GENESEE COUNTY, NY HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

History of the Genesee Country (Western New York) Comprising the Counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates by Lockwood R. Doty (1925) – 662 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.09.17.1916.AR

Our County and Its People: A Descriptive and Biographical Record of Genesee County, New York Volume 1 by Safford E. North (1899) – 772 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.09.05.2324.AR

Our County and Its People: A Descriptive and Biographical Record of Genesee County, New York Volume 2 by Safford E. North (1899) – 764 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.09.05.2312.AR

Genesee County, New York: A Genealogical Overview

Positioned between Buffalo and Rochester, Genesee County is known as the “Mother of Counties” in Western New York. It was the original, vast county from which most of the region was later formed. Its history is synonymous with the Holland Land Purchase, which governed its settlement and development. It is a largely agricultural county with a heritage rooted in the pioneering efforts of its first settlers from New England.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Genesee County’s territory once encompassed almost all of New York west of the Genesee River.

  • 1802: County Formed: Genesee County was established on March 30, 1802.
  • Parent Entity: It was formed from Ontario County.
  • Subsequent Formations: Its massive original territory was used to form all or part of Allegany (1806), Cattaraugus (1808), Chautauqua (1808), Niagara (1808, which then included Erie), Livingston (1821), Monroe (1821), Orleans (1824), and Wyoming (1841) counties.
  • Name Origin: Named from a Seneca word, “Gen-nis-he-yo,” meaning “the beautiful valley,” referring to the Genesee River valley.
  • County Seat History: Batavia has been the county seat since the county’s formation and was the headquarters of the Holland Land Company.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The area was the territory of the Seneca Nation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
  • Holland Land Purchase: The entire region was part of the Holland Land Purchase. In 1801, Joseph Ellicott established the company’s main land office in Batavia, making it the focal point for the settlement of all of Western New York.
  • Pioneer Settlement: Settlers, primarily from New England and eastern New York, began arriving after 1800, purchasing farm plots from the land company.
  • Key Historical Events:
    • Holland Land Office: The office in Batavia was the center of commerce, law, and development for the entire region for decades. The building is now a museum.
    • War of 1812: Batavia served as a key supply depot and headquarters for American forces on the Niagara Frontier.
    • Anti-Masonic Movement: The 1826 disappearance and presumed murder of William Morgan from Batavia, after he threatened to expose the secrets of Freemasonry, sparked a national political movement, the Anti-Masonic Party.
    • Agriculture: The county’s fertile, relatively flat land made it a highly productive agricultural region, a distinction it still holds.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

  • County Courthouse: The Genesee County Clerk’s Office is located in Batavia, NY.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth, Marriage, and Death Records: Statewide registration began in 1880. Check with the City of Batavia for potentially earlier records.
  • Essential Records and Archives:
    • Genesee County History Department: The County Historian’s office is the official repository for historical records and a primary stop for genealogists.
    • Holland Land Office Museum: Located in Batavia, it is an essential resource for understanding the initial settlement of Western New York and holds records related to the land company.
  • Libraries and Societies:
    • Genesee County Genealogical Society: An active group for family history researchers in the area.
    • Richmond Memorial Library: The public library in Batavia has a local history collection.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Orleans County (north)
    • Monroe County (east)
    • Livingston County (southeast)
    • Wyoming County (south)
    • Erie County (west)
    • Niagara County (northwest)

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks