Mar 1886 17 Mar 1886 17 Mar 1886 NEW HUDSON - Incorporated 10 April 1825 RUSHFORD - Incorporated 8 March 1816 1886 1886 1886 Older records reportedly burned SCIO - Incorporated 31 January 1823 Oct 1904 Oct 1904 Oct 1904 Earlier records burned WARD - Incorporated 21 November 1856 1898 1901 1898 WELLSVILLE - Incorporated 22 November 1855 1886 1886 1886 WEST ALMOND - Incorporated 5 April 1833 WILLING - Incorporated 19 November 1851 1900 1900 1900 WIRT - Incorporated 12 April 1838 1878 1883 1885 Source: WNYGS JOURNAL , Vol. 2, No.1, June 1975 In cases where data is not available, it can be assumed that the dates of records are similar to the other towns in the county.

Buffalo New York Deaths Collection & Index In the fall of 2020, researcher Janice Wernicki generously donated her project, Buffalo New York Deaths Collection and Index, to the Western New York Genealogical Society. Compiled over the course of twenty years, this important genealogical resource is the result of the painstaking collection, compilation, and indexing of local death listings, death notices, and tributes. The index contains information on the deaths of approximately 130,000 Western New Yorkers from 1867 to 2015. This unique collection is available by special arrangement with WNYGS. Remember A STATEMENT FROM COLLECTION CREATOR & DONOR, JANICE WERNICKI "In memory of my father, Robert W. Moran (1917-1967) , my mother, Lorna Booker Eberle Moran (1909-1997) , my mother-in-law, Adele Matyjasik Wernicki (1924-1994) , and my father-in-law, Alphonse Wernicki (1924-1989) With The Hope That Their Names and Others Will Never Cease To Be Spoken." Search the Death Name Index (1867-2015) To search for an individual, enter the person's surname and click search. Search Table results may contain a large quantity or data. Please remember to scroll over and down completely. You may advance the results page by click the < or > arrows at the bottom right of the table. CODE KEY + Item is available in the collection Part Part of the item is available in the collection [Blank Info Column] Only name listing is available in the collection A Article COT Card of Thanks DN Death Notice O Obituary ROD Report of Deaths IM In Memoriam Name Vol. No. Month Day Year Info Notes TITUS - Harry T V39 12 15 2013 + Obit BOOKER-TURNER - Evelyn M Sheila V37 7 4 2014 + O TURNER - Evelyn M Sheila V38 7 4 2014 + O BOOKER-WILSON - Floy Marie V37 7 10 2014 + O WILSON-BOOKER - Floy Marie V37 7 10 2014 + O BRADDEN-SHUPE - Elizabeth Grace V37 10 16 2014 + O SHUPE-BRADDEN - Elizabeth Grace V37 10 16 2014 + O BOOKER-GONZALEZ - Louise Emily V37 10 18 2014 + O GONZALEZ-BOOKER - Louise Emily V37 10 18 2014 + O BOOKER - John William Jack V37 10 23 2014 + O BOOKER-OFFERBECK - April V38 11 24 2014 + DN OFFERBECK-BOOKER - April V38 11 24 2014 + DN BOOKER - Keith Corky V38 12 26 2014 + O MILLER - Lorna Claire V38 12 27 2014 + O BOOKER-MOWAT - Elsie Eileen V38 1 23 2015 + O MOWAT-BOOKER - Elsie Eileen V38 1 23 2015 + O INNES-MOTTERAM - Iris V38 2 10 2015 + O MOTTERAM-INNES - Iris V38 2 10 2015 + O JAGER - Joseph V38 3 9 2015 + O BARTLETT-HOWDEN - Kathleen G V38 3 16 2015 + O HOWDEN-BARTLETT - Kathleen G V38 3 16 2015 + O BEUTLER - Harry I V38 4 1 2015 + DN BUBB-FREEMAN - Paula B V38 4 29 2015 + O FREEMAN-BUBB - Paula B V38 4 29 2015 + O HEINZ-RICHARDSON - Dorothy J V39 5 14 2015 + DN Page 1 of 6,702 Ordering A Digital Copy Items Contained in the Collection: Death Notices, Obituaries, In Memoriam Pieces, Card of Thanks, Report of Deaths, and Articles Costs & Instructions Cost Per Request: Member Free Non-Member $5.00 To request a digital copy of an item from the collection, email buffalodeaths@wnygs.org with the deceased's name (as listed), the volume number, and date of publication. Please remember to include your name, email, telephone number, and member number, if applicable, with your request. A member of the Preservation Team will then confirm that the collection item is available and request payment. Payment can be made by either: PayPal (Specific payment instructions will be provided.) Check (payable to "Western New York Genealogical Society") mailed to: WNYGS Buffalo Deaths Collection, Attn: Jennifer Liber Raines, 25 Brompton Ct., Orchard Park, NY 14127. Once payment has been received, a digital copy of the item will be emailed to you. All funds received help support the mission of the Western New York Genealogical Society, an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. There are three deaths. The first is when the body ceases to function. The second is when the body is consigned to the grave. The third is that moment, sometime in the future, when your name is spoken for the last time. — David M. Eagleman, author and neuroscientist

