The US GenWeb is a well organized effort to organize the genealogy materials on the Internet. This project is supported by hundreds of volunteers all across the county. Basically, the system is organized by states, and counties with each county having a coordinator responsible for maintaining a site of resources which are available for that county. You'll also find files of genealogy records, also organized by state and county.

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A message was sent out over the GEN-NYS-L list in June 1996 asking if anyone would be interested in starting a New York State GenWeb page similiar to a highly successful project underway in Kentucky. Many people expressed an interest in this idea. About the same time, Jeff Murphy, coordinator of the KY GenWeb, decided to go national with the idea, and out of that grew the US GenWeb project, and the NY GenWeb project. At the same time, volunteers were found who were willing to coordinate the collection of databases and generally oversee the contents of the web page. Contact the volunteer shown on the county page if you have a desire to add your data to the database.  

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Dutchess County was formed in 1683, one of the original counties of New York. Almost uninhabited until 1701, Dutchess County was administered by Ulster County from that time until at least 1713. Dutchess County is located in the Southeast corner of New York. It is bounded on the north by Columbia Co., NY, on the east by Litchfield Co., CT and Fairfield Co., CT, on the south by Putnam Co., NY, and on the west by Ulster and Orange Counties, NY. 

Birth, Death and Marriage Records    
In 1880 an attempt was made by the state to require the keeping of vital records. This law is the basis for the recording of births, marriages and deaths in New York today. The original record is made in the town, village or city in which the event took place, and a copy is sent to Albany.   

Because of the large backlog of requests, there is likely to be a long delay for a response. It should also be noted that compliance with the 1880 law was slow, and many events were not recorded. Copies of vital record certificates, marked "for genealogical research only," can be issued at the state or local level. This applies only to births recorded at least seventy-five years ago and to marriages and deaths recorded fifty years ago and earlier.   

Divorce Records    
Since 1847 divorce actions in New York have been handled in the supreme court for the county in which the divorce was heard. New York divorce files, however, are sealed for one hundred years. In colonial times, petitions for divorce had to be made to the governor or legislature, and only a few were granted. The court of chancery granted divorces from 1787 to 1847. These older records are in the state archives.   

I've listed the address of the Dutchess County Records Management office. I don't know what, if any, vital records they maintain, but the phone number is listed so you can call them and ask.   

A list addresses and phone numbers of town clerks and/or municipal offices where vital records may be obtained is available on the Dutchess County Genealogical Society Vital Records web page.

Due to the diligent efforts of Cynthia Miles-Lewis of Schenectady County, it has been discovered that New York researchers DO have recourse when denied copies of records from county clerks, unless the requested record is covered under the Personal Privacy Protection Law. Click here to learn more about the Freedom of Information Law in New York and how it can help those of us doing genealogical research in New York.   

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A Calendar of the American Revolution in New York  
Index to New York Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients  
Index to New York Revolutionary War Pension Lists 1801-1815  
New York Camp, Sons Of Spanish American War Veterans Limited lookups for descendants whose ancestors were veterans in the Spanish American War, Philippine Insurrection, and China Relief Expedition 1898-1902 from New York State.
New York Civil War veterans buried at Arlington National Cemetery
New York State Civil War Records
New York Revolutionary War Pension Lists 1792-1795      

To learn how to obtain copies of veterans records (military service records, pension application files or bounty-land warrant application files), click here.  

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