MONTGOMERY COUNTY, NY HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

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Montgomery County, New York: A Genealogical Overview

Situated in the heart of the Mohawk Valley, Montgomery County is one of the most historic corridors in New York State. Originally a vast county named Tryon, its story is central to the colonial frontier, the American Revolution, and the development of the Erie Canal. For genealogists, it offers rich records of Palatine German, Dutch, and English settlers and is the parent county for a vast portion of central and western New York.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Montgomery County was one of the largest post-colonial counties, covering a massive territory.

  • 1772: County Formed: Formed as Tryon County on March 12, 1772. It was renamed Montgomery County in 1784.
  • Parent Entity: It was formed from Albany County.
  • Subsequent Formations: Its vast territory was used to form all or part of Ontario (1789), Herkimer (1791), Tioga (1791), Otsego (1791), Onondaga (1794), Schoharie (1795), Oneida (1798), St. Lawrence (1802), Genesee (1802), Lewis (1805), Jefferson (1805), Madison (1806), Allegany (1806), Cattaraugus (1808), Chautauqua (1808), Niagara (1808), Franklin (1808), Hamilton (1816), Oswego (1816), and Fulton (1838) counties.
  • Name Origin: Originally named for William Tryon, the last British colonial governor. After the war, it was renamed in 1784 to honor General Richard Montgomery, who was killed at the Battle of Quebec.
  • County Seat History: The colonial county seat was Johnstown (now in Fulton Co.). After the split, the seat was moved to Fonda.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: This was the central territory of the Mohawk Nation, the “Keepers of the Eastern Door” of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
  • Colonial Settlement: The area was settled in the early 18th century by Dutch, English, and especially Palatine Germans. The valley was a key frontier region under the influence of figures like Sir William Johnson.
  • American Revolution: The Mohawk Valley was a primary theater of a brutal civil war between Patriots and Loyalists (many allied with the Mohawks). Major events included the Battle of Oriskany and numerous raids that devastated the region.
  • Key Historical Events:
    • Erie Canal: The canal’s construction in the 1820s transformed the county, bringing commerce and industry. The landscape is still marked by the canal’s impressive locks and aqueducts, such as at Fort Hunter.
    • Industrialization: Towns like Amsterdam became major manufacturing centers, known for carpet and textile production.
    • Saint Kateri Tekakwitha: The first Native American saint in the Roman Catholic Church was born in the Mohawk village of Ossernenon, near present-day Auriesville. The National Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine is located in Fonda.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

  • County Courthouse: The Montgomery County Clerk’s Office is located in Fonda, NY.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth, Marriage, and Death Records: Statewide registration began in 1880. Church records (Dutch Reformed, German Lutheran) are absolutely essential for the 18th century and are some of the most complete in the state.
  • Essential Records and Archives:
    • Montgomery County Department of History & Archives: Located in Fonda, this is one of the most important county archives in the state for colonial and early state history. It is a vital resource for anyone with roots in the region.
  • Libraries and Societies:
    • Margaret Reaney Memorial Library: In St. Johnsville, it has a well-regarded genealogical and local history collection.
    • Many active town historical societies, such as in Canajoharie and Fort Plain.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Fulton County (north)
    • Saratoga County (east)
    • Schenectady County (east)
    • Schoharie County (south)
    • Otsego County (southwest)
    • Herkimer County (west)

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