Directions and map (for two locations) for paid "Save Our Cemeteries" workshop on July 13, 2024. "Save Our Cemeteries" Program - Directions July 13, 2024 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Directions The map above shows the I-190 thruway Exit 23 - Packard Road and Exit 24 - Witmer Road. Morning Session - Directions from the South to the Calvin K. Richards Community Center (7000 Lockport Road): 1. Take the I-190 NY State Thruway North across Grand Island to exit 23 and turn right on to Packard Road. 2. Get into left lane and at the 2nd light (Military Road-RT 265) turn left . Travel north 1 mile to Lockport Road. 3. Turn right onto Lockport Road and head east 0.5 miles past the Active Hose Fire Co. & the Helmel Manufacturing. 4. Turn left onto Veterans Memorial Park 7000 Lockport Road. At the stop sign turn left onto Joe Rotella Way. 5. Follow this road through the park to the Calvin K. Richards Community Center (0.5 mile). Parking is in the rear. Afternoon Session - Directions from the Calvin K. Richards Community Center to Witmer Cemetery: 1. Go out through the park via Joe Rotella Way and turn right on to Lockport Road, go past the Active Hose Fire Co. 2. At the traffic light, turn right on to Military Road (Route 265). 3. Travel north 0.8 miles to Witmer Road (Route 31) and at the traffic light turn left onto Witmer Road. 4. Go straight 1 mile through the traffic light at the Niagara University entrance and just past Cerrone Trucking (on the left side), turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue and drive to the parking area in the front of the cemetery.

Dates of First Vital Statis tics Records (as published in the Western New York Genealogical Society Journal ) Click the c ou nty below to view indi vidual town and village record information: Allegany County Cattaraugus County Chautauqua County Erie County Genesee County Niagara County Orleans County Wyoming County This map shows each Western New York county's founding date and the name of its parent county. County Vital Records Information

1865 New York State Census As one of its many service projects, WNYGS organized the preparation of an amended index of the 1865 New York State Census for Erie County. Many dedicated volunteers worked on this project over a number of years. While originally collected and documented on index cards, the society later created a digital version that now resides here for genealogical researchers. VIEW ERIE INDEX It is important to note that while planning and researching this project several existing printed an d online indexes for Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Niagara Counties were identified; those resources appear below. At the time of the project, n o censuses were available for Genesee or Wyoming Counties. Allegany 1865 Census Index of Allegany County, New York by Mrs. Charles Burton Published index available in the WNYGS Research Library [ call no. 974.7 new ] Cattaraugus Town and County index files (html and .doc formats) available for view and download online at http://sites.rootsweb.com/~nycattar/census.htm#1865 Chautauqua Selected Information from the 1865 New York State Census for the County of Chautauqua by Lois and Norwood Barris (2 volumes) Published index available for download on the Chautauqua County Historian's website at https://chqgov.com/county-historian/lois-and-norwood-barris and in print form at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library - Grosvenor Room . Genesee Not available. Niagara Index 1865 N.Y. State Census Niagara County by the Niagara County Historian Published index available in the WNYGS Research Library [ call no. 974.7 new ] Orleans Surname and Town indexes available for viewing online at http://www.orleans.nygenweb.net/census/1865Cen.htm Wyoming Not available.

