Research at the Washington County Archives

The Washington County Archives and Record Center is located in the basement of Building "A" in the County Municipal Center, and is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The Archives holds records from numerous County Courts, Departments and Offices, and visitors have access to databases and other indexes to help in their research. Photocopies are $.50 and microfilm copies are $1.00 per page.

Researchers can request a "records search" through the mail. To order, send a non-refundable $15.00 check or money order, made payable to the "Washington County Clerk", and a letter providing relevant information about the person, family or subject, and what information is being sought. The course of each search is based on the written request, so care should be taken in its composition. The researcher will receive a report of findings, and photocopies are provided if the relevant pages are few in number. If numerous records and pages are discovered, a listing will be sent from which to order copies at $1.00 per page, but do not send additional money for copies with the initial $15.00 fee. Direct your requests and inquiries to:

Washington County Clerk's Office

Attn: Dennis Lowery, County Archivist

Washington County Municipal Center, Building A

383 Broadway

Fort Edward, New York 12828

(518) 746-2136

Some of the Available Records:

Assessment Records/Tax Rolls, beginning in the1850s for most towns;

Births, deaths and marriages 1847 - 1849, and marriages 1905 – 1935; (With few exceptions, these events were not recorded by the local governments prior to 1847, nor between the years of 1850 and 1880. It was not until 1881 that New York State town clerks were required to make these recordings)

Census Enumerations. Federal: 1790, 1800, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (index only) and New York State: 1825, 1835, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915 and 1925;

Coroners' Inquests 1787 – 1932;

Civil and Criminal Court Records beginning 1773;

Deeds and Mortgages 1773 - Present. Other land records include County Loan Indentures 1786 - 1849 and the Book of Forfeitures, a record of the 1784 sale of properties confiscated at the end of the Revolutionary War;

Indictments 1782 – 1910;

Insolvency Papers 1795 – 1912;

Naturalization Records 1794 – 1955;

Revolutionary War Pension Applications 1820 – 1831;

and Surrogate's Court Records 1783 – 1915 that include Wills, Inventories of Estates, Judicial Settlements of Estates, Administration Papers, Probate of Real Estate, and Guardianship Papers.