Genealogy Research & Records
No matter if you are looking for a famous ancestor or if you just want to preserve family traditions and history, there are plenty of resources to help you along your quest. The Sackets Harbor Historical Society has a limited but growing amount of genealogy records, but we’ll gladly assist in any way we can.
For genealogy inquiries, please contact Tina Thorp at sacketsharborgenealogy@gmail.com, or by phone at (315) 486-7749. Tina is available in person during the summer months at the Historical Society office, Fridays through Sundays, from 9 am to 1 pm.
Local Resources
Jefferson County New York Genealogical Society
The Jefferson County New York Genealogical Society was formed in 1994 with the goal to encourage and disseminate a greater knowledge of genealogy.
The City of Watertown’s birth, death and marriage records date back to 1883.
Flower Memorial Library Genealogy Department
Their experienced volunteers and library staff can help you navigating the world of family history research.
Online Resources
GENEALOGY WEBSITES
familysearch.org
This website offers free resources, like immigration records, census data etc., and many helpful tips.
ancestry.com
Ancestry is available by a paid subscription, but many libraries offer it for free.
IMMIGRATION RECORDS
National Archives – Immigration
NARA has an abundance of immigration, naturalization, and visa records from the late 1700s through the early 2000s.
Ellis Island, NY
The Ellis Island Passenger Search database is home to 65 million records of passengers arriving to the Port of New York from 1820 to 1957.
NATIVE AMERICAN RECORDS
National Archives – Native American and Alaskan Natives
Offers information relating to Native American and Alaskan Natives from 1774 through the mid-1990s.
MILITARY RECORDS
fold3.com
This website features collections of original military records, including photos and personal documents. Many of the records come from the U.S. National Archives.
National Archives – Military
Compiled Military Service Records (CMSRs) for veterans of conflicts from the Revolutionary War through the Vietnam War.
CENSUS RECORDS
National Archives – Census Records
The National Archives list Federal Population Census from 1790 – 1950
- 1850 – First census to list the names of everyone living in the house. Previous censuses only listed head of household by name; others were just tally marks in the appropriate column for age, sex, etc.
- 1880 – First census to list relationship to the head of household.
- 1890 – This census was destroyed in a fire in 1921 and is not available.
OBITUARIES AND CEMETERIES
findagrave.com
A worldwide collection of gravesites records.