Niagara County Vital Records Dates of First Vital Statistics Records (as published in the Western New York Genealogical Society Journal ) Click the county below to view individual town and village record information: Allegany County Cattaraugus County Chautauqua County Erie County Genesee County Niagara County Orleans County Wyoming County This map shows each Western New York county's founding date and the name of its parent county. Town and Date Births Marriages Deaths Notes CAMBRIA - Incorporated 11 March 1808 12 Feb 1884 26 Feb 1884 13 Feb 1884 HARTLAND - Incorporated 1 June 1812 23 May 1848 to 12 Aug 1849, 1 June 1881 11 Oct 1848 to 27 Dec 1849, 7 Apr 1888 17 Feb 1848 to 10 Dec 1849, 15 July 1887 LEWISTON - Incorporated 27 Feb 1818 8 Jan 1847 to 6 June 1868, 21 Sept 1882 5 Jan 1847 to 14 Aug 1876, 21 Aug 1882 15 Jan 1847 to 5 May 1876, 15 Dec 1883 LEWISTON VILLAGE - Incorporated 17 Apr 1822 See Town of Lewiston records LOCKPORT - Incorporated 2 Feb 1824 27 Apr 1882 29 Jan 1908 27 Nov 1884 LOCKPORT CITY - Incorporated 26 March 1829 as Village; 1865 as city Feb 1868 3 Nov 1881 14 Nov 1881 NEWFANE - Incorporated 20 March 1824 8 Sept 1869 28 Nov 1883 10 Sept 1883 NIAGARA - Incorporated 1 June 1812 as Schlosser; 14 Feb 1816 as Niagara 14 July 1891 1 May 1908 11 May 1892 NIAGARA FALLS - Incorporated 7 July 1848 as Village; 17 Mar 1892 as City 2 Jan 1892 6 Apr 1882 23 Mar 1882 NORTH TONAWANDA - Incorporated 8 May 1868 as Village; 24 Apr 1897 as City 28 Sep 1887 9 Nov 1887 15 Nov 1887 PENDLETON - Incorporated 16 Apr 1827 3 Jan 1886 29 Sep 1886 5 Feb 1886 PORTER - Incorporated 1 June 1812 9 Jan 1884 7 Jun 1883 31 Dee 1883 YOUNGSTOWN VILLAGE - Incorporated 22 Aug 1854 7 Feb 1886 3 Mar 1886 to 8 Dec 1907 (later records kept by Town) 8 Mar 1886 ROYALTON - Incorporated 5 Apr 1817 3 Oct 1888 1 Sep 1888 25 Aug 1888 MIDDLEPORT VILLAGE - Incorporated 1859 14 Jun 1887 7 Sep 1887 28 Jul 1887 SOMERSET - Incorporated 8 Feb 1823 19 Jun 1882 2 Jul 1882 20 Jun 1882 BARKER VILLAGE - Incorporated 1908 See Town of Somerset records WHEATFIELD - Incorporated 12 May 1836 9 Jan 1879 20 Feb 1879 4 Jan 1879 WILSON - Incorporated 10 Apr 1818 1 Jun 1884 4 Jul 1884 29 Jun 1884 WILSON VILLAGE - Incorporated 25 June 1858 13 Sep 1899 see Town of Wilson records 6 Oct 1899 Source: WNYGS JOURNAL , Vol. 1, No.2, September 1974 In cases where data is not available, it can be assumed that the dates of records are similar to the other towns in the county.

