Cayuga County Historian's Office 157 Genesee St., 3rd Floor Auburn, New York 13021 (315) 253-1300 email - Historian@cayugacounty.us Sheila S. Tucker, County Historian Nancy Assmann, Secretary Jessica Armstrong, Librarian

Public Records weren't required until 1870 and enforced in 1880.
Prior to this, family bibles or church records would be the only other accepted documentation.

It was not mandatory in New York State to record until 1914; therefore many records between 1881 and 1914 were not registered.

It is possible that some Town Clerk's might have early births, deaths, and marriages from about 1847-1849 and later. Some of these records were turned in but in some cases they were not.

For Vital Records from a Town Clerk or City Hall there are restrictions.

l.	Marriage: No information is released unless the record has been on file for at least 50 years or more and the parties named in the record are known to the applicant to be deceased.
2.	Birth: No information is released unless the record has been on file for at least 75 years or more and the person is known to the applicant to be deceased.
3.	Death: No information is released unless the record has been on file for at least 50 years or more.

The specified time periods may be waived if the applicant is a descendant in the direct line of the descent (son, daughter, grandson, or granddaughter).
However, documentation must be given.

Records can only be purchased from the Town or City where the event occurred.

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View Our Research Request Form
 Family Files A-C Surnames || Family Files D-H Surnames
 Family Files I-M Surnames || Family Files N-S Surnames
 Family Files T-Z  Surnames || Our Home Page
If you wish to request copies of our office 'Family Files', click HERE

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updated 09/19/2008