Preservation Program Microfilming & Digitization As genealogists, historical records are essential in our understanding family and regional histories. WNYGS is committed to preserving and sharing local resources and helping document those individuals who called Western N ew York home. Our Preservation Program preserves old church, cemetery, and historical records of genealogical significance in Western New York. After project review and approval by the Board, the society will microfilm and/or digitize any records, preferably from the 19th century and earlier, that have not previously been preserved. WNYGS will staff and/or fund the project and furnish the recordholder with a copy of the materials. In return, the society will receive copies which will then be placed in the Zintz Library Collection for member and researcher use. Scanning documents for our enhanced bible and marriage records indexing project. P roject Possibilities Are you a recordholder seeking a preservation partner? Are there important or at-risk materials the society should be made aware of? Please email the Preservation Chair with any suggestions, leads, and possibilities. Preservation Chair: preservation@wnygs.org Recent Society Projects Erie & Niagara Counties: Kittinger Family Bible Click link above for full project description. St. Colu mba's R.C. Church Parishioner Index (1938-1940) (Buffalo, NY) [Compiled from Z intz Library collection holdings: 974.7 ER BUF 1938 chu sca; 974.7 ER BUF 1939 chu sca; 974.7 ER BUF 1940 chu sca] Genesee County: Church Book of the German Lutheran Concordia Church / German Evangelical Lutheran Concordia Church (Byron, NY) Church Book of the German Evangelical Lutheran St. Paul’s - Gemeinde U.A.C. of East Oakfield / Oakfield German Lutheran Church (Oakfield, NY) Conducting church record inventory prior to microfilming. On-site image capture for record indexing project. Transcription & Indexing Committee An important component of the WNYGS mission is to further member access to Western New York-related genealogy documents. Through the years, this undertaking has made a considerable amount of records available, all through the efforts of our dedicated volunteers. Are you are interested in making a difference by volunteering to transcribe or index? You are encouraged to contact the Transcriptions Committee Chair at transcriptions@wnygs.org . Transcription Chair: transcripti ons@wnygs.org Genealogists with connections to Western New York are encouraged support this important work. Whether you decide to make a charitable contribution or purchase a Lifetime Membership, your generosity makes preservation possible . SUPPORT

Sorry, it looks like this is an old link. We've recently updated our website and some of the page links have changed. Check the URL, or go back to our homepage and try again. Image of Buffalo "newsies" (newspaper boys) ready for work (1910) Source: Library of Congress Digital Collections Back to Homepage

Chautauqua County Vital Records Dates of First Vital Statistics Records (as published in the Western New York Genealogical Society Journal ) Click the county below to view individual town and village record information: Allegany County Cattaraugus County Chautauqua County Erie County Genesee County Niagara County Orleans County Wyoming County This map shows each Western New York county's founding date and the name of its parent county. Town and Date Births Marriages Deaths Notes ARKWRIGHT - Incorporated 30 Apr 1829 1 Jan 1849-31 Dec 1849, 15 Apr 1885, 1 Apr 1886- 1 Jan 1849-31 Dec 1849, 1881 1 Jan 1849-31 Dec 1849, 1885 BUSTI - Incorporated 16 Apr 1823 1872 to 1880 misc, 1 Jan 1898 - 15 Jan 1898 9 Nov 1897 Records 1882 to 1898 destroyed by fire. LAKEWOOD - Incorporated 1893 1847, 1848, 1849, 1851 (no 1850), 1898- 21 Jan 1848-31 Dec 1848, 1898- 1847, 1848, 1851, (no 1849 or 1850)1898- Records 1882 to 1898 missing - fire. CARROLL - Incorporated 1825 1847, 1848, 1849, 1881- 1847, 1848, 1849, 1881- 1847, 1848, 1849, 1881- CHARLOTTE - Incorporated 18 Apr 1829 Aug 1881 14 Jul 1882 11 Feb 1882 SINCLAIRVILLE - Incorporated 1887 1 Jan 1914 1 Jan 1914 1 Jan 1914 CHAUTAUQUA - Incorporated 11 Apr 1804 1881 1881 1881 MAYVILLE - Incorporated 1830 1882 misc 1888-1907 (Town Clerk has records 1908-) 1888 CHERRY CREEK - Incorporated 4 May 1829 1881 1881 1881 CHERRY CREEK - VILLAGE Incorporated 1893 1896 1896 1896 Records kept by Town Clerk. CLYMER - Incorporated 9 Feb 1821 22 Apr 1881 18 Feb 1886 26 Sep 1881 DUNKIRK - Incorporated 17 Nov 1859 1914 1914 1914 Earlier records destroyed by fire. DUNKIRK - City Incorporated 1880 1885 1885 1885 ELLERY - Incorporated 29 Feb 1821 Jul 1885 Jul 1885 Jul 1885 Earlier records destroyed by fire June 1885; there is a book for a year in the 1840's. BEMUS POINT - Village Incorporated 1911 Records kept by Town Clerk. ELLICOTT - Incorporated 1 June 1812 17 Jul 1881 15 Jun 1881 9 Oct 1886 CELERON - Incorporated 1896 5 Apr 1904 19 Oct 1904 15 Aug 1904 Earlier records destroyed by fire. FALCONER - Incorporated Jan 1891 Jan 1891 Jan 1891 Jan 1891 Town Clerk has earlier records. JAMESTOWN - Incorporated 6 Mar 1827, City 1886 16 Mar 1882 18 Jul 1882 9 Jan 1882 ELLINGTON - Incorporated 1 Apr 1824 27 Dec 1880 only, 16 Mar 1882- 27 Oct 1881 5 Jul 1882 FRENCH Creek - Incorporated 23 Apr 1829 misc 1847, 1848, 1849, 1883- misc 1847, 1848, 1849, 1884- misc 1847, 1848, 1849, 1882- GERRY - Incorporated 1 June 1812 22 Jan 1849, 28 Aug 1881, 18 Jul 1882- 5 Sep 1849, 12 Mar 1884- 2 Jul 1849, 14 Aug 1881- HANOVER - Incorporated 1 June 1812 1881 21 Mar 1883 31 Jul 1881 FORESTVILLE - Incorporated 1848 misc 1874 to 1891- 1891 1891 SILVER CREEK Incorporated 1848 misc 1874, 1880, 1881, 30 May 1888- misc 1874, 1880, 1881, 13 Jun 1888- misc 1874, 1880, 1881, 4 Jun 1888- Merged with Town 1902. HARMONY - Incorporated 14 Feb 1816 1882 misc 1882 misc 1882 misc PANAMA - Incorporated 1861 18 Jan 1914 none (Records kept by Town Clerk) 17 Jan 1914 Previous births and deaths kept by Town Clerk. KIANTONE - Incorporated 16 Nov 1853 22 Dec 1881 8 Dec 1881 27 Aug 1882 MINA - Incorporated 23 Mar 1824 1 Sep 1881 3 Jul 1881 16 Apr 1882 NORTH HARMONY - Incorporated 1919 1920 1920 1920 Previous Records kept by Harmony Town Clerk. POLAND - Incorporated 9 Apr 1832 10 Sep 1884 12 Sep 1882 26 Nov 1884 POMFRET - Incorporated 11 Mar 1808 Jan 1881 Jan 1881 Jan 1881 FREDONIA - Incorporated 1829 1885 1885 (Kept by Town Clerk after 1906) 1885 PORTLAND - Incorporated 9 Apr 1813 15 Feb 1881 misc, 1891- 29 Sep 1881 misc, 1891- 12 Apr 1882-Apr 1883 misc, 1891- BROCTON - Incorporated 1894 Records kept by Town Clerk. RIPLEY - Incorporated 1 Mar 1816 1847, 1848, 1849, 1850, 1881- 1847, 1848, 1849, 1850, 1881- 1847, 1848, 1849, 1850, 1881- SHERIDAN - Incorporated 16 Apr 1827 10 Jul 1875 23 Feb 1882 24 Sep 1881 SHERMAN - Incorporated 7 Apr 1832 1 Oct 1881 13 Dec 1881 26 Feb 1885 STOCKTON - Incorporated 9 Feb 1821 10 Jul 1881 3 Jul 1881 19 Jul 1881 CASSADAGA - Incorporated 1921 Sep 1923 none (records kept by Town Clerk) Sep 1923 VILLENOVA - Incorporated 24 Jan 1823 Nov 1887 Dec 1887 Nov 1887 Earlier records destroyed by fire. WESTFIELD - Incorporated 29 Mar 1829 none (Town Clerk), 1881 (Registrar) 1881 (Town Clerk), none (Registrar) none (Town Clerk), 1881 (Registrar) WESTFIELD Village Records kept by Town as above. Source: WNYGS JOURNAL , Vol. 1, No.3, December 1974 In cases where data is not available, it can be assumed that the dates of records are similar to the other towns in the county.